I Copy the Full Header and Forward it to abuse@..., FBI <su@...>,
Fraud Watch International <scams@...>, and FTC SPAM
Commission <SPAM@...> for their viewing pleasure. That also goes for Lottery
scams, Nigerian scams, etc. I also then Check it and click on SPAM on the menu
at top of message.

--- In ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com, Group Moderator <yahoo.moderator@...>
wrote:
>
> hello
>  lots of people have. there seems to be a major phishing scam going
> on. also look for the internet bandwidth congestion, cleaning up accts
> scam. there's aol, hotmail and other versions going around.
>                roger
>
> On Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 10:06 AM, Doug Stealth <stealthh@...> wrote:
> > Nope
> >
> >
> > From: nangautama2@...
> > Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 11:05 PM
> > To: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [ CCUG PC Online] Has anyone got this Yahoo notice???
> >
> >
> >  From: Yahoo! [mailto:servicealert@...]
> > Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 7:54 AM
> > Subject: Yahoo Alert !!! Your Account Information Has Changed
> >
> > Yahoo! Customer Care Satisfaction Survey
> >
>

Now I'm up to 4 times without success!

--- In ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com, busterm2 <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> I've tried at least twice to install it and it seems to do it then at the end
says it failed to install and is reverting back to the precious files! Any idea
on how to fix this? I'm trying again and this time turned off SpyBot and AdAware
but can't seem to shut down AVG.
>

no surprise with this story. scared people are reporting everywhere that they
have been hacked. for most of these, basic anti spyware programs like spybot or
ad aware are all you need to remove them with a few key tips. update the
software before scanning. clean out all your TEMP folders, some of these can
contain 1000's of files and scanning them only wastes time and the most
important, scan in safe mode.for the most part, security software cant shutdown
running programs, which makes less effective in cleaning. malware and scareware
are like earth worms, getting half of it, it only regrows. with malware, it just
reinstalls. by scanning in safe mode, only the min of processes are running, the
cleaning/removing of malware is more complete as it can now remove the whole
program.this is why when you have scanned before, your software may have told
you it has found and removed it, but it comes right back because it couldnt
remove the self installer which is running. keep in mind that programs like
nortons is more for virus's and not malware, so you need an anti spyware program
as well as av. how do you get some of this crap? by having things like less than
trusted toolbars. many toolbars have settings for auto update, it can be during
this updating process that they pass on the malware. because you have 'invited'
the malware by allowing the update, it lets it bypass your security. other times
you can get it by visiting bad sites, allowing popups or letting features like
Active X to load without asking first. best way to avoid them? there is no sure
way to stop them, but you can do things to limit the chance you will get them.
check settings of your programs and stuff. for the most part, change settings
from auto to prompt or ask first. remove those 'handy' toolbars for game sites
or torrents, they are not worth their convenience. when installing programs,
look for and use the custom option if it has one. there is nothing scary about
it, most times it will ask you basic questions on options before it installs.
things like do you want malware.com as your default search engine, can i install
malware.com toolbar. other times it will ask you useful options like do you want
yet another desktop icon, or can i add yet another icon to your quick launch
toolbar. going custom also allows you to make choices on what gets installed.
part of many programs is a language option, now if you only understand english,
then do you really need to install the 300 mb language option? if you have no
plans to use the free toy they offer, then dont check the box. in short, custom
can allow you to pick and choose what you really want and may use. always click
custom if you can, just to see what is going on, but many times, you will find
that you can save hardrive space, keep your desktop tidy and not end up
wondering why some of your settings have changed when you dont recall changing
them.
please remember the basic security rules like dont click on links that you dont
know, remember that most serivces will not email you asking for personal info
and if they do, they will ask you to go to their site and make changes and not
supply you with a 'convenient' link or at least dont use their link, but your
own.
                roger

Scammers are targeting social networks with phishing scams and relying more
heavily on worms and Trojans to attack computers, according to security trend
reports to be released Monday by Microsoft and McAfee.

Phishing attacks saw a big spike in May and June, primarily because of campaigns
targeting social-networking sites, according to Microsoft's report covering the
first half of 2009. Gaming sites, portals, and Web sites of banks and retailers
were also popular targets for phishing attacks, the report said.

more...

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10387768-83.html?tag=nl.e757


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

hi
and this does what good when the info is being spoofed?
i am sure you have done some research on the header info yourself
and i am sure you have discovered that its misleading
now i picture some poor person sitting in their living room with a computer they
turn on weekly to check on their chequing balance or nfl scores having their
door busted open by the fbi and police for being a major spammer, because ppl
like you reported 'them'
when all the spoofing and phishing started happening, i stopped reporting
because you can no longer trust the info in a header
           roger

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: busterm2 <no_reply@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Subject: Re: [ CCUG PC Online] Has anyone got this Yahoo notice???
To: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com


I Copy the Full Header and Forward it to abuse@..., FBI
<su@...>, Fraud Watch International
<scams@...>, and FTC SPAM Commission
<SPAM@...> for their viewing pleasure. That also goes for Lottery
scams, Nigerian scams, etc. I also then Check it and click on SPAM on
the menu at top of message.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

If anyone comes busting down my door they better have a bullet proof vest on or
they'll be sorry no matter who they are! If cops or anyone else wants me they
can use the doorbell. I guess with that line of thinking they can put you in
jail for reporting a burgulary too.<G> A crime is a crime and should be stopped
even if it is internet crime or abuse which is what SPAM is. If you let them get
away with it I guess you're nice to telemarketers who call you when you're
eating supper.
How can they spoof the header and not have it show up in the header we receive?
I think that's why Yafooie and others say to send the Full Header so they can
see where it really came from. If not why would they ask for it?

--- In ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com, "nowaywins" <yahoo.moderator@...> wrote:
>
> hi
> and this does what good when the info is being spoofed?
> i am sure you have done some research on the header info yourself
> and i am sure you have discovered that its misleading
> now i picture some poor person sitting in their living room with a computer
they turn on weekly to check on their chequing balance or nfl scores having
their door busted open by the fbi and police for being a major spammer, because
ppl like you reported 'them'
> when all the spoofing and phishing started happening, i stopped reporting
> because you can no longer trust the info in a header
>           roger
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: busterm2 <no_reply@yahoogroups.com>
> Date: Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 7:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [ CCUG PC Online] Has anyone got this Yahoo notice???
> To: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com
>
>
> I Copy the Full Header and Forward it to abuse@..., FBI
> <su@...>, Fraud Watch International
> <scams@...>, and FTC SPAM Commission
> <SPAM@...> for their viewing pleasure. That also goes for Lottery
> scams, Nigerian scams, etc. I also then Check it and click on SPAM on
> the menu at top of message.
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

"Deep Six" ensemble, members of the Motor City Brass Band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbeMyKBQMqo

For those that don't know or didn't hear, that's my daughter Liz playing
the trombone, singing and dancing at the Busker Competition on 11/6/09
at a sports bar in St. Charles IL outside of Chicago. This was part of
the U.S. Open Brass Band National Championships in St. Charles IL that
same weekend.

AND THEY WON!
Prize money was what was in the hat that was passed around, her 1/6
share turned out to be $45+change. LOL! Thats what a busker is, a street
performer who passes a hat.

CAN YOU TELL I'M PROUD OF HER! WHOO HOO!
(to a couple of yahoo groups, my apologies for the OT content!)

CCUG-PC LUNCHEON/MEETING

WHEN:       SATURDAY, NOV. 14, 2009
TIME:         11:30
WHERE:      PICADILLY CAFETERIA (985-892-9994)
ADDRESS:  69008 Hwy. 190 Service Road
                  Covington, La
AGENDA:    Q & A, discuss topics of interest, visit with old members
DIRECTIONS:
From I-12, take exit 63 (Hwy. 190) to Covington. Stay in right lane. At first
light, turn onto Service Road and follow the road until you see Picadilly
Cafeteria. It is next door to Hampton Inn.

What is ydetector.com?
Ydetector.com is a website for Yahoo! Messenger status checking. With
ydetector.com you can now bypass Yahoo! Messenger's Invisible Settings with
ease. It's quick and intuitive interface, ydetector.com offers you the ability
to see if your friend is truly online or if they are invisible.
http://www.ydetector.com/
http://www.yahooscan.com/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

November issue of Chalmette Computer Users Group Newsbits Newsletter now
available at the CCUG-PC NEWSSTAND!!

Hot off the CCUG-PC Presses!!

WHAT'S INSIDE
  Page 1 Back in the Grove Again – Elaine Pitre summarizes the past August 8th
General Luncheon Meeting and Guests

Page 2
Holiday Gift Ideas for 2009
Thought you had it all figured out? Suggestions for electronic purchases this
holiday season.

Page 3
President's Corner
My take on how we're progressing as a group

Page 4
August 8 Reunion Poses and Reposes Page 5
Think you took a cute picture at the last meeting? You might be pleasantly
surprised.
Feature: Genealogy 2010
Sue Wessing presents the family tree genealogy basics on getting established
Page 6-7
CCUG-PC Help Desk
Jerry Montalbano's Q & A from his desktop to yours

Page 8
The Deals
Always good deals reported from Bob Click!

Members Speak Out
You speak, we listen. Here's some comments and criticisms about how we're doing.

Page 10 Kim Komando -- Finding a Quality Camera Under $300
Kim takes you into the bazaar world of cheap cameras. But nice ones!

Page 11
Q. & A CCUG-PC Online
Buster leads his Internet help through Yahoo CCUG-PC groups. Get questions asked
and answered by the world.

Page 12
Chuckles Cartoon
You know the routine: You read, we laugh!

Websites of the Month
Featuring great sites in each issue (as usual).

Much – Much - More

Don't miss a moment reading YOUR newsletter.  Also, remember to attend the
upcoming meeting and luncheon
November 14, 2009, 11:30 a.m.  at Piccadilly's in Covington. We'd enjoy the
great time gathering with us.

Jerry Montalbano, President, EDITOR/Newsbits Newsletter

Get your copy now!!

http://www.ccugpc.org/newsbits/nbnov09.pdf

Buster, Have you resolved your issue with Service pack 2's nag message to
reinstall it over and over again?

--jerry--

--- In ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com, busterm2 <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Now I'm up to 4 times without success!
>
> --- In ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com, busterm2 <no_reply@> wrote:
> >
> > I've tried at least twice to install it and it seems to do it then at the
end says it failed to install and is reverting back to the precious files! Any
idea on how to fix this? I'm trying again and this time turned off SpyBot and
AdAware but can't seem to shut down AVG.
> >
>

I've sent out the notice about Newsbits availability previously, but if you
weren't a member at the time or had trouble you can download the latest issue at
the CCUGPC.ORG website below:

http://www.ccugpc.org/newsbits/nbnov09.pdf

Great stuff at a bargain price..

...free!!!

Jerry Montalbano, President
Chalmette Computer Users' Group Worldwide

Indian Software Experts on a Plane
At a software conference in india, the participants were given an awkward
question to answer. "If you had just boarded an airliner and discovered that
your team of programmers had made the flight control software how many of you
would leave from the plane immediately?"
Among the forest of raised hands, only one man sat motionless. When asked what
he would do, he replied that he would be quite content to stay onboard.
With his team's software, he said, the plane was unlikely to even keep rolling
pas the runway, let alone take off


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Now I'm up 7 tries since the meeting and it still appears to be installing and
then SOSDD again! *&^%$#@! I d\l Windows6.0-KB947821-v4-x86 which was supposed
to check out my system and fix any Registry problems but apparently didn't as I
still get "Installation Didn't Install, Revert Back". Each time I go through
this it's an hour or more wasted for nothing! Now what? (To the moon!<G>)

--- In ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com, jerrytt <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Buster, Have you resolved your issue with Service pack 2's nag message to
reinstall it over and over again?
>
> --jerry--
>
> --- In ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com, busterm2 <no_reply@> wrote:
> >
> > Now I'm up to 4 times without success!
> >
> > --- In ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com, busterm2 <no_reply@> wrote:
> > >
> > > I've tried at least twice to install it and it seems to do it then at the
end says it failed to install and is reverting back to the precious files! Any
idea on how to fix this? I'm trying again and this time turned off SpyBot and
AdAware but can't seem to shut down AVG.
> > >
> >
>

hey buster how are you doing today ? gotta question in the WinRAR diagnostic
messages states the required volume is absent, CRC failed in the download and
the file is corrupt.

how do i download the file ? thanks in advance !

Just curious.
   Has anyone purchased Windows 7 & a bit upset with it or does it take time to
get use to it. Had/still have Vista Ultimate and got Windows 7 Home Preminum.

    Is it me or it takes a bit to get used to Windows 7---text size (on 125%) and
a few other things.
    Also have never used 64 before. Have a so called "quad" I believe he said.

             Any suggestions--assistance??

                     Gary

I've been having problems trying to extract some RAR files too. I used JZip as
it said it could do it plus a bunch of other files. Maybe it did and I don't
where they went or how they'll look extracted but so far I'm still looking for
the solution. I hope jertt sees this, he probably knows the solution.

--- In ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com, "billy" <redneck_toothless_barefoot@...>
wrote:
>
> hey buster how are you doing today ? gotta question in the WinRAR diagnostic
messages states the required volume is absent, CRC failed in the download and
the file is corrupt.
>
> how do i download the file ? thanks in advance !
>

I just switched from XP 64 Pro to Win7 64 Home Premium. I love it. It boots
faster, was easier to install, ( I did a clean install from the upgrade disc and
migrated my files back all with the windows transfer manager on the win7 disc)
and looks much better on the monitor. I am very impressed with this O.S. It
seems that Microsoft finally got it right.
  I am not thrilled with the font size at med (125%) or large (way to large). I
am still experimenting with different things to try to fix it. Good luck and
hope you like it.
Clap





-----Original Message-----
From: Gary <grain11@...>
To: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, Nov 21, 2009 9:14 pm
Subject: [ CCUG PC Online] Windows 7





   Just curious.
   Has anyone purchased Windows 7 & a bit upset with it or does it take time to
get use to it. Had/still have Vista Ultimate and got Windows 7 Home Preminum.

Is it me or it takes a bit to get used to Windows 7---text size (on 125%) and a
few other things.
    Also have never used 64 before. Have a so called "quad" I believe he said.

Any suggestions--assistance??

Gary







=


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

gotta question in the WinRAR diagnostic
messages states the required volume is absent, CRC failed in the download and
the file is corrupt.
>
> how do i download the file ? thanks in advance !
>

I was Vista Ultimate  (32) -- & I spoke with a friend @ Church this Sunday
morning & also says Home Premium is great except the font size. If you find
anything about the font size PLEASE let me know.  I only lost 2 programs which I
rarely used changing to “64”-------------again PLEASE let me know if you
find a solution to the “font” size. From questions I was told that what I
used computer for that I did not want to upgrade to the “Ultimate” version.
Was talked from using the tower to the “Quad”. So I have a tower computer
with Vista (32) & a so called “quad”(has I believe “thermometer CPU & HDD
Celsius degree showing-- & 2 “plug ins I know nothing about largest one has CF
MD on right side & second one has SM   SD MMC  then MS above the “floppy” 
on front) & with Home Premium---being used to the Vista & computers side to side
you really see the difference!! But have questions on “plug ins”  know what
the 2 USB connections are beside it looks like where usb cable connects to
printer

    I am going to attempt to figure out & ask questions—and get a “dummies”
book-but the front “receptacles” I have no Idea because builder left on a 3
week cruise.

  Will get used to 7 I hope-- & hopefully someone finds how to enlarge
font—mine is on 125--& will figure out all the front “receptacles”.



    Windows 7  (64) is way different from Vista (32) I have next to it &
hopefully get used to it someday. The windows 7.



                        Thanks

                        Gary



From: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of clap4mee@...
Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 9:23 AM
To: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [ CCUG PC Online] Windows 7






I just switched from XP 64 Pro to Win7 64 Home Premium. I love it. It boots
faster, was easier to install, ( I did a clean install from the upgrade disc and
migrated my files back all with the windows transfer manager on the win7 disc)
and looks much better on the monitor. I am very impressed with this O.S. It
seems that Microsoft finally got it right.
I am not thrilled with the font size at med (125%) or large (way to large). I am
still experimenting with different things to try to fix it. Good luck and hope
you like it.
Clap

-----Original Message-----
From: Gary <grain11@... <mailto:grain11%40embarqmail.com> >
To: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com <mailto:ccugpconline%40yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sat, Nov 21, 2009 9:14 pm
Subject: [ CCUG PC Online] Windows 7

Just curious.
Has anyone purchased Windows 7 & a bit upset with it or does it take time to get
use to it. Had/still have Vista Ultimate and got Windows 7 Home Preminum.

Is it me or it takes a bit to get used to Windows 7---text size (on 125%) and a
few other things.
Also have never used 64 before. Have a so called "quad" I believe he said.

Any suggestions--assistance??

Gary

=

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi

Over the last three years, the writers here at MakeUseOf have profiled thousands
of software apps on the website. With all these thousands being presented to
you, it's hard to decide which apps to use and which ones to discard. To make it
easier for you, we have managed to compile a list of the top 15 absolute
must-have tools for everyday tasks.



These are the essential programs that we recommend you install and keep on your
arsenal.

   a.. 1. Firefox / Chrome (Web Browser)
   b.. 2. AVG Anti-Virus (Anti-virus Software)
   c.. 3. Auslogics Disk Defrag (Disk Defragmenter)
   d.. 4. Glary Utilities (System Maintenance)
   e.. 5. Malwarebytes (Spyware Removal)
   f.. 6. IZArc (Universal Archiver / Extractor)
   g.. 7. Google Picasa Software (Photo Management)
   h.. 8. doPDF (PDF Printer)
   i.. 9. Memento (Post-It Notes)
   j.. 10. xVideoServiceThief (YouTube Video Downloader)
   k.. 11. Mozy (Backup)
   l.. 12. Digsby (Multi-protocol Instant Messenger)
   m.. 13. VLC Media Player (Video Player)
   n.. 14. Foobar2000 (Music Player)
   o.. 15. ImgBurn (CD / DVD Image Burner)
   p.. 16-20. Plus 5 Bonus Programs
1. Firefox / Chrome (Web Browser)
Both Firefox and Google Chrome are excellent browsers. They are both fast,
user-friendly and known to be secure. So, which one do you choose? The rule of
thumb here is that you should use Firefox if you're looking to add additional
features (i.e. ad blocker, password manager, video downloader, page translator
etc.) to your browser.



You can see all add-ons for Firefox at https://addons.mozilla.org/. There are
extensions for Google Chrome as well, but the choice is rather limited. See, 10
Cool Extensions for Google Chrome.

2. AVG Anti-Virus (Anti-virus Software)
AVG Free Anti-Virus is the most popular free anti-virus software in the world.
It's also the most downloaded software program according to Download.com.



Most of the MakeUseOf authors use AVG and we highly recommend it to others. It's
easy to use, consumes a relatively small amount of system resources and
auto-updates itself with virus definitions on a daily basis. Install it once and
it will keep your system secure without your intervention.

For those of you who frequently shop online and do regular online banking, AVG
recommends AVG Internet Security. While it's not free, it does offer complete
Internet Protection that will keep you safe even from advanced online threats.



Download AVG Free: http://free.avg.com/gb-en/homepage
Download AVG Internet Security (Free Trial): www.avg.com/gb-en/download

(Platform: Windows only)
3. Auslogics Disk Defrag (Disk Defragmenter)
Auslogics Disk Defrag is a must-have free PC maintenance tool that was designed
to cure system sluggishness and prevent crashes caused by disk fragmentation.
Windows already comes with its own disk-defragmenter but Auslogics Disk Defrag
is considerably faster and much more efficient.

It's extremely simple to use, does not require any analysis phase and is faster
than most of the other disk defragmentation software.



While there are several other free disk defragmenters, Auslogics seems to be the
defragmenter of choice according to the poll results on MakeUseOf, Lifehacker
and mega tech sites like CNET.

Download Auslogics Disc Defrag:
www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/overview

(Platform: Windows only)
4. Glary Utilites (System Maintenance)
Glary Utilities is a free system maintenance tool for protecting, cleaning,
repairing, and speeding up your PC. It comes with one-click maintenance option
that automatically runs all optimizations and repair jobs with a click of a
button.



But the best thing about Glary Utilities is that it integrates over 15 other
useful tools that nearly every computer user likely to make use of. These are:

- Uninstall Manager
- Startup Manager
- Memory Optimizer
- Context Menu Manager
- Registry Defrag Tool
- Track Eraser
- File Shredder
- File Undelete
- File Encrypt/Decrypt Tool
- Disk Space Usage Analysis
- Duplicate File Finder
- Empty Folder Finder
- File Splitter and Joiner

Highly recommended!



Please note, it's highly recommended that you create a System Restore point when
using system maintenance tools like Glary Utilities. This is a precaution to
ensure that you can always revert your PC to an earlier state in case something
goes wrong unexpectedly.

Note: During the installation process make sure to uncheck the Ask Search
toolbar.

Download Glary Utilities: www.glaryutilities.com/gu.html?tag=download

(Platform: Windows only)
5. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Spyware Removal)
[update: In the original list we recommended the Spyware 360 as a primary tool
for fighting spyware. But then we found out that Security 360 was actually using
the definition library of Malwarebytes.]

Malwarebytes currently ranks among top 10 most downloaded software on
Download.com. It's a very simple tool that does an important job, that is
protecting your computer from spyware, hijackers, keyloggers and other kind of
malicious craplets.



What makes Malwarebytes standout from the pack is its huge library of threats to
protect against. That's exactly what it makes so effective when it comes to
detecting spyware that other spyware scanners miss. This same library made the
earlier recommended Security 360 a powerful tool.

Malwarebytes may not be as feature-laden as say Spybot Search and Destroy
(another good spyware removal tool), which has a ridiculous number of tools, but
it is a very lightweight alternative with good spyware coverage.

There are both free and premium versions. The only difference between two is
real time protection. With real-time protection Mawarebytes will alert you about
the spyware before even it's able to install itself on your system.



Download MalwareBytes (Free): www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
Download MalwareBytes (Premium): https://store.malwarebytes.org

(Platform: Windows only)

6. IZArc (Universal Archiver / Extractor)
One archive utility to rule them all. This archiver suppots both popular (ZIP,
RAR, ACE, 7-ZIP, TAR etc.) and less popular (IMG, ACE, TZ, GZ, TAZ etc.) archive
formats.



Basically this unpacker/archiver gives you everything you get with other popular
archivers (ex. Winzip, Winrar etc.) but with additional features and support for
a huge number of archive formats. It can decompress archived folders in over 40
formats.

7-ZIP, A, ACE, ARC, ARJ, B64, BH, BIN, BZ2, BZA, C2D, CDI, CAB, CPIO, DEB, ENC,
GCA, GZ, GZA, HA, IMG, ISO, JAR, LHA, LIB, LZH, MBF, MDF, MIM, NRG, PAK, PDI,
PK3, RAR, RPM, TAR, TAZ, TBZ, TGZ, TZ, UUE, WAR, XXE, YZ1, Z, ZIP, ZOO.

That is to say, it supports pretty much every format you're likely to come
across.

There is something else, you can also use the IZArc utility to open CD image
files like ISO, BIN, CDI and NRG. Do you know of any other free archiver that
can do that?

Note: When installing IZArc make sure to uncheck the "recommended" option to
install PalTalk.

Download IZArc: http://www.izarc.org/download.html

(Platform: Windows only)

7. Google Picasa Software (Photo Management)
Picasa automatically finds all the photos on your PC, wherever they are, and
organizes them in seconds. It's an excellent photo manager, editor and viewer
for your computer.

With Picasa not only you can nicely organize your photos but also fix common
problems (i.e. red eyes), add cool effects and even browse photos by people in
them. Yes, it includes face recognition!



Plus one really cool thing about it is that regardless of changes you make to
your photos on Picasa the original version of each photo always preserved.

Features include: - create video slideshows and photo collages from your photos.
- organize photos based on the people in them.
- browse photos by folders, albums, people.
- geotag your photos on Google Maps.
- one-click fixes for common problems like red-eye, color, and lighting.
- 12 cool effects to make your best photos look even better.

You can find out more about Picasa by watching this Youtube video. The Google
team compiled a getting started guide for Picasa. Highly recommended for new
users.

Download Picasa Software: http://picasa.google.com/

(Platform: Windows / Mac / Linux)

8. doPDF (PDF Printer)
Almost everyone once in a while needs to convert documents to PDF. The doPDF is
the easiest tool that does exactly that. It installs a virtual printer on your
computer that you can select using the print option from any program on Windows.



Whenever you need to convert a web page, Word document, Excel spreadsheet, photo
or pretty much anything else to a PDF file just go to the print option in your
program and select doPDF from the 'Printer' drop-down menu.

You can set the resolution to anything from 72 dpi to 2400 dpi, and the
"printed" files are text searchable.

Download doPDF: www.dopdf.com

(Platform: Windows only)

9. Memento (Post-It Notes)
Chances are you have never heard about this program before. Memento is a simple
bare-bones post-it notes program for your desktop. It's better than anything
else out there because it's extremely simple and yet a very effective tool.



Whether you want a program to keep track of your tasks or quick note taking,
Memento can help. It's very intuitive to use and consumes very few system
resources. Highly recommended!

It's an excellent program - and I've compared many other free ones! I have been
using this for the last 5 years and recommend it to everyone. The very first
MakeUseOf article was about this app :-).

It's also easily transferable from one PC to another, it saves all your notes in
Memento.notes file that is stored in the My Documents folder.

Features:

- double click memento icon on the taskbar to create a note
- show/hide notes on the desktop
- keep notes expanded or closed
- notes always remain on top of other windows
- position notes anywhere you like
- instant autosave
- notes are resizable
- randomly makes each note a new color
- make notes transparent
Download Memento: http://www.guyswithtowels.com/downloads.html

(Platform: Windows only)

10. xVideoServiceThief (YouTube Video Downloader)
Almost everyone is on Youtube these days. And the fact that Youtube has more
searches than Yahoo is good indication of this. The only issue with Youtube is
that there is no option to download videos so that you can watch them on your
computer, PSP, iPhone, mobile phone, iPod etc.

Fortunately there are lots of free software for that, and my favorite is
xVideoServiceThief. Apart from downloading videos, it can automatically convert
the downloaded video file to another format.



xVideoServiceThief can convert videos to several formats, including AVI, MOV,
MPEG, DIVX, MP4 and several others.



Moreover, xVideoServiceThief works with other sites as well, not only Youtube.
It can also download videos from Yahoo Video, Google Videos, Metacafe,
Dailymotion, CollegeHumor etc.

Download: http://xviservicethief.sourceforge.net/index.php?action=downloads

(Platform: Windows / Mac / Linux)

11. Mozy (Backup)
Backups are very important! Here on MakeUseOf we have published dozens of
articles explaining why you should always keep a fresh backup of important data.
And Mozy is the perfect program for that. It's an online backup and recovery
service that allows you to select files and folders on your computer and safely
back them up online.



It's fully automated, just set it once and it will do the backups without
bothering you again. What's even better, whenever you make changes to individual
documents or files within selected folders, your changes will be replicated on
your backup copy as well. So your backup always stays up-to-date.



In the case of file corruption, accidental deletion or hardware failure, you may
easily restore your backed up files from the web to the original computer or any
another computer, be it a Windows or Mac.

Mozy offers both free and premium accounts (only $4.95/month). The only
difference between those two is that free account comes only with 2GBs of
storage space. It should be more than enough for backing up important files and
documents. On the other hand, if you want to backup your music library, photos,
videos or maybe an entire drive then we recommend signing up for a premium
account.

(Discount: When signing up for premium account use 'MAKEUSEOF' (all caps) promo
code to get 10% off.)

Download Mozy (Free): https://mozy.com/registration/free/
Download Mozy (Unlimited): https://mozy.com/registration/unlimited/

(Platform: Windows / Mac)

12. Digsby (Multi-protocol Instant Messenger)
If you chat on a regular basis and are active on social networks then this is a
must-have program for you. There is so much this app does that it's hard to
explain it all in a few lines. Firstly, it's a universal instant messenger that
allows you to chat with your friends on MSN, Yahoo, AIM, Google Talk, Facebook,
Myspace, ICQ and Jabber, all from a single messenger.



Secondly, it allows you to read and reply to your emails. That's right folks,
whether you have a Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail account you can receive and reply to
emails all from Digsby's slick interface. Currently Disgby works with Gmail,
Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, AOL/AIM Mail, POP Email, IMAP Mail accounts.



And that's not all, you may also monitor alerts and set status message
notifications for Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and LinkedIN accounts. Pretty cool,
huh!

Other less important but still noteworthy features include:

- chat history (with search option)
- file transfer history to keep a log of sent/received files
- a widget for site owners to chat with visitors

(Note: Pay close attention when installing Digsby on your computer and make sure
to deselect (selected on default) the additional components you don't need.
Plus, once the app is installed go to the preferences window and disable Digsby
research.)

Download Digsby: www.digsby.com

(Platform: Windows / Mac / Linux)

13. VLC Media Player (Video Player)
With over 67 million downloads so far and roughly 7 downloads per second it's
one of the most popular video players around.

VLC is a highly portable multimedia player supporting most audio and video
formats and can play pretty much any video files you throw at it, including
physical media like DVDs. Plus it doesn't need any external codec, program or
codec pack to work.



The VLC can be used both by beginners as well as expert users for working with
video files.

The player can also play Youtube videos, convert video files, play subtitles,
etc.

Download VLC: www.videolan.org/vlc/

14. Foobar2000 (Music Player)
The foobar2000 is an advanced audio player for Windows and supports pretty much
all popular audio formats. This is an audio player of choice for many
audiophiles (the reader polls on MakeUseOf and Lifehacker confirm that). But
what's in it for you? Well, leaving aside its rich feature set, there are two
things that make it stand out from the crowd.



First, when it comes to the appearance of the player, it's HIGHLY customizable.
There is NO OTHER audio player out there that can be customized as much. The
Foobar2000 lets you change everything starting from buttons, layout, background
colors, menus to visualization details.

But the best thing about this gem, it needs very little of your system resources
when compared to Windows Media Player, iTunes or Winamp.

The Foobar2000 has also plug-ins for iPod support and things like lyrics and
album art. There is also a portable version if you prefer to carry it on your
thumbdrive.

Download Foobar2000: www.foobar2000.org/download

(Platform: Windows only)

15. ImgBurn (CD / DVD Image Burner)
There are many reasons we need a simple, fast way to burn disks. ImgBurn is a
CD/DVD/HD-DVD/Blu-ray burning application that is fast, lightweight, and
completely free.



With ImgBurn you can:

- backup your data or media files to DVD.
- backup your DVD movies to your PC.
- create Audio CDs from any music files such as MP3, WAV.
- create a duplicate copy of any DVD or music CD
- create video discs (DVD / HD DVD / Blu-ray) playable in your DVD player

ImgBurn supports a variety of image formats and almost all types of discs, so
you don't need to look any further for your disc burning needs. There is also a
portable version that you can carry with you on your USB drive. For additional
details see the MakeUseOf ImgBurn review here.

(Platform: Windows / Linux)

Download ImgBurn: www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

BONUS (+ 5 programs)
16. Revo - Free powerful uninstaller for Windows. It can uninstall programs that
you are not able to remove using Windows' default program manager.

17. OpenOffice - Free alternative to Microsoft Office. Though requires some
adjustments to program settings before it can fully replace the Microsoft
Office.

18. Foxit - This one is basically a lightweight replacement to Adobe PDF reader.
With Foxit you may launch PDF documents as fast as notepad files.

19. Spyware Terminator - A compliment to the above mentioned Malwarebytes. It's
not as comprehensive but comes with real-time malware detection and fast daily
scans.

20. Portable Apps - A huge collection of free programs that you can carry on
your USB thumbdrive. The suite includes several of the above apps, plus many
more. Carry your favorite computer programs along with all of your bookmarks,
settings, email and more with you where ever you go. Use them on any Windows
computer without leaving any personal data behind.

So there you go, the top 15 that you should have on your system and use on a
frequent basis. Since everyone is different with different needs, you will
probably disagree with us on some of these choices. If so, head on down to the
comments section below and let us know which apps you would put in their place
and why.

If you like this article, please spread it around and share it with your
friends. It took us us a while to get it done and test all the apps thoroughly.

[Update: This list is continuously updated]


MakeUseOf Limited
3/2 St. Vincent Terrace, G3 8UU
UK


       To unsubscribe or change subscriber options visit:
       http://www.aweber.com/z/r/?7CzszKxstCycbIysbJwstGa0LOzsHKzsjA==




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

CDC has received reports of fraudulent emails (phishing) referencing a CDC
sponsored State Vaccination Program.

The messages request that users must create a personal H1N1 (swine flu)
Vaccination Profile on the cdc.gov website. The message then states that anyone
that has reached the age of 18 has to have his/her personal Vaccination Profile
on the cdc.gov site.

The CDC has NOT implemented a state vaccination program requiring registration
on www.cdc.gov.

Users that click on the email are at risk of having malicious code installed on
their system.

CDC reminds users to take the following steps to reduce the risk of being a
victim of a phishing attack:

Do not follow unsolicited links and do not open or respond to unsolicited email
messages.
Use caution when visiting un-trusted websites.
Use caution when entering personal information online.

An example of the Phishing email follows:
http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=436&z=29

"gotta question in the WinRAR diagnostic messages states the required volume is
absent, CRC failed in the download and the file is corrupt.
  how do i download the file ? thanks in advance !
"

Jerry Responds:

Binary files online through a newsgroup and many other files are in WinRar
format (think Winzip where files are compressed, and it's the standard on the
Net).

When "unraring" sometimes you will receive the CRC failure error or file corrupt
error.

At times, you can just delete the file in question, redownload it and rerar (run
any of the .RAR files of that grouping) to get it to complete to the end of the
process.

Sometimes, it's the ONLY FILE available and is damaged beyond error while
transferring files.

There are programs available that can "repair" a damaged RAR file. Some are on
the net as shareware while others are less than $30. (for example, Recovery
Toolbox- www.recoverytoolbox.com/winrar_corrupt.html

An others (google " winrar file is corrupt " to find programs available to
repair them.

Hopefully, it's better understood now.

Thanks and Merry Christmas . .. all.

Jerry Montalbano
President/Editor
Chalmette Computer Users' Group
www.ccugpc.org

Gary, I am preparing at this moment (after backups) to upgrade my own Windows
vista 64bit Ultimate to the 64 bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate.

There are times when one needs to use the same type (32 bit for 32 bit, etc.).
And at times do a Clean Install rather than an upgrade to avoide problems.

Regarding the font size. In the lower right hand corner of the
notification/status area/bar, there is a Plus sign and a percentage number
(100%..etc.). Have you tried changing it to a smaller or larger percentage (to
150% max) to achieve size satisfaction? It's quite useful for times when you
have your video card's resolution size either too small or too large.

You can experiment with the card's resolution by looking for an icon for your
video card controls in the lower right, or on the desktop using a right click,
personalize, and changing the screen's resolution..

Good luck.

Jerry Montalbano, President CCUG-PC

--- In ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com, "Gary" <grain11@...> wrote:
>
>     I was Vista Ultimate  (32) -- & I spoke with a friend @ Church this Sunday
morning & also says Home Premium is great except the font size. If you find
anything about the font size PLEASE let me know.  I only lost 2 programs which I
rarely used changing to “64”-------------again PLEASE let me know if you
find a solution to the “font” size. From questions I was told that what I
used computer for that I did not want to upgrade to the “Ultimate” version.
Was talked from using the tower to the “Quad”. So I have a tower computer
with Vista (32) & a so called “quad”(has I believe “thermometer CPU & HDD
Celsius degree showing-- & 2 “plug ins I know nothing about largest one has CF
MD on right side & second one has SM   SD MMC  then MS above the “floppy” 
on front) & with Home Premium---being used to the Vista & computers side to side
you really see the difference!! But have questions on “plug ins”  know what
the 2 USB connections are beside it looks like where usb cable connects to
printer
>
>    I am going to attempt to figure out & ask questionsâ€"and get a
“dummies” book-but the front “receptacles” I have no Idea because
builder left on a 3 week cruise.
>
>  Will get used to 7 I hope-- & hopefully someone finds how to enlarge
fontâ€"mine is on 125--& will figure out all the front “receptacles”.
>
>
>
>    Windows 7  (64) is way different from Vista (32) I have next to it &
hopefully get used to it someday. The windows 7.
>
>
>
>                        Thanks
>
>                        Gary
>
>
>
> From: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of clap4mee@...
> Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 9:23 AM
> To: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [ CCUG PC Online] Windows 7
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I just switched from XP 64 Pro to Win7 64 Home Premium. I love it. It boots
faster, was easier to install, ( I did a clean install from the upgrade disc and
migrated my files back all with the windows transfer manager on the win7 disc)
and looks much better on the monitor. I am very impressed with this O.S. It
seems that Microsoft finally got it right.
> I am not thrilled with the font size at med (125%) or large (way to large). I
am still experimenting with different things to try to fix it. Good luck and
hope you like it.
> Clap
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gary <grain11@... <mailto:grain11%40embarqmail.com> >
> To: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com <mailto:ccugpconline%40yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Sat, Nov 21, 2009 9:14 pm
> Subject: [ CCUG PC Online] Windows 7
>
> Just curious.
> Has anyone purchased Windows 7 & a bit upset with it or does it take time to
get use to it. Had/still have Vista Ultimate and got Windows 7 Home Preminum.
>
> Is it me or it takes a bit to get used to Windows 7---text size (on 125%) and
a few other things.
> Also have never used 64 before. Have a so called "quad" I believe he said.
>
> Any suggestions--assistance??
>
> Gary
>
> =
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

What might or will happen once you move/change the "resolution" from the
"recommended" size? Recommended setting is 1280x1024?



          Just attempting to get better view. Have computer (Windows 7 Home
Premium) in a way I was just getting used to Vista Ultimate 32 bit. Maybe
should have stayed there. Should I have gotten Ultimate. Tom (computer
builder) suggested Home Premium 64 bit for what I do-said Ultimate didn't
really do anything for my usage. Got Microsoft Works 2007 also. Have a 20"
LCD monitor.



                                                          Gary



From: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of jerrytt
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 5:07 PM
To: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [ CCUG PC Online] Windows 7





Gary, I am preparing at this moment (after backups) to upgrade my own
Windows vista 64bit Ultimate to the 64 bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate.

There are times when one needs to use the same type (32 bit for 32 bit,
etc.). And at times do a Clean Install rather than an upgrade to avoide
problems.

Regarding the font size. In the lower right hand corner of the
notification/status area/bar, there is a Plus sign and a percentage number
(100%..etc.). Have you tried changing it to a smaller or larger percentage
(to 150% max) to achieve size satisfaction? It's quite useful for times when
you have your video card's resolution size either too small or too large.

You can experiment with the card's resolution by looking for an icon for
your video card controls in the lower right, or on the desktop using a right
click, personalize, and changing the screen's resolution..

Good luck.

Jerry Montalbano, President CCUG-PC






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Gary, concerning the resolution change. When you change your resolution size
higher, you'll notice the font size diminish. That's the nature of increasing
the pixel size, as they get closer together to make finer the quality of the
screen's resolution.

As you zoom in, you also find the pixels (or dot sizes) get grainer (like using
a magnifying glass can get a better idea of what a zit looks like <G>

I sue the 1280 x 1024, but again, it depends upon the graphics card installed
internally on the motherboard as to fineness or quality of graphics (and
experimenting with the size will see the picture diminishing as the pixels
(dots) get to larger size 1280 pixes across and 1024 downward.

If you upgrade in Windows 7 from Vista Home premium, a simple upgrade disc
should work fine. However if you go from Windows Ultimate Vista 64 bit to
Windows 7 Home Premium you can downgrade to it by doing a clean install. That is
changing a 64 bit to a 32 bit op system.

As "upgrading" or putting one system atop the other, use a 32 bit to a 32 bit
and a 64 bit to a 64 bit (in exception, using a "clean install from scrach to do
the 64 bit to a 32 bit one with the disc.

for upgrade recommendations see the Microsoft website on this:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-considerations.aspx.

Upgrading 64 bit to 32 bit:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/compare/32-bit-64-bit-faq.aspx

Good luck, Gary.

Jerry Montalbano, President CCUG-PC

--- In ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com, "Gary" <grain11@...> wrote:
>
>    What might or will happen once you move/change the "resolution" from the
> "recommended" size? Recommended setting is 1280x1024?
>
>
>
>          Just attempting to get better view. Have computer (Windows 7 Home
> Premium) in a way I was just getting used to Vista Ultimate 32 bit. Maybe
> should have stayed there. Should I have gotten Ultimate. Tom (computer
> builder) suggested Home Premium 64 bit for what I do-said Ultimate didn't
> really do anything for my usage. Got Microsoft Works 2007 also. Have a 20"
> LCD monitor.
>
>
>
>                                                          Gary
>
>
>
> From: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of jerrytt
> Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 5:07 PM
> To: ccugpconline@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [ CCUG PC Online] Windows 7
>
>
>
>
>
> Gary, I am preparing at this moment (after backups) to upgrade my own
> Windows vista 64bit Ultimate to the 64 bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate.
>
> There are times when one needs to use the same type (32 bit for 32 bit,
> etc.). And at times do a Clean Install rather than an upgrade to avoide
> problems.
>
> Regarding the font size. In the lower right hand corner of the
> notification/status area/bar, there is a Plus sign and a percentage number
> (100%..etc.). Have you tried changing it to a smaller or larger percentage
> (to 150% max) to achieve size satisfaction? It's quite useful for times when
> you have your video card's resolution size either too small or too large.
>
> You can experiment with the card's resolution by looking for an icon for
> your video card controls in the lower right, or on the desktop using a right
> click, personalize, and changing the screen's resolution..
>
> Good luck.
>
> Jerry Montalbano, President CCUG-PC
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

National Cyber Alert System

               Technical Cyber Security Alert TA09-342A


Microsoft Updates for Multiple Vulnerabilities

    Original release date:
    Last revised: --
    Source: US-CERT


Systems Affected

      * Microsoft Windows and Windows Server
      * Microsoft Internet Explorer
      * Microsoft Office Word, Works, and Project


Overview

    Microsoft has released updates to address vulnerabilities in
    Microsoft Windows, Windows Server, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft
    Office.


I. Description

    Microsoft has released multiple security bulletins for critical
    vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, Windows Server, Internet
    Explorer, and Microsoft Office. These bulletins are described in
    the Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for December 2009.


II. Impact

    A remote, unauthenticated attacker could execute arbitrary code,
    gain elevated privileges, or cause a vulnerable application to
    crash.


III. Solution

    Apply updates from Microsoft

    Microsoft has provided updates for these vulnerabilities in the
    Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for December 2009. The security
    bulletin describes any known issues related to the updates.
    Administrators are encouraged to note these issues and test for any
    potentially adverse effects. Administrators should consider using
    an automated update distribution system such as Windows Server
    Update Services (WSUS).


IV. References

  * Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for December 2009 -
    <http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/MS09-dec.mspx>

  * Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) -
    <http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/updateservices/default.mspx>

  ____________________________________________________________________

    The most recent version of this document can be found at:

      <http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-342A.html>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

To upload a YouTube Video on Facebook, is not difficult to do, once you know the
steps to do it.

There might be a time, when you'll find a video over at YouTube that you might
want to share with your friends on Facebook. However, when you click on the
"video" icon under status, it only allows you to insert a video from your
computer.

So, how is it that people are able to insert youtube videos directly on their
facebook pages? Here's how...

Step 1
Go to your Facebook account. At the bottom of the left hand corner, you'll see
the word "Applications". Click on that and then click on "browse more
applications".

Step 2
   Go to the upper left corner and there will be a box there. In that box, type
in the word YOUTUBE and hit the ENTER key on your keyboard.

Step 3
   Click on the "YouTube Video Box" application.

Step 4
   Click on "Go to Application". When it opens the next page, do absolutely
nothing. Do not click on any other item, because at this point, the application
is already on your Facebook page.

Step 5
   Go back to your home page, and click on APPLICATIONS again at the lower left
hand corner. You will now see the new application listed under your most
recently used applications at the upper portion of the menu. At this point,
click on YouTube Video Box.

Step 6
   On this next screen, if you happen to see an ad that mentions something about
connecting with singles on facebook, please ignore that. It has nothing to do
with your youtube application. On the upper right side, you'll see a box where
you can search for youtube videos. Type in a subject or title of a video that
you're interested in, and hit your ENTER key on your keyboard.

Step 7
   You will now see a list of videos that will relate to the words that you typed
in your search box. I typed in the word "cruise".

Step 8
   Click on the video that you're interested in. This will allow you to watch the
video, and if you decide that this is a video that you would like to share with
your friends on Facebook, then click where it indicates "add this video to your
favorites / profile".

Step 9On the next screen, you will have the option to save your video to your
profile, and publish it to your profile as well, so your friends can see that
you just inserted a video in your youtube video application.

Step 10If you want to view your videos that you saved at a later time, you can
go back to APPLICATIONS, and bring up the YouTube application, and view your
videos. This software also allows you to save your friend's videos that they
have published as well.

Facebook users are being targeted by a nasty new version of the Koobface worm --
dubbed Koobface.GK -- that compels its victims to manually participate in
creating a new Facebook account to help spread the worm.


The attackers are posting malicious links on Facebook wall pages enticing folks
to click on a cutesy Christmas video. Attempts to play the video turns over
control of the PC to the attacker, says PandaLabs researcher Sean-Paul Correll.
The victim next sees a Windows warning message requiring them to solve a CAPTCHA
puzzle within three minutes.


If you see this screen, you must solve the puzzle to regain control of your PC.
CAPTIONBy PandaLabsA timer ticks down. If the puzzle goes unsolved after three
minutes, the PC freezes up. Rebooting won't help. The CAPTCHA puzzle will
reappear. The only way to end the loop is to solve the CAPTCHA. The victim can
then use his or her machine as normal. But the attacker still has control.


  While this ruse is unfolding, the worm separately uses the victim's machine to
fill out a new account application. This goes on unseen by the victim. Solving
the CAPTCHA is the final step in creating a new Facebook account. The new
account is then used to post more tainted Christmas links. And the cycle
repeats.

  These bad guys have thus pioneered a cheaper, faster way to create shell
Facebook accounts for nefarious purposes. This is a much more robust method than
recruiting CAPTCHA-resolvers and paying them a few pennies to resolve new
account application CAPTCHAs in real time, as we wrote about in this story.  The
bad guys have made it difficult for Facebook to cut them off,  since active
members are actually creating the new accounts, says Correll.

  "It's a completely decentralized way to propagate the worm by way of using the
victims' machines, making the victim solve the CAPTCHA," say Correll.

  By Byron Acohido

rather amusing
yahoo and msn being the largest
havent found google yet
            roger

http://www.xkcd.com/256/





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Not A Joke!!   Even If you dislike attorneys..You will love them for these
  tips.

  Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it
  someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice! A corporate attorney
  sent the following out to the employees in his company:

  1. Do not sign  the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID
  REQUIRED.'

  2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts,  DO  NOT
  put the complete  account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the
  last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and
  anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check
  processing channels won't have access to it.

  3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you
  have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO
  Box, use your work address. Never  have your  SS# printed on your checks.
  (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone
  can get it.

  4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides
  of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet
  and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.. Keep
  the photocopy in a safe place.
  I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad.
  We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in
  stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards..

  Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet
  was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive
  monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit
  line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to
  change my driving record information online, and more.
  But here's some critical information to limit the damage  in case this
  happens to you or someone you know:

  5. We have been told we should  cancel our  credit cards immediately. But
  the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you
  know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

  6..  File a  police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit
  cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent,
  and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

  But here's what is perhaps  most important of all: (I never even thought to
  do this.)
  7. Call  the  3 national credit reporting organizations  immediately to
  place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud
  line number.. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that
  called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my
  name.

  The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information
  was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit..

  By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all
  the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks
  initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before
  placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the
  thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems
  to have stopped them dead in their tracks..

  Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if
  it has been stolen:

  1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

  2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742

  3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289

  4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
  1-800-269-0271

  We pass along jokes on the Internet; we pass along just about everything.

  If you are willing to pass this information along, it could really help
  someone that you care about.