Uncategorized

Identity Theft – How To Protect Your Myspace Profile

Myspace.com, probably the most well known social networking site, and most popular among children and teens, has attracted scam artists, hackers, and identity thieves. From malicious worms that hijack your computer and expose your personal files, to profile hackers who use your profile to bulletin spam, Myspace is ripe with opportunities for hackers to take advantage of unsuspecting or uninformed users.

As of today, May 18th, 2008, a Google search on Myspace Security turns up 4.75 million results, of which the top 10 are about security breaches.

And, just so you know, I am not trying to deter you or your children from using Myspace; I would just like to ensure you do it from a position of knowledge and security.

Protecting You Profile From Intruders

There are several configuration settings now available from Myspace which can protect you and your profile. Below we’ll show you a picture of each of the settings pages and below each picture an explanation of each.

At the end of this post, there is also a video which explains each of my recommended settings.

Privacy Options

The most effective is the settings Profile Viewable By. In the past, Myspace only allowed children 13 years old and younger to use this setting, however it is now enabled for everybody. The settings “my friends only” is the most secure, but does not guarantee your information will remain private. Currently, there is bug in this setting which allows people to view all of your Myspace photos.

As a general rule of thumb when it comes to Myspace and your photos: If you wouldn’t want your mom to see it, don’t put it on Myspace. Also, even if you’re careful, I would recommend un-checking the box for allow my photos to be shared / emailed. The only reason to have this box checked is if you were a band or other business doing promotions or marketing.

Better Use Of Myspace Spam Filters

Using the spam filters provide some of the best identity protection available on myspace. For maximum security and ease of setup, just slide to bar to “high” and save all changes. For those of you who won’t more details, here they are:

• 
• Messages
  • Allow Non-friends to send me messages: Disabling this feature is great for securing your profile, but inhibits the ability for you to make new friends, or for your friends to make contact with you on myspace. For most people, disabling anyone from sending you a message is overkill
  • Require CAPTCHA [?] for non-friends to send me messages: It’s very likely that if you’ve signed up for an account on just about any website in the past year that you have seen CAPTCHA in action. CAPTCHA requires users to type in a word or two which is scrambled up in order to verify that they are human. This system will prevent malicious hackers from using programs called bots or other malware from sending you unwanted messages.
• Friend Requests
  • Require last name or email address: This is a great feature for protecting your profile while allowing people you know to find you (or your kids). They must type in your email address or your last name in order to send you the request.
  • IF you enabled require last name or email address (which I highly recommend), there is no need to require captcha
  • Regarding banks,filmmakers, and comedians… Unless you have a career in one of these areas, or have a deep interest in local and upcoming talent, you should uncheck these boxes.
• Event Invitations
  • Set this to “Allow only my friends and:” and uncheck all of the other boxes
• IM Inivitations
  • Myspace isn’t the best instant messaging platform, either for robustness of features or security. I would disable this and use an IM client such as Windows Live Messenger.

Application Privacy

Another great general rule of thumb for protecting your identity on the internet… Never, under any circumstances trust anything written by a 3rd party. In this case, many of these applications are written by third party developers.  You have no control over what information they have access to, nor do you have control over what gets published straight to the internet. Select the option button “do not share data” and uncheck”allow applications to send me messages and comments.”

Video – How To Protect Your Myspace Profile from Identity Theft

Resources

Protecting Your Identity On Facebook

References

http://www.technologyevangelist.com/2007/02/myspace_should_add_e.html

http://www.misunderestimation.com/index.php/2006/12/27/more-trouble-for-myspace-identity-theft/trackback/

http://securitywatch.eweek.com/exploits_and_attacks/myspace_profile_fake_microft_patch_malware_cocktail.html#trackback

http://securitywatch.eweek.com/google/flash_phishing_myspace_passwords_and_hacking_pdfs.html#trackback

http://www.misunderestimation.com/index.php/2006/12/04/myspace-security-alert-a-new-worm/trackback/

http://www.shankrila.com/tech-stuff/myspace-private-profiles-arent-that-private/trackback/

http://cybernetnews.com/2008/01/18/prevent-someone-from-viewing-private-myspace-pictures/trackback/

http://www.masey.com.au/blog/index.php/2006/11/protect-yourself-against-myspace-profile-hacking/trackback/

http://blog.spywareguide.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/178

Popularity: 3% [?]

Did you enjoy this post? Please subscribe to my RSS feed.

Thanks for visiting!

5 Reasons You Should Recycle Computer Monitors & How To Do it.

Why Should You Recycle Your Computer Monitor?

Do you have a monitor that looks like this? Perhaps it’s connected to your computer, or maybe it doesn’t work anymore and it’s sitting in a closet.

Reason #1 Why You Should Recycle Your Computer Monitor:

It is estimated that 500 million monitors just like this are going to be replaced this year.

Conservatively, this means we will be placing over 8 billion pounds of toxic lead into landfills, and potentially into our water supply. Millions more will end up floating in oceans, lakes, and streams. According to the EPA, lead in drinking water inhibited physical and mental development in babies and children. In adults, lead has been shown to increase blood pressure, and increase kidney disease.

Reason #2 Why You Should Recycle Your Computer Monitor:

If not incinerated that big ol’ box of a monitor will sit in the landfill for over 300,000 years. The components decompose extremely slowly, and use up valuable landfill space. The last thing the world needs is to build more landfills.

Reason #4 Why You Should Recycle Your Computer Monitor:

CRT monitors also contain hazardous materials such as mecury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium (made famous in the movie Erin Brochovich). These forms of chromium can cause all kinds of life threatening diseases and birth defects. 

Reason #5 Why You Should Recycle Your Computer Monitor:

It’s the Law. The EPA updated the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act which includes guideslines for the disposal of computer monitors. Many states have made it illegal to landfill monitors

How To Recycle Your Computer Monitor

Many states have local companies where you can either drop off, or have picked up, your old monitor. There is a recylcing fee, typically around $10 per monitor, excluding pick-up fees.

You can take a look at http://www.pcdisposal.com. They have a large range of recycling options for smalled bussines and consumers

When you go to the consumer page, all you have to do is press the click here to begin link.

PCDisposal.com is HIPAA, and EPA compliant!

Popularity: 2% [?]

15 Dog Food Coupons and Pet Supply Coupons

Dog Food Coupons For U.S. Customers

Dog Food Coupon #1

Enter the code GEICO at checkout to take 20% off your entire order:

The Best Dog Food Coupon Anywhere

Dog Food Coupon #2 -

This coupon saves 10% off of your entire order. Includes all pet products

Dog Food Coupon #3 -

This coupon takes$15 off your oder over $175. Includes all pet products

Dog Food Coupon #4 -

This coupon saves 5% off of your order over $75. Includes all pet products

Dog Food Coupon #5 -

This coupon saves 5% off of your first order. Includes all pet products

Other US Dog Food Coupons:

www.HeartyPets.com

Coupon Code : ( OR8PCT )
Gets you 8% off your total order of Orijen.

Coupon Code : ( NEWS5 )
Gets you 5% off your total order of any food.

Coupon Code : (M5SPG )
Gets you $5.00 of any order of $65.00 or more.

www.Petco.com

Coupon Code : ( springsavings )
Gets you free shipping on your online order of $50 or more.

www.SitStay.com

Coupon Code : ( DOGLOVER )
Gets you 10% off your entire online order.

Coupon Code : ( HAPPYBDAY )
Gets you $5 off your online order of $45 or more.

www.PetSmart.com

Coupon Code : ( SAVEAPR )
Gets you 15% off your online order of $70 or more.

Coupon Code : ( CBNPET )
Gets you $5 off your online order of $45 or more.

Coupon Code : ( LUCKY )
Gets you $5 off your online order of $30 or more

Dog Food Coupons for U.K. Customers

Dog Food Coupon #1 -

Save 10% off of your first order. Includes all pet products

Popularity: 2% [?]

3 Excellent Organic Shaving Creams

In my earlier article Organic Shaving Cream – 3 Reasons Why You Need To Throw Out Your Shaving Cream, I asserted that organic shaving cream works better, is better for you, and is actually less expensive than regular shaving cream.

I wanted to show you a couple of organic shaving cream products and shaving cream "systems" that I have used. I have very sensitive skin, and previously would get ingrown hairs anytime I shaved. Some gels and creams were better than others, but none of the typical "grocery store" brands ever alleviated the problem.

I had moderate to complete success with each of these three products. The Aubrey Organics "Mens Stock Shaving System" is the one I now use daily because it doesn’t irritate my skin and I no longer get razor burn / bumps, or ingrown hairs.

Organic Shaving Creams and Shaving Systems

• Water, Glycerin (from vegetable oil), Coconut Oil, Ptassium and Sodium stearate (from vegetable oil soap)
• Olive Fruit Oil, Peppermint Oil, Vitamin E (from soybeans), Jojoba Seed Oil

Popularity: 3% [?]

Organic Shaving Cream – 3 Reasons Why You Need To Throw Out Your Shaving Cream

Reason #1 – Organic Shaving Cream Works Better

A good shaving cream serves three purposes:

1. Provides a protective barrier between your skin and the razor blade

2. Reduces friction between the skin and your razor blade

3. Stands the hair on end allowing for a closer, more even shave

With that in mind, consider the popular brands of shaving cream. They typically come in a foam, or a gel that turns to foam. There are all kinds of unnatural emulsifiers added to various forms of soap, acids, and hydrogenated fats that produce a thick, white foam.

Organic shaving cream on the other hand use aloe vera, coconut oil, and other natural oils and emulsifiers which provide better protection, anti-friction, as well as excellent skin conditioning; all providing a smoother shave with fewer nicks and cuts.

Also, unlike the national brands, the organics use in natural shaving cream smell really good.

Reason #2 – Organic Shaving Cream is 100%… Saving Cream

Did you know that your shaving cream is mostly air?

In a typical aerosol can, the shaving cream ingredients occupy only a small portion of the can. The propellant or gas occupies 4 to 5 percent of the can; a larger amount would dry the shaving cream as it came out of the can, rendering it unusable.

Organic shaving cream does not use aerosol, and doesn’t use ingredient that will dry up as long as the package is sealed. This means that when you buy a 6 oz. tube of organic shaving cream, it’s like buying 5 to 10 cans of aerosol shaving cream!

Reason #3 – Organic Shaving Cream Is Natural

Please bare with me while I try to present some logic; don’t worry, I’ll provide some research to back it up later.

I’m not a doctor, but there are some things that seem pretty obvious to me. For instance, I don’t know what it is, but I wouldn’t put PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE on my liver, or use ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER for heart burn.

In case you’re not aware, the skin (actually the dermis) is the largest organ in the human body. Combine that with the fact that we know things can absorb through skin and into the blood stream (this is how nicotine patches work),  and it becomes obvious that it doesn’t make much sense to put these things on your skin.

Unfortunately, these are just a small example of the chemicals that are in most shaving creams. To make matters worse, some of the chemicals in shaving cream are proven carcinogens (cancer causing agents!)

Next time you go to the supermarket, look at your brand of shaving cream. Brands such as Barbasol, Colgate, Edge, Gillette, and Noxema usually contain an innocuous sounding chemical called triethanolamine (also known as TEA on product labels). Fatty acids like TEA are used as emollients and thickeners in numerous consumer products, including cosmetic formulations, shampoos, hair dyes, and bath additives.

Triethanolamine by itself is not particularly toxic but it usually contains small amounts of diethanolamine (also abbreviated on labels as DEA). In a recent experimental study conducted under the auspices of the federal National Toxicology Program, diethanolamine was found to cause liver tumors.

To make matters worse, DEA forms an even more potent carcinogen in the presence of nitrosating contaminants that enter raw materials through the environment or from bulk storage containers. The carcinogen (known as nitrosodiethanolamine) may even be formed while products sit on store shelves. Not all products will become contaminated, but some will and some won’t. The consumer has no way of knowing which products contain carcinogenic contaminants.

Organic Shaving Creams and Shave Systems

Today I wrote an article on the organic shaving creams and shave systems that I like the most. Here’s a link:

3 Excellent Organic Shaving Creams and Shave Systems

I’ll also be trying more products, and writing detailed reviews that include pictures of the product, as well as my skin over a 2 week period. If you wish to receive updates on these product reviews, click on the link below.

Click here for email updates

Grocery Store Shaving Cream Ingredients

Here’s a list of the common ingredients found in shaving cream:

WATER (AQUA)
GLYCERIN
SQUALANE
BUTYLENE GLYCOL
MYRISTIC ACID
PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE
STEARIC ACID
CETYL ALCOHOL
HYDROGENATED COCO-GLYCERIDES
TROMETHAMINE
COCO-GLUCOSIDE
GLYCERYL STEARATE
PEG-100 STEARATE
OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT OIL
OLEA EUROPAEA (OLIVE) FRUIT EXTRACT
SHOREA ROBUSTA SEED BUTTER
LIMNANTHES ALBA (MEADOWFOAM) SEED OIL
CITRUS AURANTIUM AMARA (BITTER ORANGE) PEEL EXTRACT
BETULA ALBA JUICE
VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED OIL
ILEX PARAGUARIENSIS LEAF EXTRACT
SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS (JOJOBA) SEED OIL
MALVA SYLVESTRIS (MALLOW) EXTRACT
TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891)
FRAGRANCE (PARFUM)
ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER
TETRASODIUM EDTA
XANTHAN GUM
COCONUT ALCOHOL
PROPYLENE GLYCOL
ASCORBYL TETRAISOPALMITATE
MANGANESE GLUCONATE
PEG-40 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL
POTASSIUM SORBATE
AMYL CINNAMAL
BUTYLPHENYL METHYLPROPIONAL
CITRAL
LIMONENE
LINALOOL
PHENOXYETHANOL
BUTYLPARABEN
ETHYLPARABEN
ISOBUTYLPARABEN
METHYLPARABEN
PROPYLPARABEN
BHT

Popularity: 10% [?]