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What shouldn't you tweet tweet on your Twitter account? Find out why.

Many of us have been told over and over again, "Be careful what you put on your social media pages;" "Don't share too much information," and "Limit names, addresses and places to private messages if you are using social media and networking sites to stay in touch with your friends and family."

We have talked about why, in "Is it Really Myspace?" and highlighted some of the many scams on Facebook and Twitter in "Facebook, Twitter and Me: Under Attack by Scams and Phishing" and now bring you the most recent "leak" of information from your Twitter account.

It seems harmless enough right? You post, "I'll tweet more ltr off to ..." but did you know that there are people out there monitoring your tweets? Not only aware of them, but sharing your information that you have left your home.

Pleaserobme.com is a website that randomly selects Twitter users and posts those that announce that they are not at home. Here's a sample from their homepage.

They say that they are trying to educate people about the pitfalls of sharing this information. Maybe that is true. But anyone can see this page and with a little research find out who and where the tweeter lives. Many people even use their own names on Twitter.

Consider this .... Lovelyeyes09 tweets, "out of here going to run errands." You simply go to your Twitter account, find out who Lovely eyes is, use google to look up the address and off you go with your mask, gloves and bags in hand. (Do thieves really carry a bag to put things in?)

Having your house broken into is not the only problem with sharing this information. Maybe someone follows you to your location (grocery store, dry cleaners, car repair) to do you harm from theft to rape. Maybe you are gone but you left other family members at home. This puts them at risk too.

The moral to this story is, be careful what you put out there. You may think your settings are private but really the Internet is just one great big billboard to the world. Make sure that you don't end up advertising to the wrong people.
For more information on staying safe online, these helpful suggestions by the FTC for Tweens and Teens can serve as a refresher course for adults.

Posted by Lisa Carey at 07:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Are you having trouble today on your Facebook account? Could the massive cyber attack of botnets reported in the Wall Street Journal be the reason? Was Facebook hacked too? What you should know and do.

Internet security firm NetWitness has discovered coordinated internet security breaches that span the globe. NetWitness works for both U.S. government agencies and many in the private sector and the information on the cyber attacks has been turned over the FBI. The cyber attacks apparently began in Germany in 2008 and over the last 18 months hackers in Europe and China have succeeded in breaking into over 2,400 government and corporate computers. In at least 100 cases, hackers gained accessed to corporate servers. Egypt, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the U.S. appear to have the highest concentration of affected computers.

The numbers so far:

-75,000 computers
-196 countries

Agencies and Companies Affected by the Cyber Attack:

The damage is still being accessed and those affected are still being notified. NetWitness is not naming companies but at least two companies have confirmed that they were hit:

-Merck & Co., a pharmaceutical company
-Cardinal Health Inc.

Both of these companies say that the problems have been isolated and contained. Merck has stated that, "no sensitive data was compromised"

-Ten U.S. government agencies were reportedly compromised

This included theft of a soldier's military email account with the username and password.

Two other companies have been rumored to be hit but neither has confirmed an attack:

-Paramount Pictures
-Juniper Networks Inc., a software company

Is it possible that companies could have been affected by the cyber attacks and not be aware of a problem? Could Facebook being down today be a result of being hacked by this cyber attack? Is it all part of the Kneber botnet that is reported to be dragging Facebook down today and stealing passwords and information from social networking, banking and email and wreaking all sorts of havoc - both to your personal information and to the online services we use most?

According to NetWitness principal analyst Alex Cox, "It is 100 percent certain that many organizations have no idea they are victimized by these types of problems because they're just not tooled to see them on their networks."

What information was stolen?

In this large-scale cyber attack, the stolen data thus far appears to include:

-Company files, including email attachments
-Online credit card transactions
-Intellectual property, including upcoming versions of software products, contracts, corporate documents and presentations
-Email log ins for banking

How did hackers break in?

It's not a new trick but apparently it is still a successful one. Hackers lured employees to click on links to contaminated web sites, ads and email attachments. In some cases the ads were ironically for products to clean up viruses.

In at least one U.S. company there is evidence pointing to employee involvement. In the past hackers have obtain private information on individuals and used it to extort sensitive information from an employee.

The spyware used in these attacks allowed hackers to control the infected computers remotely. Computers were brought into cyber armies called "botnets," an invasion not blocked by all anti-virus software. The spyware used appears to be an expensive version of ZeuS, which is available online for free in a basic form. A Department of Homeland security has listed ZeuS as among the top five malware tools reported.

Adam Meyers, a senior engineer at government contractor SRA International Inc. reviewed the reports by NetWitness and said, ""If you're a Fortune 500 company or a government agency or a home DSL user, you could be successfully victimized."

Reminders to protect yourself:

Update your antivirus software programs
Change your passwords
Run a scan of your computer - delete and clean any threats.
Do not open links sent to you via Facebook private messages or in your email unless you are positive that they are legitimate.

Posted by Lisa Carey at 11:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What are secured credit cards? Can they help or hinder your credit score? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Find out more about secured credit cards and whether you should use one or not.

We have a love-hate relationship with credit cards. At times they have been our knights in shining armor, coming to our rescue during an emergency. At other times, they have been a demon that got into more financial trouble than we could have ever imagined. Following the recent economic crisis, many of us find ourselves unable to live without them and others find ourselves unable to get a good one when we need them.

While ideally we are all looking for credit cards that offer low interest rates, no annual fees and no money down, unfortunately that isn't always an option. If your credit has taken a down turn during this economic down turn, then secured credit cards are an option that may be worth examining. It's important to know the cons and also the benefits of a secured credit card. Secured credit cards are also a consideration for those who haven't yet established a credit.

How is a Secured Card Different From a Regular Card?

The name tells the tale. The security is really for the credit extender but extends to you the cardholder as well. The reality is that the secured credit card lenders offer credit cards to users that are considered a "high risk."

To obtain a secured credit card, the applicant must make an upfront payment that is sometimes equal too, or sometimes less than the credit limit.

Secured credit cards may be of interest to those who have no or less than perfect credit including:

-Those with damaged credit
-Those with no credit
-Those who have declared bankruptcy

What fees can you expect for a secured credit card?

-You can expect a higher than usual interest rate, at least 20% or more.
-You can also expect an annual fee of at least $50.00 or more.

In general, everything about the secured credit card is something that most of us want to avoid. However, if you are in one of the unfortunate situations listed above, it can be good to know that there are credit cards available that help you to rebuild your credit.

Strategies for building credit with a secured credit card:

With a secured credit card you'll have to pay to play but if you play the game right then you can win by building positive credit.

1. You'll have to use the secured credit card to build credit.
2. Make all payments on time by mailing at least 7 days before the due date of your payment.

3. Avoid going over the limit.

It's not for everyone but if you need one, a secured credit card can help you rebuild credit and also help you to gain money management skills that will benefit you in general. If you cannot obtain a traditional loan or credit card, then check out secured credit cards and as always read and follow all of the fine print to ensure that a secured credit card helps you rather than hurts you.

Posted by Lisa Carey at 10:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hackers have no problem manufacturing credit cards and using your credit.

Fraudsters rack up millions of dollars in merchandise using fake credit cards with legit numbers hacked off the Internet.

Detective Bob Watts of Newport Beach PD shows how it's done.

Posted by Jonathan at 01:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Credit cards are fairly easy to obtain. Identity thieves have proven that time and time again. They are also pretty easy to use which can either be a convenient short cut or a road to long-term debt. Let's look at the good, the rewards, the bad and the really ugly about credit cards.

There are some financial experts who say avoid credit cards altogether, like the plague. Many experts though agree that we should all have at least one credit card for emergency purposes. The picture that arises for most of us is unexpected car trouble when traveling. Even if we have the funds to cover the repair, many places aren't going to accept a check from an out of towner for these costs. This is when a debit card would surely do the trick, if your checking or savings balance can cover the cost and not leave you broke for the month. That just isn't an acceptable risk for most of us.

The convenience factor is another reason for being a credit card holder. Not necessarily for shopping in general but for making reservations whether for tickets, a rental car or a hotel.

If you're convinced, as most of us are that having at least one credit card is a good idea for both emergencies and reservations, then what are your best credit card options?

Big Guys in the Credit Card Arena: Visa, Master Card, Discover & American Express

First let's consider universal acceptance.

Master Card and Visa are generally universally accepted.

Discover and American Express are not as widely accepted. Both offer some great features but if they are not the best options for an "only" credit card as you may find yourself "unaccepted" for credit in some venues.

The good news is that if you're credit is good you can obtain a Visa or Master Card often with a lower rate (something like 15% annually would be considered lower). Often you can even find offers for zero interest but enjoy and watch it, when this offer expires it will jump to a higher rate (something like 18% or more).

The good news: more widely accepted
The rewards: sign up offers like lower or zero interest
The bad news: low rates will jump after introductory period
The ugly: watch out for hidden fees and especially avoid late payment fees
The really ugly: if you just make minimum payments, it'll take a financial forever

Store Credit Cards: Are they ever worth it?

Store credit cards generally work at only one store or the store's online shopping web site and are another credit card venue. They are really easy to obtain and although the interest rate is higher, they do generally offer incentives like a percentage off of a purchase today. Examples would include Kohl's.

The good news: easy to obtain, can help the young or new to credit establish credit
The rewards: a percentage off for the first purchase, discounts at on line stores
The bad news: higher interest rates
The ugly: so easy to use and sales are so enticing
The really ugly: if you spend more than you can pay off in a month, the high interest rates are a killer

What to look for in any credit card:
Low interest rates
No annual fees
Incentives like frequent flyer miles or rewards like Amazon Rewards

The bottom line is that if you carry a credit card for emergencies, then only use it for true emergencies and whatever balance you put on a credit card know that you can pay it off within the month or within the no interest period.

Of course having a Monthly Budget Meeting can help you stick to these credit card goals and always take advantage of opportunities to transfer existing high interest credit card balances to low or no interest cards and heavily note the end of the term.

Credit cards should be used reluctantly but can be helpful tools for emergencies, establishing credit or building rewards but credit cards require diligence. Don't let what's in your wallet be a breadcrumb path to debt.

Posted by Lisa Carey at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There's lots of email messages floating around out there - how we can make money or how we can save our life. Dio you have the 411 on the cell phone *112 email message that claims to save your life from an fake unmarked police car? Know before you dial what's true and what's false.

Have you ever received this email message and wondered if it was true?

"Some knew about the red light on cars, but not the *112.
It was about 1:00 p.m. in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights on. Lauren's parents have always told her never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather to wait until they get to a gas station, etc.

Lauren had actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly called *112 on her cell phone to tell the police dispatcher that she would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her. The dispatcher checked to see if there were police cars where she was and there weren't, and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back up already on the way.

Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground. The man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.

I never knew about the *112 Cell Phone Feature, but especially for a woman alone in a car, you should not pull over for an unmarked car. Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a safe place.
*Speaking to a service representative at ** Bell ** Mobility confirmed that *112 was a direct link to State trooper info.

So, now it's your turn to let your friends know about *112.

You may want to Send this to every woman (and man) you know; it may save a life. This applies to ALL 50 states"

Before some maniac tries to pull you over in an unmarked car, or before you ignore an unmarked police officer there are a few things you should know about this email.

-This email is not true.
-Different variations of this email have used the names Lisa and Laura.
-There is no single emergency number in use worldwide. The number 112 is used in some European countries but not all. Come countries also use 119, 999, and 911.
-Not all countries would be able to support or institute a system for a single emergency code.
-Throughout most of Europe and a few countries outside of the EU, dialing 112 will connect users to local emergency services. However, the number won't work in North America, or most of Asia and Africa.
-When talking to a police officer about this email, he asked "What is wrong with dialing 911?"
-There are some numbers you can call to contact dispatch instead of 911, but those numbers vary according to state and area. So instead of guessing it's better to simply dial 911 to contact dispatch.
-It's also smart to never pull over even for "unmarked" cars - here in Houston it's hard because they do have them. If you are concerned about your situation dial 911 talk to the dispatcher so she can tell the officer (if it is one) that is following you or requesting you pull over that you will be pulling over at the next lighted or populated area. Dispatch can also confirm to you if it really is an officer.

Does this email make some valid points? Sure, no one wants to be kidnapped or worst by a deranged psychopath, but before you rely on an email message from a loving friend or family member to keep you safe be sure to check the facts before you hit that forward button or dial a number on your cell phone.

Other helpful articles on fake email messages:
Five Tips for Knowing that the "Forward this to your friends and get a free (fill in the blank)" E-mail is a Fake

More is Not Always Better: Spam Email Increases in 2009

E-mails Accounts Closed due to Phishing Scam and What You Can Do

Posted by Lisa Carey at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Yahoo! Finance Review: Is Yahoo! Finance Helpful?

The Yahoo! Finance page offers stock quotes, company news, currency calculators and more. Just about everything found on the Yahoo! Finance page can be found at other sites on the web but that's the bonus factor for Yahoo! Finance that it offers everything "financial" in one place. Another plus for Yahoo! Finance is that users find the site to be up to date and offering timely information. While there are services for a fee available, there are many useful services and tools at Yahoo! Finance that are free.

What Can You Find at Yahoo! Finance?

Yahoo! Finance has a home page as well pages for:

*Investing
*News and Opinion
*Personal Finance
*My Portfolios
*Tech Ticker

At a glance you can find up to date market information including:

*Market index averages for the day including the DOW, NASDAQ, S&P 500 and more.

*Graph showing the trend in these averages for the most recent working day.

*Market summary

"Investing" at Yahoo! Finance:

Today's Markets: You'll find recent earnings statements, recent stock splits and more.

You'll also find comprehensive sections on Mutual Funds, Stocks, ETFs, Options, Industries and Currencies.

International: World stock index levels, world news and exchange rates are followed under International.

Research and Education: There's a business term glossary as well as personal tutorials on finance and investing.

Community: This is a section where you can chat, ask questions or join groups.

"Personal Finance" Category at Yahoo! Finance:

Banking and Budgeting: Online bill pay and more are free for three months and later kick in $4.95 per month.

Insurance: Look up questions and answers about all kinds of insurance including renters, auto, life, health and home owner's insurance.

Taxes: Get answers to your questions about taxes and find dozens of up to date articles on taxes, tax credit and tax services.

Loans: There's information about loans as well loan calculators and places to directly apply for loans.

There are also pages for Real Estate, Family & Income, and Retirement.

News and Opinion at Yahoo! Finance:

Here you'll find articles on industry news, new technology, trend, top picks by the experts and more.

Creating a Yahoo! Finance Account:

Creating an account at Yahoo! Finance is easy and free. Once you've created an account, you can personalize your logon so that the information that is important to you will be displayed including stock prices and relevant news pertaining to companies you are interested in.

The pros of Yahoo! Finance:

Users enjoy that there's so much financial information in one place and that the articles and financial charts on Yahoo! Finance are kept up to date. They also enjoy that so many of the services available are free. Users also say they like that Yahoo! Finance has limited ads, on the top and side.

Any cons to Yahoo! Finance?

Some users find the appearance to be "drab," citing that they use only two basic colors, black and blue. Others find it to be "too busy," but others still say that although there's lots of information on each page, the tabs and clearly labeled.

Yahoo! Finance is recommended as being educational, informative, helpful and for the most part, free.

Posted by Lisa Carey at 09:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For people who desire to travel for whatever reason, frequent flyers can be a big bonus. So how does American Express-Delta Airlines SkyMiles rate?

Like many people, we've been attracted to promotional offers for credit cards. We've been savvy and took advantage of the initial offers of low or no interest, used the credit cards and then cancelled before a higher, unacceptable rate kicked in. The most attractive credit cards to our family have been those that were affiliated with airlines and offered frequent flyer miles bonus incentives. For people who desire to travel for whatever reason, frequent flyers can be a big bonus. So how does American Express-Delta Airlines SkyMiles rate?

The Options for American Express-Delta Airlines SkyMiles Credit Card:

There are three options available at sign up, Standard, Gold and Platinum and each offers a difference in airline miles:

Standard: 5,000 Delta miles
Gold: 10,000 Delta miles
Platinum: 15,000 Delta miles following your first purchase

To give you a picture, it really takes 25,000 frequent flyers to earn a free domestic flight and compared to other airline flyer cards, this sign up bonus is really the best offer going.

How Can Card Holders Accumulate Miles?

Common to other airline affiliated credit cards, you can earn frequent flyer miles every time you use your American Express Delta SkyMiles credit card. The good news here is that American Express Delta goes a step further. When you make specific purchases, your miles are doubled.

The double the miles offered we have enjoyed include purchases:

*At a grocery store
*Gas station
*Drug store
*Home improvement store
*U.S. Postal Service

There is an annual limit of points for $100,000 in purchases, which usually isn't a concern for most credit card users.

American Express Delta SkyMiles Interest Rates and Fees:

The interest rate is variable and is tied to the primary rate. Whatever the current rate is, American Express adds 9.99%. Recently, our interest rate was 14.74%.

The good news is that balance transfers have a lower fixed interest rate of 9.99% for the life of the transfer if you make your transfer during the first 6 months of your card membership.

On the other hand, cash advances will cost you a little more. For cash advances the interest rate is the prime rate plus 12.99%.

Remember that cash advances or transfers do not translate into frequent flyer miles.

For the first year there is no annual fee but after the first year the annual fees apply and run between $55 to $125.00 depending on your card. Anyone that is already an American Express Member can deduct $55.00 from each of these fees. The frequent flyer miles can easily recoup additional fees for higher-level cards.

One of the cons of the American Express Delta SkyMiles Cards is that American Express is not as readily accepted as Master Card and Visa but we found it easy to rake up around 16,000 frequent flyers in our first year using it mostly for groceries. We recommend the card for at least the first year with no annual fee.

Posted by Lisa Carey at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)