For example, a virulent malware called Gingerbread has been spreading to Android smartphones. This virus is a root kit that gives hackers full access to any information on an Adroid smartphone.

As for the Apple iOS, If malware does infect your iOS device, chances are you will not even realize it. Some Mac malware is not so subtle and has fake virus alerts such as Mac Defender. Unfortunately, if you were to suspect your device was infected with malware, there is no way to detect or remove it easily because Apple does not allow scanning anti-virus software in the Apple Store. Just this summer, an application in the Apple Store was discovered to have a Windows variant malware in one of the applications in the store. So check out the anti-malware resources for the Mac iOS listed below.

On the Windows side of things, one of the most sophisticated new forms of malware is one called Flame or sKyWIper. It can record audio, keyboard activity, network traffic and take screenshots. The program can also record Skype conversations and can turn infected computers into Bluetooth beacons which attempt to download contact information from nearby Bluetooth-enabled devices. Microsoft has provided a patch for this in its security updates so be sure you do your Windows Updates.

Knowing that malware is increasing in sophistication and that it is frequently spread through USB drives and file sharing, make sure you run some kind of anti-malware solution on all of your computing and communications devices. A sample of some of the solutions that are free include:

Smartphones and Tablets:

• AVG Free Antivirus (Android Smartphones)
• Lookout (Android and iOS Smartphones and Tablets)
• Norton Mobile Security (Android Smartphones)

Laptops and Desktops:

• AVG Free Antivirus (Windows)
• Best Free Antivirus for Mac (Article with links to software)
• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free (Windows)

And last but not least, make sure you do your OS and application updates to ensure a trouble free year of computing and communications.

Office Applications/Suites:

• iWork for iPad ($9.99 per App): Pages for iPad (word processing), Numbers for iPad (spreadsheet), and Keynote for iPad (presentation) work as an integrated package but need to purchase each application separately.
• PenUltimate ($.99): iPad note taking application that is also great for sketches, especially if one uses a touch stylus like the Kensington Virtuoso ($24.99).
• QuickOffice Pro ($19.99): An integrated office suite with basic functionality.

Utilities:

• Adobe Photoshop Touch ($9.99): A professional level photo manipulation tool but is only available for the iPad 2.
• Bento for iPad ($9.99): A great Bento for Mac (made by Filemaker) compatible database client.
• Dragon Dictation (Free): An accurate voice transcription application for basic dictation with the basic ability to share via email, Facebook and Twitter.
• iPhoto ($4.99): Provides basic photo manipulation capabilities.
• LogMeIn Ignition (Free): This client accompanies the online remote control web service at LogMeIn.com and allows you to securely remote control a desktop or server back in your office or at home.
• Photon Flash Player Browser ($4.99): Allows you to view Flash content on web sites.

Let us know if you have found other iPad applications that have been of significant benefit to your TRIO program.

1. Make sure all computers and cell phones have the most current operating system updates. Have staff and students check their computer system and software update settings to make sure that they are either set to be automatic or at least notify that updates are available. In the latter case, an ongoing schedule to do updates is a good practice. Cell phones and carriers treat updates differently. Find out if this is a manual or automatic process with the particular cell phone carrier. For example with Verizon Wireless it is frequently a manual command using *228 on a regular basis and choosing option 1 to get updates.
2. Make sure that applications on both computers and cell phones are also updated automatically or manually on a regular basis. Malware often targets a specific known weakness in an application to gain access to a computer or cell phone.
3. Make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware license is active and is updating. Check to make sure the most recent protection files are being downloaded and installed. This is one of the first things that malware frequently disables in order to gain control of the system. Cell phones should also be running some kind of anti-virus and anti-spyware solution. There are commercial solutions as well as free versions such as Lookout that can be installed.
4. With respect to eMail, some basic precautions can help prevent potential misfortune or even complete loss of all data on a laptop or computer. In particular, the following will alleviate most of the potential problems:
• If you don’t know the source of a message or your name doesn’t appear in the “To” field, delete it.
• If it looks like a subscription and you know you didn’t subscribe to it, don’t click on the “unsubscribe” link in the message. This will likely only verify that the spammer has a valid email address.
• Banks, PayPal and other services will never ask you to provide personal or financial information in an email. No matter how official a request looks to verify information about yourself, never respond to that message and provide information. Valid sources will usually address you with your name and won’t say “urgent” or “immediate” or ask for information.
• Attachments from an unknown source or even a friend that doesn’t make sense should never be opened. Delete it if it is from an unknown source or verify with someone you know that they sent it if it doesn’t make sense. These attachments may contain viruses or links to infected Web sites.
• If you question something, you can check out the latest scams at: http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/e-scams
5. Adopt a protective stance with respect to your computer and information:
   • Trust No One
   • Set your anti-virus to scan everything.
   • If you have any doubt, don’t click on it, delete it.

Wishing you happy and trouble free computing. If you have any questions, just ask and we’ll get back to you.

Google Voice also has powerful features for managing your voice mail and text messages. It allows you to access and manage your voice mail from the web and share voice mails by email. You can compose text messages on your computer and have your text messages sent to your email. It also makes it easy to host conference calls simply by having callers dial your Google Voice number.  Of course there is a mobile app for iPhones, Androids, and Blackberries. Best of all, it’s FREE.

• To learn more, watch the videos at:
  http://www.youtube.com/googlevoice
• To see some of the features available go to:
  http://www.google.com/googlevoice/about.html
• Suggested topics below. To find out how to ___________ go to :
  http://support.google.com/voice/?hl=en

• Recording calls
• Sending Text Messages
• Setting which phones will ring
• Text message to email
• Call Screening
• Conference calling on the fly
• Recording calls
• Checking messages
• Contacts, Groups, Greetings

The Google URL Shortener takes long web addresses and generates a shorter version that is easier share via email, twitter or on the Web. It also generates a QR (Quick Response Code) for your web page that can be read by most smart phones and reports statistics on visitors to your site.

To use it, just go to http://goo.gl, enter the full URL and click on the Shorten URL button. The short URL will be created instantly. Note that all these short web addresses are publicly accessible. You (or anyone else) can also view the traffic to the shortened URL by adding “.info” to the end of the address.

Below is an example of a short URL (goo.gl/rLft1) generated this way for the home page of this blog (http://depts.washington.edu/triolive/wordpress/ttt/) .

 A QR (Quick Response) code image is also generated along with the shortened URL. If you have a smartphone, try downloading a QR Reader and scanning the image to the right with your phone to go directly to the web page.

There are other services that produce shortened URLs, but goo.gl adds your new URLs to your Google account. Just be sure you’re logged in first. Another advantage of goo.gl is that also includes the world’s easiest web stats. Just add a”.info” to the end of the shortened URL to produce stats and graphs like the ones below. Note that this only includes visitors that reach your page via the shortened URL and not those who type out the whole address.