Prst. Std. U.S. Postage Paid Naugatuck, CT #27
“A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz.” ~ Humphrey Bogart
FR EE
Bee Intelligencer Informing the towns of Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown A FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Volume VIII, No. 17
Friday, April 27, 2012
Check your computer for DNS malware By MARJORIE NEEDHAM A November 2011 FBI press release said seven people, six from Estonia and one from Russia, had been charged with an internet fraud scheme that infected more than four million computers in more than 100 countries worldwide. That included half a million U.S. computers. Because disabling the criminals’ servers would have disrupted Internet service for the infected computers, the FBI put in place temporary “clean” servers to protect U.S. computer users whose computers are infected. Most users were unaware of this. On July 9, 2012, the FBI will turn off the clean servers, and those with infected computers may no longer be able to connect to the Internet. All computers, both PCs and Apples, need to be checked for infections. This can be done by going to www.dcwg. org. Also see the FBI March 12, 2012, update at www.fbi.gov/ news/stories/2011/november/ malware_110911. The FBI said the criminals’ scheme was to get paid for clicks on online advertisements. They generated $14 million in revenues by infecting computers with malware. The malware secretly altered settings on the infected
computers so the criminals could highjack Internet searches and re-route computers to certain websites and advertisements that would generate payments to them. The malware also prevented installation of anti-virus software and operating system updates, leaving computers and their users unable to detect or stop the malware and making them vulnerable to attacks by other viruses. The scheme used “rogue” Domain Name System (DNS) servers and malware designed to alter the DNS server settings and reroute computers to the criminals’ servers. The criminals made money in two ways, by “click hijacking” and by “advertising replacement fraud.” See examples below. While the criminals made money with their scheme, legitimate businesses lost money because of it. Website operators and advertisers lost money and advertising revenue. Also, search engines lost revenue because of click hijacking on their sponsored search result listings, advertisers lost money when they paid for fraudulent clicks, and the reputations of businesses were damaged when visitors clicked on their links and were directed to the wrong site.
Click hijacking examples • When the user of an infected computer clicked on a domain name link for Apple iTunes, the user was instead taken to a website for an unaffiliated business that purported to sell Apple software. • When the user of an infected computer clicked on a domain name link for Netflix, the user was instead taken to a website for an unrelated business called “BudgetMatch.” • When the user of an infected computer clicked on the domain name for the Internal Revenue Service website, the user was instead taken to the website for H&R Block.
Advertising replacement fraud examples • On the Wall Street Journal home page, an ad for the American Express “Plum Card” was replaced with an ad for “Fashion Girl LA.” • An Amazon.com ad for Internet Explorer 8 was replaced with an ad for an email marketing business. • An ad on the ESPN website for “Dr. Pepper Ten” was replaced with an ad for a timeshare business.
Celebrating Earth Day Above: Ann Marie Niesobecki, left, and her daughter, Claire, brought along Lily the dog to help them as they picked up litter near Memorial Middle School Sunday. At right: Middlebury Parks and Recreation Director Betty Proulx, left, makes sure Geoff Stowell and his son, Chris, a member of Cub Scout Pack 6, are properly equipped to pick up litter during Middlebury’s Earth Day project to rid the town of litter. (Janine Sullivan-Wiley photos)
Region 15 recognizes volunteers, learns about Common Core By CRISTINA COMMENDATORE Region 15 Board of Education (BoE) members recognized volunteers and heard a presentation on Common Core State Standards during their Monday night meeting. Every year, principals from each school choose volunteers who have gone above and beyond for their school and then honor them at a BoE meeting. Principals recognized 10 volunteers Monday: Cathy Winter, Anna Forino, Gabby Addison, Amanda Farrell, Yarel Marshall, Karen Critelli, Donna Klim, Renee Bogdanffy, Sharon Gustenhoven and Susan Isaccs. Pomperaug Elementary School Principal Theresa Forish recognized Winter for her role as a room parent and for regularly volunteering in the media center. She also commended Winter for chairing the 2009 “Evening Under the Stars” fundraiser, which raised $20,000 for interac-
tive SMART Boards at the school. Middlebury Elementary School Principal Jack Zamary was up next to present Forino’s volunteer work. Forino is the PTO treasurer who runs the school’s email blasts and oversees the PTO website. She publishes the school’s directory, is a room parent, mystery reader and field trip chaperone, and she is a Coast to Coast Race Challenge volunteer. Gainfield Elementary School Principal Matthew Salvestrini chose Addison as his volunteer of the year. She helped raise $20,000 for the school. Long Meadow Elementary School (LMES) Principal Christopher Moretti chose two volunteers – Marshall and Farrell. Marshall assisted with book fairs, PJ Story Hour, PTO clothing drives and field day. She co-chairs the PTO’s ice cream social, author/illustrator visits and anthology committees. She also is the parent representative for the school’s
Inside this Issue Legal Notices....................7 Library Happenings............2 Nuggets for Life................6 Obituaries.........................5 Parks & Rec.......................6 Reg. 15 School Calendar...3 Senior Center News...........3 Varsity Sports Calendar......6
Editorial Office: Email: mbisubmit@gmail.com Phone: 203-577-6800 Mail: P.O. Box 10, Middlebury, CT 06762 Advertising Sales: Email: mbiadvertising@gmail.com
wednesDAY Upcoming Events
Book Review.....................2 Adoptable pets.................8 Classifieds.........................7 Community Calendar.........2 Computer Tip....................8 Fire Log.............................2 Frugal Mummy..................5 In Brief..............................4
May 2
Safe School Climate Committee. Farrell has volunteered at LMES since 2002. She helps at book fairs, the adopta-book program, PJ Story Hour and field day. She also co-chairs the Yearbook Committee. Memorial Middle School Principal John Sieller recognized Critelli and Klim (who was not present) for their dedication. Critelli coordinated the school’s Stop and Shop A-plus rewards program, which helped raise more than $10,000 for the school. Klim coordinates the school’s fall fundraiser and Year-End All School Picnic. Rochambeau Middle School’s (RMS) volunteers, Gustenhoven and Bogdanffy, both serve on the PTO. Gustenhoven is the PTO president and volunteers for the school’s sandwich club, in which students make 300 sandwiches to donate to local soup kitchens. She also coordinates fundraising events that have allowed the
school to install 20 SMART Boards in classrooms. Bogdanffy is the PTO treasurer who keeps track of fundraising checks. RMS Principal Anthony Salutari thanked her for the “countless hours she has put in helping the school.” Pomperaug High School Principal Lorrie Rodrigue thanked Isaccs for serving as PTO president and coordinating school events. Rodrigue said Isaccs always is responsive to new ideas and fundraising strategies. After the volunteer presentations, Assistant Superintendent Kelly Lyman told BoE members about upcoming changes to the curriculum under the new Common Core State Standards learning plan. Common Core is a stateled effort coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO).
May 3
– See Region 15 on page 3
Region 15 Budget Referendum When: What: Where:
Polls open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting on Region 15 Budget Shepardson Community Center at 1172 Whittemore Road in Middlebury Southbury Fire House at 461 Main St. South in Southbury
Public Hearing
thursday
The standards were developed in collaboration with teachers and school administrators to prepare students for college and the workforce. Lyman said 46 states adopted these standards; Connecticut adopted them in 2010. She will hold two more presentations at BoE meetings to inform members where Region 15 is in relation to Common Core and what will change in grading and professional development when Common Core is fully implemented in the school year 2013-14. Lyman said Region 15 is in good shape, but some adjustments need to be made to the language arts and math curriculum. In language arts, schools will focus more on nonfiction texts with deep comprehension, something Lyman said the district has to work on with teachers. The curriculum also will include integration
When: 6 p.m. What: Contract with Torrington Health District Where: Middlebury Fire House, Tucker Hill Road
Public Hearing
When: 7 p.m. What: Proposed 2012-2013 Town Budget Where: Middlebury Fire House, Tucker Hill Road Published weekly by The Middlebury Bee Intelligencer Society, LLC - 2030 Straits Turnpike, Middlebury, CT 06762 - Copyright 2012
Region 15 students enter history day competition
Page 3
Our office is at
2030 Straits Turnpike, Suite 1
203-577-6800
Mail: P.O. Box 10, Middlebury, CT 06762