| Roundup of Gadget Buyback Companies |
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 With the holidays past and many people looking to get rid of or replace old electronics, a new crop of companies has sprung up: Buyers of used (and/or non-functional) phones, computers, TVs, and etc. These companies offer anything from simple recycling (e.g. $5 for a dead Blackberry) to fair-trade values ($400 for a working 15in. MacBook) for a variety of electronics.
Gazelle supports the broadest array of products including satellite radios, storage devices, games and Blu-ray DVDs. Gazelle is partnered with Amazon, so you can get an Amazon gift card or a check back. Only Gazelle provides a box and pays shipping. Gazelle can donate your cash to a charity if you don't need it.
EcoNEW offers fair values for most electronics. Payment comes within three weeks via gift cards-not cash-for Office Depot and Sam's Club, as well as Navy Exchange stores for military personnel. EcoNEW pledges to wipe your hard drive in accordance with Department of Defense standards.
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| Photo Frames Cloak Malware |
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 Another shipment of digital photo frames has arrived bearing viruses. The affected models are the Mercury 1.5in Digital Photo keychain from Wal-Mart, and Samsung Frame Manager software. This is just another incident in standalone USB devices carrying malicious software out of the factory, occurring last year in various photo frame devices from Best Buy, Target, and Costco. Please be sure you are running some type of Anti-Virus software when plugging in any USB device to your computer. Please call or e-mail us if you need advice choosing an Anti-Virus vendor.
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| Louisiana ISP Pushes Back Against RIAA |
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 In the RIAA's ongoing war against their customers, one Louisiana ISP owner has discovered a way to fight back: demand payment. Jerry Scroggin, owner-operator of Bayou Internet and Communications, wants reimbursement for enforcing the RIAA's copyright.
After a string of legal defeats, the RIAA is abandoning wide scale litigation against individuals, and has begun targeting ISPs. Jerry Scroggin receives the same carbon copy cease and desist letters that individuals receive, but as a business he has rights: He politely asks for proof, and the address for the firm's billing department.
Mr. Scroggin's point is a good one. If he obeys the notice and shuts off service for a customer on a 3 year contract, that customer is worth $1440 to Scroggin. Australia has had similar problems, where several cases of the wrong person being banned made national headlines. He also has to pay a technician to actually disconnec the customer, which isn't free. So far the RIAA hasn't sent him a billing address.
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