Why Upgrade? 

Windows Sever Virtualization

Server Management Made Easier

A World-Class Web and Applications Platform

Enhanced Scripting and Task Automation

Improved Networking Performance

Centralized Application Access

Enhanced Security and Compliance

Protect Unhealthy Computers from Entering the Network

Take Back Control Over Your Branch Offices  

To learn more about the new Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008 visit: http://www.microsoft.com/canada/heroeshappenhere/.

Security experts said that the MS08-010 update, which fixes four bugs in Internet Explorer, should take top priority. "There are four vulnerabilities within that particular patch and all of them are remote-code executable," said Jonathan Bitle, director of technical account management with Qualys.
"The way we're looking at it, our prioritization would put MS08-010 at the top followed by MS08-007," said Don Leatham, director of solutions and strategy with Lumension Security.

MS08-010 fixes a publicly disclosed ActiveX bug that affects Visual FoxPro users. Although hackers have already posted code showing how to exploit this vulnerability, the buggy ActiveX control is not included in Internet Explorer 7's default list of controls, so the flaw should not affect most users.
The MS08-007 update fixes a critical flaw in the Windows XP and Vista WebDAV redirector software. WebDAV is a Web-based document sharing protocol. The flaw is rated important for Windows Server 2003 users.

Microsoft's Office products are also a major source of patches this month.
Updates include critical fixes for Microsoft Word, Office Publisher and in Office itself.

There is also a critical update for Windows' Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) Automation software.

The remaining updates, rated important, are for Active Directory, the Vista TCP/IP stack, the Microsoft Works file converter and two bugs in the Internet Information Services (IIS) Web server.

The Patch Tuesday updates show that client-side bugs continue to be a much higher risk than server-side vulnerabilities, said Andrew Storms, director of security operations with nCircle. "One would have assumed that the IIS and Active Directory vulnerabilities would have been the most serious because they stand at the core of an enterprise and provide more critical services" he said via instant message. "But with this month's patches, the hacker's best bet is to take advantage of the client-side attacks."

Are You Giving Your Personal Information to a Stranger?

Author: Anne Wolski

It is a fact that in this modern world, around ninety percent of personal computers are infected by spyware. This makes it one of the biggest internet threats that can stealthily wreak havoc on your computer while collecting all of your personal data.
These malicious programs are written to silently bypass your anti-virus programs and firewalls. Fortunately, these spyware programs don’t replicate themselves as do viruses and worms.

In most cases, spyware is installed by the user when they install a freeware or shareware program. Once it is downloaded, the program begins collecting information for the spyware writer’s use or for him to sell to a third party. P2P programs are renowned for downloads that possess spyware.

Whenever you download a program, you should always pay attention to the small print. Often, the publisher states that a spyware program is included and there are also some that carry an opt-out box that you can tick to stop the spyware from being included in your download.

Sometimes, spyware can access your computer through the practice of manipulating security features that prevent unwanted downloads. These programs are designed so that even if you choose the button to stop the download, the spyware program will start.

The third common method of spyware infection is through attacking security holes in the browser or other software programs. When you go to a webpage that is controlled by a spyware writer, there is code that attacks the browser and forces the installation of spyware.

Spyware is malicious and can perform a number of tasks on your computer, ranging from annoying to aggressive in nature. Spyware can:

• Scan your hard drive for files
• Monitor keystrokes for reporting
• Look through applications on your desktop
• Read your cookies
• Steal credit card and other personal information
• Deliver pop up advertisements
• Change default settings
• Mutate into second generation of spyware
• Slow down your computer

to prevent your computer from being attacked by spyware, there are a couple of steps you can take.

Buy a reliable anti-spyware program such as AdAware or Windows Antispyware.
Alternatively, use the antispyware software as part of an antivirus package such as Norton, McAfee, or Symantec.

Anti-spyware software provides real-time protection, scanning and removal of any spyware that is found on your computer. Make sure you update your antivirus software regularly.

Internet Explorer itself is often to blame for the spyware problem because the spyware programs often attach to it through its weaknesses. This has led to many users switching to other browsers but if you are continuing to use Internet Explorer, then you need to update the security patches on a regular basis. Also, when downloading programs, only download from a reputable source.

If however, your computer has been infected with a lot of spyware, you may have no alternative but to backup your data and completely reinstall the operating system.

VODA Tip

Outlook Email Auto Completion
           
Have you ever looked in your Outlook contacts to find an email address and it wasn’t there but when you create a new email and start typing the person’s name, the email address automatically appears? Or sometimes you find that there are wrong, old, or just email addresses that are no longer needed.

Hidden away in your profile is a file with an extension of .nk2 that holds all those emails that auto complete uses in your Outlook.

I ran into a nice freeware utility to remove those bad entries and even backup all those entries if you want. You can even export chosen entries to a .csv file and import into your Outlook contacts.
 Nk2view by Nirsoft does a nice job of this. You can find it at the following site.

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/outlook_nk2_autocomplete.html

If your want to back up this file you can find it on your computer at the following location:
            C:\Documents and Settings\your username\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook

Note: you must be able to see hidden files to find this location.

            Click start, my computer, choose tools, folder options.
            Choose the view tab, advanced settings.
            Under hidden files and folders, click Show hidden.

Welcome aboard Bob!

Voda Computer Systems Ltd. would like to welcome Bob Hill as the new Service Technician to the Kamloops team. Bob was born and raised in Vancouver, but has lived in Kamloops for 17 years. In his previous life he worked in the printing press field working on all shop machinery. However, he always enjoyed working on computers as a hobby for himself, family and friends. He is working on his A+ certification and then moving on to other certifications. Bob will be enhancing our service delivering to assist in meeting the demands of our growing client base. He will assist in implementing new solutions and maintaining existing networks within our small business clients. Outside of VODA, he likes to play guitar, write songs and record the odd band, if they let him. He also ran his own recording studio for a while. We wish you all the best at VODA and look forward to having you apart of the team.

Quote of the Month

There are countless ways of achieving greatness, but any road to achieving one's maximum potential must be built on a bedrock of respect for the individual, a commitment to excellence, and a rejection of mediocrity.
—Buck Rodgers

Product of the Month

SonicWall Anti Spam Email Security

SonicWALL® Email Security is our award-winning anti-spam, anti-virus, anti-phishing, policy, and compliance management e-mail protection solution. Available as a hardened appliance or as Windows software, SonicWALL Email Security protects inbound and outbound e-mail for organizations of less than 25 to over 100,000 users.

WHY YOU NEED PROTECTION

• Do you get too much e-mail spam?
• Are you spending more then 10 minutes a week managing your e-mail security system?
• Is private or proprietary information leaving your organization via e-mail?
• Are you managing everyone’s spam quarantines?
• Do you pay extra money to archive inbound and outbound e-mail?

SonicWALL Email Security delivers superior e-mail protection that is easy to install, easy to manage, and easy to own.  There is simply no easier way to get complete e-mail protection today.

SUPERIOR PROTECTION

To SonicWALL, superior protection is more than just anti-spam or anti-virus, it’s complete protection from all e-mail threats – from the outside or the inside.

• Unparalleled Anti-spam detection
• Anti-virus with time-zero technology and zombie detection
• Anti-phishing with unique patent pending discovery techniques
• World-wide real-time threat detection and prevention network
• Powerful policy management
• Connection Management for edge protection – DHA, DoS, tarpitting and more
• Regulatory and corporate compliance ready – routing rules, record ID matching, approval boxes, dictionaries and more
• Archiving, auditing, encryption support and more

Starting at $495.00

Learn more about the features and benefits of SonicWALL Email Security. »

Email Lance at lance@vodagroup.com for more information!

Ask the VODA Expert

Q: I need to import my Internet Favorites to my work computer, how do I do it?

A: It will depend on what web browser you are using. If you are using Internet Explorer, do the following to export your favorites:

1. On the File menu, click Import and Export, and then click Next.
2. Click Export Favorites and then click Next.
3. Click Favorites and then click Next.
4. Browse to where you want to save the Bookmark.htm file which will contain your favorites. You can save it on your desktop to make it easy.
5. Click Next and then click Finish.

If you are using IE7 and don't have the File menu they right click on the toolbar and select Menu bar.

To import your favorites do the following:

1.Copy the Bookmark.htm file from your other computer to a disk, CD or flash drive.
2.Open Internet Explorer on your work computer and click on File and then Import and Export and click Next.
3. Click Import Favorites and then click Next.
4. Browse to where you saved the Bookmark.htm on your disk and click Next.
5. Click on Favorites and click Next.
6. Click on Finish.

Latest Virus Threats

Trojan.Mdropper.AA
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