Effective February 26, 2008

Congratulations to AdvancedNetworX, Inc. to meet all criteria to achieve Advanced Security.

AdvancedNetworX, Inc. meets the requirements of the Security Advanced resources and have shown that the qualification to support customers with Advanced Security in the United States.

We appreciate the commitment and expertise AdvancedNetworX, Inc. has demonstrated and look forward to a successful partnership.

Sincerely,
Cisco Channel Specialization Team

What Advanced Security Specialization?
“Cisco Advanced Security Specialization recognizes partners of their knowledge and expertise in selling, designing, installing, and supporting comprehensive, integrated network security solutions. … The focus is on developing specialized sales, technical, and services that differentiate a partner’s ability as an industrial elite in providing integrated, collaborative, adaptive security solutions. “- Cisco Systems

About AdvancedNetworX, Inc.:
In AdvancedNetworX, your business IS our business. We work with you to find a technology solution that best meets your needs. Then design, implement and support solutions, while exceeding expectations.

Because the quality of your business depends on the quality of your network, security and voice services, relying on an extension of AdvancedNetworX your team. We have the knowledge and experience to maintain the companys network services at 100%.

The first step to keeping your computer free from viruses is to have up-to-date antivirus software running on your computer. You need to make regular checks to ensure that your software is updated, and to scan your entire computer from viruses. There are some cheap, and programs free antivirus software available that provide very good protection. You can find it by searching through your search engine for antivirus software.

The next step to keep your Internet security should be very careful about the type of files you open, or download. The majority of the virus is spread through email attachments. After this on your computer, in your inbox, not the danger; the real danger is when you open the attachment. May not be obvious that something has happened when you first open an attachment that contains a virus, quite often they seem empty. Damage caused by the program that is activated in the appendix. If you do not know, and trust, people who have sent the attachment and then delete the email.

Internet is a wonderful place; many of us use it regularly for many functions. Email helps us to stay in touch with family and friends around the world and most people have at least one email account. The increasing use of digital cameras and camera phones means that we can send pictures in mouse click. MP3 players have become increasingly popular, and we can download songs to play on them very easily. All of this is great, and the Internet became a big part of our lives everyday.

Unfortunately, there is a loss for all of this increased internet usage. It is the growth of viruses and other so-called ‘malware’. Initially, Internet hackers were satisfied to keep their attention focused on the government web site and business, and the virus was intended to attack the company. Most hackers see this as a challenge. However, now there is a trend increase in home computer users who are targeted by these attacks. The amount of damage that can be caused by viruses vary, but here are some simple steps that a person can be done to help improve their Internet security.

To download MBSA, go to the Microsoft TechNet Web site. Be warned that the information written in technical language, so you may find it frightening.

Last Words:

Now you know some ways to avoid and deal with viruses, let us pack the goods with some solutions that you may have heard before, but have been ignored.

- Back up your files regularly – If a virus crashes your Sytem, you’ll feel much better if you have a backup copy of all your important files. Create a backup on separate media from the computer, such as on diskette, CD or zip disk. Virus scan before you save it to make sure they are not infected. If they are, they will do you no good if you never use them because they will only pass the virus right back to your computer.

- Create a boot disk – Create an emergency boot diskette before you have a problem so you can start your computer after a serious security problem To make a boot disk with Windows XP, insert a blank floppy in the drive. Open My Computer, then right-click the floppy drive. Click Format. Under Format options, click Create an MS-DOS startup disk. Click Start. Keep the disk in a safe place. With luck, you’ll never need to use it.

- Turn off your computer – DSL and cable connections are “always on” may be easy, but you should always turn off your computer when not in use. Hackers can not for a machine that is turned off.

You are free to reprint this article as a whole as long as clickable URLs remain in the “Resource Box” section.

Solution 13: Use a password

If you share your computer, it’s a good idea to set all the passwords. Passwords should be a combination of letters and numbers no less than eight characters, and should not make any sense. Never write passwords and stick them near the computer. To set a password in Windows XP, click Start button | Control Panel | User Accounts. Follow the prompts to assign / change passwords.

Solution 14: Update application software

Microsoft constantly issues patches for security holes in operating systems and applications software. However, do not be lulled into complacency if you have Windows Update automatically checking things for you. Checking the update patches to fix bugs in the operating system, not for security problems.

To get the latest security hotfixes (as Microsoft calls them), visit www.microsoft.com and look for hotfixes for all your Microsoft software, particularly Outlook and Outlook Express.

Microsoft also has a free download package of Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) that scans your system for missing hotfixes. He worked with Windows 2000 and XP Home and Professional only. Does not support Windows 95, 98, or ME.

Solution 10: Do not download from public newgroups

What better place for a hacker to lurk and stick the virus than in the middle of the crowd? Sooner or later, someone is bound to download and get the virus occurs. Do not download files and programs from newsgroups or bulletin boards, or open attachments sent from strangers in chatrooms ( “Let’s exchange pictures!”) Without first scanning with anti-virus software.

Solution 11: Avoid pirated software

This may seem like a no brainer, but sometimes a small price tag on a popular but expensive package can be too good to refuse. Resist it! Likewise, be careful about accepting application software from others. You do not know where it is, and what may have started as a perfectly clean package could become infected during installation on a computer infected other people.

Solution 12: Protect macros in MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint

A common type of virus uses macros. Macro is a set of stored commands that users can save as shortcuts to perform long functions in just a few key presses. A macro virus may perform such crimes as changing file types from text files or spreadsheets into templates, locking the keyboard, and delete files. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint come with macro virus protection. To make sure you activated, open each application, then click the Tools menu | Macro | Security. On the Security Level tab, make sure Medium or High is selected. Clcik OK. If you are already infected with a macro virus, you may find that the steps of this procedure is not available because the virus has disabled them. In that event, run a virus scan on your system to see whether the anti-virus software can kill the virus.

Solution 7: Dealing with double extensions

When you activate the extension in Windows, you will be able to detect the virus that pig-back themselves into innocent looking files with double extensions, such as happybirthday.doc.exe. NEVER trust a file with double extensions – Nature opposite.

Solution 8: Beware of the unknown. Exe files

Viruses are programs that must be executed to do the dirty work, so it may have. Exe extension. Unfortunately, this is the same extension used by legitimate program files. So, do not panic if you find a file named Word.exe or Excel.exe on your system – they are your Microsoft software. But do not EVER open a file with an. Exe extension if you do not know what is the file destination.

Solution 9: Watch out for icons

Viruses in attachment files have been known to assume the form of familiar looking icons of text or image files, such as the wolf in the chicken house. If you receive an unexpected attachment, do not open it without first running it through anti-virus software.

Solution 5: Beware of filename extensions

Filename extension is three characters that appear after the point. The window now defaults to hiding filename extensions, but it’s not a good idea. Could only see a suspicious extension and deleting the file before opening it can save you from viral infection.

To view a file name extension in all your directory listing, the Windows XP desktop, click the Start button | Control Panel | Folder Options | View Tab. Clear the check box Hide extensions for the file type is known. Click Apply | OK. The file system will remain hidden, but you will be able to see extensions for all files that you need to be concerned with. Viruses often live on files with these extensions -. Vbs,. SHS,. Pif,. Ink – and they are almost never legitimately used for attachments.

Solution 6: Disable. SHS extension

A dangerous extension you can easily disable it. SHS. Windows will not recognize it and will remind you before attempting to open. SHS files. An extension is usually only used for “scrap object” files created in Word and Excel when you highlight text and drag it to the desktop for pasting into other documents. If this is not something that you’ve done, or you have Word and Excel 2000 or later, which allows you to have 12 items to the Clipboard, click the Start button | Control Panel | Folder Options | File Types tab. Listed under File Types, scroll down and highlight the SHS extension. Click Delete | Yes | Apply | OK.

Solution 3: Delete first, ask later.

When in doubt about the origin of the e-mail, the best thing to do is delete it without previewing or opening it. However, some viruses, like Klez, propagate by fishing in your address book and sending themselves from any contact they find another random contact. You can spread the virus just by having people in your address book, even if you do not really e-mail them anything. They will receive it from someone else in your address book, which really makes life confusing. Because of the proliferation of porn on the internet, e-mail viruses often tempt victims by using sexual filenames, such as nudes.exe. Do not fall for it.

Solution 4: Beware of virus hoaxes

E-mail warnings about viruses are almost always hoaxes. You may be tempted to believe them because you typically receive them from friends mean well, who received them from friends, etc. These e-mails themselves usually are not viruses, but few have actually fallen into the hands of hackers who loaded them with viruses and forwarded them merrily on their way as a sick joke.

The development of e-mails about virus hoaxes can become nearly as bad as a real virus. Think about it, if you obey an e-mail that tells you to forward it to everyone in your address book, and they THEY do it, and this goes on long enough, you can bring the Internet to the knee. If you ever want to verify a virus warning, anti-virus vendor may have a list of hoaxes on it website. It’s in an effort to provide improved, so it will know which viruses are real.

- Automatic, frequent updates – Because new viruses appear every day, you’ll want regular updates. That’s even better if they occur automatically when you connect to the internet. If automatic updates are not included, you should check the vendor website and download updates yourself. This is very important, because you will not be protected from new viruses if your software is out of date.

- Disaster recovery – Software with a recovery utility to help you get your system back to normal after a virus attack is always good to have.

- ICSA certification – The International Computer Security Associatioin standard for detecting anti-virus software. Make sure your software has ICSA certification.

- Technical support – This is a good idea to choose a package that offers free technical support, either online or via toll-free number. If you ever felled by a virus, you may need it. Some anti-virus software vendor Symantec Corporation (Norton AntiVirus), McAfee Corporation (McAfee VirusScan), Trend Micro Inc. (PC-cillin), and Zone Labs Inc. (Zone Alarm Suite).

Solution 2: The Virus Scan

If you receive a particularly juicy attachment that you want to open, save it on your Windows desktop and run anti-virus software at first. To do this, click once on the file to your desktop soft … not really open it … then right click and choose Scan with (Name of Anti-Virus Software) to activate a virus scan.

If it was infected, your anti-virus software may neutralize it, or at least tell you the attachment is too dangerous to open. On the other hand, do not feel guilty if the very thought of saving a potentially damaging file anywhere on your system is enough to quell your desire to open it and make you immediately remove it.