Liz Carter,Broker/Owner of Liz Carter & Team Realty, Katy TX (Houston)

My IT guy is pure genies when it comes to computers...wish I knew a 1/1000 of what he does. Since my computer knowledge on a scale of 1-10, I'm about a 2. Needles to say Richard also has a lot of patience, he would have to in order to help me while I'm leaning over his shoulder asking questions, while hes trying to fix my last screw up. But he is always kind, and soft spoken and tells me it's OK to go into the administrative, settings of my computer, that's how I will learn. He know he is close and can get to me quickly if I mess up too much. Richard also takes care of my Network and the 10 computers attached to if for my co. Liz Carter & Team Realty in Katy TX.

Bill told me about this Conficker worm and I thought it was an April Fools jock...no, no, no...it's the real deal. I wanted to share some things I got from my IT Geek to explain, and let you know some things you can do to protect yourself, your business. Since now days when the computer is down everything else is down, and no work seems to get done. I stated selling home in Houston, Katy, TX in 1976, we were upset if our carbon paper was missing from a contact...no faxes, no cell phones, and certainly no Computer/ Internet. I need to write a blog on how I sold real estate in Houston, and Katy Texas in prehistoric days

What does the Conficker worm do?

The Conficker worm has created secure infrastructure for cybercrime. The worm allows its creators to remotely install software on infected machines. What will that software do? We don’t know. Most likely the worm will be used to create a botnet that will be rented out to criminals who want to send SPAM, steal IDs and direct users to online scams and phishing sites.

The Conficker worm mostly spreads across networks. If it finds a vulnerable computer, it turns off the automatic backup service, deletes previous restore points, disables many security services, blocks access to a number of security web sites and opens infected machines to receive additional programs from the malware’s creator. The worm then tries to spread itself to other computers on the same network.

How does the worm infect a computer?

The Downadup worm tries to take advantage of a problem with Windows (a vulnerability) called MS08-067 to quietly install itself. Users who automatically receive updates from Microsoft are already protected from this. The worm also tries to spread by copying itself into shared folders on networks and by infecting USB devices such as memory sticks.

Who is at risk?

Users whose computers are not configured to receive patches and updates from Microsoft and who are not running an up to date antivirus product are most at risk. Users who do not have a genuine version of Windows from Microsoft are most at risk since pirated system usually cannot get Microsoft updates and patches.

What to do if you are infected

If you are reading this page, your computer is probably not infected with Conficker as the worm blocks access to most security web sites.

If you have a computer that is infected, you will need to use an uninfected computer to download a specialized Conficker removal tool from. The tool is available here.

"Symantec is making the following software tool available on a complimentary basis to assist you."

Advice to Stay Safe from the Downadup Worm: Let's let good win over the evil computer hacker!

1. Run a good security suite (we are partial to Norton Internet Security 2009 and Norton 360 Version 3.0).
2. Keep your computer updated with the latest patches. If you don’t know how to do this, have someone help you set your system to update itself.
3. Don’t use “free” security scans that pop up on many web sites. All too often these are fake, using scare tactics to try to get you to purchase their “full” service. In many cases these are actually infecting you while they run. There is reason to believe that the creators of the Conficker worm are associated with some of these fake security products.
4. Turn off the “autorun” feature that will automatically run programs found on memory sticks and other USB devices.
5. Be smart with your passwords. This includes

1. Change your passwords periodically
2. Use complex passwords – no simple names or words, use special characters and numbers
3. Using a separate, longer password for each site that has sensitive personal information or access to your bank accounts or credit cards.

Now that my Hero Richard has come to my rescue again...tomorrow at Liz Carter & Team Realty in Katy TX will be a "normal" computer running, office full of folks who want to buy or sell Real Estate! Or it could be an April Fools joke after all! Either way I'm ready and hope this helps you too.

Now I just have to think of a great April Fools day prank to play on Brad, oh yes that would be fun! Too bad I'm not closer or you would be in trouble Mr. Wonderful Brad. L

Looking forward to hearing about the great April Fool's jokes.

I'd really like to know where the name came from, does anyone know? If you do please pass it on. In Houston, and Katy TX were I live we buy cartons of this wonderful little bugs every year. They are perfect to let loose in your garden, landscaping, and just around the grass. They eat the bad bugs that eat you plants & flowers, so they do a really good job for us and are cute at the same time. The up-close with just the Lady Bug was taken at night on my patio furniture (it's white). You should water the area you are going to release them in, and release them at dusk to increase your chances of having them hang out at your place rather than going to the neighbors yard to eat their pesky bugs. The other was during the day waling, still can't believe I saw it....these little ladies are small! GO GREEN with Lady Bugs...good bugs for your gardens.

Tomorrow I'll show you another great shot of a friendly "GOOD" bug you need in your garden...it's not as cute as these prettlyprettly little lady bugs!

Photos property of Liz Carter

Oh by the way don't forget me if you have moreingmoreing to the Katy, Houston TX area. I promise to take very special care of them! www.lizcarter.com

When you find out you have touched the lives of others in a positive way it is such a FEEL GOOD moment

Sometimes you never know when you have had an impact on someone and when you find out you have, it just gives me the warm fuzzes. I have always loved helping, mentoring and encouraging other Realtors and people in general. Over the last 33 years most of my impact has been on other agents, since I have been in this crazy, exciting business of helping people buy and sell homes in the Katy TX, greater Houston area for so long.

Often you might go a long time (or never) without knowing that someone has benefited, learned or been inspired from something you said or did, maybe even many years ago. Recently my partner and great niece Sandie, came over after an MCE class. In talking about our company, business, life in general, Sandie off handily mentioned, "Oh by the way, one of the other Realtors in the class said to tell you hello. She said you were her inspiration to get into and stay in Real Estate and really wanted to say "Thank You"! Sandie did not realize how wonderful that made me feel, or maybe she did. When she realized the extent of what it meant to me, she said, "Aunt Liz I hear it all the time you have helped a lot of people". Wow, pretty cool, you just never know when your path will cross with someone you can help or that can help you.

The old saying about "When the pupil is ready the teacher will appear" is oh so true. So remember to spread the love, make someone feel great today, make someone smile today, give someone encouragement today...it takes so little and it can mean so much. It also will come back to you ten fold, it certainly has for me...especially here on Active Rain!

Then I received this e-mail today,

Hi Liz,

My name iBernier Bernier and I am a newly licensed agent and a new member of the MFO 2 on 1 coaching(1st goal is to be upgraded to 1 on 1 ASAP). I have heard about you mentioned many times in different MFO recorded events and just read your active rain Blog. You are very inspiring and I just wanted to thank you. Have a great year and I'll see you at the top and hopefully we can meet at a future MFO event in the future.

Best Regards,

Bernier

Bernier

Keyes

The Keyes Company REALTORS

10091 NW 1 Court

Plantation Fl, 33324

www.keyes.com/Derek.Bernier

"Your Realtor For Life"

Office -954-475-9813

Cell – 954-850-7284

A rose after a gentle shower

Photo courtesy of Liz Carter

Taken at my lake house after a rain, located on Lake Limestone...you can see the lake vaguely in the background and the raindrops on the rose and the foliage.

The Rose has been loved throughout time, inspiring poetry and songs to be written about it's beauty.

Most notably was;

"Shakespeare's A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

Just because Jason is a highly successful Real Estate broker in Austin, TX, one of the top-notch bloggers on Active Rain with a huge following, (I know he managed to post 10 blogs on AR during the party...but I can't prove it, yet!) plus it also happened to be the day before his 38^thbirthday, but that does not give him the right to rob me (Liz Carter, Real Estate broker in Katy, TX, (and not one of the top bloggers on Active Rain) of a month of my precious time. I inflicted severe mental anguish on myself during this time also.  I mean who does Jason think he is?  Jason is a big hearted bear of a man, with a quick & remarkable sense of humor, an avid reader and blogger of quality post, kind, good natured, willing to help everyone, faithful servant, honest, caring and so much more.  Jason is a good man, a loving son, husband, father (of soon to be four great kids) and my friend.  So I forgive myself for going so NUTS on this "Slide Show"...you deserved better though...oops I forgot, I forgive myself.

However I felt I had to bring to your attention the "dark side of Jason", he gets to know people, really know them so you are at his mercy.  He cares and gives so much that you want to return the favor.  We met on Active Rain, and we got to know one another, so he knows my strengths and weaknesses and can use me with his clever ways.  So I have spent the last month, and untold hours trying to make a presentable slide show of the Active Rain gathering/Birthday Party he so graciously arranged, hosted and paid for in August at the County Line restaurant in Austin TX. It was a big hit, TX Bloggers, friends,some special clients & his family were on hand. See Jason knows I'm compulsive, obsessive, over the top, out of control, type AAA personality, and I HAD to make a GREAT slide show of our Austin get together for him.

After putting together at least two dozen slide shows in different programs I have managed to turn out a  less than"GREAT" slide show. It is passable at best and might be the worst one I've ever done, although some of the captions. are pretty funny. table all by himself :) AT LAST, my mediocre attempt at creating something very special for, My Special Friend Jason Crouch.

I hope you enjoyed it, and please NO COMMENTS on the misspelled words in the captions...I know they are there, OK! Laugh & Enjoy.  It has been brutal for me, but I'll spare you the gory details...unless you really want to hear some funny, dumb things I did during this "slide show fiasco".  The picture of lady on road is kinda how I felt after attempting 10-12 Maybe I'll do a post on it later...much latter :-)

PS...A FEW OTHER FACTORS (besides my inept computer skills, and obsessive need to have it perfect), FOR THE DELAY OF THIS POST;  Hurricane Ike decided to pay us on the Gulf Coast at Galveston a little visit, Houston, Katy, & Spring all get the brunt of storms in our area.  We had over TWO MILLION+ PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER for weeks, and some still have none!  Then some very nasty little devil bacteria bugs decided to make my lungs there permanent residence.  They moved in 3 ½ weeks ago, and for the last week have been here at the hospital with me.  They must really like me, the doctors at St. Luke's in the Medical Center of Houston (one of the finest in the world), have been hitting them with everything short of a nuke bomb (I nixed that idea).  I'm hoping to get sprung tomorrow or the next day, and they are not coming back to my home with me!  There is just not enough room in there for me and all of them, they are nasty roommates plus they have NOT PAID ANY RENT...so they're outta here by gosh. UPDATE; i JUST GOT SPRUNG...at home, yes it feels great!  I've really missed Active Rain, and my friends here.

Jason, my friend you are the best and congratulations to you and Pam on the upcoming birth of your 4^th child, Liz

Another glitch posting....I get not ever get the spacing on my embedded code sized to put the slide show where I wanted it (PAR FOR THE COURSE ON THIS PROJECT :), so HERE IT IS AT LAST!