Page 8 December 6, 2018
Holiday
Featured Pets of the Week
to cuddle even more. I’d be great for movie
nights or strolls in the park. All I want is
to be with you!” More info: https://spcala.
com/adoptable/pet/?ss=18-06588
Twilight (19-01037): A 4-year-old domestic
shorthaired female cat
“I’m Twilight, a beautiful kitty who is
looking for a Friend for Life to go home
with. Come check meowt and I’m sure
you’ll fall for me. Who could resist my stunning
green eyes and adorable pink nose?”
More info: https://spcala.com/adoptable/
pet/?ss=19-01037
Penelope (19-01131): A 5-year-old female
Pit Bull mix
“I’m Penelope, a very sweet girl who loves
to cuddle and play with my toys. I can’t wait
to find my furrever home where I can be a
part of a family. Come visit me today so we
can be Friends for Life!” More info: https://
spcala.com/adoptable/pet/?ss=19-01131 •
Provided by Meggie Hogan, Development
Assistant/spcaLA
This adorable group of three dogs and one
cat will give those looking to adopt their
next pet some awesome options. Each of
them is available at the spcaLA South Bay
Pet Adoption Center at 12910 Yukon Ave.,
Hawthorne, CA 90250. To learn more, call
310-676-1149.
Batman (19-01842): A 1-year-old male
Miniature Pinscher
“Woof! I’m Batman! I’m a handsome and
smart guy who loves fetch and playing with
toys. I’m turning on the Bat Signal so I can find
my Friend for Life! Come fly by and see me.
We can save the world together!” More info:
https://spcala.com/adoptable/pet/?ss=19-01842
Ralph (18-06588): A 7-year-old male
Miniature Pinscher
“I’m a sweetheart who wants to brighten
your day! I love to sit for treats, but I love
Batman
Penelope Ralph
Twilight
Your name is
the backbone of
your business.
make sure its a cut above the rest
DBAS PUBLISHED FOR ONLY $75.00
Email dba@heraldpublications.com or call 310-322-1830 for more information.
Charity Scams from front page
get past normal security checks. “The county’s
network security personnel are very effective at
defending the network and blocking malicious
internet traffic,” said Deputy District Attorney
Donn Hoffman of the Cyber Crime Division.
Dubbed Operation Election Overwatch, prosecutors
teamed with Internet security experts
at the county on a 10-day effort to detect and
prevent illegal attempts to access the county’s
computer networks. A five-member team of
cybercrimes prosecutors worked alongside
county security experts to identify the hackers
and build cases for prosecution, according to
the district attorney’s office.
The threat was considered so great that
federal intelligence gurus shared classified
briefings with elections officers, detailing
fears that Russian hackers would try to disrupt
another U.S. election. Senior District Attorney
Investigator Clint Dragoo said the heightened
concerns nationally about the integrity of election
systems prompted local authorities to put
more safeguards into place. “In the past, we
would respond if ISD security had something,”
Dragoo said. “We thought this year we would
take a little more of a proactive approach.”
The operation reviewed more than 400,000
suspicious access attempts that were blocked
by network defense measures over one week,
including 281,339 attempts on Election Day.
This was an expected uptick from the usual
traffic of mostly automated attacks.
The county’s digital security detail vigorously
monitors online traffic between county
networks and outside entities by using a variety
of measures to guard against hacking, denialof
service attacks and data theft, according to
Deputy DA Hoffman, one of the prosecutors
assigned to the operation.
The team intensified its review of suspicious
network activity and was able to quickly investigate
to determine the locations and identities
of the cyberattackers and other suspicious activity
on the network, officials said. Investigators
suspect that the hackers used computer networks
owned by unsuspecting third parties to avoid detection,
Hoffman said. The DA’s office contacted
and alerted them to the potential compromise.
The DA’s office did not reveal whom it believes
was responsible for the massive cyberattack last
month, or whether any of the computer systems
used were located in Russia. The office said it
forwarded its findings of the investigation to
the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
Mere days after the election, wind-driven
wildfires burned close to 100,000 acres near
Malibu and Ventura County. Hundreds of homes
were destroyed or damaged, sending people
fleeing in the middle of the night. With the
flames out and the recovery effort underway
for the displaced residents of Thousand Oaks,
Agoura Hills and Malibu, there is a new threat
of bogus first responder charities.
Officials say to expect unsolicited phone
calls asking for donations to help the victims
of the Woolsey and Hill fires. Many of these
charities will use names that sound legitimate.
However, local prosecutors warn residents to
ask questions to avoid getting scammed.
Charity scams claim to represent organizations
that benefit police, firefighters or other public
safety personnel. But the dishonest ones don’t use
the funds the way they promised. “Others may
not be legitimate charities at all,” the DA cautions
and offers a few suggestions for not being duped.
Look into an organization before sending money.
Charities that disclose how they spend their
money have nothing to hide. A donation should
be tax-deductible, so ask. Never donate in cash
or gift cards. Do some research about charity
using a public-search tool at rct.doj.ca.gov.
Investigate a little before writing a check or
texting a donation to help first responders or
displaced residents of the Woolsey or Hill fires
-- or a holiday charity, officials recommend. “If
you’re looking for a way to help those in need, do
some research to ensure that your donation will
go to a reputable organization that will use the
money as promised,” says a charity watch message
posted by the Federal Trade Commission. •