|
Warning! – Arm Yourself In The Battle Against Botnets
In the most recent
Microsoft Security Intelligence Report, the company warns that computers with
older operating systems are more susceptible to infections from bot-related
malware. What is a bot? The term is short for robot. It refers to what your
computer becomes when criminals distribute malicious software that forces
your computer to perform automated tasks over the Internet—without you
knowing it. Large numbers of bots form a network called a botnet.
 Criminals use botnets to send out spam
e-mail messages, spread viruses, attack computers and servers, and commit
other kinds of crime and fraud. It can be difficult to tell if your computer
has become part of a botnet but there are warning signs including:
- Your computer slows down and seems sluggish.
- You receive mysterious e-mails accusing you of
sending spam.
- You find e-mail messages in your outbox that you
didn't send.
If you suspect your
computer may be infected, you can visit https://consumersecuritysupport.microsoft.com
and click on "I think my computer is infected" to access the online
Safety Scanner.
To strengthen your computer's defenses in the battle against botnets,
Microsoft recommends the following:
- Install antivirus and antispyware programs from a
trusted source.
- Keep all software up to date.
- Use strong passwords and keep them secret.
- Never turn off your firewall.
Back to Top
Emergency 911…
While all of us at Chazy Westport Communications and Westelcom hope our customers never need to call 911… we also want our customers to recognize the difference between a landline phone (which is what we offer) and the other options from cable companies and cellular companies.
Check out these articles online to read why a traditional land line can be the safest option for your home…
Why a Landline Is Important in Emergency 911 Situations
Time Warner Cable Begins Work with 911
Back to Top
This Month's FAQ – When Did Flash Mobs Get Started And How Are
They Organized?
Question: Sometimes I see stories in the news about a
flash mob, like the people who break into song in a shopping center. I'm
curious—when did flash mobs get started and how are they organized?
 Answer: A flash mob is defined as a large group of people who gather
at a public place to perform a pre-defined action—often a brief song or
dance—and then disperse rapidly afterwards.
The first "official" flash mob was attempted in Manhattan in May
2003 (the early days of social media) and organized by Bill Wasik, senior
editor of Harper's Magazine. It was unsuccessful after the targeted
retail store, Macy's, was tipped off about the plan for people to gather.
Wasik avoided such problems during the second flash mob, which occurred one
month later, by sending participants to preliminary staging areas where they
received further instructions about the event and location just before the
flash mob began.
Flash mobs are generally organized via social media or viral e-mails.
Potential participants receive all necessary instructions including the date,
time, and meeting point in the real world, as well as the action to perform.
A video of the required dance moves, for example, may be posted for
participants to review.
Click on the triangle in the picture above to play a video of a recent flash
mob where holiday shoppers in a food court were surprised with a song to go
with their sandwiches.
Back to Top
Sites Of The Month – Great Sites To Check Out In January
Recipes for Foodies
www.publicradio.org – Each
week, the American Public Media radio show, The Splendid Table, offers
recipes and tips "for people who love to eat." Their website features
recipes in categories including comfort, inexpensive, seafood, vegetarian,
grilling, and holidays. Explore the rest of the site to hear recordings of
the show, read tips and wine picks, and find great places to eat in your
state.
Unusual Hotels
www.unusualhotelsoftheworld.com – This
site is called Unusual Hotels of the World and the name says it all. Here
you'll find out about ice hotels, undersea lodges, castles, boats,
treehouses, and lighthouses—all of which are places you can stay! Search by
type of hotel, type of experience (wild, family, romance), or destination.
You're sure to find a unique place to spend your next vacation.
Home Decorating Guide
www.sunset.com – Looking
for some new decorating ideas for the new year? This site is a great place to
start. You'll find key decorating strategies, paint and shelving ideas, and
pointers for decorating with travel treasures or your favorite photos. Look
for tutorials on topics like "How to Paint Like a Pro." Or try a
DIY (do-it-yourself) project like making over a dresser, designing your own
painted glassware, or creating a designer bouquet.
National Recreation Information
www.recreation.gov – Recreation.gov
provides access to information about federal recreational activities and
reservations. You can use it to discover parks, forests, museums, and other
destinations near your home; plan a trip to other areas of the country; make
reservations for activities like picnicking, camping, hunting, fishing,
horseback riding, and boating; or book a tour at any one of a number of
stunning national parks and monuments.
Financial Planning How-to
www.fpanet.org – The new year
is a good time to take a new look at your finances. The Financial Planning
Association promotes financial well-being by connecting financial planners
with those who need their assistance. This website includes loads of
information on planning for specific life events (such as retirement or
marriage), coping with a disaster (such as loss of a home or job), and
choosing a financial planner. You can also find helpful tools and resources
or ask a financial planning question.
Back to Top
Short Tutorial – Creating A Facebook Account And Profile
 Facebook now has more than 500 million active users and half
of them log on to Facebook in any given day. In total, the site reports that
people spend over 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook. If you're not
yet part of this group of 500 million, it's easy to join. Simply follow the
steps below to create a Facebook account and profile.
- Visit www.facebook.com
and create a personal account by filling in the required fields as well
as entering the encrypted password provided by Facebook.
- Once you have entered your information, Facebook will
send you a confirmation e-mail to the address you provided in the setup.
Click on the link within the e-mail to begin personalizing your new
Facebook account.
- Facebook will take you through a series of steps in
which you can add as much or as little personal information as you want.
This information includes the names of the high school and college you
graduated from, as well as your current company/employer. You can also
upload a Profile Picture or take a picture with your webcam at this
point.
- Once you have completed the initial steps, the next
screen will ask you if you want to find people you know or if you would
like to view and update your profile. For this tutorial, we will update
your profile page.
- To update your profile, click on "Edit
Profile" located in the "Fill out your profile
information" section on the Welcome page. Here you can enter as
much personal information as you are comfortable with in the Basic
Information section. There are eight other sections to personalize.
Again, only fill in information in which you are comfortable sharing.
Remember to click on the "Save Changes" button located at the
end of each section.
- Many members choose to add a picture to their
profile. There are multiple places along the way during the initial
setup to add a photo. If you choose not to upload a photo during the
initial setup process, it can be done easily at a later time.
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
Westelcom
If you have any comments or suggestions please email us at yoursuggestions@westelcom.com
If you require technical assistance please email us at support@westelcom.com
Telephone:
Watertown: 315.755.2255
Plattsburgh: 518.825.2255
©2011 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.
|
|
