From: e-LINKS [eLINKSeditor@comporium.net]
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Subject: Your Comporium e-LINKS eNewsletter May 2008
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Inside This Issue

Surfer Beware
Hackers Now Compromising Legitimate Websites

Community Events Feature Airshow, Auction, And Live Music - Have Fun!

Ask The Help Desk
What Do The Terms "Freeware" And "Shareware" Mean?

Sites Of The Month
Great Sites To Check Out In May

Short Tutorial
Removing Contacts From Your Address Book



   

Welcome, Comporium Internet Subscribers

We've filled this May issue with information you need to know as well as fun ideas you'll want to know. First, there's a warning that hackers are now compromising legitimate websites to launch attacks, along with tips on what to do to help protect your computer. Keep reading to understand the difference between freeware and shareware, and learn how to remove contacts from your e-mail address book. Great Sites section then offers ways to help you enjoy spring even more — including a new action flick, RV vacation pointers, and recipes for grilling.

The goal of each of our monthly eNewsletters is to keep our subscribers informed regarding their Internet connection and to improve their Internet experience. We think you'll find this information interesting. If, however, you'd prefer not to receive these bulletins on a monthly basis, click here.

To see what's inside this issue, simply scroll down the eNewsletter or click on the links within the index to the left. Thanks for reading!

- The Comporium Internet Team
 
  
 

 

Surfer Beware - Hackers Now Compromising Legitimate Websites

In the past, users had to visit intentionally malicious websites or click on spam e-mail attachments to become a victim of a security threat. Now hackers are starting to compromise legitimate sites and use them as a distribution medium to attack home and enterprise computers. Symantec, a leading cybersecurity firm, recently reported that it detected 711,912 such threats last year, compared with 125,243 in 2006.

According to Symantec, the attacks are particularly targeting sites that are likely to be trusted by end users. These include major search engines like Google, browsers like Mozilla, and social networking sites like Facebook. In the case of Google, hackers use a glitch in Google's site to redirect unsuspecting PC users to sites tainted with malware. This enables them to use the PCs to spread spam and carry out scams. Typically, it also lets the hackers embed a keystroke logger to collect passwords and other sensitive data. Google is working on new tools to detect and block malicious Web pages.

To protect your computer, we strongly encourage our Internet customers to be diligent about security and regularly update your antivirus software. New viruses and worms are discovered daily and can be spread many ways — over networks, through attachments, through even legitimate websites, via devices connected to your computer, and by storage media such as Zip drives and CDs. Remember to also scan all file attachments of incoming e-mail messages, even messages from people you trust. You have the ultimate responsibility for protecting your computer against these threats.

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Community Events Feature Airshow, Auction, And Live Music - Have Fun!

Below are just a few of the entertaining events coming up in the area that are available to the general public and sponsored in part by Comporium, the communications company that is "Making York Life Easier."

Downtown Live! - Featuring "Dave Lambert and the Carolina Rails" playing country rock favorites, this first performance of the Downtown Live series this season takes place between 5:30 - 9:30 p.m. The Whitesides Parking Lot on 108 North Congress Street in York will be the site of this event, which is presented by the Greater York Chamber of Commerce. Send your questions to info@greateryorkchamber.com or call 684-2590 for more information.

Main Street Live! in Rock Hill - The York County Regional Chamber presents its own concert series the first Thursday of each month during the summer. The next performance is set for June 5th, featuring Dan Plowden. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. and performances begin at 6 p.m. Main Street Live also features a kid's fun zone with inflatable gyms and other activities for ages 10 and younger (admission is $1 per child).

York county Idol auditions also is part of the evening entertainment. Contact Trina Ricks at 324-7500 or tricks@yorkcountychamber.com for more information.

Palmetto Thunder Airshow - Go to this area's one-of-a-kind airshow May 17th and 18th at the Lancaster County Airport. The family fun takes place between 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. both days. Tickets are available at the event ($15 Adults and $10 Children - ages 3-12; no charge for ages 2 and under).

David Schultz Airshows, accredited Air Show Coordinator, and See Lancaster have organized this event, which is expected to attract over 20,000 spectators from the surrounding area. Visit www.palmettothunder.com for more details.

2008 Palmetto Thunder Airshow Graphic

Winthrop Eagles Auction - Ready for some fast-paced fun and good deals while supporting the Eagles' Athletic Scholarship program? Attend "The Wide Wide World of Winthrop" at the scholarship auction at the Winthrop Coliseum on Sat., May 17th.

The festivities begin at 5:30 p.m.; and, you can enjoy a full buffet dinner, open bar and live auction beginning at 7:30 p.m. Call 323-2129 (Ext. 6224) for information on how to obtain tickets, which are $50 each. For details, visit www.winthropeagles.com.

Tips For Securing Your Wireless Router

  1. Change the router administration password. All routers have a default password configured out of the box, but this password is usually very easy to crack (often, manufacturers use "password" as the password). Changing the password will help keep hackers from accessing the router.
  2. Change/hide the SSID. The SSID, or Service Set IDentifier, is a name used to identify the particular wireless network to which a user wants to connect their wireless client device (usually a computer). Again, most manufacturers use something very simple by default (most often the actual name of the manufacturer). Logging into the router to change AND hide the SSID forcers a potential hacker to work a little harder to access your wireless network.
  3. Use encryption. Encrypting your wireless network is key to increasing the security level of your network. There are two common encryption standards, WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). While WPA is preferred over WEP, something is always better than nothing.
  4. Using MAC address filters. This is for more advanced users. The MAC address, or Media Access Control address, is a quasi-unique identifier attached to most network adapters (device in your computer used to connect to a network). It is a number that acts like a name for a particular network adapter. Most router manufacturers provide means for limiting access to your wireless network based on this address. If you feel comfortable setting this up, it is a great security feature.
  5. Disable remote administration. Remote administration is a feature that allows a user to access the configuration pages of their wireless router from a remote location. This also makes it easier for hackers to access the device from a remote location. Most manufacturers leave this functionality disabled by default, but it can't hurt to check and make sure.
  6. Be aware. Always be aware of anyone that appears to be using a laptop in close proximity to your home or business. Most routers also allow you to see how many devices are connected to your wireless network. If you have two computers but see that more have connected to your network, changing your security settings is a must.

Ask Comporium

This month's question comes from Comporium Internet subscriber Stu Moskovitz.

Question: I have often wondered why the information put into the subject line of e-mail is so limited. It sure would be nice if it could accommodate more information, such as underlining, italics and different colored fonts.

Answer: Unfortunately, this is not possible. E-mail standards (called RFCs or Requests For Comment) dictate that the subject field be sent as plain text with no formatting. Therefore, all e-mail servers and clients are programmed to do as such.

Do you have a question about how something works or a Comporium service? If so, send them in! A question will be selected every month and will be answered in the monthly subscriber newsletter. To submit your question, send an e-mail to the Comporium E-LINKS Editor. The user who submits the selected question will receive a prize from the Comporium Prize Vault!

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Ask The Help Desk - What Do The Terms "Freeware" And "Shareware" Mean?

Question: I've heard the terms "freeware" and "shareware" used to describe software programs. What exactly do these terms mean?

Answer: Freeware is software that is made available by its originator for unlimited use by anyone at no charge. By contrast, shareware is software that is freely distributed but for which the author expects payment from people who decide to keep the software after a trial period and continue to use it. Freeware and shareware are widely available online in many different software categories.

Before you download anything, however, research the website and software to make sure both are reputable. You should also have antivirus software installed on your computer and keep it updated.

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Sites Of The Month - Great Sites To Check Out In May

Indiana Jones is Back
http://IndianaJones.com - The fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise comes to the big screen this month nearly two decades after the last one. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull boasts all the action that fans have come to expect, from car chases to Indiana Jones wielding his trademark bullwhip. The film stars Harrison Ford and is led by famous filmmakers George Lucas as executive producer and a writer, and Steven Spielberg as director. Get a sneak peak here and enjoy classic clips from previous installments.

ABCs of RVs
http://GoRVing.com - It's time to plan your summer road trip. Ever thought about traveling in an RV? You can take the comforts of home with you wherever you go, and enjoy the freedom to really explore the great outdoors. If you're new to RVing, this site is the place to start. You'll find descriptions for all RV types, shopping and rental information, travel ideas, a campground database, driving and towing tips, and even a free "getting started" CD-ROM or DVD.

Making Sense of Dollars
http://finance.yahoo.com/how-to-guide/index - With the rising costs of today's economy, it's more important than ever to make smart moves with your money. Check out this comprehensive How-to Guide on the Yahoo! Financial site for lots of practical tips and online tools. From advice on how to get out of debt to savings ideas for college, there's a wealth of information at your fingertips.

Race Around the Indy 500
http://Indy500.com - The theme of the 92nd Indianapolis 500 is "Fuel the Dream." No wonder, since this is definitely a sporting event that many dream of competing in (or simply attending). This year's field of 33 starting drivers on May 25 will include a history-making driver; Illinois native Danica Patrick captured the Indy Japan 300 title in April, making her the first woman to win an IndyCar race. Do a few laps around this site to see updates on the practice runs, review race history, get ticket information, and read the personal "500" stories of other fans.

Get Grilling
http://weber.com/bbq/pub/recipe - The Weber name has become synonymous with grilling. Before you fire up the grill for the warm weather season ahead, go straight to the source for lots of expert advice and new recipe ideas. To keep the inspiration coming for weekend parties, sign up to receive the Recipe of the Week each Friday.

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Short Tutorial - Removing Contacts From Your Address Book

Let's face it -- the people in our personal and professional lives come and go. If your e-mail address book is cluttered with names from inactive relationships, you're wasting time wading through an unnecessarily long list.

To remove contact information from your address book, follow the steps below for your specific e-mail program:

Removing Contacts From Your Address Book When Using Outlook Express 6 and Windows XP SP2 Home Edition
  1. With Outlook Express 6 open, click your cursor arrow on the "Addresses" button located on the toolbar.

  2. Click on the contact you want to delete. (The contact's name will be highlighted when you click on it.)

  3. Click on the "Delete" button located on the toolbar.

  4. The Address Book - Main Identity dialogue box will appear asking if you are sure you want to permanently delete the selected item. Click the "Yes" button.

  5. Close the Address Book - Main Identity dialogue box by clicking on the red "X" in the upper right-hand corner. The selected contact is now deleted.
Removing Contacts From Your Address Book When Using Thunderbird 1.5 and Macintosh OS X 10.4, Windows XP SP2 Home Edition, or Windows Vista Home Premium
  1. With Thunderbird open, click your cursor arrow on the "Address Book" button located on the toolbar.

  2. Click on the contact you want to delete. (The contact's name will be highlighted when you click on it.)

  3. Click the "Delete" button located on the toolbar. The selected contact is now deleted.
Removing Contacts From Your Address Book 4.0.4 When Using Mail 2.1.1 On Macintosh OS 10.4.9
  1. With Address Book open, click your cursor arrow on the "All" icon in the "Group" field.

  2. Click on the entry you want to delete in the "Name" field to select it. (The contact's name will be highlighted when you click on it.)

  3. Click on the "Edit" menu and select "Delete Card" from the drop-down menu. The selected contact is now deleted.
Removing Contacts From Windows Contacts (Address Book) When Using Windows Mail and Windows Vista Home Premium
  1. With Windows Mail open, click your cursor arrow on the "Contacts" button located on the toolbar.

  2. Select the contact you want to delete. (The contact's name will be highlighted.)

  3. Click on the "Delete" button located on the toolbar.

  4. The Delete File dialogue box will appear asking if you are sure you want to move this file to the Recycle Bin.

  5. Click the "Yes" button. The deleted contact will be moved to the Recycle Bin where it will remain until the bin is manually emptied.

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We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It's our way of keeping you posted on the happenings here. If, however, you'd prefer not to receive these bulletins on a monthly basis, click here.

Thanks for your business!

Best regards,

e-LINKS Editor




Comporium Group
330 E. Black St.
Rock Hill, SC 29730

Rock Hill: (803)-324-9011
Fort Mill: (803)-548-9011
Lancaster: (803)-283-9011
Heath Springs: (803)-283-9011
York: (803)-684-1012

(We have used our best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein. However, we do not assume, and hereby disclaim, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other causes.)

©2008 Cornerstone Publishing Group Inc.

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