Sophisticated Phishing Attack uses Monster.com information

A very sophisticated identity theft operation is using information it acquired illegally from Monster.com to send realistic looking phishing e-mails to people, encouring them to visit web sites that will install a couple of nasty Trojan horses.  Banker.c, when installed on a computer, tracks keystrokes looking for log in and password information for bank accounts.  Gpcoder encrypts a users files without their knowledge or permission, and then holds the information hostage until a ranson is paid using Western Union Bid Pay.  ...
Continue Reading →
20
AUG
0

Computers and Internet

The Future of The Recording Industry – Is It Over?

This is a copy of an article that was published in NewsScan.com back on June 27, 2003.  As it turns out, my opinions have stood the test of time.  I am republishing this article here because NewsScan is gone – gone forever from the web. 

The Internet has made is possible, and easy, for almost anyone to realize their fondest dreams.  Want to be a writer – well here I am – a writer.  Want to be any ...

Continue Reading →
13
JUN
0

Computers and Internet

Microsoft Expression Web to Replace FrontPage 2003

As many of you know, Microsoft has "abandoned" FrontPage in favor of a new suite of web development tools appearing under the Microsoft Expression name. The one that we are looking at is Expression Web, but there are special versions for SharePoint development as well.

I have been looking at this new product with some trepidation. My feelings were this: If Microsoft is going to force me onto a new development platform, maybe I should just learn Dreamweaver ...

Continue Reading →
13
JUN
0

Computers and Internet

I Miss NewsScan.com

Its been a while since John Gehl & Suzanne Douglas published NewsScan on the web.  I really miss their site.  It used to be possible to go to the site and look at the archives, but it appears that they may be gone for good (or bad).
 
I was fortunate to have had my comments included in their on-line publication on several occasions, and was once asked to be a guest columnist.  In the interest of preserving these musings, I ...
Continue Reading →
8
JUN
0

Computers and Internet

Phishing Spammers Get Better Results than Direct Mail

Phishing – the sending of unsoliticited or SPAM e-mail with the goal of extracting personal financial information from the recipeient, is a serious problem, and represents the great threat for the unauthorized installation of malware.  According to a survey publsihed in PC World, phishers may be geting as much as a 14% return on their efforts.  That means 14 out of 100 spam recipients respond to these fraudulent e-mails and end up giving up their banking user ID’s ...
Continue Reading →
25
MAY
0

Computers and Internet

Burning an ISO image to a CD or DVD

For those of you who like to purchase software on line for download, there is a trend by software distributors to send their products in an ISO image package, rather than the more familiar .EXE or .MSI installable format.
 
An ISO image must be burned to a CD or DVD and executed from the optical drive.  There is a good article at PC Magazine’s web site that explaines the process somewhat.  i have included it below.
 
What ...
Continue Reading →
25
MAY
0

Computers and Internet

Top Ten Internet Crimes

I found this article from the Security Watch newsletter from PC Magazine to be interesting, and thought I would share it.  The top ten reported internet crimes are lisited below.  The source is the Internet Crime and Complain Center (IC3), for the year 2006.   As I tell people in my Computer Security class, its about the money these days.  The list follows.
 

Category

% of complaints

Auction Fraud

44.9%

Non-Delivery

19%

Check ...

Continue Reading →
25
APR
0

Computers and Internet

Do You Need A Human?

Frequently, I am on the phone with a computer manufacturer’s technical support line.  This can be a short trip into Hades at its best, but occassioanlly, you just need to speak to a real live human being, even if they are in India.
 
I get the daily newsletter Good Morning Silicon Valley, and in yesterday’s issue there was a short blurb about this site:  Dial A Human, at www.dialahuman.com.  Give it a quick look, they have instructions for breaking through ...
Continue Reading →
19
APR
0

Computers and Internet

Thomas Jefferson and the Open Source Movement

Thomas Jefferson, believe it or not, wrote one of the most compelling arguments in support of the principles of the Open Source movement over two hundred years ago.  He wrote:
 
"If nature has made any one thing less susceptible than all others of exclusive property, it is the action of the thinking power called an idea, which an individual may exclusively possess as long as he keeps it to himself; but the moment it is divulged, it forces ...
Continue Reading →
2
APR
0

Computers and Internet

Page 60 of 61 «...3040505758596061