Beware Of Ad Threat – Malvertisements Appear On Top Websites

Malvertisements are online advertisements that are capable of infecting a PC with malware. Compromised computers can then be used to create powerful botnets to carry out identity theft, corporate espionage, or other nefarious activity. Malvertising is the current computer hijacking technique of choice for organized crime gangs.

According to research disclosed by security intelligence firm RiskIQ, the spread of malvertisements has spiked tenfold over the past year. It's a growing threat to consumers since the infected ads are appearing on some of the top 500 commercial websites including weather.com, foxsports.com, monster.com, and usnews.com.

You can help protect your PC from malvertisements by making sure the following are current:

• Antivirus and antispyware programs
• Updates for your Web browsers
• Updates for popular applications, especially Adobe Flash and Adobe PDF

For added protection, you may want to consider using browser plug-ins, such as NoScript and AdBlock, that block all online ads.

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Internet Services Update – December 2011

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Two To View – A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss

"Surfin' USA" Bulldog This English Bulldog, named Tillman, is one multi-talented (and cool) creature. Tillman skimboards, snowboards, and skateboards to The Beach Boys classic, "Surfin' USA," in this fun video that more than 1,600,000 Web surfers have already viewed.		Beauty of Bulbs and Bells Want a quick way to get in the holiday spirit? Watch this spectacular light display that's perfectly synchronized to "Carol of the Bells." It features Christmas trees of all sizes that appear and then disappear, while changing colors to the beat of the music.

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This Month's FAQ – What's The Difference Between POP And IMAP?

Question: I've seen the acronyms POP and IMAP used with respect to email but I'm not clear on what they mean. Could you explain the difference between POP and IMAP?

Answer: We understand your confusion. There are so many acronyms that apply to technology, it can be difficult to stay on top of them all. In a nutshell, POP and IMAP are simply different protocols for handling email.

POP stands for Post Office Protocol. When using the POP protocol, the mail server receives email and stores it until you request it by opening your email client (such as Windows Live Mail or Thunderbird) and pressing the "Send/Receive" button. Your email client, in essence, uses the POP protocol to ask the mail server if there are any email messages waiting. If there are, it tells the mail server to send them to you. When the mail server receives your POP request, it sends the messages to your email client. Once you receive the messages, they're usually deleted from the mail server.

By contrast, IMAP stores a copy of the email messages. IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol. IMAP allows you to download emails from the mail server to your email client in much the same way as POP does. However, the difference is that when you request your email from the mail server using IMAP, it sends a copy of each email message to your email client software and also stores a copy on the mail server.

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Sites Of The Month – Great Sites To Check Out In December

Easy Goal Setting dayzeroproject.com – Re ady to set goals for the new year? You can create goal lists on this site and will be encouraged to come up with 101 things to do in 1,001 days. If you're not sure what to put on your list, check out the "Top 101 Things to Do" list or the "Idea Finder." Click on the "Features" tab and you'll find pre-set goals to choose from under various categories.

Movie Ratings for Kids kids-in-mind.com – The holidays provide more time for kids to go to the movies and this site helps you determine which ones are appropriate for them to see. You'll find movie ratings based on three critical indicators—Sex & Nudity, Violence & Gore, and Profanity—along with detailed descriptions of exactly what is depicted in each movie. Discussion topics are also covered.

Cookie Central foodnetw ork.com – The only thing that might be more fun than eating holiday cookies is making them and this site gives you dozens of delicious ways to do it. Check out the recipe gallery of "50 Fabulous Holiday Cookies," the cookie swap video, and other instructional videos featuring some of your favorite Food Network stars.

Budget-Friendly Gifts homemadegi ftguru.com – Looking for some thoughtful yet inexpensive holiday gift ideas? This site offers plenty of inspiration, especially if you're crafty. You'll find instructions for making things like gift baskets, food in jars, tie-dyed items, and homemade bath salts. You can also do a search for a gift you want to learn how to make.

Tips for Saving Energy energysavers.gov – Now that cold weather is here, it's a good time to think about saving some cold cash on heating bills. Get practical ideas here for how to do just that, as well as other energy-saving tips. Check out the home, vehicle, and workplace sections, and click on the "Tips" tab to download the comprehensive Energy Savers Booklet that covers areas throughout your home.

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Short Tutorial – How Do I Create A New Photo Album On Facebook?

For many people, the holiday season inspires more photo-taking sessions than any other time of year—from pajama-clad family members under the tree to smiles of delight as gifts are unwrapped. Once you capture the holiday memories, share them with your Facebook friends using the steps below:

1. Click "Add Photo/Video" at the top of your Facebook Home page.
   
   
2. Pick "Create Photo Album."
   
   
3. Click "Select Photos" and then choose the photo files you want to upload. To upload multiple photos at once, hold down the "Control" button on your PC or the "Command" button on your Mac, while clicking the image files.
   
   
4. Click "Open" once you've selected your photos.
   
   
5. After you select photos to upload, you'll see a prompt to choose your album title, audience, and photo quality.
   
   
6. A progress bar will show you the status of your upload. Once it's complete, click the blue "Create an Album" button to see your new album.

You can upload 200 photos per album on Facebook and create as many albums as you want.

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