Facebook: You can now play Pogo Games directly on Facebook, there’s an app for that.

The following post is for all those who play Pogo and also spend time on Facebook (Of which I happened to be married to one, so this one is for my wife as much as anyone else). Pogo (Owned by Electronic Arts) known for games like Poppit, Word Whomp, and Bingo Luau (among others) has been around now for 10 yrs and has more than 14 million players (Again for the record I have a connection with 1 of those 14 million) according to its about posting on its Facebook Games “Beta” page (LINK: http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?v=info&id=310557279950 (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/apps/application NULL.php?v=info&id=310557279950)).

The Pogo app for Facebook is currently in Beta stage which means they are still working the bugs out of it, but players can try out games and let Pogo know what they think via the Facebook fan page.

Below is a screenshot of the apps page

The apps page also lists some of the Pogo Games Coming Soon to Facebook

To access the Pogo Facebook app (Link: http://www.facebook.com/login.php?v=1.0&api_key=8176e17dea56c9f0efe26b5736b8a0e8&next=http%3A%2F%2Fapps.facebook.com%2Fpogogames%2F%3Fgameid%3D81092&canvas=true (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/login NULL.php?v=1 NULL.0&api_key=8176e17dea56c9f0efe26b5736b8a0e8&next=http%3A%2F%2Fapps NULL.facebook NULL.com%2Fpogogames%2F%3Fgameid%3D81092&canvas=true) )

For information about using the Pogo Facebook app including info for those who have accounts already with Pogo @ Pogo.com

LINK: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=310557279950&topic=20270

Alert: Fake Facebook Email – Its another trick to get you to download a virus.

Another “old friend” seems to be making an email visit again. People have started getting the following email claiming that “The Facebook team” has reset your password and that you have to click on the download to get your information….

***********************************************************************************************************

Facebook Password Reset Confirmation NR.2033
From: The Facebook Team | Date:
17/03/2010 8:09 AM | Email
To: xxxxxxx@xxxxxx.com
Attachments: Facebook_password_2264.zip (62 KB) (62 KB)
Hey xxxxxx ,
Because of the measures taken to provide safety to our clients, your
password has been changed.
You can find your new password in attached <document.
Thanks,
The Facebook Team.

***********************************************************************************************************

Considering how many calls and messages I’ve gotten today about infected machines, I’m know people are falling for it. So lets start with a simple lesson : FACEBOOK DOES NOT RANDOMLY CHANGE USERS PASSWORDS AND IT DOES NOT SEND YOU VIA EMAIL YOUR UPDATED INFORMATION IN AN ATTACHMENT. SO DONT OPEN THIS EMAIL IF YOU GET IT. OK with that being said, here are some tips while using Facebook (Directly from the Facebook Blog http://www.facebook.com/security?ref=blog#!/security?v=app_7146470109&ref=mf (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/security?ref=blog#!/security?v=app_7146470109&ref=mf) )

When we talk about security, we’re talking about scams, viruses, and hacks that could infect your computer or take over your Facebook account and result in a lot of annoyance for you and your friends.
Security isn’t just an issue on Facebook, but all over the web, which is why it’s important to be aware online, and to learn how to protect your accounts and your computer.
Here are some ways to be smart and aware on Facebook and across the Internet:

Use different passwords for your various online accounts. If you use the same password everywhere, and it’s stolen, you could lose access to all of your accounts at once.

Be wary of where you enter your password. Just because a page on the Internet looks like Facebook or another site you use, it doesn’t mean that it is. Check the address bar in your browser, and learn to tell the difference between a good URL and a bad one. If you ever have doubts about the legitimacy of a link, simply type the website’s URL (for example, http://www.facebook.com) into the address bar.

Don’t share your passwords with anyone. Don’t do it. Most reputable online services will never ask for your password through any form of communication.

Don’t click on links or open attachments in suspicious emails. If the email looks weird, don’t trust it, and delete it from your inbox immediately.

Use a complex password that can’t be easily guessed. Avoid common words, and make sure your password is at least eight characters long and includes capital and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.

Be suspicious of any email or message that contains an urgent request or asks you to update your information or provide new information.

Be suspicious of emails or messages that contain misspellings or use bad grammar, especially if they’re from someone who is usually a good writer.

Make sure you have an up-to-date web browser equipped with an anti-phishing blacklist. Some examples are Internet Explorer 8.0 and Firefox 3.0.10.

Make sure you have up-to-date comprehensive security software on your computer that includes anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-phishing, and a firewall.

Make sure you’ve set your operating system to update automatically.

Make sure you’ve listed a security question and answer for your online accounts. This will come in handy if you ever lose access and need to prove who you are. You can do this on Facebook from the Account Settings (https://register NULL.facebook NULL.com/editaccount NULL.php) page. You should also add a mobile phone number from this page (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/mobile/?settings), which will help if we ever need to send you a text message to confirm your identity.

Remember that you choose what you share and with whom you share it. Think before you post, especially if the information is sensitive or personal in nature. You can learn more about how to control your information on Facebook, including how to choose an audience for each and every post you make, in our Privacy Guide (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/privacy/explanation NULL.php)

In addition here are some known threats that you can find while using Facebook (Also directly from the Facebook Blog http://www.facebook.com/security?ref=blog#!/security?v=app_4949752878&ref=mf (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/security?ref=blog#!/security?v=app_4949752878&ref=mf) )

Spammy Wall Posts, Inbox Messages, and Chat Messages
When criminals gain access to a Facebook account, they usually post spammy comments on friends’ Walls, or send spammy messages through Inbox or Chat. These messages ask you to click on a link and often try to entice you by claiming there’s a new photo or video of you somewhere on the Internet that you need to check out. The link then takes you to a phishing (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Phishing) site that asks you to enter your login information, or a malware (http://en NULL.wikipedia NULL.org/wiki/Malware) site that prompts you to download malicious software.
Don’t click on strange links in posts or messages, even if they’re from friends. If it seems weird for an old friend to write on your Wall or send you a message, it’s possible that the person’s account has been taken over by a spammer. Be particularly cautious of posts or messages that contain misspellings or use bad grammar.
Money Transfer Scams
Scammers sometimes post status updates, or send Inbox or Chat messages, from a friend’s account claiming that the friend is in some difficult situation and in need of money. These messages ask you to help by wiring funds through a money transfer service.
Never send money without first verifying the story through some other means, such as by talking to the person over the phone. If a friend’s account has been taken over, contact us (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/help/?faq=14257) so that we can block access. If you’ve sent money, report it to the money transfer service, and, if you’re in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (http://www NULL.ftc NULL.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt034 NULL.shtm) or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (http://www NULL.ic3 NULL.gov/default NULL.aspx). You’ll find more tips and a complete transcript of a real conversation with a scammer here (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/note NULL.php?note_id=96651525765).
Fake Notification Emails
Spammers and scammers sometimes send phony emails that have been made to look like they’re from Facebook or another reputable website. These emails can be very convincing, and the “From:” field can even be spoofed to include “Facebook” or “The Facebook Team.”
If an email looks strange, don’t click on any of the links in it, and delete it from your inbox immediately. Be especially wary of emails that ask you to update your account, tell you to open an attachment, or warn you to act quickly before something happens.
Chain Letters and Messages from Phony Facebook Employees
You might occasionally see a status update or message making some claim about Facebook and urging you to take an action. Examples include:

Facebook is becoming overpopulated.

Facebook is going to start charging money.

Certain users have special access to profile information.

Facebook is selling your data.

Sometimes, these come from people claiming to be Facebook employees who then ask you to provide your password or other personal information.
If a status update or message doesn’t look right, don’t believe it. Disregard it, and tell your friends that it’s phony. If someone pretending to be a Facebook employee asks you for your password, don’t give it out, and report the person immediately by clicking the report link either on the message or the person’s profile.
For more information about Facebook site governance and privacy, check out these documents:
Facebook Principles (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/principles NULL.php)
Statement of Rights and Responsibilities (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/terms NULL.php)
Privacy Policy (http://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/policy NULL.php)
Suspicious Applications
Facebook has strict policies (http://developers NULL.facebook NULL.com/policy) for developers to help make sure that applications don’t misuse your data. While most applications play by the rules, you may occasionally come across one that doesn’t quite look right.
Use caution when interacting with applications. If you think an application is violating our policies, report it to us through the link on the application’s About page. You may also want to block the application by clicking the “Block” link on its About page.

Now that you have seen the information directly from Facebook let me add one more thing. I will acknowledge that having to chase down and fix computers for people who fall into the traps above (as well as other know internet virus/malware/rogueware traps) is job security. Seriously this is not the type of job security I had in mind.

Alerta: Mensaje en Espanol de correo electrónico que es un Virus de computadora.

Desde el inicio de la TechGeekandMore, uno de los ejes más grandes ha involucrado virus de computadors (que se llaman Rogueware o Malware). Rogueware y malware pueden infectar un pc a través de diversas maneras (visitar sitios del Web, haga clic en vínculos, a través de correos electrónicos, o mas….). Hasta ahora, todas las advertencias de correo electrónico cubierto correos electrónicos en inglés, porque eso es lo que se sabia que existia. Sin embargo por ahora puedo informar oficialmente que los correos electrónicos son ahora multi-lenguaje. Esta noche he recibido un correo electrónico (que me mando un miembro de familia) que dice "Amix, esto tienes probarlo".

La versión en inglés del correo electrónico se a visto por un tiempo, "Cheques para ver quien te está bloqueando en MSN". El gancho del ser que si puede clic en el enlace proporcionado en el correo electrónico, que podrá ver (supuestamente) que ha le bloqueado de su lista de MSN Messenger. Como se señaló mirando el origen del correo electrónico (abajo), es casi una traducción exacta de la versión en inglés, afirmando que si se mira el enlace usted será capaz de ver que está bloqueando le (bloquear las direcciones de internet dentro de la fuente del correo electrónico)

Lo que realmente hace el vínculo es instalar una versión de Antivirus2009 (o 2010) que produce una gran cantidad de dolores de cabeza para el usuario y normalmente requiere un tecnología para limpiar o reinstalar el equipo. Si tienes amigos ni familia de habla española, le recomendamos encarecidamente que Hágales saber no se van a abrir este correo electrónico y a sólo la lista como correo no deseado y elimínelo. Si ya han abierto el correo electrónico, pueden utilizar programas como la versión gratuita de SuperAntiSpyware (LINK: http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html (http://www NULL.superantispyware NULL.com/superantispywarefreevspro NULL.html) ) o la versión gratuita de Panda (LINK: http://www.malwarebytes.org/ (http://www NULL.malwarebytes NULL.org/)).

Alert: Malware emails are not just in English – They also exist in Spanish.

Since the start of TechGeekandMore one of the biggest focuses has involved Malware and Rogueware. Malware and Rogueware can infect a pc via various ways (visiting websites, clicking on links, via emails, etc….). Until now, all the email warnings covered English language emails, because that’s what was known to exist. However as of now I can officially report that those emails are now multi-language. This evening I received an email (from a Spanish speaking family member) that says “Amix, esto tienes que probarlo”, which loosely translates to “Buddy, You have to check this out”.

The English version of the email has been a regular for a while, “Checking to see who is blocking you on messenger”. The hook being that if you click on the provided link in the email, that you will be able to see (supposedly) who has you blocked from their MSN Messenger list. As noted while looking at the email source (below), it is almost an exact translation of the English version, claiming that if you look at the link you will be able to see who is blocking you (I did block the internet addresses within the source of the email)

What the link actually does is install a version of Antivirus2009 (or 2010) which causes a lot of headaches for the user and normally requires a tech to clean up or reinstall your computer. If you have any Spanish speaking family or friends, we highly recommend that you let them know NOT to open this email, and to just list it as junk mail and delete it. If they have already opened the email, they can use programs like the free version of SuperAntiSpyware (LINK: http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html (http://www NULL.superantispyware NULL.com/superantispywarefreevspro NULL.html)) or the free version of Malwarebytes (LINK: http://www.malwarebytes.org/ (http://www NULL.malwarebytes NULL.org/)).

From TechandLife.com: A Generation of Change in PCs

A couple of days ago, I got questions about “How could you use that OLD AND SLOW computer” from someone who was born after I graduated High School (Class of 1990) concerning a Pentium II computer (And yes I really felt old when they did that). Then I started thinking,

-this is someone who started with an iPhone and has no clue what it was like to have to carry cassettes and your walkman if you wanted more than 10 songs at any one time (and yes it involved the manual labor of flipping or changing a tape)

-has always lived (their “mature” life) in the age of DVR’s so never really had the joy of recording to VHS and then getting yelled at because that was someone’s wedding you just recorded over

-has always had the internet, texting and email and its unlimited and high speeds. They don’t know the joy of 33.6 modem (insert the modem noise that woke up your entire family at 2am as you try and sneak online followed by the almost guaranteed dropped connection and having to do it all over again @ about 3:15a) and the fact that AOL / MSN / CompuServe….etc all had usage limits and if you went over your limits they billed you like crazy (also include trying to explain to your parents why the internet bill is so high after going over your limit).

So with that all being said, here is a post that comes from TechandLife (A TGM Friend) about how things used to be(LINK: A generation of change in PCs (http://www NULL.techandlife NULL.com/2010/03/a-generation-of-change-in-pcs/)). Special thanks to TechandLife for helping me explain that all these new gizmos were not always around.

***********************************************************************************************************************************

A generation of change in PCs

Opus PCV0001 (http://www NULL.techandlife NULL.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/OpusPCV0001 NULL.jpg)

I was clearing out some old computer magazines and files the other day when I came across a flyer which brought back memories…from 1988! I had saved up enough to buy my first computer and decided on the Opus PC V AT-compatible. Had to drive up to the city to a small supplier – no computer stores in those days, just the occasional small tech shop. Needless to say, the machine was state-of-the-art at that time.

In those days PCs weren’t for everyone. Pre-Windows and no internet so why would you want one. Apart from us geeks, PCs then were the preserve of business and were mainly used for word processing, spreadsheets, databases and DTP. But what really shocked me were the specs… and the price I paid for 1988 state-of-the-art tech. This is the flip side of the flyer:

Opus PCV0002 (http://www NULL.techandlife NULL.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/OpusPCV0002 NULL.jpg)

I’ll pick out the ‘best’ points:

30MB hard drive – that’s 0.03GB in modern money! And that was big enough.

5.25” floppy drive – Disks had a capacity of 1.2MB.

1MB memory – no, not 1GB but 1MB. And that was just about enough.

6MHz clock speed with Turbo button taking it to …10MHz. Modern PCs are a gazzilion times faster with the latest Core i7 processors running at 3.33GHz clock speed.

14” display – amber on black ( I subsequently paid out even more for the optional color display).

And the price – yes, only £1295 – that’s currently equivalent to US$1960.

And remember, there was no GUI in those days, just a command line – I think it was running Microsoft MS DOS 3.2. But it got the job done. And just for good measure, here’s a selection of 5.25” floppy disks with some of the programs I used in the early 1990s:

Floppy disks (http://www NULL.techandlife NULL.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Floppydisks NULL.jpg)

Tech has come a long way in a generation – in specs and price!

TGM Q&A: Don’t always believe what your sent in an email – Spam

Considering how long email and the internet have been around, I can’t understand how people fall for email chain letters that travel thru cyberspace. The regular offering of

- Microsoft will pay you to send this to everyone you know

- An African Prince will pay you to help him get money from his country

- Warning: Tell everyone you know …..

(Just as an example of the 1,000’s of emails that seem to not go away).

One of those such emails (Listed Below) is at the heart of today’s post. Lets start with the idea that NOT EVERYTHING POSTED ON THE INTERNET IS REAL (and no Al Gore did not invent the internet). The email (of which I removed the name of the person who forwarded it me, as to not call them out) is as follows

**************************************************************************************************************

Date: Sunday, March 14, 2010, 7:54 AM
Fw: please read concerning your phone

I dialed ’0′ to check this out, and the operator confirmed that this was correct, so please pass it on.. (l also checked out snopes.com . This is true, and also applies to cell phones!)
PASS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW

I received a telephone call last evening from an individual identifying himself as an AT&T Service Technician (could also be Telus) who was conducting a test on the telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test I should touch nine (9), zero (0), the pound sign (#), and then hang up. Luckily, I was suspicious and refused.

Upon contacting the telephone company, I was informed that by pushing 90#, you give the requesting individual full access to your telephone line, which enables them to place long distance calls billed to your home phone number.

I was further informed that this scam has been originating from many local jails/prisons. DO NOT press 90# for ANYONE…

The GTE Security Department requested that I share this information with EVERYONE I KNOW.

After checking with Verizon they also said it was true, so do not dial 90# for anyone !!!!! PLEASE HIT THAT FORWARD BUTTON AND PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!

****************************************************************************************************************

Now the truth about the email concerning #90 on your phone. The email is actually a fake for the most part, even though it claims to have been checked at snops.com. The true link at snops.com is (LINK)http://www.snopes.com/fraud/telephone/jailcall.asp (http://www NULL.snopes NULL.com/fraud/telephone/jailcall NULL.asp) and that shows that only a very small number of people could be affected by this situation and it does not involve home or cell phones. Only people in offices that use older phone systems called PBX that use the #9 to get an outside line before dialing could have an issue with this. So unless you are in an office and use “9” before calling outside numbers the “concerning your phone” email does not affect you.

From snops.com

This specific email has been around since 1998 (and it keeps on ticking like the a certain bunny). Some of the signs that should alert you to the fact that this is a fake are

“I dialed 0 and the operator confirmed….” / Really I have never known an operator that can do more than place a call (Old school), and that’s about it, operators are not PR departments and I’m sure if this was a true risk that the phone companies would NOT rely on operators to get the word out .
“I also checked on snopes.com…..” / OK – Snopes.com is a well known resource for looking for information on scams, not snops.com (and it seems that spelling is an issues with every single one of these emails). So if this was legit wouldn’t they want to include the link so that we could read more ourselves. Any legit report will include links when other sites are mentioned (AS in what I did above)
“PASS IT TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW….” / Because if you don’t the end of the world will happen (Sarcasm), but anytime that you get the dramatic tell everyone, yet the note includes nothing to back up its claims, should tell you Woooo.
Note the use of “AT&T service tech” on top of the email but “GTE security department” at the bottom. RED LIGHT!!
Lastly don’t forget they also talk about Verizon at the bottom of the email / This is just thrown in to make sure you hear as many names (and hopefully one that you use) as possible, so that it sounds official.

So with all that being said, and with the age of the internet that we are in. Before forwarding that Latest and Greatest Chain Email Letter – Check it out and make sure its real. Everyone will like their email inboxes a lot more if we could just let some of these email DIE.

Some ways to check –

- Run the subject of the email as a search on Bing or Google search, see what the results are (and I don’t mean just the 1st listed result)

- Go to sites like Snopes.com and do a search for the subject on the site and see what results they give you.

- Use common sense

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Monthly Archives: March 2010