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Warning! – Arm Yourself In The Battle Against Botnets
In the most recent Microsoft Security Intelligence Report, the
company warns that computers with older operating systems are more
susceptible to infections from bot-related malware. What is a bot? The term
is short for robot. It refers to what your computer becomes when criminals
distribute malicious software that forces your computer to perform automated
tasks over the Internet—without you knowing it. Large numbers of bots form a
network called a botnet.
 Criminals
use botnets to send out spam e-mail messages, spread viruses, attack
computers and servers, and commit other kinds of crime and fraud. It can be
difficult to tell if your computer has become part of a botnet but there are
warning signs including:
- Your computer slows down and seems sluggish.
- You receive mysterious e-mails accusing you of
sending spam.
If you suspect your computer may be infected, you can visit https://consumersecuritysupport.microsoft.com
and click on "I think my computer is infected" to access the online
Safety Scanner.
To strengthen your computer's defenses in the battle against botnets,
Microsoft recommends the following:
- Install antivirus and antispyware programs from a
trusted source.
- Keep all software up to date.
- Use strong passwords and keep them secret.
- Never turn off your firewall.
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Scareware is Frightening Threat
You're online when a pop-up "alert" or
"update" appears that says something like, "Warning! Malware
detected on your computer!" The message looks very official, and you may
be tempted to click on the button that offers to remove the threats by
downloading security software. DON'T DO IT. What's actually being sold is
scareware - bogus software that masquerades as legitimate security programs.
These messages are crafted to scare you into spending money for worthless antivirus
protection. Even worse, scareware is often malware designed to steal personal
information, and installing it on your computer can lead to unauthorized
financial transactions and identity theft.
How do these scary alerts end up on your computer screen? They can arrive as
booby-trapped Web links in e-mail messages, waiting for you to activate them
when you click to the websites. Scareware scammers are also embedding
triggers on advertisements displayed at mainstream media websites, amid
search results, alongside comments posted on YouTube videos, and in tweets
circulating on Twitter.
Click on a trigger and you're in for an unnerving and frustrating process. A
window will appear with red-letter warnings that list viruses infesting your
hard drive. A series of dialogue boxes will follow, giving you choices that
all lead to a software sales pitch. Make the purchase, and you get a
worthless, and possibly harmful, download. Try to cancel it, and you'll get
repeated offers. Some scareware links will even shut down, and lock out, all
other software applications on your computer to try and force you to buy.
This rogue software might also slow your computer or corrupt files, disable
Windows updates or prevent you from visiting antivirus vendor websites.
To avoid having to deal with scareware, Internet security experts advise
caution:
- Don't download any security software from an unknown
source on the Internet, and be skeptical of advertisements for unknown
software that claim to provide easy protection.
- Make sure you install all security updates for your
operating system.
- Avoid opening attachments or clicking on links to
documents in e-mail or instant messages that are received unexpectedly
or from an unknown source.
If your computer does become infected with scareware, you can
try running Microsoft's Malicious Software Removal Tool or cleanup tools from
the antivirus software you use.
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Community Calendar – Events
"Centering Prayer" Program
Saturday, January 8th at 9:30am - 3:30pm EST
The Lodge in Jasper, IN
Offered by the Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, the workshop will be
presented by Sister Maria Tasto, OSB, a certified presenter of many Centering
Prayer retreats around the world, and Jim Birk, a cancer survivor who is a
long-time Centering Prayer practitioner and a member of the Indiana
University Simon Cancer Center board of directors.
Program cost is $65, including lunch. Registration is due December 23. For
more information or to register, call Glennda Jochem at 812-481-8492.
16th Annual Gun & Knife Show
January 22nd at 9:00am - 4:00pm ET Ferdinand Community Center
Largest gun show in the area with 130 tables - Attendance prizes drawn daily
- Concessions to be served - Gun raffle to be held - Non-smoking building
Jasper Community Arts
Performers Series
· Boogie Wonder Band - February 12, 2011 at 7:30pm Backstage
Series
· Alpin Hong - January 22, 2011 at 7:30pm
Family Fun Series
· Doktor Kaboom! - January 30, 2011 at 3:30pm
For more information on the Performers Series, Backstage Series or Family Fun
Series, click
here.
Spencer County Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting
January 27, 2011 For more information, contact the Chamber at 812-649-2186.
Holland Volunteer Fire Department 21st Annual Firefighter's
Ball
Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011
Huntingburg Event Center, 110 E. 14th Street in Huntingburg
Doors will open at 5:30pm EST and a meal catered by Sander Catering will be
served at 6pm
Music by Fire and Ice will begin at 6pm. A cash bar will be provided all
evening by Happy Hour Sports Bar. Tickets for the ball are $20 each and may
be purchased from any Holland firefighter or by calling the fire station at
(812) 536-3331. A fundraising raffle is also being held in conjunction with
the Firefighter's Ball. Raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and may be
purchased from any Holland firefighter or by calling the fire station at
(812) 536-3331.
Perry County Chamber of Commerce Event Calendar
Click here for the
Perry County Chamber of Commerce Event Calendar
Spencer County Upcoming Events
Click here for
the Upcoming Events Calendar.
Dubois County Upcoming Events Calendar
Click here for the
Events Calendar.
Community Table
Community Table is open every Thursday evening (except holidays) to offer a
free nutritional meal to anyone in need, or for anyone who would enjoy the
companionship of others. Held in the Dale Presbyterian Church basement (use
the rear entrance across from the Integra Bank drive through), the door opens
at 4:30pm CT and the meal is served from 5:30-6:30pm. CT. Doors will close at
7pm CT. Everyone is welcome. There is no charge. Bring a friend.
Line Dancing
Every Monday night at 6pm CT
Santa Claus Community Center in Santa Claus, IN
Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced...come and join us.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR - HEALTH RELATED CLASSES, ETC.
· Home Health Free Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar
Screening
- click
here for more information.
· Wellness Connection Free Health Screenings - click
here for more information.
· Fresh Start Free Quit Smoking Clinic - click
here for more information.
· Walmart Free Health Screenings - click
here for more information.
Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center Sponsored Meetings,
Groups, Classes, Etc.
Click
here to see a list of the Support Groups, Classes, Meetings, etc.
sponsored each month by Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center.tc.
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This Month's FAQ – When Did Flash Mobs Get Started And How Are
They Organized?
Question: Sometimes I see stories in the news
about a flash mob, like the people who break into song in a shopping center.
I'm curious—when did flash mobs get started and how are they organized?
 Answer: A
flash mob is defined as a large group of people who gather at a public place
to perform a pre-defined action—often a brief song or dance—and then disperse
rapidly afterwards.
The first "official" flash mob was attempted in Manhattan in May
2003 (the early days of social media) and organized by Bill Wasik, senior
editor of Harper's Magazine. It was unsuccessful after the targeted
retail store, Macy's, was tipped off about the plan for people to gather.
Wasik avoided such problems during the second flash mob, which occurred one
month later, by sending participants to preliminary staging areas where they
received further instructions about the event and location just before the
flash mob began.
Flash mobs are generally organized via social media or viral e-mails.
Potential participants receive all necessary instructions including the date,
time, and meeting point in the real world, as well as the action to perform.
A video of the required dance moves, for example, may be posted for participants
to review.
Click on the triangle in the picture above to play a video of a recent flash
mob where holiday shoppers in a food court were surprised with a song to go
with their sandwiches.
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Sites Of The Month – Great Sites To Check Out In January
Recipes for Foodies
www.publicradio.org – Each
week, the American Public Media radio show, The Splendid Table, offers
recipes and tips "for people who love to eat." Their website
features recipes in categories including comfort, inexpensive, seafood,
vegetarian, grilling, and holidays. Explore the rest of the site to hear
recordings of the show, read tips and wine picks, and find great places to
eat in your state.
Unusual Hotels
www.unusualhotelsoftheworld.com – This
site is called Unusual Hotels of the World and the name says it all. Here
you'll find out about ice hotels, undersea lodges, castles, boats, treehouses,
and lighthouses—all of which are places you can stay! Search by type of
hotel, type of experience (wild, family, romance), or destination. You're
sure to find a unique place to spend your next vacation.
Home Decorating Guide
www.sunset.com – Looking
for some new decorating ideas for the new year? This site is a great place to
start. You'll find key decorating strategies, paint and shelving ideas, and
pointers for decorating with travel treasures or your favorite photos. Look
for tutorials on topics like "How to Paint Like a Pro." Or try a
DIY (do-it-yourself) project like making over a dresser, designing your own
painted glassware, or creating a designer bouquet.
National Recreation Information
www.recreation.gov – Recreation.gov
provides access to information about federal recreational activities and
reservations. You can use it to discover parks, forests, museums, and other
destinations near your home; plan a trip to other areas of the country; make
reservations for activities like picnicking, camping, hunting, fishing,
horseback riding, and boating; or book a tour at any one of a number of
stunning national parks and monuments.
Financial Planning How-to
www.fpanet.org – The new year
is a good time to take a new look at your finances. The Financial Planning
Association promotes financial well-being by connecting financial planners
with those who need their assistance. This website includes loads of
information on planning for specific life events (such as retirement or
marriage), coping with a disaster (such as loss of a home or job), and
choosing a financial planner. You can also find helpful tools and resources
or ask a financial planning question.
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Short Tutorial – Creating A Facebook Account And Profile
 Facebook
now has more than 500 million active users and half of them log on to
Facebook in any given day. In total, the site reports that people spend over
700 billion minutes per month on Facebook. If you're not yet part of this
group of 500 million, it's easy to join. Simply follow the steps below to
create a Facebook account and profile.
- Visit www.facebook.com
and create a personal account by filling in the required fields as well
as entering the encrypted password provided by Facebook.
- Once you have entered your information, Facebook will
send you a confirmation e-mail to the address you provided in the setup.
Click on the link within the e-mail to begin personalizing your new
Facebook account.
- Facebook will take you through a series of steps in
which you can add as much or as little personal information as you want.
This information includes the names of the high school and college you
graduated from, as well as your current company/employer. You can also
upload a Profile Picture or take a picture with your webcam at this
point.
- Once you have completed the initial steps, the next
screen will ask you if you want to find people you know or if you would
like to view and update your profile. For this tutorial, we will update
your profile page.
- To update your profile, click on "Edit
Profile" located in the "Fill out your profile
information" section on the Welcome page. Here you can enter as
much personal information as you are comfortable with in the Basic
Information section. There are eight other sections to personalize.
Again, only fill in information in which you are comfortable sharing.
Remember to click on the "Save Changes" button located at the
end of each section.
- Many members choose to add a picture to their
profile. There are multiple places along the way during the initial
setup to add a photo. If you choose not to upload a photo during the
initial setup process, it can be done easily at a later time.
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We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It's our
way of keeping you posted on the happenings here. If, however, you'd prefer
not to receive these bulletins, click here.
Thanks for your business!
Best regards
PSC
One Community On-line
PSC
11877 E State Road 62
PO Box 126
St Meinrad, IN 47577
(800) 511-4899
©2011 Cornerstone Publishing Group Inc.
Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter are
trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
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