Cellphone Virus!

No, I'm not kidding. And they spread just by having your cell phone on and physically near someone already infected. Here's an article with better details.

The one good thing, it gives a good reason to turn off your cell in crowded theatres and restauants...

Informative ID theft article

Nice article on identity theft

If this doesn't scare you, maybe you should read it again.

Important note from the article: If someone is using your SSN but not your name, there is NO WAY for you to find out, even checking your credit record with the three credit bureaus, until the theif defaults on a payment and the creditors come looking for YOU. You cannot get a list of all activity associated with your SSN alone, only that which also has your name.

By the way, if you've ever changed your name (even hen getting married), make sure the IRS and Social Security people know it, or your social security and tax payments may end up in limbo instead of being credited to you.

Check your credit records!

Hey everybody! Make a new year's resolution to check your credit records at each of the three big credit bureaus! I think this is free once per year. edit: not free except in special circumstances, but each is less than $10.

Here are their websites:

Credit bureaus

Equifax
1-800-525-6285


Experian
1-888-397-3742


TransUnion
1-800-680-7289