A word from the Chief Guru: Providing proactive computer solutions to
our clients
How time has flown by since the last issue of the CyberGuru Newsletter.
We've been so busy we almost didn't have time to bring out a newsletter
this quarter! Thank you to everyone who has supported us during this
time.
One of the comments we regularly receive about our computer solutions is
that we are proactive, and this is something we truly pride ourselves
on. Whilst we do utilise some "quick fixes" to get you and your computer
back up and running as quickly as possible, we also provide a range of
preventative maintenance techniques, such as our how-to guides and
hints, tips and tricks sheets. In using these techniques, we can enable
your computer to remain stable longer by resolving any issues before
they cause a major problem.
As the number of virus and spyware attacks continue to increase, to
protect you from these nasties we are providing a number of how-to
guides in this newsletter to assist and ensure that you do not become a
statistic.
As always, if we can be of any assistance to you or your organisation,
please feel free to contact us.
Chris Jeffery
Proprietor/Chief Guru
News: Changes
in pricing from 10 September 2007
Please note changes to the pricing of CyberGuru's computer solutions
have taken effect since the last issue of the CyberGuru Newsletter.
Whilst we continue to be one of the most affordable computer solutions
businesses around, the new pricing structure will allow us to continue
to provide the level of service you expect and enable us to provide new
and improved solutions. We are currently working on delivering a number
of new initiatives and projects and the changes will reflect a new
direction for our business.
The pricing structure remains based on an hourly rate, however fixed
quote work is available upon request.
Our new pricing is as follows:
* Online (work performed inside CyberGuru's office) - $60/hour
* Offsite (work performed outside CyberGuru's office) - $75/hour
There is no longer a call-out fee for solutions over two hours.
All existing Annual Contracts will remain at the same price until hours
are renewed, or the contract expires, whichever comes first.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Hints, Tips and Tricks: Canning your "spam" - reducing junk/unsolicited
email
A number of clients have contacted us recently for advice in reducing
the amount of "spam" they receive. Also known as junk email or
unsolicited commercial email, spam email is becoming increasingly
common, becoming more and more difficult to eliminate without one
changing their email address. However, there are ways to reduce the
amount of spam you receive.
Often your email address is obtained through it being received by an
unlawful party (particularly through people or organisations you provide
your email address to that don't have a "privacy policy", forwarded
emails such as chain letters and jokes, published on websites and
general "dictionary attacks") that just send out email by using common
names/email addresses.
To reduce the amount of spam:
1. The first important rule is not to respond to spam if you do not know
who the organisation or person is, even if it says you can unsubscribe
by clicking on a link or replying to the email. Oftentimes, this
confirms your email address is active and will continue to send spam.
Rather, just delete it.
2. Ask your internet service provider (ISP) to see if they provide a
spam filter. Some ISPs provide them free, but others not. The best ones
are the ones on the end of the ISP, as it will "trap" the incoming mail,
saving you time, money and bandwidth.
3. Your antivirus or Internet Security package may contain a spam
filter. If you use Norton Internet Security 2006, 2007 or Norton 360,
you can download a free "Norton Add-On Pack" which provides additional
features including Norton AntiSpam. This is available from Symantec's
website at
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/custserv.nsf/docid/2006092513351446.
4. Inside many email programs there is the ability to set the level of
spam filtering which will detect a spam and move them into the "Junk
Email" folder. For example, in Microsoft Outlook 2003 you can set this
by following the steps as at
http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/outlook/HP010423191033.aspx?pid=CH063564711033.
Alternatively, you can create email rules with various subjects or
keywords such as "free" and "Make money".
5. At a last resort, you may be required to change their email address.
"fredjones" is probably a common name in the spammers' dictionaries so
changing it to something like "fredjones2007" may reduce it.
In order to prevent further spam:
1. Set up a secondary email account (such as a free Hotmail account)
which is used to receive newsletters, complete surveys, responding to
newsgroups or email distribution lists.
2. Use your primary email address to people you really want to receive
mail from. Do not publish this on your website, rather use another email
account that can be changed if spam becomes a problem. At CyberGuru, we
use forms and web enquiry email addresses that can reduce the amount of
spam received by our clients. Having email address used for this purpose
enables us to reduce the exposure of the other email addresses receiving
spam.
3. Check the "Privacy Policy" and "Terms of Use" on any website or
newsletter you register for any fine print and check boxes that may use
or pass on your email address for more than what was intended.
4. Configure your email client to remove the "preview pane" and block
any "active content" such as pictures in HTML messages, which that
spammers use as Web beacons. These are small images in HTML emails,
often configured individually so that if they are downloaded can
identify that you've seen the email.
5. Don't spam other people - ensure they are willing to receive your
email as some consider invitations to join groups or forwarded email
spam. Invitations to groups such as Myspace provide your details to a
third party which may be used for advertising, and forwarding on emails
without deleting the previous content (such as who sent it to you) can
provide a large list of email addresses of which may end up in the hands
of a spammer to spam people with.
CyberGuru highly recommends if spam is a real problem to consider these
suggestions first, and seek advice from our Support solution in case
there is a malware or spyware installed on the computer.
This article is available from our Hints, Tips and Tricks page at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_hintstipstricks.htm.
How-to Guide: Clearing Spyware from your computer with Ad-Aware 2007
Spyware, such as trojan horses, are small programs included with free
software from the Internet, such as BonziBuddy. They are installed on
computers most often without the users knowing that they are there.
Spyware, as you can guess from its name, can often intrude on the users'
privacy. While the user is surfing the Internet, the spyware may be
recording the websites they visit and are known to keep details on
shopping purchases.
This how-to guide is available from our How-to Guides page at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_howtoguides.htm.
How-to Guide: Clearing Spyware from your computer with Spybot Search and
Destroy 1.5
Spybot Search and Destroy, also known as “Spybot-S&D” is a program
similar to Ad-Aware. Both Spybot-S&D and complement each other in
removing spyware. Spybot-S&D is particularly useful in removing
Malicious Mobile Code (MMC).
We've recently updated our How-To Guide providing some corrections and
reflecting the changes in version 1.5 of Spybot Search and Destroy.
This how-to guide is available from our How-to Guides page at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_howtoguides.htm.
How-to Guide: Performing a manual scan and removal of viruses and
spyware using Norton Internet Security 2007 and Norton 360
Although most modern Internet Security programs are capable of
performing scans and removal of viruses and spyware automatically, it is
still recommended that computers users performing manual scan and
removal of viruses and spyware regularly - preferably once a week (if
you computer is used frequently) or at least once a month.
As we have clients running either Norton Internet Security 2007 and
Norton 360, we've written two versions of this How-To Guide, one for
those with Norton 360 and those with Norton Internet Security 2007.
These how-to guides is available from our How-to Guides page at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_howtoguides.htm.
Joke: Dr. Seuss Explains
Computers
If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port and the bus is
interrupted as a very last resort, and the address of the memory makes
your floppy disk abort, then the socket packet pocket has an error to
report.
If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash, and the
double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash, and your data is
corrupted 'cause the index doesn't hash, then your situation's hopeless
and your system's gonna crash.
If the label on the cable on the table at your house, says the network
is connected to the button on your mouse, but your packets want to
tunnel on another protocol that's repeatedly rejected by the printer
down the hall, and your screen is all distorted by the side effects of
gauss, so your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse, then you may
as well reboot and go out with a bang 'cause as sure as I'm a poet, the
suckers gonna hang!
When the copy of your floppy's getting sloppy on the disk, and the
microcode instructions cause unnecessary risk, then you have to flash
your memory and you'll want to RAM your ROM. Quickly turn off the
computer and be sure to tell your mum.
Dr. S.
Thanks!
Thanks again for your
interest and custom in our solutions. You are receiving this newsletter
because you contacted have CyberGuru, use or have used our solutions in
the past or signed up for the mailing list.
You are welcome to send this newsletter to your friends, family,
colleagues and associates. However, please send the entire message
including this message.
Archives of the newsletter are available
at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_newsletter_archives.htm.
If you wish to stop receiving these newsletters, please email
cyberguruDONOTSPAM@cyberguru.com.au
with UNSUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER in the subject line or fill in the
unsubscribe form at
http://www.cyberguru.com.au/helpdesk_newsletter.htm.
If we can assist you in any way through our solutions, please
contact us.
Christopher Jeffery trading as CyberGuru
Web:
http://www.cyberguru.com.au
Email:
cyberguruDONOTSPAM@cyberguru.com.au
