Natco Net News

Volume 2, Issue 11
November, 2000

Natco Notes

You may call NATCO's Internet Troubleshooting numbers, (870) 453-8822, (870) 425-7325 or (870) 449-5087 if you have questions or need help with your NATCO Tech Internet access account. Technicians are on duty every weekday from 8 am until 5 pm. If you need to report a problem after hours, you may leave a voice mail message. A technician will return your call the next weekday morning.

Dialup: DSL connection problems found in Windows ME

Due to a software incompatibility, many DSL users who have switched from Windows 98 to Windows ME (Millennium Edition) are experiencing connection problems. Microsoft is working closely with ISPs and DSL providers to provide the most updated drivers, to ensure fast, smooth connections. However, experienced users can usually download the drivers for their specific modems directly from the manufacturers' Web sites.

Dialup: Virus protection tips

Viruses are no fun. Whether it's a harmless ditty that displays a smiley face once a month or a monster that ravages your hard drive within minutes, they are bad news, and they are extremely prevalent. Considering that the average rate of infection between 1996 and 1999 grew by 800%, it is no wonder why we strive to stay ahead of them. Here are some things you should consider.

Prevention is the best medicine. If you can prevent a virus from attacking in the first place, so much the better. Here are some ways to protect yourself:

1. Make sure you have a good antivirus program on your computer, and then be sure to update it on a weekly or monthly basis.

2. Be wary of all email attachments, even from people you know. If you don't know what it is, don't open it.

3. Use an e-mail program that can scan incoming e-mails for viruses. Microsoft Outlook users can get the latest updates from www.officeupdate.com (this link is no longer active as of 11/21/01)

4. Those using Microsoft Office (version 97 or later) should be sure that "Macro virus protection" is enabled.

5. Make back-ups of all your files - just in case.

Treatment is the next best medicine. If your computer does become infected, here are some steps you should take:

1. Stay calm. Many times, the damage can be undone.

2. Close your e-mail program - the virus may try to replicate and mail itself.

3. If you suspect the virus may have e-mailed itself, warn everyone on your mailing list as soon as possible.

4. If you can get online, visit the Web site of an antivirus program vendor, such as McAfee or Symantec (Norton), to find free tools that can help fix your computer.

5. Do some research into the type of virus you have, so you'll know exactly how it works and how to repair any damage it may have done. If you're not comfortable making the repairs or installing software, contact a computer technician. NATCO Technologies may be able to offer some assistance, but this is not a free service. The fee is $60 per hour.

Know the lingo. As with anything computer-related, there is a certain jargon that applies to viruses. Here is a little glossary to help familiarize you with some of the more common terms.

Malware: malicious software

Payload: what the virus does to your computer, e.g., erasing your hard drive

Trojan: a program that does something other than what it's supposed to do - generally something bad.

Virus: a program designed to replicate itself on a host machine In the wild: a virus that actively infects computers (viruses that aren't in the wild are known as "zoo viruses")

Worm: a program that reproduces by spreading copies of itself over a network, such as the Internet

Web site owners: New Web hosting packages

NATCO now offers new and improved Web hosting packages as well as a la carte Web site hosting services. You may choose from one of the packages described below or create your own from NATCO's Web site hosting options.

To take advantage of these services, call NATCO Technologies at 1-800-775-6682 or NATCO Technologies partner Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing, Inc. at (870) 425-8064.

Starter Web Site Hosting Package - $14.95/month
$50.00 setup fee
One domain name
One e-mail address with hosted domain name
10 MB server space
CGI-bin directory
Webalizer Web page statistics report
1.5 gigabytes of data transfer per month

Standard Web Site Hosting Package - $29.95/month
$75.00 setup fee
One domain name
Five e-mail addresses with hosted domain name
E-mail forwarding for any of the five e-mail addresses
20 MB server space
CGI-bin directory
Webalizer Web page statistics report
2.5 gigabytes of data transfer per month

Deluxe Web Site Hosting Package - $49.95/month
$100.00 setup fee
One domain name
Five e-mail addresses with hosted domain name
E-mail forwarding for any of the five e-mail addresses
50 MB server space
CGI-bin directory
Webalizer Web page statistics report
5 gigabytes of data transfer per month

Additional Conditions
All setup fees waived if prepaid for one year.
Data transfers exceeding the designated amount in the package will be billed at $20/gigabyte. Your Webalizer reports track data transfers from your site. If the full number of e-mail addresses isn't chosen with the initial order, they may be added at a later date at no additional charge.

NATCO Web Site Hosting Options
Virtual domain activation -- $10 one time
Virtual domain for an active site -- $10 per month
Traffic report (for virtual domains only) -- $5 per month
Web server space -- $5 per month/5 MB
CGI-bin directory -- $5 per month
Web page loading -- $20 each loading up to and per 10 MB
Activation Fee -- $10 each service after original order
Data Transfers (over transfer limits included in package) -- $20 per gigabyte

Packages and prices effective November 2000. Prices and offers subject to change without notice. A one-month minimum fee is required for all Internet Services.

Although NATCO does not build or maintain Web sites, NATCO Partner Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing, Inc. (www.bjmweb.com) in Mountain Home offers Web site building and maintenance services for NATCO customers.

Web site owners: Sneaky domain companies

Most Web site owners know the value of having their own virtual domain name, such as mybusiness.com instead of someserver.com/directory/extrafolder/almostthere/you. They also know that it is first come, first served; domain names are in short supply these days.

Unfortunately, some companies seek to exploit the worries and fears of business owners by trying to sell them virtual domain names they don't want or need. These companies generally will find your virtual domain name on the Internet and then send an official looking e-mail to say that some very similar domain name is about to be purchased by someone else, but that there is still time for you to get it first, and to please advise them as to how to proceed. The natural response, of course, is to want to secure it for yourself, and that's what they're counting on to make their money.

Granted, there is nothing wrong with having multiple virtual domain names, especially if your budget can afford it, but don't feel pressured into paying for additional virtual domain names such as myownbusiness.com, mybusiness.org, mybusinesses.net, and so forth, when mybusiness.com is working just fine for you.

If you have questions regarding virtual domains, or would like to explore the possibility of multiple virtual domain names, please feel free to call NATCO Technologies partner Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing, Inc. at (870) 425-8064.

Archives of Natco Net News are available online at http://www.natcotech.com/newsletter/.

Questions? Problems? E-mail custserv@natconet.com or call 453-8822, 425-7325 or 449-5087 for assistance.

(c) 2000, Northern Arkansas Telephone Company, Inc.