WAKE YOU PARENTS: I-Dosing…Digital Drugs

Yep…you heard it right… Listen to a sound track which makes your brain simulate the affects of drugs or other experiences.

Be careful.  Do you know WHERE and WHAT your kids are doing online?

-SuperDale

How safe is your iTunes!?

Apple pulls several apps from iTunes because of fraud…hackers have hijacked customer accounts and gone on digital spending sprees…

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704862404575351232556755418.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLETopStories

Ouch…

-SuperDale

Linux folks: “Make the bad man go away Daddy”!

What! I thought Linux didn’t have these issues!  Next thing you’ll tell me is that I need antivirus for Mac’s! (I’m JOKING folks….you need protection no matter what the OS!  This just proves the point!).

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/linux-infection-proves-windows-malware-monopoly-is-over/2206?tag=nl.e539

I’m OUT!

-SuperDale

The Photoshop Effect

Great video to sit down with your kids to show them that the media manipulate our perspective.

Another Breach at Facebook…Who’s at fault? – YOU ARE!

This article talks about a breach at Facebook that allows non-Facebook users to view your phone number…even if it’s not listed on your profile…simply typing your phone number in a chat or on someone’s wall can result in folks getting your info… Give it a read and talk with your kids about what’s acceptable and not acceptable on the internet.

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/facebook-breach-user-phone-numbers-exposed-but-whos-to-blame/35015?tag=nl.e539

I’m OUT!

-SuperDale

Malware Watch…Checkout the LATEST…From Fake Facebook Apps, to bogus Adobe updates…

Here’s the latest…be aware…don’t be “blinded” by Social Engineering tactics!

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/security/malware-watch-rogue-facebook-apps-fake-amazon-orders-and-bogus-adobe-updates/6480

-SuperDale

Securing your FaceBook Profile…Watch, Learn, DO!

Here is a GREAT video on locking down your FaceBook Profile.

Please…watch and DO!

http://vimeo.com/11601505

-SuperDale

Microsoft gets Anti-virus “Right”…AND IT’S FREE

Here a great article about Microsoft’s Security Essentials.  I’ve been using it myself on my work PC, home PC and laptop and LOVE it…plus, no more yearly renewal fees!

http://windowssecrets.com/comp/100506/

Here’s a link to download and install: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/

Teenage Girls Send 100 Texts per Day, Pew Report Says

Text messaging has skyrocketed among U.S. teenagers, with a third of those surveyed sending more than 100 text messages a day, the Pew Internet & American Life Project shared in an April 20 report.
In September 2009, 54 percent of teenagers surveyed sent text messages daily, which was up from 38 percent 18 months earlier. Additionally, 50 percent of teenagers surveyed were found to send 50 or more texts a day—or 1,500 texts per month—while one in three sent more than 100 texts a day, or more than 3,000 a month.
While boys average 20 texts a day (they didn’t study my son!), among teenage girls ages 14 to 17, 100 messages a day was the average.

"They are using [mobile phones] to share stories and photos. They are using them to entertain themselves when they are bored. They are using them to micro coordinate their schedules and face-to-face gather­ings. And some are using their phones to go online to browse the Web, to participate in social networks and check their e-mails," the Pew report said.

In addition, "This is the sunny side of the story. Teens are also using mobile phones to cheat on tests and to skirt rules at school and with their parents. Some are using their phones to send sexts, others are sleeping with buzzing phones under their pillows, and some are using their phones to place calls and text while driving," the report said.
Text messaging among American teenagers is also far outpacing teenagers abroad. While 72 percent of young people in the United States typically send and receive 50 texts a day, that figure drops to 15 to 20 texts among Korean, Danish or Norwegian teenagers, according to Pew.

"Changes in subscription packages have encouraged widespread texting among U.S. teens and has made them into world-class texters," Pew said.

While "all you can eat" mobile subscriptions are enormously popular—and big enablers of teenagers' texting habits—the popularity of devices such as the Apple iPhone has challenged mobile operators' ability to meet the growing traffic of their networks, and several have suggested that variable network pricing will soon have to replace many no-limit plans.

With increased mobile phone use, stated the report, comes access to video sharing and recording, as well as to the Internet, which makes discussions about safety issues and potential regulations necessary. Parents should be equipped with tools for regulating their children's use of mobile devices.

"Understanding how youth use mobile phones is vital to creating effective policy based on the reality of how the technology is used. It is also important to understand how telecommunications company policies and pricing affect how teens and parents use their phones," the report stated.

Pew added that, for all the texting teenagers do, when it comes to trying to reach parents, voice calling tends to be their mobile mode of choice.

(eWeek.com)

Social networks are GOLDMINE for cybercriminals

Article from ZDNet:

“Symantec released its latest Internet Security Threat Report volume XV. Here are some of its findings:

- Given the potential for monetary gain from compromised corporate intellectual property (IP), cybercriminals have turned their attention toward enterprises. The report found that attackers are leveraging the abundance of personal information openly available on social networking sites to synthesize socially engineered attacks on key individuals within targeted companies.

- Cybercrime attack toolkits have lowered the bar to entry for new cybercriminals, making it easy for unskilled attackers to compromise computers and steal information. One such toolkit calledZeus (Zbot), which can be purchased for as little as $700, automates the process of creating customized malware capable of stealing personal information. Using kits like Zeus, attackers created literally millions of new malicious code variants in an effort to evade detection by security software.

- 2009 saw dramatic growth in the number of Web-based attacks targeted at PDF viewers; this accounted for 49 percent of observed Web-based attacks. This is a sizeable increase from the 11 percent reported in 2008.

- In 2009, Symantec identified more than 240 million distinct new malicious programs, a 100 percent increase over 2008.

- 75 percent of enterprises surveyed experienced some form of cyber attack in 2009.

- It was estimated that Downadup was on more than 6.5 million PCs worldwide at the end of 2009. Thus far, machines still infected with Downadup/Conficker have not been utilized for any significant criminal activity, but the threat remains a viable one.”

BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU’RE EXPOSING! :-)

-SuperDale

“But Dale…I bought an Apple because I was told it was “safer”….hmmmm

Interesting article:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=7879

Lesson to be learned: NOTHING is un-hackable.  I personally feel that Apple has had what I call “The Titanic Syndrome”… “We’re unsinkable!”

I’ve got family members who are running Apples with no spyware/antivirus, because they are convinced that they’re safe…Wrong!

-SuperDale

Another Facebook Scam will steal ALL your passwords!

Had a friend share this with me. 

Please read!:

http://www.itpro.co.uk/621652/latest-facebook-scam-could-affect-millions

Basically users are getting emails from scammers that state that they’re officials with Facebook, and that your password has been changed to the password listed on the attached document…when you open the document a little program gets launched that STEALS ALL passwords that are stored on your machine…yes including your banking username and password.

DELETE THIS EMAIL!!!!

-SuperDale

Teach our Kids in a way they understand

I came across this video by a teacher at Jordan High School.  I wish more teachers would “grasp” the concepts shown.  How could we as parents help our kids to learn in a method that they understand.  Not just school subjects, but religious, work…it’s making me think a bit.

The video is long…but take the time…and try to “understand” and “support” the world they live in.

-SuperDale

Careful what you post!

Student expelled for FaceBook posting:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-01-28-student-facebook-expelled_N.htm?obref=obinsite&POE=click-refer

Choose What Happens Next video

Sexting is quickly becoming the number one way of exploiting children.  This is a great video that allows drives home the fact that as soon as you post…you loose control.  Sit down with your kids and let them click through this video.  Talk with them…Protect them!

Your Homework: WATCH and LEARN!

There is a great documentary online at www.StopHCommerce.com

Watch the series, it’s sad…and yet eye opening, for what is REALLY out there.

Also, visit some the of resources like “how to stop a fake website”.

“I’m So BLLLUUE”

Lesson to be learned here…DISABLE Bluetooth unless you NEED IT!