There’s a New Internet Security Threat to Worry About

If you use public wi-fi at your local coffee shop or library know this: There’s a new and very serious threat to your online security. A new program – that anyone can download – allows people to see any and everything that’s going on on your computer. Things like passwords, emails, everything. The program is called “firesheep,” and it was created by a software developer named David Butler, who posted it for free on his website. Butler says he didn’t create firesheep so bad guys could steal your password and hack your accounts – he created it to point out just how vulnerable we all are on when we use public internet services.

Here’s the deal: big sites like Amazon and Facebook have a problem, and it’s one they all know about and haven’t bothered to fix. When you first log on to Facebook and enter your password, it’s encrypted. No one can see it. However, AFTER you log on, Facebook and your computer exchange a little piece of code, called a cookie, that allows them to recognize each other so you don’t have to keep logging on. That’s fine if you’re on a private network, but on public wi-fi it’s broadcast over the network for all to see. Firesheep grabs that piece of code and allows anyone with the program complete access to your computer. David Butler’s goal here was to force major companies to fix this issue. Only time will tell if his plan worked, but in the meantime here’s how to keep your information safe:

Don’t do anything that requires a password when you’re on public Wi-Fi. If you have no choice, only enter financial information on sites that have full end-to-end encryption. You can tell you’re on a secure site if the address starts with HTTPS. It’s got to have that S on the end; otherwise your data is flapping in the wind.

Five Hidden Dangers of Using Facebook

Facebook is not very safe. That’s the opinion of Joan Goodchild, the senior editor of CSO Online – which stands for Chief Security Officer. She told CBS News there are five hidden dangers of Facebook:

* First, they’re sharing your information with third parties, like advertisers. Facebook can make money gathering as much info about you as possible, and then use it to attract advertisers. Goodchild says the more personal info you give out, the more money Facebook can take in.

* The second hidden danger of Facebook involves your privacy settings. Every time Facebook redesigns its website, your privacy settings revert to an unsafe default mode - essentially making all your info public. These redesigns happen about twice a year, and Facebook does not always notify you when they make changes. So periodically click on the Privacy Settings button and make sure yours are what you think they are.

* The third hidden danger of Facebook: Beware of clicking on those ads on the side of the page. Some contain malicious software. One of these so-called “malware” ads told Facebook users to download anti-virus software, but it was really a virus. Stay safe and ignore the ads!

* This next hidden danger of Facebook involves your friends - even your real-life friends. They can unknowingly make you vulnerable on Facebook. Let’s say their profile was hacked. The scammer can use their account or email address to send you malware. One of the most popular scams is called the “419 scam.” With the 419 scam you’ll get a message that says, “Help. I was mugged. I’m hurt. Please send money.” You think it’s a legitimate message from a friend, but it’s really a lie to get your cash.

* The fifth hidden danger of Facebook: fake profiles created by scammers. In fact, a recent study found that 40 percent of all Facebook profiles are fake, set up by imposters. If you have hundreds of Facebook friends, do you really know them all? Do you trust every one of them with your personal info or letting them know you’re out of town – or even out to eat? Probably not. So take your home address, phone number, last name, birth year and phone number off your profile NOW. Unless you have a burglar alarm and it’s activated, don’t tell anyone, “Hey, I’m off to the grocery store.” By the time you get back, you could have been robbed.

Countdown with Keith Olbermann (# 3 - Bushed)

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FiveThirtyEight.com

What is the significance of the number 538? 538 is the number of electors in the electoral college.

What is the mission of this website? Most broadly, to accumulate and analyze polling and political data in way that is informed, accurate and attractive. Most narrowly, to give you the best possible objective assessment of the likely outcome of upcoming elections.

How is this site different from other compilations of polls like Real Clear Politics? There are several principal ways that the FiveThityEight methodology differs from other poll compilations:

FiveThirtyEight

Election 2008

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Google Search Tricks

from: LifeHacker.org

Do you Google? You may have mastered a few basic tricks, like searching for a local restaurant, or looking up the closest WalMart, but most people use only about 3% of the search engine’s available tools. So, here’s a lesson in Google Search Tricks 101.

• First, wanna know what time it is in, say, Paris, or Lima, Peru? In the search box, simply type “what time is it” and the name of the city.
• Next, wanna know if Uncle Mike’s flight is arriving on time? Just type the name of the airline and the flight number, and you’ll get the departure and estimated arrival times.
• Would you like to track a package? In the search box, simply type in the tracking number and press ENTER. Whether it’s a package that was shipped via FedEx, UPS or the Post Office, Google will cough up the tracking information.
• Another great Google trick: It converts everything! If you want the number of teaspoons in a cup, the number of seconds in 2 hours, or how many Euros you’ll get for $50, just type it in and bingo, there it is!
• Want information on a product? Type ALL of the numbers beneath any barcode – whether it’s on a book, a box of crackers, or a bottle of hairspray - and Google will provide links so you can research the product, or buy it.
• To narrow your search results, you can subtract items from the list. For example, if you’re looking for candy that’s not chocolate and not for Easter, type in candy (space) (minus-sign) chocolate (space)(minus-sign) Easter and the search engine will overlook anything that refers to “chocolate” or “Easter.”
• Finally, if you’re looking for pictures or drawings, click on “Images” in the upper left corner of the Google search page. Then type the word “people” or “sunsets” or “puppies” in the search box. Instead of websites, you’ll get pictures.

For more Google search tips, visit this site: http://www.google.com/help/features.html

Knowing Your Food

Ever wonder what's in the food we eat...or better yet, how to read those "Nutrition Facts" labels? Here's a helpful website and information to stay healthy and live longer by making wise food choices =)

How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label Website.

Guide to Decoding Food Labels
from: Real Simple magazine

• 100% Natural. When a label boasts this claim, that means the product doesn’t contain artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, and has no synthetic ingredients. However, there’s no research that proves these natural products are better for you. Most food additives haven’t been shown to be bad. In fact, even if something says it’s natural, it can still have loads of sugar, fat and calories. The soda 7-UP, for example, was once marketed as “100% natural.” The label now says it has “100% natural flavors”. What you need to do is check the ingredient list and nutrition information to see what’s really in the product. A healthy choice will be fairly low in sugar and saturated fat, and you won’t need a chemistry degree to decipher the rest.
• Claim #2: “Light.” Most often, light foods have a third fewer calories than the full-calorie version. When it refers to sodium or fat, light means the item has up to 50% less! If you’re watching calories, these foods can help, but be careful! Sugar levels in these foods may be high, so check the labels. When eaten in moderation, light foods can be good dieting tools.
• “Fat free.” This means the product contains less than .5 grams of fat per serving. Trimming fat from your diet can help lower your overall calorie intake. Don’t BANISH fat altogether! Aim to get 25 to 35 percent of your total calories from fat – from sources like canola and olive oils, nuts, seeds, avocados and salmon. Keep this in mind, though: when removing fat, manufactures often add extra sugar or starch to make the products taste good. Also, fat-free foods may cause you to OVEReat, because they tend to be less satisfying. A better bet is to SKIP the fat-free foods and choose LOW-fat instead. They only have three grams of fat or less per serving, but are more filling.

Must Read it, Funny!

Google TISP

Must read it, funny! Google had fun with this one.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) were created by Public Law 108-173, the "Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003," signed into law by President Bush on December 8, 2003. Health Savings Accounts will change the way millions meet their health care needs because they are designed to help individuals save for qualified medical and retiree health expenses on a tax-advantaged basis.

Any adult who is covered by a high-deductible health plan (and has no other first-dollar coverage) may establish an HSA. Tax-advantaged contributions can be made in three ways:

1. the individual or family can make tax deductible contributions to the HSA even if they do not itemize deductions;
2. the individual’s employer can make contributions that are not taxed to either the employer or the employee; and,
3. employers sponsoring cafeteria plans can allow employees to contribute untaxed salary through salary reduction.

To encourage saving for health expenses after retirement, individuals age 55 and older are allowed to make additional catch-up contributions to their HSAs. Once an individual enrolls in Medicare they are no longer eligible to contribute to their HSA.

Amounts contributed to an HSA belong to the account holder and are completely portable. Funds in the account can grow tax-free through investment earnings, just like an IRA.

Funds distributed from the HSA are not taxed if they are used to pay qualified medical expenses. Unlike amounts in Flexible Spending Arrangements that are forfeited if not used by the end of the year, unused funds remain available for use in later years.

Links to HSAs

www.hsafinder.com

Mapping our World

Google Maps has currently been adding street views to several cities (including my own). Google's creativity and free services continue to amaze me. I was able to see video captures of places from my childhood that I never thought I'd see again! Check out maps.google.com and click on the "street view" button. It's hours of fun, honestly!

Exact Age

So here is another interesting website...that maybe some people will find interesting. Comment on your thoughts.
http://www.mlj.org.uk/ourdays.htm

Presidential Race

To anyone who is interested in following the presidential race, I found this website that shows the delegates needed for each candidate. Check it out! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22419475