Monthly Security
Tips
NEWSLETTER
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February
2013
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Volume 8, Issue 2
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How Do I Protect the
Information on My Smartphone?
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From the Desk of William F. Pelgrin,
Chair
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We’ve
come to depend on our smartphones so heavily it is hard to remember what we did
before we had them. If you have a smartphone, you now carry a fully functional
computer in your pocket or purse. That’s a tremendous amount of information at
your fingertips! Therefore, it is paramount that you safeguard the
smartphone.
Common
Risks for Smartphones
Take
a moment to consider each of these areas:
Simple
Steps to Protect Your Smartphone:
For
More Information:
For additional information about securing mobile devices, please
utilize the following resources:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->About.com
14 Ways to Find a Stolen or Lost iPhone: http://ipod.about.com/od/iphonetroubleshooting/tp/14-Ways-To-Find-A-Lost-Or-Stolen-Iphone.htm
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->FTC
– How to Dispose Your Mobile Device Securely: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0200-disposing-your-mobile-device
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->University
of Northern Colorado: http://www.unco.edu/cybersecurity/students/mobile.html
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->US-CERT
– Cyber Threats to Mobile Phones: http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/cyber_threats_to_mobile_phones.pdf
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->Sophos
– Android Tool: http://www.sophos.com/androidsecurity
<!--[if !supportLists]-->·
<!--[endif]-->Microsoft
– Secure Your Smartphone: http://www.microsoft.com/security/online-privacy/mobile-phone-safety.aspx
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Saturday, February 23, 2013
Newsletter: Multi-State Info Sharing & Analysis Center
National Service Agency: 205 organizations receive Senior Corps grants through competitive process
For Immediate Release Friday,
February 22, 2013
Samantha Jo Warfield sjwarfield@cns.gov; 202-606-6775 |
National Service Agency Grants to Support 80,000 Senior Volunteers205 organizations receive Senior Corps grants through competitive process
WASHINGTON, DC – The Corporation for National and
Community Service (CNCS) today announced more than $14 million in
funding to support organizations and nonprofits across the country.
The organizations will leverage the experience and talents of RSVP Senior Corps
volunteers in schools, conservation projects, disaster response, veterans’
services, and other priorities.
Nearly 80,000 new senior volunteers will have the
opportunity to serve through 205 organizations receiving awards in 35 states.
These funds were awarded as part of the first grant competition since 1971 for
RSVP, one of three Senior Corps programs administered by CNCS. Grantees
selected will address a wide range of community issues, from disaster response
and early childhood education to veterans and military families and
environmental stewardship.
A complete list of grants is available here.
“Today, more than ever, communities need the talents
and skills of all citizens to help solve our most pressing challenges,” said
Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “Americans age 55 and over are a powerful resource
to help communities achieve real change. These new RSVP grants will provide the
bridge to connect seniors to meaningful service opportunities, so that they may
deliver the enormous social and economic benefits we know are good for our
nation.”
Established in 1971, RSVP engages Americans age 55
and older in volunteer opportunities across the country, allowing citizens to be
a part of the solution to community challenges. RSVP volunteers provide support
to veterans and their families, help seniors to live independently in their
homes, mentor at-risk youth, and provide critical support to communities
recovering from disasters. While serving, RSVP volunteers also improve their own
lives, by staying active and civically engaged.
In 2012, 320,000 RSVP volunteers delivered more than
47 million hours of service in their communities. Through community and
faith-based organizations, RSVP volunteers served more than 563,000 veterans,
mentored more than 82,500 children, and provided independent living services to
more than nearly 742,000 elderly adults.
“Older Americans bring a lifetime of skills and
experience as parents, workers, and citizens that can be tapped to meet
challenges in our communities,” said Dr. Erwin Tan, Director of Senior Corps at
CNCS. “Given the many social needs facing our communities – and the growing
interest in service by 55+ American citizens – this is a moment of unprecedented
need and opportunity for our programs to take advantage of an extraordinary wave
of human capital that has the potential to transform our nation.”
As part of the agency’s focus on driving greater
innovation and impact, organizations receiving 2013 RSVP grants will report
their progress using the performance measures CNCS adopted as a result of the
bipartisan 2009 Serve America Act. CNCS has embraced competition and
performance measurement for the RSVP as a way to achieve greater impact in
communities and the nation and to encourage innovation through adoption of new
ideas and services.
The next Senior Corps funding opportunity will open
sometime mid-year. Americans who seek to volunteer with a Senior Corps program
can search for local opportunities in their area at seniorcorps.gov.
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Security Clearance: Watch your credit report
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A study
on credit report accuracy recently found that 1 in 5 of the participating
consumers had an error on at least one of their three credit reports.
Why Do Credit Report Errors Matter? Errors on your credit report can negatively affect your credit score, which is used to evaluate your applications for credit cards, loans, jobs, housing, insurance, and more. What Can You Do? Check Your Credit Report Check your credit report with all three credit reporting agencies at least once a year (you are entitled to one FREE credit report annually from each agency (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax)). Checking your report will help you 1) identify and correct errors that could be affecting your credit score, and 2) protect yourself from identity theft. Dispute Errors If you find an error on any of your credit reports, follow instructions on the report that explain how to dispute errors. If errors have not been corrected after you've disputed them with the credit reporting agency, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Get more information about disputing errors on your credit report. |
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Grenada opposition wins clean sweep in general election
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21526209
Grenada's failure to recover
from the devastation of Hurricane Ivan was one of the election issues
Election supervisors said the preliminary figures showed the NNP had won all
15 seats.
The governing National Democratic Congress admitted defeat.
If the results are confirmed, Keith Mitchell, who served three terms as prime minister between 1995 and 2008, will return to power.
The main theme during the election was the economic crisis.
Grenada has a 30% unemployment rate and the Caribbean Development Bank recently warned Grenada that it had unsustainable debt levels.
During his campaign, Mr Mitchell promised to make job creation his priority.
After the preliminary results came in, catapulting his party from fours seats to 15, he said he would also strive to unite the country.
"The victor is the one who has to reach out, the one who lost can't be expected to reach out; national unity will be a serious platform," he said.
He asked Grenadians "to have patience" with the new government, and to give it a chance to implement policies he said would revive the stalled economy.
The country has been struggling to recover from major destruction caused by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
Dozens of people were killed and 90% of the island's buildings were damaged or destroyed. Grenada's main export crop, nutmeg, was also devastated.
Grenada's failure to recover
from the devastation of Hurricane Ivan was one of the election issues
The governing National Democratic Congress admitted defeat.
If the results are confirmed, Keith Mitchell, who served three terms as prime minister between 1995 and 2008, will return to power.
The main theme during the election was the economic crisis.
Grenada has a 30% unemployment rate and the Caribbean Development Bank recently warned Grenada that it had unsustainable debt levels.
During his campaign, Mr Mitchell promised to make job creation his priority.
After the preliminary results came in, catapulting his party from fours seats to 15, he said he would also strive to unite the country.
"The victor is the one who has to reach out, the one who lost can't be expected to reach out; national unity will be a serious platform," he said.
He asked Grenadians "to have patience" with the new government, and to give it a chance to implement policies he said would revive the stalled economy.
The country has been struggling to recover from major destruction caused by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.
Dozens of people were killed and 90% of the island's buildings were damaged or destroyed. Grenada's main export crop, nutmeg, was also devastated.
Maryland Emergency Management Agency: 2013 Exercise & Training Events
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