Readability Test Tool proves your point, "You write like a 3rd grader!"

Next time you find yourself wanting to shout that phrase at the top of your lungs, have some facts to back up your claim. After all, it's one thing to say it, but ima

gine the impact of proving it.

The Readability Test Tool is a quick, simple, AND accurate way to measure the readability of a web page or any pasted text.

Don't believe me? Try it yourself. Post your comments. I'd love to hear what you have to say.

It's fun to test web pages, as you may be surprised by the results.

On this day, the White House blog contained several "top stories" that a 9th grader could read. Read? Supposedly. Comprehend? You tell me.

Did you Know? Shift Happens! Change to Learn, Learn to Change

It's amazing to see how far the "Did You Know?" message has advanced.

That's well beyond "Shift Happens" from a couple of years back. Watch again, or enjoy it for the first time.

Finally, a new video I've started sharing in education sessions.

Sexting 101

Visit www.athinline.org

More great resources are available within this Common Sense Media article.

Proactive Protection against Malware, Spyware, Adware and more

Every December, someone inevitably sends me one of those warnings about the latest computer bug that is destined to crash my system. Tonight, instead of hitting the delete key one more time, I decided to reply to my father-in-law with the following proactive message. Please, pass it on. It's a Christmas gift that will just keep on giving!

I deal with these type of virus, malware, spyware, and adware issues on a daily basis, as defined by my job title in my public LinkedIn profile here.

Regarding the annual Snopes.com "Virus Hoaxes and Realities", and specifically the "UPS/FedEx Virus" referenced by everyone who sends these warning messages, I concluded it was once again time to be proactive and help teach the reader to increase their anti-virus protection at home. Many people don't realize that ONLY running your Norton or Symantec anti-virus software to protect your Windows-based operating system will still allow your system to be susceptible to malicious items listed above.

If you aren't running an anti-virus program, you're asking for major trouble. At least download AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition and keep it updated.

For everyone running Windows, I highly recommend users download at least one of the following FREE programs to catch those nasty critters that will eventually do you harm.

Definitely begin with the free product below. Once installed, using it is as simple to use as clicking the Scan button and hoping the "Objects infected:" line doesn't turn red. If that line does turn red, wait till the scan is completed and click the "Remove" button to quarantine those bad guys.

Malwarebytes' AntiMalware

My school district recently recommended adding the free product listed below. As easy as the previous product, simply click the "Scan your Computer..." button and sit back.

SUPERantispyware

In a real world test of these two software, I ran both software on my father-in-laws computer. (I'll just call it a "Christmas Eve" present.) A quick scan of his C-drive with Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware reported one registry key infection, classified as Adware. Installing and running SUPERantispyware immediately afterwards reported 68 additional potential Adware threats, classified as tracking cookies. Does this mean the later product does a more thorough cleaning? I'll let you be the judge. Try this test yourself! And, have a Merry Christmas!

Here are links to articles I've posted about computer protection and anti-virus protection for the home computer user:

Internet Security Begins with Common Sense

Fishing for the Conficker Worm

Again, if you find any of this information useful, freely pass it on to others.

On a different, but equally important note, if you want to set parental limits on what your children are doing on a computer, consider looking at the Parental Time Control Software Review 2010 TopTenReviews. My cousin swears by ENUFFpc, though I have yet to investigate any of the ten products reviewed.

And, as 2010 approaches, you should catch up on everything you missed by perusing The Digital Decade: 20 Things That Forever Changed Childhood. While on that page, check out the Best of the Decade by Age.

I'm Back, and Gone Again

What can I say about my last post being eight months ago? I've enjoyed ALMOST every minute. Not that I was ever a tech-junkie who had to be plugged in 365/24/7, but I just decided that I'd do my techie hobbies when the time felt right. About an hour ago, the time felt right. I came across this wicked link that the tech-savvy educator MUST check out.

http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/

Hope the wait was worth it!!!

Fishing for the Conficker Worm

Conficker - Fishing for the Worm

Based on the latest Conficker Research and countless articles posted in the past month, this page provides the everyday Windows computer user with simple online tools to test for the presence of the Conficker worm on their computer.

Identifying Conficker on your local machine

Here are three quick tests to check your Windows-platform computer.  The following online tests require the Windows user to have a working internet connection and access to any one of the many web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Camino. 

Test #1

Conficker Eye Chart

PC World's Eric Larkin writes that this smart and simple test pulls images from three sites that Conficker is known to block and displays them in a box. Below the box is a guide to interpreting how you see the images -- if they all show up you're in good shape, but if one or more doesn't display it could indicate a Conficker (or other malware) infection.  It's a smart and near-instantaneous test that couldn't be any easier, but keep in mind that if your computer uses a proxy server for Web traffic, which can be the case in some companies, you might be infected and still be able to see the images. (from Source )

Test #2

Can you link to all the sites listed below?

Microsoft

McAfee

Norton 

Test #3

Conficker Online Check

Conficker Research

Conficker Worm Targets Microsoft Windows Systems, a 22MAR2009 US-CERT Bulletin

Contains Test #2 under part I. Description

The HoneyNet Project

Abstract of the whitepaper "Know Your Enemy: Containing Conficker" released on March 30, 2009

Know Your Enemy: Containing Conficker - revised 07APR2009

A 23-page analysis presenting the latest data to repel the Conficker worm

Informatik IV: Containing Conficker

Contains tools and analysis results described in "Know Your Enemy: Containing Conficker"

Q&A of the Day for the Novice Computer User who wants to learn Techie Talk

Q: What is the BIOS?

A: The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) acts as the motherboard's firmware inside a computer. It contains the first code executed when that computer is powered and serves different functions such as device identification, testing and initialization. This puts the machine into a specific state from where the operating system can take over. (from Source)

E-learning Web 2.0 Tools and Applications on Go2Web20

E-learning Web 2.0 Tools and Applications

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