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Torian Group Times
“Technology with Integrity”
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Trend Antivirus has released "Trend Worry Free Security" which is a significant upgrade to their Server based antivirus product. It is a free upgrade to users who have a current license for Trend CSM (Client/Server/Messaging) or Trend CS Antivirus.
http://us.trendmicro.com/us/products/sb/worry-free-business-security/index.html
Microsoft released 6 critical and 5 important updates on Aug. 13. Remember to keep your computer patched. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms08-aug.mspx
We have had several clients this month that had problems with blocked email.ATT continues to flag all dynamic DSL users as possible spammers. They are tightening rules for forwarding email. Careful attention to the setup of your domain and mail system is more important than ever. In some cases spammers may be using your domain as a reply address without your knowledge, triggering a block on your email.
www.broadbandreports.com/forum/r20211779-ATT-abuse-block-550
www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/24/aggressive_att_spam_filters/
www.dslreports.com/forum/r19057010-Bellsouth-blocking-my-legit-email-server
Explanation of RBL (email black listing): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNSBL
You can check to see if your network or domain is listed here http://w3dt.net/tools/arbl/
or here http://openrbl.org/client - this site also has links to each RBL removal tool
More extensive tools are available by subscription here: www.dnsstuff.com
Form to unblock ATT/SBC: http://worldnet.att.net/general-info/mail_info/block_admin.html
Web browsing problems may be caused by DNS Cache poisoning. Symptoms can be web pages working intermittently, or going to an unexpected site. A couple of our clients with DSL have seen this problem - ATT DNS servers may have been affected for a time. A patch for windows servers was released last month. Also, using opendns.com servers as your DNS server can help. The problem is caused by hackers sending fake DNS updates which maliciously change the records that determine which servers you go to when you type in a web address.
http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/800113 info on the problem
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms08-037.mspx patch
http://www.opendns.com Safe DNS servers
XP SP3 known issues and workarounds. www.technibble.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2429
I continue to get questions about transferring large files. The best way to do it is to use many of the free or low cost file transfer services. You upload your file to a web site, and send a link to the recipient via email. There are many alternatives:
comparative review: http://mashable.com/2007/05/23/7-ways-to-send-huge-files-25x-bigger-than-gmail
more reviews: http://email.about.com/od/sendbigfilesviaemail/tp/send_big_files.htm
Some of the sites: www.yousendit.com www.pando.com www.sendthisfile.com www.mailbigfile.com www.filemail.com www.driveway.com www.fatfile.com
What's Running is a useful tool for understanding what programs are actually running on your pc, and how they are starting up www.whatsrunning.net
www.processlibrary.com is a great resource for finding out what the processes listed in task manager actually do. They also have a tool for task manager which adds a browser shortcut to the process description for every running process listed. www.processlibrary.com/quicklink/
Laptops can be arbitrarily seized and held at customs. If you travel out of the country be aware, and make sure you have a copy of any laptop or flash drive data you need. Agents can routinely seize travelers’ electronic gear (“any device capable of storing information in digital or analog form”) and keep it for as long as they see fit, “absent individualized suspicion”. And they can search its contents and copy and share them with other agencies. The policy applies to anyone entering this country, including U.S. citizens.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/01/AR2008080103030.html
www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/travel/admissability/search_authority.ctt/search_authority.pdf.
Federal Communications Commission punished Comcast for slowing some Internet traffic with a precedent-setting reprimand . “Comcast was delaying subscribers’ downloads and blocking their uploads. It was doing so 24/7, regardless of the amount of congestion on the network or how small the file might be,” said FCC Chairman Kevin Martin. “Even worse, Comcast was hiding that fact by making affected users think there was a problem with their Internet connection or the application. http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20080729/comcast-5/
Criminals now use automated tools to exploit flaws within 24 hours of discovery. Web browsing is a main target. www.connectitnews.com/usa/story.cfm?item=2324
http://news.smh.com.au/technology/online-threats-materializing-faster-study-shows-20080729-3mhx.html
Identity Theft is creating a booming business for fraud protection. Many of these services are not that useful. Most banks resell a version of this service, which you can sign up for directly at lower cost. www.idtheftcenter.org Nonprofit resource for ID protection info. Start here.
http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs33-CreditMonitoring.htm
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9111019
http://www.idanalytics.com/ Much of what you do is being monitored, and is for sale.
Lifelock www.lifelock.com is in a class action lawsuit for misrepresentation.
FTC info – good summary http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/
California office of info security http://www.oispp.ca.gov/consumer_privacy/default.asp
Terminal Server alternative www.ncomputing.com
SQL Server 2008 is out. www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008
What’s new in this version: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc434690.aspx
We have added to our vendor relationships. We are now an authorized dealer for HP, Acronis, and are a Dell Premier partner.
Some of our staff hourly rates will increase slightly next month to reflect increased costs.
We have updated our web site.
Tim Torian
Torian, Group, Inc.
http://www.toriangroup.com