Wikileaks‘ website is reportedly under attack as it prepares to release up to 2.7 million documents, described as “diplomatic dynamite”, detailing communication between United States embassies. “We are currently under a mass distributed denial of service attack,” the organisation said on its Twitter feed. The website, run by Julian Assange, retaliated by saying that even if their website goes down, several […]

When I think of winter coming, I imagine cosy weekends filled with children’s laughter and hot chocolate shared in the warm glow of a living room.  But for too many people here in the BC Southern Interior, that first snowfall may feel a little more ominous.  For some of our friends and neighbours—maybe even your […]

Students in Selkirk College’s School of Renewable Resources (Integrated Environmental Planning Technology, Recreation, Fish and Wildlife Technology and Forest Technology) are raising money for their year-end field trip fund to assist with expenses of travel, accommodation, food and tours. They will be selling cords of firewood, generously donated by Kalesnikoff Lumber Company. “Thanks to Kalesnikoff […]

 Well, it's happened. I am now recommending anti-virus for Macs. Is there some new development? Are they more vulnerable now for some reason? No, the threat hasn't changed, just the response options.   Macs run very differently from Windows. The only way to get a virus is to deliberately install it. If you check out this blog...

 Dark Reading (www.darkreading.com) has a list of their “Top Four Social Engineers of All Time”. These are people who have become experts at conning other people. Two, Kevin David Mitnick and Frank Abagnale, have criminal pasts. Frank Abagnale was the subject of the movie Catch me if You Can. The third is a consultant who […]

The Crime Prevention unit of the Trail RCMP have issued a warning today regarding an e-mail and phone fraud scam that has been taking place across Canada and in our own backyard in the Kootenays over the past week. Police are urging citizens to use extra caution when receiving what appears to be either a phone […]

 Last week I talked about taking your virus-infested computer to a good technician. The trouble with that advice is finding a good technician isn't always easy, especially if you're not comfortable with computers. It's one of many cruel ironies the universe has to offer: the people who have the greatest need for a good...

Grade 8 science students at six schools across the Columbia Basin were among the first to take part in Know Your Watershed, a new regionally-based water stewardship initiative of Columbia Basin Trust (CBT). “CBT recognizes the importance of actively engaging youth in water issues in the Basin, “said Neil Muth, CBT President and CEO. “Through this program we are trying […]

 So you've looked at some of the warning signs I talked about last week and now you're pretty sure you have a virus. Now what? The most important message I want to get across is that you have to DO SOMETHING. I frequently get told, "I don't have any data to protect, so I'm not worried."   This is a terrible misconception for...

  The computer version of the flu is called 'malware'. Malware is a global term for computer viruses, trojans, spyware, keyloggers and other bad software. There are so many different categories, and so many specific examples that don't comfortably fit within just one category, that it's easier just to call all of them "malware"....