Jude’s Eclectic Resources

Have you or someone you know ever been a victim of identity theft? You can’t completely control whether you will become a victim, but you can take steps to lessen the risk.You need to take actions to minimize the outside access to your personal information on your computer. I see those commercials on television and chuckle, but it really does happen all the time and it can be very scary if it happens to you.

I also would advise you to shred every thing with your account numbers and social security numbers before putting in the trash. Even though credit card companies have gotten better about your protection identity theft and stolen credit cards are still very wide spread, they don’t have to have the card just the number so be very careful that you are ordering from legit sites when purchasing online.

These are a few signs to consider unexplained charges or withdrawals from your financial accounts; Your bills and other mail stop arriving (the thief may have submitted a change of address); a credit application is denied for no apparent reason, or debt collectors begin calling about merchandise or services you didn’t buy.

A few things you can do to help protect your personal information.

· You should update virus protection software frequently. Consider setting your virus protection software to update automatically. The Windows XP operating system also can be set to check for patches automatically and download them to your computer.

· Not opening files sent to you by strangers, clicking on hyperlinks, or downloading programs from people or companies you don’t know.

· Using a firewall program, especially if you use a high speed Internet connection like cable or DSL that leaves your computer connected to the Internet 24 hours a day. I personally use the free version of Zone Alarm.

· Providing your personal or financial information through an organization’s secured website only. While not fool proof, a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a website that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for secure), may provide additional security.

· Not storing your financial information on your laptop, unless it’s absolutely necessary. Which I never do.

· Deleting all the personal information stored on a computer before disposing of it. A wipe” utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive is recommended.

· Checking with an anti-fraud education organization such as CardCops (www.cardcops.com). Card Cops runs a web site designed to help consumers determine whether their credit card numbers may have been stolen. They monitor Internet “chat rooms” where identity thieves illicitly trade and sell stolen credit card numbers. CardCops turns the information over to law enforcement authorities, but also allows consumers to access their database to see whether individual card numbers may have been stolen. In the first two months of operation, the site identified more than 100,000 stolen credit cards.

Those are a few great tips and should help minimize your outside risks.You never know when you could be a victim. It doesn’t just happen to other people.

I am so sorry I have changed this title 3 times, but I wasn’t really sure what to call it. I am finding that there is a big community within the paid to click programs which do not seem very ethical to me. I don’t really mean the paid to click, but the ad sources that people use on their sites like Google, Yahoo, Kontera, and others.

The ones that have to be clicked on before you are paid type. There are start up groups of people and exchanges that are actually there for one purpose and that is to click on each others links. I have even had people in some of the social sites that I belong to send out e-mails and ask people to click on their links and ads. Now how desperate is that?

I use Kontera on my sites and I have never asked anyone to click on anything. Of course I don’t make much money with the program either. I think I have earned around 30. dollars for a 2 year period and While I am on the subject of programs that really haven’t made money for me I will add Amazon and Searchfeed. I have heard that some people do actually earn from these 3 sources, I personally don’t know any that have. At least the programs are free to participate in and give some chance of making extra income with, but don’t quit your day job.

I have tried some of the paid to post sites and decided at this point there is really only one that I like and they do make it easy to make money and you don’t have to earn by someone clicking on anything, but the only problem that I can see is the way Google views paid links. I can’t add the no follow because I wouldn’t be paid so the only way I could see was to put them all in the sponsored post category so humans would know that was what they are and to make sure that I have a disclosure policy insight.

People use and try to disguise clickable ads on their sites. I know when I first started online they were very clever at placing the ads with pictures and of course within the text, but I am sure now a days they don’t make any where near the amount they use to and that is probably why all the dishonesty started with the special unethical communities and clubs that sprang up.

No one likes to hear the word bankruptcy let alone think about actually filing. In the world we live in everyone uses plastic because it gives you more buying power and companies love giving credit and we love taking it, but it’s too easy to bury yourself in debt and not know which way to turn.

I found myself in this situation some years back and found myself unable to cope. I thought about trying to consolidate all my loans and try to pay them off, but I realized I was going to be single and my earning ability had slipped and I would never be free of debt till the day I died. I was totally overwhelmed.

I didn’t know about the Consumers Rights Group site they have lots of information to help people that are being harassed and don’t know which way to turn. You can even talk to a bankruptcy attorney for free. I managed to get a part time attorney with dubious character, I say this because he spent most of his time in the bar at the restaurant I worked at.

I took my chances that he wouldn’t take the money and run because he was the cheapest I had found and I was desperate. I had to pay him a certain amount upfront and the balance when he actually filed. At least I was hoping he was going to follow through. The only debt I couldn’t discharge was my student loan, which was fine, but I really had no clue what all was going on.

After reading the site above I understand a lot more now. I wish that I would have had the information that they provide for people in debt trouble way back then. I have never re-established credit and probably never will. Now if I don’t have the money then I don’t buy, it’s just that simple.

Last night we had a storm and lost power for 3 hours. I really don’t think I would like to be without all the conveniences that I am use to. We take so much for granted till we lose something then we realize how important and necessary it is. I am very lucky to live in such a great country and I’m grateful for the things I have.

Could we survive without all the modern conveniences of today? Well I’m sure we would, but how horrible to actually open the windows to get fresh air circulating instead of my great central air and to think of never sitting in front of my computer again day in and day out and actually have the time to get something done around the house is just too horrible to think about.

We truly are blessed to have so many inventors and their knowledge of creating and making things bigger and better is astounding. I can hardly wait to see all the progress and new gadgets that will be created just in the next 20 years and I’m sure the conveniences of today will be obsolete by then. How far can we go as human creators. Things that I never thought possible have already come and passed.

The life dream is amazing and humans are truly blessed. We can do anything we think we can. We are only limited by our small thinking.

I honestly think there are more blogs online than people and do people really read what you have to say or just skim the surface? My guess would be it’s more of the latter. I know that headlines should be really catchy in order to get someone’s interest and attention and make them want to read more, but I’m totally daft at writing, let alone the headlines.

I do try though as I am sure everyone does to find something of interest to write about. I have a very dry sense of humor so I’m not sure people would get where I am coming from. Bill makes me laugh because he is funny. I always wanted to be funny, but just couldn’t pull it off. Some people have a great talent with words and how to say them. I have been practicing, but to no avail. I’m still not funny, but I can appreciate good humor.

I am not a big belly laugher either, I will grin or smile or chuckle so for someone to get a belly laugh out of me must be pretty funny. I’m quite sure that comes from always trying to keep my emotions intact and tucked away.

Well it’s the week-end and I do hope it’s a great one for everyone. It’s suppose to be rainy around here, but the weather people have been proved wrong a lot this past 2 weeks. I hope they are wrong about tomorrow. Have a great one. Maybe I’ll figure some great stuff to blog about. Sure seems like I have been posting a lot to the other stuff category lately.