An online security consultant has compiled information from the profiles of 100 million Facebook users and published it in a database downloadable and searchable by anyone online.

Ron Bowes, who blogs at Skull Security, used information that Facebook users had set to "public" and therefore, was already available to anyone who tried to search for it. The news has generated a lot of attention and alarmed many who use the popular social networking site, which hit 500 million users this summer.

A rogue Russian counterfeiting operation cranked out $9 million worth of fake checks and cashed them using two familiar ruses for duping consumers: posting fake "help wanted" ads to job-search sites, and convincing applicants to act as "money-mules" to bulk-cash bogus checks.

Duct cleaning services, frequently advertised by direct mail, are often tools to deceive consumers, a yearlong investigation by the Better Business Bureau found.

The services frequently are advertised well below $100 -- an unrealistic price for the type of work that is supposed to be done. The ads often suggest how dirty ducts can make you sick and that the service being offered will resolve the situation.

"It is our opinion that thorough and effective cleaning can take several hours to complete at a cost of $300-$500," Barry Goggin, president of the BBB serving northeast California, said in a statement.

The group shopped with six different companies and reviewed more than two dozen complaints lodged by consumers against the companies.

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple, Inc. on behalf purchasers of iPad tablet computer, Scott Cole & Associates, the firm filing suit, announced.

The suit alleges that the iPad, launched in April of this year, shuts down from overheating under normal operating conditions, even far below Apple's advertised temperature limits, making the product virtually unusable for many of its advertised functions.

"The iPad was touted as a revolutionary invention -- a product that Apple claimed could be used inside or outside and for purposes such as playing games and reading e-books," the law firm said in a statement. "Books and board games don't close up after a few minutes of use and require you to stick them in a refrigerator to cool off."

Mice Direct is recalling frozen reptile feed due to possible salmonella contamination, which could sicken the humans handling it, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced.

The frozen reptile feed was distributed in all states, except Hawaii, through pet stores and by mail order and direct delivery. Illnesses that may be related to the recalled reptile feed have been reported in 17 states.

The recalled product -- which includes mice, rats and chicks -- should not be fed to animals, even after heating in a microwave oven, since the heating may not be adequate to kill salmonella. The FDA ordered the recall after testing a sample of frozen mice. The company is conducting an investigation.

The frozen reptile feed was shipped in plastic bags with the following product codes: M-SP100, M-P100, M-PF100, M-F100, M-H100, M-W50, M-A50, M-JA25, R-P100, R-F50, R-PUP50, R-W50, R-S50, R-M20, R-L10,R-J5, R-C5, R-M3 followed by E9, F9, G9, H9, I9, J9, K9, L9 or A10, B10, C10, D10, E10, F10, G10 and whole frozen chicks in 25 count bags.

Husqvarna is recalling a series of riding lawn tractors sold this year after getting more than 50 complaints of damaged fuel lines, something that could cause a fire, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

The CPSC said the fuel line to the rear-mounted fuel tank is too long and can get damaged by moving parts when the tractor is in use. Those who have the lawn tractors are urged to stop using them until a free repair can be arranged by Husqvarna.

The Product: Living Well With Montel HealthMaster Blender
The Price: Online $199.96 plus $29.99 shipping and handing; $199 some retail stores.
The Claims: Replaces 20 kitchen appliances and performs 31 kitchen jobs.
Buy-O-Meter Rating: 2 out of 5

If the Living Well With Montel HealthMaster called itself a super-sized blender that can mix Margaritas for the entire neighborhood, I'd give the 21-inch tall appliance the thumbs up.

Antibacterial soaps are not only ineffective, but actually harmful to your health, according to a leading environmental group suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for failing to better regulate the products.

The Natural Resources Defense Council alleges that for 32 years, the FDA dragged its feet on banning triclosan and triclocarban, two chemicals linked to reproductive harm, from everyday products. The chemicals can also trigger antibiotic resistance and are common in antibacterial soaps.

"Washing your hands with so-called antibacterial soap containing triclosan and triclocarban does nothing different than using regular soap and water," said Jennifer Sass, a senior NRDC scientist. "The idea to have this added level of sanitation is completely unnecessary ... these products do not protect against germs that can get on your hands two seconds after you wash them."

easyJet claims that its flights are a greener way to travel than motoring solo in a Toyota Prius. Really.

Specifically, it says its flights emit less carbon dioxide per person than that bestselling hybrid car. Can it be true? It's a jaw-dropping statement given the prevailing wisdom about air travel – that it's one of worst things you personally can do in terms of global warming, and air travel by 2050 may become one of the largest contributors to heating the planet. One vacation splurge by plane can produce one and half times the global warming pollution created by a WHOLE YEAR of weekday commuting, says the Union of Concerned Scientists, which urges vacations by motor coach or train.

That door-to-door magazine sales rep with a heart-wrenching story could be running a scam to get your cash, says the Greater Maryland Chapter of the Better Business Bureau.

The chapter issued a warning on sales crews selling magazines in neighborhoods this summer. The Better Business Bureau logged more than 600 complaints nationwide about companies selling magazines door-to-door over the last 12 months -- eight in Maryland. Most complaints say a sales rep took the money -- usually a personal check -- but the magazines never arrived. Other consumers had to endure high-pressure or misleading sales tactics.

The sales pitch could include a hook, such as the assertion subscriptions support troops overseas, a charity, a school trip or even the salesman, trying to get his life back on track. The BBB recommends researching any such sales offer at its site, bbb.org before paying for a magazine subscription.

Under the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's three-day "cooling-off" rule, consumers can cancel purchases of more than $25 when made at home or at a location that is not the seller's permanent store or place of business. Along with the receipt, a sales rep should give a consumer two copies of the cancellation form that can be sent in for a refund within 10 days of the company getting the notice. The FTC says that if the sale rep doesn't have such a form, don't place an order.

Some exceptions to that rule are if the goods or services are not intended for mostly personal, family or household uses or are needed for an emergency.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced the launch of a Consumer Help Center to make resources more accessible to consumers.

"This site makes it easy for consumers to learn about our work and take action," Joel Gurin, chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, wrote on the FCC blog. "Here, in one place, consumers can read about consumer issues, get practical advice for avoiding problems, file a complaint, comment on our rulemaking, or read what our FCC experts are saying in our Consumer Blog."

The Consumer Help Center includes links to:

• Everything consumers need to know about Bill Shock and Early Termination Fees -- two common issues for wireless customers.
• Savvy Traveler tips -- advice on making phone calls when travelling abroad.
• Broadband Speed Test -- consumers can test the speed of their broadband service.
• Fact Sheet Library -- more than 150 consumer Fact Sheets on telecom subjects.
• Links to additional resources on a range of issues, including privacy.
• Links to file a complaint to the FCC or comment on rulemakings.
• Blog posts about consumer issues -- consumer comments welcome.
• News releases, statements, and FCC actions.

Consumer Ally likes alliances when they're good for consumers and is proud to welcome consumer investigative reporter John Mattes. We'll feature John's video reports when they're available. He has a few exciting projects in the works and will be reprising some stories you might not be aware of.

John, who's an attorney, was an investigative reporter for a San Diego TV station and is now posting his projects to his InvestigativeGuy site.

Another ally for consumers is Steve Noviello, consumer reporter at Dallas' KDFW. Check out one of his recent stories on the bankruptcy of 1800hotels.com.

Increasingly, we're going to bring you some of the best consumer reporting in the country. If you have a favorite TV consumer reporter where you live, send an email to ConsumerAlly@WalletPop.com and we'll see if they'd like to ally with us so we can share their work with people all over the country and further empower consumers like you.

Here's a highlight reel of John Mattes to give you an idea of his unique approach.

Criminals are capitalizing on a busy sports summer to fool people into clicking on soccer, golf and even paintball sites infested with malicious programs that can compromise privacy or worse, says a Czech Republic-based security software seller.

The sites are on what Prague-based Avast Software calls its monthly "Most Wanted" list. The World Cup, the LeBron James spectacle and baseball season are particular targets for search-engine gaming, the company says. Criminals seek to trick people into clicking on sites that seem to be legitimate -- or that are legitimate, but infected without the operator's knowledge -- so that malicious programs can be downloaded to personal computers.

They may only be web ads that pop up for days after you visit a website to research information, but some U.S. senators are worried about the tracking and behavioral profiling behind them.

"I am a little spooked out," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., during a hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee into privacy issues. "This is creepy."

"We [in becoming public officials] signed up for an invasion of privacy. But as the American people find out about this [behavioral tracking], they are going to be very unhappy.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said web tracking defies all normal standards for conduct.

"If someone followed you [everywhere] taking copious notes on what you do, anyone would find that is unbelievable. Yet that is happening every day on the internet."

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., also said he is hearing concern from constituents.

With the constant headlines about data breaches and nightmarish stories about identity theft, it's easy for consumers to fall for the pitches made by identity theft protection and credit monitoring services.

But is there a value in paying the monthly fees for these services? For most folks, the short answer is no. Most of these companies offer services that consumers can do on their own for free or at a significantly lower cost. So consumers end up paying a premium -- typically $100 a year or more -- for the convenience of having someone else take care of things for them, even when they don't need them.