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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.
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Monthly Statements Available
Online
Simplify Your Life With e-Statements
 Cannon Communications
features online versions of our monthly statements - absolutely
free! The electronic statement, or e-Statement contains all of the
same account information as a paper statement except that it's
delivered online instead of through the mail.
Certified
Security
All e-Statement transactions are encrypted for
security and take place on our VeriSign-certified secure server. A
personally selected user name and password are required to access
your account.
E-Statements provide you:
- The ability to
view, print and save statements.
- Secure access to previous 12
months of statements, 24 hours a day.
- The freedom to choose to
have your monthly statement paid by credit card or automatic
checking account withdrawal.
How Do I Activate My
e-Statement?
It's easy! Complete a one-time registration
process that includes a personally selected ID and password, then
start enjoying the benefits of paperless billing.
To begin,
go to Cannon
Communications e-Statement, then click "Register Now."
Want to know more?
For answers to all of your
questions regarding our online e-Statements, visit our FAQs page (http://www.cannoncomm.net/estatement-faqs.htm)
or contact a customer service consultant at 651-385-0877.
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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.
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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 is Singapore?
Is my kitchen clock or my alarm clock correct? How many more days,
hours, minutes, and seconds until New Year's Day 2007? This website
can answer all of these important questions and more. You can also
design your own "Personal World Clock" to show the current times in
cities of your choice around the world. Time has never been so
interesting!
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 Columbus, Ohio,
many concerts have taken only minutes to sell-out. It's no wonder.
This married duo has over thirty number one songs between them. For
a listing of concert locations and to listen to Faith sing songs as
you surf, head to her site and turn up your computer's volume.
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.
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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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Resume the
download by clicking on the "Resume" link.
4. 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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Resume the download by clicking on
the "Resume" link.
4. 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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Resume the download by
clicking on the orange circle with the white arrow.
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We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It's our
way of keeping you up-to-date on what's happening in the fascinating
world of the Internet. However, if you'd prefer not to receive these
journals on a monthly basis, click
here to
be removed.
Thanks for your business and best
regards,
Cannon Communications -
Your Local Communications Provider
1001 Main St
Red
Wing, MN 55066
(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 Advertising Group Inc.
Trademarks:
All brand names and product names used in this e-Newsletter are
trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective owners. |
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