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Universal Service
Fund and YOU
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E-Mail Scam
New Phishing Attack Reported On Banking Customers
Packages From PRTC
Have It All And Save!
Ask The Help Desk
What Is A Buffer?
Sites Of The Month
Great Sites To Check Out In August!
Short Tutorial
Downloading Mozilla's Firefox Browser
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August
2006
Just 4
PRTC Internet Subscribers
For some, August means school is just around the corner. But we all have
opportunities to keep learning, as this eNewsletter illustrates.
Included is a crash course on one of the latest e-mail scams targeting
bank customers, a lesson on how buffering enables you to watch online
videos faster, and a tutorial about downloading Mozilla's Firefox
browser. This month's Great Sites section offers more places to gain
knowledge — about typing, about relationships, about survival, and about
business. Time to learn something new!
The goal of each of our monthly eNewsletters is to keep our subscribers
informed regarding their Internet connection and to improve their
Internet experience. To meet this goal, each monthly newsletter will
usually contain information related to:
- Warnings on a recent virus, e-mail hoax or security issue that
may affect you
- An update on new services and other local interests
- An answer to a frequently asked Internet related question
- Some fun, seasonal websites to check out
- A short, step-by-step tutorial on an e-mail or browser related
task
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 receive these bulletins on a monthly basis, click
HERE.
To see what's inside this issue, take a look at the index to the left
and thanks for reading!
- The Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative Team
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E-Mail Scam
- New Phishing Attack Reported On Banking Customers
E-mail con artists
have frequently masqueraded as banks in an effort to collect personal
information such as account numbers. One of the latest such scams, first
reported last month, takes a slightly different approach. These e-mail messages
are being sent to customers of Bank of America and various other financial
institutions, but claim to be promoting a new security program called SFN (Stop
Fraud Now). That's right - they're committing fraud by pretending to be
an organization that fights fraud.
The bogus SFN program offers to provide you with protection against cloning of
credit cards and asks recipients to register by supplying their Social Security
Number, credit card number, and ATM Personal Identification Number (PIN). Keep
your eyes out for an e-mail resembling this one:
Remember, you should always be suspicious of an e-mail requesting personal
financial information, even if it appears to be from a financial institution
with which you have a relationship. Legitimate banks will never send you an
e-mail asking you to disclose your credit card number or online banking
password. Do not reply to this type of e-mail or click on any link included in
the message. Just hit "Delete."
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Packages From PRTC
- Have It All And Save!
Save Money when you sign up for everything ...
Sign up for the Peoples Choice Package and start saving today! If you
already have two or more calling features, you may already be paying over $10.00
per month!
For only one dollar more, you can have all of our Calling Features and Voice
Mail!
The Peoples Choice Package includes Call Waiting, Caller Name & Number Delivery,
Call Forwarding, Repeat Dialing, Voice Mail (includes Busy Call Forward), Three
Way Calling, Call Trace, Call Screening, or any and all other PRTC Features at
only $11 per month for residential customers!
Call PRTC Today to Sign up 287-7101
Take the Package & Save a Bundle!
PRTC now offers two residential Local Service & Long Distance Packages!
Silver Plan - $39.95 per month
Plan includes:
- Local Service before taxes & fees
- Peoples Choice Package - ncludes all calling features
- 300 minutes of long distance per month (9.9 cents overtime chgs)
Gold Plan - $49.95 per month
Plan includes:
- Local Service before taxes & fees
- Peoples Choice Package - all calling features
- Flatrate Long Distance monthly
- MUST ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO DSL@PRTC
DSL IS PRICED SEPERATELY
When you sign up for PRTC Long Distance you receive:
- No hidden fees
- Local representatives
- Stable rates!
By using PRTC Long Distance you are making an investment!
You keep the dollars you spend with us, either through services and technology
or through your capital credit check.
Silver & Gold plans are applicable to residential customers only.
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Ask The Help Desk - What
Is A Buffer?
Question: I've
heard someone mention a "buffer" when referring to listening to music online.
What is a buffer?
Answer: When you download an audio or video file from the Internet, your
media player software, such as Windows Media Player, saves portions of the file
in temporary memory during the process. This is called buffering.
The media player uses buffering technology to begin playing the clip before the
entire file is downloaded. This means the clip will be played much sooner than
if the entire file had to be completely downloaded before playback.
A buffer is also used to speed up a computer's performance by holding
information in temporary memory (random-access memory [RAM]) until it's
committed to a permanent location or task.
When you use a word processor, for example, your changes are held in temporary
buffer memory until you save the document to your hard drive. Buffers also are
used to transmit data between hardware devices, such as a computer and a
printer. This buffer is needed when one device can transmit data much quicker
than another can receive it.
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Great Sites To Check Out This Month
Survival
Stories from the World Trade Center
http://wtcmovie.com - Opening this month
is World Trade Center, the poignant and powerful 9-11 movie from Oliver
Stone. It tells the true story of two officers with the Port Authority Police
Department, Will Jimeno and John McLoughlin, who were buried under 20 feet of
rubble inside the WTC but were rescued 12 hours later. Their incredible tale of
survival is brought to life by a cast including Nicolas Cage, Michael Peña,
Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Mario Bello. A highlight of this movie site is the "In
Their Own Words" section featuring video interviews with Jimeno and McLoughlin
themselves. Rated PG-13.
The Key to Free Typing Lessons
http://learn2type.com - Do the e-mail
messages you write contain a few too many typos? Or do your kids need better
typing skills to master the homework ahead? This site offers free interactive
typing exercises (including new Learn2Type for Kids) that automatically adjust
to your skill level. Start by taking the short typing test to instantly assess
your speed and accuracy. Then login whenever you like and complete the lessons
at your own pace. Free, convenient, and effective - that's our type of typing
tutor.
Home Business How-To's
http://entrepreneur.com - August is
officially "Home Business Month." If you'd like to start a home-based business
or expand the one you already have, this site from Entrepreneur magazine
is an excellent resource. It covers all the basics, from marketing and sales to
money and finance. You'll also find low-cost startup ideas, stories from
successful "mompreneurs," and guides to starting the most popular businesses
around.
Listen to Your Elders
http://elderwisdomcircle.org -
When you need advice, there's nothing more valuable than the insights of someone
older and wiser. This site provides free advice from volunteer "cyber
grandparents" between the ages of 60 and 103. Elder Wisdom Circle is one of the
largest providers of personal advice anywhere, and visitors to the site can get
help with most any issue ranging from parenting problems to dating dilemmas.
Read the responses to questions submitted by others, or send in one of your own
for a fast, personalized reply.
News on the Net - US Open Tennis Championships
http://www.usopen.org/home/default.sps - The 2006 US Open is August 28
to September 10 in New York. If you've always dreamed of going, get on the ball
and visit this site for tickets and visitor information. Last year's US Open set
an all-time attendance record of 659,538 fans - evidence of the sport's growing
popularity. Never played tennis but want to take a swing at it? You'll also find
tips on getting started and information about tennis instruction including free
Tennis Block Parties held across the U.S.
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Short Tutorial - Downloading
Mozilla's Firefox Browser
Web analysis firm
OneStat.com reports that global usage of the free Mozilla Firefox browser is
growing. As of July 2006, total worldwide market share for Firefox is 12.93
percent, U.S. usage is 15.82 percent, and Canadian usage is 14.58 percent.
Firefox is becoming a popular browser because it blocks viruses, spyware, and
pop-up ads and isn't as vulnerable to attacks as Microsoft Internet Explorer. It
also offers advanced features like tabbed browsing, which lets you open multiple
web pages in a single window and quickly flip back and forth between them. To
download Mozilla's free Firefox browser onto your computer, simply follow the
steps below.
Downloading Mozilla's Firefox 1.5.0.4 When Using Windows XP SP2 Home Edition:
- With Internet Explorer open, type "www.Mozilla.com" into your browser's
address bar and then hit "Enter" on your keyboard.
- Click your cursor arrow on the "Download Firefox" button.
- The file download security warning will open. Click the "Save" button.
- In the "Save As" dialog box, choose where you want to save the Firefox
installer on your hard disk and click the "Save" button.
- Once the installer has finished downloading, double click on it.
- A security warning will ask if you want to run the installer. Click
"Run."
- When the "Welcome to Mozilla Firefox" screen appears, click the "Next"
button to start your Firefox installation.
- After reading and agreeing to the licensing terms, select the "I Accept
the terms of..." radio button and then click the "Next" button.
- Choose what type of install you want to do (Standard or Custom) and
click the "Next" button.
- Close all other open applications and click the "Next" button.
- Under the "Install Complete" section, check the "Launch Mozilla Firefox
now" box and click the "Finish" button.
- The Import Wizard will open. Select whether you want to import your
settings from Internet Explorer into Firefox and click the "Next" button.
- Click the "Finish" button to exit the Import Wizard.
- You will be asked whether you want to use Firefox as your default
browser. It is recommended that you click “No” until you’ve decided whether
you like it better than your existing browser of choice.
- Firefox will open and a shortcut will be placed on your desktop.
Downloading Mozilla's Firefox 1.5.0.4 When Using Macintosh OS X:
- With Safari open, type "www.Mozilla.com" into the address bar of your
browser and then hit "Return" on your keyboard.
- Click your cursor arrow on the "Download Firefox" button.
- Once the installer has finished downloading, double click on it.
- The installer will launch and open to the license agreement. To accept
the terms of the license, click on the "Accept" button.
- The Firefox disk image will mount on your desktop and open. You will see
a Firefox icon with a graphic indicating that you should add Firefox to your
Application folder.
- Drag the "Firefox" icon onto your Application folder icon. Firefox will
be copied to that location.
- Close the "Firefox" disk image window and drag the disk image to the
trash to unmount it. That's it. You can now run Firefox as your browser.
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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 on a
monthly basis, click HERE.
Thanks for your business!
Best regards,
Peoples Rural Telephone
Cooperative
Peoples Rural Telephone
Hwy 421 South
McKee, KY 40447
606-287-7101
(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.)
©2006
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.
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