|
Travel Alert – Take Security Precautions When Using Hotel
Internet Connections
 Recently, travelers' laptops have been infected with malicious
software while using hotel Internet connections. In these instances, the
traveler was attempting to set up the hotel room Internet connection and was
presented with a pop-up window notifying the user to update a widely used
software product. If the user clicked to accept and install the update,
malicious software was installed on the laptop. To help avoid this type of
threat while traveling, take these precautions:
- Before using a hotel's Internet connection, make sure
your computer's firewall is turned on.
- When you connect to the hotel's wireless network, the
network title probably will include the hotel's name. If several
networks are accessible from within the hotel, consult the front desk to
determine the official wireless access point. (The other network
connections may be unsecured or malicious and may open up your computer
to viruses or hacker attacks.)
- Check for a secure login page before you sign in.
Most hotel wireless access points require you to submit your name, room
number, or other personal information. Look for an address starting with
"https://" to ensure the login page is encrypted to protect
your personal information.
- When using wireless networks at hotels, avoid
conducting banking and financial transactions.
- If possible, plug into an Ethernet connection; they
tend to be more secure.
Remember, while the
free wireless Internet connection at your hotel is handy for checking email
and accessing flight information, it can also be attractive to hackers. When
traveling around the Web, be smart.
Back to Top
Smartphones And Your Home Wi-Fi Network
 Do you and your family members have
smartphones? Is your home set up with a Wi-Fi network? If the answer is
"yes" to both questions, we have a suggestion for you. When using
your smartphone at home, you may want to access the Internet via your Wi-Fi
network rather than use the national wireless network of your smartphone
provider.
This strategy has a couple of advantages. A home Wi-Fi network typically
offers a faster Internet connection than many national wireless networks. It
can also save you money, especially if you don't have an unlimited data plan,
by eliminating the need to use your smartphone's data plan while at home.
Check with your wireless phone provider to verify the details.
Is your home not yet a hot spot? Moapa Valley Telephone
can help you enjoy the convenience of a home Wi-Fi network by providing a
wireless modem for use with our high speed Internet service. You can trade in
your current non-wireless modem for a wireless enabled modem. The cost for
this is a onetime $25.00 upgrade fee or current MVDSL customers can purchase
a subsidized, standalone 300 Mb wireless N router for $25.00. For more
information, visit http://www.mvdsl.com/services/internet/dsl.htm
/or call 397-2601.
Back to Top
Two To View – A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To
Miss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Unique
"Type" Of Orchestra
If you're of a certain age, you may have fond memories of the
clickety-clack made by typewriter keys. As it turns out, one orchestra
considers the sound to be music to their ears. Check out this
letter-perfect musical performance.
|
|
3D Printing is One
Amazing Thing
The technology world is buzzing about the possibilities offered by 3D
printing. Auto enthusiasts, including Jay Leno, have already used 3D
printers to create discontinued parts for classic cars. This video shows
the 3D printing of a wrench.
|
Back to Top
This Month's FAQ – What Should I Do If I Accidentally Released
Information To A Phishing Site?
Question: I recently disclosed some personal
information on a site that I believed was legitimate but now know was a
phishing scam. What should I do to avoid becoming the victim of identity
theft?
Answer: So sorry to hear of your predicament. You're not alone; phishers
are getting increasingly sophisticated and manage to get many people to
disclose information like credit card numbers online. Depending on what
information has been compromised, here are some key steps to take: 
- Report the theft to the three major credit-reporting
agencies (Experian, Equifax, and
TransUnion Corporation). Request that they place a fraud alert and a
victim's statement in your file, and remove inquiries and/or fraudulent
accounts stemming from the theft. You should also get a free copy of
your credit report to check whether any accounts were opened without
your consent.
- Notify your bank(s)
and ask them to flag your account and contact you regarding any unusual
activity.
- Change the passwords on all user ID accounts that you gave out. Make sure
to tell the company that maintains your compromised user ID account that
you have given your password to a phishing site, and make sure there
hasn't been any irregular activity on your account(s).
- Document the names and phone numbers of everyone you
speak to regarding the incident.
Follow-up your phone calls with letters and keep copies of all
correspondence.
For additional
information to help you fight back against identity theft, visit: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft
Back to Top
Sites Of The Month – Great Sites To Check Out In September
|
 Brush Up on Paint Colors
voiceofcolor.com – Planning
to paint this fall? This site is both aesthetically pleasing and immensely
practical. You can learn about 2012-2013 color trends, play the Color Sense
Game, use the Online Paint Visualizer, and find color inspiration. It's
sure to give you the confidence to move beyond boring beige.
|
|
 Here's to Honey!
honey.com – September is Honey
Month and a great time to start using more of this naturally tasty
ingredient. Buzz around for hundreds of recipes such as Bee Sweet Banana
Bread, Caribbean Chicken with Honey Pineapple Sauce, and Beehive Cookies.
You'll also learn about honey's health and beauty benefits.
|
|
 Planning a Big Event?
spendji.com – Whether you're
planning a reunion or a wedding, lots of people plus lots of decisions can
add up to lots of stress. Spendji will help you set a budget, research
costs, assign to-do lists, post key dates and reminders, and much more.
It's an easy way to manage complicated events.
|
|
 Look for Your Next Book
goodreads.com – Attention all
bookworms! You'll want to bookmark this site and visit it often for
suggestions on what to read next. Just enter the titles or genres you've
enjoyed in the past and get instant book recommendations. You can also
check out book discussions and have fun with book trivia and quizzes.
|
|
 A Fully Loaded Car Site
edmunds.com – Fall is a smart
time of year to research your next car purchase and get ready to take
advantage of year-end deals. You'll find a comprehensive collection of
car-buying resources parked at this site—including shopping tips, car
comparisons, reviews and recommendations, and loan calculators.
|
Back to Top
Short Tutorial – How To Increase Text Size For Easier Reading
Of Email
 Do you sometimes struggle to read the small
text of emails? This problem can be easily solved in a couple of ways. First,
you can use a system-wide zoom feature to come in closer to a program or item
on the screen. If you're using Windows 7 or Vista, for example, you can use
the Magnifier tool by pressing the Windows key and "+" to zoom in.
On a Mac, go to System Preferences, then Universal Access, and check
"On" under Zoom.
In addition, all email applications have the ability to increase font sizes.
For detailed instructions, click on the link below that applies to you.
For Outlook and Outlook Express:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/the-text-of-my-messages-is-larger-or-smaller-than-usual-HA010237748.aspx
For browser-based email including Gmail, Yahoo, and AOL:
Please note: Adjusting the text size may cause graphical
distortion as not all applications increase the layout and image size to
match the text. Proper visual layout can only be guaranteed at the default
text size.
Back to Top
We hope you found
this newsletter to be informative. It's our way of keeping you posted on the
happenings here. If, however, you'd prefer not to receive these bulletins,
click here.
Thanks for your business!
Best regards
Brad Lyon
Internet Manager
Moapa Valley Telephone Company
183 S Anderson St
Overton, NV 89040
702-397-2601
©2012 Cornerstone
Publishing Group Inc.
Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter are
trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.
|
|
