Extension 437

Error in my story on patching

Improve Security by Patching Windows could probably do with some updating, now that Windows XP SP2 is out. Re-reading it today, I noticed this sentence fragment:

"Your computer must be set to automatically dial out to the Internet when"

How could I leave the reader hanging like that?! Note to self: fix that up straightaway.

Bug database for TechSoup

We use Changepoint internally at CompuMentor to track bugs in TechSoup.org. Our readers use the Site Feedback forum. What if we all could use the same system? A bug database that would track the status of issues and feature requests. Changepoint has some of the standard features for tracking requests, but it's not available to the public. I wonder if someday we could ues Onyx for this.

Speakeasy - Firefox Web Browser Download

Link: Speakeasy - Firefox Web Browser Download.

Here's an idea. Speakeasy has created a FireFox extension to customize the browser. What if TechSoup did the same thing? We could brand the browser with our logo, add bookmarks and RSS feeds.

Marnie's TechSoup Feed

This is pretty clever. I've been wondering how to keep my list of TechSoup articles up to date. Maybe I'll set up a feed of my own.

Writing a column

Last week I discussed with TechSoup the possibility of writing a regular column about my experiences as a consultant to nonprofit organizations. Nothing is set in stone but it could appear before long.

New article: "How not to get dubbed a spammer"

I have a new article on TechSoup: How not to get dubbed a spammer. Originally commissioned by Marnie Webb, this article outlines ten tips for system administrators to help ensure outgoing e-mail gets to its intended destination.

Message Board Spam

I know there are probably only about three people who will see this post, but if anyone has links to concrete solutions to prevent message board spam, I'd love to hear it. So would Matthew Schaeffer. I'm pretty sure I spelled his name right.

I have heard tell of a technique that is similar to the realtime blacklists (RBL) used to combat email spam. When a poster submits a message, their IP is checked against a public list of known spammer IPs. If it's on the list, they don't get to post. If it's not on the list, the post is displayed.

I searched a little on Google, but haven't found much yet.

Update: Moderating the first x number of posts from each user is one way to combat message board spam. Usually a spammer won't post a couple of useful messages before sending up the spam.

Adam Kalsey's post "Cutting comment spammers off at the knees" is good reading.

We don't use Moveable Type, but if we did we could use this plugin: MT-Blacklist, aimed at preventing comment and trackback spam.

Searching on the words "comment spam" returns additional interesting references.

Here's another idea: a community-based anti-spam feature. It could work something like this:

1. Spammer posts on TechSoup message board
2. Before the post is displayed, the IP of the poster is compared against a community-contributed list of IP addresses for known message board spammers.
3. If the poster's IP is on the list, no postie. Otherwise the post is displayed.

Another idea, courtesy of my pal Phil. It has actually been implemented for Movable Type, it seems.

1. Let the message board community decide whether a post is spam or not by offering a "spam" button on every post.
2. When a post is marked as spam, it is removed for review, and the content of the message is fed into a Bayesian filter.
3. Over time, the system proactively prevents the display of messages that match the spam signature in the filter.

Technical Editor: Free Downloads

I am acting as the new technical editor for the TechSoup Free Downloads section. Today I met with Michael and Susan to discuss what needs to be done. Right now we have a set of products for which content needs to be written and produced on the Web. We'll be highlighting the more complex products as being "Geek Picks" or something like that.

I asked Susan if I could have a TechSoup Free Downloads press pass, and she replied that she would get right on that.

TechSoup articles from the past

I started writing articles for TechSoup.org before I started this blog, so I figure it's time to catch up. Here is a list of all the articles I have written for TechSoup.org to date.

Wireless Offers Opportunities for Nonprofits (Interview with Sarah Hawkins in September 2003)

Improve Security by Patching Windows (September 2003, previously mentioned on this blog)

Introduction to Virtual Private Networking (VPN) (October 2003)

Preventing Trouble on Windows Through Regular Maintenance (Original by Hilary Naylor, I updated this article in December 2003)

Removing Spyware, Viruses, and Other Malware from Windows (January 2004)

Keeping Old Computers Alive (July 2004, previously mentioned on this blog)

How to Switch Internet Service Providers (September 2004)

Set up remote administration for Windows Server (coming soon)

How to switch Web hosts (coming soon)

How to switch E-mail hosts (coming soon)

Article: Improve Security by Patching Windows

Almost a year ago I wrote this article for TechSoup.org on how to improve security by turning on Automatic Updates for Windows. It could probably stand to be updated now that the functionality of Automatic Updates is changing for users of Windows XP. The Windows Update Web site has also undergone a revision since this article came out.