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.