Security Warning
The Canadian Anti Fraud Centre has been reporting an unusually high number of Scareware cases in Canada.
Apparently numerous PC users have been victimized by con artists claiming to be RCMP and/or CSIS officers, who demanded payment to clean the victims’ computers of child pornography and/or terrorism related material.
Like most scareware incidents, these begin with an unsolicited pop up message containing a warning of an infection that requires immediate attention, which appears on a victim’s computer screen whilst the victim is browsing the internet.
In this case, the victim is told they must send $100 or $250 via Ukash to unlock and clean their computer of the aforementioned illicit material. But there is of course no illicit material to remove on the victim’s computer.
When the victim clicks on the pop-up message, his or her computer is infected with malware, disabling access to the computer. But this infection can be avoided.
If you encounter this or a similar pop-up message :
- Do not click on the pop-up window.
- Close the browser via Task Manager or shut down your computer.
Enabling a pop-up blocker and regularly updating anti-virus software will prevent future occurrences.
Pop-up blockers have been implemented in all of the following browsers :
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Added More Listings
Updated my Music/Film/TV Memorabilia, Free Shipping Offers and Musical Instruments & Recording Equipment listings. Will add more Canadian entries to the latter as soon as possible.
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Publishers Association Threatens Canada
A “coalition of international, regional and national publishers associations” has sent a letter to our government threatening retaliation for Bill C-11 with a WTO complaint.
Apparently they dislike several exemptions provided by the bill :
“As currently drafted, however, many provisions of C-11 may allow a broad group of public and private institutions and organizations to copy and distribute works under a vague and intentionally broad educational exception in ways that publishers and authors license, thereby promoting strife and litigation, and potentially violating all three elements of the three-step test.
Similar concerns also relate to the exceptions for non-commercial user generated content, the display exception and the tests and examination exception, the exception relating to publicly available material on the internet, and the inter-library loan exception.”
The International Publishers Association is comprised of about 60 international organizations from 50 nations and is based in Geneva.
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Season Four of Arrested Development
Just learned that Season Four of Arrested Development
Ten episodes are scheduled to be released in early 2013 on the service. I will update this entry with additional information a.s.a.p.
BTW, Seasons 1 through 3 are currently available on iTunes
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RIP Billy Bryans 1949-2012
This morning I was saddened by the news that drummer percussionist Billy Bryans had passed away at the age of 63 after a lengthy fight with lung cancer.
In 1979 he had co-founded one of my favorite Canadian bands, The Parachute Club, which scored numerous hits in Canada and abroad in the 80’s with their reggae seasoned pop and rock including “Rise Up” and “At The Feet Of The Moon“. And since the late 80’s he has become a world renown producer and engineer in the Cuban music scene.
He was truly an innovator and will surely be missed.
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Earth Day 2012
       
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It’s Earth Day. And multiple stores like Amazon.ca and Amazon.com have set up shops dedicated to Nature themed and Eco-friendly products.
Being partial to green technology, I love browsing these shops to see the latest gadgets, to see how far consumer products have progressed. Many LED light bulbs There is some progress in regards to Li-ion batteries though ; I purchased an energy efficient media player Another major seller on Earth Day are documentaries. Though I love nature documentaries like “March Of The Penguins I prefer in-depth and productive films, that offer theoretical and hopefully viable solutions to today’s environmental issues. And when I do watch the National Geographic I’ve also recently encountered film company Amos TV, which produces scenic videos that stream to hotels, Google TV compatible devices and select Samsung televisions & Blu-ray players. Their high definition films are incredible and feature equally incredible instrumentals. And these films are of course available via their official site (AMOS TV – A New Experience in Ambient Media. By the way Alliance Films have released special versions of “Food Inc. Some proceeds from the sale of these films will be given to Earth Day Canada for their year round programs. |
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