Attention: Virus Alert!!
Beware of a pesky e-mail worm that's on the loose! This rascal sends an e-mail to everyone in the infected user's address book and looks like it's coming from your service provider. For example, the message may appear to be from "admin@atlantic.net." The body of the e-mail falsely "warns" recipients that their e-mail address is about to expire. Just don't make the mistake of opening the attachment! If you do, follow these directions from Network Associates for removing the virus.

Fortunately, Atlantic.Net's Network Operations Center engineers discovered the virus early on and took steps to protect Atlantic.Net members. You can learn more about this and other computer viruses at Surf, the portal for Atlantic.Net members.


Save Time with Our Toll-Free Support Line!
We want to ensure that you receive the customer care that you deserve and are used to getting from Atlantic.Net. That's why we've created a new toll-free support line to route your calls directly to Member Services, ahead of new customers we've recently acquired. When you need tech support or customer service, please call (800) 521-5748 to ensure that your call is answered as quickly as possible.




Software for Growing Up
Before school starts this year, give your children a head start. The more they learn at home, the more they'll succeed in their studies at school. With your home PC and some educational software, your kids will have an electronic tutor waiting anytime they need help.
Those Preschool Years — She'll be hopping ahead with Reader Rabbit Toddler 2002, featuring educational games and printable walk-away activities for children as young as one year. Tighten up his skills with JumpStart Advanced Preschool 2003, a fun three-CD set with different activities to help youngsters learn how to use a computer.
Time for Kindergarten? — Get your child Reader Rabbit Kindergarten 2002 so she can start learning useful math and language skills for those first few years of school.
Grades 1 to 3 — Achieve! Phonics, Reading, & Writing Grades 1-3 surveys first through third grade reading and writing curriculums using interactive games. Achieve! Math & Science Grades 1-3 supports other difficult subjects he could encounter in elementary school.
Grades 4 to 6 — Get her Achieve! Math & Science Grades 3-6 so she'll have an edge throughout grade school. And if you'd really like to reinforce your child's education, you can get him Elementary Advantage 2004, which covers all basic subject areas like earth science, beginning typing, reading, social studies, writing, critical thinking, basic math, fractions, spelling, and beginning Spanish.
Middle School — Once your child reaches middle school, she'll be deluged with plenty of research and tricky math. Math Advantage 2004 offers aid in every math subject from pre-algebra to calculus. With an infinite problem generator, it also reinforces lessons with videos and sound. You say he has to research a former president for a report? Then he'll find Encarta Deluxe Encyclopedia 2004 a valuable tool to find information and links to educational Web sites.

Written by Jeremy Rottgen


Goodbye, Telemarketers!
Now you'll no longer need to worry about your dinner growing cold as you listen to a telemarketer drone on and on about that wonderful widget they can give you for free — with an eight-year subscription to Blah, Blah magazine.

That's because the Federal Trade Commission has created a Do Not Call registry, ironically funded by telemarketers, that'll stop most of those annoying phone calls you receive at home. You can add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry for free. The FTC created the Web site after President Bush signed the Do Not Call Implementation Act in early March. It's been so popular that, as of July 2, over 15.3 million phone numbers have registered. You can also add your number to the list by calling (888) 382-1222.

If you register by August 31, then most telemarketers must stop calling by October 1. If they do call you after that, you can file a complaint. Any company that violates the new law may face an $11,000 fine per violation. Telemarketers who are funding the site say it'll save them from dialing people who don't want the calls. We say ... um, who does?

Written by Jeremy Rottgen



Surfin' Safari: What's Cool for Back-to-School
Summer's almost over. It'll soon be time for your kids to jump on the big yellow bus for another year of learning. But you can calm those first day jitters — whether they're yours or your child's — with some simple Web surfing.
• Stock up on supplies like pencils and paper at Office Depot.
•Get involved in your child's education as a member of the Parent Teacher Association.
• Get helpful hints for the big first day from Home Made Simple.
• Make sure your child's got the hippest eatery supplies in the cafeteria with items from the Lunchbox. And stock their lunch bag with nutritious meals you can create using All Recipes.
• If you think your child needs a little educational preparation, then go to Back to School Ready for practice tests in math and spelling.
• Teachers can decorate their rooms with goodies from School Specialty.

Written by Jeremy Rottgen



Surfer Dude Answers Your Questions
And now here's the gigabyte guru, the electronics expert, the digital doctor. Stay tuned for Surfer Dude!

Q: Tell me how to find spell check. I'm new to a PC and have a 2300 Dell. — Ilean
A: Dudette, spell check is everyone's favorite tool! It's available on many programs you find on your computer, especially word processing programs. The most common word processor on computers is Microsoft Word.
• To access Word's Spell Check feature, first locate and open the program.
• Click "Tools" in the menu bar that runs across the top of the screen.
• In Word XP, the latest version of the program, you'll choose the "Spelling and Grammar" option. This will automatically scan any text you've typed into the current document, and suggest changes as necessary.

Atlantic.Net also has a spelling check feature in our Webmail. Just type http://webmail.atlantic.net in your Web browser and, after logging in with your username and password, click on the "Compose" icon to open a new window. After typing your message, choose the "Spell Check" icon in the Options menu and it will scan the text, finding the possible errors and suggesting corrections. Keep on Surfin'! — SD

Got a Question?
If you're stumped by a technical conundrum, just Ask the Surfer Dude, and we'll share the answers in future issues.


Academic Accessories!
Ready for homework, books, ... and teachers' dirty looks? You'll be well prepared ... This all-around Clive "Scout" Skateboard backpack is also ideal for snowboarding and everyday use. It's got Comfort Zone trim with contoured shoulder straps, a standard hip belt, a padded back panel, dual side storage pockets — one with headphone cord port — easy-access opening to the main compartment, a hidden organizer, front storage pockets, and a mesh water bottle holder. Find more great back-to-school bargains at The Surf Shop.

Tech Tip: Take Your CDs from Blank to Burned
Remember back in the old days, when you stored all of your important info on floppy disks? Hard drives held less back then. Heck, even Bill Gates once said, "640K ought to be enough for anybody." Well, fast forward a couple decades. Now you'll find 120GB hard drives, and DVD and CD burners, all with the intent of storing and viewing all that info you built up over the years. So how do you go about getting all that data from your hard drive to a CD? Here's what you need to do:

1. Purchase a CD Burner and blank CDs. It may seem obvious, but some computers still don't come with CD burners, which vary based on brand name and speed. You'll also have to decide if you want an external to sit outside your computer or an internal that will need to be be installed in your tower. Blank CDs are the necessary medium. These come in various brands and speeds.
2. Install software. Your burner should come with its own software, but you'll also find many different programs commercially available. You'll use this software to choose what information you'll burn to the CD.
3. Choose the information to burn. Read the Help files or instructions for your program to learn how to use it. Generally, you'll either select the location on your hard drive for the files you want to burn, or "drag and drop" the chosen files. After you've selected the files, you may have a few options to choose from, such as finalizing and simulations, and this will determine how the drive burns the CD. All you have to do now is make sure you have a blank CD in the drive, and start the burn!
3a. Burning music to a CD? You'll usually follow the above steps, but there is one exception. If you like to play your MP3s in most stereos and CD players, which aren't always MP3 compatible, you'll need to "convert" them to the WAV format. This can be done using many free programs online. You'll search for "MP3 converter" or something similar. The conversion decompresses the files into something the audio equipment can read. Have you seen those blank CDs in the stores that specifically say they're for music? Those are recommended for people who want to use their burned music in regular stereos, as they tend to be more compatible. Not all blank CDs are alike, so good luck and good burning!

Written by Denise Cole

Got a question for Atlantic.Net's Technical Support team? E-mail us at support@atlantic.net.






Connection Speed: More Bandwidth for Your Buck
Internet connectivity is vital to the growth and widespread reach of your business. Lucky for you, Atlantic.Net is ready and willing to get you connected. Our dedicated connectivity services are far-reaching, fast access solutions, no matter what your bandwidth needs are.

Once connected, you'll enjoy fast downloads and uploads, multiple connections, reliability, and the power to run business critical Web-based applications. Here's a tour of your big-bandwidth options to help you get to know the world of high-speed!

• ISDN. Similar to DSL, ISDN offers clients connection speeds ranging from 64 Kbps to 128 Kbps, about three times faster than a dial-up modem. Most customers choose ISDN connections in areas where other high-speed connections are not available. ISDN lines are installed by the local telephone company, if this type of service is available for the area.

• DSL. Fifty times faster than dial-up connections, DSL service eliminates busy signals and pesky disconnections. You'll also save money by eliminating the expense of separate phone lines to access the Web. Atlantic.Net's business-class DSL service allows up to 100 users to one DSL line. You'll enjoy round-the-clock network monitoring and customer support.

• T1. Designed to give you greater bandwidth speed and the security you need for your business, our T1's will help improve your productivity. With 24/7 network support and speeds starting at 128 Kbps, 384 Kbps, or 1.5 Mbps, a T1 connection may be perfect for your business. A contract is required, and prices vary by location.

• T3. Is your business getting too big for its britches? Ready to kick up your bandwidth a notch? If you're on the prowl for a faster, more powerful connection — look no further. Atlantic.Net offers T3 service customized to meet the needs of your business, with speeds up to 45 Mbps and round-the-clock network support. The bandwidth is top quality and upgradable as your business grows.

• OCn. If you want to communicate across the Internet at the fastest speeds possible, check out OCn (Optical Carrier). Offering full OC speeds, this option will help you meet all your business requirements. And don't worry about a possible meltdown! Atlantic.Net specialists offer network and customer support 24/7.

If you have any other questions about Internet connectivity for your business, check us out online or call us at (800) 521-5881.

Written by Jordan Meffert




Mail
Atlantic.Net
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Phone
For sales, service, or support, please call:

• Toll-Free: (877) GO-ATLANTIC
(That's 1-877-462-8526)
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E-mail
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