INSIDE THIS ISSUE Scam Alert Ransomware Threat Demands PC Users Pay Or Else Go Pinterest-ing! Cool Stuff To Pin On Your Pinterest Boards This Month's FAQ In The World Of Computers, What's A Supercookie? Sites Of The Month Great Sites To Check Out In February Two To View A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss Short Tutorial How To Edit Your Facebook Timeline Cover Photo |
Hello NCKCN internet members There's a lot to love about February. It's the month of Valentine's Day with all those heart-filled expressions of affection. We hope you get to share some sweet moments with loved ones; for a little celebration inspiration, check out the Pinterest section below. Also in this issue, there's a ransomware warning. You'll learn how to avoid being ripped off by this online extortion as well as what to do if your computer has already been locked up by the virus. There's more learning in store in the FAQ and tutorial sections, where we teach you about supercookies and give you the steps for editing a Facebook timeline cover photo. Be sure to also watch this month's "just for fun" videos and browse through the featured websites for valuable content. The goal of each of our eNewsletters is to keep our subscribers informed regarding their Internet connection and to improve their Internet experience. We think you'll find this information interesting. To see what's inside this issue, simply scroll down the eNewsletter or click on the links within the index to the left. Thanks for reading! - The NCKCN Team |
Scam Alert – Ransomware Threat Demands PC Users Pay Or Else
A threat previously seen mostly in Eastern Europe has recently hit the United States. Known as ransomware, the scheme is essentially online extortion that involves infecting a user's computer with a virus that locks it. Users are told that the only way to get their machines back is to pay a steep fee — usually a few hundred dollars.
Security researchers estimate that about three percent of compromised computer owners fall for the scheme and pay. Why? They act impulsively due to fear and panic. These cybercriminals flash messages claiming to be from local law enforcement agencies accusing users of visiting illegal pornography, gambling, or piracy sites. Users may also be told that if they attempt to unlock the computer on their own, it will lead to the deletion of all files, videos, photos, and documents. Victims' computers most often become infected with ransomware after people visit compromised websites that download the program to their machines without so much as a click. Security experts warn to NEVER PAY THE RANSOM; you'll lose your money and probably get nothing in return. If you do fall prey to ransomware, a number of legitimate security vendors offer solutions for unlocking machines. Talk to a local computer technician you trust for more information.
Go Pinterest-ing! – Cool Stuff To Pin On Your Pinterest Boards
This Month's FAQ – In The World Of Computers, What's A Supercookie?
Question: I'm familiar with the kind of cookie that tracks user preferences and browsing histories. But what's a supercookie?
Answer: Yes, there are many more kinds of cookies these days than chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin. As you correctly stated, a regular cookie is a bit of text stored on your browser that tracks user preferences and browsing histories. Cookies enable websites to "remember" information about you such as your name, preferences, and shopping basket contents. Recently, some major online properties have been identified as using supercookies, also known as "Flash cookies" and "zombie cookies." Supercookies serve the same basic purpose as regular cookies but are stored in different locations on a user's machine — for example, in a file used by a plug-in such as Flash. This makes them harder to find and delete, especially since a browser's built-in cookie detection process won't remove them. Furthermore, some supercookies have additional capabilities, like regenerating regular cookies to prevent their removal by the user.
Sites Of The Month – Great Sites To Check Out In February
Two To View – A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss
Short Tutorial – How To Edit Your Facebook Timeline Cover Photo
On your Facebook timeline, your small profile picture is the picture that friends see next to your name everywhere on Facebook. Your cover photo, by contrast, is the large horizontal image at the top that offers an opportunity for you to feature an image that represents who you are or what you care about. For example, you might use a cover photo of a ski slope if you're a skier.
To keep your timeline fresh and interesting, it's a good idea to replace your cover photo regularly. Here's how to do it:
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Thanks for your business! Thank You The Staff at NCKCN NCKCN - North Central Kansas Community Network 109 North Mill Beloit, KS 67420 785-738-2218 Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |