The U.S. Census is out! But only in your mail box. Fraudulent scammers are staring to send fake phishing emails to consumers pretending to need personal and financial information for the Census. They are bogus. Do not respond to them. As the U.S. Census points out in its Fraudulent Activity and Scams web page it never solicits information from you by email or Web page. It is our understand that a citizen does not return the Census form through the mail the Census Bureau may send properly credentialed Census agents around door to door for the information in May. If some one knocks on your door claiming to be from the Census don’t let them in the house and make sure you see photo ID and documentation that they are from the Census. If you get an email claiming to need personal and financial information for the Census you can be certain it’s a scam (a phishing scam). To learn more about Census phishing scams visit their Fraudulent Activity and Scams web page. To learn more about phishing generally, visit OnGuardOnline.gov.

The PBS program Frontline released its latest episode, Digital Nation last night and it’s highly worth a watch for everyone. The program is sectioned into nine parts – the first parts dealing with digital distraction and the realities of multi-tasking. These segments are an eye-opening look into the effects of the constantly wired world kids live in today and also how educators are using technology and the Internet to keep kids engaged. Other segments include gaming, online relationships and social media and a look at what we can expect down the line in a 24-hour a day wired existence.

There is also a feedback mechanism for you to share  your thoughts on the program. Be apart of the discussion!

We’ve certainly discussed the topic of web video and your family, but today the New York Times lays out some more good advice for how to address sites like Hulu.com and YouTube with your kids.

It’s that time of year again – time to start research on the Web for that perfect family vacation, weekend getaway or beach trip! the Internet is so much apart of our daily lives, it’s hard to imagine how we ever got by without it. Gone are the days of the “National Lampoon’s Vacation”-style family getaway…now we can plan ahead for that trip to Walleyworld and find out well in advance if the park’s going to be closed. Or if that hotel we pass by will take a personal check.

Here are a few helpful sites to help plan this year’s amazing vacation with your family.

Travel with the Kids at About.com

One-Tank Escapes for Seven Cities and Family Travel Ideas from BudgetTravel.com

Fodor’s Plan Your Trip Online, Frommer’s Trip Ideas and Travel Services & Ideas from The Lonely Planet

Weekend Getaway Deals from Amtrak.com

Flight Status & Delay Reports and National Traffic and Road Closure Information from the U.S. Department of Transportation

If you have a smartphone, don’t forget to download some helpful travel apps as well to take with you on the go at Blackberry App World,  iPhone Apps and the Nokia Ovi App Store for starters. Let us know where you’ve done research on the Web to plan your family’s vacation by leaving a comment. Have safe and happy summer travels!

Two of the pieces of computer jargon that often come up in the context of safe computing are Adware and Spyware. It is important to note that these are two separate items, but often contain overlap in terms of the risk they pose to the individual.

Adware is a piece of computer code that resides on your computer that is designed to display advertising to you. Adware can cause pop-ups, slow down your computer by increasing the number of programs running, and can generally be somewhat annoying. Adware is often bundled in with legitimate downloads.

Spyware is a piece of computer code that resides on your computer that monitors you. Spyware can collect information on your Internet browsing habits, including any information that you type into your computer while on the web (such as usernames and passwords). Spyware is generally seen as having greater potential harm to the individual than Adware. Spyware is commonly bundled with illegitimate downloads; it is often times seen in files found on file-sharing networks. To learn more about the risks that file-sharing has for safe computing and kids’ safety, watch Ari Schwartz on identifying Spyware Symptoms (Video in RealPlayer format)   

Both Adware and Spyware are not good for safe computing. So how can you help protect yourself from Adware and Spyware? There are two ways. The first, preventative measures you can take to help keep your computer clean. Pre-ventative Tips:

• Know the symptoms of spyware: Before you can protect yourself from new spyware you have to make sure you do not currently have any on your computer. Learn more about spyware symptoms.
• Learn about examples of the most devious programs: The trickiest part of spyware is that there is not one clear-cut type. Knowing the many forms in which spyware may appear on your computer will help you remove or prevent it. View specific examples of spyware.
• Explore steps you can take to prevent spyware: Prevention is the key to a safe and secure computer. The tips to help you prevent spyware will also help keep viruses and hackers from taking advantage of your computer. Learn more about these prevention tips.

Secondly, there are many tools that will help you rid your computer of Spyware or Adware. You should know that each of the tool providers might define Spyware differently. You, the user, should be able to decide for yourself what you find annoying and want to uninstall or disable. GetNetWise offers a list of many different types of Spyware removal tools here: http://spotlight.getnetwise.org/spyware/tools/