The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group In the Hot Seat Dave Botherway daveb@melbpc.org.au |
 |
2004 - A New Start
Happy New Year to all members (and to your "significant others"), and a warm welcome to the new members who joined us over the December/January period. To those who attended the SIG BBQs or other special activities, I trust the extra social time enabled you to expand your circle of Melb PC friends. During the break, a number of our committees have been active and have planned enhanced services for the Group for the New Year. Spam and security are amongst my pet topics so let me take up those two aspects.
Spam - Will It Ever Be Controlled?
Everyone on e-mail, especially those with published e-mail addresses, will be alarmed at the rise in unwanted spam. Not only is it time consuming and a waste of resources, but in many cases the contents cause distress, especially when children might be unwittingly seeing the contents. There are laws being invoked this year both in Australia and the USA to control spam, but the approaches are rather weak and seemingly will only slow the growth. More drastic measures are needed.
While expanding the services provided to members, we have implemented e-mail scanning processes that look for both virus content and likely spam material. Selected messages are having their subject line prefixed with ??Spam??. This is done by a program named SpamAssassin and I am heartened by the number of members who are thankful for the work accomplished so far.
However, content detected and viewed by most as Spam, suggesting a need for automatic deletion, may be vital content to others. Accordingly the Internet team is working on a customisation feature where each member can set his/her own mark and delete parameters, including Black and White exception lists. In recent weeks I've had the opportunity to test it out on my personal Melb PC e-mail and I'm very impressed. The team is currently reviewing server capacity and determining the feasibility of providing this extra functionality as part of our system. Watch this space and the MOTD for further details.
Banking Details Scam
Now that Internet banking has become widespread we are seeing an expansion in fraudulent schemes designed to separate us from our hard earned cash. Most will have seen e-mails that supposedly originate from the major banks, asking us to "confirm" our banking details.
But I was surprised by a recent acquaintance who fell for the trap. He said the request looked OK, he said the URL was even the same as his Banking account - but he did not realize that via a weakness in browsers, it is possible to show one URL and be led to a different Internet site. Luckily he panicked soon after submitting his passwords details, rang his bank and got the account suspended before any damage was done. Of course, we wouldn't make THAT mistake but we should warn our friends and associates of these types of scams.
Member Feedback
Open dialog with members is a key management committee role and I thank those members who sent in suggestions re monthly meetings and office location. Also I thank those who sent in concerns and compliments, especially the latter where the acknowledgment assures our volunteers that their effort is truly appreciated. Keep those messages flowing.
February Monthly Meeting
Our next major meeting is Wednesday 4 February 2004, 7:00 sharp at the Besen Centre (Mount Scopus College), 87 Station Street, Burwood (Melway 61 C5) - plenty of secure parking, $2 all night). Topics to be covered are:
Exciting tricks to do with your Acrobat
Acrobat is one of those programs we all use - but most of us only know 10% of its capability. Our own Merv Leeding is a wizard with Acrobat and he will show us some of the tricks we didn't even know we could do.
Scary Movie IV
What are the things that scare you? Spiders and snakes? Heights or open spaces? With some people their phobias are so real they control their lives. Well Leo Posen is a psychologist who cures phobias - using virtual reality which puts you in a movie of the things that scare you. Fascinating demonstration - don't miss it.
Ask the Experts
Every month members bring their problems to the meeting, to get advice from our experts in Random Access, hosted by Barry Martin. So make a note of your questions, and bring them along.
This is going to be another great night - your chance to meet other members, see great new programs and ideas, win hundreds of dollars' worth of prizes (don't forget to bring your membership card!). Come and have a great fun night. I look forward to meeting you there.
Reprinted from the February 2004 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
 |