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The LangaList
13-Mar-00
A Free Email Newsletter from Fred
Langa
That Helps You Get More From Your Hardware,
Software, and Time Online
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Finally! the new site is up and
running--- check it out at http://www.langa.com,
and let me know what you think! There were two major low points
to the move: I normally get over 800 emails a day, but on Wednesday of last week
I got all of--- 30! Hundreds and *hundreds* of emails either bounced back to the
senders or went to that Great Big Bit Bucket In The Sky for about a 36 hour
period. I sincerely apologize if you had trouble reaching me; however my email
is back to normal now. The other low point was Friday
when what was to be the final (ha!) update went awry and left the entire site in
an ugly limbo for several hours. But that too is now fixed; the site is fully
functional, loading faster than before, and my site-diagnostic tool reports all
the links are working. (Whew!) Once again, my apologies for any
trouble you had. It should be clear sailing from here on in! Click to
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In Part One ( http://content.techweb.com/winmag//columns/explorer/2000/04.htm
), we discussed the four myths of online security and the essential steps you
need to take to ensure that your PC doesn't suffer from the worst and
most-common online/networking security holes. By itself, Part One gets you a
long way towards solid, basic online security. In Part Two ( http://content.techweb.com/winmag//columns/explorer/2000/05.htm
), we looked at "Personal Firewalls" that sit on your PC (and on each
PC on a shared Internet connection). These applications work on a local level to
block unwanted access to your PC from hackers or other undesirable agents. Even
better, some also can block unwarranted accesses that originate from within your
own PC--- such as from Trojan Horse and other apps that may secretly "phone
home" to send information about you or your PC back to some outside
destination. Combined, Steps One and Two give
you a reasonably high level security. In fact, they may provide all the security
many people need for casual surfing and routine online activities. But if you're reading this, you
may not fall into the "routine" or "casual" surfer
category--- I know I sure don't. So, this column---Part Three---discusses
additional steps you can take if you want to increase your online security even
more. In fact, these are steps I personally take because (1) I have a 24/7
Internet connection; (2) I run my business and several websites online (see
www.langa.com); (3) I have a somewhat higher than normal public profile and so
may be a more likely target for hackers than others may be; (4) I share my
internet connection among several PCs; and (5) what can I say?--- I'm just a
belt-and-suspenders kind of guy! If any or all of those attributes
describe you, then you also may wish to take one or more additional steps to
make your PC nearly impregnable from hacker break-ins. In this week's detailed column at
http://content.techweb.com/winmag/,
I'll describe my own setup as a working example and then we'll discuss
alternatives. In any case, the concept is
simple: You need a layered defense between you and hostile netizens. The more
important your data and online activities are, the more layers you need. I
personally feel everyone should have at least two layers of defense--- and many
people reading this column (more advanced users with always-on or often-on
connections) probably should have three, four, five--- or even *six* layers of
defense, as I do! (Really!) Come check out the column and
decide how much or how little "layering" of defenses you need, then
join in the discussion: What do you use to provide online security? What
hardware and software solutions can you tell us about? How much protection is
enough---and how much is too much or too little? Join in starting midafternoon
(EST, GMT-5) on Monday March 13th at http://content.techweb.com/winmag/
! Click to
email this item to a friend Click to
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Do you use any of the following
apps? If so, you may have the
"Clip Art Buffer Overrun" Vulnerability, which could allow a hacker to
run hostile code on your PC. Microsoft explains it this way: "The Microsoft Clip
Art Gallery software is used to allow users to retrieve and use clip art in
their documents. One of the features of the Clip Art Gallery allows the user to
download additional clips from the Microsoft Clip Gallery Live web site, and
then install that clip art on their computer. To do this, Clip Art Gallery and
Clip Gallery Live use a file format called the CIL format to contain the newly
downloaded clips. Under certain circumstances, a very long field embedded in a
clip art CIL file could cause a buffer overrun in the Clip Art Gallery software.
The buffer overrun could cause the software to crash or, under certain
circumstances, could cause the execution of hostile code on the computer where
the Clip Art Gallery software was executing. The risk from this vulnerability
results from the facts that any web site can host a CIL file and that clip art
will normally be processed without prompting the user for confirmation as would
be the case with an executable file format" If you think you're at risk, grab
the patch here (it's tiny--- just 96K): http://cgl.microsoft.com/clipgallerylive/pss/bufovrun.htm or click here for more info: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-015.asp Click to
email this item to a friend Marsha Grubb wrote: Subject: Thank
you!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot believe this.
People really do pay attention to that list you give of readers' websites. LOL.
Just kidding, but I did want to thank you very, very much. As a result of your
listing our site (www.dakotamotorsports.com) in your list of reader's sites, our
site received over 300 hits so far today, a major milestone for us. I really
appreciate the fact that you do this. Sincerely, Marsha Grubb What Marsha did was "Load
the Code," and you can too: Do you have a home page or website? (It doesn't
matter what size.) Please click on over to http://www.langa.com/code.htm,
and maybe your page can be featured here too! Meanwhile, if you'd like to see
what your fellow readers are up to, here's a VERY eclectic selection of reader
sites--- some slick and professional, some very personal--- from among the many,
many readers who have taken me up on my "Load the Code" offer. Click to
email this item to a friend The Recommend-it
site gives away up to $10,000 as an incentive to use their service to recommend
newsletters like this one! If you think the
LangaList is a worthwhile read, just use the following link to recommend the
LangaList to a friend. Your friend just may find a new source of useful
information; I just may gain a new subscriber; and you just may win $10,000 or
other prizes from the folks at "Recommend-It:" http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm#1 Or, win a copy of
"Poor Richard's E-Mail Publishing: Creating Newsletters, Bulletins,
Discussion Groups and Other Powerful Communications Tools." This book has
been described as "An excellent, straightforward manual on email
publishing, banner ads, driving traffic and especially ethics." (Full
details also available via this link): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm#2 Either way, thank
you, and good luck! Click to
email this item to a friend Reader "dr" saw my
"Pick the Perfect Web Host" article that's currently on the WinMag
site (http://content.techweb.com/winmag//help/2000/webhosting/)
and was prompted to write this, which speaks for itself: You should perhaps warn
readers to some of the legal speak contained within these [web host] "terms
of agreement" statements. Many of these agreements require the web-page
author to transfer "all rights to created content" to the hosting
company. What the purpose of this is - I do not know. Although I suspect this is
most often a requirement for webpages which reside with free hosting services it
is no less annoying. I use earthlink for my ISP and therefore essentially pay a
monthly fee for the so-called 6mb of free space I am granted. (which I don't use
because of the terms of agreement) Note earthlinks Terms Of Agreement below: >>> from
earthlink TERMS OF AGREEMENT page. "Your posting of
material on the Web site or providing material to EarthLink to use on the Web
site will be deemed to be a grant by you to EarthLink of a perpetual,
nonrevocable, worldwide, nonexclusive license to the material to include the
material on the Web site and to reproduce, publish, distribute, perform,
display, and transmit the material and to prepare derivative works as reasonably
necessary to do so, and you waive all rights of attribution and integrity with
respect to the material ." <<< Waive all rights of
attribution? What for? What are they going to do with it? "Prepare
derivative works"? For who? For what? Why can't they make up their own
stuff? Why do they have to steal other peoples creations? No wonder some kids
grow up to be liars and thieves. Consider their adult examples. I actually once
read a hosting companies "terms of agreement" that required the user
to waive "all rights to a jury trial" should problems arise with the
host! What the hell does that mean? Someone should take a closer look at the
ethical nature of - or even legality of some of these concocted
"arrangements". I'm a freelance artist and these ethically
questionable "terms", such as the ones described above, could have a
direct impact on what I can do later on with the content I create. Warning to
anyone looking for a web host.. read the terms of agreement closely! Thanks, dr--- sound advice! Click to
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Reader Larry Granni sends this
in: You might be an engineer
if Click to
email this item to a friend See you next issue! Best, -------------( Please Visit This
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(Please recommend
the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win $10,000!I) An easier-to read formatted HTML version is
available in the "what's new" section of http://www.langa.com.
(The HTML version of each issue normally is available by 9AM EST [GMT-5] of the
issue date.) All past LangaList issues are also available via the same link. Why are you getting this newsletter? There are
only two ways to get on the list (direct email request or via the WinMag mail
list signup page) so if you're getting this newsletter; your name came to me
through one of those channels. SUBSCRIBE (it's free!): Send email to subscribe-langalist@lyris.dundee.net About
the advertisers: Langa Consulting LLC will never knowingly accept
advertising for a fraudulent product, company or service. However, Langa Consulting LLC makes no implied or explicit warranty, recommendation or endorsement
of or for the products, companies or services mentioned in the ads. Disclaimer:
The tips and other information given in the newsletter are researched and are
believed to be accurate, but we cannot and do not guarantee that all the
information here will work on all systems, for all users, all the time. All
information herein is offered as-is and without warranty of any kind. Neither
Langa Consulting LLC, nor its employees nor contributors are responsible for any
loss, injury, or damage, direct or consequential, resulting from application of
any information presented here. This newsletter is a free service of Langa Consulting LLC and is Copyright © 2000 Langa Consulting LLC. All rights reserved.1)
At Last, The Move Is Done (Whew!)
http://www.langa.com/sendit.htm
return to top of page2)
Secure Your PC Online, Part Three
http://www.langa.com/sendit.htm
return to top of page3)
Where's The Outrage?
When it comes to instant messaging
and Java, both AOL and Sun employ tactics similar to those that got Microsoft
into antitrust trouble. But why is there no similar outrage about AOL's and
Sun's behavior? This week's InformationWeek Online column gives the
details. Click http://www.informationweek.com/langaletter
and then join in the very heated and active online discussion!
http://www.langa.com/sendit.htm
return to top of page4)
MS Office Security Bug!
http://www.langa.com/sendit.htm
return to top of page5)
It Pays To "Load The Code!"
To: fred@langa.com
http://www.langa.com/sendit.htm
return to top of page6)
So You Want To Be A $10,000-aire?
http://www.langa.com/sendit.htm
return to top of page7)
Does Your Web Host Own *YOUR* Content?
http://www.langa.com/sendit.htm
return to top of page8)
Just For Grins
http://www.langa.com/sendit.htm
return to top of page
Fred
(fred@langa.com)
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