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Editorial

Well, March was my turn to suffer the disaster of a hardware malfunction. One of my hard drives failed, a 200 Gig Western Digital, it was ony 3 months old. Yes, I had all my data backed up but it still meant about 5 days reinstalling all the application software.

Can you suffer a hard drive failure? Do you have your data backed up and located in a safe place? This type of failure CAN HAPPEN, so be ready.

Looks like XP Service Pack 2 is coming ready or not. Microsoft will start delivering it to your computer in April. If you use Auto Update then you need to be ready. Read the following articles and take control.

Have a happy and safe Easter...

Bruce Beresford, Manager & Editor

In this Issue:

• Featured Site
• Virus Watch
• Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) Coming ready or not
• Time to Update to XP Service Pack 2
• Message from Domain Administration Ltd (auDA)
• Tech Tips
• Quotes of the day

Featured Site  

This month's featured site is SiteDesign Landscape Archeticts.

Brandon Wallis established sitedesign in 1999 for clients requiring a complete outdoor building service that encompasses innovative design and the highest quality construction and maintenance. Brandon realises that home owners understand the benefits of a well-designed, constructed and maintained landscape as an investment both financially and in lifestyle, and designs landscapes with this ideal foremost.

sitedesign offers a personal and professional design service. We excel in creating functional and aesthetic outdoor living spaces for Australia unique’s environment. At sitedesign we pride ourselves on our attention to detail and appreciation of human interactions in a social and functional capacity. We understand the importance of budget, and how to avoid over capitilising your investment. Our aim is to take the hassle out of the landscape renovations, making the process clear, streamlined and organised...

Visit the sitedesign website and review the services they have on offer...

Virus Watch  

Latest Threats - from Symantec

19-03-05 Trojan.Mdropper

18-03-05 W32.Kelvir.I

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) Coming ready or not   

Microsoft has alerted customers that it will soon start delivering Windows XP Service Pack 2 using Automatic Update, whether they want it or not.

In response to requests from businesses, Microsoft last year released a tool that allowed companies to continue using the automatic update feature but temporarily block the security-oriented update from downloading.

However, the grace period comes to an end on April 12. Microsoft has posted a warning on its Web site, alerting people about the impending deadline. By Ina Fried, Special to ZDNet 28 February 2005.

Time to Update to XP Service Pack 2  

I have been warning against accepting the XP Service Pack 2 update from Microsoft for some months now, due to some of the unpredictable results that have occurred.

Well, as we now seem to be between a rock and a hard place due to Microsoft forcing the rollout of Service Pack 2 to users of Automatic Update its time to re-think the strategy. Automatic Update is important to ensure you maintain your operating system security updates, so if you are going to get SP2 anyway, why not on your terms. So to be in control, update before April 12.

I have been looking at SP2 for some considerable time now and reading many articles on it's installation and the problems that can occur.

Following are my recommendations for the installation of Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Some additional reading - Newsletter 5 - 20 August 2004

First:- backup all of your data (the data you cannot afford to loose).

Second: - remove (uninstall) from your computer any Anti-Virus software including Firewall software.

Third:- if there are any Windows XP Operating System functions you want, install them now before installing SP2.

Fourth:- install Service Pack 2 from CD rather than over the internet. Its faster, especially if you are on dial-up. The CD software is generally available on computer magazine free CD's, check the CD contents in the magazine before buying.

Fifth:- Once Service Pack 2 has installed, reinstall your Anti-Virus and Firewall software again. Windows XP Service Pack 2 has a built in Firewall which you can use if you wish, but make sure you only use one Firewall. (My comment: I have used Norton Software for many years and intend continuing with it despite some of the bad press it seems to get from time to time).

If you don't feel comfortable doing this yourself then get help from someone with the necessary technical knowledge.

Message from Domain Administration Ltd (auDA)  

I recently received an email from Domain Administration Ltd (auDA) concerning proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against Domain Names Australia Pty Ltd (DNA) and its director, Chesley Paul Rafferty.

Here is the email:

Subject: Domains Australia Pty Ltd - Consumer Alert

You are receiving this email because you are the registrant contact for a .au domain name. .au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA) is the Australian company that operates .au.

auDA has become aware that a company called Domains Australia Pty Ltd is sending letters and/or faxes to some domain name registrants offering to arrange registration of a .com domain name for $225.

The letter is headed 'DOMAIN NAME AVAILABLE'. auDA has received numerous complaints which indicate that some of the names being offered are either:

1. registered already to the recipient of the letter and not due to expire in the near future; or

2. registered to a different entity and is not available for registration.

auDA is concerned that the letters may:

a) mislead people into believing that their .com domain name has expired when it has not; or

b) mislead people into believing that a .com name is available for registration when it is not; and

c) in either case induce people to pay money to Domains Australia for a service that the company is unable to deliver.

Domains Australia is a company controlled by Chesley Rafferty, who is also a Director of Domain Names Australia Pty Ltd.

auDA has successfully taken legal action against Mr Rafferty and Domain Names Australia under the Trade Practices Act.

For more information see http://www.auda.org.au/news/dna.

If you have received a .com letter from Domains Australia and you wish to lodge a formal complaint, auDA advises that you immediately contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) either by lodging an electronic complaint at http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/3634 or by faxing details to their Canberra office on (02) 6243 1199.

Adam King
auDA

Watch out for BOGUS domain renewal notices...

Those customers who have their Domain Names managed by Engadine Web Services will receive a renewal invoice from us, ignore all other notices... This is a free service we provide for our customers only.

Tech Tips  

How to Update Your Computer with the JPEG Processing (GDI+) Security Update.

Microsoft had announced a critical vulnerability in its software's handling of the ubiquitous JPEG graphics format and has released the Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-028 on details.

The security hole is a buffer overflow that potentially allows an attacker to craft a special JPEG file that would take control of a victim's machine when the user views it through Internet Explorer, Outlook, Word, and other programs. The poisoned picture could be displayed on a website, sent in e-mail, or circulated on a P2P network.

Machines running on Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Office XP are vulnerable. The older versions of Windows are also at risk if the user has installed any of a other Microsoft applications that use the same flawed code.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 does not contain the hole, but vulnerable versions of Office running atop it can still be attacked if not patched.

Details on this vulnerability and patches are available at: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS04-028

Instructions for how to update your computer with the GDI+ security update can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/security/bulletins/200409_jpeg_tool.mspx

Quotes of the Day  

Don't you wish there were a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence? There's one marked 'Brightness,' but it doesn't work. Gallagher

If absolute power corrupts absolutely, does absolute powerlessness make you pure? Harry Shearer

An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought. Simon Cameron (1799 - 1889)

Yes, we have to divide up our time like that, between our politics and our equations. But to me our equations are far more important, for politics are only a matter of present concern. A mathematical equation stands forever. Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

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.

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