Volume 5 Issue 4

November, 1999

Escalating the War On Spam

Spam is an unfortunate byproduct of the merger between Internet technology and irresponsible business practice. As long as thoughtless businesses are able to take advantage of the open nature of the Internet, we will have to confront the spam issue.
It is our responsibility to maintain open connections to all networks on the Internet. This is essential to providing Internet services, like web and email, between us and the rest of the Internet.
It is also our responsibility to protect our network, and users, from malicious attacks, like spamming.
Recent spam attacks have prompted us to plan for increased anti-spam measures.
We already have several anti-spam mechanisms in place and have always taken a proactive stance on protecting our users from spammers. In fact, most of our spam defenses are successful in preventing the majority of spam thatbombards our network every day from reaching our users.
As with any technology, however, the spammers' software arsenal is constantly improving. This forces us to constantly upgrade our spam defenses. The trouble with this approach is that we are merely reacting to the occasionally successful spam attack.
We believe that it is time to take a more aggressive approach against spam attacks. We have researched several solutions and are planning to implement one or more of these in the next few months.
The burning issue is just how aggressive do we become? Preventing all possible spam attacks means refusing email from potentially legitimate networks as well as spamming networks.
We want your input! Do you want us to protect you from all spam at the cost of possibly not receiving all of your legitimate email?
Please email your opinion to admin@cove.com

Salem Access Lines Become 100% Digital

We are in the process of converting our analog access lines to fully digital dial-up access lines.
This conversion also replaces our "legacy" analog modems (e.g., 14.4, 28.8 and 33.6K modems) with Lucent Technologies V.90 56K modems. Slower modems will still operate with the new modems.
Since we are keeping the same phone numbers, there will be no need to make any changes if you access us with a modem that is slower than 56K.
The Salem access lines are scheduled to convert November 18. The Gloucester analog access lines will also be converted in about two months.

Gate-Wave.Net Postponed

Despite our best efforts, we have had to postpone the debut of our new search engine, Gate-Wave.net.
A formatting glitch was discovered in the database records, which requires us to reformat the entire database. Considering the database now contains close to 20,000 records, you can see why this could take some time! We are about 80% complete at this point.
We anticipate bringing the site up sometime this month - honest! :)

Y2K Notes

We are getting closer to the year's end, which means upgrading that old software and hardware - pronto!
Remember, the Windows 3.X operating system is not Y2K compliant. Mac Systems 7.1 and lower are also not Y2K compliant.
You also need to check your software programs to make sure they are Y2K compliant. Microsoft is providing Y2K information on their software products. Visit www.microsoft.com/y2k for details.

Subscriber Referral Program

Are you pleased with our service? Do you know someone who is unhappy with their current Internet/On-line service?
Why not do them and yourself a favor?
Just recommend our service. If they subscribe, we'll give you a free month of access!
They will appreciate your advice and you'll save a little money.
Again this month, over a dozen subscribers are getting their access in November for free - by referring new subscribers.

Everybody wins!

Internet Training

We suggest you contact one of the following for courses on basic computer and Internet use.

Salem State College: 978-542-6331
North Shore Community College: 978-762-4000
CyberSurf Café: 978-281-6971

What's New at the Cove is a monthly publication of Cove Communications.

Publisher/Editor, Bill Ostaski

27 Congress Street
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 741-5300
(978) 282-3399
office@cove.com

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