The problem:

You have a Blackberry device and your using the Desktop Redirector and you are getting SPAM on your BB but when you check Outlook the SPAM is not in your Inbox but rather your Junk Email, SPAM or other folder designated for SPAM.

The Solution:

The same solution for the Blackberry Enterprise Server is used for the Desktop Redirector. Basically what we need to do is insert a delay into email delivery to the Blackberry so the client side SPAM filtering can take place. This works for Outlook's SPAM Filtering, Cloudmark, Spambayes or whatever else you are using including delaying email long enough for a virus scan if you have that setup.

Go to <Start> and type <Regedit> and enter or click ok. This will launch the Registry Editor where we want to move to:

HKEY_CURRNET_USER/SOFTWARE/RESEARCH IN MOTION/BLACKBERRY REDIRECTOR

We want to edit or create a key, ProcessMailDelay, and enter 30 and work your way higher until you get the result your needing. If the key is not there you need to create a DWORD, ProcessMailDelay, and enter the delay period you want to try. You will need to restart both the Redirector and Desktop Software for the settings to take effect. Make sure they are restarted and not just in the Taskbar.

Over the past year there have been a number of "updates" from Microsoft which have caused headaches and expense to a large number of users and businesses. The latest of these results from Microsoft secretly installing an Windows Update even on systems where Updates were turned off. This update by itself should make you scream however if you try to do a Repair Reinstall of XP you will soon learn you can't update your system and some 80 updates won't install. I'm not going to even go into the whole issue of Microsoft secretly changing systems without users knowledge but let's look at the end result of patching your system.

Prior update issues we have seen this year all of which caused end users to call support and guess what, support calls are not free.

Date	Problem	Fix
May 2007	Windows Update using 100% CPU	Update the broken Windows Update
May 2007	Server 2003 SP2 Breaks Networking	Update the broken network offloading. Update the broken network offloading
May 2007	Help and Support Broken after SP2	Basically reinstall Help and Support
April 2007	KB925902 (MS07-017) breaks multiple apps	Download the patch to the patch which Microsoft still tries to blame third parties for
Sept 2007, update	Windows Explorer fails after MS06-015	Download or edit a dozen items
Spring 07	DST, DST, DST	Download the DST update to the DST update to the DST update
Fall 07	DST, DST, DST	Screw it, let's just be off an hour

So the question is should end users be responsible for the expense of fixing systems that broke because of a Microsoft Update? Microsoft gets off easy as they have a fully deployed support service that doesn't cost them a dime called Microsoft Partners who go out and fix Microsoft mistakes and then in turn bill the end user. Should the end user be the one bearing all the cost here?

 

This may be a touch "Techie" but if your a tech or an end user wanting to see how your web browsing actually works this tool will do that and more.

Fiddler is a Web Debugging Proxy which logs all HTTP(S) traffic between your computer and the Internet. Fiddler allows you to inspect all HTTP(S) traffic, set breakpoints, and "fiddle" with incoming or outgoing data. Fiddler includes a powerful event-based scripting subsystem, and can be extended using any .NET language.

Fiddler is freeware and can debug traffic from virtually any application, including Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, and thousands more.

 

Ran across a post by Hans Verbeeck, "Evangelism Manager at Microsoft", discussing the number of people taking Microsoft exams, specifically the newer ones and I've got to say I'm not sure I would be touting those numbers.

A quick read through the list and you can see a mere 4,300 people have taken the Vista Configuration exam out of more than 2 million Microsoft Certified Professionals, WORLDWIDE! To me this should be an embarrassment and certainly not a number I would call attention to. That particular exam along with the SharePoint exam which has been passed by barely 1000 people both had a huge marketing push by Microsoft with both FREE training and FREE EXAM Vouchers. I guess I should point out that I've taken and passed both which makes me part of a very small group Worldwide, one of one thousand when it comes to SharePoint Services (which BTW I passed with a perfect 1000), and considering the numbers it would be interesting to see how many hold both Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: SharePoint and Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Vista.

So if you see either of the following Logo's used by a Technician you can count him part of a very small group worldwide:

In case there was doubt.

 

Microsoft will soon raise KB 936594 to Critical from Optional to address the need to make users aware of this update and help push it out to all SBS  SP2 boxes.

The problem arises with RSS, Receive Side Scaling, and NAT on an SBS box and you can experience a number of issues such as:

•When you try to connect to the server by using a VPN connection, you receive the following error message:

Error 800: Unable to establish connection.

•You cannot create a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connection to the server.

•You cannot connect to shares on the server from a computer on the local area network.

•You cannot join a client computer to the domain.

•You cannot connect to Microsoft Exchange Server from a computer that is running Microsoft Outlook.

•You can only connect to Web sites that are hosted on the server or on the Internet by using a secure sockets layer (SSL) connection. In this scenario, you cannot connect to a Web site that does not use SSL encryption.

•You experience slow network performance.

•You cannot create an outgoing FTP connection from the server.

•The DHCP Server service crashes.

•Clients experience slow domain logons.

•Network Address Translation (NAT) clients that are located behind Windows SBS 2003 experience intermittent connection failures.

•You experience intermittent RPC communications failures.

•Clients that are configured as SecureNat clients may be unable to connect to the Internet.

•Some Outlook clients may be unable to connect to Exchange.

•You cannot run the Configure E-mail and Internet Connection Wizard successfully.

•Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server blocks RPC communications.

•Clients cannot visit the http://companyweb Web site.

•You cannot browse Internet Information Services (IIS) Virtual Directories.

So either wait for it to be pushed as Critical or download and install it now. Hint: it's on my Flash Drive that I take to every single customer site.

There was a time when Microsoft released a Service Pack they did everything short of a news conference, and sometimes even did that. Now all of a sudden it seems Microsoft is going in the opposite direction by calling as little notice as possible to these major releases as there have been 3 major releases this week but did you know it?

Office 2003 Service Pack 3:

INTRODUCTION
Microsoft Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3) contains security enhancements and stability improvements. Some fixes that are included with Office 2003 SP3 were previously released in separate updates. Office 2003 SP3 combines the previously released fixes into one update.

Download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=e25b7049-3e13-433b-b9d2-5e3c1132f206&DisplayLang=en

Windows SharePoint Services Service Pack 3

Over TWO DOZEN patches rolled into one. I don't see any performance or added features being addressed. That said however here is Microsoft's info on the pack:

INTRODUCTION
Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Service Pack 3 (SP3) contains stability improvements and performance improvements. Some fixes that are included with Windows SharePoint Services SP3 were previously released in separate updates. Windows SharePoint Services SP3 combines the previously released fixes into one update.

Download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2BBFC89B-EB59-49FF-B58F-684693CB25A7&displaylang=en

SharePoint Portal Server Service Pack 3:

INTRODUCTION
Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3) contains significant security improvements. Some fixes that are included in SharePoint Portal Server 2003 SP3 were previously released as separate updates. This service pack combines these updates into one update.

Download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=AB086D48-1148-48DE-B4EC-A6298367E5F0&displaylang=en

If you do a quick search of the updates Microsoft released this week there's a good dozen major updates with no notice, fanfare or anything from Microsoft (Note sorted by date as of this posting):

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/Browse.aspx?DisplayLang=en&nr=20&productId=4289AE77-4CBA-4A75-86F3-9FF96F68E491&sortCriteria=date

 

ok so that was the hook to get your attention now just what the heck am I talking about? If your a regular visitor of any Microsoft web site you will soon learn Microsoft is the worse corporate web site for having one dead end link after another. Worse still is first off Microsoft touts itself as a technology leader and second 90% of the time the dead end links are directly related to something they are trying to promote and probably sent me in the first place.

Case in point. Today I got an RSS alert that the Microsoft At Home Newsletter had been updated so off I go to:

 http://www.microsoft.com/athome/newsletters/default.mspx

 

 

 

 

Now I'm no idiot I see it says that page is over a year old but that is the page I was linked to by Microsoft and down at the bottom there is another link, "View the latest newsletter".

Of course if you have follow the above link or the link directly on the page guess what you get, "We’re sorry, but we were unable to service your request."

Well I'm sorry Microsoft that you can't bother to run a link verifier on your web servers to find these dead end links. I'm sorry Microsoft but I expect much more out of a company that wants to be my only software technology solution provider. Finally I'm sorry Microsoft but instead of trying to chase Google's skirt all the time how about just fixing your own products and services so that they actually work.

Is that a bit harsh from somebody that's a Microsoft Small Business Specialist, maybe but if my mechanic forgot to put the wheels on my car before I left the shop I think all of you would agree I would have the right to call his service into question so why should Microsoft get a free ride when basically they do the same thing day in and day out.

 

Although I'm not a MAC user and personally I really don't care for the MAC OS this list does contain some top notch software.

http://web.mac.com/simon_elliott/iWeb/simon_elliott%40mac.com/Software.html

Ever feel your paying to much for software? Maybe you should be come a student again because there are some EXTREME discounts for Microsoft products if your s student.

Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 (University of Illinois)	$  80.00
Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 (Best Buy)	$569.01

Microsoft Professional 2007 (Syracuse University)	$ 99.99
Microsoft Professional 2007 (Staples)	$499.99

Now if you think those savings are something how about:

Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate  $60.00 !!!

I applaud Microsoft for having these deals for students but it's obvious Microsoft doesn't do this for altruistic reasons and you know they are not going to take a loss on a product so why would Microsoft do this? Pretty simple on the why and that is those students are next years employees and once they use Office 2007 they certainly wouldn't want to use an older version and will 'ultimately' drive an upgrade process. As to the pricing structure I can say what Office really cost but it's pretty obvious that if Microsoft can sell Ultimate for $60 then the retail price of $679 is super inflated.

I have a novel idea, reduce the price of all the software! When I can buy a laptop for $499 but it cost me nearly $700 for Office it's obvious things are out of whack. You can buy a great office grade PC today with monitor for $500 and that's including an OS so even with Dell's huge discounts they get on the operating system your looking at $400-450 in hardware but $600-800 just to have an OS and Office. It's no wonder more and more businesses are looking at Linux and the Open Source community for options because even using Microsoft's bloated TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) FUD justifying 2 to 3 times the cost of the hardware just to have an OS and Office is near impossible.

 

Do you use a notebook and a Verizon Data Plan? Does that notebook use Outlook via RPC/HTTPs, FolderShare, Groove, a Online Backup Service, any shared databases such as Business Contact Manager, anything which shows your online presence, etc? Then read the copied portion of Verizon's Data Plan Terms of Service and see if you are in violation.

"These Data Plans and Features MAY NOT be used for any other purpose. Examples of prohibited uses include, without limitation, the following: (i) continuous uploading, downloading, or streaming of audio or video programming or games; (ii) server devices or host computer applications, including, but not limited to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine to-machine connections or peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing; or (iii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections. This means, by way of example only, that checking email, surfing the Internet, downloading legally acquired songs, and/or visiting corporate intranets is permitted, but downloading movies using P2P file-sharing services and/or redirecting television programming content for viewing on laptops is prohibited."

Take special note of that "automated machine to-machine connections" quote. I'm sorry but 90% of what I do on a daily basis with my laptop is an "automated machine to-machine connection". My Outlook uses RPC/HTTPS to connect to my server and runs in a push/pull fashion. I run Groove which is a P2P application from Microsoft which allows me to share data in real time with my team. I run our own Online Backup Service, eSecureBackups, to backup my system automatically. I run a tool to automatically sync our SharePoint server with a folder on my Laptop so I have a complete offline SharePoint.  I run OneNote which automatically syncs a shared WorkBook to SharePoint. Heck my virus protection automatically checks when it's online to see if there is a virus update.

I actually don't see how any business user would not be in violation of the above terms. They are so broad in use of technology terms nearly any application that can make use of Internet access would be in violation of one part or another.

Furthermore if Verizon deems you have violated these rules they can terminate your contract and bill you for the termination:

"Furthermore, Verizon Wireless has the right to terminate access to or use of the Services as set forth in the Customer Agreement and the VZAccess Terms and Conditions. All use of the Services is subject to the Customer Agreement."

"IF WE TERMINATE IT EARLY FOR GOOD CAUSE. FOR SERVICE ACTIVATED PRIOR TO 11/16/06, THE EARLY TERMINATION FEE IS $175"

So you decide if you can actually use Verizon Data service and not by default be in violation of this ridiculous Terms of Service.

Don't let the name fool you this may have been setup for Teachers but if you or your staff isn't an Excel Expert then check this site out:

"The tutorials on this site highlight many of the Excel skills that are helpful when working with building- and district-level data. These tutorials are targeted at data managers, principals, guidance counselors, teachers, and other school personnel who have the responsibility for collecting, analyzing, and reporting K-12 performance data."  http://www.schooldatatutorials.org/home/

The videos are short, broken down by topic and stay on point. Well worth the 2-4 minutes if your not how to create a Pivot Table or give me a blank stare when I even say the term Pivot Table.

Just a quick note to highlight the same old junk we have seen for years but once again seems to be on the uptick, Phishing.

"In computing, phishing is a criminal activity using social engineering techniques.[1] Phishers attempt to fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. eBay and PayPal are two of the most targeted companies, and online banks are also common targets. Phishing is typically carried out by email or instant messaging,[2] and often directs users to give details at a website, although phone contact has been used as well.[3] Attempts to deal with the growing number of reported Phishing incidents include legislation, user training, and technical measures. "

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing

One must assume by the continued use of tactics like this that it does work so again let's go over the basics.

1. If you don't know the person who sent the email, suspect it's not legit!
2. If you do know the person sending the email but the subject or topic are not typical for that person, suspect it's not legit!
3. If your not expecting attachments from a user, suspect it's not legit!
4. NEVER OPEN ATTACHMENTS FROM UNKNOWN SENDERS!
5. Do not use CC when sending emails, use BCC (will cover this in another post). The reason is with CC everyone on the list gets the list of people you emailed. Many bugs out there can scan emails for addresses so you just potentially helped a SPAMMER gain access to all your email contacts.
6. DO NOT CLICK LINKS IN EMAILS such as the one below.

So here we see the typical Phishing email. Note there will almost certainly be a link in the email. Note it will almost always appear to come from a major Bank or Financial service which you may or may not use. Note it will almost always have some sort of "you must act now" or "you must confirm your information", hey guys your bank already has your information, probably far more than you think they do. You will see other hints that this email is not real such as bogus websites which at a glance may appear legit such as this one, "paylinks.cunet.org" which has the term Paylinks in it but note the real domain in the link is:

 http://session-36058330.paylinks.cunet.org.apex003.cn/index.php. See that "session-"? That's an identifier so if you click it the SPAMMER will know your email was a valid one AND that your a sucker. Also you will see that the link appeared to go one place but in fact was going to apex003.cn, yeah that's a website registered to bobmarleydotws@yahoo.com, sure you want to send him your financial info?

So be aware just as we went through a rash of PDF SPAM email over the past month it looks like  Phishing is on the rise again.

I'm about scared to share this one as no telling the number of work hours that will now be lost but here goes, Google Earth has a built in Flight Simulator.

 

So here I am flying over south Florida

 

 

 

 

 

To get into the flight Sim just load the latest Google Earth then use <CTL>+<ALT>+<A>. The list of commands is pretty complete and can be found here but the quick start is Page Up for thrust, Page Down to reduce, G for gear and arrow keys, mouse or joystick for control.