Happy New Year!

Happy New Year family, friends and Security Garden subscribers. 

To each of you in 2018, may your days be filled with wine and roses and all things bright and beautiful!

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

Happy New Year!

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

A New Year's Wish and Microsoft MVP

The beginning of a new year tends to spark good intentions by many people to make changes in their life style, to do more of something or less of other things.  Whatever your plan for the new year is, I wish friends, family and Security Garden readers a very happy, healthy and successful 2016.

For myself, the new year has become more than a celebration of the beginning of a new year.  It has included the excitement of receiving a special email from Microsoft.  Although nothing can beat the incredible feeling of the first time that email is received, it does continue to be very rewarding to know that the efforts spent in sharing information and helping people clean their infected computers has been recognized.  So, thank you, Microsoft and MVPGA for the Microsoft MVP Award!

Dear Corrine Chorney,

Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2016 Microsoft® MVP Award! This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others. We appreciate your outstanding contributions in Consumer Security technical communities during the past year.


MVP Award Overview

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

2015 - Ten Years as a Microsoft MVP

"Dear Corrine Chorney,

Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2015 Microsoft® MVP Award! This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others. We appreciate your outstanding contributions in Consumer Security technical communities during the past year."

Each year since receiving the first award as Microsoft Most Valuable Professional ten years ago, ringing in the New Year has been a special occasion.  It became a time of reflection on the previous year as well as renewed enthusiasm for continuing to provide help in the year ahead.

This year, rather than reflecting on the past, I extend my heartfelt thanks to family and friends for their love and support in dealing with the loss of my husband.  He will always be in my heart.

To each of you, I wish a very happy and healthy year ahead.  May 2015 be filled with all things positive and all your dreams come true!

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Microsoft MVP and New Year Reflections

It seems that New Year's Eve is the time when most people reflect on the previous year; the good, the bad, short-comings and high points.  For me, the reflection begins after receiving this e-mail from Microsoft:

"Dear Corrine Chorney,

Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2014 Microsoft® MVP Award! This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others. We appreciate your outstanding contributions in Consumer Security technical communities during the past year."

The process of reflection led me to my thoughts at the start of 2013.  I was profoundly affected by an event that occurred in a nearby community, the Christmas Eve shooting of four volunteer firefighters, resulting in the death of Mike (Chip) Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka and Theodore Scardino and Joseph Hofstetter being seriously injured.

How was I to know that a mere nine months later, members of my own community firefighters would respond to my panic 911 call and miraculously bring my husband back to life?   (Group 3 responded last night... - Ridge Culver Professional Firefighters Association, Local 4176)

So, as I celebrate the New Year and having again been awarded Microsoft MVP, I am extremely grateful that I live in a community of dedicated heroes.

Wishing the very best that 2014 has to offer to family and friends -- both real-life friends as well as the many close "virtual" friends from around the globe.  

From The Microsoft MVP Award Program Blog, Congratulations New and Renewed MVPs! - Happy New Year:

"Today, 1,011 exemplary community leaders around the world were notified that they have received the MVP Award! These individuals were chosen because they have demonstrated their deep commitment to helping others make the most of their technology, voluntarily sharing their passion and real-world knowledge of Microsoft products with the community.

While there are more than 100 million social and technical community members, only a small portion are selected to be recognized as MVPs. Each year, around 4,000 MVPs are honored. They are nominated by Microsoft, other community individuals, or in some cases themselves. Candidates are rigorously evaluated for their technical expertise, community leadership, and voluntary community contributions for the previous year. They come from more than 90 countries, speak over 40 different languages, and are awarded in more than 90 Microsoft technologies. Together, they answer more than 10 million questions a year!"

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

2013 - Microsoft MVP, Pay it Forward, #WWFD

How well I remember the January 2006 e-mail congratulating me on being presented with the Microsoft® MVP Award.  I knew that I had been nominated but, at the time, had no idea how the award cycle worked so the award came as a complete shock.

Recalling that first award, it arrived following a particularly difficult time in "real life", resulting in a sort of personal renewal to dig in and continue with renewed enthusiasm.

Once again, I have been faced with a troublesome time -- this an event that had a profound effect on our local community, the Christmas Eve shooting of four volunteer firefighters from the neighboring West Webster Fire District (#WWFD) when volunteer firefighters Mike (Chip) Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka lost their lives and Theodore Scardino and Joseph Hofstetter were seriously injured.

Since the Christmas Eve tragedy, one thing aside from the coming together of the "Brotherhood" that stood out was the support of people not only in the local community but also across the U.S. and Canada.  There was a resounding repetition locally and throughout the U.S. and Canada of unselfish occurrences of "Pay it forward" as people attempted to demonstrate appreciation to local and visiting firefighters, first responders, police and others in public service.  Hundreds upon hundreds of people volunteered their time to the community during this trying time.

What I continued to reflect on as the end of 2012 approached was not only those who volunteer in our community but also how many people volunteer time and expertise to help others in both life-threatening situations and in every day life.  I couldn't help but feel that I wasn't doing my part.

When I received the e-mail this morning recognizing my volunteer efforts in Consumer Security, helping people with infected computers, it slowly dawned on me.  Perhaps I am doing some good, freely helping others.

Although I don't put my life on the line, it is an incredible honor that my volunteer contributions have again been recognized by Microsoft® with the award as 2013 Microsoft MVP:

"Dear Corrine Chorney,

Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2013 Microsoft® MVP Award! This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others. We appreciate your outstanding contributions in Consumer Security technical communities during the past year."

Let the heroes of West Webster and around the world, the "random acts of kindness" serve as inspiration and challenge to you to Pay it Forward in 2013, volunteering or helping others in some small way.

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

2012 Microsoft® MVP Award

Dear Corrine Chorney,

Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2012 Microsoft® MVP Award! This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others. We appreciate your outstanding contributions in Consumer Security technical communities during the past year.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Starting off the New Year with notice of being re-awarded as Microsoft® MVP is certainly a great way to begin the year! 

Wishing family, friends and Security Garden readers a happy and healthy 2012!

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Congratulations 2011 Microsoft MVP!‏

What a great way to start off the New Year! 

"Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2011 Microsoft® MVP Award! This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others. We appreciate your outstanding contributions in Consumer Security technical communities during the past year."

Happy New Year! 

About the MVP Program:  http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve brings many thoughts to mind. This year it is filled with prayer's for my friend Tara's Mom. It is also a day when I think of my dear friend Pat and wish he were still with us to celebrate his birthday.

To my family and friends, both real and virtual from places around the world, I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010.

The Irish Blessing below holds a special meaning to me so again I share it with each of you, May your days be filled with wine and roses.



May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!

Happy New Year!

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Farewell 2008, Hello 2009

I prefer to leave the forecasting of the future to others -- and you can be certain there are many predictions of what 2009 will bring. Instead, I will share a brief overview of a few highlights from 2008 -- some personal, others tech or security related.

Farewell 2008

• Like 2006 and 2007, the year began with the thrill of having been awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). Again, I sit in wonder as to whether I will be re-awarded in 2009.
  

• Kodak had a bit of magic as well, having Won Three CES 2008 Awards, Unveilded the 50MP CCD Image Sensor and received numerous aclaims throughout the year for various products, including the new KODAK Zi6 Pocket Video Camera.
  
  I look forward to favorable results from Kodak Taking Action Against Samsung and LG For Patent Infringement.
  
  
• The addition of opt-out (pre-checked) toolbars and add-ins continued in 2008 with these and other updates:

Grisoft/AVG Version 8 Includes Yahoo Search Bar
Sun Java SE Update 5 (And another Toolbar)
SunJava Update Includes MSN Toolbar

• I finally got a Zune, having wanted for one when it launched and continue to be happily Tuned In to Zune! The Zune 3.0 and 3.1 upgrades were a great addition to the product.
  
  
• History was made with the rollout of Firefox 3 achieving Over 8 Million Downloads.
  
  
• Microsoft made quite a stir in the tech world at PDC 2008 with an advance look at the pre-beta version of Windows 7 and Windows Azure, a cloud-based service.
  
  
• Thanks to friends, I managed to complete the Cyber Security Awareness Tip of the Day series, providing a new "tip of the day" during the month of October.
  
  Rather than a prediction, I anticipate that in 2009 we will see the final upgrade to IE8 and the RTM (release to manufacturing) of Windows 7.
  
  
• In the security forums, we continued to clean users computers of the various rogues with convincing names like MalwareCrush, SpywareRemover, Awola Antispy-Spyware, XP Security Center, Antivirus 2009, Total Secure 2009, MS Antivirus, SpyProtector, Antivirus360, and a myriad of others, most of which are re-designs from the same families.
  
  Of late, I have been spending a considerable amount of time on the forums dealing with the very nasty "TDSS" rootkit infection, described by G. N. White on the SANS Diary as More "Fake AV" Incarnations Making The Rounds.
  
  Via SecurityProNews is MessageLabs list of the "Naughty Nine" Top Cybercrimes Of 2008.
  
  
• Uncharacteristically, Microsoft issued two out-of-band security updates dealing with serious vulnerabilities.
  
  
• Not only did 2008 start with a bit of magic, it ended that way too when I won the HP Magic Giveaway from Gear Diary. The magic continued because family members were able come home for Christmas for the first time in a number of years. My friend Pat would have been very excited about both events, but particularly the visit by family. I wish he was still with us to celebrate his birthday today.
  
  

Hello 2009

The Irish Blessing below holds a special meaning to me so again I share it with each of you, accompanied by warmest wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2009. May your days be filled with wine and roses.



May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!

Happy New Year!

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...

Moving on from 2007 to a New Year!

From around planet Earth, celebrations ringing in the New Year have begun. Since there are a few hours left in 2007 here, before moving on to the New Year, here's a quick look back at 2007. . .

• The year began on a high note when I was again awarded the honor of being selected a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). Although Sean O'Driscoll recently announced he is leaving Microsoft, I am hopeful that his replacement will be someone as dedicated to the program as Sean has been while leading the Microsoft MVP program for the last 5 years. Since the award period is for one year, based on contributions from the previous year, I am, of course, wondering whether I will be re-awarded in 2008.
  
  
• The major hype in the world of Microsoft was the "Wow Starts Now" as we experienced the official roll-out of Microsoft Windows Vista. Although many people have been disappointed in the lack of new "Wow" features and others suffered from the slow reaction by vendors to provide Vista-compatible drivers, I see Microsoft Windows Vista gaining acceptance more readily than received by Windows XP.
  

• In the world of malware fighting, the rogue/fake anti-spyware applications have continued as strongly as in 2006. We have also seen a resurgence of Winfixer infections and continue dealing with infections resulting from e-cards and the like that began with the Nuwar/Storm Worm and has continued in the form of e-cards with Christmas and New Year Themes.

• The six-month public saga of Julie Amero consumed many hours of agony and frustration both within the security community and by teachers around the world. For the Amero family, it was a three-year nightmare that may never have ended with her conviction being overturned if it had not been for the continuing efforts on her behalf by teams who worked on the case on a pro bono basis.

• Although there never seems to be enough hours in the day, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (PDF) resulted in numerous Microsoft updates due to changes in Daylight Savings.

• Personal technology updates for me included not only a new laptop with Windows Vista, but also a Kodak EasyShare digital camera and the Kodak EasyShare 5300 All-in-One Printer. I continue enjoying not only the ease of taking digital pictures but the versatility of the AIO Printer as well as the low cost of replacement ink.

• Continuing on the Kodak theme, it has been a very eventful year for my long-time employer, beginning with the KODAK EasyShare V610 Dual Lens Digital Camera named “Best of Innovations 2007” award winner in the CES Digital Imaging category, continuing with a revolution of sorts as the Kodak landscape was changed by implosions of old buildings, some viewable from my office window, and culminating with the induction of fellow staff member Steve Sasson into the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame (Kodak in 2007).

• On a personal note, I still miss and often think about my mentor and dear friend, Pat, particularly today as it is his birthday. He would have been so excited when this interview was published at Vista4Beginners. Pat knew how much I missed family members who moved to Minnesota and would have wanted to know all the details of my visit with them last summer. Although a Canadian through and through, Pat would have enjoyed the 2008 U.S. Presidential race for the White House.
  

Moving on to 2008 . . .

Since I do not have the power to see into the future, instead please accept warmest wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2008. To family, friends and Security Garden subscribers, I extend this Irish Blessing to each of you for 2008 and the hope that your days are filled with wine and roses.

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.

May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

Happy New Year!

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...