INews Newsletter - Mar 14, 2001
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* * * I N e w s * * *
A publication of Internet Nebraska, composed and distributed by
* * * manager@inebraska.com * * *
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Volume 4, Number 2 March 14, 2001
Welcome to another issue of INews, Internet Nebraska's customer
newsletter. This monthly newsletter communicates service bulletins,
announcements and other useful information to our customers. Please let
us know what you think of it. Archives of INews are located at
http://www.inebraska.com/inews
In this issue: Welcome Norfolk!
Virus Scanners
Privacy on the Internet
Roger Wilco
Mr. Internet
*** Internet Nebraska Expands Network to Norfolk ***
Internet Nebraska Corporation expanded to Norfolk and surrounding
communities this month by purchasing the Internet operations of NCF
Communications, Inc. Eric Erlandson, Internet Nebraska's Vice-President
for Operations, said that the operations in Norfolk, Madison, Tilden, and
Pilger would be integrated with other Internet Nebraska systems within a
week.
Erlandson explained: "Integrating the networks quickly and smoothly
demonstrates to our new subscribers that quality service is a priority."
Erlandson added that subscribers in the Norfolk area will be able to
continue using the their current email addresses, Internet software,
and access numbers.
Internet Nebraska will offer Norfolk-area individuals, schools, and
businesses a full range of Internet services, including dialup access,
high-speed DSL access, dedicated services, World-Wide-Web hosting
and design, network development, and e-commerce solutions.
Steve Reichenbach, Internet Nebraska President and Associate Professor
of Computer Science and Engineering at UNL, said that the purchase
highlighted Internet Nebraska's service coverage in the State.
"The State of Nebraska faces challenges in developing its information
technology infrastructure and economy. Internet Nebraska's commitment
to serving the State has made it the largest Nebraska-based Internet
service provider. It is important to have Nebraska-based technology
companies and Internet Nebraska provides quality services that AOL
and out-of-state phone and cable companies don't provide."
Steve Weaver, Director of Technical Services, said that the Norfolk
network would be tied into Internet Nebraska's northern service area
which also includes Omaha, Sioux City, Bellevue, Fremont, Papillion,
La Vista, South Sioux City, Ralston, O'Neill, Valentine, and smaller
communities. Internet Nebraska's southern and western service areas
include Lincoln, Grand Island, North Platte, Hastings, Beatrice, York,
Plattsmouth, Seward, Geneva, and smaller communities.
Internet Nebraska began operations in Lincoln in 1994 and is the oldest
and largest Nebraska-based Internet service provider.
NCF Communications was established in 1995 by Tom Bridge of Norfolk.
With its acquisition of NCF's Internet services, Internet Nebraska
now serves more than 250 cities in four states.
More information is available on Internet Nebraska's homepage
http://www.inebraska.com or by contacting Internet Nebraska by
phone at 1-800-GET-INET or by email at info@inebraska.com.
*** Trojans and Virii, and Worms. Oh My! ***
Is your computer acting a little "buggy"? This may be because it's
caught a cold.
Despite Microsoft's claim that it had patched security at Hotmail, the
software giant's trouble-prone free e-mail service, 54 of the most
destructive viruses still get through the hotmail screening process
according to anti-virus experts. Those experts, who test every few
days for viruses, said they successfully sent virus-infected
e-mail through Hotmail's virus-scanning system earlier this week
to prove that the hole is still open a week after Microsoft
announced its combined audit with TRUSTe had left its system
secure.
New viruses are being created and released almost daily, with a rapid
increase in the number of viruses deployed every year. The best
way to combat this problem is to get a brand name, easily
updatable anti-virus software program. Some of the primary vendors for
this kind of software are McAfee (Virus Scan), Symantec (Norton
Anti-Virus), Dr. Solomon's, and InoculateIT. All of these
programs provide free updates, within their versions, to make sure
that you have the most recent virus definitions and protection.
When a new virus is identified, they'll add support to their program
and put it on-line for customers to download. Updating
your virus definitions at least monthly will allow you to stay
current with the new/revised anti-virus methods. For more
information on the purchase or upgrade of your anti-virus software
visit:
http://www.symantec.com/
http://www.mcafee.com/linkshare/
http://www.drsolomon.com/
http://www.cai.com/products/inoculateit.htm
*** The Capital Soccer Association - Advertisement ***
Capital Soccer Association specializes in
teaching soccer. However we recognize that
soccer, or any other youth sport is merely
one tool in the development of a young
child. Teamwork and sportsmanship through
knowledge and proficiency of the game are
our main goals.
-- http://www.capitalsoccer.com/
*** Privacy on the Internet ***
Have you ever signed up for anything online? Many people sign up for
various things on the Internet everyday. Have you ever wondered what these
sites do with the information that you provide them? In many cases this
information is used to process your legitimate request for information.
Unfortunately, many companies sell this information to other companies who
do mass mailing advertising. This information is valuable as this is the
"Information Age". This information can be sold to others for the use of
SPAM, marketing, and to sell to other groups or companies for the same
reasons. Many of you know this because of the large amount of email you may
receive that are just advertisements. Do you remember specifically
allowing these sites to use the information that you give them for this
reason? Probably not.
Congress has decided that the year 2001 will be the year that they pass a
law for online privacy. One idea that they have that might help would be
"Opt In" permission. This means that you would have to expressly give the
site owner permission to your information before they could do anything
with it. This method would give greater privacy but on the other hand would
also make the information less commercially useful for web sites. Another
method would be the "Opt Out" method. This method would require a user to
click a "clearly identifiable button" telling the Web owner not to use
personal information. This method is being used by many of the web sites
now that you go to but the "clearly identifiable button" tends to be a
check box that is so tiny that without good eyesight you would not even know
it was there.
SPAM is an increasing problem on the Internet. SPAM is considered a
nuisance at best, a service interruption at worst. Now with all the
attention that SPAM is getting, hopefully something will be done to
regulate how companies gather and sell personal information on the
Internet. Just remember to be careful whenever you give out information
about yourself on the Internet and always look for that very tiny check box
when filling out online forms that gives permission to send you SPAM. If
you would like to read more about this please visit
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-201-4888852-0.html .
*** Schaefer's TV & Appliance Center - Advertisement ***
Schaefer's is an independently owned and
operated television, appliance, and home
theater retailer in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Born out of a small corner drugstore four
decades ago, Schaefer's TV & Appliance is a
22,000 square-foot "superstore" today,
specializing in commercial/professional-grade
appliances, whole house sound systems, home
theater and central vacuum systems. The
success of Schaefer's is key to repeat
business. If a customer happens to have a
problem with a product, Schaefer's will bend
over backwards to get it solved. Our service
center is the largest in the city, and has been
voted Lincoln's #1 servicer for 10 years in a
row! A knowledgeable sales staff, express
delivery, easy financing, and our customer
service representatives are just a few of the
ways in which we at Schaefer's distinguish
ourselves from the rest. Stop by our showroom
at 48th and R in Lincoln, or call us at
and see for yourself.
-- http://www.schaeferstv.com/index2.htm
*** Roger Wilco ***
For those of you who are into the online gaming scene, there is a piece of
software that you must check out. Roger Wilco is a free, real-time voice
chat program. This program allows the user to enter into a private
voice chat room with whomever you chose.
The program itself is extremely simple, it requires only a microphone,
sound card, at least a 28.8k modem, and some speakers. It runs in the
background of whatever other program you are running, and is activated at
the touch of a key. You simply depress the selected key and speak your
message. Your voice is then transmitted via the Internet to all the other
people that are in your channel.
This program has many uses. You can use it to keep in touch with your
teammates in such online games as StarSiege, Tribes, Half-life:
Counter-Strike, Rogue Spear, etc. Although designed for gaming, it could
also be used to put a voice chat room on your personal website, or have a
conversation with a friend or relative hundreds of miles away!
You can learn more about and download Roger Wilco at
http://www.rogerwilco.com .
*** Mr. Internet ***
Q: What is interactive abuse? I thought I could be on 24/7 with the
unlimited account?
A: Internet Nebraska doesn't sell unlimited use accounts, we sell
unlimited interactive use accounts. The interactive part means that
the user must be working interactively with the Internet while the
connection is active. The use of bots, automated e-mail checking, or
other means to keep a connection open while not sitting in front of the
computer is a violation of this policy. This includes downloading
large amounts of data automatically without actually being at the
computer. If a true 24/7 connection is required, alternatives such as
DSL, ISDN, or dedicated lines are available and better suited to this
purpose.
Mr. Internet is a regular feature of the INews, and he welcomes questions
of any kind. Just mail them to mrinternet@inebraska.com, and he'll answer
one or two each issue. Those he doesn't use will not necessarily be
answered, and you should still use 'manager' and 'accounts' for regular
business.
*** Advertise on Our Home Pages ***
What better way to advertise your business than on a Web page that is seen
tens of thousands of time every month? None, if you're paying as little
as we charge for it!
We are now offering banner advertising that rotates on all our pages
which is priced based on the number of impressions (viewings) per month.
Your banner can reach thousands of Nebraska residents, and this is a
unique way to advertise your Nebraska business to residents in the area.
Prices for banner advertisement can be found at:
http://www.inebraska.com/ad.html
We will also be selling links from our main page. Please contact
manager@inebraska.com, or give us a give us a call at our office,
402-434-8680, and ask how you can reserve banner spots on some of the
hottest URL's in the state. The advertisers in this issue did, and we
recommend them highly.