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Hi
Webster-Calhoun Internet Subscribers!
We think you'll find the
information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable tool for
enhancing your Internet experience. If, however, you'd prefer not to
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Surfer
Beware - Hurricane Katrina Internet
Scams Abound
We've united to help the Gulf Coast
begin to recover from Hurricane Katrina. But sadly, when disasters occur,
scammers looking for a quick buck inevitably follow. The FBI has reported that,
as of mid-September, about 4,000 websites were claiming to offer help to victims
and that about 60 percent of them were probably scams.
Besides
fraudulent websites, the most common Hurricane Katrina Internet-related scams
are e-mail solicitations, a practice called "phishing," asking for money for
Katrina's victims. The message asks for a donation and, when an unsuspecting
donor provides a credit card number or makes an electronic payment, the money is
pocketed by the scammer and identity theft is a possibility. Rip-off attempts
based upon the notorious "Nigerian fee scams" are also making the rounds.
Other e-mail scams don't even require a reply. Messages with
Katrina-related subject lines and file attachments carrying Trojans or viruses
can infect your computer if you open the files. Plus, chain letters (such as
"victims receive $1 every time you forward this message") and messages that use
interest in the disaster to sell unrelated and often bogus products are
circulating.
Common sense is your biggest ally in protecting yourself
against these scams. Here are several tips to help protect yourself against
scammers:
- Never respond to unsolicited e-mail messages asking for a donation.
- Be leery of relief websites run by unfamiliar organizations.
- Report rip-off schemes to our state's Attorney General Office, the Better Business Bureau, or the FBI. The FBI's Hurricane Katrina scam tip line is (800) 225-5324.
- Learn more about avoiding Hurricane Katrina charitable-giving rip-offs at the Better Business Bureau's BBB Wise Giving Alliance website: www.give.org.
Webster-Calhoun
Announcements - October Bill Insert And A New
Look For The Web Site
October Bill
Insert
Did you see the insert included
with the October billing? It included information about the new SecureIT Plus
computer protection service, capital credit dividend checks, cooperative month,
PIC change charges and updates to the construction process. If you missed it,
check it out on the web site at www.wccta.net!
A New Look for the Web Site
A new look
for WCCTA's web site is coming soon! The site has been completely redone to
encompass the Internet side of WCCTA.net and the cooperative telephone
information of WCCTA.com. The site includes a lot of information on all of
WCCTA's products and services as well as a new section of archives for the
e-newsletter and bill inserts. Although not fully automated, you can also find
many required forms on-line. Just print out the form and send it to our office.
If you don't already have WCCTA as your home page, you may want to consider
it!
Ask
The Help Desk - Can Airport Security
Scans Harm My Laptop Computer?
Question: I plan
to take my laptop computer with me when I travel during the upcoming holidays.
Why does airport security scan laptops separately from other carry-on luggage?
Can the x-ray system that airports use harm my computer?
Answer: Laptop computers are inspected
separately because it's a better way to determine if an explosive device has
been hidden within the computer. With all of the electronic components built
into a laptop, it's difficult for a security worker to look at an x-ray image
and determine if there's a bomb. Chemistry kits called "sniffers" are also used
on suspect laptops to determine if residue from bomb-making chemicals is
present. Additionally, airport security may ask you to turn your computer on as
a further precaution to make sure that your computer is not a bomb in disguise.
It's a misperception that airport x-ray machines will damage laptop
computers and other electronic devices, such as cell phones and PDAs. The
concentration of the x-ray beam is not strong enough to penetrate the casings of
electronics. However, there has been a new development regarding photographic
film and airport security x-ray machines. X-ray scanners of recent years do not
damage film. But as a part of anti-terrorism airport security upgrades, a new
type of x-ray machine, called a CTX-5000SP, is being installed in many airports
in North America.
The CTX-5000SP is designed to better detect
explosives, but tests have shown that x-rays from these machines will damage
unprocessed film if the film receives a direct hit from the beam. Processed film
and electronic devices are not affected.
Great
Sites To Check Out This Month
How To Find The
Lowest Gasoline Prices
http://gasbuddy.com - With gas prices
the way they are, we need all the help we can get. This site runs 170+ local
websites across the U.S. and Canada that help consumers find area gas stations
that are selling fuel at lower prices. A network of local volunteer gas price
spotters submits updates for their specific area. The site also includes a link
comparing our state's tax rate on gasoline compared to other states. It's
interesting information.
The Legend of Zorro
Released This Month
http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thelegendofzorro -
Multiple Golden Globe Award nominee Antonio Banderas and Academy Award winner
Catherine Zeta-Jones team up again in the follow-up to their internationally
popular motion picture, The Mask of
Zorro. The first film grossed over $200 million and the sequel
promises to be just as adventurous and action-packed. The official site for
The Legend of Zorro includes
production notes, lots of photos, bios, and a thrilling movie trailer. The film
opens October 28, 2005 and is rated PG.
Dress Your Dog Up As A Bee For Halloween
http://beedogs.com -
Have you been wondering what costume your dog will wear for Halloween? Me
neither. But for those of you who are, why not dress him/her up as a bee? The
person who runs this site collects pictures of dogs that are dressed up in bee
costumes and posts them for the world to see. Come on. You're not doing anything
really important right now anyway — and you are very curious. Go take a
look!
The
Amazing Race: Family Edition
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race8 -
Last month's Emmy Award winning television show, The Great Race, is back for another season
only this time with a new spin. Instead of two-person teams, the teams are now
four-person teams comprised exclusively of related family members — including
children as young as eight years old. The
Amazing Race: Family Edition is the eighth competition for this
popular series. Check out the site to learn more about the family team members
in this season's contest.
Solve Your
Midnight Gourmet Coffee Craving
http://gourmetsleuth.com/copycat_starbucks.asp -
Have you ever had a 2 a.m. craving for a java chip frappe from your favorite
local coffee shop which happened to close hours ago? This site can help as it
takes a shot at trying to recreate some popular drink and baked good recipes. It
may not taste exactly the same nor have the same ambiance as your cozy coffee
shop, but at least you can wear your pajamas as you sip.
Short
Tutorial - Add A Sound Alert
When Hitting The "Caps Lock" Key
Accidentally hitting the "Caps Lock"
key when typing an e-mail message is a common keyboarding error. When you are in
a hurry, your left pinky finger sometimes just doesn't reach either the "tab"
key or the "shift" key but instead hits right in between on the "Caps Lock" key.
Before you know it, you've got a whole line of text in all capital letters.
If it's rare that you intentionally use the "Caps Lock" key — it's used
when making a series of letters all capitalized — you can set your computer to
sound an alert when hitting this key. Here's how to set your sound alert when
using Windows XP:
- Click your cursor arrow on the "Start" menu in the lower left corner of your screen.
- Click on the "Control Panel" icon. This will open the "Control Panel" window.
- Click on "Accessibility Options" (either on the icon or on the link next to it). The "Accessibility Options" window will open.
- Click on "Accessibility Options" again in the window. A smaller "Accessibility Options" window will open.
- Click on the "Keyboard" tab.
- Look for the item labeled "ToggleKeys" and click in the check box labeled "Use ToggleKeys."
- Click on the "Apply" button. Depress the "Caps Lock" key on your keyboard and you'll hear the alert sound for that item. You will also hear alert sounds when you depress "Num Lock" and "Scroll Lock" if your keyboard has these keys.
- Click the "OK" button in the small "Accessibility Options" window.
- Click on the red "x" in the upper right corner of the large "Accessibility Options" window to close it. Now, when you accidentally hit the "Caps Lock" key, you'll hear about it!
For Mac users, there is no sound alert setting for the "Caps Lock" key. However, if your "Caps Lock" is turned on when using the Safari browser and going to a site that requests a password, you'll see a symbol in the right corner of the password field advising you that your "Caps Lock" key is on. Give it a try.
We
hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It's our way of keeping you
posted on the happenings at our shop. If, however, you'd prefer not to receive
these bulletins on a monthly basis, click HERE.
Thanks for your business!
Best regards,
WCCTA.net
A product
of Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association
Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association
1106 Beek
Street, PO Box 475
Gowrie, IA 50543-0475
Phone: 515-352-3151
(We have used our best efforts in collecting and
preparing the information published herein. However, we do not assume, and
hereby disclaim, any and all liability for any loss or damage caused by errors
or omissions, whether such errors or omissions resulted from negligence,
accident, or other causes.)
©2005 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.