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Internet Reviews Abney Associates Blog Articles The US Federal Trade Commission has carried out a huge international crackdown on a number of "tech support" scams being run out of India which have conned people in the UK, US, Canada and elsewhere out of millions of pounds since 2008. As explained by the Guardian in 2010, the scams used "boiler room" tactics, dialling through phone books for English-speaking countries. People who answered the phone were told the call came from Microsoft or their internet service provider, and that the person's computer was "reporting viruses". The caller would then perform an unnecessary "fix" on the computer and charge the person for it - and sometimes sign them up to multi-year "support" contracts. The cost could run to hundreds of pounds. People in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand were targeted because they, like the people carrying out the scam, are English-speaking. The Guardian understands that the scam was worth millions of pounds a year to the organised gangs carrying it out. At the FTC's request in six cases, a federal district judge froze the US assets of 17 people and 14 companies that have been accused of taking part in the operations. The FTC has also shut down 80 internet domain names and 130 phone numbers used in the US to carry out the scams. The FTC is seeking an end to the scams, and repayments for people who were conned out of money. Though the FTC said it could not put a figure on how many people had been scammed, or how much they had lost, Microsoft - which has been working with the commission for the past two years to try to catch the criminals - provided data on more than a thousand people who had been scammed, whose losses averaged $875 each. Microsoft has repeatedly pointed out that it would not call people about any problems with their computers. In some cases, the scammers would try to sell antivirus software from reputable companies, and in some cases would install new copies of Windows

Source: http://www.itworldcanada.com/news/u-s-agency-kills-hardware-over-routine-malware-warning/147365 The U.S. Economic Development Administration destroyed $170,000 in computers, keyboards, printers and mice over a routine malware infection. A lack of funding prevented the agency from throwing out its remaining $3 million in IT inventory An almost farcical series of miscommunications led to the destruction of $170,000 worth of IT gear by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration over a routine malware warning, and it was only a lack of budget that stopped the agency from throwing out another $3 million in hardware. The comedy of errors not only points up a lack of communication between agencies, but also a fundamental misunderstanding of technology. RELATED CONTENT Phising, E-mail en Internet oplichting: http://www.wattpad.com/12260034-abney-and-associates-hong-kong-shares-trim-strong#.UdrHpvlgdhw The upcoming cyber-security threat cycle: http://abneyandassociates.tumblr.com/ The timeline of the fiasco runs something like this: * In December 2011, the Department of Homeland Security (those guys who told the entire North American population to disable Java on its computers) warns the Commerce Department of a potential compromise of its systems. * The Commerce Department identifies the potentially compromised computers as belonging to the Economic Development Administration. Its warning to the EDA names accidentally names 146 systems as being compromised, when in fact, the number is only two. * A follow-up warning tells the EDA that only two systems are compromised, but in classic CYA fashion, does not clearly point out that the first warning was erroneous. * The EDA treats the follow-up as a confirmation of the first warning and proceeds on the understanding that 146 systems are compromised. The EDA commissions a forensic analysis of the two systems identified by Commerce and confirms that they are infected with malware. * Comm

See you at The BOILER ROOM Asheville, The Grove House Music Review. A hot and happening music space located at The Grove House, The Boiler Room is famous for its patronage to underground music. Also on offer are genres like shoe gaze, ambient, experimental, garage, indie and pop among others. Abney and Associates Real Estate Company Party at the Boiler room Asheville The Grove House music review See you at The BOILER ROOM Asheville, The Grove House Music Review. A hot and happening music space located at The Grove House, The Boiler Room is famous for its patronage to underground music. Also on offer are genres like shoe gaze, ambient, experimental, garage, indie and pop among others. The venue popularly hosts a host of live acts and music performances by upcoming bands and artists on a regular basis. Check website for more details on current and upcoming events. So I was new to Asheville and I am hearing about this place, The BOILER ROOM. They say the place is a bit new as well but I have been hearing lots of compliments about the place. I made a few researches first before checking it out and I found the above text and I thought it is good to share it to people too. As I continue on researching, I think I am getting fair votes regarding if the place is cool or not. I am a music lover so I guess I will be enjoying the place. And some says the place is really nice so what's not to try. Here comes the day that I tried hanging-out in The BOILER ROOM, and it was a lot of fun! The experience was a blast! I was there last May 31st, the guest bands were Live Music by Saint Famine Society, Mindshapefist and Polly Panic. Their music was like, the genre of music is hard rock/punk/experimental. This is Saint Famine Society's CD release show. Their music was really cool! I enjoyed the night so much! I couldn't find enough words to described the enjoyment we felt. Oh yeah we, I was with some friends who are actually fanatics of the same music genre like I do. We

Abney and Associates Real Estate Company Party at the Boiler room Asheville The Grove House music... Abney and Associates Real Estate Company Party at the Boiler room Asheville The Grove House music review See you at The BOILER ROOM Asheville, The Grove House Music Review. A hot and happening music space located at The Grove House, The Boiler Room is famous for its patronage to underground music. Also on offer are genres like shoe gaze, ambient, experimental, garage, indie and pop among others. The venue popularly hosts a host of live acts and music performances by upcoming bands and artists on a regular basis. Check website for more details on current and upcoming events. So I was new to Asheville and I am hearing about this place, The BOILER ROOM. They say the place is a bit new as well but I have been hearing lots of compliments about the place. I made a few researches first before checking it out and I found the above text and I thought it is good to share it to people too. As I continue on researching, I think I am getting fair votes regarding if the place is cool or not. I am a music lover so I guess I will be enjoying the place. And some says the place is really nice so what's not to try. Here comes the day that I tried hanging-out in The BOILER ROOM, and it was a lot of fun! The experience was a blast! I was there last May 31st, the guest bands were Live Music by Saint Famine Society, Mindshapefist and Polly Panic. Their music was like, the genre of music is hard rock/punk/experimental. This is Saint Famine Society's CD release show. Their music was really cool! I enjoyed the night so much! I couldn't find enough words to described the enjoyment we felt. Oh yeah we, I was with some friends who are actually fanatics of the same music genre like I do. We arrived at exactly 9pm. We went to the bar and wow boy the crowd here were very friendly, even the bartender who for sure was really tired was really accommodating. He smiles a lot which mak

Nigeria has been pitched among countries that lose yearly to cyber fraud. The country is said to have lost well over N 7.5billion in 2012 owing to cybercrime, while the global loss is estimated at $1trillion (about N155 trillion) for 2012. According to the research by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the rising profile of cybercrime is causing great havoc globally. The report also maintained that out of the $1 trillion loss, only $390 billion was reported for obvious reasons. Following this disclosure, Nigeria's First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, will lead about 700 leaders including Mr. Ehud Barak, a former Prime Minister of Israel, Dr. Salma Abbasi, founder/CEO eWorldWide, USA, a high level team both from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the third World Cyber security Conference next week in Abuja. Among the 700 select leaders include top government functionaries, state governors and National Assembly members. Also expected are CEOs of Corporate Nigeria, Military and Intelligence chiefs and the diplomatic community, among others. The cyber security conference will map out new strategies to secure government and business assets, personal security including Child Online Protection and online e-commerce transaction on the cyberspace. With the theme: 'Cyber Insecurity- A latent threat to national security and economic development'. Dame Jonathan, who is also the ITU-IMPACT champion on child online protection (COP), would host the global forum as part of her yearly programmed for Nigeria and the entire World with regards to Child Online Protection and cyber security. She has been working actively with stakeholders to ensure minors are protected on the internet especially from online predators and the cashless economy on CBN policy is strengthened. Ehud Barak, Israel's most decorated soldier will speak on Cyber, Physical Terrorism and Economic Development: My Experience as Israel

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/Abney+Associates/articles/dYcAZaBvCTo/Secure+Computer+Seven+Steps+Abney+Associates While handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets provide new ways for us to leverage technology, computers are often still the primary tool we use for our professional and personal lives. As a result, your computer, whether at work or at home, still remains a primary target for cyber criminals. By following these simple steps, you can help secure your computer and protect it against most known attacks. 1. STARTING SECURE The first step to a secure computer is starting with a computer you can trust. If you purchased a new computer directly from a well-known vendor, then you should be able trust it and the pre-installed software. If you have purchased a used computer, then do not trust it. The used computer may have been accidentally (or intentionally) infected by the previous owner. Trying to secure a computer that is already infected does no good. The first step you should take after acquiring a used computer is reformat the hard drive and reinstall the operating system (be sure to ask someone you trust for help if you are not sure how to do this). 2. UPDATING The next step is updating your computer. Cyber attackers are always identifying new weaknesses in computers and their applications. When computer and software vendors learn about these new vulnerabilities, they develop and release fixes, called updates or patches, to fix the problem. When you purchase a new computer or reinstall the operating system, your computer is most likely already out of date. As such, the first step you want to take is connect to the Internet and update your computer's operating system. Related Articles: http://atheenalie.deviantart.com/art/Reviews-by-Abney-and-Associates-Code-85258081704-371377544 ht

latest abney and associates technology news Google's Eric Schmidt Invests in Obama's Big Data Brains During the 2012 campaign, Barack Obama's reelection team had an underappreciated asset: Google's (GOOG) executive chairman, Eric Schmidt. He helped recruit talent, choose technology, and coach the campaign manager, Jim Messina, on the finer points of leading a large organization. "On election night he was in our boiler room in Chicago," says David Plouffe, then a senior White House adviser. Schmidt had a particular affinity for a group of engineers and statisticians tucked away beneath a disco ball in a darkened corner of the office known as "the Cave." The data analytics team, led by 30-year-old Dan Wagner, is credited with producing Obama's surprising 5 million-vote margin of victory. For all its acclaim, the analytics team's main achievement is often misunderstood as "microtargeting" or some variant on wooing voters. This reverses the relationship between campaign and voter at the heart of Wagner's method. Recent campaigns have employed a top-down approach to identify what they thought were vital demographic groups such as "soccer moms." Wagner's team pursued a bottom-up strategy of unifying vast commercial and political databases to understand the proclivities of individual voters likely to support Obama or be open to his message, and then sought to persuade them through personalized contact via Facebook (FB), e-mail, or a knock on the door. "I think of them as people scientists,'' says Schmidt. "They apply scientific techniques to how people will behave when confronted with a choice or a question." Obama's rout of Mitt Romney was a lesson in how this insight can translate into political strength. Traditional marketing has the same inherent limitation as traditional campaigning: It's impossible to appeal to everybody, even among the groups likeliest to favor a product. "Budweiser might target football fans with an ad s

AN Abney Associates News Flash Phishing sites, which masquerade as genuine websites to steal users' personal information, are on the rise in Hong Kong, Microsoft warned on Thursday. Some 6.23 phishing sites were found per 1,000 hosts in the fourth quarter last year, up from 6.01 in the third quarter, according to Microsoft's latest Security Intelligence Report. However, the number of malware infections remained low in the same period. Every 1,000 computers had 2.2 malware infections on average, the report found. Tim Rains, director of product management in Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing group, said the rise could be because Hong Kong is a financial centre and phishing sites masquerade as banking websites to steal information. "The fact that we have a low malware infection rate in Hong Kong, but slightly elevated level of phishing is actually interesting," he said. He said the reason could be that the attackers were using a smaller number of compromised systems in Hong Kong to do more phishing than other attacks. Roy Ko Wai-tak, manager of Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre, said websites of small and medium enterprises were often hijacked by attackers to build phishing sites - which pose as big corporations - because of poor cyber security. Rains also said the most common malware is called keygen, which comes with key generators that produce serial numbers required to run piracy software. Ko said it showed that Hong Kong people still continue to use piracy software. The report, which also found that 2.5 out of 10 computers on average did not have up-to-date antivirus software in the city, was based on data from over 600 million computers worldwide using Microsoft's products. The number of Hong Kong computers was unknown at the time of going to press. AN Abney Associates News Flash READ MORE: http://mariahabney.weebly.com/ http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xz5ub4_online-attempts-to-steal-personal-information-on-the-rise-i

http://www.instructables.com/community/Abney-And-Associates-Hong-Kong-News-Behance/ Do you constantly check your cell phone for e-mail alerts, news updates, and the weather? If so, you could be one of the 66 percent of people who suffer from "no mobile phone phobia" - nomophobia - the fear of being without a cell or mobile phone, says SecurEnvoy, a UK-based Internet security and mobile technology firm who conducted the survey. Living in a revolutionizing digital age where everything is fast, instant and, most importantly, on-the-go, people are disengaged from having one-on-one face interactions. While Apple applications like FaceTime, and the program Skype help reinforce personal connections, the unhealthy usage of cell phone devices continues to escalate. According to the Morningside Recovery Rehabilitation Center, the average American spends 144 minutes a day using their phone. For those who suffer from nomopohbia, the fear of being disconnected from the virtual world is heightened when they are restrained from checking their phone. The lives of cell phone addicts are so contingent on their need to feel socially connected on their phones that without mobile technology, they begin to express a sense of vulnerability that can trigger certain moods and behaviors. "Cellphones are addictive in the same way slot machines are," said Dr. Fran Walfish, child, couple, and family psychotherapist and author in Beverly Hills, Calif., to Medical Daily. "The immediacy of response, gratification, and excitation combine to make the user want more and want more now." This type of addictive behavior can be explained in a situation where a person is dining by themselves. Despite no sounds or alerts coming from the cellphone, addicts will take out their phones from their pocket and start to press buttons or scan their phones with their fingers for a sense of safety and security. While back-and-forth communication through text or e-mail is seen as a threat to replacing nose-to-no

A Courtesy Blog by John Abney: The Music Venue The BOILER ROOM AshevilleA Courtesy Blog by John Abney: The Music Venue The BOILER ROOM AshevilleIf you want a good night well spent then spend it here. A live music and live entertainment venue... A Courtesy Blog by John Abney: The Music Venue The BOILER ROOM Asheville A Courtesy Blog by John Abney: The Music Venue The BOILER ROOM Asheville If you want a good night well spent then spend it here. A live music and live entertainment venue located in the basement of the GROVE HOUSE Entertainment Complex, The BOILER ROOM, offers great acoustics for live music of any genre and hosts local, and also out of town live music scenes. According to the official site, The BOILER ROOM strives to be a 'launching pad' for the community to grow beyond Asheville and is renowned for being attentive and accommodating to the needs of all artists, entertainers, and patrons alike. We are a place for bands to showcase "Original" works and materials only, for you won't find ANY cover bands here! BOILER ROOM is capable of adapting to the demands of nearly any event and its staff will strive to make that event rock! We guarantee an unforgettable impression on your fans and guests. And definitely the place is living to its promise. The good thing about the place is that you have the choice because The BOILER ROOM may be divided to be its own separate venue, or combined with Scandals Nightclub and/or Club Eleven on Grove, depending on the size of the event. Here is how you can reach The BOILER ROOM (Company Courtesy of Mr. John Abney and its Associates, Hooray for the great food!) Physical/Mailing Address Grove House Entertainment Complex 11 Grove Street Asheville, NC 28801 Telephone: 828-505-1612 Email: mailto:contact@boilerroomasheville.com Another great thing about the place is that when you left something like important cards such as credit cards you can claim it back. How to Claim Left Credit Cards and/or IDS All

The BOILER ROOM Asheville: The Music Venue Read more Articles: http://boilerroomasheville.com/ http://boilerroomasheville.com/boilercontact.html courtesy of Mr. John Abney and its associates The BOILER ROOM Asheville: The Music Venue If you want a good night well spent then spend it here. The BOILER ROOM Asheville: The Music Venue Read more Articles: http://boilerroomasheville.com/ http://boilerroomasheville.com/boilercontact.html courtesy of Mr. John Abney and its associates The BOILER ROOM Asheville: The Music Venue If you want a good night well spent then spend it here. A live music and live entertainment venue located in the basement of the GROVE HOUSE Entertainment Complex, The BOILER ROOM, offers great acoustics for live music of any genre and hosts local, and also out of town live music scenes. According to the official site, The BOILER ROOM strives to be a 'launching pad' for the community to grow beyond Asheville and is renowned for being attentive and accommodating to the needs of all artists, entertainers, and patrons alike. We are a place for bands to showcase "Original" works and materials only, for you won't find ANY cover bands here! BOILER ROOM is capable of adapting to the demands of nearly any event and its staff will strive to make that event rock! We guarantee an unforgettable impression on your fans and guests. And definitely the place is living to its promise. The good thing about the place is that you have the choice because The BOILER ROOM may be divided to be its own separate venue, or combined with Scandals Nightclub and/or Club Eleven on Grove, depending on the size of the event. Here is how you can reach The BOILER ROOM (Company Courtesy of Mr. John Abney and its Associates, Hooray for the great food!) Physical/Mailing Address Grove House Entertainment Complex 11 Grove Street Asheville, NC 28801 Telephone: 828-505-1612 Email: mailto:contact@boilerroomasheville.com Another great thing about the place is that when

The BOILER ROOM Asheville: The Music Venue John Abney Blog the boiler room Ashville by John Abney and its associates personal blog If you want a good night well spent then spend it here. A live music and live entertainment venue located in the basement of the GROVE HOUSE Entertainment Complex, The BOILER ROOM, offers great acoustics for live music of any genre and hosts local, and also out of town live music scenes. Source Article: http://boilerroomasheville.com/ http://boilerroomasheville.com/boilercontact.html According to the official site, The BOILER ROOM strives to be a 'launching pad' for the community to grow beyond Asheville and is renowned for being attentive and accommodating to the needs of all artists, entertainers, and patrons alike. We are a place for bands to showcase "Original" works and materials only, for you won't find ANY cover bands here! BOILER ROOM is capable of adapting to the demands of nearly any event and its staff will strive to make that event rock! We guarantee an unforgettable impression on your fans and guests. And definitely the place is living to its promise. The good thing about the place is that you have the choice because The BOILER ROOM may be divided to be its own separate venue, or combined with Scandals Nightclub and/or Club Eleven on Grove, depending on the size of the event. Here is how you can reach The BOILER ROOM (Company Courtesy of Mr. John Abney and its Associates, Hooray for the great food!) Physical/Mailing Address Grove House Entertainment Complex 11 Grove Street Asheville, NC 28801 Telephone: 828-505-1612 Email: mailto:contact@boilerroomasheville.com Another great thing about the place is that when you left something like important cards such as credit cards you can claim it back. How to Claim Left Credit Cards and/or IDS All credit cards or forms of identification lost or forgotten within the GROVE HOUSE venues are secured within the office of the general manager. As the GROVE HOU