The Ongoing Threat to Windows Users - Sinowal

Windows users could be unaware of any infection that occurs until its too late. The latest threat - Sinowal - is a Trojan / Rootkit type of file that has some very nasty habits. Some are predicting that the Monday before Thanksgiving (in the US) will be a very busy day for this bugger. IT people have labeled it Black Monday because of all the security related issues that surface.

First, and foremost, your Anti-Virus software will most likely miss detecting it. Then once installed, it watches your keystrokes. It watches for certain sites you visit and then passes the information you just entered back to its data collection computer across an encrypted connection. What it collects will most likely be bank account or other sensitive information. This is one bad Trojan.

Because this file changes all the time, your Anti-Virus software may not catch the latest version. There are Rootkit detectors available and running a couple of them would be the best option to find out if you are infected. Programs Rootkit Buster and GMER and F-Secure's Backlight are a few of your options.

Remember! You don't need to be spending money on your PC to protect it. Almost any type of protection you need can be found for free!  Yes, FREE. (I haven't paid for anti-virus or firewall software in years).

This threat is compounded by the fact that a LOT of PC user DO NOT update the software they have and use on their PC. There are some serious gaps in security that go unchecked in well known software titles, like Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash, and Apple Quicktime, to name a few. Browsers are vulnerable also. Firefox and Opera are always updating their software. Some Windows users have automatic updates turned off. Not that its a bad thing, but there are updates being produced all the time. Microsoft makes the updates available online, though, if you know where to look.

Remember, whatever Anti-Virus / Firewall / Plug-in / Software you run, keep your programs patched and up to date. (my public service announcement) :)

Vaccinating Children Against Flu Prevents Sickness, Death

Influenza is an illness that kills many thousands of people worldwide every year and makes millions more seriously ill. Many of those victims are children. As Rose Hoban reports, new research shows vaccines prevent disease and death in children. Here is the story.
To find out where to get a flu shot at a clinic in your area, click here.

Great Balls o' Fire.... Pentagon Style

The Pentagon has a new secret weapon to neutralize sites containing chemical or biological weapons: rocket balls. But, as with most stories, it comes alive when you get to read the comments. This one is no different. Just read the first few comments to see what I'm talking about.

Drop, Cover and Hold... You know the Drill

Tomorrow, November 13th at 10AM, Los Angeles will be holding The Great Southern California ShakeOut. Its an earthquake drill conducted by CalTech and thousands of people are expected to participate. Even if you don't live in 'Earthquake Country', the information is worth looking at. If you ever need a reason not to live in SoCal, then I suppose this could fit the bill. And if you're looking for a reason to get out, this will surely help the cause. Oh, wait, taxes may hit 10% soon in CA, so I guess this will just add to the list. Good Luck to us all... Sheesh!

Butler who saw racial history being remade...

Some stories have to be told. This is one of them.

The Most Powerful Tool in IDEA 2004

Do you think special education in your community or state needs to be strengthened or improved? Then you need to think about becoming a member of your State Advisory Panel.

Each state has an advisory panel. The panel provides your State Department of Education guidance about special education and related services for children with disabilities.

• Does the quality of special education services in your school district or state need to be improved?
• Are the educational needs of children with disabilities going unmet?
• Do special education teachers and related service providers need better training?

If the answer to any of these questions is "yes," you should consider becoming a member of your state advisory panel.

(Wrightslaw.com is a huge resource for information on children with disabilities... )

Election Day Offers and Freebies

This is for those of you going to vote and thinking of taking some retailer up on a promotion just for showing your Ballot Stub. Latest info is that you don't have to show any stub or sticker or anything; its a violation to offer something to someone in order to get them to vote. You may be able to just 'ask' for the promotion anyway.

Ben & Jerry's: Free scoop of ice cream between 5-8pm. Originally, materials stated you'd need some form of proof you voted (like an "I voted" sticker), but current materials just spell out "Free scoops!" (locate)

Books-A-Million: Free cup of coffee after showing your "I voted" sticker. (locate)

California Tortilla: Free taco for showing "I voted" sticker. (locate)

Chick-fil-A: "Several hundred" of 1,400 Chick-fil-A restaurants are handing out chicken
sandwiches (the kind normally $2.70) to adults with proof of voting. (locate)

Krispy Kreme: Free star-shaped doughnut with "patriotic sprinkles" (i.e. red, white, and blue) for "all retail customers with an 'I Voted' sticker." USA Today reports that 85 of 231 Krispy Kreme locations will participate. (locate)

Shane's Rib Shack: A free "Celebrate America Meal"—3-piece chicken tenders, fries, and 20-ounce drink—to the first 300 customers at participating locations, according to their press release. (locate)

Starbucks: Free tall coffee at "any Starbucks." "Tell us you voted" seems to be the bargaining chip, according to their recent TV ads. (locate)

Vote & Vax: National project by non-profits to offer free flu vaccinations on election day. (locate)