What is Bitcoin?

 http://money.cnn.com/infographic/technology/what-is-bitcoin/

Bitcoin is a new currency that was created in 2009 by an unknown person using the alias Satoshi Nakamoto. Transactions are made with no middle men – meaning, no banks! There are no transaction fees and no need to give your real name. More merchants are beginning to accept them: You can buy webhosting services, pizza or even manicures.

Why Bitcoins?

Bitcoins can be used to buy merchandise anonymously. In addition, international payments are easy and cheap because bitcoins are not tied to any country or subject to regulation. Small businesses may like them because there are no credit card fees. Some people just buy bitcoins as an investment, hoping that they’ll go up in value.

Acquiring Bitcoins

Buy on an Exchange
Several marketplaces called “bitcoin exchanges” allow people to buy or sell bitcoins using different currencies. Mt. Gox is the largest bitcoin exchange.

Transfers
People can send bitcoins to each other using mobile apps or their computers. It’s similar to sending cash digitally.

Mining
People compete to “mine” bitcoins using computers to solve complex math puzzles. This is how bitcoins are created. Currently, a winner is rewarded with 25 bitcoins roughly every 10 minutes.

Owning Bitcoins

Bitcoins are stored in a “digital wallet,” which exists either in the cloud or on a user’s computer. The wallet is a kind of virtual bank account that allows users to send or receive bitcoins, pay for goods or save their money. Unlike bank accounts, bitcoin wallets are not insured by the FDIC.

Wallet in cloud: Servers have been hacked. Companies have fled with clients’ Bitcoins.

Wallet on computer: You can accidentally delete them. Viruses could destroy them.

Anonymity

Though each bitcoin transaction is recorded in a public log, names of buyers and sellers are never revealed – only their wallet IDs. While that keeps bitcoin users’ transactions private, it also lets them buy or sell anything without easily tracing it back to them. That’s why it has become the currency of choice for people online buying drugs or other illicit activities.

Future in question

No one knows what will become of bitcoin. It is mostly unregulated, but that could change. Governments are concerned about taxation and their lack of control over the currency.

10 Weird Mobile Apps You Won't Believe You Can Download

10 Weird Mobile Apps You Won't Believe You Can Download

1) Cuddlr

A location-based social networking app called Cuddly lets you find people in your area to cuddle with. Cute or creepy? You be the judge.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS only, Android coming soon
Download here for iOS.

2) Demotivational Pics

Keep that frown upside down. Make a bad day worse with an app that reminds you just how crappy things can be.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS & Android
Download here for iOS; here for Android.

3) Carrr Matey

Forgot where you parked your car? This app can tell you -- in a pirate voice.
Cost: Free, matey.
OS: iOS & Android
Download here for iOS; here for Android.

4) Places I've Pooped

I mean ... the name really says it all. Mark your territory, literally and digitially, with this map of where you've done your business.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS & Android
Download here for iOS; here for Android.

5) Run Pee

Wondering whether now is the time to relieve yourself of that red slushy you just sucked down? Run Pee will tell you when you can run and pee without missing anything big in the movie. Incredibly weird. Incredibly useful.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS & Android
Download here for iOS; here for Android.

6) Cat Paint

You know what this picture needs? More cat. Cat Paint helps you add more cat.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS
Download here for iOS.

7) Pimple Popper

If you find pimple-popping therapeutic, this app makes a gross little game out of it.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS & Android
Download here for iOS; here for Android.

8) Yo

An app that does one thing: says "Yo" to someone else. #yolo
Cost: Free (thankfully)
OS: iOS & Android
Download here for iOS; here for Android.

9) Spirit Story Box: Ghost Hunting Tool

This app speaks ghost. Use it to get a translation of what the ghosts that are definitely around you right now are saying.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS
Download here for iOS.

10) Paper Racing

You know what would make bathroom activities more fun? Competition. Race your friends to see who runs out of toilet paper first. There are no winners in this game.
Cost: Your dignity; but it's otherwise free.
OS: Android

Download here for Android.

Now I wonder... why?

NOW I WONDER WHY?

Only in This Stupid World
......do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the
Store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.


Only in This Stupid World
.....do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.

Only in This Stupid World
.....do banks leave vault doors open and then chain the pens to the counters..

Only in This Stupid World
......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put
Our useless junk in the garage.

Only in This Stupid World ...........do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in
Packages of eight..


Only in This Stupid World .....do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.

EVER WONDER
...

Why the sun lightens
Our hair, but darkens our skin?

Why don't you ever see the
Headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?


Why is
'abbreviated' such a long word?


Why is it that
Doctors call what they do 'practice'?


Why is lemon juice made
With artificial flavor, and dish washing liquid made with real lemons?

Why is the man who
Invests all your money called a broker?

Why is the time of
Day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Why isn't there
Mouse-flavored cat food?

Why isn’t there Cat flavored

Dog food?
Why didn't Noah
Swat those two mosquitoes?

Why do they sterilize the
Needle for lethal injections?

You know that
Indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?!

Why don't sheep
Shrink when it rains?

Why are they called
Apartments when they are all stuck together?

If con is the opposite of
Pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

If flying is so
Safe,why do they call the airport the terminal?

9 weird home remedies

Listen to your elders advice Not because they are always Right
But because they have more experiences of being Wrong!!


1) Listerine cures toenail fungus

Soaking your feet in Listerine mouthwash for 15-20 minutes, twice a day, will cure most cases of toenail fungus. Listerine contains antiseptic and disinfectant ingredients; it has been used for everything from curing gonorrhea to cleaning floors.
 
Listerine is also good for curing blisters (dab onto blister 2-3 times per day to dry it out), and dandruff.
 
 
2) Yogurt cures bad breath

Studies have shown that live bacteria in sugar free yogurt can suppress levels of bad breath-causing bacteria. If the bad bacteria can't survive, your breath smells sweeter.
 
 
3) Olive oil cures Eczema

Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, so it's a great skin moisturizer. Apply extra virgin, unrefined olive oil to your skin after showering, while your skin is still damp. The olive oil seals in moisture and helps soothe painful Eczema flair-ups.
 
 
4) Sugar stops the hiccups

Hiccups are annoying, but now you can stop them within one minute simply by swallowing a teaspoon full of dry sugar. Experts believe that the sudden sweetness on the tongue overloads the nerve endings in the mouth and stops the hiccup spasm.
 
 
5) Chewing peppermint or cinnamon gum eases commuting stress

Studies have shown that chewing peppermint or cinnamon gum increases awareness and reduces fatigue by as much as 20%. Test subjects reported 25% less frustration and 30% increased alertness. The drive also seemed 30% shorter for those who chewed the gum, versus those who did not.
 
 
6) Biting on a pencil cures headaches

Tension headaches can often arise from unconsciously clenching your jaw. Gently holding a pencil between your teeth forces your jaw muscles to relax, easing your headache.
 
 
7) Vodka cures stinky feet

Wipe your feet with a vodka-soaked rag to eliminate foot odor. Vodka contains alcohol, an antiseptic that is very drying. Alcohol destroys odor-causing fungus and bacteria and dries out the moisture that lets these organisms grow.
 
 
8) Olives and lemons cure sea sickness

Motion sickness causes excess saliva, which can make you queasy. Eating olives or sucking on a lemon at the first signs of sea sickness can help ease nausea thanks to the tannins contained in these items.
 
 
9) Tomatoes cure acne

Tomatoes have a lot of vitamins C and A, antioxidants and acidic content, so they can be used to treat a variety of minor skin ailments. This cure is especially good for oily skin. Mash one small tomato into a pulp, then spread the pulp on your face and let it sit for one hour. Wash it off with tepid water and pat dry. Repeat once a day for a week.

VAWTRAK Plagues Users in Japan

VAWTRAK first made the rounds via attachments to fake shipping notification emails in August 2013. The attachment was actually a ZIP file that contained a malicious file, detected as BKDR_VAWTRAK.A, which was initially known for information theft from FTP and email clients. This 2013 variant stole credentials from several Windows email clients, however, more recent VAWTRAK variants have expanded their capabilities to include a wider range of theft. Among these capabilities were banking Trojan routines such as stealing banking credentials and credit card information.
What is the VAWTRAK malware family?
VAWTRAK is a family of online banking malware. It was originally spotted in August 2013 for its information theft routines but more recent variants are known to steal banking credentials, more prominently in Japan.
Why is VAWTRAK noteworthy?
VAWTRAK is noteworthy because its routines have vastly "improved" from simple information theft to stealing banking data from certain banking institutions in Japan. VAWTRAK is also notable because its routines make malware cleanup difficult. VAWTRAK restricts users from running files related to antivirus software by adding specific registry entries to infected systems. It checks for various security software (including Trend Micro products) and downgrades the software privileges to render the antivirus capabilities ineffective.
Despite its routines, VAWTRAK’s malware behavior is not particularly innovative. Stealing FTP credentials are similar to the FAREIT malware. VAWTRAK is also similar to ZBOT as it has a configuration file, which contains code for web injection and a list of sites it monitors. Another major reason why VAWTRAK is notable is that it managed to target four major banks and five credit card companies based in Japan. These sites then lead to the Angler Exploit Kit, which leads users to various Flash and Java exploits used to install VAWTRAK in systems.
How widespread are VAWTRAK variants in Japan?
Data from the Trend Micro™ Smart Protection Network™ in the pie chart above shows that most of the VAWTRAK infections are found in Japan. The United States and Germany trail far behind. The increase in banking malware that target banks in Japan can be attributed to the increase in information stealing malware such as TSPY_AIBATOOK that have added capabilities allowing the malware to steal banking credentials.
What are the notable VAWTRAK variants?
Some of the more notable VAWTRAK variants include BKDR_VAWTRAK.PHY, BKDR_VAWTRAK.SM, and BKDR_VAWTRAK.SMN. A common malware routine for these variants involve checking for the presence of certain security-related directories in the Program Files and Application Data folders. These security products include the following:

• a-squared Anti-Malware (now Emsisoft Anti-Malware)
• a-squared HiJackFree (now Emsisoft Anti-Malware)
• Agnitum
• Alwil Software
• AnVir Task Manager
• ArcaBit
• AVAST Software
• AVG
• Avira
• BitDefender
• BlockPost
• Doctor Web
• DefenseWall
• ESET
• f-secure
• FRISK Software
• G DATA
• K7 Computing
• Kaspersky Lab
• Lavasoft
• Malwarebytes
• McAfee
• Microsoft Security Essentials
• Norton AntiVirus
• Online Solutions
• pTools
• Panda Security
• Positive Technologies
• Sandboxie
• Security Task Manager
• Spyware Terminator
• Sunbelt Software
• Trend Micro
• UAenter
• Vba32
• Xore
• Zillya Antivirus

Once VAWTRAK finds any of the above-mentioned security software installed, it creates the following registry entries to force the antivirus installation to run under restricted user privileges:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Safer\
CodeIdentifiers\0\Paths\{generated GUID for the AV software}
ItemData = "{AV software path}"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Safer\
CodeIdentifiers\0\Paths\{generated GUID for the AV software}
SaferFlags = "0"

What are its main routines?
VAWTRAK’s main routines include backdoor commands, such as keylogging and capturing screenshots. It also steals FTP credentials and stored email credentials, as well as data from Internet browsers. VAWTRAK also tracks data that contains banking and credit card information.
How will I know if my system is infected?
Users will know that their systems are infected if there is an existing {random filename}.dat or {All Users Profile}\Application Data in the ProgramData folder. The .DAT file is actually a .DLL file present in the autorun registry.
Another symptom for VAWTRAK infection is users’ inability to run antivirus-related processes. VAWTRAK adds policy-related registries that restrict users from running files under antivirus-related folders.
How does a typical VAWTRAK infection chain look like?
Below is a sample infection chain that shows how VAWTRAK arrives on a system via a Java.exe file that originates from a malicious or compromised site. The .DAT file is actually a .DLL and the final payload, aka, the VAWTRAK malware.

VAWTRAK system arrival via java.exe

Here is another sample infection chain that shows how VAWTRAK arrives on a system, this time using a Flash.ocx file that leads to the final payload, a .DAT file that is actually a .DLL (VAWTRAK).

VAWTRAK system arrival via Flash11e.ocx

How do I protect myself from VAWTRAK?
Users are advised to disable or uninstall browser plugins such as Java, Adobe Flash, and Adobe Reader if they are not needed. Since the attacks illustrated in the infection chains above originated from and involved certain software, it is always best to minimize the risk of infection by applying software patches and keeping systems up-to-date. Cybercriminals may utilize vulnerabilities and system bugs should these holes be uncovered and exploited.
Lastly, users must be sure to only visit legitimate banking websites to lessen the risk of clicking fraudulent links embedded in emails or spammed messages.
Does Trend Micro protect users from this threat?
Yes. Trend Micro products detect and delete VAWTRAK variants via the Smart Protection Network’s file reputation services. Web reputation services blocks access to the domains where VAWTRAK variants connect to.
FROM THE FIELD: EXPERT INSIGHTS
"We may continue to see VAWTRAK in the wild since its newer, specialized routines may lead to complicated cleanup solutions. There are definitely clear signs of VAWTRAK further advancing and improving. Newer variants now have features such as having a configuration file that contains the banking and credit card institutions which it monitors. The older arrival vectors were just spammed messages, but now VAWTRAK is seen to arrive via Java exploits." –Jimelle Monteser, threat response engineer
"The VAWTRAK threat is ultimately a threat toward all people who utilize online banking. Since online banking has gone mainstream for a large percentage of users, ranging from home users to enterprises, VAWTRAK poses grave a threat to all." –Rhena Inocencio, threat response engineer

 http://about-threats.trendmicro.com/us/webattack/3141/VAWTRAK+Plagues+Users+in+Japan

ZeuS and Its Continuing Drive Towards Stealing Online Data

ZeuS and Its Continuing Drive Towards Stealing Online Data

TSPY_ZBOT is the Trend Micro detection for malware related to what the industry dubs "ZeuS botnets." ZeuS botnet, in fact, is a shortened term for networks of compromised computers that use ZeuS/ZBOT Trojans in their botnet-related operations. TSPY_ZBOT variants typically arrive via spam appearing to come from legitimate sources, asking recipients to click a link. The said link leads to the download of TSPY_ZBOT, which silently sits in systems to wait for users to key in their credentials to particular sites.

Since 2007, Trend Micro has been monitoring the ZBOT family. The number of ZBOT detections has substantially grown over the years. To date, Trend Micro has seen over 2,000 ZBOT detections and the numbers continue to rise.

How does this threat get into users' systems?

The threat may arrive as a spammed message or may be unknowingly downloaded from compromised websites. The majority of ZBOT detections have been found to target bank-related websites. However, recent spam runs have shown an increasing diversity in targets. The list of noteworthy ZBOT variants include TROJ_ZBOT.SVR, which was used to spam government agencies; TSPY_ZBOT.JF, which targeted AIM users; and TSPY_ZBOT.CCB, which targeted social networking site, Facebook.

Spammed messages typically purport to be from legitimate companies and, more recently, from government agencies. One recent ZeuS attack targeted Bank of America Military Bank customers. ZBOT variants have likewise been found in a spam run that rides on popular events such as Michael Jackson's death.

Trend Micro also found a ZBOT variant that leveraged the Windows LNK flaw. A new ZBOT variant was spotted that was supposedly signed by a legitimate antivirus company. In reality, the signature had been lifted from a legitimate application of the company without their knowledge or consent.

How does it trick users into clicking links?

Spammed messages typically purport to be from legitimate companies and, more recently, from government agencies. ZBOT variants have likewise been found in a spam run that rides on popular events such as Michael Jackson's death.

What is the primary purpose of the ZeuS botnet?

It is primarily designed for data theft or to steal account information from various sites like online banking, social networking, and e-commerce sites.

How does this threat make money for its perpetrators?

It generates a list of bank-related websites or financial institutions from which it attempts to steal sensitive online banking information such as user names and passwords. It then monitors the user's Web browsing activities (both HTTP and HTTPS) using the browser window titles or address bar URLs as triggers for its attack.

Newer ZBOT variants use JavaScript codes, inserting these into a legitimate bank's Web page. Other ZBOT variants display a second fake login page after the original login page to get additional information. Cybercriminals may either siphon money directly from victim accounts. They may either steal money directly from the victim, or use them as conduits or "money mules" that help transfer funds from victims to cybercriminal bank accounts.

These routines risk exposing the user's account information, which may then lead to the unauthorized use of the stolen data.

Who are at risk?

ZBOT variants target online banking users in general. As mentioned in the section How does this threat get into users' systems?, ZBOT spreading via spam uses latest headlines or convincing email content, or exploit flaws in commonly-used software. Almost anyone can fall prey to its schemes. Users with ZBOT-infected systems who log in to any of the targeted sites are at risk of losing personal information to cybercriminals.

What does the malware do with the information it gathers?

It sends the gathered information via HTTP POST to remote URLs. Cybercriminals may then use this information for their malicious activities. They may be sold in underground markets.

What makes this threat persistent?

In addition to its social engineering tactics and ever-evolving spamming techniques, ZBOT makes detection difficult because of its rootkit capabilities. Upon installing itself on an affected system, ZBOT creates a folder with attributes set to System and Hidden to prevent users from discovering and removing its components. Furthermore, ZBOT is capable of disabling Windows Firewall and of injecting itself into processes to become memory-resident. It also terminates itself if certain known firewall processes are found on the system. ZBOT variants also figure in daisy-chain downloads involving other malware families such as WALEDAC and FAKEAV.

Moreover, ZBOT creators leveraged the Windows LNK flaw and have abused the PDF Launch feature in some Adobe products. Using the aforementioned as entry points allow ZBOT variants to get into more systems virtually undetected. Also, ZBOT has also kept up with trends in operating systems. Newer variants feature full and integrated support for new Windows operating systems like Vista and Windows 7. Older versions only had support for the said operating systems with optional modules.

What is the difference among ZeuS, ZBOT, and Kneber?

In February 2010, Trend Micro researchers came across several malware that were first thought of as part of a new botnet dubbed as Kneber. However Kneber, as it turned out, relates to the ZeuS botnet as a recently coined term pertaining to a specific ZBOT/ZeuS compromise. On the other hand, the term 'ZBOT' is Trend Micro's detection name for all malware involved in the massive botnet.

So what can I do to protect my computer from the threat presented by the ZeuS botnet?

It is important that users exercise caution when opening email messages and when clicking URLs. Since the ZBOT malware perpetrators are constantly finding new ways to attack users, users are advised to employ safe computing practices.

Be wary of phishing pages that purport to be legitimate websites, as these are primarily designed to fool unwitting users into handing over personal information. Clicking links on emails that come from unknown senders is one of the easiest ways to fall prey to ZBOT attacks.

TSPY_ZBOT variants are currently supported by Trend Micro GeneriClean, a feature found in most Trend Micro products. Users need to manually scan their systems to trigger this.

Solutions supported by the Trend Micro™ Smart Protection Network™ block the spam used by this botnet to infect users via the email reputation service. It can detect and prevent the execution of malicious files via the file reputation service. It also protects users from ZBOT variants by blocking access to malicious sites via the Web reputation service as well as from phone-home attempts wherein an infected computer tries to upload stolen data or to download additional malware from command-and-control (C&C) servers.

Non-Trend Micro product users can also check their systems using HouseCall, a free tool that identifies and removes all kinds of viruses, Trojans, worms, unwanted browser plug-ins, and other malware from affected systems. They can also use Web Protection Add-On to proactively protect their computers from Web threats and bot-related activities. RUBotted can be used to find out if their machines are part of a bot network.

Some of our heuristic detections for this threat are MAL_ZBOT, MAL_ZBOT-2, MAL_ZBOT-3, MAL_ZBOT-4, MAL_ZBOT-5, MAL_ZBOT-6, and MAL_ZBOT-7.

 

 http://about-threats.trendmicro.com/us/webattack/64/ZeuS+and+Its+Continuing+Drive+Towards+Stealing+Online+Data

How to Protect Your Credit Card From a Data Breach

You never know when or where hackers will strike, so follow these fraud prevention tips.

By Anisha SekarJan. 6, 2014
Even if you're not one of the 40 million Target shoppers whose credit or debit card information was stolen Nov. 27 to Dec. 15, you've probably heard of the data breach. With the list of hacked companies, websites and apps growing longer, it's time to take a serious look at credit card security and what you can do to stay safe online. We'll run through the basics of credit card companies' fraud prevention methods and what you can do to protect yourself.

How credit cards work

Your credit card has a lot of information that can be used to verify its authenticity: an expiration date, a three-digit security number and your name. There's also a magnetic stripe on the back of the card that contains all that information and more. When you swipe your credit card, the information on the magnetic stripe gets transmitted to a third party, who then verifies with your bank that all your information is correct and approves the transaction.

There are other authentication methods, such as checking your signature or asking to see an ID, but not every merchant takes these steps. Additionally, if you're making an online purchase, you might be required to input the three-digit number called the card verification value, or CVV, as well as the card number and expiration date. Merchants aren't allowed to store the CVV in their databases in an effort to keep that information away from hackers. Therefore, merchants ask you to enter your CVV to prove that you actually have the physical card.

What about the rest of the world?

America lags behind the rest of the world in terms of credit card security techniques. We use magnetic stripes to hold our data, whereas other countries use EMV chips. These chips use a different (some say better) method of encrypting data. While magnetic stripes have the same encryption method, the method for EMV chips varies, making them harder to hack. This has produced dramatic results on point-of-sale transactions. For example, the United Kingdom rolled out EMV technology in the 2000s and saw fraud rates drop by 63 percent between 2004 and 2010, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

The United States is moving closer to widespread EMV adoption, but for now, we're still using our old magnetic stripe cards.

How can I keep my data safe?

Here are a few ways to protect your credit card data beyond the encryption methods offered by merchants:

Make sure you sign the back of your credit card – if you don't, your fraud liability might be higher.

When making online purchases from your computer or phone, make sure the web address starts with "https://" instead of "http://."

Use a personal finance service like Mint.com to instantly see which transactions have been made on which card.

Shred credit card statements and anything that has your credit card number or personal information on it.

Be wary of making online purchases on a public Wi-Fi connection – they're easy to hack. If you find yourself using public Wi-Fi often, consider getting a VPN, which is more secure.

But don't worry too much

While credit card fraud is a hassle to deal with, your liability is limited. By law, you'll never be on the hook for more than $50 if your credit card is stolen and the thief racks up charges. You're also not liable for any purchases made after you report the card lost or stolen. In the wake of the Target data breach, it's reassuring to know that you have no liability if your card information, rather than the card itself, is stolen. Finally, many credit cards offer zero-liability policies that provide better protection than the law requires.

If you ever fall victim to a Target-like data breach, call your bank right away to report the incident. Don't panic, though – federal law gives you quite a bit of protection.

Anisha Sekar writes for NerdWallet, a personal finance website dedicated to helping consumers

.http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/my-money/2014/01/06/how-to-protect-your-credit-card-from-a-data-breach

Anti fracking protestors in England

Anti fracking protestors in England

Lipo Anti-Explosion bag

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX1MdkSU56M

Some Banks Not Following Rules to Keep You Safe at ATMs

By Willard Shepard

|  Wednesday, Nov 20, 2013 

Marcia Brooks never thought it would happen to her. An ATM deposit turned into a life-threatening experience in Pompano Beach.

“They could have easily grabbed me, taken me, shot me, raped me,” said Brooks.

A gunman forced her to take $160 from the ATM. He still hasn’t been caught.

“I'll never forget the gun being pressed against my neck,” she said.

It’s something we all take for granted – getting cash from the ATM. But an NBC 6 investigation with the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting found many banks are keeping you in the dark when it comes to your safety.

Getting cash quickly – day or night – is convenient, but it can also be dangerous.

The Team 6 investigation found at least 35 felonies committed at ATMs the last two years across the state – armed robberies, shootings, even murder.

Alex Sanchez, president of the Florida Bankers Association, told us that banks are doing all they can to prevent you from becoming a victim.

“This is an important matter for our banks that they take very, very, seriously … we want to provide a safe haven for our citizens and our customers.”

The state sets minimum lighting standards for not just the ATM and the area near it, but also the parking lot. Mirrors must be on the ATM so you can see behind you and there are limits on the size of nearby plants.

In the last five years, not one of the 250 Florida chartered banks has been cited by state inspectors for violating those standards. A spokesperson for the Florida Office of Financial Regulation told Team 6 the state's 118 inspectors didn’t find a single bank outside the rules over the last five years. As for the thousands of other banks in our state, we don’t know. Federal regulators told us the inspections are confidential.

However, the engineering experts from Scientific Expert Analysis pulled out their tape measures and lighting devices calibrated the same evening – and told us the very first South Florida bank we checked, Regent Bank in central Broward, was outside some of the regulations. The firm has 40 years’ experience evaluating structures.

Ed Brill, an engineer with Scientific Expert Analysis, said the light near the ATM was measuring between 2- and 5-foot candles but the state statute require 10-foot candles.

“When we first looked at the lighting right at the ATM face we found that it met the requirements … as we moved away we found that the readings did not meet requirements,” Brill stated.

Matthew Speath, also an engineer with Scientific Expert Analysis, said the landscaping at the bank was too high. The regulations say vegetation in the area shouldn't be more than 3 feet high and must be well lit.

Speath said vegetation on the corner of the building was about 7 to 8 feet tall.

“It’s still in direct eyesight of the ATM and directly adjacent to the parking lot … a patron that was parking in one of these spaces … is potentially subjected to an individual that could be hiding,” he said.

The engineering experts told us that generally a bank falls out of compliance with the state law unintentionally because of things that happen over time like someone changes a light bulb to the incorrect wattage or doesn’t cut the vegetation.

One Orlando family knows the pain of violence at the ATM. Off-duty Central Florida policeman Alfred Gordon Sr. was killed in an ATM robbery.

“I don’t think banks always have the consumer in mind,” said Alfred Gordon, the son of Alfred Gordon Sr.

Two men are now serving life behind bars for the killing of Gordon Sr. The family’s lawyer says there was poor lighting and the mirrors were missing – the family and Bank of America reached a settlement. Gordon’s family worries about profit trumping safety.

“They are going to see their expectations for profit and bonus margins, but I think that a lot of times the consumer is the one that loses out in the end because when it comes to safety I don’t think you can take lightly and try to skimp on in any way,” said Gordon Jr.

Richard Hodak, a former FBI agent who directed security for one bank, says 50 percent of the robberies, rapes, and murders that occur at ATMs occur between 7 p.m. and midnight.

Hodak says lawmakers, police, and banks aren’t doing enough.

Hodak says, “Banks do not seem to do a good job in policing their ATMs to evaluating the risk involved in the ATMs.”

We asked the engineers to check four banks in all. At one Wells Fargo in north Broward, according to them, there was not enough light. They found dark spots on the side of the ATM and down the wall adjacent to it.

“The lighting down the side does not meet the minimum requirement – about half or less than half the requirement,” Brill said.

The engineers found no problems at two other South Florida banks. But just how many banks aren't doing what the law requires is anyone's guess. We're also in the dark about how many customers like these exist because most law enforcement agencies don't have a category tracking ATM crimes.

Wells Fargo sent us a statement that read, in part, “... while we regularly review our locations … we will review this location again ... if we find that the lighting needs to be fixed, we will do so in a timely manner.”

Regent Bank said, “… the bank believes that the landscaping around the ATM fully meets the requirements of the Florida statutes. As regards to the lighting level, the bank thanks Channel 6 for bringing to its attention the fact that the candle foot power was not as bright as it should be …”

To read more about violent crimes at ATMs, go to the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting.

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Some-Banks-Not-Following-Rules-to-Keep-You-Safe-at-ATMs-232611431.html

Microsoft: We Have Lots of Windows 8 Apps, but We’d Rather Not Say How Many

OCTOBER 24, 2012 AT 9:40 PM PT

Many people will look at the Windows 8 storefront and find the number of apps lacking, whether in terms of number, or in terms of big names.

Yes, apps from Netflix and Hulu Plus are there, along with Evernote and eBay. But all one need do is plug in an iPhone or try to update their Quicken portfolio to see the major omissions. Intel, for one, is touting that fact — along with its compatibility with older Windows apps — as a key selling point for machines that use its processors.

Still, for its part, Microsoft notes that its App Store will have more apps than any other store at launch. Indeed, the number of apps is triple that of just a few weeks ago.

So, how many apps is that exactly? Well, um, we’d rather not say, Microsoft says. After all, there are many ways to count apps, and …

It’s nothing new for Microsoft to launch a new version of Windows with few apps designed for its new features. On day one of Windows 7 or Windows Vista, one would be lucky to name 10 apps that really took advantage of new features.

The difference with Windows 8 is that older Windows Apps really look like second-class citizens in a world designed for touch-centric programs. What’s worse, Microsoft has a second operating system, Windows RT, that works with phone and tablet chips, but only runs the new-style apps.

“Those are not all going to be there day one,” agrees Antoine Leblond, the Microsoft executive responsible for the Windows storefront that is home to the new Windows 8 apps. The key, Leblond says, is the momentum that Microsoft will get as the number of Windows 8 machines quickly grows into a significant figure worthy of developers’ attention.

Then the OS will benefit from a number of factors, including the ability of developers to write in multiple languages, the flexibility to use Microsoft’s payment system or not, as well as the potential for developers to earn 80 percent of store revenue, rather than the standard 70 percent cut once apps have generated $25,000 in revenue.

Although Microsoft has been accepting paid app sales since it finalized Windows 8 this summer, Leblond says the real test will come as machines preloaded with the new OS go on sale.

“The store opens Friday,” Leblond said. “That’s when things will get interesting.”