Consumer Reports

Many people have had their Facebook account broken into by criminals, according to our latest report on consumer experiences on social networks. How do criminals break into a Facebook account? One way is to guess your password, so it’s important to always use a strong one that’s at least eight characters long, and includes numbers, symbols, and upper- and lower-case letters. Read more…

Visit the FAQ at USA.gov for information on the latest food recalls, including products containing hydrolyzed vegetable protein, a flavor enhancer used in many processed foods.

USDA and HHS unveiled a new consumer Web site at www.foodsafety.gov. The site is designed to help consumers and families get all the latest information on food safety and food recalls in one convenient place. The new site features information from all the agencies across the federal government that deal with critical food and food safety information, including preventive tips about how to handle food safely, alerts on life-saving food recalls, and the latest news from the key agencies. www.foodsafety.gov provides consumers with one easy place to sign up to receive email and RSS alerts on recalled or potentially unsafe food, as well as get information from the top scientific experts across the government on food safety

Stay informed about H1N1, seasonal flu, and other forms of influenza on Flu.gov.

Check out this new website to get the latest updates on food recalls, safe food handling tips, and more!

Written by a team of scientists, science writers, and public health analysts from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Sara Bellum connects you with the latest scientific research and news.

Congratulations! As our favorite Gov Gab reader, you are the lucky winner of an all expenses paid trip to the Caribbean. APRIL FOOLS! While most April Fools jokes are harmless, the ” Conficker C ” computer worm certainly is not. This malicious worm is set to take effect today and will likely damage millions of computers, 5-10 million of which are already infected but not yet activated. Some effects of Conficker C could be: Delete all files on person’s computer Overwhelm and shut down websites Monitor a person’s key strokes to obtain private information Get users to buy fake software Block Windows from conducting automatic updates There is still time to protect yourself and your computer . Get your latest Windows updates at: http://safety.live.com , even if you suspect you’ve already been infected. If you use another anti-virus software, be sure you’ve received the latest updates. Any other tips?

I think there’s something wrong with our water heater. Over the last few weeks I’ve noticed a change in the amount of hot water in the house…especially in the evening when it’s bath time for the kids. I hate it when things break, because I still have so much to learn about home repair. Of course I’ll have the plumber come out and take a look, but I expect to hear that I need a new water heater. I’m not exactly sure how old this one is, but I know that the warranty has expired and what do I know about buying a water heater? Nothing. I’ve learned that buying a major appliance requires a lot of homework . You really have to think about the features that you need before going to the showroom, because all those shiny new appliances can distract you from thinking about getting the appliance that has all the features you need without paying for things you don’t need. I always shop for appliances that are EnergyStar rated, that’s always the first thing on my list. Sometimes you can even find tax rebates in your area when you buy EnergyStar appliances. Too bad there are no water heater rebates available for me. It’s not free, but I like the unbiased appliance advice from Consumer Reports . All I know is that I’m going to do the research and figure out what water heater is right for my family before the old one breaks completely and we’re dirty and there isn’t a clean dish in the house. Who needs that kind of pressure?