This newsletter has been designed to maintain links with customers and provide an information service for internet users generally.

Please visit us at http://www.engadineweb.com.au and signup for this monthly newsletter.

Editorial

Broadband prices are coming down - or are they? Getting broadband is becoming complicated, read the fine print and make informed decisions on the plan you select or your monthly account fee could more than double or your service could degrade. Know your usage pattern then at least double or triple it for broadband.

Once you get broadband you won't go back...

Bruce Beresford, Manager & Editor

In this Issue:

• Featured Site
• Virus Watch
• Broadband Prices are coming down, but at what cost?
• Security on the net - Phishing
• Australia joins US, UK in spam fight
• Quote of the day

Featured Site  

This month's featured site is Elli's Bed & Breakfast.

Elli's Bed & Breakfast is situated in the historic and picturesque coastal township of Kiama, just 120km drive South of Sydney. Fully Airconditioned, this modern and stylish bed & breakfast is located a close walking distance to the centre of charming Kiama, its harbour, Blowhole, Little Blowhole, railway, shops, restaurants & cafes and so much more...

Laze by the pool or take a stroll...

It's just a moments walk to Surf Beach, and the most spectacular coastal walking trail.

Check out Elli's site and visit her Bed & Breakfast for a relaxing time by the sea.

Virus Watch  

Latest Threats - from Symantec

19-07-04 W32.Beagle.AG@mm

19-07-04 W32.Mydoom.L@mm

Broadband Prices are coming down, but at what cost?

If you use the internet to access your emails only, then stay with Dial Up. If you want more you will go to broadband eventually and you will have significant usage.

Just looking at two providers; Optus and Telstra. They both offer "low cost" broadband plans for $29.95 per month and both plans are called 200MB. What does 200MB mean? It means that when you have reached 200 Megabytes of data usage (Upload/Download) within the month something will happen to your pocket or your service. If you don't reach 200MB you can't rollover unused usage to the next month (seems to be all one way doesn't it).

In the case of Optus, it seems that once you reach 200MB then your service will revert to Dial Up speed i.e. 56k (slow).

With Telstra you will pay a penalty of $0.15 per Megabyte of usage.

When you do opt for a broadband connection make no mistake, and in all cases, your usage pattern will change, and I mean in a big way. Ask yourself one question, why do I want broadband? Amongst your answers will be:

1. I want fast response to browsing,
2. I want to be able to download more efficiently,
3. I want to improve real time interaction,
4. I want to maintain my Windows Update and Virus Updates more efficiently,
5. I want access to (legal) MP3 music downloads,
6. I want to be able to purchase and download software applications on the net,
7. I want to keep in touch with friends using messenger services,
8. ... etc etc etc etc...

With all these "wants" comes a usage penalty, Upload and Download. Also when you are connected and not even accessing the internet there is always idle traffic and as your broadband connection leaves your phone line free you generally leave the broadband connected (normal).

The modem is constantly communicating with your ISP. Programs on your PC might be using the net without user interaction such as traffic checking for email, pinging/monitoring other network nodes, etc. Someone (or some program without your knowledge) might be checking ports on your end, causing some traffic as well... This idle traffic could be around 0.2 to 1 kB per Second. For calculation purposes, let's say it's 0.3kB/Sec (on the low side) and your time per day with broadband is say 2 hour (typical). This calculates out to 2GB per day or 65GB per month.

This means that your 200MB plan could actually only give you an effective 200MB - 65GB = 135GB of useful traffic.

The penalty: With broadband you are going to double or more your usage pattern, guaranteed. You should be able to check your current monthly usage with your Internet Service Provider (IPS).

So, as a worst case scenario if you exceed your allowance by 200MB (very easily done) then with Telstra you will be up for another $30 per month and with Optus your service will be degraded for half the month.

What this all means is "you don't get anything for nothing". You have to make an informed decision when going to broadband.

Also once you go to broadband you will not go back to Dial Up. (typical).

Stop Press: OzEmail is offering customers the option of taking on its business and consumer broadband services on a month-to-month basis -- with no fixed term contracts -- from 6 July 2004.

OzEmail have now entered the battle for your business offering a $29.95 300MB plan. Exceed the limit and your connection speed will be throttled back.

Stop Stop Press: iPrimus have also intered the fray... iPrimus already have a deal costing $55.00 per month, where you transfer you telephone account to them. This $55.00 includes your line rental ($36.00) free local calls and an unlimited dialup internet account. Not a bad deal...

Now for an additional $15.00 per month they offer a Broadband account with unlimited hours with no extra download charges. However if you exceed 500MB within the month your connection speed will be throttled back to Dial Up speed.

Looks like the fight is on with the real winner being the customer (as long as you make an informed decision)...

Remember that Virus protection and a functioning Firewall is paramount when using a broadband connection. Why? Because you are connected for longer periods...

Security on the net - Phishing  

What is Phishing?

Phishing attacks use 'spoofed' e-mails and fraudulent websites designed to fool recipients into divulging personal financial data such as credit card numbers, account usernames and passwords, social security numbers, etc. By hijacking the trusted brands of well-known banks, online retailers and credit card companies, phishers are able to convince up to 5% of recipients to respond to them.

What to look out for:

• A link to a login page given in an email. Valid service providers will direct you to their web address and ask you to log-in from there.
• Upon clicking an email link you are taken to a page that uses javascript to remove the status bar of your browser hiding the fact that you are not on a secure page. When on a secure page always make sure you can see the 'lock' icon at the bottom right of your browser window.
• The page you access also contains code to alter the address bar to display what seems to be a valid address. The address for the page begins with http:// instead of https://.
• Right click has been disabled, when you attempt to right click a copyright warning is displayed. This is their way of hiding their malicious source code.
• The page is requesting credit card and checking account information and your back button no longer works.
• If you go back to the original email and start over you will find that any email/password combination will work to login.

Consumer Advice: How to Avoid Phishing Scams.

The number and sophistication of phishing scams sent out to consumers is continuing to increase dramatically. While online banking and e-commerce is very safe, as a general rule you should be careful about giving out your personal financial information over the Internet. The Anti-Phishing Working Group has compiled a list of recommendations that you can use to avoid becoming a victim of these scams.

Here is some more reading on the subject. Crime gangs go phishing in Australia

Australia joins US, UK in spam fight  

Australia has signed a cooperation agreement with the United States and Britain to fight the plague of spam.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Australian Communications Authority signed the deal with authorities in the US and Britain.

The agreement allows agencies in the three countries to share information, exchange evidence and coordinate enforcement against cross-border spam violations.

(I am sure it will take some time to see effective action with tangible results, however it's a start... ed )

....more >>>> ABC NEWSONLINE

Quote of the Day  

"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence."

Robert Frost

Brought to you by The Quotations Page

Have any questions relating to the internet or your computer? Let me know and I will research an answer and use this for future entries in our newsletter. Pass on your questions via the Enquiry Form on our Web-Site or send me an email.

If you have a friend or associate that you feel would benefit from receiving this newsletter please forward it to them for their review...

You have received this newsletter as you are an Engadine Web Services Customer or you have subscribed via our web-site.

To Unsubscribe from this newsletter 'click' the link and send an empty email...