Desert Messenger

16 www.DesertMessenger.com July 15, 2015 T��� ����� ������� �� D����� M�������� Rodney Dean O'Dell passed away September 9,2014. Rod married his true love Kathleen Rowe on September 18, 1965. Rod and Kathy had two chil- dren, Deanne and Jason, and 3 grandchildren, Brandon, Caleb and Katie Ann. Rod worked for Marion Public Schools for 30 years before retiring and moving to Arizona. Rod had many friends and family who loved him dearly and he will be forever missed. Rodney Dean O'Dell In Loving Memory Sharon Louise Morris April 5th 1950-May16th 2015. Sharon was a long time resident of Quartzsite; she came to town in the 1970's when she lived with her mother and step-dad Doreen and Gene Poling to help run his news- paper business. She raised her two daughters April and Juli here in this small quiet desert town. Sha- ron was a well known person who Sharon Louise Morris In Memoriam By Jane Finley (Gypsy Jane) writer * artist * teacher (stretching, exercise, relaxation, meditation) SEASIDE II I stop by the wetlands to fi x breakfast and do a few chores. The water, almost motionless, makes an "S" curve around the bend. Tall reeds line the bank on one side: tan at the base becoming light green, then dark green at the top. Gradually bird visitors appear: an occasional seagull dives for a fi sh, a heron sits like a statue on a rock during my entire visit, fi ve ducks swim by the heron on either side, further upstream ducks in a row: a mother and four babies, crows peck their way along the muddy shore, a pigeon meanders through the grass, and just as I leave, Canadian geese appear. It is this I seek: the solitude of bird company far, far away from the city crowds. Seaside, Oregon Jane's book is WANDERINGS: Living the Ordinary Extraordinarily (Stories from the Road). This column consists of poems from the book. (email: janefi nley@yahoo.com, website: janefi nley.com) Poems from the road From Better Business Bureau The ransomware scam is back and more vicious than ever, according to a new FBI report. Ransomware is a virus that freezes your computer, holding it ransom until you pay to unlock it. Victims are reporting losing up to $10,000 in a new version of this scam that encrypts your fi les. How the Scam Works: You click on an infected advertise- ment, link or email attachment. Sud- denly, a pop up appears. The screen tells you that all the fi les on your com- puter have been encrypted, making them useless unless you have a key to decode them. This new version of ransomware is appropriately named CryptoWall. Of course, decoding your fi les doesn't come free. Different versions charge anywhere from $200 to $10,000. CryptoWall virus demands payment for decoding fi les Most versions of this scam demand payment in Bitcoin. The online cur- rency is decentralized and anony- mous, making it a new favorite method of payment for scammers. Like pre-paid debit cards and wire transfers, if you pay with Bitcoin, it's like paying in cash. To remove the virus without paying the scammers, try running a scan on your computer to identify and delete the malicious fi les. If you are unable Ransomware alert to remove the malware, you may need to wipe your machine's hard drive and reinstall fi les and software. Protect Yourself from a Ransomware Scam Avoid ransomware scams by not downloading one. Here are some sug- gestions: • Always use antivirus software and a fi rewall. Protect your computer (and your cell phone) by using antivirus software and a fi rewall from a repu- table company. • Update your software regularly. The regular reminders to update your browsers and other software are an- noying, but they are for a good reason. These updates protect against the constantly evolving viruses and system vulnerabilities. • Enable popup blockers. Popups are regularly used by scammers to spread malware. Prevent them from appear- ing in the fi rst place by adjusting your browser settings. • Be skeptical. Don't click on emails or attachments you don't recognize, and avoid suspicious websites. • Always back up the content on your computer. If you back up your fi les, ransomware scams will have limited impact. If you are targeted, you can simply have your system wiped clean and reload your fi les. For More Information See the full alert from the FBI's Inter- net Crime Complaint Center. everyone knew and loved. All the kids that grew up in Quartzsite that knew her always called her Mom. She has watched this small town grow and change over the years, seeing people come and go. Sha- ron was a long time bartender; she even managed the Quartzsite Yacht Club for Al and Helen Maddenin the 1980's. She leaves behind 3 grandsons, 2 granddaughters, and 1 great grandson. Sharon Morris will be miss dearly; we all love you MOM always. "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain." ~ Maya Angelou HULL, Sr., Bruce McDonald of Quartzsite, AZ, died on July 2nd. Beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather. A Memorial Service will be held at the Embassy Suites in Springfi eld, Virginia on August 8th (8100 Loisdale Rd, Springfi eld, VA 22150). Interment will be in West Alexan- der, Pennsylvania in the West Alexander Cemetery on August 9th. An additional memorial service will be held in Quartzsite, AZ in the fall. Complete notice will be in Wednesday, August 12th edition of Desert Messenger. Bruce McDonald Hull, Sr.

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