Happy Halloween! We’ve put together a scary good issue to help you make the most of the month of October. It starts with a warning about malicious software dressed up to look like a Facebook video. (It’s living proof that not all costumed characters are as harmless as the kids at your door on Halloween.) Please stay alert whenever you’re online!
Also in this issue, you’ll find plenty of inspiration for fun fall projects you can do with your family. Check out Go Pinterest-ing!, Sites of the Month, and Two to View for Halloween ideas including pumpkin carving, crafts, and costumes. To sharpen your online skills, don’t miss our tips on how to email large files and how to get started with Vine, the app that makes it easy to share short videos.
We think you’ll find the information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable tool for enhancing your Internet experience.
Here’s what’s inside our October 2013 Newsletter:
MALWARE ALERT – MALICIOUS SOFTWARE MASQUERADING AS A FACEBOOK VIDEO
NEWS FROM THE SHOP
GO-PINTEREST-ING! COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS
THIS MONTH’S FAQ – HOW DO I SEND SEVERAL LARGE FILES BY EMAIL?
SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN OCTOBER
TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO GET STARTED WITH VINE
The Gulfcoast Networking Team
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MALWARE ALERT – MALICIOUS SOFTWARE MASQUERADING AS A FACEBOOK VIDEO
A piece of malware masquerading as a Facebook video is hijacking users’ Facebook accounts and Web browsers. The malware appears as a link in an email or Facebook message telling people they have been tagged in a Facebook post. When users go to Facebook and click the link, they are sent to a separate website and prompted to download a browser extension or plug-in to watch a video. Once that plug-in is downloaded, the attackers can access everything stored in the browser including accounts with saved passwords.
This malware is spreading rapidly and replicating itself primarily by hijacking victims’ Facebook accounts and reaching out to their friends on the social network. A user hit by the malicious software cannot easily remove it, since it blocks access to the browser settings that allow it to be removed and also blocks access to many sites that offer virus removal software.
This is not the first instance of an attack through a browser extension, which is a bit of software that allows a browser to perform specific functions, much like an app does for a smartphone. But this attack appears to be one of the most extensive to use the technology.
Security experts remind users that just as you shouldn’t click on email attachments from unknown sources, you shouldn’t click “accept” to install a plug-in from an unknown site. Only install legitimate software from well-known websites you trust.
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NEWS FROM THE SHOP
Thinking of buying a new computer? Come by and see us this month.
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GO-PINTEREST-ING! COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS
Football Pretzel Bites
Are Game Day Winners
http://pinterest.com/pin/291537775849229505/
Adorable Halloween
Door Decorations
http://pinterest.com/pin/291537775849229386/
Try Pumpkin Spice
Latte Cupcakes
http://pinterest.com/pin/291537775849229359/
You haven’t started pinning on Pinterest yet and you want to get started?
To sign up, go here https://pinterest.com/join/signup/
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THIS MONTH’S FAQ – HOW DO I SEND SEVERAL LARGE FILES BY EMAIL?
Question: Sometimes when I try to attach several large files to an email, it doesn’t go through. I’m told the attachments exceeded the allowable limit. What should I do?
Answer: This is a common problem; we’ve all run into roadblocks trying to share large files by email. You can try sending the files one by one in separate emails to get around the size limits. But if you have very many files to send, this can be a time-consuming way to go. Another option is to use one of the many free online services for sending and receiving large files. Here are three of the most popular ones to consider:
Dropbox, WikiSend, and Senduit.
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SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN OCTOBER
Find The Perfect Recipe … Fast!
http://www.yummly.com
This recipe site truly is a feast for the eyes. You’ll get hungry as you browse through its huge collection of appetizing food photos. Quickly search by a specific dish or use handy filters including ingredients, occasions, tastes, diets, allergies, cuisines, courses, and sources. Launched by foodies for foodies, it’s a delicious resource.
Halloween Headquarters
http://www.spoonful.com/halloween
Don’t be scared by all the Halloween preparations ahead! Spoonful has everything covered for you here — costumes for any kid, pumpkin-carving ideas, easy crafts, spooky recipes, ghoulish games, indoor and outdoor decorations, and safety tips. Don’t miss the boo-tiful section just on ghost projects and treats.
How To Compare Anything
http://www.diffen.com
This site does one thing and does it well. It helps you understand the difference between any two things. Just enter two different words or phrases in the boxes provided and click on “Compare.” Up will pop a side-by-side comparison chart. Popular comparisons include Epidemic vs. Pandemic, Their vs. There, and CT Scan vs. MRI.
See Under The Sea Thanks To Google Maps
http://www.google.com/maps/views/streetview/oceans?gl=us&hl=en-us
When you think of Google Maps, you probably think of getting directions to an unfamiliar hotel or home. But there’s a whole new world to enjoy. Google Maps recently introduced a feature called “Street View Oceans,” which lets you look around under the sea in a variety of places around the world.
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TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2013/1310_VIDEO_A.htm
Flying Over America
Imagine you’re a bird flying above some of the most spectacular spots in America — from sea to shining sea. That’s the feeling you’ll get from this video. From the Statue of Liberty to the Golden Gate Bridge, it takes you past cityscapes and landscapes.
http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2013/1310_VIDEO_B.htm
Pumpkin Ideas From Disney
Don’t settle for the “same old, same old” jack o’ lanterns this Halloween. Check out what Disney does with pumpkins during the fall season at Magic Kingdom Park. They’re decorated to look like Disney characters, a snowman, a hot dog, and more.
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SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO GET STARTED WITH VINE
Vine is a mobile app that allows users to film short videos — maximum length six seconds — on their wireless devices for one-touch sharing to Twitter and Facebook. The secret to Vine’s success is elegant simplicity. Vines (as the short clips are known) are effortless to shoot and play an automatic loop as users scroll through their feeds. There are no editing functions; Vines appear in the raw, giving them a poignant immediacy.
Just follow these steps to get started with Vine:
1. Get Vine. Visit the App Store (iOS users) or Google Play (Android users) to download the Vine app to your wireless device. Note: Tablet and iPod users may need to download the phone version.
2. Sign in. If you log in using your Twitter account, Vine will automatically populate your name and profile information. Alternately, you can enter an email address to create a new profile.
3. Take the guided tour. To begin filming, click the camera icon in the screen’s upper-right corner. The first time you do this, Vine offers an optional tutorial. Click “Yes” to receive onscreen prompting as you make your first video.
4. Shoot something. From the in-app camera, touch the screen to record and remove your finger to pause. Repeat until you’ve filmed six seconds of footage. (The green status bar at the top measures elapsed time.) When finished, your film will play automatically on a loop. Click the green check mark to accept and share or “X” to reject and start over.
5. Share your work. When you accept your film, a screen appears where you can enter a caption, location, and assign a topic channel (Comedy, Family, etc.). The caption field supports Twitter-style hashtags (#royalbaby, #stopmotion, etc.). This is also where you choose the social networks to which you will share your film. To finish, touch “Done.” Note: Films can only be shared from the app immediately after you shoot them. However, your device saves a copy to its camera roll.
6. Make yourself at home. Touch the icon in the upper-left corner of the screen to access a pull-down menu. Use the options to update your profile, follow others, and explore new content.
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We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It’s our way of keeping you posted on the happenings at our shop.
Thanks for your business!
Best regards,
Rob Marlowe
Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
6335 Grand Blvd
New Port Richey, FL 34652
727-847-2424
(We have used our best efforts in collecting and preparing the information published herein. However, we do not assume, and hereby disclaim, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence, accident, or other causes.)
©2013 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
Portions ©2013 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission