October 16 2009 COOLSITES Newsletter #239 Mark Donaldson

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NOW AVAILABLE FOR SAFARI USERS. 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 October 16 2009 COOLSITES Newsletter #239 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.


October 16 2009 COOLSITES Newsletter #239 Mark Donaldson

Now with online Google Translator



Major changes to this newsletter are coming soon

Google is discontinuing Google Pages and will be moving my archive to Google Sites. However their hosting rules will also change. My html files will not be allowed due to "security reasons". This means I would have to use Google's online webpage creation program which would be more time consuming for me and bigger webpages that load slower for you.

I have checked other free hosts and can not find any that will allow me to continue as before without cost. Therefore I will have to change things. What this will mean for subscribers is very little difference. What this will mean for non-subscribers who view the newsletter online and people accessing old newsletters, "Just The Links" and "Specialized Search Engines" webpages may be drastic. I will keep you informed. Mark.


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/

"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


Clif is no longer doing his newsletter. He is writing for others. You can find all of his past newsletters here: http://freewarewiki.com/NewsLetters
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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 SA09-286A Microsoft Updates for Multiple Vulnerabilities Source: US-CERT Systems Affected * Microsoft Windows * Microsoft Internet Explorer * Microsoft Office Overview: Microsoft has released updates to address vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Office. 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: Microsoft has released multiple security bulletins for critical vulnerabilities in Windows. These bulletins are described in the Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for October 2009. These vulnerabilities may allow an attacker to gain control of your computer or cause it to crash. References * Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for October 2009 http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms09-oct.mspx "




"Websense® Security Labs(TM) ThreatSeeker(TM) Network has discovered a new wave of malicious attacks claiming to be an update for Microsoft Outlook Web Access (OWA). Victims receive a message leading to a site to apply mailbox settings which were supposedly changed due to a "security upgrade." The especially dangerous thing about these messages is that they are very deceiving. The messages and attack pages are personalized for the To: email address to imply the message is being sent from tech support of the domain. The URL in the email looks like it leads to the company's own OWA system. We have seen upwards of 30,000 of these messages per hour and they have low AV detection.

The malicious site is also very believable. The victim's domain is used as a sub-domain to the site so that the attack site appears to be the victim's actual OWA site. The victim's domain name and email address are also used in a number of locations on the malicious site to make it that much more believable.

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/3491.aspx "



They Tried To Scam Me

No new scam emails this week. Mark


Adobe exploit puts backdoor on computers: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=451719621-be56918137808c8d29d6177...a633af-

Adobe fixes 28 holes in Reader and Acrobat: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=455414594-be56918137808c8d29d6177...a633af-

Adobe Matches Microsoft with Massive Patch Update: http://go.infopackets.com/e20091014-04

AVG LinkScanner can detect malicious short URLs: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10374094-83.html?tag=nl.e757

How to secure your new Mac: http://www.komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=4370

MS Patch Tuesday. 34 Fixes, 8 Critical, Most Yet: http://go.infopackets.com/e20091012-07

New Twists and Terms Add to Growing Cell Phone Scam List. Scambusters.org: http://www.scambusters.org/cellphonescam.html

New. Comodo Site Authentication Software for Anti Phishing Internet Fraud Download Installation Instructions: http://www.vengine.com/products/vengine/index.html

New. Gucup Antivirus 3.3.9 remove malware on your computer: http://antivirus.inf.uajy.ac.id/

New. Trend Micro System Cleaner is a free comprehensive stand-alone virus removal utility using the latest virus definition file from Trend Micro used to detect and remove major viruses: http://us.trendmicro.com/us/home/index.html?utm_source=www.trendmicro....&ut

The pocket spy- Will your smartphone rat you out. it'll spill its secrets to anyone who has ways of making it talk: http://email.newscientist.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/nB1Xl0MZN1k0keh0F74H0Ei

Update. AVG AntiVirus Free 9.0.686a1719: http://free.avg.com/us-en/homepage

Update. Spybot Search and Destroy Detection Updates 10-14-2009: http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html

Update. Spyware Terminator 2.6.2 realtime spyware protection. Adware can be unchecked during install: http://www.spywareterminator.com/

Update. WinPatrol 2010 17.1.20010.1 expose worms, trojan horses, cookies, adware, spyware: http://www.winpatrol.com/
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Consumer News and Links


Just another good reason to subscribe and get this info before it expires


Golden Corral: Free Military Dinner 11/16 (US)

Golden Corral's 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner will be held on Monday, November 16, 2009, from 5 to 9 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide. The free dinner meal is a special "thank you tribute" to any person who has ever served in the United States Military. If you are a veteran, retired, currently serving, in the National Guard or Reserves, you are invited to join them for Golden Corral's Military Appreciation Monday dinner. To date, Golden Corral restaurants have provided over 2.2 million free meals and contributed over $3.3 million to the Disabled American Veterans organization.



From http://www.consumerworld.org/


How to Get Out of Your Cell Contract w/o Fees
New FHA Rules May Hinder Condo Sales, Financing
Two-Thirds Object to Online Tracking
Details of Above Advertising Tracking Study pdf
Online Games Help Improve Financial Literacy
Net Nanny-like Sofware Makers Eavesdrop on Kids' Chats
Where to Get Great Deals on Furniture [video]
FTC Publishes Final Guides on Testimonial Ads
FTC Modifies Guidelines about Weight Loss Claims
Now eBooks are Being Copied/Pirated
The Case for Taxing Sugary Soda
Facebook Imposter Scam Spreads
Apple Sues Woolworth over Apple-Shaped W Logo
FBI Warns about 3 Terrorism-Related Scam Emails
Beware the High Price of Prepaid Debit Cards
Plug-in Toyota Prius to Arrive by 2012
Mandatory Arbitration for Consumers under Fire
Know the Loopholes in Credit Card Reward Programs
UA Unveils $249/yr Baggage Plan
0% Balance Transfers May Go Way of Edsel
Next Meltdown: Reverse Mortgages
Griper and Gripe Site Win over Complained about Business
5 Ways to Reduce Hard Drive Failures
How Banking Lobby Tries to Undermine Loan Reform
Asking the Wrong Question of Your Bank Could Cost You $$$
He Got a Better Deal Using Comcast's Web Chat
Top Questions Answered about Upgrading to Windows 7
New Smart Appliances Conserve on Electricity
Hotels Under $150 in Major World Cities
The Savings Behind Costco's Store Brand




10 Ways to Save on a New Car. how to shop smarter for that new vehicle: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/auto/10-ways-to-save-on-your-next-new-car-1.aspx

Consumer Reports. Car Care Myths and common misconceptions: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/november-2009/cars...r-care-

Free 12 oz. hot beverage at 7-eleven. pdf: http://www.the711club.com/coupons/coupon.pdf

FREE Handcrafted Birthday Burger. Special Email Offers. Ruby Tuesday: http://www.rubytuesday.com/soconnected.asp

LED TVs- 10 things you need to know - Fully Equipped - CNET Reviews: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-10370112-82.html?tag=nl.e404

Mouse Print. When Buying Pink Stinks: http://www.mouseprint.org/

Traditional Cellphone and Smartphone Brands Ranked. how your favorite cellphone brand ranked: http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2009224

Wal-Mart Cell Phones. Unlimited Talk, No Contract: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.printFriendly&a...aid=115
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Windows Secrets Newsletter
Free content posted on Oct. 1, 2009:


TOP STORY
By Scott Spanbauer
Get your system ready for a Windows 7 upgrade
Dump the applications you no longer use
Free utilities make system cleanup a breeze
Prepare your PC for the big Win7 migration

KNOWN ISSUES
By Dennis O'Reilly
Netbook news on Windows 7 is hype, Woody finds
The Feds go to lengths to protect online access

WACKY WEB WEEK
By Stephanie Small
Google's invisible city is an identity saver

http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/091001


You get all of the following in our paid content:

LANGALIST PLUS
By Fred Langa
Restore a hard drive's lost boot sector
Singing the "can't boot my drive" blues
Reviving an ancient DOS app in Vista
Lost my Outlook Express contacts — again!
Oops! Trialware/freeware confusion strikes
Where did all the nasty photos come from?

BEST SOFTWARE
By Ian "Gizmo" Richards
Manually remove programs that lack uninstallers
Failed installations can leave your PC hanging
A review of the normal installation process
Step 1: Remove the program's autostart entries
Step 2: Delete all the program's files
Step 3: Delete the app's user and data files
Step 4: Remove the program's Registry entries
Step 5: Perform one last general cleanup
No manual software uninstallation is perfect

WOODY'S WINDOWS
By Woody Leonhard
Sharing is easy with Windows 7's homegroups
What you need to run Windows 7's homegroups
Setting up a homegroup requires a wake-up call
Now it's time to put your homegroup to use

Get our paid content by making any contribution. There's no fixed fee! Contribute whatever it's worth to you Readers who make a financial contribution of any amount by Oct. 7, 2009, will immediately receive the latest issue of our full, paid newsletter and 12 months of new paid content. Pay as much or as little as you like — we want as many people as possible to have this information.

A portion of your support helps children in developing countries Each month, we send a full year of sponsorship to a different child. Your contributions in October are helping us to sponsor Joannah, a 5-year-old girl from the Philippines. Children International channels development aid from donors to Joannah and her community. We also sponsor kids through Plan USA and other respected agencies.

I didn't get a new one again this week. Mark.
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Make My Start Page Your Home Page I have updated it on 6-25-2009 with Twitter

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, Twitter 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 91 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.