Security Alert NewsReporter December 14, 2009 html version |
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Security Alert NewsReporter, Holiday
issue, Dec 14, 2009 _________________________________ Welcome all of our subscribers to the Security Alert Newsreporter, (Published by: Richard Rossbauer, www.richardpresents.com) Today we will look at some of the more serious online issues facing us as well as lighter stuff for the coming holidays. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SAFE AND SANE INTERNET SURFING OVER THE HOLIDAYS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Recent Threats and Scams Here's the latest on Recent Threats and Scams, especially important if you expect to spend a lot of time surfing for gifts, sending messages to friends, etc., during the often hectic days preceding Christmas, Hanukkuh, kwanzaa and the end of the year holidays. Panda Labs reported the predominant malware category throughout the third quarter of 2009 was Trojans - up slightly from the second quarter activity level. As for worms, their activity decreased slightly, compared with the previous quarter. On the other hand, spyware increased for the first time in 2009, up 32 percent, while Adware decreased slightly but was still the second most detected malware category in 2009. What does this mean for us? We need to be careful not to lose sight of the lurking cyber crooks waiting for us to drop our guard so they can slip a Trojan, or otherwise attack our computer systems. US-CERT (United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team) Free Cyber Security Alerts Service provides timely information about these current security issues, vulnerabilities, and exploits, plus outline steps and actions that most of us non-technical home and corporate computer users can take to protect ourselves from attack. You can Sign up to receive these alerts in your inbox here - http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/alerts/. _________________________________ Spending a lot of time at "SOCIAL SITES"? It's probably a very good idea to Check your Facebook 'privacy' settings now If you use Facebook and care about your privacy, take a moment to read this blog entry from the Washington Post. Facebook has made some major changes that may allow a great deal more people to see your personal photos and videos, date of birth, family relationships, and other sensitive information. ...and here's another quick tip, since you may be tempted to make some first time visits to unfamiliar websites - If you're not sure if a website you want to visit is safe - enter the URL (the www or http address of a website on the World Wide Web) to check it's reputation free at - https://qa.securecloud.com/reputation/query?locale=en-US _________________________________ NOW ON TO THE LIGHTER STUFF Here is a Seasonal website that's quite safe to visit. It's my "Merry Christmas - Holiday Gifts from RichardPresents.com" There are so many activities going on in preparation for the holiday season, that sometimes we may be so busy that we don't have enough time to entertain our children and make them a part of the excitement.  Although not all of my little Gift package is for the young ones, there's enough there to entertain them for a good many hours. I believe Christmas revolves around family and friends - and primarily children and grandchildren. I selected a few gifts that can help add to your family's fun - for the adults as well as the kids. The downloaded items are PDF files that can be read in Adobe Acrobat after unzipping them. http://www.richardpresents.com/Christmas-Greetings/ Please send me a note if you enjoyed this Gift Page, and please encourage your friends to visit it, too. _________________________________ DECEMBER GIVING Kids Internet Safety eBook, available for free until Dec 31, 2009. Get your copy here - and it's okay to share Click on "Get A Free Copy" at the Family Safety webpage www.firewalls-and-virus-protection.com/Family-Safety.html * * * * * * Please Give to The Needy Children * * * * * * Needy Children Need YOU! Be a Christmas Angel today! :*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*: *** . * (\ (_) /) * . . * . (_/l l\_) . * . . * . /___\ . * * ... * :*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*:._.:*~*: The 9th Annual Internet Toy Drive in conjunction with the U.S. Marines, "Toys for Tots" http://www.internettoydrive.org (As a member of i-Cop, the International Council of Online Professionals, I "borrowed" the angel image from the organization's director, jlScott's recent Trade Journal publication) _________________________________ CLOSINGS, FROM THE LIGHTER SIDE A Russian couple was walking down the street in St. Petersburg the other night, when the man felt a drop hit his nose. "I think it's raining," he said to his wife. "No, that felt more like snow to me," she replied. "No, I'm sure it was just rain, he said." Well, as these things go, they were about to have a major argument about whether it was raining or snowing. Just then they saw a minor communist party official walking toward them. "Let's not fight about it," the man said, "let's ask Comrade Rudolph whether it's officially raining or snowing." As the official approached, the man said, "Tell us, Comrade Rudolph, is it officially raining or snowing?" "It's raining, of course," he answered and walked on. But the woman insisted: "I know that felt like snow!" To which the man quietly replied: "Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear!" - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Thank You Notes One Christmas, mom decreed that she was no longer going to remind her children of their thank-you note duties. As a result, their grandmother never received acknowledgments of the generous checks she had given. The next year things were different, however. "The children came over in person to thank me," the grandparent told a friend triumphantly. "How wonderful!" the friend exclaimed. "What do you think caused the change in behavior?" "Oh, that's easy," the grandmother replied. "This year I didn't sign the checks." _________________________________ SEASON'S GREETINGS AND THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT Season's Greeting, and my best wishes for your comfort, safety, good health, and prosperity for all of your future years. May your holiday celebrations be happy and joyful for you, your families and your friends. And Thank You for your interest and support of my websites and blogs. It is greatly appreciated. Merry Christmas and a happy new Year Richard Rossbauer  You are receiving this message because someone, hopefully you, asked to be subscribed to one of our newsletters, eCourses, or other programs The privacy policy, terms of use and appropriate disclaimers related to this newsletter, the websites and blogs that make up the RichardPresents.com family of web publications are available for your review at www.richardpresents.com/Terms-Of-Use.html To your safe surfing, and a
delightful fun filled Holiday season. |
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