Mosaic Telecom eNewsletter

If you receive an e-mail like the one pictured here that appears to be from Microsoft Customer Support, be careful. There are fraudulent e-mails now circulating that have a subject line about confirming your e-mail address for Windows Live ID. They are not from Microsoft as claimed, and are simply part of a phishing scam.

Ironically, the e-mail's message pretends to actually be concerned about the security of your personal information and recommends that you don't click on the links placed in the e-mail. Instead, it says to copy and paste the desired link into your browser's address bar.

Microsoft reminds users that it will never ask you to provide your username, password, date of birth, country, credit card information, or other personal information via e-mail. And you should never enter your password anywhere besides the official Windows Live ID sign-in page.

Here are additional tips to help you avoid phishing scams:

Your first level of defense is to secure your computer. To do this, keep your firewall turned on and make sure all of your software (including antivirus and antispyware software) is up to date, along with your operating system.
Do not click on links within an e-mail unless you're absolutely certain about the source, and don't reply to suspicious e-mails.

Scammers know that a small percentage of users will fall for their tricks. Armed with information, you don't need to be one of them.

Mosaic Telecom News – 5 Ways To Protect Yourself Against Internet Security Threats

The Internet is a routine part of the way we live our lives. From e-mail and online chatting with friends, to banking, shopping, and surfing or simply playing an online game, the Internet is an extremely useful tool. However, with its use comes inherent dangers – dangers that can impact you personally and financially.

Malware, virus, and spyware threats are not only growing in number but are constantly evolving to find new ways to infect your computer. Here are some best practices you can apply when using the Internet to prevent security threats.

Safeguard your computer with a robust Internet security program like SecureIT Plus
Utilizing an Internet security program is the single most important step you can take to protect your computer. SecureIT Plus will keep you and your family safe against viruses, hackers, fraud, spam and inappropriate content. With fully managed virus and spyware protection, along with pop-up blocker and a personal firewall, SecureIT Plus stops and eliminates Internet threats without any user interaction. You're also given additional support with parental controls and content filtering, system and disk maintenance, along with 24/7 support.
Do not click on messages before reading them
This may be the number one cause of downloading a malicious file to your computer. This usually comes in the form of a "pop-up" message and may prompt you to "click here," compromising your computer with malicious code. If a message like this appears, immediately save any current work/files and restart the computer. This will close the Internet browser displaying the message.
Don't assume links are safe or free of malware
Links can redirect you to malicious sites, so be cautious of clicking links unless you know the site you're going to is safe.
Keep Microsoft Windows up to date and use an up-to-date web browser
Windows users should keep their computer current with the latest patches from Microsoft by making sure "Automatic Updates" is turned on or visiting the Microsoft Update Site frequently. Microsoft releases security patches every month and these will include patches to known vulnerabilities that can be exploited. It is also recommended to use the latest version of your web browser and keep it up to date with the latest patches available.
Be wary of e-mail messages from social networks
Because e-mail addresses can be "spoofed" by hackers, you can't assume that an e-mail from Facebook or Twitter is really from the site it claims to be from. As always, you should never open attachments you were not expecting to receive and you should be wary of clicking on links – especially if you're being told to "update your account." If you do click on a link and are taken to a web page that asks you to log into the site, DON'T DO IT – you may be handing your password to the hackers. Instead, you should always access these sites directly by typing in the URL in your browser or clicking a saved link in your Favorites.

Today, the home computer represents significantly more meaning to the day-to-day behavior of our lives. Virus infections, lost data or computer errors are not only an inconvenience, but can actually become a hardship. Protect yourself by practicing these tips, as well as with an Internet security program such as SecureIT Plus offered by Mosaic Telecom. For more information contact us at 800-924-3405.

Didja Know that Mosaic Telecom's Free Internet Class Schedule is now available for sign up on our corporate website at http://www.mosaictelecom.com/Internet/ClassesCTC.html

Curb Your Caffeine
www.mayoclinic.com – If you're like most adults, you probably drink some combination of coffee, tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks each day. While these beverages can give you a boost, too many of them can be harmful to your health. Mayo Clinic's "caffeine content" site recommends no more than 500 to 600 milligrams of caffeine per day. This helpful site also shows you the amount of caffeine in many popular brands, including foods and medications you might not have considered.

Get It Write
www.paperrater.com – High school and college students will appreciate this handy tool. PaperRater analyzes academic papers for plagiarism, spelling, grammar, style, word choice, and readability. This free service is maintained by linguistics professionals and graduate students, and allows you to correct many common mistakes before you turn in your papers. The site also includes a vocabulary builder and a blog with helpful writing tips. It's like having an English professor at your service 24/7!

137 Years of Popular Science
www.popsci.com – Rocket ships, dinosaurs, sports medicine, computers, and the future of technology—Popular Science has covered it all in its 137 years. Now, the magazine has partnered with Google to offer its entire archive for free browsing. Each issue appears just as it did at its original time of publication, complete with period advertisements. It's a fascinating trip down memory lane for science buffs.

Cool Summer Treats
allrecipes.com – There's nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day than a cool, creamy treat. This site offers dozens of recipes that feature ice cream, including ice cream sandwiches, sherbet, sorbet, and ice cream pies and cakes. For each recipe, you can read reviews, write your own, save to a recipe box, or share with friends. You can also check out videos, and subscribe to the baking newsletter.

Dog-friendly Destinations
www.dogfriendly.com – Remember poor Snoopy being turned away by the sign that read "no dogs allowed"? Don't let this happen to your pooch! This travel site lists accommodations, parks, attractions, stores, and outdoor restaurants where dogs are welcome all over the world. You can search by location (country, city, state), or by destination, such as campgrounds, beaches, attractions, and dog parks. And don't forget to check out the site's blog for the latest dog news.

Compressing files and folders decreases their size so they take up less storage space and can be transferred to other computers more quickly than uncompressed files. (You might think of this process as the electronic version of using vacuum-compression storage bags for extra clothes or blankets.) It's particularly handy, for example, when you have a long list of files to e-mail to someone, since you'll be able to attach just one compressed (or zipped) folder with everything in it instead of attaching 10 or 12 files individually. To create compressed files and folders, follow the steps below:

Creating Compressed Files and Folders Using ...
Computer Operating System: Windows XP

Using the "My Computer" method, click your cursor arrow on the "Start" menu and then click on "My Computer."
When the My Computer window opens, locate the file or folder you would like to compress.
With the file or folder selected, click on the "File" menu. Select "New" from the resulting drop-down menu and then select "Compressed (zipped) Folder" from the secondary drop-down menu.
When the compression is complete, your new zipped file will appear; the icon for the file or folder will appear to have a zipper on it. Type a name for the new compressed file and press the "Enter" key.
Alternately, you can right-click on the file or folder you would like to compress and select "Send To" and then "Compressed (zipped) Folder" from the resulting pop-up menu.

Creating Compressed Files and Folders Using ...
Computer Operating System: Windows Vista

In Windows Explorer, right-click the file or folder you would like to compress.
When the pop-up menu appears, select "Send to . . ." and click "Compressed (zipped) folder" from the submenu.
A compressed file is created using the name of the folder or file you are compressing. The icon for the compressed file or folder looks like a bundle of books with a belt around it to indicate its compressed status. (Note: If you have a separate compression application installed, the icon may look different.)
You can add files or a folder to an existing compressed folder. Simply drag and drop the files or folder on top of it and the new material is automatically added.

Creating Compressed Files and Folders Using ...
Computer Operating System: Windows 7

In Windows Explorer, right-click the file or folder you would like to compress.
Go to "Send to . . ." and click "Compressed (zipped) folder."
A compressed file is created using the name of the folder or file you are compressing with the file extension ".zip" added to the end. The icon for the compressed file or folder has a zipper on it to indicate its compressed status. (Note: If you have a separate compression application installed, like WinZip, the icon may look different.)
You can add files or a folder to an existing compressed folder. Simply drag and drop the files or folder on top of it and the new material is automatically added.

Alternate option:

In Windows Explorer, click to go to the folder in which you would like to create a compressed file. This can be any folder on any drive.
Right-click anywhere in the pane of Windows Explorer that lists the folders and files. Make sure you do not click on a sub-folder.
From the pop-up menu, go to "New" and then click "Compressed (zipped) Folder." A compressed folder named "Compressed (zipped) Folder.zip" appears. The icon has the "zipper" image, indicating it is a compressed file. This is an empty compressed file, waiting for you to add material to it.
Rename the file in some way that is meaningful to you.
The file now can be treated like any normal folder; you can drag other folders or files into it or out of it. The folders or files you drag into it will be compressed.

Creating Compressed Files and Folders Using ...
Computer Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5

In the Finder window, click your cursor arrow on the file or folder you would like to compress.
Click your cursor arrow on the "File" menu and select "Compress '[the name of your file or folder]'" from the resulting drop-down menu.
When the compression is complete, your new zipped file will appear with the existing file or folder name and will now show the extension ".zip" added to the end of its name. The icon for the file or folder will appear to have a zipper on it.
Alternately, you can right-click on the file or folder you would like to compress and select "Compress '[the name of your file or folder]'" from the resulting pop-up menu.

Alternate option:

Click your cursor arrow on the file or folder you would like to compress.
Right-click your cursor arrow on the selected file or folder and select "Compress '[the name of your file or folder]'" from the resulting drop-down menu.
When the compression is complete, your new zipped file will appear with the existing file or folder name and will now show the extension ".zip" added to the end of its name. The icon for the file or folder will appear to have a zipper on it.