Spam Alert – Spammers Have Jumped On The Pinterest Bandwagon

All well-trafficked social media sites draw spammers trying to reel in unsuspecting users, and Pinterest is no exception. In fact, because of its rapid growth and heavy retail focus, Pinterest is especially attractive to spammers. (In case you're unfamiliar with Pinterest, it's a virtual bulletin board where you can "pin" images, share things you like with others, follow people you like, and have others follow you.)

In recent months, Pinterest users have reported receiving a surge of spam emails. Many of these emails are relatively benign—more annoying than harmful—and often attempt to get the recipient to visit a Pinterest board that links to a page about weight loss plans or retail deals. However, for legitimate businesses that use Pinterest, the influx of spam on the site can have more serious ramifications. For example, spammers can copy and attach viruses to a business's pin, causing its reputation to diminish.

Pinterest addresses this issue in its Terms & Privacy—Acceptable Use Policy. It reads, "You agree not to engage in any of the following prohibited activities: Send any unsolicited or unauthorized spam and spam comments on posts, advertising messages, promotional materials, email, junk mail, chain letters or other form of solicitation..."

Fortunately, Pinterest provides an easy way to report this type of spam. Simply click on the "Report Pin" button next to the image on the Pinterest site.

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NCKCN 4G WiMax Wireless Special Extended

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Two To View – A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss

Movie Trailer Proposal This groom-to-be used the big screen for a big proposal. Matt's girlfriend, Ginny, thinks she's about to see a movie trailer, but instead there's a film of Matt asking her father for her hand. Matt soon appears in the theater with popcorn—and the ring!		The Dirty Car Artist You've seen those cars in parking lots—the ones covered with what looks like an inch of dirt. What most of us view as eyesores, Scott Wade sees as canvases. Also called the "da Vinci of Dust," he turns them into mobile art galleries.

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This Month's FAQ – How Can I Tell A Legitimate Email From A Hoax?

Question: I have friends that frequently send me important-sounding emails that I'm supposed to forward to people I know. How can I tell if the messages are legitimate or a hoax?

Answer: Good question. It's pretty simple. There are five signs that an email is a hoax:

1. Urgency
   You'll see lots of exclamation points and words in all caps like URGENT!!! and WARNING!!!
   
   
2. "Tell all your friends"
   There will always be a request that you share this "important information" by forwarding the message to everybody in your email address book or to as many people as you possibly can.
   
   
3. "This isn't a hoax"
   The message may include a seemingly sincere premise like "My neighbor, who works for Microsoft, just received this warning so I know it's true. He asked me to pass it along."
   
   
4. Dire consequences
   The text will predict dire consequences if you don't act immediately—a missing child won't be found, or someone won't be able to die happy.
   
   
5. History
   Look for lots of >>>> marks in the left margin. These indicate that people who fell for the hoax have forwarded the message countless times before it reached you.

When in doubt, do your homework on a particular email at www.hoax-slayer.com, www.snopes.com, or www.scambusters.org. It's worth a few minutes of your time to avoid spreading misinformation to others.

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Sites Of The Month – Great Sites To Check Out In August

What's Everybody Doing Tomorrow? zapaday.com – You may know what's on your calendar but what about everyone else's? This site tells you what's scheduled to happen tomorrow or another future day all over the world, in several categories including politics, culture, business, science, and sports. It's the most comprehensive public calendar on the Web.

Just Peachy Recipes gapeaches.org – August is Peach Month and here's a site that celebrates this delectable summer fruit. Browse around to learn about the health benefits of peaches and pick up new recipes ranging from Peach and Prosciutto Pizza with Blue Cheese to Peach and Blackberry Pecan Crumble.

Back to School for Parents Too schoolfamily.com – Children aren't the only ones going back to school. If you're a parent, you need to stay educated about your child's curriculum and other school issues. Here you'll find tips for parents of children from preschool to high school on promoting learning at home, working with teachers, using technology, and more.

Be a Smarter Shopper consumerreports.org – Consumer Reports is a smart place to visit before you make major purchases. It offers consumer news, product recalls and safety notices, buying guides, price ranges, and other valuable information—all to help you make more informed choices and get the best value for your money.

Quick! Find a Quote! quotesdaddy.com – Just the right quote can make your next presentation more impactful or a friend's tough day more tolerable. You'll find quotes galore on this site, organized by topic and author. You can also sign up to get quotes of the day, share great quotes via Facebook, or add a random quote to every email you send.

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Short Tutorial – How To Stop The @facebook.com Address From Showing Up On Your Timeline

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The Staff at NCKCN






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