From: Mark Neely <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Net-Alert July 8, 1999 If you have any questions, comments or other feedback concerning Net-Alert articles, contact the Editor at <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Previous editions of Net-Alert are available at http://www.onelist.com/arcindex.cgi?listname=net-alert Subscription and unsubscription details are available at the end of this newsletter. ____________________ Contents: ## Apologies ## Spam email on the rise ## Tracking spam ## But when will they listen? ## Solve memory resource problems ## New "backdoor" program hides in screensavers ## More backdoors documented by security experts ## Unusual move reinforces need for Net privacy ## Medical quackery ____________________ Apologies! Apologies for the delay in sending this issue of Net Alert. I was interstate working on a new project for what I planned would only be a fortnight or so but, as with all good projects, there was an overrun, and I was away for a month. Without any further ado, I shall get stuck into this edition... ____________________ Junk email on the rise If you get the impression that you are receiving more junk or spam email than ever before, you're not alone. A Gartner Group survey of 13 000 email users found that more than 90% received spam at least once a week. Of those users who have been using the Internet for at least four years, the probability of receiving spam at least once a week rises to 96%. It gets worse. One in every three Internet users receives between 6 to 20 pieces of spam each week (I certainly fall in that bracket, unfortunately!). Survey participants revealed that they were reluctact to deal with spam, (such as reporting the spammer to his/her ISP) because of the time involved in doing this effectively. Most participants highlighted privacy violations and the frequently offensive content of spam as major concerns. ____________________ Tracking Spam If you are interested in being proactive in combatting spam, one of the best strategies is to decipher the message headers and track down the email address of the spammer (or, at the very least, the details of which ISP was used to launch the spam campaign). Deciphering headers is not for the feint hearted, as spammers often go to great lengths to hide their identities. Spam Cop can help you out here. Spam Cop will do the "drudge" work, and provide you with the origins of the spam message. All you need to do is copy and paste the _full_ headers from the spam message into the text box provided and Spam Cop will reveal all. URLs: SpamCop Web site - http://www.spamcop.net/ New York Times article - http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/06/circuits/articles/24spam.html ____________________ But when will they listen? Zona Research has released an expensive ($895) report revealing what just about any Web user will happily tell you for free: slow Web sites turn users away. According to Zona Research, the average user is prepared to wait 8 (yes, eight) seconds for a Web page to download before s/he get bored and moves on. Another startling revelation: users often get frustrated with slow and confusing e-commerce sites, with many giving up mid-transaction. URL: Zona Research - http://www.zonaresearch.com/promotions/needforspeed ____________________ Solve memory resource problems TFI Technology has released an interesting memory management program that can help users actively manage their memory resources. One of its key features is the ability to manually increase or decrease the amount of memory (RAM) allocated to a program. Some programs - such as Web browsers and email clients - are unnecessarily memory intensive. Memory+ allows users to change the amount of memory reserved for such programs "on-the-fly" (that is, in real time while the programs are in use). Memory+ also allows users to put programs to "sleep", in which case the program is kept open but allocated the smallest amount of memory possible while it is not in use. A trial version (Windows 95/98 & NT v4.0 only) is available for download and testing. URLs: TFI Technology Web site - http://www.tfi-technology.com/ Download Web page - http://www.tfi-technology.com/download.html ____________________ New "backdoor" program hides in screensavers A new trojan horse "backdoor" program has been released in the form of a screensaver, which may allow unauthorised access to PCs connected to the Internet. It was originally distributed as an attachment to a spam email message, which passed the trojan horse program off as an interesting screensaver program (alternatively, it is described as an update to a popular game program). BackDoor-G, or SubSeven as the trojan horse program is also known, allows unauthorised individuals to access an infected PC over the Internet and control various PC functions, including providing access to any cached passwords, play sounds and access any webcam connected to the PC. To date, it only affects PCs running Windows 95 or 98. It can be configured to notify the program's author via email, ICQ or an IRC channel when the program is successfully installed on the host computer. ____________________ More backdoors documented by security experts It seems using "backdoor" programs as a means of gaining unauthorised access to PCs connected to the Internet is gaining in popularity, primarily (I presume) because of the relative ease with which they can be created and distributed. Internet Security Systems has updated its _Windows Backdoor Update_, a list of known backdoors that attack the Windows platform, including details of their "tell-tale" signs and removal instructions. To find out more about known security vulnerabilities, visit their Web site and perform a search or, alternatively, scan their list of alerts. URL: Internet Security Systems - http://www.iss.net/ ____________________ Unusual move reinforces need for Net privacy In a surprise move, Microsoft Corp., one of the Internet's largest advertisers (in dollar terms), recently announced that it will not purchase advertising space on Web sites that do not have appropriate privacy policies (i.e. which detail how visitor privacy is protected). In doing so, Microsoft Corp. joins the growing ranks of Web advertisers that restrict their advertising dollars to demonstrably ethical Web sites. ____________________ Medical quackery On a lighter note, if you're in the mood for some serious giggles, take a look at the Museum of Questionable Medical Devices. The Web site is a memorial to some of the quirkier medical theories and devices. URL: Museum of Questionable Medical Devices - http://www.mtn.org/quack/ ____________________ Send a copy of Net-Alert to a friend. Forwarding this newsletter to friends and colleagues is encouraged, providing the message is forwarded in its entirety, including the copyright notice. ____________________ If you received this copy of Net-Alert from a friend, you can subscribe by visiting the following URL: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/net-alert or by sending a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNSUBSCRIBE, send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________ Net-Alert is copyright (c) Mark Neely 1999. Forwarding this message to friends and colleagues is encouraged, providing the message is forwarded in its entirety, including this copyright notice. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- ONElist: your connection to people who share your interests. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
