Company releases '12 Scams of the Holidays' list

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - McAfee, the computer security software company, has announced its annual 12 Scams of the Holidays list for consumers to help them avoid unwrapping an online threat while surfing digital devices.

Cybersecurity threats heighten during the holiday season as consumers unknowingly share personal data across their devices.

The 12 scams include:

1. You've Got Mail: Think twice before clicking links in shipping notification emails, and always verify the shipping company before giving out personal information.
2. Deceptive Advertising: Beware of deals that are too good to be true as they could steal your personal information and ruin your holiday cheer.
3. Chilling Charities: 'Tis the season to donate, but be wary of fake charities. Do your research and double-check the site URL.
4. Buyer Beware: Check your credit card statements to make sure you don't have unwanted charges as a result of a point-of-sale breach.
5. iScams: Today, smartphones act as a phone, a credit card, a house key, a camera and more. Malware can access your device via apps, so do your research and stick to official app stores to download.
6. Getting Carded: Avoid the unwanted gift of malware and always verify that e-cards are from someone you know and are from a trustworthy site.
7. Holiday Travel Scams: Avoid fake online deal links offering low price airfare or hotel rooms that could be a trap. Think before you click.
8. Bank Robocall Scam: Be suspicious of phone calls from people who claim your computer is infected and request your personal information to fix it.
9. ATM Skimming: Need cash in a hurry? Beware of using ATMs as a skimmer device designed to steal data off the card may be installed. Look carefully at the ATM and cover the keypad when entering your PIN.
10. Year in Review Traps: While a "Year in Review" sounds entertaining to read, clicking on these links could infect your devices.
11. BYO... Device: With the hustle and bustle of the season, smartphones could easily be lost or stolen in the shuffle. Don't leave your smartphone unattended during the hectic holiday season as it could give hackers access to your personal and work information.
12. Bad USB Blues: Be wary of free USB drives that are often used as giveaways. This method is an easy way for hackers to spread malware.

For more information about staying safe digitally during the holiday season, visit McAfee.com.

WAVE 3 News.  Louisville, Kentucky

Study Finds Evidence of Life After Death

There have long been stories of near-death or out-of-body experiences but, as researchers at the University of Southampton in the U.K. wryly note, "objective studies on these experiences are limited."

So they decided to investigate whether these claims corresponded with actual events. Their conclusion: It does seem to be possible for some form of awareness to happen for up to a few minutes after death, they report in a study published in the journal Resuscitation.

Beginning in 2008, scientists looked at 2,060 people who went into cardiac arrest (which they describe as "biologically synonymous with death") at 15 different hospitals in the U.S., U.K., and Austria. Of the 330 people who survived, about 40% recalled awareness while they were clinically dead. (The lead doctor tells the Telegraph that number could be higher if some of those people's memories weren't dulled by drugs or sedatives.)

Of those, 46% had memories not commonly associated with NDEs. A sampling:

• "I was told I was going to die and the quickest way was to say the last short word I could remember."

• "All plants, no flowers"

• "Saw lions and tigers"

• "Being dragged through deep water"

Only 9% had experiences "compatible" with NDEs, and 2% had ones compatible with OBEs, where they explicitly "saw" or "heard" moments tied to their resuscitation. There was one "validated" case in which the patient was able to describe events that happened during a three-minute period in which he had no heartbeat.

"This is paradoxical, since the brain typically ceases functioning within 20-30 seconds of the heart stopping and doesn't resume again until the heart has been restarted," says the study's lead researcher. "These experiences warrant further investigation." (Scientists had previously learned that rat brains go into overdrive following cardiac arrest.)

This article originally appeared on Newser: Study Finds Evidence of Some Form of Life After Death

HELP SHUT DOWN THE ILLEGAL DOG MEAT TRADE IN THAILAND

Every year, tens of thousands of dogs are snatched from streets and backyards in Thailand and tossed into cramped, filthy cages.

With no food or water and barely enough room to move, many will suffocate, be crushed to death, or die from exposure. Shockingly, their torture has only just begun.

These dogs are on their way to China or Vietnam, where many will be skinned alive or thrown straight into a vat of boiling water, and then butchered for meat.

Will you sign Soi Dog's petition to Thailand's leaders and help save thousands ofdogs from a slow and agonizing death?

With celebrities like Ricky Gervais and Judi Dench spreading the word over 500,000 people have already added their name to this petition -- and we've had some great coverage in international press.

The good news is that it looks like it's all working. Soi Dog learned in recent high level meetings that Thai Government officials are strongly opposed to the dog meat trade and are concerned about the country's international reputation.

Wayne Brady Opens Up About His Depression: 'I Had a Complete Breakdown'

Depression isn't a dirty word folks.  And it's nothing to be ashamed of.  It makes my heart joyful to see more and more celebrities stepping up and talking about their personal battles with this dis-ease.  

I'm a big fan of Mr. Brady.  And my respect and admiration has deepened now that he has come out and made his battles public.   Read below.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Though we all know Wayne Brady as the upbeat comedian-turned-TV star of shows like "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" and "Let's Make a Deal," the 42-year-old Emmy-award winner is now opening up to ET's Nischelle Turner about his debilitating depression.

Brady admits he has secretly battled with depression for years and describes the harrowing emotions he's experienced. "People are like, 'Wayne Brady's always happy!'" he says. "No I'm not. Because I'm human."

"Having a bad day is one thing, having a bad week is another, having a bad life … You don't want to move, you can't move in the darkness," he explains. "You're like, 'I am just going to sit right here and I want to wallow in this. As much as it hurts, I am going to sit right here because this is what I deserve. This is what I deserve, so I am going to sit here because I am that horrible of a person.'"

The constant self-doubt turned into a vicious cycle.

Continue reading by clicking HERE

Source: MSN Entertainment

Ben Stein Thinks Obama Is “the Most Racist President” in American History

And I couldn't agree more with Mr. Stein!

What the White House is trying to do is racialize all politics and they’re especially trying to tell the African-American voter that the G.O.P. is against letting them have a chance at a good life in this economy, and that’s just a complete lie . . . I watch with fascination—with incredible fascination—all the stories about how the Democratic politicians, especially Hillary, are trying to whip up the African-American vote and say, “Oh, the Republicans have policies against black people in terms of the economy.” But there are no such policies. . . .

It’s all a way to racialize voting in this country . . . This president is the most racist president there has ever been in America. He is purposely trying to use race to divide Americans. [italics added]

Click HERE to watch video

Get Out and Vote!

I shutter each and every time I hear someone say..."your vote doesn't even make a difference."

I'm sure these are the same exact people who hung on Mark Twain's every word.  

“If voting made any difference they wouldn't let us do it.” ~ Mark Twain.

Too many people took what Mr. Twain said in this regard as literal and not humorous as it was intended.  Allthough, I'm pretty sure Mr. Twain knew there would be people that would take it in the literal sense.  No doubt his way of keeping the power of the vote out of the hands of the truly ignorant.

But the fact remains.  Your vote does make the difference!

And in many ways...has.


Now think about it for a minute.


The power of the vote was granted to women, and later black people, through the voting process

Yea, forgot about that!  Didn't you?    And here you thought voting didn't make a difference!

There were many other ground breaking things that occurred through the vote.  Can you name any?

The point being folks...and I reiterate...your vote does make a difference.  

So on Tuesday, November 4th, get your butts out there and make a difference!  

Turn Your Clocks Back TONIGHT!

Don't forget to set your clocks back One Hour tonight!

Yea, it's that time again!  

So remember...before you lay yourself down to go to sleep...

Turn Back Those Hands Of Time!