Copyright 2005 4IT Systems Ltd. Sun, 17/08/2008 12:00:00 GMT Sun, 17/08/2008 12:00:00 GMT http://business.4-it.co.uk/images/4-itlogosmall.jpg http://business.4-it.co.uk/index.php 4IT Systems Ltd - Business User 4IT Systems (Business User) News & Blog http://business.4-it.co.uk Important IT related news & discussion for our business customers en-us Mailfoundry Spam Filter Problem ** Resolved ** http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#41 17 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT We have noticed a number of clients receiving unusually large amounts of spam even though they were using our Mailfoundry Spam filter.<br /> <br /> This issue has been traced to a bug in the ensim control panel which reset the mailfoundry MX mail record for customers domains. This allowed spam mail to be delivered directly to the users mailbox, bypassing the filter.<br /> <br /> As a proactive step, we have reviewed all of our customers hosted domains (and any aliased domains) to ensure the MX record forces mail through the filter as intended.<br /> <br /> If you are one of the affected customers receiving large amounts of spam, the volume should significantly reduce within the next 24-48 hours.<br /> Olympics themed scam e-mail start to appear http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#40 11 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT The Olympics has become the latest ploy by cyber criminals peddling their scams.<br /> <br /> The volume of junk e-mail messages with an Olympic theme spiked prior to the opening ceremony. The malicious messages try to trick people into visiting fake sites or opening booby-trapped e-mail attachments. Some messages falsely claim users have won an Olympic lottery and encourage them to respond to claim their prize. <br /> <br /> As always we ask all users to be continually vigilant and never open suspicious attachments.<br /> Adobe: Beware of fake Flash downloads http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#39 05 Aug 2008 12:00:00 GMT Amidst confirmed reports that malicious hackers are starting to use fake Flash Player downloads as lures for malware, Adobe has issued a notice for users to validate installers before downloading software updates.<br /> <br /> 1) Do not download Flash Player from a site other than adobe.com. This goes for any piece of software (Reader, Windows Media Player, QuickTime, etc.) - if you get a notice to update, it's not a bad idea to go directly to the site of the software vendor and download the update directly from the source. If the download is from an unfamiliar URL or an IP address, you should be suspicious.<br /> <br /> 2) All Adobe software for Windows is signed with a digital certificate that is validated by Windows when you install it. The Publisher will always be 'Adobe Systems, Incorporated', and you can verify this when you double-click the installer, or by right-clicking on the installer, selecting 'Properties', and going to the 'Digital Signatures' tab.<br /> <br /> E-Mail Virus Warning ** UPDATE ** http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#38 25 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT We are seeing a large number of Virus infected e-mails recently.<br /> <br /> The subject of the e-mail varies but so far are we have seen :-<br /> UPS Parcel Service - Invoice Attached<br /> Customer Service - Your Parcel is at the customs office.<br /> Continental Airlines - Online order for airplane ticket XXX<br /> Spirit Airlines - Online order for airplane ticket XXX<br /> <br /> The e-mail contains a zipped attachment claiming to contain some form of important document that the user is encouraged to open. <br /> The zip attachment actually contains a virus.<br /> <br /> If you have received one of these please delete it. Do NOT open the attachment.<br /> <br /> In general you should not be opening any attachments that have been unexpectedly received unless you can verify the source. Domain Registry Of America - Reminder Warning http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#37 14 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT This is a reminder warning to all our customers to be on the lookout for renewal notices from a company calling itself "Domain Registry of America".<br /> <br /> If you receive one of these letters please ignore it and bin it.<br /> <br /> I have written about these deceptive letters before in an earlier news article (scroll down to <strong>"18 Jul 2005 - 'Domain Registry of America' Scam Letter Warning."</strong><br /> <br /> If you have any worries or concerns about these please contact us. Windows XP SP3 causing buggy home routers to crash http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#36 10 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT Broadband modem/router maker Billion says XP SP3 has been causing its BiPAC 5200-series routers to go into a constant crash and reboot cycle. <br /> Although Windows XP SP3 is the cause, isn't actually to blame. <br /> <br /> The problem relate to a bug in Billion's code, not Microsoft's, specifically Billions buggy implementation of DHCP. A firmware is available that addresses this problem.<br /> <br /> For more details check out the APC article <a href="http://apcmag.com/router_crashes_blamed_on_windows_xp_sp3.htm" title="Billion XP SP3 Router Problems" target="_blank">here</a> XP SP3 problems reported in small number of users http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#34 29 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT Overall XP SP3 deployment seems to have gone well, however as with any major software upgrade, some issues have surfaced now that the update is publically available.<br /> <br /> For more information please checkout the following articles:-<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,145811-c,xp/article.html" target="_blank">Windows XP SP3's Aches, Pains, and User Complaints (PC World)</a><br /> <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/146059/users_report_more_trouble_with_windows_xp_sp3.html" target="_blank">Users Report More Trouble With Windows XP SP3 (PC World)</a><br /> <a href="http://www.slipperybrick.com/2008/05/windows-xp-sp3-troubles/" target="_blank">Windows XP Service Pack 3 still rocky, reboot loop (Slipperybrick)</a><br /> <a href="http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/05/23/Symantec-blames-Microsoft-for-XP-SP3-registry-corruption_1.html" target="_blank">Symantec blames Microsoft for XP SP3 registry corruption (Infoworld)</a> Summer break office closure & support arrangements http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#35 29 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT <br /> Our office will be closed for 14 working days between 19th June & 10th July. <br /> Support will be available, as previously, via e-mail, Skype VoIP, telephone and remote access (where available). The primary method of support contact, as before, should be e-mail. It is anticipated that all support e-mails will be responded to on the day of receipt, however due to time zone differences this will not be until at least 2pm BST.<br /> Please <strong>do not</strong> leave telephone messages at the office number as these will not be picked up until the office reopens.<br /> <br /> <u>E-Mail Issues</u><br /> <br /> If you are, however, having issues with e-mail, use your Squirrelmail web interface (4it hosting clients only) or a third party web based e-mail account such as Hotmail to report this.<br /> <br /> <u>Internet Issues</u><br /> <br /> In the event of loss of internet service, please ensure that you familiarise yourself with your modem / router reset instructions. Make sure you have filed a copy of your ISP's username & password and are able to re-enter these into your router should that be required. Finally should the issue still persist please direct your support requests directly to your ISP's support teams via their helpdesk telephone number. (Plus Net customers use 08451 400 200).<br /> <br /> If you need assistance with any of the above, please contact us at your earliest convenience.<br /> XP Service Pack 3 Now Available http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#33 11 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) has now been made available to the general public for download via Windows Automatic Updates.<br /> If you are running any legacy applications please test them first on SP3 before upgrading all of your machines. How to get Vista SP1 http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#31 03 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT Vista Service Pack 1 is finally out, but getting it can be a little confusing. If you assume you'll automatically get it immediately on Windows Update, well, that depends. In some cases (eight different scenarios, to be exact), SP1 doesn't pop up on Windows Update. So will you get it or not? And if so, when? <br /> This Computerworld article attempts to clear up some of the confusion: <br /> <a href="http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&amp;articleId=9070278&amp;pageNumber=1" target="_blank">Vista SP1 Article</a> XP Service Pack 3: Still in Testing http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#30 02 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT Vista users finally got Service Pack 1, but if you've stuck with XP, you'll have to wait a while longer for SP3. A new version of the release candidate has been released to beta testers, but it's still not ready in final form despite expectations that it would come out this week. Important <strong>SPAM</strong> Notice http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#27 30 Mar 2008 12:00:00 GMT Please note <u><strong>4IT Systems does NOT send out spam, under ANY circumstances. </strong></u> <br /> It has come to our attention that spam is being sent out with our address forged as the originator. If you have received an item of spam with our address in the "From" field, please be assured that it did <strong><u>NOT</u></strong> come from us.<br /> The "From" field of spam is almost always forged and cannot be used to identify the originator. Forging the originator is a simple process for the spammer to do and is one of the reasons why spam is such a problem.<br /> Unfortunately there is very little we can do to stop a spammer labelling their spam with our address or any other address for that matter.<br /> Vista Service Pack 1 now available. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#25 17 Mar 2008 12:00:00 GMT Microsoft has released Service Pack 1 to all users via the Windows Update site.<br /> Service Pack 1 is a roll up of a number of fixes made available throughout the year plus some important ones covering a file copy performance problem reported by a number of users.<br /> We have beta tested SP1 for a number of weeks and recommend this update to all Vista users. 100% of expired .COM domains are being instantly registered. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#23 14 Feb 2008 12:00:00 GMT An article has come to my attention which I though important enough to pass on to all my registered domain name holders.<br /> <br /> ICANN has reported that 100% of expired .COM & .NET domain names are being instantly re-registered by third parties with a view to using the domain to generate advertising revenue with pay per click adverts.<br /> This is a problem that all owners of domains need to be aware of but particularly .com and .net domains.<br /> I have included a section of the report below with links for further reading should you wish more background on the subject.<br /> <br /> The Coalition Against Domain Name Abuse (CADNA) has released a white paper this week on the practice of "Drop-catching," which refers to the process whereby a domain name has expired, is released again into the pool of available names, and immediately is registered by another individual.<br /> Here are some really interesting facts, as reported on Website Magazine:<br /> 1. CADNA tracked 17,000 randomly selected Dot-ORG, Dot-COM, and Dot-NET domain names after their scheduled expiration on September 18th, 2007, and found that 100% of the Dot-COM and Dot-NET domains were instantly registered after they were released. <br /> 2. 39.8% of Dot-COMs and 32.2% of Dot-NETs were added and dropped again throughout the study via a practice known as kiting. The initial registration of all expiring domains and the subsequent domain tasting and kiting that occurred points to a willingness on the part of drop-catchers to continuously register domain names since they can be repeatedly tested and easily returned with no monetary penalty. <br /> 3. The results also show that 87% of Dot-COM drop-catchers use the domain names for pay-per-click (PPC) sites. They have no interest in these domain names other than leveraging them to post PPC ads and turn a profit... <br /> <br /> If anything, let this be a gentle reminder to be diligent when it comes to renewing your company's domain name. You don't want your domain snatched due to your forgetfulness!<br /> <br /> The key point here really is that if you value your domain name (trademark ?) it is important that you do NOT let it expire. <br /> It is a long and expensive exercise to attempt reclaim a domain name that you have let expire and has been picked up by a third party, and you are by no means guaranteed success!<br /> Windows Server 2008 Beta Available http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#29 16 Oct 2007 12:00:00 GMT Microsoft have released a beta version of the new Server 2008 product to parteners and developers.<br /> We have this installed on a test machine and are evaluating it.<br /> Watch this space! My Musings On Microsoft Vista http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#28 10 Jun 2007 12:00:00 GMT Well it's been 6 months since the final version of Vista became available. Although we've had beta copies of this OS from the middle 2006, my involvement with Vista has been sporadic until this May (2007). <br /> Up until then I was perfectly happy using XP, after all "if it ain't broke don't fix it". I was reluctant to switch but forced myself and, after a week or two of getting to 'know' it, I became well and truly hooked.<br /> Critics of Vista have been vociferous, and in my opinion a lot of these have been mostly unfair. So I'd like to offer my unbiased opinion on the XP vs. Vista debate.<br /> <br /> Undoubtedly, Vista is going to be a hard sell initially. XP has been around now for 5 years and is still going strong. People are very comfortable with it and after 5 years of bug fixes it's very stable. The powerful hardware of today runs this 5 year old OS with ease and 5 years of third party driver and hardware development means compatibility with a huge variety of hardware products on the market. However all is not sunshine in the XP camp, there are still a few problems :-<ol><li>Security is still a major issue. Virus and Malware writers still find it all too easy to get their crap on to your XP PC. When XP was designed this type of threat really didn't exist so this security is missing from the fundamental design.</li><br /> <li>The XP interface is 5 years old now. And whilst it looked great in 2002, it's starting to look a bit dated, especially compared to the recent upgrades to the Mac OSx.</li><br /> <li>Microsoft is bringing out new technology for the workplace with Windows Server 2008, support for which is missing from XP.</li></ol>Vista attempts to address the shortcomings of XP and has been designed with the next 5 years in mind. <br /> Vista is Microsoft's first operating system designed from the ground up with security at the forefront, and thanks to this approach it has proven itself to be a difficult target for the malware writers. Vista also brings the user interface and user experience bang up to date increasing end user productivity.<br /> <br /> For some people, these changes alone are enough reason to change, for others, not.<br /> <br /> However there are a few pitfalls. Vista (as with all previous OS's) requires more resources, more memory & more CPU power than its predecessor. Critics have bemoaned this but they have short memories. We faced exactly the same situation when going from Windows 95 to Windows 98 to Windows 2000 to XP. New OS's are not designed for the machines of yesterday, they are designed for the machines of today and tomorrow!<br /> <br /> Even though it had has extensive testing, there will be bugs (after all we are still finding them in XP!). Some of the more annoying ones will not be resolved until Service Pack 1, however none of these are show stoppers.<br /> <br /> As a new OS, it will not be so widely supported by the hardware manufacturers. Early adopters may find difficulty obtaining drivers for older hardware. But this can hardly be blamed on Microsoft and will ease over time as the hardware manufacturers play catch-up.<br /> <br /> The final problem is one of inertia. It is human nature to resist change. Some are more vocal than others. It is entirely likely that rolling out Vista to an office will be met by grumbles and tantrums from a few, but this usually quickly passes.<br /> <br /> Whether you upgrade to Vista now or not is a difficult call. My recommendation is that it is worthwhile providing you have the hardware capable to run it in all it's glory. Failing that during your next hardware refresh cycle, you new machines will have Vista pre loaded.<br /> <br /> To sum up, I wouldn't recommend anything to my clients that I wasn't prepared to use myself. I am now using Vista 100% of the time so I say, if you are able to use it then by all means do so.<br /> <br /> If you would like to discuss Vista further and how it may be of use to you and your business please feel free to contact me at the usual number.<br /> <br /> Regards<br /> <br /> Mark<br /> <br /> For more Vista Myths please click <a href="pdf/vista_myths.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. (Adobe PDF Doc)<br /> Mailfoundry Mail Security now available on all our hosted domains. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#26 09 Mar 2007 12:00:00 GMT We are pleased to announce the recent introduction of Mailfoundry - an industry leading hardware-based spam and virus filtering solution to all hour hosting accounts.<br /> <br /> Dedicated MailFoundry servers sit in front of the our existing email servers protecting customers from the latest spam, virus and phishing based emails.<br /> <br /> Mailfoundry's spam filtering minimises false positives ensuring all customers receive only genuine email with less than a 1 in 1 million chance of legitimate email being quarantined. Much like a PC virus scanner, MailFoundry uses definitions which are updated every 5 minutes by real human spam editors to ensure even the most recent spam outbreaks are filtered guaranteeing maximum effectiveness. <br /> <br /> 4IT believes in this type of investment in its infrastructure and prioritises its client demands away from the industry norm of cost cutting and stretching unsuitable technology. Very few web hosting companies offer this Enterprise standard in filtering, and instead opt for the free less effective software based spam control methods.<br /> <br /> MailFoundry adds yet more value to existing service and enforcing the company's commitment to providing value packed hosting solutions for all of its customers.<br /> Microsoft Vista now commercially available http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#24 28 Feb 2007 12:00:00 GMT Microsoft has now commercially released their new Vista operating system.<br /> Vista is the first new desktop operating system from Microsoft for over 5 years and offers a major step forward in security and reliability with an improved user interface and usability.<br /> As is usual with new operating system releases, we tend to find the newer OS requires more resources that it's immediate predecessor. With this in mind we are recommending that clients considering upgrading their existing machines from XP to Vista only if those machines are relatively new and meet our minimum specification.<br /> Alternatively upgrades to Vista will happen organically during the hardware refresh purchase cycle.<br /> If you would like further details please <a href="mailto:sales@4-it.co.uk">contact us</a>. Microsoft EVO Launch (Exchange / Vista / Office) http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#21 30 Nov 2006 12:00:00 GMT Microsoft have their grand EVO launch this month. EVO stands for Exchange 2007 / Vista & Office 2007. This will shortly be followed by Windows Server 2008 in Q1 of next year.<br /> This is a major launch for Microsoft. Vista being the first new desktop release for over 5 years.<br /> These products offer a major step up in security, useability and reliability.<br /> If you are thinking of upgrading to any of these products contact <a href="mailto:sales@4-it.co.uk">sales</a> so that we can discuss your requirements.<br /> DSL price reductions &amp; speed increases. All products now <strong>8Mb</strong> standard. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#20 01 Aug 2006 12:00:00 GMT All <a href="http://portal.plus.net/my/mydiscount_info/landing_page.html?WRKUh%2Fz%2FuZ5dXmEjImm%2BIFVzyWQeBZ040q2VIWc3ArE%3D" target="_blank">Plus Net</a> products are now up to 8Mb as standard (where available). A Home Starter package has now been reduced to just &pound;9.99, Business SDSL prices have also been slashed. Can you really afford <strong>NOT</strong> to have our broadband?<br /> Click <a href="pricing.htm" onclick="NewWindow(this.href,'Terms','580','850','no','center');return false" onFocus="this.blur()">here</a> for pricing. 4IT Welcomes on board it&#8242;s latest e-commerce site <a href="http://www.anthonydevans.co.uk" target="_blank">"Anthony D Evans Insurance Brokers"</a> http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#22 17 Apr 2006 12:00:00 GMT 4IT are proud to welcome on board our latest e-commerce web site <a href="http://www.anthonydevans.co.uk" target="_blank">"Anthony D Evans Insurance Brokers"</a><br /> The store was created by us, as a completely bespoke e-commerce solution, interfacing with the <a href="http://www.secpay.com" target="_blank">SECPAY</a> secured credit card gateway for processing credit card payments on line in real-time.<br /> If you would like more datails on an e-commerce solution for your business please <a href="mailto:sales@4-it.co.uk">e-mail us</a> to discuss your requirements. Microsoft withdraw support for Windows 98/ME. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#18 12 Apr 2006 12:00:00 GMT If you still have computers running Windows 98 or Me, be aware that Microsoft is ending both public and technical support for these operating systems in July 2006. That means no more security or other updates, although current support documents will still be available on the Microsoft web site.<br /> If you are still running old machines with these versions of Windows perhaps now is the time to think about either upgrading or replacing them. <a href="mailto:sales@4-it.co.uk">E-mail us</a> to dicsuss your requirements. Microsoft release <strong>Windows Defender</strong>, anti spyware tool. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#17 02 Feb 2006 12:00:00 GMT Microsoft have updated and renamed their anti spyware app. The newly named 'Windows Defender' is now available for free download directly from<br /> <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx" target="_blank">Microsoft.</a><br /> This release is only for Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista. 4IT Welcomes on board it&#8242;s first e-commerce site <a href="http://www.haberdasherystore.com" target="_blank">"The Haberdashery Store"</a> http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#19 22 Jan 2006 12:00:00 GMT 4IT are proud to welcome on board our first e-commerce web site <a href="http://www.haberdasherystore.com" target="_blank">The Haberdashery Store.</a> The store was created by us, using the OSCommerce open source e-commerce solution, interfacing with the <a href="http://www.secpay.com" target="_blank">SECPAY</a> secured credit card gateway for processing credit card payments on line in real-time.<br /> If you would like more datails on an e-commerce solution for your business please <a href="mailto:sales@4-it.co.uk">e-mail us</a> to discuss your requirements. 4IT announce sweeping changes to it's Internet Hosting Packages. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#16 02 Nov 2005 12:00:00 GMT We are pleased to announce a major shake up of our internet hosting business. All package prices have been reduced whist web space has been increased (by 500 %) and support for PHP4 is included as standard.<br /> There are price reductions on all additional services, and we can now make available new features and services such as Sub Domains &amp; MYSQL Databases.<br /> We feel this significantly increases the quality of service we supply to our customers whilst simultansously cutting prices. Click <a href="hosting.htm" onClick="NewWindow(this.href,'Terms','630','650','yes','center');return false" onFocus="this.blur()">here</a> for more details. Serious rise in rogue anti virus &amp; spam utilities/sites on the internet. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#15 15 Oct 2005 12:00:00 GMT here has been a rapid increase in the amount of fraudulent (Rogue) anti spyware/virus products &amp; websites on the internet. These products simply do not provide proven, reliable protection or may be prone to ridiculous false positives. Others may use unfair, deceptive, high pressure sales tactics to scare up sales from gullible, confused users.<br /> And a few will actually infect your computer with the very thing they are claiming to be protecting you from. <br /> 4IT recommend that you <strong>do not install any item downloaded from the internet</strong> unless it's from a trusted source. You should also make this an office policy.<br /> If you require Spyware / Adware &amp;/or Virus protection, we will be happy to discuss your requirements and recommed reputable &amp; reliable products.<br /> Visit <a href="http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm" target="_blank">SpywareWarrior</a> for more information. ADSL price reductions &amp; speed increases. All products now <strong>2Mb</strong> standard. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#14 10 Sep 2005 12:00:00 GMT All <a href="http://portal.plus.net/my/mydiscount_info/landing_page.html?WRKUh%2Fz%2FuZ5dXmEjImm%2BIFVzyWQeBZ040q2VIWc3ArE%3D" target="_blank">Plus Net</a> products are now 2Mb as standard (where available). All package prices have been slashed making our broadband more affordable than ever.<br /> Click <a href="pricing.htm" onclick="NewWindow(this.href,'Terms','580','850','no','center');return false" onFocus="this.blur()">here</a> for pricing. <br /> RSS Newsfeed now available. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#13 08 Aug 2005 12:00:00 GMT 4IT Systems News is now available as an RSS newsfeed. You may be asking what RSS is.<br /> It stands for Really Simple Syndication, and it's a way for web site publishers to publish information from their sites. The publisher creates a specially-formatted file on their web site that contains the most recent items (news stories, blog posts, etc.) from the site. This regularly updated file is called a "feed." With an RSS reader (or aggregator), a user can subscribe to many feeds and read the new entries all in one place, without having to visiting individual Web sites to find out what's new.<br /> To View RSS feeds you will need to use an RSS Aggregator (or wait for Internet Explorer 7 which contains RSS functionality). You can download one of these aggregators for free, just enter "RSS Aggregator" into your favortite search engine, RSS is now built in to IE7.<br /> To subscribe to our newsfeed copy this link into your RSS Reader: <a href="http://www.4-it.co.uk/4it.rss" target="_blank">http://www.4-it.co.uk/4it.rss</a> or click on the RSS button. 'Domain Registry of America' Scam Letter Warning. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#12 18 Jul 2005 12:00:00 GMT Some of our customers have reported receiving a domain renewal notice letter from 'Domain Registry of America'.<br /> Whilst the actual wording of the letter (when carefully read) is accurate and legal, the design and layout is clearly crafted to fool the unsuspecting reader into believing that their domain is about to expire and that they need to use the provided form to renew it. In reality what they are actually doing is initiating a transfer request to transfer their .com domain to the DRoA.<br /> In our view this type of marketing practice is deceitful and as such we consider this letter to be nothing more than a scam. If you have received one of these letters please disregard it and rest assured that when your domain renewal is actually due we will contact you as per usual.<br /> Please note, this scam is only targeted at .com domains. If you have a .co.uk domain, you will be unaffected.<br /> <br /> Click <a href="http://business.4-it.co.uk/pdf/DRoA%20Scam.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> for an example of the DRoA letter (Adobe PDF format. Please visit <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html" target="_blank">Adobe</a> to obtain a suitable reader).<br /> <br /> <strong>UPDATE</strong><br /> As a security feature, we have now placed a 'Registrar Lock' on all .com domains registered by us on behalf of our clients. This means that any transfer request received for a .com domain will automatically be refused unless we have first received prior authorisation from the domain owner (i.e. you, the client). 4IT Website Site Update. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#11 05 Jun 2005 12:00:00 GMT We have now added both a support and a FAQ (frequently asked questions) area to our web site.<br /> To access these areas, click on the "Products and Services" menu item, then in the drop down menu choose the required option.<br /> Please note that support is only available to 4IT customers. Plus Net announce free activation on all home broadband products. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#10 30 May 2005 12:00:00 GMT In keeping with their keen pricing structure <a href="http://portal.plus.net/my/mydiscount_info/landing_page.html?WRKUh%2Fz%2FuZ5dXmEjImm%2BIFVzyWQeBZ040q2VIWc3ArE%3D" target="_blank">Plus Net</a><br /> announce their "You Stay We Pay" promotion providing free activation on all home broadband products. This offers the home user a saving of GBP 58.72 (GBP 50 + vat) on initial setup costs, giving you one more reason why you should call us and order broadband now.<br /> <br /> Click <a href="pricing.htm" onclick="NewWindow(this.href,'Terms','660','850','no','center');return false" onFocus="this.blur()">here</a><br /> for pricing, then click the <a href="http://portal.plus.net/my/mydiscount_info/landing_page.html?WRKUh%2Fz%2FuZ5dXmEjImm%2BIFVzyWQeBZ040q2VIWc3ArE%3D" target="_blank">Plus Net</a> banner at the foot of the page.<br /> 4-IT in collaboration with CW2000 can now offer 100% subsidised ADSL to Coventry based SMEs. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#9 23 Feb 2005 12:00:00 GMT <a href="http://www.cw2000.org.uk" target="_blank">CW2000</a> is a strategic initiative helping small businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire with the use of broadband technologies funded by the European Union.<br /> The "<a href="http://www.cw2000.org.uk/index.asp?slevel=0z2z11&parent_id=11" target="_blank">Broadband Access Pilot</a>" enables 4IT together with CW2000 to offer 100% subsidised broadband access for 1 year to SME's within the Coventry area. If you already have broadband installed, we can provide you with a 100% subsidised increase in speed to your next logical package.<br /> The "<a href="http://www.cw2000.org.uk/index.asp?slevel=0z2z17&parent_id=17" target="_blank">Broadband Learning Pilot</a>" can provide you and your staff with 100% subsidised training, including LearnDirect, together with a long term loan of a laptop and dedicated additional broadband line.<br /> If you would like more details on either of these schemes please <a href="mailto:sales@4-it.co.uk">e-mail sales</a>. 4-IT/Plus Net announce a range of ADSL price cuts and bandwidth increases. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#8 22 Feb 2005 12:00:00 GMT To celebrate the arrival of new 2Mb broadband products, <a href="http://portal.plus.net/my/mydiscount_info/landing_page.html?WRKUh%2Fz%2FuZ5dXmEjImm%2BIFVzyWQeBZ040q2VIWc3ArE%3D" target="_blank">Plus Net</a> have slashed their package prices making broadband more affordable than ever.<br /> Click <a href="pricing.htm" onclick="NewWindow(this.href,'Terms','580','850','no','center');return false" onFocus="this.blur()">here</a> for pricing. 4-IT announce partnership with Plus Net to offer award winning ADSL & SDSL services. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#7 31 Jan 2005 12:00:00 GMT In keeping with our ethos of premium services at keen prices, we are delighted to be able to offer the full range of <a href="http://portal.plus.net/my/mydiscount_info/landing_page.html?WRKUh%2Fz%2FuZ5dXmEjImm%2BIFVzyWQeBZ040q2VIWc3ArE%3D" target="_parent">Plus Net</a> ADSL/SDSL home & business packages. <a href="http://portal.plus.net/my/mydiscount_info/landing_page.html?WRKUh%2Fz%2FuZ5dXmEjImm%2BIFVzyWQeBZ040q2VIWc3ArE%3D" target="_blank">Plus Net</a> is an Award winning Internet Service Provider renowned for it's excellent range of products, aggressive pricing structure and first rate support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via a <strong>local rate</strong> number.<br /> Click <a href="pricing.htm" onclick="NewWindow(this.href,'Terms','580','850','no','center');return false" onFocus="this.blur()">here</a> for pricing.<br /> <br /> <a href='http://portal.plus.net/my/mydiscount_info/landing_page.html?WRKUh%2Fz%2FuZ5dXmEjImm%2BIFVzyWQeBZ040q2VIWc3ArE%3D' target="_blank"><img src='http://portal.plus.net/images/banners/banner_2.gif' width="450" height="55" border='0'></a> 4-IT Join the Microsoft Partner Program as a registered member. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#6 23 Aug 2004 12:00:00 GMT In order to maintain the highest standards in the delivery of our software services, 4-IT Systems Ltd is now a registered member of the Microsoft Partner Program. <br /> The resources made available to us via this membership allow 4-IT Systems Ltd to continue to give a superior quality service in the delivery of the ever evolving world of Microsoft business software Important Virus Warning. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#4 27 May 2004 12:00:00 GMT 4-IT have recently been made aware of a new style of e-mail borne virus which is able to evade detection by most popular Ant Virus programs including Symantec & McAfee.<br /> The virus achieves this by being delivered inside a password protected .zip or .rar file which you receive as an e-mail attachment. Typically, the e-mail will also contain the password needed to unzip the file and invites the unwary user to extract and run the contents. If the user does this, they then become virus infected. If you do not extract the contents of the .zip or .rar file, you will not get infected.<br /> Although infection by this type of virus is easily avoided, it relies solely upon the user taking the correct course of action which is notoriously difficult to ensure. 4-IT therefore recommend that you bring this issue to the attention of all of your e-mail enabled staff and remind them to never open unexpected attachments received via e-mail unless it's authenticity can be verified. Since most virus e-mails use a fake "From address, this can an not be used reliably when authenticating an e-mail. Change to T&Cs of business. http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#5 27 May 2004 12:00:00 GMT Due to industry developments, 4-IT Systems Ltd is no longer able to provide credit accounts for the purchase of goods & Internet related services such as domain names, web hosting etc.<br /> All future business involving these items will be undertaken on a cleared funds basis only.<br /> Labour related services including Software Development, Support & Web Development are not affected by this change. These will continue to operate on a stage payment basis commensurate to the quantity of work involved.<br /> These account changes do not apply to government bodies & large Plcs. Anti Virus / Anti Spam Service Now Available On E-Mail Accounts http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#3 16 Apr 2004 12:00:00 GMT 4-IT announce the availability of both optional Anti Virus &amp; Anti Spam services on all e-mail accounts we<br /> provide. Additional yearly costs per e-mail are &pound;15 Anti Spam, &pound;15 Anti Virus, &pound;20 Anti Spam &amp; Anti Virus. (Existing mailboxes<br /> can only be upgraded as part of a service renewal). Please note that this service should be used in addition to, and not in replacement of, locally installed Anti Virus software. Final Draft of Web Site Uploaded http://business.4-it.co.uk/news/news.php?type=0#2 08 Feb 2004 12:00:00 GMT The final draft of the 4-IT web site has been published. Any problems please report them to <a href="mailto:webmaster@4-it.co.uk">webmaster@4it.co.uk</a>