July 05 Newsletter

Government launches online safety website

The Government has launched a website devoted to combating security threats as part of its plans to make online life safer.

IT Security Awareness For Everyone (Itsafe) is aimed at users of computers and other devices that connect to the Internet including mobile phones and hand held PC's. The Itsafe website contains several guides on how to make computers secure when online, as well as bulletins and alerts on new threats, including viruses and hacking attacks. Users can sign up for free email and text message updates.

Home Office minister stated "There is a need for easy-to-understand and simple independent advice for people who use computers at home or work." There is a glossary of commonly used computing terms and a library devoted to security issues and this new service hopes to ensure that pc users are aware of the risks involved and how to deal with them without causing alarm. www.itsafe.gov.uk or see our home page.

Virus Update from Tiscali

There is an outbreak of a new worm called the MyTob worm. To Lineone customers the email uses forged lineone.net email addresses to make the email look genuine. Please note that GENUINE EMAILS FROM TISCALI DO NOT CONTAIN ATTACHMENTS.

The forged emails typically appear to be sent from admin@lineone.net, info@lineone.net, support@lineone.net or similar and they contain an attachment which you are encouraged to click on. DO NOT click on any such attachment and resist the temptation to even open such suspicious mail if it contains an attachment.

Message subjects to be wary of, include:
-YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT IS SUSPENDED FOR SECURITY REASONS
-Account Alert
-Security measures
-Fw: Notice:**Last Warning**
-DETECTED*Online User Violation
-Important Notification
-*WARNING*Your Email Account Will Be Closed
This list is by no means exhaustive so please be wary if you are in doubt.

New Microsoft Security Bulletins

In the last week, Microsoft published 10 security bulletins for its products, including three vulnerabilities classified as critical. The critical security flaws affect Internet Explorer and some Windows operating systems. All of these could allow an attacker to take control of the affected system. As usual, Oakleigh recommends that you perform a Windows update weekly unless you are using Windows 2000 or XP when updates are performed automatically if set up to do so.

How to Save Windows Updates

Updating your Windows operating system is an essential part of computer maintenance but it can take up valuable time. The Windows Update service makes it easy to update your system and determines which updates you are missing and can download and install them automatically.

Sometimes, however, the updates are very large files and can take ages to download. If you reinstall Windows or need to update a second or third pc you'll have to repeat the process. The alternative method is to download the update properly and save it directly to your hard disk. That way you can copy it to a cd or across the network and apply it to the same or other systems.

If you don't know where to start, go to the Start menu and click on the Windows Update utility; once Microsoft's website has loaded, press the Scan for Updates button to find the files for your particular system. Press Review and Install Updates, even though we're not going to install anything yet. You will then be presented with a list of updates.

Instead of clicking the Install Now button and continuing as normal, find the Read More…link and click that instead and it will explain why the specific update is necessary, and also include a download link for the fix.

Junk E-Mail Filters for Outlook

Microsoft Outlook includes a set of built-in filters that identify junk email, such as commercial bulk mail suspected of having adult content, and enable you to highlight the message or move it to a folder named Review and disposal.

Use the Junk E-Mail feature without missing important e-mail by following a few simple steps:

1. Make sure that the Junk Mail feature has been turned on.

2. One the Tools menu, click Rules Wizard, and then select Exception List.

3. In the Rule description box, click Exception List.

Enter the e-mail addresses you do not want screened by the Outlook Junk E-mail filters i.e. if you add the phrase host.domain.com no email address containing host.domain.com will be filtered out. Thus any e-mail sent to you by user@host.domain.co.uk would come through as normal to your inbox and would not be flagged as junk e-mail.

How to AutoFill in Excel

The Autofill feature in Excel and Works makes it easy to copy a cell's contents and formulae across a large range of cells. Click inside a cell to select it. Move the cursor over the bottom right-hand corner of the cell - this will have a small, black square on it. The cursor will then change to a plus sign. When it does change, click with the left mouse button and, holding the button down, drag the cursor across the row or down the column. As you drag, the selected cells are given a fuzzy outline and it's into these that it will copy the first cell's contents. Autofill adjusts the contents, or formula, intelligently, i.e. the formula =B2+B3 will change to =C2+C3 when you copy it into column C. Likewise, if your cell contained the word Monday, then Autofill will put in the rest of the days of the week for you.

The Big Cell

Good planning doesn't always mean that projects progress as planned e.g. the default cell size in Excel is set at 10 characters and doesn't allow much room for typing text. To extend a column width, move the mouse pointer over one of the small divider lines that separate the alphabetic headers at the top of the sheet. When the pointer changes to a double-headed arrow, just double-click. To set more than one column at the same time highlight all of the column headings (A,B,B,D,E etc) and double-click the column seperater. To individually change a column go to the divider line and press the left mouse button and drag the column out until it's wide enough for your text. The same procedure also works for row height.

Blitz your Browser

If you surf the Web a lot, you'll probably have added various extensions to Internet Explorer such as special toolbars or extra buttons. These can cause problems and can slow down your browser. To quickly remove these 'add-ons', click on the Tools menu and select Internet Options. Click on the Advanced tab and scroll down to the Browsing heading. Remove the tick from the checkbox named 'Enable third-party browser extensions' and click OK.

A Tidier Start

If you have lots of applications installed, trawling through the Start and Programmes menus can be a bit of a nightmare. To simplify things a little, click on the Start menu then go to All Programs (or Programs if you're not using XP) and right-click. From the pop-up menu, choose Sort by Name and this will rearrange all of your programmes into alphabetical order.

Oakleigh Computer Services TRAINING · SOFTWARE SUPPORT · MARKETING · CREATIVE DATABASES · INTERNET SOLUTIONS
July 05 Newsletter Useful hints and tips for your computer and the latest virus alerts
Government launches online safety website The Government has launched a website devoted to combating security threats as part of its plans to make online life safer. IT Security Awareness For Everyone (Itsafe) is aimed at users of computers and other devices that connect to the Internet including mobile phones and hand held PC's. The Itsafe website contains several guides on how to make computers secure when online, as well as bulletins and alerts on new threats, including viruses and hacking attacks. Users can sign up for free email and text message updates. Home Office minister stated "There is a need for easy-to-understand and simple independent advice for people who use computers at home or work." There is a glossary of commonly used computing terms and a library devoted to security issues and this new service hopes to ensure that pc users are aware of the risks involved and how to deal with them without causing alarm. www.itsafe.gov.uk or see our home page. Virus Update from Tiscali There is an outbreak of a new worm called the MyTob worm. To Lineone customers the email uses forged lineone.net email addresses to make the email look genuine. Please note that GENUINE EMAILS FROM TISCALI DO NOT CONTAIN ATTACHMENTS. The forged emails typically appear to be sent from admin@lineone.net, info@lineone.net, support@lineone.net or similar and they contain an attachment which you are encouraged to click on. DO NOT click on any such attachment and resist the temptation to even open such suspicious mail if it contains an attachment. Message subjects to be wary of, include: -YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT IS SUSPENDED FOR SECURITY REASONS -Account Alert -Security measures -Fw: Notice:Last Warning -DETECTEDOnline User Violation -Important Notification -WARNING*Your Email Account Will Be Closed This list is by no means exhaustive so please be wary if you are in doubt. New Microsoft Security Bulletins In the last week, Microsoft published 10 security bulletins for its products, including three vulnerabilities classified as critical. The critical security flaws affect Internet Explorer and some Windows operating systems. All of these could allow an attacker to take control of the affected system. As usual, Oakleigh recommends that you perform a Windows update weekly unless you are using Windows 2000 or XP when updates are performed automatically if set up to do so. How to Save Windows Updates Updating your Windows operating system is an essential part of computer maintenance but it can take up valuable time. The Windows Update service makes it easy to update your system and determines which updates you are missing and can download and install them automatically. Sometimes, however, the updates are very large files and can take ages to download. If you reinstall Windows or need to update a second or third pc you'll have to repeat the process. The alternative method is to download the update properly and save it directly to your hard disk. That way you can copy it to a cd or across the network and apply it to the same or other systems. If you don't know where to start, go to the Start menu and click on the Windows Update utility; once Microsoft's website has loaded, press the Scan for Updates button to find the files for your particular system. Press Review and Install Updates, even though we're not going to install anything yet. You will then be presented with a list of updates. Instead of clicking the Install Now button and continuing as normal, find the Read More…link and click that instead and it will explain why the specific update is necessary, and also include a download link for the fix. Junk E-Mail Filters for Outlook Microsoft Outlook includes a set of built-in filters that identify junk email, such as commercial bulk mail suspected of having adult content, and enable you to highlight the message or move it to a folder named Review and disposal. Use the Junk E-Mail feature without missing important e-mail by following a few simple steps: 1. Make sure that the Junk Mail feature has been turned on. 2. One the Tools menu, click Rules Wizard, and then select Exception List. 3. In the Rule description box, click Exception List. Enter the e-mail addresses you do not want screened by the Outlook Junk E-mail filters i.e. if you add the phrase host.domain.com no email address containing host.domain.com will be filtered out. Thus any e-mail sent to you by user@host.domain.co.uk would come through as normal to your inbox and would not be flagged as junk e-mail. How to AutoFill in Excel The Autofill feature in Excel and Works makes it easy to copy a cell's contents and formulae across a large range of cells. Click inside a cell to select it. Move the cursor over the bottom right-hand corner of the cell - this will have a small, black square on it. The cursor will then change to a plus sign. When it does change, click with the left mouse button and, holding the button down, drag the cursor across the row or down the column. As you drag, the selected cells are given a fuzzy outline and it's into these that it will copy the first cell's contents. Autofill adjusts the contents, or formula, intelligently, i.e. the formula =B2+B3 will change to =C2+C3 when you copy it into column C. Likewise, if your cell contained the word Monday, then Autofill will put in the rest of the days of the week for you. The Big Cell Good planning doesn't always mean that projects progress as planned e.g. the default cell size in Excel is set at 10 characters and doesn't allow much room for typing text. To extend a column width, move the mouse pointer over one of the small divider lines that separate the alphabetic headers at the top of the sheet. When the pointer changes to a double-headed arrow, just double-click. To set more than one column at the same time highlight all of the column headings (A,B,B,D,E etc) and double-click the column seperater. To individually change a column go to the divider line and press the left mouse button and drag the column out until it's wide enough for your text. The same procedure also works for row height. Blitz your Browser If you surf the Web a lot, you'll probably have added various extensions to Internet Explorer such as special toolbars or extra buttons. These can cause problems and can slow down your browser. To quickly remove these 'add-ons', click on the Tools menu and select Internet Options. Click on the Advanced tab and scroll down to the Browsing heading. Remove the tick from the checkbox named 'Enable third-party browser extensions' and click OK. A Tidier Start If you have lots of applications installed, trawling through the Start and Programmes menus can be a bit of a nightmare. To simplify things a little, click on the Start menu then go to All Programs (or Programs if you're not using XP) and right-click. From the pop-up menu, choose Sort by Name and this will rearrange all of your programmes into alphabetical order.