Scam Alert – Fake Antivirus Phone Scam Is Stealing Money And Identities

Many online scams start with an email but you also need to be cautious when the phone rings. There have been an increased number of reports recently of phone scammers claiming to be from Microsoft, or an antivirus company, or some random tech support facility. These callers will claim their systems have detected viruses and/or malware on your computer and they can help you with a lifetime of guaranteed support for just a one-time payment of $100 or so.

The process typically goes like this:

1. The scammers first want you to download a remote access service and grant them access to your PC.
2. Next the scammers want you to buy and install antivirus software that's usually counterfeit or just a trial version that leaves you with non-functioning, useless protection. They may also recommend the latest Windows operating system, which is also likely to be counterfeit.
3. Because the scammers were given unfettered access to your PC through the remote access service, they may install a backdoor Trojan — a malicious application that enables them to steal your passwords, use your system and Internet connection to send spam, and more.

If you receive a call from someone saying your PC has been compromised, just hang up the phone. Reputable companies will not make unsolicited calls about the health of your computer.

Microsoft recommends these do's and don'ts to help prevent becoming a victim:

DO

• Be suspicious of unsolicited calls related to a security problem, even if the caller claims to represent a respected company.
• Use up-to-date versions of operating system and application software.
• Make sure security updates are installed regularly.
• Use strong passwords and change them regularly.
• Make sure your firewall is turned on and that antivirus software is installed and up to date.

DON'T

• Provide personal information, such as credit card or bank details, to an unsolicited caller.
• Go to a website, type anything into a computer, install software, or follow any other instruction from someone who calls out of the blue.

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Faster Internet!

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Go Pinterest-ing! – Cool Stuff To Pin On Your Pinterest Boards

A Flowerpot That's Customized For Mom		Now You Can Browse On Curved Surfaces		Ombre Colors Create Unique Photo Collage
You haven't started pinning on Pinterest yet and you want to get started? If so, click here.

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This Month's FAQ – How Can I Tell If My Email Account Has Been Hacked?

Question: A friend of mine recently mentioned that his email account had been hacked. How will I know if the same thing happens to me?

Answer: That's a great question to ask since this is a common problem. Here are the signs that your email or social network account has been hacked:

• Friends, family members, or colleagues report getting a strange email from you, perhaps one that touts a shady-sounding business venture.
  
  
• There are posts you never made on your social network page. These posts often encourage your friends to click on a link or download an app.
  
  
• Your information was lost via a data breach, malware infection, or lost/stolen device.

If you believe your account has been compromised, change the password to that account and other key accounts as soon as possible. Create a unique password for each account. Your passwords should be long and use a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Should you be denied access to your account because a hacker changed the password, visit the Web service's site immediately and follow the steps it has for recovering an account. For additional information or recommendations about online security in general, please contact us.

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

Browse Through Billionaires' Backgrounds bloomberg.com/billionaires – This fascinating interactive site gives you a look at the world's richest people including Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and several members of the Walton family (of Wal-Mart fame). Get net worth summaries, find out about their prized possessions, and see how the rankings change over time.

Take A Virtual Tour Of The Smithsonian mnh.si.edu/panoramas – The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History showcases amazing collections that give visitors a look at ancient life forms, rare gems, and a variety of other natural science specimens and artifacts. If you can't make it to Washington, D.C., take a virtual tour and roam around at your leisure.

Learn The Latest Sunscreen Guidelines skincancer.org – While skin protection is an all-year issue, it becomes particularly critical during summer months when more skin is exposed. Before you shop for your next bottle of sunscreen, check out this site. It defines the acronyms (UVA, UVB, and SPF) and gives the new rules for sunscreen labels.

Don't Settle For Ho-Hum Hamburgers allrecipes.com – May is National Hamburger Month so it's time to fire up the grill and celebrate. If you're hungry for some new ideas, look through this site's hamburger recipes that range from basic to gourmet. Be sure to watch the video on how to make a perfectly cooked hamburger.

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

Dog Drinking Water ... Very Slowly This footage from "Secret Life of Dogs" shows an Alsatian (or German Shepherd) dog drinking water in ultra slow motion. At times, its tongue looks more like a sea creature. Who knew that such an ordinary activity could look so extraordinary?		Food For Thought On 2,000 Calories The average adult needs to consume about 2,000 calories daily to maintain his or her weight. But what does 2,000 actually look like? This video takes popular foods — including bagels, eggs, Big Macs, and pizza — and shows how much of each totals 2,000 calories.

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Short Tutorial – How To Add Smileys To Your Facebook Comments

Want to go a step beyond text-only emoticons such as :-) when you comment on a friend's Facebook post? As long as you know the "code," you can insert a cute and colorful smiley instead.

Simply type in the right characters, provided in the chart below, and they will change to the corresponding smiley when you post a comment. You'll note there are sometimes several different shortcuts listed for the same smiley; just take your pick.

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Thank You

The Staff at NCKCN






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