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Surfer Beware |
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Greetings from Polar's E-Connections Team
We think
you'll find the information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable
tool for enhancing your Internet experience. If, however, you'd prefer not to
receive these bulletins on a monthly basis, click HERE. |
Surfer
Beware - Prevent Your Computer From Being Turned Into A "Zombie"
According to recent
Internet security reports, attacks by hackers on websites are getting more
frequent and nasty. Many hackers looking to inflict serious harm to websites do
so by remotely taking control of unsuspecting home computers and then
instructing them to simultaneously send massive amounts of e-mail messages to
targeted sites. This technique of attacking sites is termed "distributed
denial of service" (DDOS). These controlled "zombie" computers
(usually home computers like yours) flood the targeted sites with messages to
the point of preventing legitimate customers from conducting transactions at
the victimized sites. Often times, these attacks can even entirely disable the
sites.
So how are hackers able to take control of unsuspecting home computers across
the globe and turn them into "zombies" to do their dirty work?
Hackers create viruses and embed them into e-mail attachments and downloadable
software files. When computer users open the corrupt attachments or download
these files from the Internet, their computers become infected. Once the
computers are successfully infected, they are added to a network of zombie
computers used to generate spam e-mail and launch attacks against targeted
websites. Usually the owners of these infected computers are not even aware
that their computers are a part of this clandestine activity.
As a computer user, you can do your part to help curb this criminal behavior.
Be sure to install and utilize virus-scanning software, update this software on
a regular basis, and scan all incoming attachments before opening them. Always
resist the temptation of opening files sent as e-mail attachments from someone
you don’t know and only download software from reputable sites. In addition,
many viruses and worms also spread through the sharing of files when using
floppy disks, zip disks, and networks. Be sure to scan these files for
infections as well. Remember, the ultimate responsibility of protecting your
computer against worms and viruses lies with you.
Plans
Are Underway - Polar To Upgrade
Grafton Wireless High Speed Internet Site
The current Grafton
Wireless High Speed Internet site reaches customers up to the 3 to 5 mile
range, depending on the lay of the land. The new upgrade will allow us to reach
customers up to 5 to 10 miles from the site. The upgrade will happen in mid to
late April. If you are interested information on receiving Polar's
High Speed Internet Service, please contact us at sales@polarcomm.com
or 1-800-284-7222.
Ask
The Help Desk - When
Will Microsoft Stop Supporting Windows 98?
Question: I’ve heard that Microsoft
will soon stop supporting Windows 98. Is this true?
Answer: Yes. With the large majority of PCs now running Windows XP,
the software giant has announced that it will end its extended support for all
versions of the Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium
Edition operating systems (and their related components) effective July 11,
2006. This means no more technical support, no more incident support options,
and no more security updates related to these operating systems.
If you still plan to use Windows 98 or Windows Me operating systems, existing
web-based support documents will continue to be available at http://support.microsoft.com/ph/1139
for Windows 98 and http://support.microsoft.com/ph/6519
for Windows Me. However, please note that it will soon be more imperative than
ever that you utilize virus-scanning software and update this software on a
regular basis when using Windows 98 or Windows Me.
Great
Sites To Check Out This Month
Go Fly A Kite This
Month
http://nationalkitemonth.org - Go fly a kite! We mean that in a nice way. April is
National Kite Month sponsored by the Kite Trade Association International and
the American Kitefliers Association. Their site
includes lots of links to sites that'll show you how to build your own kites.
It also provides safety tips for new people to the sport, event schedules for
kite-related events, a place to register your own kite event, and a detailed
history of kite flying. Can you name five people who changed the course of
history through kite flying? This site tells you.
Anyone Got The Correct Time?
http://timeanddate.com - How many more days until my birthday? What time is it
right now in
Cassini Spacecraft Makes New Discoveries Of Saturn's System
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/operations/index.cfm - The world continues to be intrigued by the
Cassini-Huygens spacecraft mission. The Cassini spacecraft is the first to
explore the Saturn system of rings and moons from orbit. In January 2005, the
European Space Agency's Huygens Probe detached from Cassini and was sent to
Saturn's largest moon, Titan, providing scientists with vital data. Cassini
continues to make discoveries as it orbits Saturn during its four-year mission.
Recent photographs revealed what scientists believe to be liquid water on
another of Saturn's moons, Enceladus. Head to this site for daily updates and amazing photography.
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's 2006 Tour Begins
http://faithhill.com - Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's Soul2Soul Tour II 2006 is
on pace to be the hottest concert event of the year. Kicking off April 21st in
NHL Season Heats Up In April
http://nhl.com - The action really heats up this month as the NHL's
regular season schedule winds down and the play-off action begins. Check out
the NHL's official site to get up-to-the-minute scores as well as complete
stats and game overviews, radio and video highlights, links to your favorite
NHL team's site, player interviews, and more.
Short
Tutorial - How To Stop A Downloaded File While In Progress
Have you ever started to
download something from the Internet and then realized after the download
started that the file was a lot bigger than you anticipated and you really
didn't have time to wait around for it to completely download? Well, with most
modern browsers, there is a way to stop the process in the middle of the
download. You can then come back later to start and finish the download when
you have more time. Follow these directions to stop a file from downloading
before its completion.
Stopping a File Download When Using Internet Explorer 6.0 Browser and
Windows XP Home Edition:
With Internet Explorer 6.0, your only real option is to cancel the download
using the CANCEL button on the download window before it finishes. If you want
to restart the download, you will have to start again at the beginning.
Stopping a File Download When Using Firefox 1.0
Browser and Windows XP Home Edition and Macintosh OS X:
To use the special download features of this browser, you need to open the
Downloads window.
- With Firefox open and before
you begin downloading, click on the "Tools" menu and drop down
to "Downloads." The Downloads window will appear giving you a
list of recent downloads.
- Download a file in the usual manner from a site you
trust. When the download begins, you will see a progress bar below the
name of the file in the Downloads window. Beneath the progress bar is a
"Pause" link. Clicking on that link will pause
the download and change the "Pause" link to a "Resume"
link.
- Resume the download by clicking on the
"Resume" link.
- You will notice a "Cancel" link to the right
of the file name. This will cancel the download and the "Cancel"
link will become a "Retry" link and a "Remove" link.
The "Retry" link will restart the download from the beginning.
The "Remove" link will remove the file from the Downloads
window's list completely.
Stopping
a File Download When Using Netscape 8.1 Browser and Windows XP Home Edition:
To use the special download features of this browser, you need to open the
Downloads window.
- With Netscape 8.1 open and before you begin
downloading, click on the "Tools" menu and drop down to
"Downloads." The Downloads window will appear giving you a list
of recent downloads.
- Download a file in the usual manner from a site you
trust. When the download begins, you will see a progress bar below the
name of the file in the Downloads window. Beneath the progress bar is a
"Pause" link. Clicking on that link will pause
the download and change the "Pause" link to a "Resume"
link.
- Resume the download by clicking on the
"Resume" link.
- You will notice a "Cancel" link to the right
of the file name. This will cancel the download and the "Cancel"
link will become a "Retry" link and a "Remove" link.
The "Retry" link will restart the download from the beginning.
The "Remove" link will remove the file from the Downloads
window's list completely.
Stopping
a File Download When Using Safari 2.0 Browser and Mac OS X:
To use the special download features of this browser, you need to open the
Downloads window.
- With Safari 2.0 open and before you begin downloading,
click on the "Tools" menu and drop down to
"Downloads." The Downloads window will appear giving you a list
of recent downloads.
- Download a file in the usual manner from a site you
trust. When the download begins, you will see a blue progress bar below
the name of the file in the Downloads window. Next to that progress bar is
a white "x" in a gray circle. Clicking on that "x"
will pause the download and change the
"x" icon into an orange circle with a white curved arrow.
- Resume the download by clicking on the orange circle
with the white arrow.
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,
The E-Connections
Team
Polar E-Connections
Polar Communications
110 4th St E
Park River, ND 58270
800-284-7222 
(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.)
©2006
Cornerstone Publishing Group Inc.
Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter
are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.