It’s October, which means pumpkins are showing up all over. Before you start carving jack o’lanterns for your home, carve out a few minutes to review this issue. It begins with an overview of a massive retail data breach, carried out by hackers as malicious as any Halloween ghouls. Make sure you’re reviewing your payment card accounts regularly!

To really get in the spirit of October, check out the easy-to-make fall centerpieces in the Pinterest section, pumpkin recipes and costume ideas in Sites of the Month, and the time-lapse video of a giant pumpkin growing.

Speaking of growth, it’s important to keep learning more about social media and other online topics. This issue includes an explanation of the recent brouhaha surrounding the Facebook Messenger app and teaches you what to do (and not do) when making a hashtag.

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 2014 Newsletter:

HACKER ALERT – ANOTHER DATA BREACH AT A BIG RETAILER

GO PINTEREST-ING! COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS

THIS MONTH’S FAQ – CAN THE FACEBOOK MESSENGER APP TAKE CONTROL OF MY PHONE?

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 CORRECTLY MAKE A HASHTAG

The Gulfcoast Networking Team

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HACKER ALERT – ANOTHER DATA BREACH AT A BIG RETAILER

Last month, Home Depot announced that hackers had broken into its in-store payments systems in what could be the largest known breach of a retail company’s computer network. The total number of card numbers stolen at Home Depot from April to September 2014 could top 60 million. By comparison, the 2013 breach at Target affected 40 million cardholders.

How can this happen? Hackers scan merchants’ networks for ways to gain remote access, such as through outside contractors who have access to a computer network. Once they find that opening, they install malware that is undetectable by antivirus products. The Department of Homeland Security and the Secret Service estimates that more than 1,000 U.S. businesses have been infected with malware designed to siphon payment card details from cash registers in stores.

Home Depot is offering free identity protection and credit-monitoring services to any customer who used a credit or debit card at any of its affected stores. Read more from Home Depot at this link…

https://corporate.homedepot.com/MediaCenter/Pages/Statement1.aspx

Retailers, banks, and card companies have responded to the breaches by speeding the adoption of microchips in U.S. credit and debit cards. That technology helps make transactions more secure. Home Depot says it plans to have chip-enabled checkout terminals at all of its U.S. stores by the end of this year.

As a matter of routine, closely monitor your payment card accounts and report unusual activity to your issuing bank.

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NEWS FROM THE SHOP

We will have special hours for Bike Fest on Saturday, October 11th.

Is your old, slow computer getting you down?  We can often speed up newer machines with inexpensive upgrades.  If you have been nursing along an antique, it is good to know that even today’s slowest new computers are likely to run circles around your old machine.  Because of the learning curve associated with Windows 8, we are encouraging our older customers and our business customers to go with a Windows 7 machine.  The transition from Windows XP or Windows Vista to Windows 7 isn’t that bad, especially compared to the learning curve for Windows 8.

We will be happy to take a look at your old machine and let you know whether it makes sense to upgrade it or replace it.  Very nice new computers start around $500.

From time to time, we test new cases and configurations.  We have a couple of these machines available.  One is a mini-Skeleton with Windows 7 Home Premium and the other is a low profile system with Windows 7 Pro.  Come by and we’ll make a deal so you can take one of these beauties home with you.

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GO PINTEREST-ING! COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS

Retro Calculator Adds Up To Cool Memories
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775852262622/

You’ll Fall For These Festive Fall Centerpieces
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775852262680/

Coconut Hot Chocolate & Whipped Coconut Cream
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775852262723/

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 – CAN THE FACEBOOK MESSENGER APP TAKE CONTROL OF MY PHONE?

Question: I’ve heard some people have privacy concerns about the standalone version of the Facebook Messenger app. Can this app really take control of my phone?

Answer: In mid-2014, Facebook rolled out the Facebook Messenger app, a standalone version of that social network’s instant chat feature, which users accessed separately on their mobile devices (i.e., without launching the full Facebook app). That rollout prompted renewed interest in a December 2013 article by Sam Fiorella (circulated widely in August 2014) that warned potential Facebook Messenger users that the app’s Terms of Service (TOS) “requires the acceptance of an alarming amount of personal data and direct control over your mobile device.” Rumors started circulating that Facebook could use the app to surreptitiously take over users’ smartphones to take photos or even make phone calls.

According to Facebook, those fears do not reflect reality. “If you want to send a selfie to a friend, the app needs permission to turn on your phone’s camera and capture that photo,” the company said in its message to users. “We don’t turn on your camera or microphone when you aren’t using the app.” In other words, the Facebook Messenger app absolutely CANNOT do these things without YOU initiating them. It needs the permission in advance so that when you ask it to do these things, they work.

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SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN OCTOBER

2014 Gearlink Cup Criterium
This is the fifth year for the Gearlink Cup Criterium races in downtown New Port Richey.  The event will be Saturday, October 4th and this is a great opportunity to see what bicycle racing is all about.

Cotee River Bike Fest 2014This is for the “other” type of bike… the ones with motors.  Bike Fest 2014 will brink thousands of bikers downtown with their rides.  There will be plenty of great entertainment in Sims Park.  This is worth a visit, even if you don’t own a motorcycle.

Has Your Vehicle Been Recalled?
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration makes it easy to check whether any vehicle recalls apply to you. Simply enter the model year, make, and model and do a quick search. You can also enter a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to get more detailed repair information.

Sweet And Savory Pumpkin Recipes
http://allrecipes.com/recipes/fruits-and-vegetables/vegetables/squash/winter-squash/pumpkin/
Pumpkin is the “in” ingredient this time of year, so join the fun by browsing through this collection of pumpkin recipes. You’ll find Harvest Pumpkin Soup, Pumpkin Turkey Chili, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake, and more.

Naturally, you will need a pumpkin to enjoy these recipes.  Boy Scout Troop 8 will be selling pumpkins from October 18th through October 31st.  Look under the trees on Adams Street behind the First United Methodist Church.

Easy Halloween Costumes For Kids
http://www.diynetwork.com/decorating/easy-homemade-halloween-costumes-for-kids/pictures/index.html?i=1
If you haven’t yet figured out what your kids will be for Halloween, you should be able to scare up some great ideas at this site. The costumes are adorable and can be put together pretty easily, even if you aren’t the crafty type.

Advice That’s Right On The Money
http://www.smartaboutmoney.org/
It pays to know as much as you can about money and you can learn a lot here. This site offers financial advice and information for all stages of life including calculators, quizzes, articles on hot topics, and an extensive resource library.

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TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2014/1410_VIDEO_A.htm

Watch A Giant Pumpkin Grow
Check out this incredible time-lapse video that shows a pumpkin grow from a small seedling to become a 636-pound entry in a fair.

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2014/1410_VIDEO_B.htm

Apple Ad Parody From IKEA
Get ready to grin! This very funny commercial for the printed IKEA Catalogue describes it as a “bookbook” with amazing new technology.

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SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO CORRECTLY MAKE A HASHTAG

A hashtag is a phrase or keyword that is preceded by a pound (#) symbol and used by the micro-blogging community to create a thread of conversations around a specific theme or topic. Its purpose is to categorize topics, bring ideas together, inspire exchange, and encourage others to join in.

When you make a new hashtag, follow these guidelines:

~Keep it brief. You only need to add a # before a word to make it a hashtag. The best hashtags are those composed of a single word or a few letters. Twitter experts recommend keeping the keyword under 6 characters.
~Use only numbers and letters in your keyword. Hyphens and dashes will not work.

~Don’t use spaces. Hashtags do not support spaces. So if you’re using two words, skip the space between them.

~Don’t use special characters. Hashtags only work with the # sign. Special characters like “!, $, %, ^, &, *, and +” will not work.

~Don’t start with or use only numbers. For example, hashtags like #123 or #123yo won’t work. Numbers can be used at the end, as in #SXSW14.

In addition, don’t use more than two hashtags in your post. It goes against social media etiquette.

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We hope you found this newsletter to be informative.

Thanks for your business!

Best regards,

Rob Marlowe, Senior Geek

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.)

©2014 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.

Portions ©2014 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission.

The month of August may lead to back-to-school shopping lists, stir up classroom memories from years ago, or inspire you to expand your knowledge of certain subjects. In this spirit, we’ve gathered smart online tips and notes about educational resources.

We want you to be able to outsmart cybercriminals, so study the warning about scams attached to the Amazon name so you’ll be able to identify their tricks. To help you learn more about social media, check out our description of Throwback Thursday and instructions on how to adjust your Facebook News Feed. And don’t miss the Sites of the Month for great places for your brain to visit.

You’ll also find just plain fun things in this August issue; after all, everyone deserves recess! For instance, pick up some clever craft ideas in the Pinterest section and watch videos about cake cutting and tight rope walking.

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 August 2014 Newsletter:

SCAM ALERT – BEWARE OF EMAILS CLAIMING TO BE FROM BIG ONLINE RETAILER

NEWS FROM THE SHOP

GO PINTEREST-ING! COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS

THIS MONTH’S FAQ – WHAT DOES #TBT MEAN?

SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN AUGUST

TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO ADJUST WHAT YOU SEE IN YOUR FACEBOOK NEWS FEED
The Gulfcoast Networking Team

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SCAM ALERT – BEWARE OF EMAILS CLAIMING TO BE FROM BIG ONLINE RETAILER

As the world’s largest online retailer, it’s not surprising that Amazon is a big favorite of scammers. They masquerade as Amazon in an attempt to lure people into opening emails and replying with account details and other personal information. This information can then be used for identity theft.

A wide variety of phishing scams fall into this category and most appeal to either greed or fear. For example, the email may claim that you will get a free Amazon coupon or gift card in exchange for simply filling out a brief survey. Or the email may purport to be from Amazon’s security department, claiming it’s received a password reset request from an unrecognized device; you are told to follow a verification procedure in an attached file to protect your account.

If you receive one of these emails, do not open any attachments or click any links that it contains. Emails from the actual Amazon company will never ask you for personal information. Visit this link for more details…
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=15835501

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NEWS FROM THE SHOP

Need a new computer this fall?  We have the latest systems available and we can get you set up with a system with either Windows 7 (our preference) or Windows 8.1 if you wish.

We will be a coin stop in the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce Invasion to Business Success this month.  Visit the Chamber website for more information and we will see you at the wrap-up social on Thursday August 21st at the West Pasco Board of Realtors.

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GO PINTEREST-ING! COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775851445223/
Clever Bathroom Storage From Pipe

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775851692367/
Whoo, Whoo Wants An Owl Craft Idea?

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775851692290/
Blueberry And White Chocolate Cheesecake

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 – WHAT DOES #TBT MEAN?

Question: Some of my Facebook friends are posting old photos with the hashtag #TBT. What does it mean?

Answer: The hashtag #TBT stands for Throwback Thursday — a weekly social media posting theme that invites users to post content, usually photos, from their past. In addition to Facebook, Throwback Thursday posts are also very popular on Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr.

It’s easy to participate in Throwback Thursday and the “blasts from the past” are a fun conversation starter. Just scan a photo from that dusty photo album on your shelf and post it using one of these hashtags: #TBT, #ThrowbackThursday or #Throwback. Just for fun, you can also check out what celebrities have posted on Throwback Thursdays by visiting https://celebrity.yahoo.com/photos/celebrity-throwback-snaps-1374180938-slideshow/this link.

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SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN AUGUST

Enjoy Fair Food At Home
http://www.food.com/summer-grilling/state-fair-food/package
August is a busy month for state fairs across the U.S. If you just can’t get enough of iconic fair food, check out this fairly spectacular recipe collection. It features favorites such as chocolate bacon, fried Twinkies, corn dogs, blue-ribbon pies, and more.

Learn Fast And Have Fun
http://www.memrise.com/
If back-to-school season has inspired you to learn something new, you may want to check out this education site. There are thousands of free courses — from languages to history to trivia — all using science-based learning techniques to improve your memory and increase your fun.

How Well Do You Know The World?
https://geoguessr.com/
You don’t need to head to the airport to embark on a journey. GeoGuessor’s games take you from desolate roads in Australia to the bustling streets of New York City and many places in between. To play, simply look at a photo and guess its location; the closer you are in miles, the more points you earn Enter Your Birthdate For Cool Statistics http://you.regettingold.com/
We’re all getting older. But thanks to this site, we can also get wiser. Enter your birthdate to see all kinds of factoids including how many birthday candles have been on your cakes so far, approximately how many breaths you’ve taken in total, and major news headlines from each phase of your life.

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TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2014/1408_VIDEO_A.htm

Daredevils Up In The Air
This breathtaking video (as in you’ll be holding your breath) shows men tight rope walking between two hot air balloons, known as skylining.

http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2014/1408_VIDEO_B.htm

Scientific Way To Cut A Cake
You probably cut a round layer cake the same way you cut a pie – in wedges. But check out this better way to cut a cake that will keep it fresher longer.

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SHORT TUTORIAL – HOW TO ADJUST WHAT YOU SEE IN YOUR FACEBOOK NEWS FEED

When you check your News Feed, do you sometimes grumble under your breath about the stories you see there? In other words, is some content just not of interest to you and wasting your time? According to our friends at Facebook, you can make News Feed adjustments by choosing to view stories in the order they’re posted, by hiding stories you don’t want to see, by following or unfollowing friends, and by using friend lists.

Adjust Viewing Order
Click next to News Feed in the top-left corner of your feed to choose which stories you see first. Select Top Stories to see the stories at the top of your Feed, or select Most Recent to see stories in the order they were posted. Keep in mind that Top Stories is the default way to view stories in your Feed.

Hide Stories You Don’t Want To See
To keep stories from people, Pages, or groups from appearing in your News Feed, click the down arrow in the top right of a story. You’ll see the option to Unfollow the person, Page, or group. You can also click “I don’t want to see this” and give Facebook feedback or take more action, like asking the person who posted the story to take it down, or reporting the story to Facebook if it doesn’t follow the Community Standards.

Follow Or Unfollow Your Friends
To adjust the updates you see from friends, you can choose to Follow or Unfollow them. Visit a friend’s Timeline and click the Following button to the right of their profile picture to Unfollow. Unfollowing means you’ll no longer see your friend’s updates in News Feed. Your friend will not be notified if you unfollow them.

Use Friend Lists
Click one of your friend lists on the left side of your homepage to see stories just from the people on that list.

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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, Senior Geek
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.)

©2014 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc

Portions ©2014 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc.