August 17 2007 COOLSITES newsletter # 126 by Mark Donaldson

luem42 · Joined: Aug 02, 2003 Posts: 260

This is what the COOLSITES Toolbar looks like. Click here for more info: http://luem42.com/toolbar.html Click here to get it: http://luem42.OurToolbar.com

I have published the August 17 2007 COOLSITES newsletter # 126 by 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.

August 17 2007 COOLSITES Newsletter # 126 by Mark Donaldson

Semper Gratis (forever free)

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

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.

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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
Aug 5th, 2007

Thanks for reading. This week, I don't have enough stuff ready to put out a newsletter. Sorry, it's been a busy week.

Go to http://freewarewiki.com/ClifNotesNewsletter070729 to see the last newsletter at the Freeware Wiki.

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Security News

"WebsenseÂ® Security Labs(TM) has received several reports of new Storm Trojan tactics being used within emails. The new emails are using the Subject: "Greeting Card Victim" and contain the following: Email Body: Class-mate(enter name) has created Greeting card for you victim at christianet.com. To see your custom Greeting card, simply click on the following link: http:// <stripped> Send a FREE greeting card from christianet.com whenever you want by visiting us at: This service is provided and hosted by christianet.com. End of Email Body Just like previous attacks, the URLs point to a compromised machine that is hosting the BOT and an HTTP proxy. The same exploit code attempts to run the file without user intervention; however, the file name has changed to msdataaccess.exe. Websense Security customers are protected from connecting to the sites hosting the Trojan Horse / Bot. For additional details and information on how to detect and prevent this type of attack: http://www.websensesecuritylabs.com/alerts/alert.php?AlertID=792 "

"National Cyber Alert System Technical Cyber Security Alert TA07-226A Microsoft Updates for Multiple Vulnerabilities Original release date: August 14, 2007 Source: US-CERT Systems Affected: * Microsoft Windows * Microsoft Internet Explorer * Microsoft Windows Media Player * Microsoft Office * Microsoft Office for Mac * Microsoft XML Core Services * Microsoft Visual Basic * Microsoft Virtual PC * Microsoft Virtual Server. Overview: Microsoft has released updates that address critical vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, Office, Office for Mac, XML Core Services, Visual Basic, Virtual PC, and Virtual Server. Exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service on a vulnerable system. http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/byid?searchview&query=ms07-aug "

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More Scams

REFERENCE NUMBER:UK/786543X4/28 BATCH NUMBER:034/099/YX46 TICKET NUMBER:005-4432-971-878 FINAL NOTIFICATION We are pleased to inform you today 12th August 2007 of the result of the winners of the UK NATIONAL LOTTERY ONLINE PROGRAMME, held on August. You have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of 2,696,385 (Two Million Six Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand, Three hundred and Eighty Five Britain pounds sterlings) in cash credited to file XYL/26510460037/06. To file for your claim, you are requied to provide the below informations to the claim agent Name: Marc Kenneth Email: fileclaim DeleteThis @hotmail.com Provide him with the information below 1.Full Name 2.Full Address 3.Marital Status 4.Occupation 5.Age 6.Sex 7.Nationality 8.Country Of Residence 9.Telephone Number 10:Date Of Notification Rose Wood Online Co-coordinator U.K NATIONAL LOTTERY

Euromillions e-Lottery Draws PO BOX 370 Douglas Isle of Man IM993HE United Kingdom Dear Euromillions Winner, Here is another first from Play Euromillions- your chance to win in the EuroMillions rollover draw. Most people will never get the opportunity to play and win in UK Mega Jackpot EuroMillions- especially when they live outside the United Kingdom. The prize which has been built up from 10 Jackpot rollover is the biggest in the E-LOTTERY Draws since its inception in 1997. You have been entitled to a lump sum percentage from the lottery prize pool of ?18,000,000.00 Euros. All lucky winners were selected through a powerball e- Lottery software from accredited websites listed online that were registered in this draws, as part of our International "E-LOTTERY" Promotions. The draws are held weekly on Fridays. Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our United Kingdom Prize Processing Center. Our payments in European Euros and Great British Pounds are issued in cheque by the Lottery treasury board to be processed for cash disbursement by our authorized bank. In view of this, your prize tier from this lottery pool of ?18,000,000.00 Euros is payable by our intermediary bank in the UK in accordance with financial regulations for winnings disbursement. For more information on your winning numbers, prize tier and requirements for processing your cheque payment, please contact our representative at Prize Processing Center (PPC) by email: Prize Processing Center Name: Mark Foster E-mail: mail_markfoster DeleteThis @yahoo.es His official responsibility is to provide assistance relevant to fast and efficient processing of your winnings entitlement. He will be looking forward to your response. Congratulations from the Winners Selection Committee of UK MEGAJACKPOT Euromillions FreeDraws! Best Regards, Mr. Len Fitzgerald Director, Winner Selection Committee Euromillions E-Lottery Syndicate

Again, I hope the bots fill their inbox with junk.

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Security Links

AOL Parental Controls - Keep your kids safer online with AOL Parental Controls. Get Web browsing, IM, e-mail, and time-limit controls: http://www.download.com/AOL-Parental-Controls/3000-12769_4-10721927.ht...tag=nl.

Finding missing kids a click away with screensaver. a 21st century take on milk carton advertising, a downloadable computer screensaver that flips through photographs of missing kids: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/09/screensaver.kids/index.html

Fraudwatchers Email Scam Checklist will help you to decide whether an email you have received is genuine or a scam: http://www.fraudwatchers.org/checker/

FraudWatchers.Org Monitoring Internet Fraud: http://www.fraudwatchers.org/

Grandparents Scam Exposed. Con Artists Pretend to be Grandchildren in Trouble: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/grandparents_scam.html

Microsoft Corp. issued fixes for nine security flaws, including four meant to keep hackers from breaking into computers through Web pages: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20070814/D8R1032O0.html

Microsoft gears up for nine patches next week. Critical XML Core Services bug sounds similar to a pair of exploited flaws from '06: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasi...mp;arti

Negative Option marketing. When No Means Yes: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/negative_option.html

New. Comodo Memory Guardian 1.0 Beta Comodo Memory Guardian Beta will protect your computer against 90%+ of Buffer Overflow attacks: http://www.freewarefiles.com/program_9_95_34944.html

New. EyeLine Professional Video Surveillance Software for Windows: http://www.nchsoftware.com/surveillance/index.html

New. Malware Scan 1.0.0.4 by Orbitech: http://www.freewebs.com/orbitech/malwarescan.html

New. RunScanner freeware malware spyware and junk analyzer: http://www.runscanner.net/

New. SafeSpace 1.1.96.0 Beta by Artificial Dynamics: http://www.artificialdynamics.com/

New. Security Process Explorer 1.5 Glary Utilities: http://www.glarysoft.com/spe.html?tag=download

Protecting Your Child's Identity: http://www.smartmoney.com/consumer/index.cfm?story=20070802

Scammers Pose as Grandchildren to Swindle Grandparents: http://www.scambusters.org/grandparents.html

Some Baby Bibs Said to Contain Levels of Lead. Certain vinyl baby bibs sold at Toys R Us stores appear to be contaminated with lead: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/15/business/15lead.html?_r=1&adxnnl...amp;ore

Update. Comodo AntiVirus 2.0.15.51 Beta Free AntiVirus Download for Virus Scan with Comodo AntiVirusâ„¢ Software: http://antivirus.comodo.com/

Update. Security System Analyzer 1.5.2 Security Database IT Watching - SSA - Security System Analyser: http://www.security-database.com/ssa.php

Update. Spyware Terminator 2.0.0.193 Free spyware removal and spyware protection - Spyware Terminator: http://www.spywareterminator.com/

Warning- domainrenewal-online.com scam ~ Technobabble: http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/technobabble/2007/08/09/warning-domai...newal-o

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Windows Secrets Newsletter â€¢ Issue 120 â€¢ 2007-08-16

The following topics appear in the free version

INTRODUCTION Next issue Sept. 6 â€” take a break!
Fred Langa returns on Sept. 27

TOP STORY Media players more dangerous than Windows
Readers' systems are rife with outdated add-ons
Keep your Web tools up to date
Use the Software Inspector on your own PC

KNOWN ISSUES Restrict application privileges for greater security
Use PsExec with nonstandard Office shortcuts
Advanced tools solve permissions issues
Details on encrypting files on flash drives

WACKY WEB WEEK Is there a movie idea on your Start Menu?

http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/070816

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"Intelligent Keys not so hot

Intelligent keys are coming with lots of new models of cars. Many times they make life a little easier, but the smart keys for the new Nissan Altimas have had just the opposite effect. If your smart key is right next to your cell phone and your phone rings, the I-key is permanently disabled. There is no way to fix it, and these I-keys cost about $400 a pop. Nissan is including I-key malfunctions under the factory warranty so if you have been affected by this, call the dealer you bought your car from."

http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/2007/08/10/index.html#12528

Fight back against creditors trying to collect expired debts

Did you know there are new requirements for reporting debts or delinquencies? Clark recently had the chance to speak with two experts on the Fair Credit Report Act and the FACT Act (Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act). What he learned was illuminating. For example, if you have a credit card debt that went delinquent in January 2000, you might start getting calls from collection agencies in December 2006 -- one month shy of the seven-year expiration limit. What's probably going on is that the collection agency has put a new date on your account. By doing this the agency is breaking the law. If the debt has moved beyond the statue of limitations, you have no legal requirement to pay that creditor anything. Bear in mind that Clark is not talking here about the ethical obligation to pay up -- that goes on forever. He's only talking about your legal obligation.

So what can you do if your debt has passed the statute limit and the collection agency puts a new date on the account just to harass you some more? You can sue them in your own small claims court where you live. They have to come to you and answer for their actions! Just beware that these legal battles can be a two-way street. There are a lot of unsavory characters in the collection business who will try to sue you on expired debts. If you don't show up in court, they get a judgment in their favor when they didn't deserve it in the first place. Meanwhile, Clark also shared some personal anecdotes about working as a bill collector in graduate school, and trying to collect on past debts when he had his travel agencies. To do the latter, he often showed up in person to collect his money! He was always polite and calm. And you know what? It actually worked and he got a lot of money that way."

http://clarkhoward.com/shownotes/2007/08/02/index.html#12491

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"Lost deputies found near marijuana site

Ten sheriff's deputies who got stranded in the woods of southwest Washington while busting a marijuana-growing operation were rescued Sunday. Skamania County Sheriff Dave Brown said the site was in extremely rugged terrain, and the team became disoriented on Saturday as daylight started to run out."

What were they smoking? Mark.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/327384_deputies13.html

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A really cool Gmail trick

If you use your Gmail address to sign up for websites, newsletters, etc. you can use a trick to see if they send you unwanted email or sell your address to others. Normally you would use your email address such as me DeleteThis @gmail.com but you can use a plus sign ( + ) to mark the address because the plus sign and everything between it and the @ sign will be ignored. As an example if you were to sign up for my newsletter and wanted to make sure I'm not lying when I say I won't use your address just sign up as me+coolsites@gmail.com. The newsletter will go to me DeleteThis @gmail.com but be marked as going to me+coolsites@gmail.com. Then you can use Gmails filters to send that unwanted email to the spam folder or even just delete it.

Spam Control for Gmail Users. This is a cool trick to find out if the place you just gave your gmail address to is sending you unwanted email. Mark.: http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/theoracle/2007/08/09/spam-control-for...ail-use

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COOLSITES Toolbar

I have created a new webpage that describes the COOLSITES Toolbar and has plenty of pretty pictures. Please check it out at : http://luem42.com/toolbar.html . You can download the toolbar at: http://luem42.ourtoolbar.com .

Please suggest links to be added to the toolbar by contacting me at http://luem42.com/contactus.html

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COOLSITES 157 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.

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.