On The Net - Computing News

with Chris Goh

With a new virus propagating on websites, that at the time of writing has no patch, I would highly recommend users install a second browser, and for safer protection, have two email accounts.

The new virus specifically targets Internet Explorer (IE) for the PC (Macs are fine). I recommend either downloading Netscape or Opera browsers, as either browser can be used in emergencies or as your primary browser. We discussed Spyware recently and the most malicious target IE.

The reason for the second email account is an effort to minimise SPAM. If you are doing commercial transactions online that require you to enter your email address, you should consider using one that you can discard after awhile. Many organisations who have had privacy policies regarding the distribution of personal email addresses have been subverted by staff who sell lists for money - and the latest case being AOL.

Now that the internet is again growing in commercial activity, and there are a generation of youth that have grown up with the skills to manipulate it, the web - which hasn't technically progressed for the last four years - is an easy target. The biggest problem is that it only requires a handful of people to create significant global electronic impact even if the execution is poor; in the case of a German teenager who got a virus code from the web and stuffed up the coding which caused machines to shutdown across the world. Unfortunately for us these youth believe they are the Robin Hoods and the Ned Kelly's of their small world because they have a fan club of equally gullible followers who think bringing down services around the world is cool.

There is also a growing threat of commercial opportunists who employ and empower these persons to take credit cards and personal information, and more terribly as I have recently found out myself, they use identity theft to discredit or make mischief for their critics. With all this happening you may think the world is going crazy, but it is always a handful of people who believe moral conscience is beyond them.

Next week we review Data Projection units, Epson, BenQ and Dell.

HotNews

It was only a matter of time, but Hotmail is about to increase its mail quota to 250Mb with an increase to 10Meg send and receives. The other big bonus that will greatly benefit users is the introduction of a virus wall that will scan emails for viruses (about time).

Instant messaging is seeing AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo duke it out. Earlier last year Microsoft was accused of hacking MSN Messaging to converse with users in AOL. Now Yahoo is blocking all third party messaging software that uses its network, and users are crying foul.

Microsoft has got a stay in complying with the EU ruling that Microsoft would need to take out Media player, make certain aspects of the Operating Systems open to developers and put out a new version of Windows that incorporates the requirements of the EU. The stay is only until the appeal that Microsoft has lodged is heard. No doubt Microsoft is hoping for a very long hearing.

Cellphone Alibi. You won't believe it but in Europe and the US, people are joining online groups of strangers that they can use to give them excuses. Examples include men and women who are being adulterous get someone on the network to ring their wives and husband to give them an excuse why they haven't returned home. These networks also distribute sound files like coughing and sickness so that your excuse for not going to work sounds legitimate. It is sad that people cannot take responsibility for their own actions anymore and even sadder that honesty is no longer a prized possession.

Hotsites

www.anvilfire.com

If you want to work with metal or have aspirations to be a blacksmith, anvilfire.com is the best place to start. This excellent portal gives help to would be metal workers on how to best achieve that piece of furniture or art that you've always wanted.

encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com

The free dictionary encyclopaedia is very comprehensive in its literature and links to relevant sites.

beauty.about.com

So that I can't be accused that all my websites are for the lads, about.com has another excellent segment in their great portal. This beauty portal follows in the same excellence as all other parts of About.com. Find honest, down-to-earth ideas on beauty.