Updated: 10 April 2006

One GB mail quotas coming!

One new server will join the two servers already filtering junk and viruses from incoming Chebucto mail. More than ninety percent of incoming email to Chebucto is spam, scam or virus-carrying mail. The second server will host the new larger mailboxes, taking that chore from main server halifax.

Chebucto's mail system is being re-organized from top to bottom. The first priority is to make sure it all works properly before the switch rather than rush to get it into place. Unlike other internet service providers, Chebucto supports many different ways to access email - the standard POP3 and IMAP as well as Webmail and our text-only inline PINE. We also support strong encryption for all forms of email access on Chebucto.

Letter to members

All members of the Chebucto Community Net have a vote at the Annual General Meeting. Six of the twelve member Board of Directors charged with the running of Chebucto stand for election at each Annual General Meeting.

The Mousepad turns three

Taking over the reins for year three of the Mousepad is Chebucto Beacon editor and your humble scribe Andrew D. Wright. Questions of general interest on the subject of computing and the Internet are welcomed at mousepad@chebucto.ns.ca and if your question is used in a column we'll send you a cool high quality Chebucto Community Net mousepad of your own.

Board member resigns

Last respects for Norman De Forest

Norman's legacy as a spam fighter and technical guru has garnered testimonials from all around the world, many people touched by his innate generousity, sense of fair play and quirky sense of humour.

One of the more fitting memorials comes from Spamhaus a major anti-spam organization who are donating an anti-spammer lookup service to Chebucto Community Net in Norman's name in perpetuity. This gift, to be integrated with the new mail system covered above, will result in faster spam filtering and mail service for Chebucto users. I believe Norman would have gotten a real kick out of still fighting the spammers from beyond the grave.

Chebucto services maintenance window

Chebucto Community Net RSS how-to guide

Our RSS feed is our way of letting people know fast about important software updates and security alerts as well as new developments at Chebucto. Stay informed with the news as soon as we have it ourselves with our RSS news feed.

Updated - Recommended software list

Web browser: Mozilla Firefox free from Mozilla.org
Upgraded to version 1.5.0.1.

Email client: Mozilla Thunderbird free from Mozilla.org
Upgraded to version 1.5.

Anti-Spyware Software:

• Ad-Aware SE free and paid versions from Lavasoft.de
  
• A-Squared free and paid versions from Emsisoft.com
  
• Spybot: Search & Destroy free from Safer-networking.org

Firewall: Zone Alarm free and paid versions from Zonelabs.com

Free anti-virus programs for home users (Note that both of these programs also have paid versions which offer additional features):

• AntiVir: available from www.free-av.com/
  
• AVG: available from free.grisoft.com

FTP Software: FileZilla free from FileZilla.SourceForge.net

RSS Newsfeed Reader: RSSOwl free from RSSOwl.Org

The Chebucto Office does not recommend using the Internet Explorer web browser for any use except for accessing Microsoft's own Windows Update page. The popular web browser has been repeatedly successfully targetted by virus writers in particular seeking to break into home computers to use them for criminal purposes such as sending out spam, sending out viruses to break into other computers and being used to disrupt services on other computer systems.

After many reports about vulnerabilities for Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express email programs, and the constant stream of user complaints about randomly altered program settings and difficulty using the program, the Chebucto Community Net Office and the Chebucto Technical Committee recommend our users do not use either Outlook or Outlook Express as their email program.

Keeping Microsoft Windows up to date is also very important. Windows XP users should have Service Pack 2 installed. All Microsoft Windows users should make a point of using Internet Explorer to visit the Microsoft Windows Update site at least once a month and download all critical updates.

Cool Chebucto hats available!

We have available these excellent quality Chebucto Community Net hats. Click on photo to see larger version. These fashionable stone coloured washed cotton Chino twill hats are low fitting with adjustable strap and antique silver ring buckle for a perfect fit and are embroidered with the Chebucto Community Net logo and web address. Machine washable and drip dry with a pre curved peak, this hat will provide years of comfortable wear as well as showing your support for Halifax's own one-of-a-kind independent Community Net.

You can get your very own Chebucto Community Net hat from the Chebucto office for $20 or we can mail it out to you for an additional $10.

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