How to Avoid a Social Engineering Attack

(Click on the image for a 2 minute video)

What is a phishing attack?
Phishing is a form of social engineering. Phishing attacks use email or malicious websites to solicit personal information by posing as a trustworthy organization. For example, an attacker may send email seemingly from a reputable credit card company or financial institution that requests account information, often suggesting that there is a problem. When users respond with the requested information, attackers can use it to gain access to the accounts.
See also GRIZZLY STEPPE: Russian Malicious Cyber Activity.

A poker pro goes all in on MGM National Harbor and its rich, card-playing ‘whales’

By Steve Hendrix (The Washington Post):
For the past three years, Power, 28, has been based at Maryland Live outside of Baltimore. He lived in a townhouse in Hanover, walking distance from the casino, along with the team of a half-dozen players, each of whom Power mentors and stakes in exchange for an even split of their winnings. Together, they are a poker factory, taking shifts of 10, 15 even 20 hours in the card room; they call it “grinding.” Casinos are open 24 hours, and one member of Team Power is almost always at a table.
But the prospect of a bigger, fancier and, most importantly, new casino opening an hour away presented an easy bet to Power. He began plans to move his poker house soon after MGM announced its opening date.
As the Dec. 8 debut neared, his first order of business was to find a new crash pad for himself and his team. He looked at houses all around National Harbor that fit the criteria needed for six pro gamblers: at least six bedrooms, a basement big enough for more mattresses (it’s common for their poker friends to flop after a long game) and a quick drive to MGM.
. . . The Fort Washington house would do. It was seven minutes closer than the next best. And the owner, who has been hoping for an MGM-related business boom, had no problem with Power’s income stream. [Read Steve's report here.]

At MGM resort, bomb-sniffing dogs and thousands of cameras look for trouble

(Click on the image for Lynh's report)

By Lynh Bui (The Washington Post)
Across the length of five city blocks on the banks of the Potomac River, bomb-sniffing dogs pad through crowds with their handlers. Uniformed security scan for signs of trouble. And more than 2,300 surveillance cameras, mounted on high, swivel and zoom, capturing around the clock the movements of the world below.
The scene may suggest the posture of a protected government facility or a heavily guarded bank, but it is only a glimpse of the casino security operation at the MGM National Harbor.

The Windows Tech Support Scam: A Recurring Nightmare

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“I am calling you from Windows…”
We’ve all had the calls, but what can we really do about the Windows Tech Support scam? Should you hang up, or lead the callers on? Is there anyone you can report them to, and if so, should you even bother?
The aim of the scammers is to talk you into installing remote software on your computer, so that they might then take control. Once done, this will either allow them to steal data, introduce a Trojan horse or other malware (the remote software itself may be a malicious tool) or just perform a bit of “tech support theater” to make it seem as though they know what they’re doing.
Once the “virus” is discovered, of course, the scammers will demand money for their services of “removing” it. This can go a number of ways, but if you refuse, there is the possibility that the scammers have remotely changed your password or encrypted your files, transforming this into a one-on-one ransomware scam.
So, how should you deal with a scam call? Well, the answer is simple: hang up.
What If You Already Gave the Scammer Access to Your Computer? [Read the Article]

An Example of What a Phishing Email Looks Like

(Click on the image for the New York Times report)

Phishing uses an innocent-looking email to entice unwary recipients to click on a deceptive link, giving hackers access to their information or a network. In “spear-phishing,” the email is tailored to fool a specific person. 
From The New York Times report, 'The Perfect Weapon: How Russian Cyberpower Invaded the U.S.':
"A second team of Russian-affiliated hackers began to target the D.N.C. and other players in the political world, particularly Democrats. Billy Rinehart, a former D.N.C. regional field director who was then working for Mrs. Clinton’s campaign, got an odd email warning from Google.
“Someone just used your password to try to sign into your Google account,” the March 22 email said, adding that the sign-in attempt had occurred in Ukraine. “Google stopped this sign-in attempt. You should change your password immediately.”
Mr. Rinehart was in Hawaii at the time. He remembers checking his email at 4 a.m. for messages from East Coast associates. Without thinking much about the notification, he clicked on the “change password” button and half asleep, as best he can remember, he typed in a new password.
What he did not know until months later is that he had just given the Russian hackers access to his email account."

Internet Security Basics

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• Internet Security Basics 
• How to choose a good password 
• How to know when to trust a website 
• Why we need all those software updates 
• How to protect your phone from hackers 
• How to protect your home from the Internet of Things (IoT) 
• 5 ways to protect yourself online

Fios Digital Voice Makes It Easier to Activate Nomorobo

Nomorobo is a third party program that identifies known robocalls and stops them after the first ring.
From Consumers Union: "Thanks to pressure from activists like you, Verizon recently decided to provide more help blocking invasive robocalls. Each year, consumers lose an estimated $350 million as a result of privacy-violating phone scams. This is a big step in the right direction by Verizon."

After MGM Opening, Milt Peterson Is Not Done Developing National Harbor

Click on the image for the BisNow report)

• Eight years ago, in the height of the recession, Peterson opened the waterfront, mixed-use community at National Harbor, and five years later, it opened the 350k SF Tanger Outlets. Milt, who still owns much of the land around National Harbor, sees MGM as an anchor that will lead to even more development. As for what the next step is, he's keeping an open mind.
• Peterson has already submitted plans to the county for an adjacent 1.2M SF mixed-use development with a 500-key hotel and 700 residential units to complement the resort. 

'Missed Delivery Notice' Scam

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Here’s how it works: Scammers posing as the USPS, FedEx, UPS email their targets with a notice claiming that they’ve missed a delivery, and will need to enter certain personal details or payment information to get that package redelivered, or click a link to another site for more information.

Public Safety Food Basket Program

Donations accepted at the District VII Station!

A Look Back at the Long Road to MGM National Harbor Casino

(Click on the image for Tracee's video report)

By Tracee Wilkins, News4:
A look back at who proposed to build Maryland's sixth and final casino and who worked to make it happen.

MGM lauds hiring and giving record as it readies to open in Prince George’s

(Click on the image for Luz's report)

By Luz Lazo, The Washington Post:

• Close to 50 percent of the casino resort’s workers will be Prince George’s County residents
• Nearly 40 percent of MGM’s construction payments had gone to minority-owned businesses
• Plans to use Prince George’s-based Miller Farm for produce in the spring
• Working with Melwood to supply flowers for the floral display at the conservatory
• Donated $343,000 to the Prince George’s Community College Foundation
• Donated $140,000 to support county nonprofits

Mortgage Giant Fannie Mae Accused of Racial Discrimination in Prince George's County

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"National Fair Housing Alliance and 20 Civil Rights Groups File Federal Lawsuit Over Neglected Foreclosures"
The lawsuit alleges that Fannie Mae purposely fails to maintain its foreclosures (also known as real estate owned or “REO” properties) in middle- and working-class African American and Latino neighborhoods to the same level of quality it does for foreclosures it owns in white middle- and working-class neighborhoods. The data supporting the federal lawsuit, which includes substantial photographic evidence, shows a stark pattern of discriminatory conduct by Fannie Mae in the maintenance of its foreclosures.

·         In the Prince George’s County, Maryland area, we investigated 60 Fannie Mae REOs.

o   51 African American

o   4 Majority Non-White

o   5 White

·         30.9% of the REO properties in communities of color had trash or debris, while none of the properties in predominantly white neighborhoods had the same issue

·         36.4% of the REO properties in communities of color had unsecured, broken, or boarded windows while none of the properties in predominantly white neighborhoods has the same issue.

Fears of traffic gridlock as MGM casino is set to open; officials urge patience and planning

(Click on the image for Luz' report)

By Luz Lazo, The Washington Post
County and casino officials say there’s no need to panic. Improvements such as new striping, realignments and a new road should help with traffic flow around the casino. And if that’s not enough, dozens of police officers and electronic message boards will be in place to move traffic on opening day and the days that follow.
“Will there be congestion? Yes. Will traffic look like it looked in 1996 or 2006? No. But we are going to manage it,” said Prince George’s Police Chief Henry P. Stawinski III.

Handling traffic with MGM casino's opening

(Click on the image for the WUSA*9 video report)

"Please plan ahead. That's our best advice."

How to Winterize a Car

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From Consumer Reports: "The winter months are hard on your vehicle. Cold temperatures, dirt, and road-salt residue can all cause problems. However, there are some simple checks and maintenance items you can do that will help your vehicle stay in top condition."
[My experience is that car batteries last about 3 years. Advance Auto Parts will test yours for free. Costco members can get Interstate  batteries at a good price.]

LAST WEEKEND of Babes in Toyland... Really!

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A little boy unwillingly exiting childhood wishes he could live in Toyland instead of the real world, and he gets his wish! But living with nursery rhymes come to life, from Little Bo Peep to Humpty Dumpty, isn't as much fun as it sounds..
Kids 12 and under get in FREE!