January 26 2007 COOLSITES newsletter by Mark Donaldson

I have published the January 26 2007 COOLSITES newsletter by Mark Donaldson.

The following is an excerpt from this weeks newsletter. To see the full newsletter with all of the COOLSITES links please go to my website at: http://luem42.com/coolsites.aspx Thank you. Mark.


January 26 2007 COOLSITES by Mark Donaldson

This is the 97th newsletter

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

COOLSITES is a list of 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.

Security News

Sun Updates for Multiple Vulnerabilities in Java. Original release date: January 22, 2007 US-CERT

Systems Affected * Sun Java * Most web browsers.

Overview. In order to use certain web site features, you may have downloaded and installed Sun Java software. Vulnerabilities in Sun Java could allow an attacker to gain control of your computer.

Solution: Apply update. If you have Sun Java installed, then you should apply updates from Sun to remedy these vulnerabilities. Follow these instructions to update your version of Java:

1. From the Start menu, open the Control Panel.

2. Open the Java Control Panel by clicking the Java icon.

3. Select the Update tab and click the Update Now button. (If you do not see an Update tab, your version of Java does not support updates, or you must log in as an Administrator.)

We also recommend enabling Automatic Updates for Java. To enable Automatic Updates for Java, select the Check for Updates Automatically check box in the Update tab of the Java Control Panel.

Note: Java version 1.3 does not provide Automatic Updates; you must update manually. To manually update Java, refer to the Java Downloads web page.



Apple QuickTime Update for RTSP Vulnerability.

Original release date: January 24, 2007 Source: US-CERT

Systems Affected: Apple QuickTime on computers running * Apple Mac OS X * Microsoft Windows. Note that Apple iTunes and other software using the vulnerable QuickTime components are also affected.

Overview: A vulnerability exists in Apple QuickTime that could allow an attacker to gain control of your computer. Apple has released Security Update 2007-001 to address this vulnerability.

Solution: Install an update. Apple Mac OS X users should install Apple Security Update 2007-001 through Software Update. Microsoft Windows users of QuickTime 7.1.3 should install Apple Security Update 2007-001 through Apple Software Update. Users of previous versions of QuickTime should upgrade to QuickTime 7.1.3 and then install Apple Software Update. You can find Apple Software Update in the Start menu under All Programs. If you cannot find Apple Software Update, then re-install QuickTime 7.1.3. Refer to Apple Security Update 2007-001 for more information.



How to Recognize and Avoid the IRS Audit Scam.

From: Internet ScamBusters (tm) The #1 Publication on Internet Fraud http://www.scambusters.org By Audri and Jim Lanford Issue #215 January 24, 2007 http://www.scambusters.org/irsaudit.html

IRS and other tax-related scams are going to increase as next April 16 draws near. Just like the weather, scams change with the seasons; a common tax-related scam is the fake IRS audit email. The scammer's goal is to obtain your personal and financial information by pretending the IRS is contacting you about an impending audit.

How it works: You receive an official-looking email, supposedly from the IRS. The email states that the IRS is auditing you and that you must complete and return the attached questionnaire. If you do not respond within 48 hours, the message says, you will face penalties and interest.

As you can probably guess, the questionnaire asks for personal and financial information, such as your Social Security number and bank account numbers.

Another variation on this IRS audit scam is a link in the body of the email that will direct you to a fake IRS website. There you will be asked to input confidential information.

Do not be afraid to completely disregard this email. The IRS NEVER uses email to inform taxpayers of an audit. If the IRS needs to contact you about an audit, they will do so by (regular snail) mail.

If you receive one of these fake IRS emails, the IRS asks that you report it to them by forwarding the message to this address: phishing DeleteThis @irs.gov.



Websense® Security Labs(TM) has received reports of a phishing attack that targets customers of State Farm Bank. Users receive a spoofed email message, claiming that they should update their account information because the SSL servers have been upgraded. The email provides a link to a phishing site that attempts to collect personal and account information.



Phishing - The OS Neutral Threat: http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/it/2007/01/24/phishing-the-os-neutral-threat/

Today's scheme was "Visa" offering to protect the user's identity. What's so comical about this is that the sender was kind enough to explain the dangers of trusting illegal phishing schemes that appear to be legit. I was practically rolling on the ground at the level of tenacity these creeps put out there in an effort to con us into their schemes.


FileASSASSIN can delete locked malware files on your system: http://www.malwarebytes.org/fileassassin.php

IE 7.0-s Internet Options Privacy Settings (Part I): http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/windows/2007/01/23/ie-70s-internet-op...ns-priv

IE 7.0-s Internet Options Privacy Settings (Part II): http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/windows/2007/01/24/ie-70s-internet-op...ns-priv

IE 7.0-s Internet Options Privacy Settings (Part III): http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/windows/2007/01/25/ie-70s-internet-op...ns-priv

New. Multi Virus Cleaner is a free, stand-alone utility used to detect and remove major viruses. It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection: http://www.viruskeeper.com/us/mvc.htm

New. Spybot-S&D for Windows Mobile uses a lightweight version of the detection engine of Spybot-S&D for Windows to detect threats for Windows Mobile and Symbian: http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy-for-Pocket-PCs/3000-2178...1057506

Scammers target former victims: http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070116/Bi...0116043

Software prevents recovery of data from lost and stolen PCs., Blancco Ltd: http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/504966/rss

Storm Worm hits computers around the world. virus named Storm Worm was emailed to hundreds of thousands of addresses globally with the subject line 230 dead as storm batters Europe: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/19/AR2007...900346.

Update. Cyberhawk 2.0.1.0 Intelligent Behavior-based Security and Protection: http://www.novatix.com/cyberhawk/

Update. RogueRemover 1.11: http://www.malwarebytes.org/rogueremover.php

Update. Spyware Terminator 1.8.1.929 Spyware & Adware Real-Time Protection: http://www.spywareterminator.com/

Vista's Encrypted File System In Vista (Part I): http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/windows/2007/01/22/encrypted-file-sys...-in-vis

Vista's Encrypted File System In Vista (Part II): http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/windows/2007/01/23/encrypted-file-sys...-in-vis




Faker Sylvia Brown gets caught lying again

CNN recently reported on this latest disgraceful act by Sylvia Brown when she told the parents of Shawn Hornbeck, that he was dead, only for him to turn up alive later on.

http://badpsychics.com/thefraudfiles/modules/news/article.php?storyid=308

Stop Sylvia Brown. if you are a dyed-in-the-wool Sylvia Browne believer, I think you might find some things here which will give you pause: http://stopsylviabrowne.com/home/

Sylvia Brown's 1992 felony conviction in a case where she along with her then-husband Kensil Dalzell Brown were charged with grand theft and investment fraud: http://stopsylviabrowne.com/articles/peoplevsbrown.shtml


From the deluding to the delusional

Cruise 'is Christ' of Scientology and has been told he has been chosen to spread the word of his faith throughout the world: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,4-2007030603,00.html


To just the confused

Anne Heche Splits with Husband - 'Men in Trees' star confirms separation. Heche and Laffoon married in September 2001, a year after she ended a three-year relationship with comedian Ellen DeGeneres: http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-annehecheseparatesfromhusband,0,8261...story?c


And other stupid celebs

Duke lacrosse prosecutor has hired a well-known law firm to defend him against ethics charges before the North Carolina State Bar: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070120/ap_on_re_us/duke_lacrosse

Mouse Print. Trump is trying to renege on preconstruction discounts he offered to get friends and family to buy in early: http://www.mouseprint.org/

O.J. Simpson Ordered to Limit Spending: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SIMPSON_LAWSUIT?SITE=FLTAM

Paris Hilton Gets Probation in DUI Case - Community service could shave a year off her time - Zap2it: http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-parishiltonduinocontest,0,5975768.st...?coll=z



COOLSITES 116 cool links

To see the full newsletter with all of the COOLSITES links please go to my website at: http://luem42.com/coolsites.aspx Thank you. Mark.