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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Travel Alert
Take Security Precautions When Using Hotel Internet Connections

Miracle Jeans Day
Join Us

Two To View
A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss

This Month's FAQ
What Should I Do If I Accidentally Released Information To A Phishing Site?

Sites Of The Month
Great Sites To Check Out In September

Short Tutorial
How To Increase Text Size For Easier Reading Of Email


Hello West Central Internet Subscribers

Fall in Love with Fall There are many reasons to fall in love with fall including cooler temperatures and a new season of sports. In this September issue, we kick off the action with advice to travelers regarding wireless Internet use in hotels; be sure to follow these tips to avoid potential security threats during your fall trips.

This month's Great Sites list features valuable ideas for all kinds of fall activities. Whether you plan to paint your home, organize a family reunion, or shop for a car, you'll find resources to help make things go more smoothly. You'll also learn how to respond if you release personal information to a phishing site and how to increase text size in emails. Ready for a break? Enjoy the unique performances of a "musical" typewriter and a 3D printer in the featured videos.

The goal of each of our eNewsletters is to keep our subscribers informed regarding their Internet connection and to improve their Internet experience. We think you'll find this information interesting.

To see what's inside this issue, simply scroll down the eNewsletter or click on the links within the index to the left. Thanks for reading!

- West Central Internet Services Team
 

 

Travel Alert – Take Security Precautions When Using Hotel Internet Connections

Take Security Precautions When Using Hotel Internet ConnectionsRecently, 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.

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Miracle Jeans Day – Join Us

Miracle Jeans Day Banner

West Central Telephone employees are going casual for kids! Our employees will wear jeans each Friday in September in exchange for a $5 donation each week. The money collected will be matched by the company and sent in to support a Children's Miracle Network Hospital near you.

Who knew wearing your favorite pair of jeans to work could help support sick and injured kids at Sanford Children's Hospital of Fargo, a Children's Miracle Network Hospital? Visit MiracleJeansDay.com to find out how!

We'll be wearing our miracle jeans each Friday this month, beginning with the 7th, will you? Sign up now and make miracles for kids in your community. Go to MiracleJeansDay.com today!

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Two To View – A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss

Cool Video Number 1   Cool Video Number 2
     
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.

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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: This Month's FAQ
  • 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

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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.

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Short Tutorial – How To Increase Text Size For Easier Reading Of Email

Download Graphics to ViewDo 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.

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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

The WCTA Communications Team
Internet Specialists



WCTA Sebeka
308 Frontage Road Box 304
Sebeka, MN 56477

1-218-837-5151 or toll free at 1-800-945-2163


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