Walk America Kick-Off

As you probably know, my wife and I had a son born 15 weeks premature last summer. I'm happy to report that he is doing great and progressing at an exponential rate. However, every year thousands of babies are born premature and they do not achieve such a positive outcome. Our son, Carson, spent several months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mayo Clinic and we had the chance to meet several families who are still struggling.

My wife and I have agreed to be the "Ambassador Family" for the 2007 Walk America walk for the March of Dimes. We're proud to be the "face" for this event and a symbol for the advancements made by the March of Dimes. Without their research, many of the live-saving technologies they used on Carson would not have been available.

We have been blessed with a healthy child and want to give back both emotionally and financially. We have set a goal to raise $5000 as "Team Carson" and would love for you to join us. We would like for you to either walk with us or make a donation towards this great cause. If you're a customer of CWS, we'll even provide a credit to your account for 50% of your tax-deductable donation (up to $500 maximum per client). For example, if you donate $100 to the March of Dimes through the link above, we'll issue a $50 credit to your account.

Please join us Thursday, February 22nd at 6PM for the official Rochester WalkAmerica 2007 Kick-Off!! It will be held at the Eagle's Club at 917 15th Ave. S.E. (formerly the Elk's Lodge). Hamburger's will be provided and there will be music by classic hits 107.7 KLCX thanks to generous sponsors.

Thank you for supporting the mission of the March of Dimes and we look forward to seeing you on Feb 22nd (yes, Carson will be there) and walking with you on April 28th!

Millions Vulnerable to New Hack Attack

Security firm Symantec and the Indiana University School of Informatics have discovered a new type of security threat that could leave up to 50 percent of home broadband users susceptible to attack.

Called "drive-by pharming," the threat is focused on home routers, which can be reconfigured and directed to a malicious Web site if default settings and passwords are being used.

With traditional pharming, an attacker redirects a user from a legitimate Web site to a bogus Web site that contains malicious code. Pharming attacks can be executed by either changing the host file on a victim's PC or manipulating a domain name system (DNS) server.

In the new scheme, when a user visits a malicious Web site, an attacker is able to remotely change the DNS settings on the broadband router or wireless access point and reroute requests for legitimate sites, like online banking sites or financial institutions, to bogus sites designed to steal login information.

Default Passwords

The security team that examined the issue believes that the problem potentially affects millions of broadband users worldwide, and that the attacks can be easily launched.

The researchers urged users to protect their broadband routers and wireless access points by changing their default passwords.

Drive-by pharming is dangerous not only because it directs users to malicious sites, but also because an attacker can permanently change router settings, exposing unwitting victims to ongoing attacks.

"This new research exposes a problem affecting millions of broadband users worldwide," Oliver Friedrichs, director of Symantec Security Response, said in a statement. "Because of the ease by which drive-by pharming attacks can be launched, it is vital that consumers adequately protect their broadband routers and wireless access points today."

Symantec recommends that users should change their default passwords and= employ a multilayered security strategy consisting of an Internet security program that combines antivirus, firewall, intrusion detection, and vulnerability protection. Also important, the research team noted, is avoiding clicking on links that seem suspicious.

User Education

But the main issue, according to Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluley, is that many users either do not change settings or use the password supplied by the manufacturer. Many devices are given obvious passwords for shipping and setup, such as "administrator" or "password," which Cluley noted are very easy for hackers to guess.

"For the sake of thirty seconds' effort, home users may be leaving themselves dangerously open to attack by not changing their passwords," he said.

While the great likelihood of attack predicted by Symantec could have some effect on user education, Cluley said he hopes that router makers will also take notice and design their software to be more insistent about changing default passwords.

"More prominent warnings that passwords have not been changed from their default might help encourage users to take this relatively simple step," he said. An additional line of defense is to disable JavaScript on untrusted Web sites, he added.

Source: Atomic Park

Launch: Venture Computer Systems

CWS is pleased to announce the launch of a new website for Venture Computer Systems, southeast Minnesota's premier source for IT solutions and support. Venture has been a trusted partner of CWS and many other regional businesses for a number of years.

Venture decided that it was time to make a better online presentation of their business case: all the reasons it makes sense to rely on a highly qualified staff of experts. The website was also given a more contemporary design and a structure that's easy to maintain.

Venture Computer Systems has an impressively broad range of products to meet your technology needs, so be sure to see what they have to offer. You may be surprised at the variety of high-quality goods and services that are available right here in Rochester!

Fraudulent Email

It has come to our attention that a handful of hosting customers recently received a fraudulent email message claiming to be from CWS. The subject line of this message is "Hosting Regular Security Maintenance."

The message includes an attached PHP script named webguard.php with instructions for the hosting customer to place the script on his or her website and run it. Although this file is presented as a security feature, the opposite is in fact true. The script is malicious and is intended to compromise the security of a server on which it runs.

Should you receive an email of this nature, do not under any circumstances upload the script to your website. If you ever receive an email that claims to be from CWS and have any question at all about its authenticity, please contact us at 1-888-426-7793.

Launch: Runway Reporting System

Let's pretend you're driving down the freeway in your new corvette at 120mph. Since it's the middle of winter, wouldn't it be nice to know if there are icy spots up ahead?

At the airport, pilots are faced with this situation each time they land a plane.

To solve this problem, CWS developed an "Airport Field Conditions Reporting System" which is now in use at the Rochester International Airport. Control towers all over the country have access to real-time statistics about the conditions of the runways at our airport. They can relay this information to pilots as they prepare for landing, or re-route air traffic if necessary.

During severe weather conditions, the website may be updated several times each hour as airport crews continue to plow runways and apply chemicals. Ground staff at the airport has access to update the live data quickly, with each update logged and available immediately.

Launch: Rochester Public Library

On February 1, the Rochester Public Library unveiled a new website developed in partnership with CWS. This redesign addressed a number of objectives for the Library's complex web offerings.

The website was rebuilt from the ground up to better meet accessibility guidelines and Web standards. It greatly simplifies access to common tasks and features, and highlights some useful tools that you may not have previously noticed.

Finally, the website is now far easier for Library staff to manage and maintain using Adobe's Contribute Publishing System. Hats off to them for updating and restructuring an enormous body of content during this process.

Response so far has been very positive. Here's what the Post-Bulletin's Digital Mike had to say:

I like it. All the stuff you looked for before seems to be there, and now it seems easier to maneuver and find information compared with the old site.

Rochester has a truly impressive library for a city its size, so be sure to check it out (no pun intended)! If you never visited the old site, you can find a copy by stepping into The Wayback Machine.

CVB Wins Award for CD Produced by CWS

One of our clients - the Rochester Convention & Visitors Bureau - recently received a Travel Marketing Award of Merit from Explore Minnesota Tourism at their annual conference. The award was given to the RCVB for a series of multimedia CD presentations which are produced by CWS and customized for conventions, sporting events, and other bids. Each custom disc typically features a personal introduction by Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede, often with a bit of offbeat humor and highlights of all that Rochester has to offer.

Travel Marketing Awards are given annually to note creative, successful tourism marketing programs by Minnesota communities. The RCVB entered the multimedia disc as an example of an electronic marketing tool that goes "above and beyond" typical sales presentations.

The CD gives meeting planners a sense of connection with the Rochester community, especially with the guided tour from Mayor Brede. Custom discs have been produced for 13 amateur sports organizations and meeting planners, in addition to a general purpose disc that is used for other presentations. In many cases, the CDs are also left with events attendees to boost participation and with travel writers requesting information.

These multimedia CDs have generated six confirmed pieces of new business for the city of Rochester, representing 13,450 visitors, 16,850 hotel rooms and an economic impact of more than $3.8 million. Two additional bids are still under consideration.

CWS is proud to work with the CVB and other organizations to promote the great city of Rochester!

Confidential Microsoft Email Posted Online

From the class action "Comes et al. v. Microsoft" suit, some very enlightening internal Microsoft emails have been made public. Emails to and from Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer, Jim Allchin, etc all make for some mind blowing reading.

One of my favorites is from Jim Allchin to Bill Gates, entitled 'losing our way', in which Allchin states "I would buy a Mac today if I was not working at Microsoft."

Here's a screen capture of the original email. You can download a PDF version at the offical court website.



In the email, he says:

This is a rant. I'm sorry.

I am not sure how the company last sight of what matters to our customers (both business and home) the most, but in my view we lost our way. I think our teams lost sight of what bug-free means, what resilience means, what full scenarios mean, what security means, what performance means, how important current applications are, and really understanding what the most important problems are customers face are. I see lots of random features and some great vision, but that doesn't translate tnto great products.

I would buy a Mac today if I was not working at Microsoft. If you run the equivalent of VPC on a MAC you get access to casioally all Windows application software (although not the hardware) . Apple did not lose their way. You must watch this new videc below. I know this doesn't show anything for businesses, but my point is about the philosophy that Apple uses. They think scenario. They think simple. They think fast. I know there is nothing hugely deep in this.

http: //www.apple.com/ilife/video/ilifeO432C.htm.

I must tell you everything in my soul tells me that we should do what I called plan (b) yesterday. We need a simple fast storage system. LH is a pig and I don't see any solution to this problem. If we are to rise to the challenqe of Linux and Apple, we need to start takrng the lessons of "scenario, simple, fast" to heart.

jim

Top 5 Super Bowl Ads (of all time)

It's that time of year where advertisers shell out $85,000 per second for an advertisement during the Super Bowl. Many experts now agree that this hefty price tag makes it hard to achieve any sort of return on your investment. Nevertheless, millions are eager to see new advertisements produced by companies with huge advertising budgets.

So we have to ask, "Which SuperBowl ads have secured their place in history as memorable classics"? Do you remember these 5 ads?

5. Apple "1984" (1984)

A jogger representing Apple throws a sledgehammer into a giant Big Brother image representing IBM - promising a populist shift in the future of personal computers.


Direct Link

What worked: With "Blade Runner" director Ridley Scott in charge, the ad generated more hype - and post-game water cooler talk - than any television commercial in history. Do you even remember who played in the Super Bowl in 1984? (L.A. Raiders and Washington.) You almost certainly remember the biggest Super Bowl ad of the year.

The results: The most storied Super Bowl ad of all time might have boosted sales of George Orwell books, hot red running shorts and sledgehammers. But it didn't do much for the Macintosh - Apple continues to be the Reform Party of computer manufacturers. Maybe there was a storage locker filled with iPods behind that huge video screen?

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4. Monster.com- When I grow up (1999)


Direct Link

A group of kids stare at the camera and declare their desire to "have a brown nose," "be a yes man" and "claw my way up to middle management."

What worked: Kids are cute, and even cuter when reciting lines such as, "When I grow up... I want to be forced into early retirement." It was great brand recognition for the new company.

The results: Monster survived the dot-com implosion and despite a stock controversy in 2006 has become a prosperous company that employs close to 5,000 people worldwide.

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3. Terry Tate- Office Linebacker (2003)


Direct Link

To boost productivity, a CEO recruits a linebacker from Reebok to slam into a series of "Office Space"-style cubicle drones.

What worked: A series of brutal hits, punctuated by lines such as, "Break was over 15 minutes ago, Mitch!" made this the best Super Bowl ad of the last five years.

The results: Terry Tate got people talking about Reebok for something other than sweatshop controversies. The company provides shoes for all the major sports and hosts clothing lines for rappers Jay-Z and 50 Cent.

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2. McDonald's "The Showdown" (1993)

Michael Jordan and Larry Bird engage in a physics-defying hoops-shooting contest for a Big Mac and fries.


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What worked: Every basketball fan knows that Bird would win this contest 10 out of 10 times, but it was still a clever idea with a catchphrase that continues to pop up in "Horse" games. ("Over the second rafter, off the floor... nothing but net.")

The results: This commercial seems to have blessed everyone involved. Jordan won three more championships and Bird transitioned into a solid career as a coach. And while salads and chicken products have been killing off the rest of the menu, the cholesterol-heavy Big Mac value meal remains an untouchable fast-food staple.

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1. Budweiser "Frogs" (1995)

Three frogs, perched on a log outside a bar, croaking, "Bud... Weis... Errrrrr."


Direct Link

What worked: The fact that Budweiser milks every commercial concept to death - does anyone doubt there will be a "Magic Fridge 2" this year? - makes it easy to forget how cool this ad was when you first heard it. The buildup was great, with an oddly infectious catchphrase.

The results: For better or worse, the frog ads and the spin-off lizard commercials made Budweiser, which was starting to become an old-guy drink, cool again for younger partiers.

There are many more that could have made this list and also deserve recognition. For example, do you remember the E-Trade Monkey from 1999? What are you favorite all-time ads?

R.I.P. Floppy: 1971-2007

If you still have your resume safely stored away on a floppy disk, you may want to think about converting it soon. In the very near future, you won't be able to purcahse a floppy disk, let alone a floppy drive.

The time has come to bid farewell to one of the PC's more stalwart friends - the floppy disk. Computing superstore PC World said it will no longer sell the storage devices, affectionately known as floppies, once existing stock runs out.

New storage systems, coupled with a need to store more than the 1.44 megabytes of data held by a standard floppy, have led to its demise.

Only a tiny percentage of PCs currently sold still have floppy disk drives.

"The floppy disk looks increasingly quaint and simply isn't able to compete," said Bryan Magrath, commercial director of PC World.

Iconic status

It is not the first time the death-knell for the floppy has been sounded. The first nail in the coffin came in 1998, when the iMac was revealed without a floppy disk drive.

Then in 2003, Dell banished disk drives from its higher spec machines.

In 1998, an estimated 2 billion floppy disks were sold, according to the Recording Media Industries Association of Japan.

Since then global demand has fallen by around two-thirds to an estimated 700 million by 2006.

Only 2% of PCs and laptops currently sold by PC World still have built-in floppy disk drives and by the summer it will phase even these out.

It is with mixed feelings that the computer store has decided call time on the floppy.

"The sound of a computer's floppy disk drive will be as closely associated with 20th Century computing as the sound of a computer dialling into the internet," said Mr Magrath.

But with computer users increasingly using the internet or USB memory sticks - some of which store 2,000 times the capacity of the floppy disk - to transfer data, it is becoming redundant.

It is a far cry from its halcyon days in the 1980s and 1990s, when floppies provided essential back-up as well as playing a crucial role in transferring data and distributing software.

Shrinking disk

The first floppy disk was introduced in 1971 by IBM and heralded as a revolutionary device.

The brainchild of a group of Californian engineers led by Alan Shugart, it replaced old-fashioned punch-cards.

An eight-inch plastic disk coated with magnetic iron oxide, the nickname "floppy" came from its flexibility.

In 1976 the disk shrank to five-and-a-quarter inches - developed again by Alan Shugart, this time for Wang Laboratories.

By 1981, Sony shrank it some more - this time to three-and-a-half inches - the standard used to this day.

By the early 1990s, the growing complexity of software meant that many programs were distributed on sets of floppies. But the end of the decade saw software distribution swap to CD-ROM.

Vista icon

Alternative backup formats, new storage such as the CD-RW and the arrival of mass internet access, consigned the floppy disk to the dusty corner of peoples' desks and, eventually, the bin.

For those in the industry, there is little to mourn in the loss of floppy disks.

"You can get so much more information on other forms of storage. Technology moves on," said Bryan Glick, editor of Computing.co.uk.

But, he said, its demise, could prove problematic for those who have stored precious data on disk.

"There will be shops where they can get the data transferred but it they still have the original data they would be advised to invest in a portable hard drive or put it online," he said.

Interestingly, software giant Microsoft seems to be keeping the flame alight for the floppy.

Its newly-released operating system Vista still pays homage to it by continuing to use a floppy disk as the icon for saving a document in Microsoft Word 2007.

Source: BBC News