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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.
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.
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Cable TV Rates
We think so too! As we look at our costs of providing services
each year, one service always
stands out - Cable TV. It's a demanding service
that gives little back. The state of our economy has given consumers no
choice but to cut back on discretionaries that
involve entertainment outside the home. That leaves us with one very
important thing - Cable TV. If we aren't going out as much, we are staying
in...and watching more TV.
Cable TV programmers such as ESPN, Discovery, Turner Networks, Disney, etc.,
hold all of the cards. They charge big fees per channel, place requirements
on cable providers for placement of their programming, and have virtually no service-quality requirements. They are continually
increasing their pricing, resulting in TV price increases by Midco, Cable One, Time Warner, Cox Cable, Verizon,
DirecTV, AT&T, and yours truly...Polar Cablevision.
Local network affiliates like KXJB & KVLY are also playing a big role in
these rate hikes. A few short years ago these local networks that brought our
local news, sports and entertainment charged nothing to cable companies. They
since have started charging cable companies like Polar to broadcast their
stations. In the past year they have raised rates over 125%.
Currently 64% of Polar's Cable TV
rate is made up of programming costs. That leaves very little for the high
costs of maintaining our network, yet we are committed to bringing this service to our rural area.
Unfortunately, Cable TV is a product/service
in which we will continue to see a price increase...like the price of gas,
the price of milk, and the price of medication. However, we are committed to
bringing this service to our
customers.
Please contact our customer service
department with questions on any of your services
- 701.284.7221 or sales@polarcomm.com.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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, 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
©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.
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