Here's a product I hadn't heard of 'til a few months ago. I am testing it out on one of my home computers and have been using Online Armour for about 2 months.
I am using the free version of this software and found the download and installation processes very easy to manage.
Here's a Wikipedia article if you'd like to read about Online Armor:
Online Armor Personal Firewall (Wikipedia)
And here's a download link:
Download Onload Armor
This software is more user-friendly than some other free and purchased firewalls that I have used in the past.
Leave some comments, please, if you decide to test out this software!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Hey It's "ME" Phishing Scam
Phishers want you to click the links they send out in emails.
One really simple-looking phishing email that is bound to catch thousands of people is the one that has "me" in the 'sender' spot and says something like,
Do Not Reply To This Email.
Visit our site "site link here"
Short and sweet, huh?
DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK and visit the site!
Nobody using as 'friendly' or as 'intimate' a sender title as 'ME' would leave just a bare link in an email. They would tell you something more 'friendly' or 'intimate' in an email so that you can be sure that 'me' a 'friend' or someone you know.
One really simple-looking phishing email that is bound to catch thousands of people is the one that has "me" in the 'sender' spot and says something like,
Do Not Reply To This Email.
Visit our site "site link here"
Short and sweet, huh?
DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK and visit the site!
Nobody using as 'friendly' or as 'intimate' a sender title as 'ME' would leave just a bare link in an email. They would tell you something more 'friendly' or 'intimate' in an email so that you can be sure that 'me' a 'friend' or someone you know.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Blogchex gone
Sorry,
One of the sites I advertised in my sidebar - Blogchex - it's gone now.
I had quite a few posts there and had accumulated quite a bit of funds, but...
Ah, well
Gone
I'm sort of speechless 'cos the site was THERE, online for a very long time, as far as money-making sites go.
Off I go to remove 'that link' from my other blogs and sites - and to do more searching about what happened to the site. I didn't receive any emails or anything, so for now, I'm assuming that the site just FAILED.
Bye bye earnings.
*pfffffttt*
One of the sites I advertised in my sidebar - Blogchex - it's gone now.
I had quite a few posts there and had accumulated quite a bit of funds, but...
Ah, well
Gone
I'm sort of speechless 'cos the site was THERE, online for a very long time, as far as money-making sites go.
Off I go to remove 'that link' from my other blogs and sites - and to do more searching about what happened to the site. I didn't receive any emails or anything, so for now, I'm assuming that the site just FAILED.
Bye bye earnings.
*pfffffttt*
Thursday, March 13, 2008
I Cannot See Your Ads!
I'm surfing in Traffic Exchanges as a pro-active way to grab visitors for my website and offers. I also promote this blog in a few exchanges - you may have ended up on this blog if you're a member of some of the same exchanges that I use.
Again - here is the problem:
I cannot see your ads!
The reason:
You are promoting a page only which happens to have a video or clunky audio load on it!
The Traffic Exchange I am using has a 20 second timer but your video/audio takes 40 seconds to load. I can't wait for it to load because I have to 'get surfing' and earn credits.
I'm really sorry but I missed your offer.
Here's a solution:
Promote a SPLASHPAGE which has a link on it - leading to your page with the video/audio.
If I have time and your splash page is attrative and gains my attention, I will visit your page with the video/audio on it and check out your offer.
Here's a Traffic Exchange that will allow you to make a Splash Page from within your member area. The program already gives you more than 5 professionally designed splash pages connected with referral links for the Traffic Exchange itself. Therefore, you can use the splash page generator on-site to create a splash page for one of your other programs.
The exchange is Click Voyager:
Here are 3 examples of Splash Pages that Click Voyager already has in each member's area for each member to use for promotion:
Click Voyager "Surfing League" Splashpage
Click Voyager "Think You Can Keep Up?"/Contest Splashpage
Click Voyager "Surfer Stopper" Splashpage
There are more free, ready made splash pages for you to use inside your Click Voyager account when you sign up for free. I just showed 3 of them so you can have a look and make sure that the pages load quickly (they do!) and are attractive.
If you want your pages to actually be seen, and you're using Traffic Exchanges and click programs with timers, it is a good idea to direct viewers to your pages via splashpages.
You may think "oh, well, if my page is not directly shown FIRST, I haven't got a chance!" but YOU ARE WRONG!
If a person visits your page after clicking PAST your splash page, they have already made the decision to SEE YOUR PAGE and learn more about your offer. Otherwise, no, they won't go past your splash page. In the latter case, you have had only as much 'luck' as in showing your bad-loading referral/promo page with the vid/audio components that people aren't really paying attention to anyway.
Again - here is the problem:
I cannot see your ads!
The reason:
You are promoting a page only which happens to have a video or clunky audio load on it!
The Traffic Exchange I am using has a 20 second timer but your video/audio takes 40 seconds to load. I can't wait for it to load because I have to 'get surfing' and earn credits.
I'm really sorry but I missed your offer.
Here's a solution:
Promote a SPLASHPAGE which has a link on it - leading to your page with the video/audio.
If I have time and your splash page is attrative and gains my attention, I will visit your page with the video/audio on it and check out your offer.
Here's a Traffic Exchange that will allow you to make a Splash Page from within your member area. The program already gives you more than 5 professionally designed splash pages connected with referral links for the Traffic Exchange itself. Therefore, you can use the splash page generator on-site to create a splash page for one of your other programs.
The exchange is Click Voyager:
Here are 3 examples of Splash Pages that Click Voyager already has in each member's area for each member to use for promotion:
Click Voyager "Surfing League" Splashpage
Click Voyager "Think You Can Keep Up?"/Contest Splashpage
Click Voyager "Surfer Stopper" Splashpage
There are more free, ready made splash pages for you to use inside your Click Voyager account when you sign up for free. I just showed 3 of them so you can have a look and make sure that the pages load quickly (they do!) and are attractive.
If you want your pages to actually be seen, and you're using Traffic Exchanges and click programs with timers, it is a good idea to direct viewers to your pages via splashpages.
You may think "oh, well, if my page is not directly shown FIRST, I haven't got a chance!" but YOU ARE WRONG!
If a person visits your page after clicking PAST your splash page, they have already made the decision to SEE YOUR PAGE and learn more about your offer. Otherwise, no, they won't go past your splash page. In the latter case, you have had only as much 'luck' as in showing your bad-loading referral/promo page with the vid/audio components that people aren't really paying attention to anyway.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Comical Spammer/Scam Son of Jefri Bolkiah
Here's a GREAT Spam email that I received today
* Note - do NOT click on links - I aim to disable them with spacing after I paste, but just in case, keep clear of anything that looks like a link in this post!
Dear Friend,
I am Fayad, the son of PRINCE JEFRI BOLKIAH who was the former Finance Minister along side chairman of the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA). Before I proceed, I would like you to view the website below as reported by the British Broadcasting Co-operation (BBC) for a better understanding of what am about to explain to you:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/67095 somethingelseblahblahblahLINKDISABLED!
As you may know from the international media above, the Sultan had falsely accused my father of financial mismanagement and impropriety of US$14.8 Billion. The huge loss was as a result of the Asian financial crisis which made government owned Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) to be declared bankrupt. I had dispatched money US$600 Million under special arrangement abroad and now I seek your good will & assistance to receive and invest these funds into profitable business investment in your country to facilitate future survival for me and my family abroad.
The amount accrued from the crude oil sales over the period of six years and The funds have nothing to do with any form of illegality and all documentations needed to authenticate the fact that the funds are clean and has no links whatsoever with either drugs or terrorism where processed. The money where Deposited with a safe Deposit Company in United Kingdom from where they where dispatched into various Warehouses in the following countries: US$50 Million is in England, US$60 Million is in Belgium, US$100 Million is in Spain, US$40 Million is in Saudi Arabia, US$ 80 Million is in United Arab Emirate, US$100 Millions in Malaysia, US$ 70 Million in Canada while the balance of US$100 Million are in two (2) offshore Banks.
I am unable to reach my friends & associates whom would have provided all the much needed moral and financial assistance I require to release the funds because my private/personal diary was seized by the Sultan. I seek your good will & assistance to receive and invest these funds into profitable business investment in your country to facilitate future survival for me and my family abroad. I am counting on your absolute transparency, honesty and confidentiality which this transaction deserves while looking forward to your prompt reply.
I am counting on your absolute confidentiality, transparency and trust towards a swift conclusion of this project.
I await your Urgent Reply.
Sincerely,
Fayad
bfayad3@yahoo.com
So anyhow, at least I know, before I delete this email that Fayad thinks of me as a friend!
Awwwe. I wonder if Fayad's real name is Jeffrey or Geoffrey something-last name-that-starts with a 'b'?
Certainly we all should have heard of Prince Jefri, now, right?
Please do me a favour, people...
Take a day out of the week and spend just 5 minutes REPORTING these emails instead of clicking the convenient delete checkbox and deleting in mass quantities. Yes, I know that most people are now aware of and are able to detect spam/scam mails at a glance with silly headlines like "I am the son of prince to give you money" and "You have been named as heir to--" but these still need to be reported.
Otherwise, spammer/scammers just switch to another convenient free hotmail or yahoo address and keep on spamming/scamming. Sometimes, even though some email services are 'anonymous' ones, they are able to detect users who spam and report to their internet service providers, telephone companies, etc. It's a long shot - but isn't it better than constantly checking boxes forever?
* Note - the looks of the original link were very misleading - seeming to be from an internet website that most people would trust. The link LOOKED LIKE a reputable International NEWS and REPORTING website - and the son of the prince asked me to go check out the news story there so I would 'know' that he is legitimate....again - blahblahblah, right?
SOME PEOPLE would click on that link, thinking they were going to the trusted news source.
But we know better, eh?
;)
* Note - do NOT click on links - I aim to disable them with spacing after I paste, but just in case, keep clear of anything that looks like a link in this post!
Dear Friend,
I am Fayad, the son of PRINCE JEFRI BOLKIAH who was the former Finance Minister along side chairman of the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA). Before I proceed, I would like you to view the website below as reported by the British Broadcasting Co-operation (BBC) for a better understanding of what am about to explain to you:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/67095 somethingelseblahblahblahLINKDISABLED!
As you may know from the international media above, the Sultan had falsely accused my father of financial mismanagement and impropriety of US$14.8 Billion. The huge loss was as a result of the Asian financial crisis which made government owned Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) to be declared bankrupt. I had dispatched money US$600 Million under special arrangement abroad and now I seek your good will & assistance to receive and invest these funds into profitable business investment in your country to facilitate future survival for me and my family abroad.
The amount accrued from the crude oil sales over the period of six years and The funds have nothing to do with any form of illegality and all documentations needed to authenticate the fact that the funds are clean and has no links whatsoever with either drugs or terrorism where processed. The money where Deposited with a safe Deposit Company in United Kingdom from where they where dispatched into various Warehouses in the following countries: US$50 Million is in England, US$60 Million is in Belgium, US$100 Million is in Spain, US$40 Million is in Saudi Arabia, US$ 80 Million is in United Arab Emirate, US$100 Millions in Malaysia, US$ 70 Million in Canada while the balance of US$100 Million are in two (2) offshore Banks.
I am unable to reach my friends & associates whom would have provided all the much needed moral and financial assistance I require to release the funds because my private/personal diary was seized by the Sultan. I seek your good will & assistance to receive and invest these funds into profitable business investment in your country to facilitate future survival for me and my family abroad. I am counting on your absolute transparency, honesty and confidentiality which this transaction deserves while looking forward to your prompt reply.
I am counting on your absolute confidentiality, transparency and trust towards a swift conclusion of this project.
I await your Urgent Reply.
Sincerely,
Fayad
bfayad3@yahoo.com
So anyhow, at least I know, before I delete this email that Fayad thinks of me as a friend!
Awwwe. I wonder if Fayad's real name is Jeffrey or Geoffrey something-last name-that-starts with a 'b'?
Certainly we all should have heard of Prince Jefri, now, right?
Please do me a favour, people...
Take a day out of the week and spend just 5 minutes REPORTING these emails instead of clicking the convenient delete checkbox and deleting in mass quantities. Yes, I know that most people are now aware of and are able to detect spam/scam mails at a glance with silly headlines like "I am the son of prince to give you money" and "You have been named as heir to--" but these still need to be reported.
Otherwise, spammer/scammers just switch to another convenient free hotmail or yahoo address and keep on spamming/scamming. Sometimes, even though some email services are 'anonymous' ones, they are able to detect users who spam and report to their internet service providers, telephone companies, etc. It's a long shot - but isn't it better than constantly checking boxes forever?
* Note - the looks of the original link were very misleading - seeming to be from an internet website that most people would trust. The link LOOKED LIKE a reputable International NEWS and REPORTING website - and the son of the prince asked me to go check out the news story there so I would 'know' that he is legitimate....again - blahblahblah, right?
SOME PEOPLE would click on that link, thinking they were going to the trusted news source.
But we know better, eh?
;)
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Another Obvious SCAM email.
*Note - this is a plain and simple 'copy & paste' of the email I received. Meant to show you exactly what the format looks like - NOT - for you to respond to this Scammer's offer...
It's from a 'generic' address - alexnnnnnk @ windowslive.com. This person probably sends out the same email using the addresses alexnnk @ windowslive.com, alexnnnk @ windowslive.com, alexnnnnk @ windowslive.com, possibly even alexxxnk @ windowslive.com. The number of 'n' or 'x' characters present in the email is probably how this scammer keeps track of his scam mails and may use any variations of name that windows will allow because it's a FREE service...Mr Alex Cole - likely not a real name - probably has this letter attached to at least 10 windowslive addresses just for spamming people.
Here's the email:
From Mr. Alex Cole.
553 East Trent Blvd., North London
London, UK.
Hello Dear Friend,
Good day to you, I greet you in the name of our lord Jesus Christ, My name is Mr. Alex Cole, I'm artist by profession, I'm a British Citizen and I base in London United Kingdom UK, I'm married with 3kids. I got your email address on the British Chamber of Commerce and I decided to contact you.
Actually I'm looking for a representative in UNITED STATES OF AMERIC USA,I'm searching for a reliable person in AMERICA to be my partner, I need someone who can be receiving payment on my behalf as my representative in AMERICA, I always find it very difficult to receive money/payment from my customers in AMERICA, because my customers are companies, and companies always like to pay with their company checks, and here in London United Kingdom UK, These Companies checks are not accepted here in London and they cannot be cashed here, So I'm finding it very difficult to collect my money/payments from my customers, so therefore I'm searching for a honest person who can be receiving funds/payment in AMERICA on my behalf.
This offer won't effect your present work, it has nothing to do with your present work, and you will be earning $2000.00 every Friday of the week,because I have many customers in AMERICA, At least you will earn $2000.00 per week as your salary, and for your information. You won't involve your money in this job, not even a dime, you won't spend any money from your pocket in this offer, and all the expenses will be from me. You don't have anything to loose.
If you are interested, all I need from you are the information's below
to enable us start immediately,
the information's are:
1. Your Complete Full Names.
2: Your House Address.
3: Your House Phone.
4: Your Age.
5: Your Profession.
If you would prefer I could get a p.o. box for my mail. Let me know! As soon as I receive the above details from you, I will have all my customers to send payments to you as my AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE, you will be receiving cash on my behalf, Remember that you won't involve any of your money in this offer, I will take care of all the expenses ok, so you don't have anything to worry.Kindly email me immediately you receive this mail, I will be waiting for your soonest reply, Thanks for understanding and have a nice day.
Regards,
Mr Alex Cole.
==============================================
And you have a nice day, too, Mr. Alex Cole...likely people will start reporting Mr. Alex Cole from alexnnnnnk @ windowslive.com as a scammer and spammer, so Mr. Alex Cole will show up with this same email under a hotmail address, a yahoo ID or something else. Mr. Alex Cole will just make a new email account at more free services and keep emailing this garbage...
It's from a 'generic' address - alexnnnnnk @ windowslive.com. This person probably sends out the same email using the addresses alexnnk @ windowslive.com, alexnnnk @ windowslive.com, alexnnnnk @ windowslive.com, possibly even alexxxnk @ windowslive.com. The number of 'n' or 'x' characters present in the email is probably how this scammer keeps track of his scam mails and may use any variations of name that windows will allow because it's a FREE service...Mr Alex Cole - likely not a real name - probably has this letter attached to at least 10 windowslive addresses just for spamming people.
Here's the email:
From Mr. Alex Cole.
553 East Trent Blvd., North London
London, UK.
Hello Dear Friend,
Good day to you, I greet you in the name of our lord Jesus Christ, My name is Mr. Alex Cole, I'm artist by profession, I'm a British Citizen and I base in London United Kingdom UK, I'm married with 3kids. I got your email address on the British Chamber of Commerce and I decided to contact you.
Actually I'm looking for a representative in UNITED STATES OF AMERIC USA,I'm searching for a reliable person in AMERICA to be my partner, I need someone who can be receiving payment on my behalf as my representative in AMERICA, I always find it very difficult to receive money/payment from my customers in AMERICA, because my customers are companies, and companies always like to pay with their company checks, and here in London United Kingdom UK, These Companies checks are not accepted here in London and they cannot be cashed here, So I'm finding it very difficult to collect my money/payments from my customers, so therefore I'm searching for a honest person who can be receiving funds/payment in AMERICA on my behalf.
This offer won't effect your present work, it has nothing to do with your present work, and you will be earning $2000.00 every Friday of the week,because I have many customers in AMERICA, At least you will earn $2000.00 per week as your salary, and for your information. You won't involve your money in this job, not even a dime, you won't spend any money from your pocket in this offer, and all the expenses will be from me. You don't have anything to loose.
If you are interested, all I need from you are the information's below
to enable us start immediately,
the information's are:
1. Your Complete Full Names.
2: Your House Address.
3: Your House Phone.
4: Your Age.
5: Your Profession.
If you would prefer I could get a p.o. box for my mail. Let me know! As soon as I receive the above details from you, I will have all my customers to send payments to you as my AMERICAN REPRESENTATIVE, you will be receiving cash on my behalf, Remember that you won't involve any of your money in this offer, I will take care of all the expenses ok, so you don't have anything to worry.Kindly email me immediately you receive this mail, I will be waiting for your soonest reply, Thanks for understanding and have a nice day.
Regards,
Mr Alex Cole.
==============================================
And you have a nice day, too, Mr. Alex Cole...likely people will start reporting Mr. Alex Cole from alexnnnnnk @ windowslive.com as a scammer and spammer, so Mr. Alex Cole will show up with this same email under a hotmail address, a yahoo ID or something else. Mr. Alex Cole will just make a new email account at more free services and keep emailing this garbage...
Friday, November 9, 2007
bid4prizes .com - Check This Out!
Bid 4 Prizes .com
http://www.bid4prizes.com/
Reverse, low-bid auction site.
Win the prize that has lowest bid/number at Bid 4 Prizes .com
This site is easy to navigate and has already paid out $342 186 in prizes to date!
Play arcade games for cash prizes, bid on prizes and check for discounts on top gear, games and miscellaneous items.
Recent winners have won such things as:
* Watches
* Hollister Co. Gift Card ($500 value!)
* Banana Republic Gift Card ($750 value!)
Bid on items like:
* Sony notepad (laptop)
* Holiday cash!
* Sony portable reader
Premium members can access bidding and play via mobile phone!
Play Bid 4 Prizes .com Arcade games, Arcade Matcher, Arcade Whacker, and Arcade Snake to win cash.
The Bid 4 Prizes .com Store has items such as:
* Backpacks, Shoulder Bags, Purses and Tote Bags
* Watches and Pendants
* Handheld games, Clocks and Keychains
* Cameras
* Poker sets and Dartboards
* Radios
* Tools
* Jackets
Check out the site:
Bid 4 Prizes .com
http://www.bid4prizes.com/
Get in on the prizes and deals!
http://www.bid4prizes.com/
Reverse, low-bid auction site.
Win the prize that has lowest bid/number at Bid 4 Prizes .com
This site is easy to navigate and has already paid out $342 186 in prizes to date!
Play arcade games for cash prizes, bid on prizes and check for discounts on top gear, games and miscellaneous items.
Recent winners have won such things as:
* Watches
* Hollister Co. Gift Card ($500 value!)
* Banana Republic Gift Card ($750 value!)
Bid on items like:
* Sony notepad (laptop)
* Holiday cash!
* Sony portable reader
Premium members can access bidding and play via mobile phone!
Play Bid 4 Prizes .com Arcade games, Arcade Matcher, Arcade Whacker, and Arcade Snake to win cash.
The Bid 4 Prizes .com Store has items such as:
* Backpacks, Shoulder Bags, Purses and Tote Bags
* Watches and Pendants
* Handheld games, Clocks and Keychains
* Cameras
* Poker sets and Dartboards
* Radios
* Tools
* Jackets
Check out the site:
Bid 4 Prizes .com
http://www.bid4prizes.com/
Get in on the prizes and deals!
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