Negative Mailers

Posted on October 29, 2014 by Rep. Steven Smith

So, about that mailer… I’ve received some emails urging me to respond to a particularly ugly mailer that went out against Tom Laware and I. I’m not going to. I just don’t get involved in that sort of thing. The mailer in question was sent out by a state party organization. I do not believe that our local candidates support tactics like this, and I also know that they had no control over it. Because of that, it would be dishonorable for me to attack them over it. We had this go on two years ago. The hacks in Concord who design these things don’t know this district. The people of Acworth, Charlestown, Goshen, Langdon, Lempster, and Washington are smarter than this, and better than this. Despite hate mailers and phone calls, people in both parties re-elected me in 2012. I will not engage in negative campaigning. Saying that “they started it” doesn’t make it right. I have always been grateful for the bi-partisan support I receive, and I continue to try very hard to be worthy of it. All the negative stuff from both parties ends in less than a week. Let’s just give it all the attention it deserves, by not mentioning any of it further.

Steve

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Stealing your banking information

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Rep. Steven Smith

This is important information from the NH House IT department:

Original release date: October 27, 2014

Systems Affected

Microsoft Windows

Overview

Since mid-October 2014, a phishing campaign has targeted a wide variety of recipients while employing the Dyre/Dyreza banking malware. Elements of this phishing campaign vary from target to target including senders, attachments, exploits, themes, and payload(s).[1][2] Although this campaign uses various tactics, the actor’s intent is to entice recipients into opening attachments and downloading malware.

Description

The Dyre banking malware specifically targets sensitive user account credentials. The malware has the ability to capture user login information and send the captured data to malicious actors.[3] Phishing emails used in this campaign often contain a weaponized PDF attachment which attempts to exploit vulnerabilities found in unpatched versions of Adobe Reader.[4][5] After successful exploitation, a user’s system will download Dyre banking malware. All of the major anti-virus vendors have successfully detected this malware prior to the release of this alert.[6]

Please note, the below listing of indicators does not represent all characteristics and indicators for this campaign.

Phishing Email Characteristics:

  • Subject: “Unpaid invoic” (Spelling errors in the subject line are a characteristic of this campaign)
  • Attachment: Invoice621785.pdf

System Level Indicators (upon successful exploitation):

  • Copies itself under C:\Windows\[RandomName].exe
  • Created a Service named “Google Update Service” by setting the following registry keys:
    • HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\googleupdate\ImagePath: “C:\WINDOWS\pfdOSwYjERDHrdV.exe”
    • HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\googleupdate\DisplayName: “Google Update Service”

Impact

A system infected with Dyre banking malware will attempt to harvest credentials for online services, including banking services.

Solution

Users and administrators are recommended to take the following preventive measures to protect their computer networks from phishing campaigns:

US-CERT collects phishing email messages and website locations so that we can help people avoid becoming victims of phishing scams.

You can report phishing to us by sending email to phishing-report@us-cert.gov.

References

Revision History

  • October 27, 2014: Initial Release

This product is provided subject to this Notification and this Privacy & Use policy.

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Managing Your Utility Bills

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Rep. Steven Smith

Contact: Christina Martin, Legal Assistant, Office of Consumer Advocate – 271-1172
October 13, 2014
Managing Your Utility Bills
You may have heard that the price of electricity for this upcoming winter season has increased due to market prices. Therefore, utilities that buy energy supply in the market have experienced price spikes. To help manage the increases the Office of Consumer Advocate encourages you to take steps to reduce your electricity usage.
Many people have already implemented energy conservation measures, which can lower your electric bill. For those that haven’t or those that are looking to do more please visit http://www.nhsaves.com, http://www.nh.gov/oep or 603-271-2155, and http://www.energy.gov or 1-800-dial-DOE for ideas and tips on how to conserve. You can also contact your utility and ask them for suggestions for conservation and information about programs available to you. Some of the programs available are income based and others are not.
Renewable energy (i.e., solar, wind, geothermal, wood) could be a solution for you. There are rebates available right now at the Public Utilities Commission to reduce the cost of the initial investment, see http://www.puc.nh.gov/SustainableEnergy. To further offset the cost of installing renewable energy options you may be eligible for rebates or other incentives from your local, state & federal government. See, http://www.dsireusa.org.
Consider reviewing your options for competitive energy supply. Please be careful to choose a fixed rate term, as the variable rates expose you to the risks of the market. See http://www.puc.nh.gov for more details.
There are programs in New Hampshire to assist you with paying your utility and heating bills, such as:
$ Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – Qualified households receive assistance for heating costs. For information regarding eligibility and to apply please contact your local Community Action Agency.
$ Electric Assistance Program (EAP) –Qualified households receive
assistance for electricity costs. For information regarding eligibility and to apply please contact your local Community Action Agency. Electric Assistance Program (NHPUC)
$ Natural Gas Low Income Rate – Qualified households receive assistance for natural gas costs. For information regarding eligibility and to apply please contact your gas company. Gas Assistance Programs (NHPUC)
$ Lifeline – Qualified telephone customers receive a monthly reduction on their residential, local telephone bill. For information regarding eligibility and to apply, contact your local telephone company or the Public Utilities Commission at 1-800-852-3793.
$ Neighbor Helping Neighbor – Qualified households receive assistance for natural gas or electricity costs. For information regarding eligibility and to apply please contact your local Community Action Agency.
$ Project Care – Qualified New Hampshire Electric Cooperative members receive assistance for electricity costs. For information regarding eligibility please contact NHEC. http://nhec.com/community_projectcare.php
To obtain the contact information for your local Community Action Agency call 211 or visit the website of the agency in your county.
Belknap and Merrimack Counties: http://www.bm-cap.org
Rockingham County: http://www.rcaction.org
Hillsborough County: http://www.snhs.org
Cheshire & Sullivan Counties: http://www.scshelps.org
Strafford County: http://www.straffcap.org
Coos, Carroll and Grafton Counties: http://www.tccap.org
Balanced billing and budget billing are available from most utilities. Payment arrangements for customers behind on bills are also available from all utilities. To learn more about your payment options, contact your utility. If, after contacting your utility, you need assistance negotiating a payment arrangement, please contact the Public Utilities Commission Consumer Affairs Department at 1-800-852-3793. The Winter Disconnection Rules provide certain protections from disconnection to residential customers during the winter months. To learn more about the Winter Disconnection Rules please visit http://www.puc.nh.gov/Consumer/winterdisconnectionrules.htm or contact the Public Utilities Commission directly.
If you wish to help families in need during this difficult time, please participate in the statewide Neighbor Helping Neighbor program, which has a website where people can donate directly, http://www.nhnfund.org.
The OCA is an independent state agency representing the interests of residential utility ratepayers. To contact the OCA call 603-271-1172, email at oca@oca.nh.gov, or visit the website at http://www.oca.nh.gov.

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