susan bradley, cpa aka ebitz sbs rocks [mvp]

news://msnews.microsoft.com/OAFCkwobDHA.1552%40TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl
Kevin's back in the swing with "The Computer Man" this week's song of
the week

It's the end of August, traditional end of Summer in the US and the
beginning of September......and the next month or two looks pretty busy
for Microsoft.....

Microsoft Readies Small Business Server Bundles:
http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article.php/3070351

Office 2003
http://www.internetnews.com/special/index.php/15481
Quite honestly, I'm running the Office beta not only here at home but
I've installed it at the office as well. It's that good, that solid,
IMHO.

---------------------------

While it's time for the kids to go back to school....it's time for "us"
to go back to school as well!
Partners Hands on Lab
http://microsoft.granitepillar.com/partners/
You have no excuse not to find out about SBS2k3.... You can even do it
without loading up SBSk23 ;-)

Microsoft Partner Readiness:
http://www.msusapartnerreadiness.com/sbs2003.asp
I HIGHLY recommend a "hands on lab". Prior to my rolling out SBS2k in
my own office, I first went to a SBS2000 hands on lab in Los Angeles. I
then did a a couple of test install at home..... only then did I do my
office server. For anyone installing their "first" SBS, do a practice
run. Practice on you...not on your client. It may be deemed to be a
"starter server" but this little guy can be as complicated as you want
it to be.

--------------------------------
SMB-Nation SBS Conference!

Visit the SMB Nation site at http://www.smbnation.com for details and online
registration. You may also register via telephone at: Domestic USA
1-800-461-1931, International 1-800-688-4890. Harry bbbbbb, myself and
Wayne will be there as presenters.... and other Newsgroups regulars have
indicated they are coming as well. Come and say Hi and put email
address with faces. I have been in several conferences where
"communitity members" have come together for the first time after
conversing online for a while and the level of immediate communication
is positively inspiring when I've experienced it first hand.

In fact, Microsoft has a Sociologist who keeps track of "communities"
http://research.microsoft.com/~masmith/
---------------------------

No Security patches this week - but remember Microsoft NEVER EVER emails
out patches via email. If you are getting any emails that look like
this... don't download it ...it's NOT a patch and is in fact a trojan.
Subject:
Use this patch immediately !
Date:
Sun, 31 Aug 2003 04:50:50 -0700 (PDT)
From:
"Microsoft" <security@microsoft.com>
To:
<email address>
Dear friend , use this Internet Explorer patch now!
There are dangerous virus in the Internet now!
More than 500.000 already infected!

patch.exe
Name:
patch.exe
Type:
unspecified type (application/octet-stream)
Encoding:
base64

----------------------------
Read the complaint against the kid who was Blaster.B's author
http://news.findlaw.com/nytimes/docs/cyberlaw/usparson82803cmp.pdf

-----------------------------
How fast SoBig hit the net
Sobig-F worm timeline and latest news, from Sophos Anti-Virus:
http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/articles/sobigtimeline.html

---------------------------
How fast MSBlast went from patch to exploit
http://www.sbslinks.com/timeline.htm
--------------------------

It's back to school time in the USA....
Technology: Back To School Guide:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/959551.asp
The Seattle Times: Business & Technology: School tools: Voice recorder,
USB drive, join calculator in backpack:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2001676078_ptschool30.html

Calculator:

Calculator...that's so ... like 2002! Get a Tablet PC!
http://www.xthink.com/Calculator.html
What Is New :: Computer Industry News and Stories:
http://www.whatisnew.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Downloads&file=index&req=viewdownloaddetails&lid=35&ttitle=MathPractice

- - - - - - - - - -
How to catch a cyber crook? Money talks
The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and other
agencies have now joined the hunt to track down the
individuals who perpetrated the MSBlast worm and the
Sobig.F virus, but the odds for a successful capture
are not good. "Protecting the nation's cyber infrastructure
is a top priority for the FBI, and we are working with
the Department of Homeland Security and with state and
local law enforcement on our Cyber Task Force to track
down the perpetrators of SoBig and the recent W32/Blaster
worm," FBI director Robert Mueller said this week.
http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/0,14179,2914568,00.html

- - - - - - - - - -
For virus sleuths, the clock ticks ever faster
Do not talk to Mikko Hypponen about pressure. Within
minutes of first receiving a sample of the SoBig.F
computer virus last week, he set out to beat the
clock. Hypponen and his researchers at F-Secure,
a small and little-known computer security company
based in Finland, identified the problem, prepared
a patch to use against it and distributed the update
to their customers, just as dozens of antivirus
companies were doing the same thing.
http://www.iht.com/articles/108006.html

The Ever-Growing Virus
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2003/tc20030826_4386_tc047.htm

- - - - - - - - - -
AV bigwigs weigh in on Sobig debate
We've had plenty of feedback to our op ed piece
yesterday on the wider implications of the Sobig
worm. It wasn't easy but we managed to extract
your insightful gems from the torrent of junk
descending into my mail box. But it was worth it.
Most of you agree with our central thesis that the
outbreak of Sobig has exposed the weaknesses of
current generations of antivirus tools, but there's
disagreement about the way forward.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/35/32539.html

Preventive Medicine For E-Mail
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56067-2003Aug27.html
SoBig boosts IT security spending
http://www.vnunet.com/News/1143260
IT security posse seeks quick fixes
http://gcn.com/22_24/news/23245-1.html
SoBig.F worm a speed demon
http://www.sunspot.net/technology/custom/pluggedin/bal-pl.sobig28aug28,0,3860049.story

- - - - - - - - - -
FBI tracks worm writers
The FBI says it will hunt down the perpetrators of the
Sobig virus and the MSBlast worm. The FBI is "confident"
that it will capture those who are responsible for
creating and spreading the MSBlast worm and the Sobig.F
virus, the bureau said on Tuesday. Companies and home
computer users have had to deal with the MSBlast worm
-- also known as W32/Blaster and W32.Lovsan -- which
started spreading on 11 August; a worm that attempted
to plug the hole exploited by the MSBlast worm; and
the Sobig.F virus, which spread through email
attachments opened by unsuspecting people.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/0,39020330,39115922,00.htm

Secure gateway email servers key to virus blocking
Gateway email security is key to stopping the spread
of virus outbreaks such as Sobig.F, according to ****yst
group Gartner. Sobig.F used spoofed email addresses to
spread itself from infected computers - and the problem
was compounded by a deluge of spam caused by anti-virus
systems, which sent an alert notifying the spoofed sender
that the message they had supposedly sent was infected.
http://www.silicon.com/news/500013/1/5753.html

ISPs Add Filters to Anti-Virus Arsenal
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54406-2003Aug27.html
Why Sobig is bad for privacy and AV vendors
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/56/32510.html
Worming into my inbox
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/08/27/hln.wired.worm.inbox/index.html
Barbarians at the digital gates
http://www.boston.com/business/BCWorkbench/site/business/BCWorkbench/site/business/technology/articles/2003/08/27/barbarians_at_the_digital_gates/

Microsoft fires up security Update beta project
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=11221
http://www.itweb.co.za/sections/internet/2003/0308270949.asp
Microsoft Using Linux-Based Network in Wake of Attacks
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/22171.html
Companies Brace for SoBig's Next Punch
http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/22170.html
Worms a plague -- or nuisance
http://www.startribune.com/stories/789/4063564.html
- - - - - - - - - -
Aussie antispammer shuttered by DoS attacks
Osirusoft, one of the largest antispam blacklist,
has been shut down by its operator following a barrage
of massive Distributed Denial of Service (DoS) attacks
that have crippled the service. At this stage no
statement has been made from the operator of the
service, but the industry speculates the service
may come back in a different form when DDoS
attacks from spammers have subsided.
http://zdnet.com.com/2110-1105_2-5068741.html

Until next time ...see you on the wires


--
"Don't lose sight of security. Security is a state of being, not a
state of budget. He with the most firewalls still does not win.
Put down that honeypot and keep up to date on your patches. Demand
better security from vendors and hold them responsible. Use what
you have, and make sure you know how to use it properly and
effectively."
~ Rain Forest Puppy

http://www.wiretrip.net/rfp/txt/evolution.txt