ZeroPaid.com » News http://www.zeropaid.com Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:53:21 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Tribler: BitTorrent Client that Doesn’t Need Tracker Sites, Can’t Be Shut Down http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98825/tribler-bittorrent-client-that-doesnt-need-tracker-sites-cant-be-shut-down/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98825/tribler-bittorrent-client-that-doesnt-need-tracker-sites-cant-be-shut-down/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:13:54 +0000 Jared Moya http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98825 Tribler_logo

Tribler is, as the developers claim, "designed to keep BitTorrent alive, even when all torrent search engines, indexes and trackers are pulled offline," and can only be shut down if you "take down the Internet" itself.

These days an air of uncertainty blankets the P2P world as torrent tracker sites like BTJunkie and others have decided to voluntarily close their doors in the wake of the MegaUpload raid by US authorities. Sure a majority of remaining sites are safe, at least those in countries that smartly recognize the fact that torrent tracker sites don't actually host any copyrighted material, but the question is for how long? Tribler is likely the answer. Though not new to the scene, it's been around for more than five years, reserachers at Delft University of Technology have been picking up the pace to make it a virtually bulletproof form of P2P data sharing. I first covered its creation back in 2006, and the researchers have been working tirelessly to perfect it ever since. “Our key scientific quest is facilitating unbounded information sharing,” Dr. Johan Pouwelse told TorrentFreak in a recent interview. “We simply don’t like unreliable servers. With Tribler we have achieved zero-seconds downtime over the past six years, all because we don’t rely on shaky foundations such as DNS, web servers or search portals.” And that's the key to fighting back against legislation like SOPA, PIPA, and even the ACTA: Tribler doesn't need torrent tracker sites. Downloading data is done independent of a centralized server. Tribler users enter a query into the built-in search engine, and it returns a list of results from other connected peers. To weed out spam and fake files propagated by anti-P2P groups users can create "channels" of verified content that other users can "like." The more "likes" a channel garners the further it rises in popularity. When it comes to vulnerability to outside forces, govts and international entertainment conglomerates in particular, Dr. Pouweise says that "The only way to take it down is to take The Internet down." How's that for one hell of a game of whac-a-mole? It just goes to show that no matter what groups like the MPAA and RIAA try to do fight P2P in the end technology ALWAYS wins. It's not the most popular BitTorrent client, and as result content selection is somewhat lacking, but that could all well change in the near future if legislation like SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA come to fruition. Tribler runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux so nobody will feel left out. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

Download Tribler

]]> Tribler_logo

Tribler is, as the developers claim, "designed to keep BitTorrent alive, even when all torrent search engines, indexes and trackers are pulled offline," and can only be shut down if you "take down the Internet" itself.

These days an air of uncertainty blankets the P2P world as torrent tracker sites like BTJunkie and others have decided to voluntarily close their doors in the wake of the MegaUpload raid by US authorities. Sure a majority of remaining sites are safe, at least those in countries that smartly recognize the fact that torrent tracker sites don't actually host any copyrighted material, but the question is for how long? Tribler is likely the answer. Though not new to the scene, it's been around for more than five years, reserachers at Delft University of Technology have been picking up the pace to make it a virtually bulletproof form of P2P data sharing. I first covered its creation back in 2006, and the researchers have been working tirelessly to perfect it ever since. “Our key scientific quest is facilitating unbounded information sharing,” Dr. Johan Pouwelse told TorrentFreak in a recent interview. “We simply don’t like unreliable servers. With Tribler we have achieved zero-seconds downtime over the past six years, all because we don’t rely on shaky foundations such as DNS, web servers or search portals.” And that's the key to fighting back against legislation like SOPA, PIPA, and even the ACTA: Tribler doesn't need torrent tracker sites. Downloading data is done independent of a centralized server. Tribler users enter a query into the built-in search engine, and it returns a list of results from other connected peers. To weed out spam and fake files propagated by anti-P2P groups users can create "channels" of verified content that other users can "like." The more "likes" a channel garners the further it rises in popularity. When it comes to vulnerability to outside forces, govts and international entertainment conglomerates in particular, Dr. Pouweise says that "The only way to take it down is to take The Internet down." How's that for one hell of a game of whac-a-mole? It just goes to show that no matter what groups like the MPAA and RIAA try to do fight P2P in the end technology ALWAYS wins. It's not the most popular BitTorrent client, and as result content selection is somewhat lacking, but that could all well change in the near future if legislation like SOPA, PIPA, and ACTA come to fruition. Tribler runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux so nobody will feel left out. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

Download Tribler

]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98825/tribler-bittorrent-client-that-doesnt-need-tracker-sites-cant-be-shut-down/feed/ 3 iSnooze Uses iTunes to Turn Your PC Into an Alarm Clock http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98801/isnooze-use-itunes-to-turn-your-pc-into-an-alarm-clock/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98801/isnooze-use-itunes-to-turn-your-pc-into-an-alarm-clock/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:01:41 +0000 Jared Moya http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98801 images

Program lets you schedule times for iTunes to wake you from your slumber, complete with spacebar-activated snooze function.

The worst thing about an alarm aclock, aside from the fact that it heralds the start of each work day with unabashed indifference, is that there's usually no way to customize what music wakes you from your slumber. Some are at the mercy of a computerized terrestrial radio DJ, and the more sadistic (or lazy) opt for the default pings of the ubiquitous buzzer we've all come to know and hate. But there is an app for that - a PC app anyways. ISnooze (direct download link) is a tiny program for Windows that runs quietly in your system tray and allows you to schedule times for iTunes to wake you up, complete with a spacebar-activated snooze feature. Features:
  • Spacebar activated snooze, and configurable snooze time.
  • Gradual volume increasing.
  • Multiple alarm schedules.
  • Playlist selection.
  • Temporary pausing when you reach your computer to give you time to shut it off.
Instead of being held hostage to the playlist of some distant radio conglomerate you can wake up to the soothing (or body-thumping) beats of your favorite playlist, artist, album, or podcast; on the weekends you can wake up to your favorite movie or TV show if you want. When it comes to podcasts you can check out Dark Ambient [iTunes link] and White Noise Lounge [iTunes link] that provide soothing soundscapes for you to download. There's also several to be found HERE. Want to create a truly custom nature soundtrack of whatever length you want? Then go to Naturesoundsfor.me. It allows you to mix four different sounds (birds, waterfalls, creek, ocean, snowstorm, thunder, animals, drums, and more) and export to a .MP3 file. The more daring might opt for the sound of Darth Vader (yes, Darth Vader!). Here's one I made. So the next time you wake up wanting to kill your alarm clock, perhaps iSnooze is just what the doctor ordered. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

>> Download iSnooze 1.3.3 (Direct Link)

]]> images

Program lets you schedule times for iTunes to wake you from your slumber, complete with spacebar-activated snooze function.

The worst thing about an alarm aclock, aside from the fact that it heralds the start of each work day with unabashed indifference, is that there's usually no way to customize what music wakes you from your slumber. Some are at the mercy of a computerized terrestrial radio DJ, and the more sadistic (or lazy) opt for the default pings of the ubiquitous buzzer we've all come to know and hate. But there is an app for that - a PC app anyways. ISnooze (direct download link) is a tiny program for Windows that runs quietly in your system tray and allows you to schedule times for iTunes to wake you up, complete with a spacebar-activated snooze feature. Features:
  • Spacebar activated snooze, and configurable snooze time.
  • Gradual volume increasing.
  • Multiple alarm schedules.
  • Playlist selection.
  • Temporary pausing when you reach your computer to give you time to shut it off.
Instead of being held hostage to the playlist of some distant radio conglomerate you can wake up to the soothing (or body-thumping) beats of your favorite playlist, artist, album, or podcast; on the weekends you can wake up to your favorite movie or TV show if you want. When it comes to podcasts you can check out Dark Ambient [iTunes link] and White Noise Lounge [iTunes link] that provide soothing soundscapes for you to download. There's also several to be found HERE. Want to create a truly custom nature soundtrack of whatever length you want? Then go to Naturesoundsfor.me. It allows you to mix four different sounds (birds, waterfalls, creek, ocean, snowstorm, thunder, animals, drums, and more) and export to a .MP3 file. The more daring might opt for the sound of Darth Vader (yes, Darth Vader!). Here's one I made. So the next time you wake up wanting to kill your alarm clock, perhaps iSnooze is just what the doctor ordered. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

>> Download iSnooze 1.3.3 (Direct Link)

]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98801/isnooze-use-itunes-to-turn-your-pc-into-an-alarm-clock/feed/ 0 PSA: The Computer Maintenance Department Scam Calls http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98757/psa-the-computer-maintenance-department-scam-calls/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98757/psa-the-computer-maintenance-department-scam-calls/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:49:55 +0000 Drew Wilson http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98757 Phone Scam_crop

Have you been getting those calls from people working in a call center from what sounds like India? You know, those people who claim to be from either the "Computer Maintenance Department" or the "Windows Technical Team" who then instruct you to go to your computer? Tell the select minority of people who would fall for it that these calls are a scam. We here at ZeroPaid did some digging about these calls in a public service effort.

I consider myself to be reasonably savvy when it comes to telemarketers. Whenever they come calling trying to sell me something, I ask them to put me on a do-not-call list. Asking to be put on a do-not-call list is substantially better than simply hanging up on a telemarketer because merely hanging up is technically an invitation to call back later. Most telemarketers have a system in place because it's the law and it's generally good practice. After asking numerous telemarketers to be put on a do-not-call list myself, it seems I have narrowed down the number of telemarketers down to a very select few. Those were the automated calls that ask you to press a number to claim a prize (never do this unless you want to be charged an unknown amount of money), the occasional survey calls and one particularly annoying computer related call. The computer related one comes at around twice a month. The telemarketer in question tells me that he is calling in regards to my computer. After that, he typically instructs me to go to my computer. This is where I get my chance to stop him in his tracks. It took a few attempts, with different marketers, but I managed to obtain two different names from them. They claim to be either from the "Computer Maintenance Department" or the "Windows Technical Team". This alone should be enough to set internal alarms off that this is not a legitimate call. Every time, these people would also tell me that my computer could be infected with harmful viruses and that they are calling to fix the problem. Usually, by this time, I tell them that I want to be put on a do-not-call list. Every time I've requested this, the telemarketer hangs up only to call back weeks later. To me, if these telemarketers are not even operating a do-not-call list, then that's a big warning sign that this is not legitimate. So, armed with who this is, I proceed to exercise my Google-fu to see what these people are all about. Turns out, this scam has been around for years. A user known as lowlanda on a Whirlpool forum posted in 2010 that a similar call was received asking to run some form of uncomprehendable command. In a British forum, there was a similar discussion also in 2010 about this kind of scam. Apparently, one user reported being asked to download a logmein program and was asked to pay £55 to keep Windows activated after obtaining personal information. Similar stories can be found on whocallsme as well. It turns out, this scam was so bad in the UK, police raided several websites associated with this scam. From the Guardian:
The Metropolitan police e-crime unit acted in April to take such sites down. Among those shut was supportonclick.com, registered to Pecon Software, a firm based in Kolkata. The company has now opened another support website, called onlinepccare.com, which is the subject of numerous online complaints about cold calling, "bullying", and claims that the caller is from Windows PC care.
One person recorded his adventure with this kind of scam and posted it to YouTube: There's plenty more information about this scam on digitaltoast. While the post dates clear back to 2009, the comments section points out that this scam is still going on to this day.

Microsoft's Comment

Interested that these scammers say that they are from Microsoft, we actually contacted Microsoft about this. We asked what to look for when it comes to figuring out whether or not the phone call is indeed from Microsoft or not. A Microsoft spokesperson said, "Our advice is simple; treat callers as you would treat strangers in the street – do not disclose personal or sensitive information to anyone you do not know." "Unfortunately this is not the first scam of its kind," the Microsoft spokesperson told ZeroPaid, "and it’s unlikely to be the last. The best way to avoid becoming a victim is by being aware of the threat. Consumers should also ensure the copy of Windows they are running is genuine and fully up to date, while ensuring they have installed legitimate software will guard against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.”

CRTC's Response and Information on Reporting This Scam

With an official statement from Microsoft saying that this is a scam, ZeroPaid decided to contact the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) to ask what options consumers have in terms of reporting such fraudulent phone calls; specifically, what can people do to issue a complaint about this kind of phone scam given that this scam is not compliant with the do-not-call registry. "First," the CRTC told ZeroPaid, "this is a scammer calling you, not a telemarketer. For scams/fraud, I would recommend contacting the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (Phonebusters)." The CRTC forwarded us some links about reporting this scam and how this scam has really taken off in Canada in recent months. One link was to a press release by the RCMP detailing the scam:
OTTAWA - September 29, 2011 - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and their partners at the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre (CAFC) are warning that if someone calls you claiming to be able to protect your computer from viruses, your best bet is to just hang up the phone. Don’t give the caller your computer access codes and don’t provide your credit card information. The virus scam has grown to epidemic proportions in Canada, now accounting for between 70 and 80 per cent of frauds reported daily to the CAFC. “We began noticing virus scam calls in March 2010. Since then, they’ve become an increasing proportion of our calls. Now, they’re the scam we deal with most often,” said RCMP Sgt. Paul Proulx of the CAFC. This dramatic increase means the scam is working – more and more Canadians are being targeted by the virus scam. Proulx warns, "If a scammer is able to log on to your computer then he has access to all the personal information you have stored there, including your banking information.” Here’s a typical scenario: a caller, often claiming to work for Microsoft or another reputable software company, will cold-call you and ask if your computer is running slowly or not working as it should. He will then offer to repair your computer via internet access, which can involve either software installation or the caller gaining remote control of your computer after you’ve granted him access. Payment for the software or the repair service is handled via your credit card with charges typically ranging from $35 to $470 per call. Allowing a third party to download software or remotely access your computer carries a number of serious risks. Malicious software can be installed to capture sensitive data such as your online banking user names and passwords, bank account information and your personal identity information. All of this information can be used in subsequent frauds that empty your bank accounts and charge your credit cards. Your computer can also be converted to a bot-net, which means criminals can use it without your knowledge or participation. It can then be used to spam other people, spread viruses to your friends or overload computer networks. Getting your credit card information is the second important part of the virus scam. Once a criminal has that information it can be used to make purchases without your consent. Canadians should be aware that not all virus scams are conducted over the phone. Many CAFC callers report being scammed after responding to internet pop-up ads for anti-virus software. Sgt. Proulx offers this simple advice: “If you’re really worried about viruses on your computer, be pro-active and use anti-virus software that you've acquired from reputable sources and keep it up to date. If someone calls you out of the blue offering to provide this kind of help, it’s probably a scam. Remember, it's not rude to hang up on someone who's trying to steal your money and information.” "When it comes to cyber security, we all have a role to play," said Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. "Canada's Cyber Security Strategy is the Government's plan to help secure Canada's vital cyber systems and help Canadians protect themselves, their families and their personal information online." Please visit the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre’s new website for the latest on emerging fraud trends, advice on protecting yourself and victim’s guides that will help you recover from fraud loss: www.antifraudcentre.ca. For more information on the Government of Canada's Cyber Security Strategy: www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cyber Fraud: Recognize It, Report It, Stop It.
A second link the CRTC sent us was to a page detailing how you can report a scam call:
If you have not lost any money and have not provided personal or financial information (relating to a fraud or scam), and you simply want to inform the appropriate organizations, report it to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 If you received a fraudulent e-mail soliciting personal or financial information (phishing scam), you should also advise the financial institution or other agency whose name was used. If you are a victim of fraud or if you unwittingly provided personal or financial information (identity fraud), follow the steps in our Victim Assistance Guide. If you are a victim of fraud and it is not related to identity fraud, contact the police service of jurisdiction in your area. Always report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at info@antifraudcentre.ca or by dialing 1-888-495-8501 or on-line by visiting the CAFC website.
The third link the CRTC sent us was to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center which contains a lot of information about how you can report scams over the phone and about recent phone scams which includes this particular one. "If, however," the CRTC told ZeroPaid, "a legitimate telemarketer calls you and breaks the DNCL rules – you can make a complaint either online or by phone. To file a complaint you need: 1. Your phone number (where the call was received) 2. The name or phone number of the telemarketer 3. The date you received the call To make a complaint online go to: lnnte-dncl.gc.ca" Note that the phone scam discussed is not a legitimate telemarketer, so if you get the computer viruses phone scam, this is best directed at the Canadian Anti-fraud Center and the RCMP. We here at ZeroPaid hope that this is valuable and informative information on this scam and how you can report it. Feel free to also discuss this scam or other phone scams in the comment section below. Note that the above information on reporting this scam is directed at Canadians. If you do not live in Canada or the UK and receive these calls, please feel free to let us know in the comments section below as we are only aware of this scam being active in the UK and in Canada. Have a tip? Want to contact the author? You can do so by sending a PM via the forums or via e-mail at drew@zeropaid.com.]]> Phone Scam_crop

Have you been getting those calls from people working in a call center from what sounds like India? You know, those people who claim to be from either the "Computer Maintenance Department" or the "Windows Technical Team" who then instruct you to go to your computer? Tell the select minority of people who would fall for it that these calls are a scam. We here at ZeroPaid did some digging about these calls in a public service effort.

I consider myself to be reasonably savvy when it comes to telemarketers. Whenever they come calling trying to sell me something, I ask them to put me on a do-not-call list. Asking to be put on a do-not-call list is substantially better than simply hanging up on a telemarketer because merely hanging up is technically an invitation to call back later. Most telemarketers have a system in place because it's the law and it's generally good practice. After asking numerous telemarketers to be put on a do-not-call list myself, it seems I have narrowed down the number of telemarketers down to a very select few. Those were the automated calls that ask you to press a number to claim a prize (never do this unless you want to be charged an unknown amount of money), the occasional survey calls and one particularly annoying computer related call. The computer related one comes at around twice a month. The telemarketer in question tells me that he is calling in regards to my computer. After that, he typically instructs me to go to my computer. This is where I get my chance to stop him in his tracks. It took a few attempts, with different marketers, but I managed to obtain two different names from them. They claim to be either from the "Computer Maintenance Department" or the "Windows Technical Team". This alone should be enough to set internal alarms off that this is not a legitimate call. Every time, these people would also tell me that my computer could be infected with harmful viruses and that they are calling to fix the problem. Usually, by this time, I tell them that I want to be put on a do-not-call list. Every time I've requested this, the telemarketer hangs up only to call back weeks later. To me, if these telemarketers are not even operating a do-not-call list, then that's a big warning sign that this is not legitimate. So, armed with who this is, I proceed to exercise my Google-fu to see what these people are all about. Turns out, this scam has been around for years. A user known as lowlanda on a Whirlpool forum posted in 2010 that a similar call was received asking to run some form of uncomprehendable command. In a British forum, there was a similar discussion also in 2010 about this kind of scam. Apparently, one user reported being asked to download a logmein program and was asked to pay £55 to keep Windows activated after obtaining personal information. Similar stories can be found on whocallsme as well. It turns out, this scam was so bad in the UK, police raided several websites associated with this scam. From the Guardian:
The Metropolitan police e-crime unit acted in April to take such sites down. Among those shut was supportonclick.com, registered to Pecon Software, a firm based in Kolkata. The company has now opened another support website, called onlinepccare.com, which is the subject of numerous online complaints about cold calling, "bullying", and claims that the caller is from Windows PC care.
One person recorded his adventure with this kind of scam and posted it to YouTube: There's plenty more information about this scam on digitaltoast. While the post dates clear back to 2009, the comments section points out that this scam is still going on to this day.

Microsoft's Comment

Interested that these scammers say that they are from Microsoft, we actually contacted Microsoft about this. We asked what to look for when it comes to figuring out whether or not the phone call is indeed from Microsoft or not. A Microsoft spokesperson said, "Our advice is simple; treat callers as you would treat strangers in the street – do not disclose personal or sensitive information to anyone you do not know." "Unfortunately this is not the first scam of its kind," the Microsoft spokesperson told ZeroPaid, "and it’s unlikely to be the last. The best way to avoid becoming a victim is by being aware of the threat. Consumers should also ensure the copy of Windows they are running is genuine and fully up to date, while ensuring they have installed legitimate software will guard against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.”

CRTC's Response and Information on Reporting This Scam

With an official statement from Microsoft saying that this is a scam, ZeroPaid decided to contact the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) to ask what options consumers have in terms of reporting such fraudulent phone calls; specifically, what can people do to issue a complaint about this kind of phone scam given that this scam is not compliant with the do-not-call registry. "First," the CRTC told ZeroPaid, "this is a scammer calling you, not a telemarketer. For scams/fraud, I would recommend contacting the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre (Phonebusters)." The CRTC forwarded us some links about reporting this scam and how this scam has really taken off in Canada in recent months. One link was to a press release by the RCMP detailing the scam:
OTTAWA - September 29, 2011 - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and their partners at the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre (CAFC) are warning that if someone calls you claiming to be able to protect your computer from viruses, your best bet is to just hang up the phone. Don’t give the caller your computer access codes and don’t provide your credit card information. The virus scam has grown to epidemic proportions in Canada, now accounting for between 70 and 80 per cent of frauds reported daily to the CAFC. “We began noticing virus scam calls in March 2010. Since then, they’ve become an increasing proportion of our calls. Now, they’re the scam we deal with most often,” said RCMP Sgt. Paul Proulx of the CAFC. This dramatic increase means the scam is working – more and more Canadians are being targeted by the virus scam. Proulx warns, "If a scammer is able to log on to your computer then he has access to all the personal information you have stored there, including your banking information.” Here’s a typical scenario: a caller, often claiming to work for Microsoft or another reputable software company, will cold-call you and ask if your computer is running slowly or not working as it should. He will then offer to repair your computer via internet access, which can involve either software installation or the caller gaining remote control of your computer after you’ve granted him access. Payment for the software or the repair service is handled via your credit card with charges typically ranging from $35 to $470 per call. Allowing a third party to download software or remotely access your computer carries a number of serious risks. Malicious software can be installed to capture sensitive data such as your online banking user names and passwords, bank account information and your personal identity information. All of this information can be used in subsequent frauds that empty your bank accounts and charge your credit cards. Your computer can also be converted to a bot-net, which means criminals can use it without your knowledge or participation. It can then be used to spam other people, spread viruses to your friends or overload computer networks. Getting your credit card information is the second important part of the virus scam. Once a criminal has that information it can be used to make purchases without your consent. Canadians should be aware that not all virus scams are conducted over the phone. Many CAFC callers report being scammed after responding to internet pop-up ads for anti-virus software. Sgt. Proulx offers this simple advice: “If you’re really worried about viruses on your computer, be pro-active and use anti-virus software that you've acquired from reputable sources and keep it up to date. If someone calls you out of the blue offering to provide this kind of help, it’s probably a scam. Remember, it's not rude to hang up on someone who's trying to steal your money and information.” "When it comes to cyber security, we all have a role to play," said Public Safety Minister Vic Toews. "Canada's Cyber Security Strategy is the Government's plan to help secure Canada's vital cyber systems and help Canadians protect themselves, their families and their personal information online." Please visit the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre’s new website for the latest on emerging fraud trends, advice on protecting yourself and victim’s guides that will help you recover from fraud loss: www.antifraudcentre.ca. For more information on the Government of Canada's Cyber Security Strategy: www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cyber Fraud: Recognize It, Report It, Stop It.
A second link the CRTC sent us was to a page detailing how you can report a scam call:
If you have not lost any money and have not provided personal or financial information (relating to a fraud or scam), and you simply want to inform the appropriate organizations, report it to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 If you received a fraudulent e-mail soliciting personal or financial information (phishing scam), you should also advise the financial institution or other agency whose name was used. If you are a victim of fraud or if you unwittingly provided personal or financial information (identity fraud), follow the steps in our Victim Assistance Guide. If you are a victim of fraud and it is not related to identity fraud, contact the police service of jurisdiction in your area. Always report fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at info@antifraudcentre.ca or by dialing 1-888-495-8501 or on-line by visiting the CAFC website.
The third link the CRTC sent us was to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center which contains a lot of information about how you can report scams over the phone and about recent phone scams which includes this particular one. "If, however," the CRTC told ZeroPaid, "a legitimate telemarketer calls you and breaks the DNCL rules – you can make a complaint either online or by phone. To file a complaint you need: 1. Your phone number (where the call was received) 2. The name or phone number of the telemarketer 3. The date you received the call To make a complaint online go to: lnnte-dncl.gc.ca" Note that the phone scam discussed is not a legitimate telemarketer, so if you get the computer viruses phone scam, this is best directed at the Canadian Anti-fraud Center and the RCMP. We here at ZeroPaid hope that this is valuable and informative information on this scam and how you can report it. Feel free to also discuss this scam or other phone scams in the comment section below. Note that the above information on reporting this scam is directed at Canadians. If you do not live in Canada or the UK and receive these calls, please feel free to let us know in the comments section below as we are only aware of this scam being active in the UK and in Canada. Have a tip? Want to contact the author? You can do so by sending a PM via the forums or via e-mail at drew@zeropaid.com.]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98757/psa-the-computer-maintenance-department-scam-calls/feed/ 5 How to Connect Your Android Phone or Tablet to a PPTP VPN http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98752/how-to-connect-your-android-phone-or-tablet-to-a-pptp-vpn/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98752/how-to-connect-your-android-phone-or-tablet-to-a-pptp-vpn/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:13:10 +0000 Jared Moya http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98752 images (3)

Quick and easy guide to configuring your Android phone or tablet to connect to a PPTP-type VPN connection.

The Internet always has and always will be plagued by challenges to content access and data security, and one of the of the easiest solutions around is a VPN connection. A VPN is a virtual private network with “virtual” encrypted connections routed through the Internet to remote servers. The data traveling between you and those servers is encrypted, and the IP address that will appear while surfing or downloading content from the Internet will be that of the server and not your own. In the past I've mentioned free VPN services and how to configure VyprVPN and VPNHQ for desktop use, but I've never shown you how to configure a VPN for use on an Android phone or tablet. To make it easy we'll run through how to configure a PPTP-type VPN connection on your Android phone or tablet. Though it only has 128-bit encryption it's accepted by most Wi-Fi hotspots and that's what we're looking for: the ability to use a VPN connection on your Android phone or tablet when you're transmitting via an open Wi-Fi connection at a local coffee shop or cafe.  

1. Go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > VPN Settings

 

2. Select "Add PPTP VPN"

 

3. Select "Add VPN"

 

4. VPN Connection Configuration

  • Choose a name for your VPN connection.
  • Enter the IP address of the VPN server you want to connect to.
  • Check "Enable Encryption."
  • Don't worry about the last box.

5. Connect to the VPN

Go back to the "Add VPN" screen and select your new VPN connection.     It's that easy Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya]]> images (3)

Quick and easy guide to configuring your Android phone or tablet to connect to a PPTP-type VPN connection.

The Internet always has and always will be plagued by challenges to content access and data security, and one of the of the easiest solutions around is a VPN connection. A VPN is a virtual private network with “virtual” encrypted connections routed through the Internet to remote servers. The data traveling between you and those servers is encrypted, and the IP address that will appear while surfing or downloading content from the Internet will be that of the server and not your own. In the past I've mentioned free VPN services and how to configure VyprVPN and VPNHQ for desktop use, but I've never shown you how to configure a VPN for use on an Android phone or tablet. To make it easy we'll run through how to configure a PPTP-type VPN connection on your Android phone or tablet. Though it only has 128-bit encryption it's accepted by most Wi-Fi hotspots and that's what we're looking for: the ability to use a VPN connection on your Android phone or tablet when you're transmitting via an open Wi-Fi connection at a local coffee shop or cafe.  

1. Go to Settings > Wireless & Networks > VPN Settings

 

2. Select "Add PPTP VPN"

 

3. Select "Add VPN"

 

4. VPN Connection Configuration

  • Choose a name for your VPN connection.
  • Enter the IP address of the VPN server you want to connect to.
  • Check "Enable Encryption."
  • Don't worry about the last box.

5. Connect to the VPN

Go back to the "Add VPN" screen and select your new VPN connection.     It's that easy Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98752/how-to-connect-your-android-phone-or-tablet-to-a-pptp-vpn/feed/ 0 Pandora for Chrome: Control Pandora Music Stream in Browser Toolbar http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98745/pandora-for-chrome-control-pandora-music-stream-in-browser-toolbar/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98745/pandora-for-chrome-control-pandora-music-stream-in-browser-toolbar/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:13:51 +0000 Jared Moya http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98745 images (1)

Pandora for Chrome browser extension allows users to rate, pause, change tracks in their Pandora stream without having to open Pandora.com.

Chrome users have an increasingly wide variety of extensions to customize their Internet browsing experience, especially when it comes to streaming music services. Last week I mentioned the Last.fm Free Music Player that lets you stream your favorite artists on-demand from your browser toolbar. Now I'd like to mention Pandora for Chrome. It doesn't offer on-demand playback, but it does let you rate, pause, and change tracks with the same browser toolbar convenience. Just click the Pandora logo to activate Pandora's native control options. In addition to the control buttons it displays the song title, name of the artist, and options for sharing tracks with family and friends via your favorite social networking sites. What makes Pandora for Chrome so great is that you always have Pandora controls right at your fingertips without having to switch back and forth between open tabs. If use Pandora on a regular basis you'll want to give the Pandora for Chrome extension a try. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

> Download Pandora for Chrome (Chrome Web Store)

]]> images (1)

Pandora for Chrome browser extension allows users to rate, pause, change tracks in their Pandora stream without having to open Pandora.com.

Chrome users have an increasingly wide variety of extensions to customize their Internet browsing experience, especially when it comes to streaming music services. Last week I mentioned the Last.fm Free Music Player that lets you stream your favorite artists on-demand from your browser toolbar. Now I'd like to mention Pandora for Chrome. It doesn't offer on-demand playback, but it does let you rate, pause, and change tracks with the same browser toolbar convenience. Just click the Pandora logo to activate Pandora's native control options. In addition to the control buttons it displays the song title, name of the artist, and options for sharing tracks with family and friends via your favorite social networking sites. What makes Pandora for Chrome so great is that you always have Pandora controls right at your fingertips without having to switch back and forth between open tabs. If use Pandora on a regular basis you'll want to give the Pandora for Chrome extension a try. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

> Download Pandora for Chrome (Chrome Web Store)

]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98745/pandora-for-chrome-control-pandora-music-stream-in-browser-toolbar/feed/ 0 Music2pc: Find, Download Millions of Songs Online for Free – Even at Work! http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98709/music2pc-find-download-millions-of-songs-online-for-free-even-at-work/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98709/music2pc-find-download-millions-of-songs-online-for-free-even-at-work/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:09:16 +0000 Jared Moya http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98709 music2pc 4

Free program with no ads, spyware, or malware of any kind allows users to search among more than 100 million MP3s online and download them to a computer or USB drive for free; program can also run from a USB drive, making it safe to use at work.

Looking for a LimeWire alternative? Want to safely download music at work? Then Music2pc might just be the program you're looking for. Music2pc is free program that allows users to search its online database of more than 100 million MP3s for songs to download for free. Downloaded music can be played directly from the program itself. It contains no ads, spyware, or malware of any kind, and is non-P2P, making it safe to use without fear of being busted by overzealous copyright enforcement organizations. Program highlights:
  • Download over 100 million mp3 songs with unmatchable speed, best output quality
  • Safe, non-BitTorrent and non-P2P file-sharing method
  • Find any music easily, only with the song title, artist name, album or edition
  • Safe to install and run, no malware, no ads, no viruses
  • Hugest selection of publicly available tracks
  • Search the live, piano, guitar or cover versions of your favorite songs
  • Compatible with all portable devices: iPad, iPhone, PSP, cell phone, mp3 player etc.
  • Multi-thread downloading, download multiple songs at the same time
  • Download the hottest songs across all genres, from electronic to religious, mainstream to indie, hip-hop to classical, etc.
  • Simple and intuitive interface ensures you to easily get any music you want
  All you have to do is enter the name of the artist or song you're looking for and select "search." Then choose the desired song and select "download." It's that easy. The best part of music2pc is that it's also portable, meaning you can run it from a USB drive at a friends house or at work! So, now you can enjoy music at home or on the go. It works on Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 2003 and 2008 Server. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

Download music2pc > Desktop | Portable

]]> music2pc 4

Free program with no ads, spyware, or malware of any kind allows users to search among more than 100 million MP3s online and download them to a computer or USB drive for free; program can also run from a USB drive, making it safe to use at work.

Looking for a LimeWire alternative? Want to safely download music at work? Then Music2pc might just be the program you're looking for. Music2pc is free program that allows users to search its online database of more than 100 million MP3s for songs to download for free. Downloaded music can be played directly from the program itself. It contains no ads, spyware, or malware of any kind, and is non-P2P, making it safe to use without fear of being busted by overzealous copyright enforcement organizations. Program highlights:
  • Download over 100 million mp3 songs with unmatchable speed, best output quality
  • Safe, non-BitTorrent and non-P2P file-sharing method
  • Find any music easily, only with the song title, artist name, album or edition
  • Safe to install and run, no malware, no ads, no viruses
  • Hugest selection of publicly available tracks
  • Search the live, piano, guitar or cover versions of your favorite songs
  • Compatible with all portable devices: iPad, iPhone, PSP, cell phone, mp3 player etc.
  • Multi-thread downloading, download multiple songs at the same time
  • Download the hottest songs across all genres, from electronic to religious, mainstream to indie, hip-hop to classical, etc.
  • Simple and intuitive interface ensures you to easily get any music you want
  All you have to do is enter the name of the artist or song you're looking for and select "search." Then choose the desired song and select "download." It's that easy. The best part of music2pc is that it's also portable, meaning you can run it from a USB drive at a friends house or at work! So, now you can enjoy music at home or on the go. It works on Microsoft Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 2003 and 2008 Server. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

Download music2pc > Desktop | Portable

]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98709/music2pc-find-download-millions-of-songs-online-for-free-even-at-work/feed/ 6 uTorrent Control: Official Browser Plugin for Remote Download Control http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98697/utorrent-control-official-browser-plugin-for-remote-download-control/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98697/utorrent-control-official-browser-plugin-for-remote-download-control/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:25:45 +0000 Jared Moya http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98697 images

UTorrent Control is a browser plugin for Explorer 8 and above, Firefox 3 and above, and Chrome that gives users access to their BitTorrent client downloads on the go.

BitTorrent users are always looking for new and convenient ways to access and control their downloads on the go. A few days ago I mentioned uTorrent Tiny Client, a simple-to-use Chrome extension that does the trick. Today there's another browser plugin worth taking a looking at, and comes straight from the brilliant minds over at BitTorrent Inc.: uTorrrent Control. UTorrent Control is a small and efficient add-on for your browser that gives you access to your downloads on the go, and unlike uTorrent Tiny Client it also works on Internet Explorer 8 and above, and Firefox 3 and above. UTorrent Control features:
  • Add torrent
  • Remove torrent
  • Pause torrent
  • Check torrent download status
  • Monitor torrent download speed
  • Toggle full torrent list
  • Sync with desktop µTorrent Client
  • Sync remotely
  • Launch web remote (remote.utorrent.com)
The plugin includes an optional search engine feature for searching the Web directly in your browser, but it's powered by Bing and will likely just add unnecessary clutter to your workspace. UTorrent Control only works with uTorrent client version 3.0 and higher so you'll need to upgrade if you haven't already. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

>>Download uTorrent Control

]]> images

UTorrent Control is a browser plugin for Explorer 8 and above, Firefox 3 and above, and Chrome that gives users access to their BitTorrent client downloads on the go.

BitTorrent users are always looking for new and convenient ways to access and control their downloads on the go. A few days ago I mentioned uTorrent Tiny Client, a simple-to-use Chrome extension that does the trick. Today there's another browser plugin worth taking a looking at, and comes straight from the brilliant minds over at BitTorrent Inc.: uTorrrent Control. UTorrent Control is a small and efficient add-on for your browser that gives you access to your downloads on the go, and unlike uTorrent Tiny Client it also works on Internet Explorer 8 and above, and Firefox 3 and above. UTorrent Control features:
  • Add torrent
  • Remove torrent
  • Pause torrent
  • Check torrent download status
  • Monitor torrent download speed
  • Toggle full torrent list
  • Sync with desktop µTorrent Client
  • Sync remotely
  • Launch web remote (remote.utorrent.com)
The plugin includes an optional search engine feature for searching the Web directly in your browser, but it's powered by Bing and will likely just add unnecessary clutter to your workspace. UTorrent Control only works with uTorrent client version 3.0 and higher so you'll need to upgrade if you haven't already. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

>>Download uTorrent Control

]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98697/utorrent-control-official-browser-plugin-for-remote-download-control/feed/ 0 Fight Back: Speak Out Against ACTA, Sign the Petition http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98671/fight-back-speak-out-against-acta-sign-thepetition/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98671/fight-back-speak-out-against-acta-sign-thepetition/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:21:46 +0000 Jon Kaykin http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98671 ACTA

Learn more about the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement and sign the petition against it. If you don't know what the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is please see this: [embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoW26CwhcR8[/embed] ACTA can be more dangerous than SOPA and PIPA and can potentially create new legal standards of intellectual property enforcement, meaning that Internet distribution and information technology would be highly monitored and constantly reported to law enforcement agencies. We must not let this bill pass,  we must continue to preserve the freedoms granted to us by the Constitution. Please sign the below petitions and speak out against this bill, stand up and protest while we still have that freedom. Learn how to act against ACTA. Petitions - 
  • U.S. anti-ACTA White House Petition: sign it
  • Canada - Petition: sign it
  • Canada - Take 1 minute to send a letter contesting Bill C-11: here 
  • Ireland - anti-SOPAIreland Petition: sign it
  • Poland - ACTA Referendum: here
  • Global anti-ACTA Petition: sign it
Attend a local Protest -    Stand up, Speak out. Learn more about ACTA here. Jon@zeropaid.com | @jkaykin]]> ACTA

Learn more about the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement and sign the petition against it. If you don't know what the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is please see this: [embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoW26CwhcR8[/embed] ACTA can be more dangerous than SOPA and PIPA and can potentially create new legal standards of intellectual property enforcement, meaning that Internet distribution and information technology would be highly monitored and constantly reported to law enforcement agencies. We must not let this bill pass,  we must continue to preserve the freedoms granted to us by the Constitution. Please sign the below petitions and speak out against this bill, stand up and protest while we still have that freedom. Learn how to act against ACTA. Petitions - 
  • U.S. anti-ACTA White House Petition: sign it
  • Canada - Petition: sign it
  • Canada - Take 1 minute to send a letter contesting Bill C-11: here 
  • Ireland - anti-SOPAIreland Petition: sign it
  • Poland - ACTA Referendum: here
  • Global anti-ACTA Petition: sign it
Attend a local Protest -    Stand up, Speak out. Learn more about ACTA here. Jon@zeropaid.com | @jkaykin]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98671/fight-back-speak-out-against-acta-sign-thepetition/feed/ 0 Operation Black March: An Anonymous Movement http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98654/operation-black-march-an-anonymous-movement/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98654/operation-black-march-an-anonymous-movement/#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:19:34 +0000 Jon Kaykin http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98654 anonymous

Hacktivist group Anonymous has called for Operation Black March, a movement against the media industry. Unfortunately, it might not be as successful as others think. As you may know, SOPA and PIPA have been postponed and have lost much support but the fight isn't over. Thankfully, many groups are still fighting against the music, film and media industry, the most important group being; Anonymous. Anonymous has been very vocal in letting the public know their plans for what they will do next and meanwhile, they have been diligently working; taking down many sites and issuing statements on Youtube (see this and this). On Friday, Anonymous released a set of leaks and hacks ( including the shutdown of the Greek government's Ministry of Justice website and a leak of a conversation between the FBI and Scotland Yard) that were publicized on their Twitter feed using #FFF. This was a large effort and received a lot of support from the public. But for Anonymous this was just scraping surface. Recently, they announced something they call: "Operation Black March." This operation is a boycott of the music, film and media industry, with the hopes that during March, people will not go see films, buy CD's, download songs, buy magazines, purchase video games -- do anything that will support the aforementioned industries: [embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWzRHnVbw5I[/embed] As the video states, "We will not tolerate the Media Industries' lobbying for legislation which will censor the Internet," and Anonymous is asking for our support. Although the cause is great and there is much support for this type of action, I don't know how successful this will be considering how massive the media industry is. The problem is that many people can not live one day, let alone a month without supporting big time media conglomerates. Think about it; you can't download apps to your favorite devices, you can't download new music (legally or illegally) as Anonymous states, you can't even see a movie.  The idea is right and the support for this movement is necessary but with media ruling everyday of our lives, I just don't see how feasible of a task this is. It's quite intriguing what Anonymous has done and what they continue to do. With words such as, “[i]f you didn’t dig it then then you better dig it now. We are calling upon all allied battleships to rise up and make some mayhem. NDAA/PIPA/SOPA for real? The internet is ours for the taking, and we will destroy every corporation and government that attempts to stand in our way," it will be interesting to see where and/or what Anonymous attacks next. If Anonymous can get the support of many, which they already have, then anything is possible. We will just have to wait and see... You can follow Anonymous on Twitter and on their blog. Keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you discover any new Anonymous attacks. Jon@zeropaid.com | @jkaykin]]> anonymous

Hacktivist group Anonymous has called for Operation Black March, a movement against the media industry. Unfortunately, it might not be as successful as others think. As you may know, SOPA and PIPA have been postponed and have lost much support but the fight isn't over. Thankfully, many groups are still fighting against the music, film and media industry, the most important group being; Anonymous. Anonymous has been very vocal in letting the public know their plans for what they will do next and meanwhile, they have been diligently working; taking down many sites and issuing statements on Youtube (see this and this). On Friday, Anonymous released a set of leaks and hacks ( including the shutdown of the Greek government's Ministry of Justice website and a leak of a conversation between the FBI and Scotland Yard) that were publicized on their Twitter feed using #FFF. This was a large effort and received a lot of support from the public. But for Anonymous this was just scraping surface. Recently, they announced something they call: "Operation Black March." This operation is a boycott of the music, film and media industry, with the hopes that during March, people will not go see films, buy CD's, download songs, buy magazines, purchase video games -- do anything that will support the aforementioned industries: [embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWzRHnVbw5I[/embed] As the video states, "We will not tolerate the Media Industries' lobbying for legislation which will censor the Internet," and Anonymous is asking for our support. Although the cause is great and there is much support for this type of action, I don't know how successful this will be considering how massive the media industry is. The problem is that many people can not live one day, let alone a month without supporting big time media conglomerates. Think about it; you can't download apps to your favorite devices, you can't download new music (legally or illegally) as Anonymous states, you can't even see a movie.  The idea is right and the support for this movement is necessary but with media ruling everyday of our lives, I just don't see how feasible of a task this is. It's quite intriguing what Anonymous has done and what they continue to do. With words such as, “[i]f you didn’t dig it then then you better dig it now. We are calling upon all allied battleships to rise up and make some mayhem. NDAA/PIPA/SOPA for real? The internet is ours for the taking, and we will destroy every corporation and government that attempts to stand in our way," it will be interesting to see where and/or what Anonymous attacks next. If Anonymous can get the support of many, which they already have, then anything is possible. We will just have to wait and see... You can follow Anonymous on Twitter and on their blog. Keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you discover any new Anonymous attacks. Jon@zeropaid.com | @jkaykin]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98654/operation-black-march-an-anonymous-movement/feed/ 6 VPN Setup Guide: VPNHQ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98618/vpn-setup-guide-vpnhq/ http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98618/vpn-setup-guide-vpnhq/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:08:56 +0000 Jared Moya http://www.zeropaid.com/?p=98618 VPNHQ 2

Guide to setting up a VPN account with VPNHQ, and protecting your data and Internet traffic from identity thieves, overzealous copyright holders, and govt filtering regimes for $7 dollars a month.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) has never been more important it seems. Public Wi-Fi connections are fertile ground for identity thieves and criminals. Copyright holders constantly monitor BitTorrent swarms for the IP addresses of infringers. Govts around the globe, the US in particular, have proposed legislation to filter the Internet. A VPN eliminates all of these worries. A VPN is a virtual private network with “virtual” encrypted connections routed through the Internet to remote servers. The data traveling between you and those servers is encrypted, and the IP address that will appear while surfing or downloading content from the Internet will be that of the server and not your own. In the past I've mentioned free VPN services and Giganews' popular VyprVPN, and now I'd like to add VPNHQ to the mix. For the cost of a couple of Starbuck's lattes - a mere $7 bucks per month - you can have peace of mind that your data and traffic is protected and unimpeded. You have a choice of serves that include: Amsterdam, London, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Chicago, and Tokyo. The basic package ($7 p/mo) offers PPTP, and L2TP. You also get unlimited connection speed and data transfers. So how do you set it up? It's not as quick and easy as VyprVPN is (install and connect), but it's still pretty easy. Before you get started you'll need to create an account for each server you want to connect to, replete with a unique username and password. Once that's done do as follows.  

Creating a VPN Connection

1. Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center 2. Select "Set Up a New Connection or Network"   3. Select "Connect to a Workplace"   4. Select "Use my Internet Connection (VPN)"   5. Enter the IP Address of the Server You Want to Connect To   6. Enter Your Username and Password   7. Press "Connect"   8. Now here we have two paths: for L2TP press "Skip"; for PPTP you're done.  

Configuring L2TP

1. Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings 2. "Right-Click" the VPN Connection and Select "Properties" 3. Click "Security" Tab 4. Change "Type of VPN" to "L2TP"   5. Click "Advanced" Enter the preshared key you were given when you created the account for the given server you're trying to connect to.   That's it, now you should be able to connect to it under your "Network Connections." I’ll continue to cover more VPN services in the future so stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

> Check Out VPNHQ

]]> VPNHQ 2

Guide to setting up a VPN account with VPNHQ, and protecting your data and Internet traffic from identity thieves, overzealous copyright holders, and govt filtering regimes for $7 dollars a month.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) has never been more important it seems. Public Wi-Fi connections are fertile ground for identity thieves and criminals. Copyright holders constantly monitor BitTorrent swarms for the IP addresses of infringers. Govts around the globe, the US in particular, have proposed legislation to filter the Internet. A VPN eliminates all of these worries. A VPN is a virtual private network with “virtual” encrypted connections routed through the Internet to remote servers. The data traveling between you and those servers is encrypted, and the IP address that will appear while surfing or downloading content from the Internet will be that of the server and not your own. In the past I've mentioned free VPN services and Giganews' popular VyprVPN, and now I'd like to add VPNHQ to the mix. For the cost of a couple of Starbuck's lattes - a mere $7 bucks per month - you can have peace of mind that your data and traffic is protected and unimpeded. You have a choice of serves that include: Amsterdam, London, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Chicago, and Tokyo. The basic package ($7 p/mo) offers PPTP, and L2TP. You also get unlimited connection speed and data transfers. So how do you set it up? It's not as quick and easy as VyprVPN is (install and connect), but it's still pretty easy. Before you get started you'll need to create an account for each server you want to connect to, replete with a unique username and password. Once that's done do as follows.  

Creating a VPN Connection

1. Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center 2. Select "Set Up a New Connection or Network"   3. Select "Connect to a Workplace"   4. Select "Use my Internet Connection (VPN)"   5. Enter the IP Address of the Server You Want to Connect To   6. Enter Your Username and Password   7. Press "Connect"   8. Now here we have two paths: for L2TP press "Skip"; for PPTP you're done.  

Configuring L2TP

1. Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings 2. "Right-Click" the VPN Connection and Select "Properties" 3. Click "Security" Tab 4. Change "Type of VPN" to "L2TP"   5. Click "Advanced" Enter the preshared key you were given when you created the account for the given server you're trying to connect to.   That's it, now you should be able to connect to it under your "Network Connections." I’ll continue to cover more VPN services in the future so stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com | @jaredmoya  

> Check Out VPNHQ

]]> http://www.zeropaid.com/news/98618/vpn-setup-guide-vpnhq/feed/ 2