phishing - A practice in which malicious users or Web sites deceives people into revealing personal information, such as account passwords and credit card numbers. Typically deceptive e-mail messages or online advertisements are used as bait to lure unsuspecting users to fraudulent Web sites, where the users then divulge personal information.

As I was going to add my post about Inside Politics yesterday, I noticed five new trackbacks listed under the "recent trackbacks" section of the space (when viewed in edit mode).  They included web addresses for "cheap vicodin online" and "online hydrocodone" (another prescription drug people sometimes get addicted to).  They were trackbacks on months old posts and look to be a new tactic by swindlers from the darker corners of the Internet.  The trackbacks, which I've removed, were probably part of an automated "phishing" attack designed to lure people reading blogs to bogus web sites designed to steal their personal information.  Its one of the new frontiers of cybercrime and is something Microsoft is aggressively battling. 

So, as you are surfing blogs, take special care to make sure you are clicking on links that will take you to sites you recognize and trust. 

Here's my new contact info for Seattle and Microsoft:

home address:  210 Wall Street, Apt. 1610; Seattle, 98121

work phone:  425.707.2193

And, you can still use the scott at stanzel.com email address.  I continue to check it on my pocket pc -- which is running on Windows Mobile 2003 Second Addition.  As our new ads say, "there is a world of software and devices that run on Windows," so Start Something!

On my pocket pc, I'm currently using Pocket Streets and Trips connected via bluetooth to a GPS transmitter to help me navigate my new surroundings.  I'm also using Pocket Excel to log the commute time from my temporary place downtown to redmond (to look for optimal times for the 13 mile drive).   I use Pocket Internet Explorer to look at real estate listings while doing my driving tours for a new home.  And, I'm of course using the email, phone, contacts and calendar. 

I'm curious about podcasting.  USA Today had a big story about it a week or so ago and the March Wired has a piece on it, as well.

When little Donnie Fowler was running for DNC Chair he made a bit of news by posting a podcast for supporters/dems/interested parties to listen to. 

Interesting...

My brother, Steve, bought me an Ipod shuffle for my birthday.  It's a pretty great little device.  It weighs almost nothing and can hold over 100 songs (I have the 512MB version).  It's outstanding when going out for a run. 

The one complaint I have when using any ipod for exercising is the standard ear buds they come with.  They tend to slip out of my ear.  So, I just bought some Sony MDR-EX51LP Fontopia Headphones.  They are the "in-ear" design that I hope will stay put in my ear.

I thought about getting some Etymotic earphones, but I thought I'd first go with the cheaper sony version to see if the style worked.

I also installed Microsoft Digital Image Suite today.  It makes archiving, editing and organizing pictures very easy.  I learned the hard way about backing things up.  About 2 years ago, I had a virus that forced me to go to a computer recovery shop to retrieve several years worth of pictures -- at the cost of a new computer.

I spent a bunch of time upgrading and updating my computer today.  Thanks to the suggestions of my techie brother (http://spaces.msn.com/members/sstanzel), I installed several different programs to combat spyware, trojan horses and other malicious things that come along.  First, I tried cwshredder (freeware).  It worked pretty efficiently (clumsy UI), but found nothing.  Then I tried, Webroot Spy Sweeper.  It found about 100 things I could do without.  Finally, I jused Spybot Search and Destroy.  It found 10 more things to get rid of. 

http://webroot.com/services/spyaudit_03.htm

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10289035.html?tag=lst-0-2

Just downloaded the new MSN toolbar suite beta.  It's pretty cool.  I still haven't quite mastered how the "form fill" feature works with usernames and passwords of non-MSN sites like Etrade or MBNA. 

I like the integration of the spaces and messenger.  I blogged about the toolbar in my space just by clicking the spaces button. 

The viewer button that shows a snapshot of the web page with highlighted search terms is handy for quickly finding quotes in news stories. 

I haven't used the desktop or outlook searches yet, as I'm waiting for the search tool to finish its indexing. 

I was pleased that the search toolbar was installed in my old (2002) version of Outlook.

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Find anything, anywhere fast with MSN Toolbar Suite Beta

I'm not sure if I'd be willing to pay for storage space.  If so, it'd have to be a nominal fee.  I thought Microsoft had 30 billion dollars laying around.  Maybe it could be viewed as a charitable contribution (kidding) or maybe you could simply view it as a way to get more eyeballs to the Microsoft section of the Internet until you figure out how to make money on it. 

On the flipside, I'm not too excited about my space being cluttered with advertising.

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Talking about video clips

Note to self, I need to check the feedback to see how often video is requested.  We'll have to manage storage carefully. 

video clips
Why can't I post videos to my space?  That'd be cool.

Why can't I post videos to my space?  That'd be cool.