November 7 2008 COOLSITES Newsletter #190 by Mark Donaldson

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I have published the November 7 2008 COOLSITES Newsletter #190 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.


November 7 2008 COOLSITES Newsletter #190 by Mark Donaldson


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


Welcome to Clif Notes Newsletter
November 2, 2008

# REVIEWS
1. ThinkFree Office - MS Office compatible and 1Gb of free document hosting
2. A First Look at OpenOffice 3
3. Portable Safari - take your Safari browser on the road
4. OperaUSB - use browser, emails, addresses, anytime, anywhere
5. Notebook - free portable wiki style notebook
6. Note Mania - sticky notes, calendar and reminders on your desktop
7. RadarSync 2009 - do your drivers need updated?
8. Old Newsletter

# TIPS AND FEEDBACK
1. What free software do you need?
2. Flash Security and Privacy Settings Panel
3. Comments last week
4. Internet Fixes Weekend Windup

# COOL WEBSITES
1. WebNotes - create unique web pages with no registration
2. rssfwd.com - turn RSS feeds into email
3. NapSounds.com - take a 20 minute nap to sounds from the net
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/ClifNotesNewsletter081102

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Security News

"National Cyber Alert System Cyber Security Alert SA08-309A Adobe Reader and Acrobat Vulnerabilities Original release date: November 04, 2008 Source: US-CERT Systems Affected * Adobe Reader version 8.1.2 and earlier * Adobe Acrobat (Professional, 3D, and Standard) version 8.1.2 and earlier Overview: Vulnerabilities in Adobe Reader and Acrobat may allow an attacker to take control of your computer. Adobe has released a bulletin to address these issues. Solution: Upgrade Adobe recommends that users with version 8 of Adobe Reader or Acrobat upgrade to version 8.1.3. Links to these versions are available in the security bulletin. Disable JavaScript in Adobe Reader and Acrobat Disabling JavaScript in Adobe Reader and Acrobat may prevent this vulnerability from being exploited. In Acrobat Reader, JavaScript can be disabled in the General preferences dialog: 1. Open the Edit menu 2. Choose the Preferences option 3. Choose the JavaScript option 4. De-select "Enable Acrobat JavaScript" Description: In "Security update available for Adobe Reader 8 and Acrobat 8," Adobe addresses vulnerabilities that affect some versions of Reader and Acrobat. By convincing a user to download a malicious PDF file, an attacker could execute code or cause a computer to crash. The malicious file could be downloaded by just visiting a malicious website that contains the file. For more technical information, see http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb08-19.html "


"Websense® Security Labs(TM) ThreatSeeker(TM) Network has discovered that malware authors are capitalizing on the recently announced results of the 2008 US Presidential election. Malicious email lures are being sent promising a video showing an interview with the advisors to the recently elected US President.

The email actually contains links to a file called 'BarackObama.exe' hosted on a compromised travel site at hxxp://*snip*.com/web/BarackObama.exe. This file is a Trojan Downloader with MD5 9720d70a5da9ca442ecf41e9269f5a27. Upon execution files called system.exe and firewall.exe are dropped into the system directory. A phishing kit is unpacked locally, and the dropped files are bound to startup. The hosts file is also modified.

Major anti-virus vendors are not detecting this Trojan Horse. 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/3229.aspx "




"Websense® Security LabsT ThreatSeekerT Network has discovered further activity from malware authors using the news of the U.S. Presidential campaign outcome as bait to attract users into executing malicious executables. So far we have over 25,000 emails through our systems that use the technique described below. In a very quick response to the outcome of the U.S. Presidential attacks we have now seen both localized and globalized attacks.
The email offers news of Barack Obama's speech, recorded the day after the election results were published. Clicking on the link leads the user to a purposely registered domain which advises the user that they need to install the latest version of Adobe Flash player before the video can be viewed. The malicious Web site actually links to a file called 'adobe_flash.exe' with MD5 47C86509A78DC1EDB42F2964BEA86306. This is a Trojan Downloader packed with ASPack. Upon execution, a RootKit is installed on the compromised machine, and data is sent to multiple command and control servers.

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/3230.aspx "



"Websense® Security Labs(TM) ThreatSeeker(TM) Network has discovered another round of malicious Facebook messages. This campaign is another visual social-engineering spam campaign which tries to visually trick users into believing that the message is a legitimate added friend confirmation. The "From" address in the message is spoofed to make it look as if it was sent from Facebook, and the links look like they lead to Facebook.

Websense quotes in the 2008 Threat Predictions report have been based on facts. In our previous alert Facebook "add friend" Malicious Spam campaign, we saw spammers including a malicious zip attachment that claimed to contain a picture, to entice the recipient to double-click on it. From a spammer's perspective, the likelihood of attack success decreases when antivirus! software picks up the attachment. If not picked up by antivirus software, then content learning technologies filter such messages and their attachments after receiving a certain volume of similar messages.

In order to maintain their attack over a longer time period with increased success rates, spammers have switched their tactics by including links to an external Web site. The use of external links in emails makes antivirus detection tougher, as not all antivirus software has the ability to scan or detect links included in email messages. Also, from a spammer's perspective, using links consisting of compromised 'legitimate' domains hosting malware as a lure increases the success rate, as this is more likely to bypass security filters that rely heavily on reputation services.

Websense Security Labs sees these tactics adopted by spammers and malware authors as an ongoing trend, increasin! gly targeting Web 2.0 sites to carry out a wide range of attacks.

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/3231.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


A Bad Economy Is Good for Scammers -- Watch Out for These Super-Sneaky Cons...Scambusters.org: http://www.scambusters.org/badeconomy.html

Adobe - Flash Player Security Settings Manager - Website Storage Settings panel: http://www.macromedia.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/se...ngs_man

Adobe patches 8 bugs in popular PDF apps: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasi...mp;arti

Comodo Releases Free Internet Security Suite: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Cybernirvana/~3/440973802/comodo-releas...free-in

free copy of Data Encryption for Dummies please fill out the following registration form. Allow 3-5 business days to receive your copy: http://www.pgp.com/edp/bookletform.html

Google plugs first Googlephone flaw: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/11/03/googlephone_flaw_fixed/

Hackers leverage Obama win for massive malware campaign: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasi...mp;taxo

New worm exploits critical Windows bug: http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/11/03/New_worm_exploits_critical_W...ows_bug

Once thought safe, WPA Wi-Fi encryption is cracked: http://www.nytimes.com/external/idg/2008/11/06/06idg-Once-thought-sa.html

Secure Computers With Internet Explorer 7-s Security Zones: http://feed.lockergnome.com/~r/nexus/it/~3/444562839/

Update. TrueCrypt 6.1 disk encryption: http://www.truecrypt.org/

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Consumer News and Links


8 Things You Should Do Immediately to Save Money When You Buy a Car: http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/10/28/eight-things-you-should-do-i...diately

Best Windows software for a hard-hit economy - Software news, tips and opinions from Download.com editors - Download.com: http://www.download.com/8301-2007_4-10079706-12.html

Food waste - Lovefoodhatewaste.com - Tips and recipes to reduce food waste - Love Food Hate Waste: http://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/

Learn How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half: http://www.eversave.com/eversave/consumers/CouponMom_GroceryEbook-Mini...w1073.j

Oil drops 6 percent on recession concerns: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081106/bs_nm/us_markets_oil

Specialty sites help you save money - Columns from The Kim Komando Radio Show- & Web site: http://www.komando.com/columns/index.aspx?id=5576

Stocks plunge anew as recession worries resurface: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081105/ap_on_bi_st_ma_re/wall_street

U.S. Auto Sales Fall 32% to Lowest Total in 17 Years: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a4.EjoYxXSlk&a...refer=w

U.S. Stocks Tumble in Market's Worst Two-Day Slump Since 1987: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a9Oq499c._cA&a...refer=h

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Windows Secrets Newsletter • Issue 173 • 2008-10-30

Free content posted on Nov. 6, 2008:

INTRODUCTION
By Brian Livingston
Free "job insecurity" download still available

TOP STORY
By Scott Dunn
These speedup utilities aren't worth your money
Two names, two prices, but the same product
System optimizer excels at ease of use
Multifunction speed tweaker offers few answers

KNOWN ISSUES
By Dennis O'Reilly
Sync your Outlook and mobile-phone contacts
If you run Windows on a Mac, you need to patch

WACKY WEB WEEK
By Katy Abby
Nothing's lost in this 80s-video translation!

http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/0811063

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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 IE7 or Firefox browser the toolbar will be automatically updated to include them.

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Space Weather News for Nov. 6, 2008

TAURID METEOR SHOWER: The annual Taurid meteor shower is underway and it could be a good show. 2008 is a "swarm year" for the Taurids. Between Nov. 5th and 12th, Earth is due to pass through an unusually dense swarm of gritty debris from parent comet 2P/Encke. When a similar encounter happened in 2005, sky watchers observed a slow drizzle of midnight fireballs for nearly two weeks. Whether 2008 will be as good as 2005, however, remains to be seen. In 2005, the swarm encounter was more central; Earth passed through the middle of the cloud. In 2008, forecasters believe we are closer to the outskirts. How much this will affect the shower, no one knows. The best time to look is during the hours around midnight when the constellation Taurus is high in the sky.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and photos of the ongoing shower.

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COOLSITES 114 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.