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http://www.cert.org/advisories/CA-2000-02.html

You might have seen panicky-sounding news reports yesterday about new ways that hackers can get into your computer via the Internet.  The page above is the source of these stories and gives the technical details.  There really isn't anything new -- the issues raised in this article have been around for years -- but seeing this all together in one place looks scary.  Web authors should be sure to read this because it is your responsibility to repair this type of problem with your site. 

In Wednesday's issue we asked you jr. skulkers to dial the phone number 1-800-426-9200 and see if you could figure out why a voice recites some numbers and then some touchtones play.  WebSkulker did not mean to imply that this was a contest and that he knew the answer, because he doesn't.  This number has been a mystery to him for years and he was wondering if anyone knew anything.

NoReality and one other jr. skulker plugged the number into web search engines and found this link.  It has the phone number listed as belonging to Microsoft and the number to call to get more information about the Visual InterDev product:
http://winweb.winmag.com/library/1997/0701/winla103.htm

WebSkulker went to more search engines and found this link which also shows the number for Microsoft, for the Microsoft Encarta Online Deluxe product.  (Note that this product is listed twice on the page; the second listing, near the bottom, has the phone number.)
http://www.edmediausa.com/1999ency.htm

A third jr. skulker, Al Bernay, said he did some social engineering and was told that the number belonged to Microsoft.  He called nearby numbers and got a Microsoft employee who said the number was used to test touchtone decoders, but it sounded as though he might be inventing this:

I ASKED: "Why are there 2 or 3 different numbers?"
HE SAID: "The devices we are testing use these channels".
I ASKED: "What channels, what devices?"
HE SAID: "You'll have to ask R&D."
ME: "How do I reach them?"
HIM: "They're in another building and I don't know their number, call Microsoft to find out.".

BECAUSE HE QUOTED A NON-800 NUMBER, I DID NOT CALL.
 

http://betatester.tin.it/en

Jr. Skulker NoReality submitted this site about beta test software.  It has news, the status of many famous products currently in beta test, links to public betas that you can download immediately, etc. 

http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Lights/9462/whymenaremen/whymenaremen.html

Monday's issue had a series of sexist jokes that offended at least one female jr. skulker.  To prove that WebSkulker can be sexist both ways, go to this site which was submitted by Jr. Skulker JennyAnn.

Submitted by Jr. Skulker Dan Dunkel

An Irishman walks into a bar in Dublin, orders three pints of Guinness, and sits in the back of the room drinking a sip out of each one in turn.  When he finishes them, he comes back to the bar and orders three more. The bartender approaches and tells him, "You know, a pint goes flat after I draw it, it would taste better if you bought one at a time." 

The Irishman replies, "Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in America, the other in Australia, and I'm here in Dublin. When we all left home, we promised that we'd drink this way to remember the days when we drank together. So I drinks one for each o' me brothers and one for me self." 

The bartender admits that this is a nice custom, and leaves it there.  The Irishman becomes a regular in the bar, and always drinks the same way: He orders three pints and drinks them in turn. One day, he comes in and orders two pints. All the other regulars take notice and fall silent.  When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says, "I don't want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my condolences on your great loss." 

The Irishman looks confused for a moment, then a light dawns in his eye and he laughs. "Oh, no. Everyone's fine", he explains, "It's just that I joined the Baptist Church and had to quit drinking."

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This newsletter is copyrighted 2000 by The WebSkulker.  You may use any material in this issue for any reason provided that you attribute it to the WebSkulker Newsletter and include the URL to our web site: http://www.webskulker.com .