Aug 7, 2011 4 min read

I have this interesting little application on my Google HTC phone that shows me daily news from “across the pond” in the good old UK. Recently, I saw a couple of really interesting articles in the tech news section.

The first was about people who use either an Android based phone or the IOS system. They are now twice as likely to encounter malware as they were at the start of 2011.

By now, you might be wondering just what malware is. According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malware, it’s malicious software consisting of programming codes designed to either try to damage your computer or gain unauthorized access to your system. Malware includes “computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, adware, etc. and it looks like now we’re getting it more and more on our phones!

The biggest reason, of course, is because more people are now visiting the internet via their phones. With so many people using either Android based phones and Verizon now offering iPhones, the number of phones that can become infected has risen dramatically. Apparently, we now have a thirty percent chance of clicking on a malicious link now than we did before.

Short term, my advice would be to be careful reading emails, strange text messages or Facebook messages on your phone. Although the malware is intended for PC’s (your computer), it can apparently now affect your phone if you click on any of these links.

What personally bothers me is that I have a PayPal app on my phone and a PNC Bank app where I can actually check my balance, etc. via my phone. I think I’m going to remove any applications like these from my phone just to be on the safe side.

On my home computer, I’ve recently received a lot of the “phishing” emails. In case you’re also unaware what phishing is, then take a quick gander online at this description at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing.

Basically, it’s a scenario like this: you receive an email from what you think is your bank (or credit card company or PayPal. This email warns you that your account will be closed unless your re-enter your information or change your password. They kindly include a link to click on to take you to your account.

If you click on that link, it takes you a website that appears like it possibly could be your bank or credit card company. You enter your user name and password into the box and then re-enter your other information. In reality, your info has been hijacked and now the crooks have everything needed to access your accounts.

I recently got a PayPal one that looked so realistic that anyone could be have been fooled. Since so many people buy things either on eBay or online in general, I’m sure that many readers may now have PayPal accounts.

Please remember that PAYPAL WILL NEVER REQUEST INFORMATION FROM YOU THIS WAY. A genuine email from PayPal will address you by your first & last name. If there is a problem with your account, you will be told to go to their site & log in. Never click on the links and NEVER give info like this.

For years now, Doren and I have been telling people NEVER click on licks in emails unless you can be 100% sure they are genuine. It’s relatively simple to create lookalike websites with computer code and even images stolen from the real bank or credit card company’s website.

Another interesting article that I read this week said that the UK is considering changing the law to allow you to copy music from a CD or a video disc to your MP3 player. This is currently illegal under copyright laws.

I think that the whole file sharing of music via the internet has definitely resulted in a huge increase in the price of a ticket to see your favorite big musical act live. I often see people talking on Facebook about ticket prices well over two hundred bucks each!

Finally, Mrs. Schulze informed me about a week ago that TV chef Gordon Ramsay (who you see on Hell’s Kitchen & Kitchen Nightmares in the USA) has a UK version of Kitchen Nightmares that’s on Netflix. We sat down one Sunday and began watching some old episodes.

Although I’m no shrinking violet, I’d never heard so much swearing since I saw the movie Scarface. I asked my wife what channel in the UK could possibly show these episodes, as none of the words is bleeped out. I was speechless. With that sobering thought, I’ll leave you until next week!