Outlawnet vs. viruses, spam and spyware

Outlawnet, a local internet service provider working out of Sisters High School and Sisters Middle School, offers a window on the world.

However, the window opens both ways.

“When the Internet started it was wide-open,” said Outlawnet advisor Jon Renner. “Now we see constant daily attacks from the outside via e-mail messages and web pages. Over the last three to four years we have had to increase our anti-virus efforts enormously and it has quadrupled our expense for hardware and software.”

The spyware is particularly insidious because it can steal your identity and ruin your financial life.

“We have to be more and more restrictive to attempt blocking spam, spyware, pornography and viruses,” said Renner.

“The large companies are under tremendous attack. Microsoft, AOL, MSN, and others are huge targets for outsiders. Outlawnet, which is relatively small, also is under attack daily. We reject as much as 75 percent of junk mail each day. Recently, it reached 97 percent rejection from outside world-wide sources in one day.”

Outlawnet presently has six Linux servers handling about 100,000 messages each day for over 900 customers.

“We use programs that have a scoring system for rejecting or passing incoming messages,” said Renner. “The program looks for non-English words, words such as ‘Free’ or ‘unbelievable’ etc. Sometimes this slows down e-mail processing and our customers have to realize we are trying to do a good job in the screening process. We use hundreds of tests on each incoming e-mail.”

Attackers respond to these challenges by changing their attack mode. “Free” in the incoming message, becomes “F_r_e_e_,” which the inspection program doesn’t recognize. The invasion continues.

What can home users do?

“The major platform (Windows) users may use programs such as Norton, Pccillin, or PandaScan, to protect their computer systems,” said Renner. “Macintosh users, while less of a target, may use Norton or McAfee protection programs to block viruses, spam and spyware.

“One of the best detection devices is for the home user is to recognize when his or her computer is acting ‘funny’,” said Renner. “When that happens, it’s good to have your system checked by a professional for possible viruses or spyware.”

Outlawnet is in its 10th year of service offering dial-up, DSL, and satellite connections to the Internet.