5th January 2005 - Microxchange January News Wire

News Wire from Microxchange – Bi-Monthly

January 5th 2005

On this day in 1836 - Davy Crockett arrives in Texas, just in time for the Alamo

Please do not reply to this email as it does not go to a mailbox that is monitored. We hope that you find some of the information in this newsletter useful. Should you wish to unsubscribe please use the link at the bottom. We would like to wish you all the best for the New Year.


Google Desktop Search Engine

If you keep most of your life on a PC and have problems finding things when you need them, try Google’s new ‘Desktop Search’ which is available for download from Google. It takes quite a while to index all the files on your machine, but it is mighty quick at returning results once this is done, including searching all your emails.


The "Dirty Dozen" 2004

The top twelve spam producing countries are as follows:
1. United States 42.11%
2. South Korea 13.43%
3. China (incl Hong Kong) 8.44%
4. Canada 5.71%
5. Brazil 3.34%
6. Japan 2.57%
7. France 1.37%
8. Spain 1.18%
9. United Kingdom 1.13%
10. Germany 1.03%
11. Taiwan 1.00%
12. Mexico 0.89%
Others 17.80%



3 Domain Name Scams

Like haemorrhoids, these cons are a pain in the arse. Trouble is, no matter how painful they are, they're a part of Net life.

Scam 'A'
You get a phone call from a domain name company warning you that someone is sniffing around looking to snap up your domain. By the end of the conversation they will offer to register it for you if you make a credit card payment immediately.

Scam 'B'

You get a phone call from a domain name company warning you that your domain is up for renewal, and unless you cough up for it now you could lose it, and your Web site, and email. They will offer to reregister the domain for you straight away, after you have given your credit card details.





Scam ‘C’

You are sent bogus invoices worded in such a way that makes you think that unless you cough up the cash, you will lose your domain. In fact, the invoice is a charge to be included in a Web directory, not the registration of your domain.

Recommendation:
Treat all such demands - either written or by phone - with caution. If unsure, contact your ISP for clarification.


The Home Computing Initiative

The Home Computing Initiative (HCI) is a scheme that gives employers tax advantages when they loan PC equipment to employees for home use. Objectives of the initiative include increasing the number of home PCs and improving computer literacy in the UK. Benefits of HCI schemes can touch every area of an organisation. They are an extremely powerful catalyst for an organisation that wants to take advantage of the connection between learning, productivity and competition. This comprehensive guide gives an overview of how the Home Computing Initiative works. It also explains the many benefits to productivity, security, staff retention and recruitment. There are also possibilities for reducing training costs, and the whole initiative runs on a tax-efficient basis that ensures organisations get the maximum benefit from boosting access to IT
www.microxchange.com/cbi-guide.pdf



Firefox Web Browser

If you fancy a change from using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, then Firefox is a good alternative. It has some very good features and has become very popular since being released in the US. Features are a built in pop-up blocker and the ability to load multiple web pages at once, which are held open in tabs and the ability to manage all your stored passwords. It can be downloaded from here http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/



‘Junk Mail’ through the Royal Mail
If you have got a spam system sorted out for your emails, then this website says that it can sort out all the junk that comes through your letter box! Feedback from people who have tried it is positive. http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/