If it’s Tuesday, it must be time for another Internet
slowdown. At least that’s how it felt when yet another e-mail worm
helped knock entire companies offline and affected users around the
world this week. The Zotob virus — I gave up trying to understand the
naming logic of these things a long time ago — affected a
disproportionate number of media companies. An alphabet soup of big
names — CNN, ABC, NYT — were among the victims.
After
fielding several calls and e-mail messages from friends and
acquaintances about this, here are thoughts on how journalists can
better prepare to handle the next Internet crisis:
- KEEP A PRINTOUT OF YOUR CONTACTS & CALENDAR: I
was impressed when a producer at one network called me on my cell
looking for help with the story, even though her system was offline.
She explained that she keeps a hard copy printout of all her contacts.
That way, if she can’t access the electronic version, she has a backup. - USE A WEB-BASED E-MAIL SERVICE: Send copies of
your contacts to a free, Web-based e-mail service so your most useful
material is accessible wherever you go. Try Yahoo, Hotmail or Gmail (if you need a Gmail invitation, just send a note to poynter@sree.net, subject line = “Give me Gmail”). - BACK UP YOUR DATA: For a lot of us, the
admonitions to back up our files is like being told to floss. Yes, we
know it’s important, but we do it, perhaps, once a month. You can back
up your files to various removable media or use an online backup
service, which stores files remotely. Walt Mossberg, the Wall Street Journal tech columnist, recommends using SmartSync Pro
and an external hard disk. In fact, he uses two identical backup hard
disks. “I keep one connected to the computer, and the other in a bank
safe-deposit box. I swap them every month or so,” he wrote in a recent
column.
In case you find yourself having to suddenly cover one of these Internet crises, here are some good sources:
- KEYNOTE SYSTEMS INC.: This company keeps track of
Internet performance and is able to provide quotes, stats and more on
how the Internet is holding up during big spikes or drops in traffic.
PR contacts, from its site: Della Lowe, 650-403-3233, dlowe@keynote.com or Dan Berkowitz, 650-403-3305, dberkowitz@keynote.com. - GEEKS ON CALL: This company, which has computer
service technicians around the country, is a good source for quick
interviews for print or broadcast. The PR folks can put you in touch
with local technicians in 29 cities. PR contacts: 888-667-4577 ext. 328
or e-mail Taylor Mayo, chief marketing officer: taylor.mayo@geeksoncall.com.
There are plenty of good places online to read about this topic; the blog I read to keep abreast of computer security is Security Fix by Brian Krebs on WashingtonPost.com. Lots of good tips, story ideas and more here.
Now I am turning to you. Please help your fellow readers — and me — learn more about how to cope by posting your feedback directly at this link. Or you can e-mail me at poynter@sree.net. See the posted feedback here.
And here is a February 2004 Web Tip on how to keep up with technology news.
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