Watch out for Michael Jackson themed virus emails

More nasty emails are turning up in my inbox. The latest captalises on the death of Michael Jackson. The ones I am getting are titled with, “Who killed Michael Jackson?” The links inside the email take you to malicious websites intending to download nasty stuff to your computer or capture private details.

From what I have been reading, many of the Jackson emails are looking for real, almost authentic. Some claiming to be from credible news sources like CNN.

But remember, unless you have subscribed to a news source like the BBC or CNN then there is no reason you should be getting email like that.

Here is some more info related to the Michael Jackson emails...

• Michael Jackson Death Prompts Malicious Spam (Security Labs)
• The Michael Jackson spammers (BBC Dot.Life)
• Michael Jackson's death themed malware campaigns spreading (ZDNet)

As ever, if you have email that looks dodgy or you never subscribed to then delete it straight away or at least mark it as spam/junk.

02 July 2009 | Email | Comments 0

Firefox 3.5 downloads exceed 100 per second

The latest version of FireFox has been released. From all accounts it is well worth upgrading to 3.5 as it has many new features. According to the Mozilla official announcement...

Firefox 3.5 is the best performing browser Mozilla has ever released and delivers radically improved JavaScript performance, a new Private Browsing mode, native support for open video and audio, and Location Aware Browsing. The newest version of Firefox is more than two times faster than Firefox 3 and ten times faster than Firefox 2 on complex websites. With extensive under the hood work to support new technologies, Firefox 3.5 is the most powerful and complete modern browser and helps upgrade the Web experience.

This TechCrunch article reports that FireFox downloads have gone well past a million downloads, some where around 100 downloads per second.

The performance of the browser has been improved but it's speed doesn't match that of Google Chrome, as reported on this ZDNet article.

Have you downloaded it? How is the performance against the older version? Please leave a comment below.

30 June 2009 | Browsers | Comments 0

Take unwanted tourists out of your pictures

How many times have you tried to take a photo but kept getting people and cars in the way? Well there is now an answer to this problem. Tourist Remover.

Take multiple shots of the same scene. Upload them to tourist remover and it will take care of the rest.

Remove moving objects such as tourists or passing cars from your photos. Take multiple photos from the same scene and the «Tourist Remover» blends them into a composite photo without any interfering elements.

This is part of a larger website than can host up to 100mb of your photo's for free, “helps you organize, share and archive your photos online. Create webalbums, photoblogs, e-cards, photobooks...”

30 June 2009 | Websites | Comments 0

July edition of the French Paper now out

The next edition of the French Paper is now available for July. I know this because they sent an email to remind me via their newsletter subscription. What a great idea, mixing the Internet with the printed word. Hopefully this continues to work, reminding people to go out and buy it.

This is something that the Connexion newspaper does not seem to do. However they do have 'why I love France' photo and video competition worth up to €2000. A competition does draw people in but you have to go to the website to find out about it. Newsletters pop up in peoples email and can hang around for some time.

29 June 2009 | News | Comments 0

Orange email on a go slow?

I am getting reports that Orange email services are being somewhat unreliable. Angela, a reader of the blog, has emailed to say that sending emails has become so flaky that she is now phoning to ensure that emails have been received.

Also, a few Twitter friends based in France have also said that the Orange email service is being very slow. Sent and received test messages are taking a long time to show up.

At this point, I am not sure if there is a problem with accessing emails via an email program or via the web.

Are you experiencing problems?

26 June 2009 | Email | Comments 1

WiFi hots spots spreading around Paris

Web In France Magazine has a good article about free WiFi access in Paris. It seems that the great City has multitude of hot spots in parks and other public spaces. Plus it has advice about WiFi access in hotels.

Savvy travellers can use the internet to map out routes to landmarks using Mapquest or Google maps, check the prices or menus at restaurants, double check the opening hours, admission rates and current exhibits of museums, and find out what’s on right now in Paris to make the most of their trip. Also, why wait to share those photos of your vacation until you get home? With free internet access, you can upload photos from your camera during your trip to your blog or email to friends back home (just don’t forget to pack your camera’s USB cable!).

Free wi-fi all over Paris helps tourists stay connected

 

26 June 2009 | WiFi | Comments 0

Profit from running your own website franchise

Many expats who move abroad, not just France, often look for ways to make an income. Bernard Aherne from Small World New Media runs the Guide2 website network. Here he explains how you could profit from a franchise.

“Many Expats moving to France or elsewhere around the world are in need of an income in order to survive. Finding paid work in the local job market can be hard, especially if there are language difficulties. Not everyone who moves to France wants to open a Bed & Breakfast or has the skills to set up as a tradesman, if this applies to yourself then you might be wondering what options there exist to earn money?

Guide2TheWorld produce cutting edge websites aimed at English speakers around the world. Within France we’ve already launched Guide2Limousin & Guide2PoitouCharentes and shortly will be launching Guide2Normandy & Guide2MidiPyrenees. Each of our sites is run by a franchisee, who have joined our business so that they can create a thriving business for themselves in France.

Elsewhere we have expats who have joined our franchise network in Cyprus, Spain, Croatia, Slovenia & Nigeria, with franchisees coming on board soon from South Africa, Australia and Asia.

Each franchisee who joins the network is given full training and ongoing support and advice. We work with our franchisees every step of the way to ensure that each Guide2TheWorld site in France is a success. Our franchisees to date have been earning money from day 1, have a site which is a valuable resource for the local community and that they can be proud of, and a business that allows them to integrate easily into their local region.

Each Guide2TheWorld site earns money through advertising. Local businesses and individuals can advertise property for sale, list their business, add events, accommodation listings, banner ads and more.

If you are looking for an exciting and unique opportunity to invest in a rapidly growing global franchise that will allow you to build your own thriving business then Guide2TheWorld.com is your answer. Our goal is to have Guide2TheWorld.com on every continent and in every country, city and town in the world, Guide2TheWorld is on its way to becoming a truly global brand.

We are seeking franchisees for all 21 French regions. If you’d like to find out more please visit www.swnewmedia.com or call +44 (0)845 838 8868”

23 June 2009 | Websites | Comments 0

OutLook and OutLook Express update email scams

I have received an email that claims to be from Microsoft, it says that OutLook and OutLook Express email programs need updating. The title in the body of the email says...

Update for Microsoft Outlook / Outlook Express (KB910721)

This is not from Microsoft at all. The web address displayed in the email is different from the actual address that you will go to if you were to click on it. Another attempt to install nasty software on to your PC.

If Microsoft has updates for OutLook or OutLook Express then they would make it on to your PC via the normal Windows update system.

19 June 2009 | Email | Comments 0

Fun and games with Club Internet

My username and password to access my Club Internet account was written on a white piece of paper that sat on my desk for months. Then just when I need it, I can't find it. I guess it was used by one of my kids, their prolific output of drawings is enough to fill a room.

The Club Internet site has a many logins depending weather you are attempting to gain access as Club Internet or Neuf or Neuf/Club Internet (Neuf went on a spending spree a year or so ago, not only did they buy Club Internet but AOL as well. Now they are owned by SFR).

Only one of the many pages presented to login with actually had a link for lost username or password. I thought, great! However the details were sent as an email to my Club Internet account. The very account I don't have access to.

Before you ask, we did attempt to contact their support number. The number on their general website for Club Internet/Neuf users has recently changed. Seems they are unable to keep their own website updated. At 9pm this evening we called and told there was a wait of 30 minutes. We will try again tomorrow as at 34 cents a minute, it was going to be expensive.

All this because I wanted to check my bill online. Why does it have to be so hard?

16 June 2009 | Internet | Comments 0

New expat newspaper is out, the French paper

Since the demise of The French News, all we have had is the Connexion newspaper. I must mention that their website looks so much better and a huge improvement on what it used to be like.

Just a few days ago, I picked up from a local supermarket the French Paper. A new newspaper for Expats. The quality of print and layout is really good, the first edition comes in three parts and is a really good read. It really does show off the background of those involved.

The people behind it have long experience in the publishing trade, Niki Wade is the owner and publisher with 18 years experience. Michael Streeter is the editor, former editor of the independent on Sunday. Rachel Loos is a world traveler with 20 years experience in publishing. Nadia Van Dem Rym is the art editor and worked in London for 10 years. Justin Silvester is production and reproduction with 15 years experience in UK newspapers.

Their website looks good and carries news as well as videos and competition. Try out their survey as you could win a years subscription. However when the survey is complete it is supposed to go back to the papers website. The domain is spelt wrong with too many P's!

15 June 2009 | News | Comments 0