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Caution! - Warning About Counterfeit And Pirated Software
 According to a recent report from Microsoft®, the
number of customers who unknowingly purchased counterfeit and pirated
Microsoft software has risen dramatically over the last two years. This
software poses a serious risk to security, since studies around the world
have shown that a high percentage of illegally copied or downloaded software
contains spyware, malware, or other malicious code. Consumers who are duped
by fraudulent software can encounter viruses, lose personal information, risk
having their identities stolen, and waste valuable time and money.
Worse yet, today's counterfeiters are often large criminal syndicates that
don't stop at distributing hundreds of copies of unlicensed software.
Software pirates are likely to create botnets,
which are armies of compromised computers controlled by cybercriminals and
used to perform a host of illegal Internet activities.
Here are some tips to help you avoid buying counterfeit software:
1. Take the time to
fully research the products that you are buying and from whom you get them.
Read reviews and talk to retailers so that you build a knowledgeable
perspective.
2. If the price seems
too good to be true, it probably is. Buy from a reputable source such as
major retailers or other recognized resellers.
3. Look for spelling
mistakes on the software package or a shoddy appearance.
4. Make sure software
products are licensed. It is standard that every legal piece of software
includes a developer's license agreement.
5. If you're unsure if
a product is legitimate, call the manufacturer.
Microsoft has launched an education campaign to help you
recognize counterfeit and pirated software, and know if you're purchasing
genuine products. For more information, visit their "How to Tell"
site at http://www.microsoft.com:80/howtotell.
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Bugs Eat Free - Their Destruction is Extra!
When it comes to computer viruses and spyware, the destruction can be costly.
Lost data and files and expensive repairs mean time without your computer.
Keep the bugs away with SecureIT Plus, fully
automated and guaranteed computer protection for only $4.95/month!
Sign up for SecureIT Plus by February 27 and we'll
give you the first 3 months FREE! Call us at 800.284.7222 or e-mail sales@polarcomm.com
today!
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This Month's FAQ - What Are Hashtags
And How Do I Use Them?
Question: As someone who's just getting started on Twitter, I'd
like to know more about hashtags. What are they and
how do I use them?
 Answer: Hashtags
are a community-driven way to label tweets (posts made to Twitter). They
begin with the hash mark (#), followed by a word,
phrase, or abbreviation—examples of hashtags
include #americanidol and #lakers.
When you insert a hashtag in your post, it makes it
easy for Twitter users who don't already follow you (plus anyone searching
Twitter) to find your public contributions to the discussion on that
particular topic.
Here are some tips for you:
- In order to get tracked via
a hashtag, you need to opt-in and follow twitter.com/hashtags. Every time you make a post in
Twitter that includes a hashtag, it will show
up as a real-time post on hashtags.org.
- If you visit hashtags.org,
you can click on any tag and it will show you all of the posts that have
been tagged with that keyword.
- You can search for hashtags on Twitter by using the search box on the
Twitter sidebar.
- You can also subscribe to
any updates that contain a tag by visiting hashtags.org, entering in the
tag you want to follow, and then clicking "subscribe."
By the way, thanks for the question. We're glad we could hash
over this topic with our readers.
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Sites Of The Month - Great Sites To Check Out In February
Lend a Hand in Haiti
http://redcross.org - You
can help the victims of the catastrophic earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti by
making a contribution to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.
It will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies and
technical assistance. Visit their site to make a donation, get news updates
from Haiti,
and find out how to get information if you have loved ones there. You can
also send a $10 donation by texting 'Haiti' to 90999.
Celebrate Black History Month
http://biography.com/blackhistory/index.jsp - February
is Black History Month, and a great time to visit this site. It features an
interactive timeline to give you an overview of black history. You can also
read articles, watch videos, play games, and check out featured bios on such
notable figures as Barack Obama, Maya Angelou, Martin Luther King Jr., and
Rosa Parks.
Cruisin' for Trip Tips
http://cruisecritic.com - Considering
a cruise? Whether you're an experienced or novice cruiser, this detailed site
can help you plan your trip. Find the best cruise for you by destination,
lifestyle, cruise line, or price. Read features about weather, dietary
restrictions, safety, trends, and more. Communicate with other cruisers on
the message boards. And don't forget to read the expert cruise reviews for
advice from the pros.
Hot Site for Chili Lovers
http://chilicookoff.com - This
is the online home of the International Chili Society (ICS). Cookoffs take place throughout the world, and winners are
qualified to compete at the World's Championship Chili Cookoff
held each year in October. Check it out to read about cookoff
winners dating back to 1967 and get some of their chili recipes to try at
home. It's a sure recipe to heat up cold days.
Tour a Dream Home for Inspiration
http://hgtv.com/dream-home/index.html - It
never hurts to dream big, and this site lets you experience the HGTV Dream
Home 2010 in multiple ways. View the floor plan, watch videos, get a feel for
life in New Mexico
(where the home is located), or take a room-by-room tour. Check out the blog
to learn even more about this contemporary Pueblo-style home. And if you like
what you see, visit the Products section to find pieces to make your own home
a little dreamier.
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Short Tutorial - Changing the Sound of E-mail Notification
You probably enjoy having the freedom to change the ring tone
on your phone to suit your personality and preferences. Well, you have a
similar opportunity to change the sound you hear when new e-mail arrives on
your computer. Just follow the steps below for your e-mail program and
operating system:
Changing the Sound of New E-mail Notification Using ...
E-Mail Program: Outlook Express 6 or Mozilla Thunderbird
Computer Operating System: Windows XP
1. Select "Control
Panel" from the "Start" menu. (Make sure you are in
"Classic View.")
2. Double click on the
"Sounds and Audio Devices" icon.
3. The Sounds and
Audio Devices Properties window will open. Click on the "Sounds"
tab.
4. Highlight "New
Mail Notification" in the "Program Events" list.
5. In the
"Sounds:" field, select a sound from the drop-down list, or use the
"Browse" button to find a sound not in the list. To assist you in
selecting a sound, click on the arrow button next to the drop-down list to
listen to a sound of interest.
6. When you have made
your selection, click on the "Apply" and then the "OK"
buttons to accept and save your changes.
Changing the Sound of New E-mail Notification Using ...
E-Mail Program: Windows Mail or Mozilla Thunderbird
Computer Operating System: Windows Vista
1. Select
"Control Panel" from the "Start" menu. (Make sure you are
in "Classic View.")
2. Double click on the
"Sounds" icon.
3. The Sound window
will open. Click on the "Sounds" tab.
4. Highlight "New
Mail Notification" in the "Program" list.
5. In the
"Sounds:" field, select a sound from the drop-down list, or use the
"Browse" button to find a sound not in the list. To assist you in
selecting a sound, click on the "Test" button to listen to a sound
of interest.
6. When you have made
your selection, click on the "Apply" and then the "OK"
buttons to accept and save your changes.
Changing the Sound of New E-mail Notification Using ...
E-Mail Program: Mail.app
Computer Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5
1. With Mail.app open, click your cursor arrow on the
"Mail" menu and select "Preferences" from the resulting
drop-down menu.
2. When the
Preferences window opens, select the "General" tab by clicking on
its icon.
3. Click on the
drop-down button next to "New mail sound." A drop-down menu listing
all the sounds in your system will appear.
4. Select a sound and
the sound will play. Keep making selections and listening to sounds until you
find the one you like best.
5. Once you have made
your final sound selection, close the Preferences window to save your
changes.
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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,
The
E-Connections Team
Polar Communications
110 4th St E
Park River, ND 58270
800-284-7222
(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.)
©2010 Cornerstone
Publishing Group Inc.
Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this e-mail are trade
names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
owners.
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