I'd be careful about updates to programs (as in be the
first on your block).  Often, they come with inherent
problems that haven't been worked out.  Let somebody
else jump on the bandwagon and get the headache. 
Don't go there until they've smashed the bugs.

As for Windows Media Player, I've had a hard drive
crash twice in two years.  Each time, I was attempting
to download an upgrade to Windows Media Player.  The
computer store (a brand name) said there were some
incompatibilities between my operating system (an
older version) and the Player.  So taking upgrades is
not always wise.


--- C Reeves <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Heather,
> 
> While I agree with Tom on the instruction and use of
> firewalls, anti-virus
> tools, and anti-spyware tools, I think more needs to
> be said.
> 
> At one point I was working in an education system as
> an IT.  I cannot tell
> you how important it is to have an IUP that is
> specific to your issues.
> Ninety percent of the issues I ran into were the
> educators and not the
> students messing up the computers.  These issues
> usually stemmed from
> workers with a little "down-time" that wanted to use
> MY computers as if they
> were their home computers.  Problems I've seen and
> what the issues are:
> 
> 1)  P2P -  Peer to peer sharing:  these are great
> little programs for
> getting mp3's, programs and movies, however the
> programs often run outside
> the firewall and therefore are not blocked of any
> evil content (viruses,
> Trojans, etc.)  Often times the P2P software itself
> contains more spyware
> than you can imagine. DON'T ALLOW P2P for any
> reason!!!
> 
> 2)  Music Streamers:  Programs like Windows Media
> Player and the like are
> typically not dangerous to your computers, however
> depending on the size of
> your network and the amount of bandwidth you share
> 20 people all listening
> to streamed music in their offices can seriously
> drain the network of power.
> I've seen a large T1 connection go to a snail's pace
> simply because of
> streaming.
> 
> 3)  Online shopping:  No joke.  Shopping at Amazon
> or Target.com isn't
> really going to be a detriment, but newbies often
> find web shopping portals
> that offer "great deals".  These portals are about
> as wise as walking
> through Mid-town Manhattan with fifties sticking out
> of your pockets.  You
> might be ok, but you're just asking for trouble. 
> Again, these portals are
> small programs that almost always contain spyware
> and are backdoors into
> your system.  If you allow some shopping be sure to
> emphasize that employees
> use sites that contain secure servers for their
> protection and that of your
> network.
> 
> 4)  Porn:  Yeah.  While I'm not against free speech
> (a picture speaks a
> thousand words remember), the perusal of interactive
> nudity can lead to a
> myriad of issues network wise and ethically as well.
>  
> 
> 	My overall suggestion is to CYA and not allow any
> internet
> activities that may hinder, hamper, or interfere in
> any way the network or
> any systems connected to it.  If the User has any
> questions if this or that
> is wrong, then they should contact the IT.
> 
> I hope this helps some.
> 
> Have a great day,
> 
> Christopher Reeves
> 
>
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