Tech – for Everyone

Tech Tips and Tricks & Advice – written in plain English.

TuneUp Utilities 2012 Giveaway (+Miscellany)

Hard to believe it is Thursday already.. Let’s see what is going on in the world, shall we?

Facebook says 600,000 account logins compromised EVERY DAY

“Facebook said this week that hackers using stolen username and password credentials try to break into at least 600,000 accounts every day on the mammoth social networking site.” Read more..

(The capitalization in the title was mine. There’s pirates in these waters.. be careful folks.)

• It seems it is not too early to start shopping.. or start thinking about shopping, for the coming holiday season. For those of you who might be in need of some gift ideas, Amazon has a helpful list of Top Picks…

Here’s one everybody should read.. (even us savvy types.)

The thousand-dollar penalty for reusing passwords

You can find no end of advice on creating strong passwords, using clever tricks, stats, mnemonics, and such.

But all too frequently we (and I include myself in this rebuke) tend to reuse little passwords at what we think are inconsequential sites. It’s a big mistake — here’s why.” Read more..

• My giveaway of TuneUp Utilities 2012 closes at midnight (Pacific) tonight. For the 4-1-1, click here.

Turn Your Photos Into Something Awesome with iPiccy Photo Tools

There is quite a lineup of online image editors these days, but there is one I bet you have not tried..Read more..

Amazon’s latest Prime gambit: Kindle book lending

The Kindle lending program may just be one part of the kitchen sink Amazon plans to toss into its Prime subscription service.Read more..

(For the more advanced…)
• Duqu: father, son, or unholy ghost of Stuxnet?

“Three U.S. Air Force information security experts, independent of their role in the military, studied the Duqu trojan, and you might be surprised by what they found. This is the first article in a two-part series that examines the sophisticated threat that everyone is talking about.Read more..

Today’s free download: FavBackup

FavBackup provides an easy-to-use tool for backing up and restoring Web browser data. Its simple layout and excellent results make it a great way to save your important Web browser information.

Back up all your bookmarks, browsing history, cookies, and more with a single click of a button. FavBackup will work with a wide range of Web browsers, including Mozilla’s Firefox, Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Google’s Chrome, Apple’s Safari, Flock, and even Opera.

Today’s quote:The first gold star a child gets in school for the mere performance of a needful task is its first lesson in graft.” ~ Philip Wylie

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.


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November 3, 2011 - Posted by | advice, computers, Internet | , , , , , , ,

12 Comments »

  1. I get one of these phone calls once a week or more. Last week I got 3. You should let your readers know about this…

    Windows Secrets Newsletter: Scammers & Windows’ Event Viewer | PC Pitstop

    Here is more Beware ‘Microsoft’ phone scammers, RCMP warns

    When they used to call, I use to “play games” with them. Talk to them for hours and waste their time/play really blonde(because I am) stupid because I knew I wasn’t letting them in PC. Now I just tell them I have Mac. They apologize and hang up. One time I told them my PC was in a closet unplugged and not working. The guy still insisted my PC as sending out viruses. The scary part is..they have my name correct..they know where I live….

    Like

    Comment by delenn13 | November 3, 2011 | Reply

    • delenn13,
      You know.. I thought I did post a warning.. I certainly had it on my To Do.. but I guess it slipped through the cracks.

      Thanks. My To Do is now “refreshed” (F5) and you can look for a mention soon.. (though, the links you provided are sufficient – for those who notice them.)

      Folks, much more than you (probably) realize is “publicly available” information. It is not difficult for scammers to sound like they know you, if they do a little research first. And guess what? These guys are pros. Please, exercise vigilance and “paranoid common sense” – we’re a planet plagued with vile types, and you are in their crosshairs.

      PS – I cannot print what I would say to them…

      Like

      Comment by techpaul | November 3, 2011 | Reply

  2. I just got this..Now, mind you, I deliver 700 papers 1 day a week part time. So I really have the qualifications to be in a Who’s Who:

    Hi ,

    Recently, you received an email regarding your candidacy for inclusion in the prestigious 2011 “Search Who’s Who” directory of accomplished executives and professionals.

    We have yet to hear from you! This email simply serves as a FINAL REMINDER of your nomination on October 31st, 2011. Your prompt response is needed to ensure your correct professional information.

    The office of the Managing Director appoints individuals based upon a candidate’s current position and also focuses on information obtained from researched executive and professional listings. Given your background, the Director thinks that you may make an interesting biographical subject for online publication.

    There is NO COST nor obligation to be certified by Professional Biographies and listed in the 2011 “Search Who’s Who” directory.

    Click here

    to verify your information, accept the candidacy in Search Who’s Who and receive your Personal Website (including your professionally written biography).

    Our registration deadline for this round is November 4th, 2011.

    To ensure you are included, we must receive your verification on or before this date. On behalf of our Committee, I salute your achievement and look forward to welcoming you to our association.

    Benjamin Morrison
    Editor in Chief

    244 5th Ave, Suite B279
    New York, NY 10001

    To no longer receive email notifications, please visit here

    I moused over the links and all of them go to the SAME place. Even the one “to no longer receive email notifications”.

    Like

    Comment by delenn13 | November 3, 2011 | Reply

    • delenn13,
      Social engineering: target Ego/Vanity. (No doubt something that a few people have..)

      .. I see this stuff, and it ‘brings out’ my inner grouchy Ebenezer.
      But as you said, it isn’t the right season for that yet.

      Maybe.. I’ll go sing Kumbayah, and pretend people are basically nice, and they always do the Right Thing.

      Like

      Comment by techpaul | November 3, 2011 | Reply

      • You have to have a campfire to sing that song…. There are nice people somewhere, I swear!

        Got these TODAY:

        From Cloud8:
        78 rogue anti-virus and anti-spyware programs you need to watch out for | Cloudeight Information Avenue

        And from Bill P. of WinPatrol fame:
        Bits from Bill: Greed Creates Common Deceptive Practices

        The internetz can be deceiving!

        I had gotten the Windows Secrets and had already read that article about the passwords. It just happens I got 2 licenses for Sticky Password 5 with portable apps so I can backup in DropBox Or throw on a Flash drive. And I, too, am guilty of using the same password for stuff like newsletters etc..Non important things. Now I guess, I am gonna have to do some rethinking of how I do this Which is a real pain because of the years I have spent on the net…I am looking at tons of websites..etc I am going to have to change.

        But tonight, I think I am gonna relax and play some Voxatron..from the latest Humble Bundle

        Like

        Comment by delenn13 | November 3, 2011 | Reply

        • delenn13,
          Been a fan of BillP for a long, long while.. but, you have reminded me, some time has passed since I’ve mentioned WinPatrol.

          (Going to have to read that and see why they settled on 78. Seems to me, 78 is the number of new variants released at us each day…)

          … and yes, I know there’s good people out there (why I work so hard here — so they don’t go from being “targets” to being “victims”). But the very nature of the “world-wide web” allows all the slimeballs on the planet to take a crack at us. (Usually, from outside the reach of any prosecution.)

          Like

          Comment by techpaul | November 3, 2011 | Reply

  3. In regards to the Amazon shopping tip…HDDs are doubling in price. So if you are in the market for one or thinking of buying a PC…might get it now..because the price right now may be the only bargain you see at Christmas time. It’s a gamble, I know.

    Buy your hard drives NOW before they increase even more – due to Thai’ floods « Giveaway of the Day Forums

    Western Digital Caviar Black 2 TB SATA III 7200 RPM 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Internal Desktop Hard Drive – WD2002FAEX | Amazon price tracker / tracking, Amazon price history charts, Amazon price watches, Amazon price drop alerts | camelcamelcamel.com

    Like

    Comment by delenn13 | November 4, 2011 | Reply

    • delenn13,
      You’re quite right. It was my intention to include that news item, but saved it for Friday’s article..

      Like

      Comment by techpaul | November 4, 2011 | Reply

  4. Err…OOPS! Sorry!

    Like

    Comment by delenn13 | November 4, 2011 | Reply

    • delenn13,
      For what?

      (I really should have put it up yesterday..but was worried I was getting too many words already. Did you know? People glance at a page and see a whole bunch of text, or paragraphs longer than two sentences, they click away? [Short attention span theater])

      Your input is very welcome here – keep it up!

      Like

      Comment by techpaul | November 4, 2011 | Reply

  5. To make up for my faux pas…. Free mp3s and a game. Let’s test who reads the comments. ( I know…as you said[Short attention span theater])

    I am not a “Dead Head” but if you like the Grateful Dead, they are giving a mp3 a day away for the month of November. Grateful Dead | Official Site of the Grateful Dead | Grateful Dead If you like album art, scroll down to Comment #17 November 1 | Grateful Dead I DO read most of the comments..or at least skim them.

    And….

    You can “Boldly blow up stuff where no one has blown up stuff before” and “Unleash destruction on a galactic scale”….This game was just posted yesterday. Fun game!
    Week 162 – Good Games to Grab – Strange Adventures in Infinite Space (Sim) « Giveaway of the Day Forums

    • Playing time: 5-20 minutes for each game

    • Singleplayer

    • Difficulty: variable

    • infinite Re-playability – each time you play is different

    • 21 different ship types

    • 69 different weapons, drives, shields, gadgets and artifacts

    • 18 alien life forms

    • 17 different planet and star types

    • 7 unique alien races

    OMG..this is way over 2 lines…No one is gonna read it.

    Like

    Comment by delenn13 | November 4, 2011 | Reply

    • well.. you did use two “Top Ten Keywords” (free and games) so there’s a chance someone will…….

      Like

      Comment by techpaul | November 4, 2011 | Reply


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