-tictech message:
>I periodically send out a "Tech Report" at Ingraham when some information
>is appropriate to share. I though some other sites might find some of
>this of interest.
>
>Ingraham Tech Report ... Some Not So Silly Pranks
>
>Every now and then some "pranks" get started and spreads around the
>building. Usually, it is theft of mouse balls. This year has some new
>pranks that can be just a nuisance or go as far as to destroy a
>computer. And, it is starting to spread through the building. So, keep a
>watch for it.
>
>What is happening is that some students are starting to pull some of the
>cables part way out of the back of the computer. They are pulling them
>just far enough for them not to operate, but not so much that it is
>obvious that something has been done. And, some kids are switching the
>keyboard and mouse cables, something that can potentially destroy the
>computer's main circuit board. Here are some of the pranks and how to
>deal with them. If you suspect one of the problems and don't want to try
>dealing with it, just contact me.
>· 115/230 volt switch...Beside the socket where the power cord plugs
>into the back of the computer, there is usually a small switch that should
>be marked 115 or 120 volts. This switch can be moved over to 230 or 240
>volts (for use in Europe). Switching this switch from 115 or 120 volts
>results in the computer not being able to start up. Sometimes the
>computer will beep several times.
>
>· Pulling the Network cable part way out...The network cable looks a
>lot like a telephone cord except it is thicker and round. It has an end
>with a latch on it like a telephone cord except the end connectors are
>larger and have eight gold connectors. (Telephone cords have two or four
>connectors). The network cables at Ingraham are usually yellow, gray,
>beige, or blue. If the Network cable is pulled part way out, your Web
>Browser, usually Internet Explorer, will never connect to any site. Every
>thing else about your computer works OK, but you never connect to a web
>site. This is currently the most common prank.
>· Switching the Keyboard and Mouse connectors. The Keyboard and
>Mouse cords have identical connectors so they can each be plugged into the
>wrong socket. If these cords are switched while the computer is on, it
>can burn out the computer. If the cords are switched, the computer
>usually won't startup, will usually beep a number of times, may have
>nothing on the computer screen or a message that the Keyboard is missing,
>or you may just find that neither the Keyboard or Mouse works.
>The Keyboard cable is always larger than the Mouse cable. And the
>Keyboard cable is always closer to the edge or bottom of the case. Newer
>computers are color coded so it is easy to tell if the cables are in the
>right places.
>· Computers that are connected to Projectors may have a blank
>computer monitor. When a projector is connected to a computer, its
>monitor will be blank unless the projector is turned on. For that reason,
>some projectors don't even have an On/Off switch. Now, having the
>projector turned on does not mean having the lamp turned on. The lamp
>should be turned Off whenever the projector is not being used. Also, be
>careful that no one puts the lens cap on the projector when the lamp is
>on. This can burnout the very expensive lamp.
>Virus Scanners ... Seattle School District has changed Virus Scanners
>again. If you've been using CommandAV (look for a yellow "C" in your tool
>tray) at school or at home, you'll find that you can no longer update your
>virus definitions at school or at home. That's because we no longer have
>a contract with them. And, it is VITAL to keep your virus definition up
>to date. Many new viruses come out DAILY! This is why I've had your
>computers updating the virus definitions every week.
>
>So, as soon as I get time, I will come around and install the new District
>Virus Scanner on each computer. We are back to Norton's AV which is good
>news. Sorry, I have no ETA. (By the way, just as a point of interest,
>I've put in over 800 computers at Ingraham and strung between 6,000 and
>7,000 feet of network cable, much of it to the Science department.)
>
>Additional Internet Filtering ... I can make no guarantees, but I'm working
>on a system to add additional filter to our Web Browsers. This would be
>on individual computers and entirely voluntary. This would have no effect
>on Bess, just add to what gets filtered. I feel that most of the web
>browsing in the building is unsupervised (just look at some of the X rated
>wallpaper that gets installed on desktops) and I feel that most of the web
>browsing is inappropriate. Why are we supplying $1000+ game machines to
>the kids? If you are interested, let me know on the form below and what
>would really also help would be to include your favorite sites to
>block. (Heck, I don't even approve of ebay.com).
>
>
>E-Mail Problem with "Edumail.seattleschools.org" ... A number of teachers
>have come to me with a problem in that they can no longer connect to their
>e-mail by going to "edumail.seattleschools.org" on their web
>browser. They get a message that the server can't be found. There is an
>easy solution. In your web browser, just go to
>"webmail.seattleschools.org" EduMail and WebMail are essentially
>equivalent and when one doesn't work, the other usually does. So,
>remember and try both if you have a problem. The procedures are
>equivilent for both addresses. There is no change to your logon name or
>password.
>
>Personal Firewall Software ... I have never been too concerned about
>personal Firewall software to protect me from hackers. I use a MODEM and
>I'm usually only connected to the Internet for a few minutes while I
>download my messages which I read after I disconnect from the
>Internet. Well, I decided to purchase Norton's Internet Security software
>and see if anything happened. Well, within a couple of minutes of going
>online to retrieve my e-mail, I had a hacker attack with someone from
>China trying to load a "worm" program onto my computer. That worm program
>would have given him nearly complete control of my computer. The Firewall
>software blocked him, told me of the attack, and let me trace him back to
>a hospital in Shanghi. Latter, another hacker from New Jersey tried the
>same kind of attack. He must have detected it when I traced him back to
>his home because he then tried to attack me 85 times in the next ten
>minutes through every possible port (there are thousands of them). The
>next day, I ran Internet Explorer and suddenly received a warning that
>there was an attempt to upload my PIN number to a certain web site. The
>warning showed me the PIN number that was trying to upload and it was
>correct. It was my bank PIN number. I just told my Firewall software to
>block the traffic. My software also sent back detailed descriptions of
>the attacks to the hackers' Internet Service Providers. I haven't been
>attacked twice by the same hacker. They most likely lost their accounts.
>
>Now. I'm just a normal computer user. I don't surf the Internet, go to
>bad sites or do anything to draw attention to myself. I just do e-mail
>and research. And, I do it through a MODEM. Think about you people who
>use DSL and Cable Modems so that you are "always connected". Well, you
>are always under attack Two weeks ago, I would have told you that you
>were probably wasting your time and money buying Firewall (Personal
>Security) software. Today, I would call you a fool not to. And, if you
>have an "always on" Internet connection, find out how to turn it off or
>protect it. No one is too small to attack!
>
>-Wes Felty
>Ingraham High School
wfelty@gte.net
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