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The Blaster threat has been blown out of proportion. Like any virus it can do damage to your system but some of the stories that were on the news like: "the virus will display a message to Bill Gates on your computer" um, technically the virus has embedded in it the following message: "I just want to say LOVE YOU SAN!! billy gates why do you make this possible ? Stop making money and fix your software!!" But it doesn't show on your screen. Only people deciphering the virus would see it. Makes for good television though! How do you know you've got it? Most viruses create some form of system conflict. So if your computer keeps rebooting or you can't open files or you can't run Norton AntiVirus or you can't run Windows Update, you probably have a virus, but not necessarily the Blaster worm We have the tools to remove it and the security updates to fix the patch so that you shouldn't get it again. Your Norton antivirus should protect you from the virus, if it has been updated in the past day. If you haven't had an update for awhile your computer is at risk. What does your computer need to make sure Blaster worm or something
similar doesn't attack your system?
If you are unable to run any of these then it may be too late. You'll need to call us out to fix your system. Please have your original operating system disk handy as it may be needed. 2. Updating your Norton AntiVirus. Like many of our valued clients, you probably have Norton AntiVirus installed. Every 7 days, whenever you connect to the net, Norton AntiVirus downloads updated virus definitions. These updates protect your computer from the thousands of viruses that circulate the internet. You can get viruses from almost anywhere, as proven by the blaster worm. It doesn't need you to open an email, it just comes through the internet connection. AntiVirus protection only lasts 12 months. Some of you will soon begin to receive the expiry notice that lets you know that you'll need to update the program. If you're unsure, just double click on the AntiVirus icon at the bottom of your screen to find out when your program is due to expire. You can either use your credit card online and order another 12 month subscription from Symantec in the US, or you can buy from us. We'll come around, uninstall the old version and install and update the new copy of Norton and give you the disk. This is much better than the download version because you'll have the disk in case anything happens to your computer in the future. 3. Closed during the long weekend. Electronic Desktop Solutions Pty Ltd will be closed during the October long weekend. You'll be able to leave messages or send emails but we won't be able to get back to you until Tuesday the 7th October. You may still be able to schedule someone to visit during the holiday if you call by 3rd October. 4. LCD screens. Are they good enough? Many of you have been investigating LCD screens and wondering whether you would prefer to replace your old CRT display to save some space. My advice is to really consider your options. I play a number of DVDs on my computer and, after talking to other people in the industry and viewing an example myself, have decided that CRT's are much better at moving image resolution then LCDs at the moment. If you're only using your computer for administrative work then an LCD is fine. But if you plan to watch anything on them, like downloaded movies or VCDS, or even an episode of Surviving Survivor from BananaTV you'll find a low cost LCD screen does not do the image justice. And to pay for one that does, over $1000, when you can get a CRT for a third of that, doesn't seem worth it. My advice is to wait another year when prices drop even more dramatically and then you'll be able to buy an LCD monitor with higher resolution, better depth and moving image quality for a reasonable price. 5. Product Activation. Since Microsoft XP introduced us to the nightmare world of product activation, many other companies have got in on the act. So what is it for? Every operating system disk or computer program from reputable dealers contain a license key. For your software to work you must type in the correct key. But the flaw with this system is that all anyone needs is the key and they can copy it illegally to hundreds of other computers. For example, only in June this year did Indonesian legislation change to make copying software illegal. Before this (cost equivalent of) $20 copies of $2000 programs were sold on streets in Jakarta. Shops in Bali sold copies in specially printed packs for distribution. $1000 programs for $10. The new activation system works by registering the software program online. The moment it is activated, it cannot be activated again. We've had calls regarding this as home users attempt to copy one disk they've bought onto two computers and found that they can't run anything on the second computer. This does, of course, mean that if your computer crashes and you need to reinstall everything, the only way to get it to run again is to call Microsoft and ask for a new activation key and supply a good reason as to why they should give it to you. While the activation system isn't new with Microsoft, they put the idea on the map and now software companies all around the world are scrambling to include it in their software to protect themselves from pirates. The activation system should stop this kind of piracy as any product requiring it would not be able to be sold in countries with poor antipiracy inforcement laws. For consumers and support consultants, it means that installing a piece of software will take a bit longer than normal, due to the need for activation online, or if no internet connection is present, a phone call will need to be made to the relevant company and an activation code inserted. Symantec, another company introducing product activation into their programs, have found a way to make it easier for consumers by including the ability to activate the program up to 5 times, depending on the type of license purchased. Perhaps this is the way to make it easier overall. 6. Welcome Yilan Welcome to Yilan. Yilan has joined us to design graphically enhanced web sites as well as advise clients on setting up ecommerce. She is also with us to be available to translate English into traditional and simplified Chinese text for Chinese pages. As the demand for this type of translation is growing, and with mobile and internet access in China exploding in the past year, Yilan is a welcome addition to the team. So, if you're needing any documents or web sites translated, or web sites created, contact us and we'll arrange that for you. So, until next time, defrag and scandisk monthly and run Windows Update. Oh and don't forget to do a complete virus scan of your system at least once per month. ------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2003 Electronic Desktop Solutions Pty Ltd ABN 54 065 417 665 Mention of products, services, ideas, articles, news etc is for informational
purposes only and constitutes neither a recommendation nor an endorsement.
Electronic Desktop Solutions Pty Ltd assumes no responsibility with regard
to the selection, performance or use of these products, services or information.
Unless otherwise indicated all pricing is RRP in Australian dollars correct
at time of publication. All URL's are correct at time of emailing. Product
specifications are subject to change. No responsibility is taken for information
read from the off site links. Buyer beware etc etc. Electronic Desktop
Solutions disclaims all responsibility for any problems that may occur
from following opinions or advice in this newsletter.
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Service and Support throughout the Northern Beaches and Sydney since 1989 |
