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PUBLISHER’S LETTER www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Production Manager Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Peter Smith Ross Tester Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc, VK2ZLO Rick Walters Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Advertising Enquiries Leo Simpson Phone (02) 9979 5644 Fax (02) 9979 6503 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Rodney Champness, VK3UG Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Bob Young SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 003 205 490. ABN 49 003 205 490 All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Hannanprint, Noble Park, Victoria. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $69.50 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 8, 101 Darley St, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax (02) 9979 6503. E-mail: silchip<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 * Recommended and maximum price only. 2  Silicon Chip Viruses on emails are a huge problem This month we are running a feature on firewalls for your computer. This is a subject which is very close to my heart; not because I like it but because I am constantly aware that we are under attack. Literally. It is a sad fact that anyone and everyone who has their computer connected to the Internet is constantly being scanned for weaknesses by people who can only be described as parasites. If you read nothing else in this issue, make sure you read the article on firewalls beginning on page 16. Read it and act upon it because unless you are doing everything advocated in the article, your computer and your files are extremely vulnerable. Maybe you don’t use the Internet but just have email. But if you are sending and receiving email from your computer, you are still connecting to the Internet. You are still likely to be under attack from the mind-boggling and constantly growing armada of viruses and other nasties out there. Every day we get another virus attack and very occasionally they get through the chinks, even though we update virus definitions as soon as they are available. It beats me why there are apparently so many people in the world who get such a thrill from creating and propagating virus­es. It is such an act of bastardry - nothing less. We have alrea­dy had the hard disk on one of our machines trashed by a virus. Make no mistake. Sooner or later some large (and many a small) company is going to be so badly affected by a virus that their records will be destroyed and they will go out of business. When that occurs, a lot of people will lose heaps of money and their jobs. Is that the thrill that these mental defectives are hoping for? I suppose when that happens, the authorities will then start to get serious about hunting down these people. Sure, the great majority of viruses come from overseas but then maybe the government should start applying pressure to those countries which have the greatest number of parasites. Do I sound paranoid? I am. Even though we have a firewall, we still make sure that the modem is turned off at night. After all, if a trojan program becomes embedded in your system and it is turned on all the time, there is nothing to stop it dialling out at night and squirting your files out to who knows where. Just remember, the Internet is a fantastic place but it is also very dangerous. If your computer is unprotected and you have sensitive files on it, you could be in trouble. And you may never know . . . Leo Simpson Queensland Electrical Safety Review Finally, an update: the Queensland Government has carried out their review of electrical safety regulations. They have ignored our suggestions for an introduction of wiring regulations similar to that in New Zealand. They are proposing more licens­ing, not less. They have not learned anything . . . You can check their 33-page document on www.eso.qld.gov.au To make a submission: email mark.dearlove<at>qld.gov.au www.siliconchip.com.au