* Welcome
* New Lines
* New Phone System
* Explorer Members Upgraded
* Games News
* Email Virus Prevention - A Few Tips
* $500 Prize Winner
* Domain Name License Renewals Warning

Welcome

Welcome to iiNet's May newsletter. We are all looking forward to the implementation of our new telephone system for the support desk. We would like to remind all of our clients that we provide twenty four hour support, seven days per week, every day of the year!

New Lines

iiNet now has just over 6000 lines on the new 6265 number with clients averaging over 15 hour connections compared to 2 hours on the old 9213 1000 rotary. Over the coming weeks, the number of lines on this new rotary will be further increased.

New Phone System

Oh No! What's happening? "For Sales Press 1, For Support Press 2, For Billing Press 3, For Network
Status Press 4, or For an Operator Press 5"

Yes iiNet is growing up. . . After great debate and some reluctance, we are now installing the latest IVR (Integrated Voice Response) system. We want to make sure we don't lose sight of you, our customers. So as we grow, your call will quickly be directed to the correct area, just right for you.

This is even better news for Explorer and Corporate members, just call our normal support number 9214-2222 and you will receive priority support! For country and interstate callers our number is 132258.

If you just want to know if there is a problem with any associated networks, just push 4 and you will be instantly informed!

We even have a designated sales team ready to upgrade your account or sign up a friend, just press 1.

For customers that want to talk to a human right away, just push 5 and a friendly human is only seconds away.

We know that you will like our new phone system as it will make your contact with iiNet even friendlier.

Explorer Members Upgraded

Be on the lookout for a snail mail letter arriving at your door soon. It's jam packed full of exciting FREE upgrades for your account. Plus you will be able to add your extra mailboxes online in your own time, so start thinking about some cool usernames. Priority support will commence as soon as the IVR is implemented on the 13th May 2001.

We are sure you will be surprised and absolutely delighted with your new Upgraded Explorer Membership, so now that's something to really look forward to! If you can't wait for your letter, or would like to see what our Explorer clients will be receiving, you can sneak a preview here:

http://www.iinet.net.au/products/dialup/explorer.html

Games News

As anticipated, This month heralded the release of the new Sierra hit "Tribes 2". iiNet has a test server for this game up at tribes2.iinet.net.au. You will need the latest patches from Sierra to play on the iiNet server. At the time of printing this newsletter, that was version 22460, but they've been coming out weekly so far. The latest patch can be found on:
ftp://ftp.iinet.net.au/pub/games/tribes2/updates/win

The iiNet tetrinet server has proved quite popular as well, and now has a permanent home. Tetrinet is Tetris like you've never seen it before - over the Internet! You can get the tetrinet files free from
ftp://ftp.iinet.net.au/pub/games/tetrinet/ The address for iiNet's tetrinet server is tetrinet.iinet.net.au

Email Virus Prevention - A Few Tips

You probably have heard of the famous "Melissa" or "I love you" viruses. You might have experienced them first hand. One of the most common ways for virus spreading today is via email. They spread across the Internet so quickly that several large companies had to shut down e-mail servers to stop the spread of Melissa.

What makes the virus spread? Email "worm" viruses spread rapidly by using the addressees in an email address book of Outlook. The recipients spread the worm themselves by clicking on the e-mail attachment.

What Can You Do?
Think before automatically opening attachments. Consider things such as: Who sent it and for what possible reason? Should you contact the person who sent it to you and find out exactly what it is before opening it? If you are unsure about the attachment you received, DO NOT OPEN IT. Contact the sender directly to verify the message was authentic. Scan
the attachment with your latest virus scanner. Delete the attachment without opening it if you are suspicious of it.

Be suspicious. Read the message that is associated with the attachment. Tricky and enticing subject lines are common, such as "urgent", "important" and "for your eyes only" are clearly inducements to get you to open the attachment. Is it really necessary to open the attachment? Is it important enough that you're willing to infect yourself and others?

For more information and latest news, great links to many resources visit iiNet's Virus information page at:

http://www.iinet.net.au/help/virus/index.html

$500 Prize Winner

The winner of the $500 for moving their dialup access from 9213 1000 to 6265 0000 was Mr Acland of Applecross.

Congratulations to Mr Acland!

Thank you to all of our clients who have changed their settings to use these new lines.

Domain Name License Renewals Warning

A number of our customers have recently received a letter about their domain name. This letter is usually phrased as a warning that their domain name is about to expire, but if they send money, they'll be saved. In some cases, an actual invoice has been sent requesting payment be sent immediately or the domain name will be deregistered.

The ACCC and the Australian Domain Authority have released a consumer warning about this practice, which you can read at:

http://www.auda.org.au/alert_renewal.html

If you are paying iiNet for your domain, then you will only ever receive an Invoice from us. If you get a letter like this, please just forward it (unpaid!) to us and we'll deal with it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter, we hope it has been useful to you.