April 17 2009 COOLSITES Newsletter #213 Mark Donaldson

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I have published the April 17 2009 COOLSITES Newsletter #213 Mark Donaldson.

The following is an excerpt from this weeks newsletter. To see the full newsletter with all of the COOLSITES links please click and bookmark this link: http://luem42.googlepages.com/coolsites.html and check it each week. Thank you. Mark.


April 17 2009 COOLSITES Newsletter #213 Mark Donaldson

Notice: Earth Day 1 Million CFL Light Bulb Giveaway at Home Depot April 19: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?pn=PM_L...ting_Fa

Just another good reason to subscribe



Subscribers who don't receive the newsletter, due to stupid filters, may use a private link to download the newsletter in the text ( .txt ), html ( .html ) and the MS Word Doc ( .doc ) format in a zip file. I will upload the zip files to my archive site right after I send out the newsletter on Friday morning. If a subscriber doesn't receive the newsletter, by 9am ET, they can quickly download it, unzip it and peruse it offline. You can also read it online from there.

If you are a subscriber and don't know the private link you can email me for it. These zip files are less than 40K which is smaller than the 100K or more for the newsletter.

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Semper Gratis (forever free) of cost

COOLSITES is a list of safe, fun, useful, informative and just plain cool websites and programs that are FREE, FREE and FREE. All of the programs and websites I list are free. If I list anything that is so good but isn't free I will list the price with it.

My website is Dialup Friendly. All pages except "Just The Links" and "Specialized Search Engines" load up in under 15 seconds.

Wherever you go if you see the user name LUEM42 that's me


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Pirillo's Picks for February 13 2007

"And if you think that's a lot of links, you should see how many http://luem42.com/ collects every day. It's enough to make you wanna never leave the house again as long as you live" Yours Digitally, Chris Pirillo http://chris.pirillo.com/

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Clif Notes Newsletter, Feb 2007 http://freewarewiki.com/ClifNotes

"The COOLSITES Newsletter - find the coolest links here. This fella named Mark Donaldson has been sending out his lists of cool sites since 2003. I'd never heard of him before last week. One day I was Googling myself to see who was posting links to my newsletter, and I found his website. I guess he's mentioned my newsletter at least 3 times. I like the COOLSITES website too, but I think it could use some reformatting to make it a bit easier to read. What I really like is the content there. Mark must really read a lot of stuff on the web and he takes the best links then tells you about them." http://freewarewiki.com/CoolSitesNewsletter


Welcome to Clif Notes Newsletter
April 12, 2009

REVIEWS
Do you have the Conficker Virus?
Malware Bytes Anti-Malware - good anti-spyware and trojan scanner
Gom Encoder - convert any video you can play
Never give up, GET BACK UP!
A little Skepticism is healthy
What did a gallon of gas cost in 1960?
Living with Pigs
Do you dream of Electric Sheep?
Old Newsletter

TIPS AND FEEDBACK
What free software do you need?
Comments from the last newsletter
Internet Fixes Weekend Windup
CoolSites Newsletter this week

NEW NEWS
SnapFiles.com - new and updated freeware
News from Sarah in Tampa
Security news from Malware Advisor
A view from CyberNirvana

Last newsletter http://freewarewiki.com/ClifNotesNewsletter090412

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Security News and Links

I get these links and news from good sources however I do not test the programs myself because I just don't have the time. The definitive source of rogue info is Spyware Warrior- Rogue-Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites: http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm


"National Cyber Alert System Cyber Security Alert SA09-104A Microsoft Updates for Multiple Vulnerabilities Original release date: April 14, 2009 Source: US-CERT Systems Affected * Microsoft Windows * Microsoft Office Overview: Microsoft has released updates that address vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows and Office. Solution: Solution Install updates The updates to address these vulnerabilities are available on the Microsoft Update site (requires Internet Explorer). We recommend enabling Automatic Updates. Description: In the Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for April 2009, Microsoft released updates to address vulnerabilities that affect Microsoft Windows and Office. More technical information is available in US-CERT Technical Cyber Security Alert TA09-104A. References * Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for April 2009 http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms09-apr.mspx "


"Websense Security Labs(TM) ThreatSeeker(TM) Network has detected a new Waledac variant in the wild being distributed via email since yesterday.
The new campaign uses a theme whereby the user is enticed to download an application that will permit them to view other people's SMS messages online. The download file uses alternating filenames, including sms.exe, freetrial.exe, and smstrap.exe. ThreatSeeker has identified thousands of spam emails using this theme.

Not all major antivirus vendors are currently detecting this threat according to this VirusTotal report.

Websense Messaging and Websense Web Security customers are protected against this attack.

To view the details of this alert http://securitylabs.websense.com/content/Alerts/3343.aspx "





"Websense Security LabsT ThreatSeekerT Network has discovered a new Russian language spam campaign spreading widely by email, that lures users into downloading a fake SMS reader application.

We have received hundreds of these malicious emails through our HoneyPot system. The email messages are written in Russian and claim to introduce the latest version of their SMS Reader V4.0, which can download SMS messages to any mobile phone anonymously and automatically. At the end of the email they provide the link to download a free trial version which, when clicked, downloads a trojan file with MD5 104032f2a5789a2468fb47005ae256ee. See AV detection report here. Each spam email contains a different URL link to a seemingly randomly-named executable hosted on Russian hosting servers.

Websense® Messaging and Websense Web Security customers are protected against this attack.


To view the details of this alert http://securitylabs.websense.com/content/Alerts/3344.aspx "



Conficker also installs fake antivirus software: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=183897765-be56918137808c8d29d6177...a633af-

Conficker worm bites University of Utah: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=183897763-be56918137808c8d29d6177...a633af-

Easily Manage Security Settings In Vista: http://www.lockergnome.com/windows/2009/04/16/easily-manage-security-s...ings-in

Microsoft fills Excel, Windows, Word holes: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=184566174-be56918137808c8d29d6177...a633af-

Microsoft warns of monster patch day next week: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=printArticleBas...amp;tax

New. SecureEmail. automatically secures your email messages so your confidential data cannot be stolen or modified on its way through the Internet: http://secure-email.comodo.com/

Poor Economy, New Tricks Drive Up Job Scams By 500%. Scambusters.org: http://www.scambusters.org/jobscams.html

The Software Patch - Download site for patches, upgrades, service packs and hardware drivers: http://www.softwarepatch.com/

Update. Sandboxie 3.36 Sandbox software for application isolation and secure Web browsing: http://www.sandboxie.com/

Update. SpywareBlaster 4.2 prevent the installation of spyware and other potentially unwanted software: http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Worm infiltrates Twitter: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=183897764-be56918137808c8d29d6177...a633af-



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Consumer News and Links



20 Unnecessary Fees You Should Stop Paying: http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20090406/BIZ/904060302/

50 Side Businesses You Can Start On Your Own: http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/04/11/50-side-businesses-you-can-s...t-on-yo

7 Insurance Mistakes You're Probably Making: http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/your-money/2009/03/31/7-killer...surance

7 Tips to Tame Your Medical Expenses: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123870907199584167.html

Consumer Reports. 13 Ways to Save at the Supermarket: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/may-2009/food/supe...rkets/1

CU Warns about Limited Benefits Health Insurance: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/145291.php

Dos and Don'ts for Weathering the Financial Storm: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123904027223393755.html

Free cup of coffee at Starbucks. Social Responsibility - Earth Day: http://www.starbucks.ca/en-ca/_Social+Responsibility/Earth+Day.htm

Free Reynolds Wrap Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum- Promotions: http://reynoldsrecycled.com/rebate.aspx

FTC-States Crack Down on Mortgage Mod Scams: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/04/hud.shtm

Getting Better Travel Deals Online: http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/travel/12pracopaque.html?partner=...&em

How to Get Free or Discounted Prescription Drugs: http://www.theledger.com/article/20090409/news/904095069&tc=yahoo

Rental Car Companies Get Creative with Junk Fees: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30033404/

Save time, money with cellular secrets - USATODAY.com: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/2009-04-09-cell-secrets_N.htm

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Windows Secrets Newsletter
Free content posted on April 16, 2009:


TOP STORY
By Ryan Russell
Windows Genuine Advantage is still genuinely bad
How companies patch Windows and avoid WGA
DRM exists at the expense of paying customers

KNOWN ISSUES
By Dennis O'Reilly
Call to learn whether your Dell or HP is covered
Tech support likes Malwarebytes' antispyware

WACKY WEB WEEK
By Katy Abby
Feeling twitterpated? You're not the only one!
http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/090416

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Make My Start Page Your Home Page I have updated it on 10-3-8

Try my start page and make it your home page by clicking "Click here to make my start page your default homepage".

It has the following convenient logins and links such as: Google Mail Login, Yahoo Mail Login, Windows Live MSN HotMail Login, Froogle Price Search, Google Maps, MySpace Login, Lockergnome Cool Web Links, Weather Radar, BugMeNot, E! Online, Zap2it TV Guide, Snopes, Scambusters, YouTube, FaceBook, and links to my webpages. You can also google the web or my website. It also has a link for your suggestions so you can help me make it better.

The best thing about it is it's simple, small and loads up on dialup in less than one second. Check it out today at: http://luem42.googlepages.com/start.html


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COOLSITES 117 cool links

I harvest what I believe to be the best links from the best sources that are safe, fun, informative, useful and just plain cool. I categorize them and edit their descriptions for clarity. I may make comments about the links but you will know because I always sign them with "Mark".

To see the full newsletter with all of the COOLSITES links please click and bookmark this link: http://luem42.googlepages.com/coolsites.html and check it each week. Thank you. Mark.