INews Newsletter - Mar 10, 2000
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* * * I N e w s * * *
A publication of Internet Nebraska, composed and distributed by
* * * manager@inebraska.com * * *
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Volume 3, Number 4 March 10, 2000
Welcome to another issue of INews, Internet Nebraska's customer
newsletter. This monthly newsletter communicates service bulletins,
announcements and other useful information to our customers. Please let
us know what you think of it. Archives of INews are located at
http://www.inebraska.com/inews
In this issue: Anatomy of a Web server
Helping Stop the Flow of Spam
Employment at IN
Pretty Park Virus
Mr. Internet
*** How a Web Server Works ***
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes when you click on a
link or type in a URL address? If so, read further as the INews continues
its quest to inform.
Let's say your friend emails you saying "Check out this great article!
It's at http://www.inebraska.com/inews/index.html ." When you type this
into your web browser, here's what happens, step by step:
First, your web browser (Internet Explorer or Netscape) breaks down the
address into several parts. The protocol, (http://) the web server name,
(www.inebraska.com) and the file path and name. (/inews/index.htm)
After the browser has this information, it establishes a Hypertext Transfer
Protocol (http) connection to the server (www.inebraska.com), and then
requests the file from the web server. For you tech heads out there, the
browser makes a TCP connection on port 80 and sends
"GET /inews/index.html," plus a whole bunch of other optional HTTP
information.
Once the server receives this request, and assuming it can find the file,
it sends the contents back in raw source form. After this "source code" is
received by your computer, your web browser handles all the page formatting
and downloading and inserting of pictures and so forth. You can, if you're
interested, view the source code that is downloaded by viewing the page
source in your web browser.
*** Global NetWatch ***
The race for revenue on the global Internet is fiercely competitive. If
you do business on your web site, you already know slow loading web pages
can be detrimental to your ability to generate revenue.
Global NetWatch simulates customer visits to your web site from numerous
geographic locations and through a variety of Internet backbone service
providers. These visits are measured, and reports are generated, detailing
your site's performance and availability. Global NetWatch delivers the
unbiased, 3rd party, web site performance data you need to improve end user
quality of service and to maintain and grow Internet revenues.
Global NetWatch has agreed to provide all Internet Nebraska customers with
web sites (even those hosted on other providers) with a 14 day no
obligation free trial of their service. To sign up, simply go to:
http://www.globalnetwatch.com/inetnebr.html
Begin your comprehensive web site monitoring today. Your customers will
thank you.
*** Helping Spammers Get Theirs ***
Everybody gets unsolicited junk e-mail (aka spam). For some it's a minor
annoyance, for others it can be a terrible inconvenience. To help stop
spam, it's often a good idea to forward the e-mail to the ISP of the
sender. To be helpful to the Internet provider, the e-mail must be a) sent
to the right place, and b) include the full message header so that the
provider can find the culprit.
We covered how to find out where the message actually came from and how to
find out where to send the complaint in an article in our December 18, 1998
issue ( http://www.inebraska.com/inews/viewnews.cgi?issue=19981218 ).
Here's a list of the most popular e-mail programs, and how to get the full
header information.
Eudora
-Click "blah blah blah"
NOTE:Some older versions do not have a "blah blah blah" button. If this is
the case you can view the header
-Click the "Tools" or "Special" menu
-Click "Options" or "Settings"
-Click "Fonts and Display from the menu on the left.
-Place a check in "Show all headers (even the ugly ones)"
Netscape 4.x
-Click the "View" menu
-Click "Page Source"
Netscape 1.x,2.x,3.x
-Click the "View" menu
-Click "Headers"
-Click "All"
Hotmail
-Click "Options"
-Click "Preferences"
-Scroll down to "Other Hotmail Options"
-Click "Message Headers."
-Click "Advanced" and click the "OK" button.
-Click "View Email Message Source" to display the message in raw
mode
Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express
-Click on the spam message
-Click on the "File" menu
-Click "Properties"
-Click the "Details" tab
-Click "Message Source"
Microsoft Outlook 98/2000
-Open the message
-Click the View menu
-Click Options
NOTE: This will ONLY display the headers. You must copy this information
and then past it in a new email with the text of the spam message.
*** The Capital Soccer Association - Advertisement ***
Capital Soccer Association specializes in
teaching soccer. However we recognize that
soccer, or any other youth sport is merely
one tool in the development of a young
child. Teamwork and sportsmanship through
knowledge and proficiency of the game are
our main goals.
-- http://www.capitalsoccer.com/
*** Help Wanted ***
Interested in an exciting, fast-paced position in a rapidly growing
Internet company? Internet Nebraska is looking for you. We provide a fun,
friendly, challenging work environment with benefits. We have openings in
the following position:
User Support Specialist
Support specialists provide first-level customer support via telephone and
e-mail. Verbal and written communication skills are a must for this
position. Experience with Windows and Macintosh computers is required, and
experience with UNIX, basic networking, and modem technology is preferred.
Full and part-time positions available, with flexible scheduling of days,
evenings and weekends.
Please e-mail resumes to sweaver@inebraska.com, fax resumes to (402)
436-2660, or send via US Mail to Steve Weaver, 1719 N Cotner, Ste B,
Lincoln, NE 68505.
*** Schaefer's TV & Appliance Center - Advertisement ***
Schaefer's is an independently owned and
operated television, appliance, and home
theater retailer in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Born out of a small corner drugstore four
decades ago, Schaefer's TV & Appliance is a
22,000 square-foot "superstore" today,
specializing in commercial/professional-grade
appliances, whole house sound systems, home
theater and central vacuum systems. The
success of Schaefer's is key to repeat
business. If a customer happens to have a
problem with a product, Schaefer's will bend
over backwards to get it solved. Our service
center is the largest in the city, and has been
voted Lincoln's #1 servicer for 10 years in a
row! A knowledgeable sales staff, express
delivery, easy financing, and our customer
service representatives are just a few of the
ways in which we at Schaefer's distinguish
ourselves from the rest. Stop by our showroom
at 48th and R in Lincoln, or call us at
402-464-8888, and see for yourself.
-- http://www.schaeferstv.com/index2.htm
*** Yet Another Important Virus Warning ***
With all the hype lately and the widespread occurrence, we thought it a good
idea to write an INews article about the latest well-known computer virus,
called Pretty Park. In fact, at IN we receive several e-mails weekly from
customers who unknowingly have the Pretty Park virus/worm.
This worm program behaves similarly to Happy99 Worm. It was originally
spread by email spamming from a French email address.
Pretty Park spreads via e-mail. When the attached program file,
PrettyPark.exe, is executed, it may display the 3D pipe screen saver. It
also creates a file called files32.vxd in the Windows\System directory and
modifies the following registry entry value from "%1" %* to files32.vxd
"%1" %* without your knowledge:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\exefile\shell\open\command
Once the worm program is executed, it tries to email itself automatically
every 30 minutes (or 30 minutes after it is loaded) to email addresses
registered in your Internet address book.
It also tries to connect to an IRC server and join a specific IRC channel.
The worm sends information to IRC every 30 seconds to keep itself
connected, and to retrieve any commands from the IRC channel.
Via IRC, the author or distributor of the worm can obtain system
information including the computer name, product name, product identifier,
product key, registered owner, registered organization, system root path,
version, version number, ICQ identification numbers, ICQ nicknames,
victim's email address, and Dial Up Networking username and passwords. In
addition, being connected to IRC opens a security hole in which the client
can potentially be used to receive and execute files.
Repair Information
To remove the PrettyPark worm:
1.On the Windows taskbar, click Start > Run.
2.Type REGEDIT, then click OK.
3.Modify the following Registry value:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\exefile\shell\open\command
and change
files32.vxd "%1" %*
to
"%1" %*
For clarity, these seven characters are the following: double quote,
percent sign, the numeral one, double quote, space, percent sign, and
asterisk. Don't forget the space.
4. Delete the PrettyPark.exe file.
5. Restart your computer.
6. Delete the \Windows\System\Files32.vxd file.
When in doubt, have a computer expert remove the worm/virus for you.
Internet Nebraska cannot be responsible for damage caused by viruses, or
damage caused by virus removal.
*** Mr. Internet ***
Q: My modem downloads at 56k speeds, but it only uploads at 33.6k. Why is
this?
A: This is an excellent question! It's due to the mixed digital/analog
nature of 56k modem technology. Read on...
When you dial into a 56k capable modem pool, the modems that you call
are actually digital modems hooked up to digital lines. These can send
and receive data much faster than your POTS (Plain Old Telephone
Service) line. Since your modem is based on analog technology, it
cannot send data at the same rate that a provider's digital modems can.
A site we recommend for more reading about 56k technology is
http://www.808hi.com/56k/
*** Advertise on Our Home Pages ***
What better way to advertise your business than on a Web page that is seen
tens of thousands of time every month? None, if you're paying as little
as we charge for it!
We are now offering banner advertising that rotates on all our pages, and
which is priced based on the number of impressions (viewings) per month.
Your banner can reach thousands of Nebraska residents, and this is a
unique way to advertise your Nebraska business to residents in the area.
Prices for banner advertisement can be found at:
http://www.inebraska.com/ad.html
We will also be selling links from our main page. Please contact
manager@inebraska.com, or give us a give us a call at our office,
402-434-8680, and ask how you can reserve banner spots on some of the
hottest URL's in the state. The advertisers in this issue did, and we
recommend them highly.