{"id":3045,"date":"2001-02-25T15:40:56","date_gmt":"2001-02-25T21:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/smperformance.wordpress.com\/?p=3045"},"modified":"2001-02-25T15:40:56","modified_gmt":"2001-02-25T21:40:56","slug":"stratvantage-consulting-llc-mikes-take-on-the-news-022501","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stratvantage.com\/index.php\/2001\/02\/25\/stratvantage-consulting-llc-mikes-take-on-the-news-022501\/","title":{"rendered":"StratVantage Consulting, LLC — Mike’s Take on the News 02\/25\/01"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
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From Evernote:<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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StratVantage Consulting, LLC — Mike’s Take on the News 02\/25\/01<\/h1>\n

Clipped from: http:\/\/www.stratvantage.com\/news\/022501.htm<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

T<\/strong>he News \u2013 02\/25\/01<\/h1>\n

Anyone Can Write a Virus<\/h2>\n

Well here\u2019s disheartening news: Virus creation kits are so popular and easy to use that you, too, could write a virus like the recent Anna Kournikova or ILOVEYOU viruses.<\/strong> According to Wired News, \u201cIf you can install a program on a computer, you can also — using one of these kits — write and release a virus just like the authors of Cartman, Poppy and Kenny did.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

This problem is brought to you by the friendly folks at Microsoft, as I have ranted before <\/a>.<\/strong> If it weren\u2019t for the huge vulnerabilities opened by Microsoft\u2019s Visual Basic Script language, which is imbedded into the entire MS Office suite, it would be a good deal harder to write viruses and worms. However, to be fair, this doesn\u2019t mean that we wouldn\u2019t have these do-it-yourself kits floating around out there.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Short aside:<\/em> I actually hate to pick on Microsoft as they face the horror of being broken up.<\/strong> The company has been the major player that has fostered the computer revolution.<\/strong> But it just doesn\u2019t pay to disregard anti-trust rules, as they are going to find out when the gov breaks them up, sooner or later.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On a positive note for Microsoft, the breakup will not seriously affect the company\u2019s monopoly position in its markets, and might even turn out to be a good thing for shareholders.<\/strong> But I digress.<\/p>\n

The thing for businesses to remember is that cybervandalism will continue.<\/strong> You need to educate your associates to never open an attachment unless you are sure of its contents.<\/strong> Plus, disable Visual Basic Scripting support in MS Outlook if you have it, and remove Windows Scripting Host from your computer using Add\/Remove Programs. If you see lots of unexpected emails coming from colleagues all in a bunch, call your system administrator before opening any of them.<\/strong> There are various other steps you can take, which are explained on the CERT <\/a> site or any of the major antivirus makers\u2019 sites (McAfee <\/a>, Symantec <\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n

And while we\u2019re on the subject of security, you need a personal firewall as well.<\/strong> Unless your entire network is protected by a firewall that features stateful inspection, each PC should have a firewall.<\/strong> You should especially use one when dialing up while on the road.<\/strong> (Recently, when I was speaking in Palm Springs, I was getting one to two intrusion attempts a minute while dialed up to Earthlink.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n

There are a number of good personal firewalls, but the cream of the crop currently is ZoneAlarm <\/a>, and the good news is, it\u2019s free.<\/strong> Unlike many other firewalls, ZoneAlarm not only keeps the bad guys out, it also prevents programs on your PC from contacting the Internet and doing bad stuff.<\/strong> Programs called Trojan horses can do this, along with various viruses and worms like Anna Kournikova.<\/strong> This makes it a bit of a pain in the butt until you\u2019ve got it fully configured.<\/strong> After you install it, every program you use that contacts the Internet causes an alert to pop up to ask if it\u2019s OK.<\/strong> You can tell ZoneAlarm to remember your answer, though, and after a while, you\u2019ll see alarms only when something unusual happens.<\/strong> However, configuring file and printer sharing in Windows can be a bit tricky, so be prepared to take some time doing that.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But above all, let\u2019s be careful out there!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wired News <\/a><\/p>\n

Think Globally, Act Locally<\/h2>\n

A good marketer segments the market.<\/strong> Even though the Internet is worldwide, it often helps to know who\u2019s buying the most online.<\/strong> Researcher IDC recently released an analysis of US states that includes data on which state\u2019s residents buy the most on the Web.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s no surprise to see the largest states dominating the mix.<\/strong> According to IDC:<\/p>\n

When combined, California and Texas represented 22% of the country’s consumer Internet spending.<\/strong> Not only do these two states have large populations and healthy average household incomes, but they also are in the group of states that spent more than 0.<\/strong>8% of their total household income on purchases via the Internet.<\/strong> The average for the United States was 0.69%.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But 13 other states spend more per capita, over 0.<\/strong>8 percent.<\/strong> And the leaders, with more than 1.25 percent, were a trio of states that might surprise you: New Mexico, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.<\/strong> So if what you sell appeals to folks in those states, a strong Internet marketing program is in order.<\/strong><\/p>\n

IDC <\/a><\/p>\n

Return <\/a> to Mike\u2019s Take<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From Evernote: StratVantage Consulting, LLC — Mike’s Take on the News 02\/25\/01 Clipped from: http:\/\/www.stratvantage.com\/news\/022501.htm The News \u2013 02\/25\/01 Anyone Can Write a Virus Well here\u2019s disheartening news: Virus creation kits are so popular and easy to use that you, too, could write a virus like the recent Anna Kournikova or ILOVEYOU viruses. According to … <\/p>\n

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