Don't connect that new PC to the Internet before taking security precautions, researchers at the Internet Storm Center warned Tuesday.

According to the researchers, an unpatched Windows PC connected to the Internet will last for only about 20 minutes before it's compromised by malware, on average. That figure is down from around 40 minutes, the group's estimate in 2003.

The Internet Storm Center, which is part of the SANS Institute, calculated the 20-minute "survival time" by listening on vacant Internet Protocol addresses and timing the frequency of reports received there.

The drop from 40 minutes to 20 minutes is worrisome because it means the average "survival time" is not long enough for a user to download the very patches that would protect a PC from Internet threats.

SCW Consulting offers network wide system maintenance contracts which include patching and updating. Contact us or call (509) 534-1530 to get started.

In Windows XP Service Pack 2, Microsoft is delivering several improved security technologies that help protect customers against malware and other risks to their computer. These technologies are not intended to replace periodic security updates as they are released, but rather to help strengthen Windows XP's overall defenses against malicious attacks.

"Service Pack 2 is a significant step in delivering on our goal to help customers make their PCs better isolated and more resilient in the face of increasingly sophisticated attacks," Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said in a statement.

We can deploy this service pack to your systems to better defend your network against viruses, worms, and hackers. Contact us or call (509) 534-1530 and we'll secure your IT infrastructure.

Step Up To the Next Generation of Server Technology
August 10, 2004

New dual processor server platforms based on the Intel® XeonT processor 3.60 GHz with 800 MHz system bus are ideal for general purpose server applications such as web-infrastructure and email hosting.

Enhanced features such as Intel® Extended Memory 64 Technology, PCI Express* serial I/O technology and DDR2 memory technology allow new levels of computing power, real-time responsiveness and price/performance improvements over prior versions of Intel Xeon processor-based platforms.

The new dual Intel Xeon processor based server platforms can simplify system management and lower costs while providing the performance and power needed for enterprise front-end server, small medium business or high-performance computing needs.

We can help you upgrade your existing network servers to take advantage of Intel's new processors. Contact us or call (509) 534-1530 to see what we can do for you.