Date: April 30, 2006

Subject: Updates, Helps & Computer Policies

This month's ELM Bulletin will be a "catch up" issue to deal with a couple of issues discussed in previous ELM Bulletins. I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that you can bring to our attention any computer related issue that you would like to see covered in a future ELM Bulletin.

Item 1 - In the ELM Bulletin from November, 2005 I discussed a vulnerability with Internet Explorer relating to JavaScript code and indicated that you would be notified when Microsoft released a patch to correct the problem. Microsoft released a patch for the vulnerability late last year, if your computer has been configured to install updates automatically it should already be installed. If automatic updates has not been turned on then you will be required to manually install the patch as well as any other un-installed patches and updates. In the November ELM Bulletin we also supplied a procedure to follow by which you could manually secure yourself against this vulnerability. If you applied this procedure you can reverse it by following the steps below:

Item 2 - Service Pack 2 for Microsoft Windows XP has been available now for a little over a year-and-a-half but it is very likely that it has not yet been installed on your computer unless you purchased a new system after Service Pack 2 was released. As many updates cannot be installed until Service Pack 2 has been installed we strongly recommend that you take the hour or so required to download and install this service pack. The System Properties dialogue will show you whether or not Service Pack 2 has been installed on a computer. To display the System Properties dialogue press both the Windows Key and the PAUSE key together (click here for a comprehensive list of other Windows shortcut keys); if Service Pack 2 has been installed you should see the phrase "Service Pack 2" in upper right area of the System Properties dialogue. If you do not you can download Service Pack 2 from the Microsoft Update website at the link below (if given a choice between EXPRESS and CUSTOM choose EXPRESS):

    http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Item 3 - For those of you who use it we have made several small updates to our list of Windows Shortcut Keys. You can view the updated list by following the link below (please note that this list requires that Adobe Acrobat Reader be installed on your system):

    http://www.elmcomputers.com/Shortcut_Keys.pdf

If you know of any Shortcut Key Combinations that are not included in this list please let us know and we will add them to the list as seems appropriate.

Item 4 - Several of our clients have over the years requested that we assist them in the creation of policies for employee use of corporate computer resources. We have recently made two of these policies available for free download from our website. The policies are: Acceptable Computer Practices and Acceptable Internet Practices. They can be downloaded by following the links below (please note that these documents require that Adobe Acrobat Reader be installed on your system):

    Acceptable Computer Practices

    Acceptable Internet Practices