Surfer Beware - Hackers Now Compromising Legitimate Websites
In the past, users had to visit intentionally malicious
websites or click on spam e-mail attachments to become a victim of a security
threat. Now hackers are starting to compromise legitimate sites and use them
as a distribution medium to attack home and enterprise computers. Symantec, a
leading cybersecurity firm, recently reported that it detected 711,912 such
threats last year, compared with 125,243 in 2006.
According to Symantec, the attacks are particularly targeting sites that are
likely to be trusted by end users. These include major search engines like
Google, browsers like Mozilla, and social networking sites like Facebook. In
the case of Google, hackers use a chink in Google's site to redirect
unsuspecting PC users to sites tainted with malware. This enables them to use
the PCs to spread spam and carry out scams. Typically, it also lets the
hackers embed a keystroke logger to collect passwords and other sensitive
data. Google is working on new tools to detect and block malicious Web pages.
To protect your computer, we strongly encourage our Internet customers to be
diligent about security and regularly update your antivirus software.
New viruses and worms are discovered daily and can be spread many ways — over
networks, through attachments, through even legitimate websites, via devices
connected to your computer, and by storage media such as Zip drives and CDs.
Remember to also scan all file attachments of incoming e-mail messages, even
messages from people you trust. You have the ultimate responsibility for
protecting your computer against these threats.
Back to Top
Building For Tomorrow - Our Newest Promotion
Not only are we in the telephone, Internet and cable business,
we believe in building strong communities through hard work and dedication.
We want what's best for our area and we're always willing to chip in to do
our part to help build a better tomorrow.
Find out how you can save up to $10 on your bill with our Pick 3/Pick 4
Bundle, receive a Calling Feature FREE for 3 months and get SecureIT FREE for
3 Months. Get details at www.pcctel.net or give us a call today!
Area Events!
Summer is the best time to enjoy events in our area. Mark your calendar this
year for the:
- State Center Rose Festival - June 19-22
- Baxter Fun Days - July 12-13
- Rhodes Bull Riding /125th Celebration - July 26
- Melbourne Mouse Hole Days - August 3
Enjoy the summer!
Back to Top
Ask The Help Desk - What Do The Terms "Freeware" And
"Shareware" Mean?
Question: I've heard the terms
"freeware" and "shareware" used to describe software
programs. What exactly do these terms mean?
Answer: Freeware is software that is made available by its originator
for unlimited use by anyone at no charge. By contrast, shareware is software
that is freely distributed but for which the author expects payment from
people who decide to keep the software after a trial period and continue to
use it. Freeware and shareware are widely available online in many different
software categories.
Before you download anything, however, research the website and software to
make sure both are reputable. You should also have antivirus software
installed on your computer and keep it updated.
Back to Top
Sites Of The Month - Great Sites To Check Out In May
Indiana Jones is Back
http://IndianaJones.com - The
fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise comes to the big screen
this month nearly two decades after the last one. Indiana Jones and the
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull boasts all the action that fans have come to
expect, from car chases to Indiana Jones wielding his trademark bullwhip. The
film stars Harrison Ford and is led by famous filmmakers George Lucas as
executive producer and a writer, and Steven Spielberg as director. Get a
sneak peak here and enjoy classic clips from previous installments.
ABCs of RVs
http://GoRVing.com - It's time to
plan your summer road trip. Ever thought about traveling in an RV? You can
take the comforts of home with you wherever you go, and enjoy the freedom to
really explore the great outdoors. If you're new to RVing, this site is the
place to start. You'll find descriptions for all RV types, shopping and
rental information, travel ideas, a campground database, driving and towing tips,
and even a free "getting started" CD-ROM or DVD.
Making Sense of Dollars
http://finance.yahoo.com/how-to-guide/index - With
the rising costs of today's economy, it's more important than ever to make
smart moves with your money. Check out this comprehensive How-to Guide on the
Yahoo! Financial site for lots of practical tips and online tools. From
advice on how to get out of debt to savings ideas for college, there's a
wealth of information at your fingertips.
Race Around the Indy 500
http://Indy500.com - The theme of
the 92nd Indianapolis 500 is "Fuel the Dream." No wonder, since
this is definitely a sporting event that many dream of competing in (or simply
attending). This year's field of 33 starting drivers on May 25 will include a
history-making driver: Illinois native Danica Patrick captured the Indy Japan
300 title in April, making her the first woman to win an IndyCar race. Do a
few laps around this site to see updates on the practice runs, review race
history, get ticket information, and read the personal "500"
stories of other fans.
Get Grilling
http://weber.com/bbq/pub/recipe - The
Weber name has become synonymous with grilling. Before you fire up the grill
for the warm weather season ahead, go straight to the source for lots of
expert advice and new recipe ideas. To keep the inspiration coming for
weekend parties, sign up to receive the Recipe of the Week each Friday.
Back to Top
Short Tutorial - Removing Contacts From Your Address Book
Let's face it -- the people in our personal and professional
lives come and go. If your e-mail address book is cluttered with names from
inactive relationships, you're wasting time wading through an unnecessarily
long list.
To remove contact information from your address book, follow the steps below
for your specific e-mail program:
Removing Contacts From Your Address Book When Using Outlook Express 6 and
Windows XP SP2 Home Edition
1. With
Outlook Express 6 open, click your cursor arrow on the "Addresses"
button located on the toolbar.
2. Click
on the contact you want to delete. (The contact's name will be highlighted
when you click on it.)
3. Click
on the "Delete" button located on the toolbar.
4. The
Address Book - Main Identity dialogue box will appear asking if you are sure
you want to permanently delete the selected item. Click the "Yes"
button.
5. Close
the Address Book - Main Identity dialogue box by clicking on the red
"X" in the upper right-hand corner. The selected contact is now
deleted.
Removing Contacts From Your Address Book When Using
Thunderbird 1.5 and Macintosh OS X 10.4, Windows XP SP2 Home Edition, or
Windows Vista Home Premium
1. With
Thunderbird open, click your cursor arrow on the "Address Book"
button located on the toolbar.
2. Click
on the contact you want to delete. (The contact's name will be highlighted
when you click on it.)
3. Click
the "Delete" button located on the toolbar. The selected contact is
now deleted.
Removing Contacts From Your Address Book 4.0.4 When Using Mail
2.1.1 On Macintosh OS 10.4.9
1. With
Address Book open, click your cursor arrow on the "All" icon in the
"Group" field.
2. Click
on the entry you want to delete in the "Name" field to select it.
(The contact's name will be highlighted when you click on it.)
3. Click
on the "Edit" menu and select "Delete Card" from the
drop-down menu. The selected contact is now deleted.
Removing Contacts From Windows Contacts (Address Book) When
Using Windows Mail and Windows Vista Home Premium
1. With
Windows Mail open, click your cursor arrow on the "Contacts" button
located on the toolbar.
2. Select
the contact you want to delete. (The contact's name will be highlighted.)
3. Click
on the "Delete" button located on the toolbar.
4. The
Delete File dialogue box will appear asking if you are sure you want to move
this file to the Recycle Bin.
5. Click
the "Yes" button. The deleted contact will be moved to the Recycle
Bin where it will remain until the bin is manually emptied.
Back to Top
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 on a monthly basis, click here.
Thanks for your business!
Best regards,
Donald S. Jennings
EVP/General Manager
Partner Communications Cooperative
101 East Church Street
Gilman, IA 50106
641-498-7560
1-877-433-7701
(We have used our best efforts in collecting and preparing the
information published herein. However, we do not assume, and hereby disclaim,
any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions,
whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other
causes.)
©2008
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.
|
