December 5 2008 COOLSITES Newsletter #194 by Mark Donaldson

luem42 · Joined: Aug 02, 2003 Posts: 308

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 December 5 2008 COOLSITES Newsletter #194 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.

December 5 2008 COOLSITES Newsletter #194 by Mark Donaldson

Many subscribers did not receive yesterday's newsletter. There probably was a URL that filters found objectionable.

Subscribers who didn'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 EDT, 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

Greetings from Clif Notes Newsletter
November 23, 2008

Below are the headlines from this week's letter.
There won't be a letter next week because of Thanksgiving holiday.

# REVIEWS
1. bLADE wiki - another great desktop wiki for quick notes
2. VDownloader - search, download and convert videos
3. Easy Unicode Paster - adding exotic characters to a page
4. WinSonar - protection against unknown programs
5. Windows Vulnerability Scanner - may not be useful for the average user
6. AnVir Task Manager - replace Windows task manager
7. Virtual CD-ROM Control Panel - mount ISO files as virtual CDs
8. Old Newsletter

# TIPS AND FEEDBACK
1. What free software do you need?
2. Gmail Has Themes
3. Backup Your Gmail Account
4. GMail Drive - set up multiple free hard drives online
5. Comments last week
6. Internet Fixes Weekend Windup

# COOL WEBSITES
1. The Dutch Jewel - great organized list of freeware
2. Turkey Day Video
3. Shoplifting Seagull Video
4. CoolSites Newsletter this week

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

Latest Newsletter http://freewarewiki.com/ClifNotesNewsletter081123

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Security News

"Websense® Security Labs(TM) ThreatSeeker(TM) Network has discovered that malware authors are already using Christmas themes this year as a social engineering tactic, in an effort to gain control over compromised machines. This campaign uses email messages in the form of e-greetings, leading to supposed animated postcards. These actually lead to a Trojan backdoor that has been distributed in previous malicious spam campaigns.
The email messages, spoofed to appear as though they have been sent from postcards.org, display an animated Christmas scene. A URL link within the email leads to a malicious file called postcard.exe hosted on various servers, including those in the .com TLD space.

Once executed, a backdoor is created by the malware author enabling access and control over the resources of the compromised machine. Control is conducted over IRC, communicating with ircserver.*snip*.la. During the install process an image called xmas.jpg is displayed to the user as a distraction technique.

Websense Messaging and Websense Web Security customers are protected against these threats.

To view the details of this alert http://securitylabs.websense.com/content/Alerts/3248.aspx "

"Websense® Security Labs(TM) ThreatSeeker(TM) Network has discovered a spam lure that attempts to capitalize on the recently reported natural disasters in the state of Santa Catarina, in the south of Brazil.

This campaign uses email messages that look like a news alert about the current disaster in Santa Catarina. To appear genuine, the lure includes a legitimate telephone number for donations. The messages also contain a link that appears to provide a video of the recent disasters. This link actually leads to a malicious executable, a Trojan downloader named "Video_SC_Desastre.exe" (SHA1: 6862b862877e5cb9f2180cc53ee4338977bc0efb).

When "Video_SC_Desastre.exe" is run, it connects to various sites. The executable first connects to a site, www.*SNIP*so.com, that informs the BOT controller about the infection. The executable then connects to a hosting provider account at *SNIP*.bizhostnet.com. Password stealing Trojans are downloaded from that site to the compromised machine and registered as BHOs. These files are hosted in the form of JPG images, but actually are malicious executables.

Among other malicious activities of the downloaded Trojans, one Trojan, msnmgr.exe, launches a password stealing application spoofing MSN Live Messenger.

Websense Messaging and Websense Web Security customers are protected against these threats.

To view the details of this alert http://securitylabs.websense.com/content/Alerts/3251.aspx "

"Websense® Security Labs(TM) ThreatSeeker(TM) Network has discovered another infectious holiday email making the rounds. Victims are receiving messages promoting a coupon from McDonald's or a holiday promotion from the Coca-Cola company. Both messages include a .zip attachment that contains either coupon.exe or promotion.exe. The malicious files (SHA1 ca973b0e458f0e0cca13636bd88784b80ccae24d) are Trojan Droppers, but have low anti-virus detection at the moment.

The McDonald's email claims to present their latest discount menu, and states that the attached coupon should be printed. The Coca-Cola email states that the attachment has details about their new online game and a chance to win Coca-Cola drinks for life.

Websense Messaging customers are protected against these threats.

To view the details of this alert http://securitylabs.websense.com/content/Alerts/3250.aspx "

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Security Links

I get these links from good sources however I do not test the programs myself because I just don't have the time and most new programs won't work on my old 98 system. The definitive source of rogue info is Spyware Warrior- Rogue-Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites: http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Antiques Scams 2- The 10 Key Questions to Help Cut Your Risk. Scambusters.org: http://www.scambusters.org/antiquesscams2.html

Apple suggests Mac users install antivirus software: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=72805831-be56918137808c8d29d61779...633af-b

ATM skimming back again. Clark shares a low-tech way to beat the skimmers at their own game.: http://lmax.clarkhoward.com/t/12097696/729041/57127/0/?u=aHR0cDovL2NsY...aG93YXJ

Bogus USPS job offers. Don't fall prey to the scamsters.: http://lmax.clarkhoward.com/t/12097696/729041/57128/0/?u=aHR0cDovL2NsY...aG93YXJ

Grandparents Beware Fake Grandchild Call Scam: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt111.shtm

How to Curtail Spam on Your Cellphone: http://www.starbulletin.com/business/20081124_How_to_block_spam_going_...your_ce

How to handle ID fraud's youngest victims: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=72805823-be56918137808c8d29d61779...633af-b

Pros and Cons of Store Credit Cards: http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20081124-store-credit-cards-a1.asp

Stay secure during holiday travel - Tips from The Kim Komando Radio Show® & Web site: http://www.komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=2596

The 7 Key Types of Holiday Scams to Watch Out For This Christmas Season. Scambusters.org: http://www.scambusters.org/holidayscams2.html

Update. Avast! Home Edition 4.8.1296 complete ICSA certified antivirus package for home noncommercial use. This is the one I use. Mark.: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

Update. Comodo Internet Security 3.5.57173.439: http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/index.html

Update. SmitfraudFix 2.381: http://siri.urz.free.fr/Fix/SmitfraudFix_En.php

Update. TrueCrypt 6.1a Free Open-Source On-The-Fly Disk Encryption Software for Windows Vista-XP, Mac OS X and Linux: http://www.truecrypt.org/

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Consumer News and Links

An Online Marketplace Driven By The Community - Wigix: http://www.wigix.com/

Free Bowling at AMF. PDF download: http://www.freestufftimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/freestufftime...m-amfbo

Free rayovac batteries at Target. PDF download: http://www.freestufftimes.com/

Gadget trade-in services that pay off. We examined nine services that pay for your unwanted digital wares: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=72835948-be56918137808c8d29d61779...633af-b

iPhone Ad Pulled for Making False Speed Claims: http://go.infopackets.com/e20081127-07

Lectureworthy- MP3 players with voice recorders - CNET Reviews: http://reviews.cnet.com/4321-6450_7-6543901.html

The Dollar Stretcher: http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm

U.S. ‘Black Friday’ Sales Rise 3%, ShopperTrak Says: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aBvgyrY3aNPg&a...refer=h

What day of the week is the best time to buy books, cars, clothing, gas, groceries, and other stuff: http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/deals/the-cheapest-days-to-buy-cert...-items-

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Windows Secrets Newsletter • Issue 176a • 2008-11-26

Free content posted on Dec. 4, 2008:

INTRODUCTION
By Brian Livingston
Holiday greetings are coming to all

TOP STORY
By Susan Bradley
XP Service Pack 3 blocks .NET security patches
Malware targets recent Windows worm threat
Vista Service Pack 2 beta goes public

KNOWN ISSUES
By Dennis O'Reilly
The warning signs of a PC infected with malware
Double up to remove a virus from a hard drive
Since when did mice start hunting cats?

WACKY WEB WEEK
By Katy Abby
Too bad there's no do-over for this "I do"

http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/081204

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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 Toolbar has been updated to include the following gadgets:

LabpixiesTV
Calorie Calculator
Calculator
Todo
Sudoku
YouTube Top 10
FloodIt
Unit Converter
Invaders
Show My IP
Backgammon
NY Times Classic Crossword
Babylon
Notes
Wikipedia Search
Travelocity
Trio
Memory Game
Black Jack
Video Poker

The best thing is you don't have to do anything. The next time you open your browser the toolbar will be automatically updated to include them.

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COOLSITES 125 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.