eCurrents | November 2014

In this issue: 

Scam alert, Internet usage, more!

 


Link to Advanced Technology, Personal Touch

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Scam Alert
Watch Out For Fake Charities During Holiday Season

How Much Internet Are You Really Using?

Go Pinterest-ing!
Cool Stuff To Pin On Your Pinterest Boards

Sites Of The Month
Great Sites To Check Out In November

This Month's FAQ
Which Security Question Should I Pick For A "Forgot Password" Feature?

Two To View
A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss

Short Tutorial
How To Save Interesting Items On Facebook

WEBSITE COMPASS ONLINE
Your Advanced Technology, Personal Touch Guide To Understanding The Internet


Welcome to eCurrents

Download Graphics to View November is the month when temperatures cool down and holiday preparations heat up. We've gathered seasonal content here to help you enjoy what makes November special (as well as avoid one of the month's potential threats). We start with a warning about the fake charity scams that turn up every fall, and we offer tips on how to avoid them.

Need recipe ideas for entertaining family and friends? Check out the hot cider and pumpkin doughnut recipes in the Pinterest section. Want to better understand your furry companions? Head for the fascinating dog site in Sites of the Month. Need inspiration for a building project? Watch a barn go up in minutes in Two to View.

This November issue also includes advice on how to pick a good security question as well as how to save interesting items on Facebook for reading later.

The goal of each of our eNewsletters is to keep our subscribers informed regarding their Internet connection and to improve their Internet experience. We think you'll find this information interesting.

To see what's inside this issue, simply scroll down the eNewsletter or click on the links within the index to the left. Thanks for reading!

- The eCurrents Team
 
 
Scam Alert – Watch Out For Fake Charities During Holiday Season

See The Details Download Graphics to View

How Much Internet Are You Really Using?
Like many people, you may be subscribing to the same Internet service level from 3 Rivers that you were several years ago. Have you been experiencing some frustration lately with what you perceive as the performance of your Internet connection? Before you reach for the phone to call 3 Rivers to see if there are network issues, you should consider that the way you use the Internet has probably changed, while your Internet speed has not. Think about what you (and others in your household — especially if you have teenaged kids!) are doing online on a daily basis, and use the guideline below to see if an upgrade to your Internet service level might be the solution to keeping everyone happy.

  • Gaming—6 Mbps for each gaming console such as an Xbox or PlayStation in use
  • Video Streaming—6 Mbps for each person watching Netflix or using Skype, for example
  • Smartphones/Tablets—2-4 Mbps for each user

If someone is gaming, someone is streaming video and someone is surfing the web on their smartphone ALL AT THE SAME TIME (not uncommon in many households!) you could be looking at the need for 16 Mbps Internet or more! Now you can give 3 Rivers a call — to see what options and special deals are available!

Go Pinterest-ing! – Cool Stuff To Pin On Your Pinterest Boards

Pin 1 Download Graphics to View
 
Pin 2 Download Graphics to View
 
Pin 3 Download Graphics to View

Spice Up Fall With This Apple Cider Recipe
 
Pumpkin Doughnuts Round Out Breakfast
 
A Baby Donkey That's All Ears And All Too Cute

You haven't started pinning on Pinterest yet and you want to get started? If so, click here.

Sites Of The Month – Great Sites To Check Out In November

Try New Side Dishes For Thanksgiving
southernliving.com – The main dish of turkey may be non-negotiable, but we bet there's room on your Thanksgiving table for a new side dish or two. Check out this mouthwatering collection of recipes from Southern Living including Bacon & Brown Sugar Brussels Sprouts and Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Cumin.
See The World Through Your Dog's Eyes
dognition.com – This fascinating site helps you learn how your dog's mind works. The Dognition Assessment uses science-based games to look at empathy, communication, cunning, memory, and reasoning. The results will give you a richer understanding of your dog's behavior.
Make The Most Of Your Money
clarkhoward.com – Clark Howard is a nationally syndicated consumer expert who shares ways for people to "save more, spend less, and avoid getting ripped off." You can watch recent video tips, listen to his radio show, and browse through information on everything from buying a car to negotiating a raise.
What's Trending In Holiday Decorating?
christmas.com – Using the same holiday decorations year after year can get boring. So before you deck the halls, pick up fresh ideas such as re-purposing vintage items and adding texture through burlap. You can also create a family page to share holiday photos, save recipes, and more.

This Month's FAQ – Which Security Question Should I Pick For A "Forgot Password" Feature?
Question: Sometimes a website will ask me to choose a security question from a list or write my own. What makes a good security question for a "Forgot Password" feature?

Download Graphics to View Answer: The security question (and answer) that's associated with an online account enables you to be sent your password in case you forget it. In order to prevent someone not authorized to access your account from getting your password, it's important to use a security question with an answer that has these characteristics:

  • It should be difficult to discover through research. The answer to your security question should not be something that could be easily looked up online, such as, "What is my high school's mascot?"

  • It should be hard to guess. This means any question with a limited list of answers is not a secure one. For example, don't use any security question where the answer is a month, a color, or a day of the week. An intruder could probably guess with just a few tries the answer to a bad question such as "What color is my bedroom?"

  • It shouldn't change over time. The problem with a question such as, "What is your favorite book?" is that the answer may not be the same five years from now.

It's well worth your time to make sure your security questions and answers (along with your passwords) create a strong defense against hackers.

Two To View – A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss

Cool Video 1 - Download Graphics to View   Cool Video 2 - Download Graphics to View
     
See Why Not To Text And Drive
This video catches moviegoers off guard as it dramatically shows what can happen when you quit watching the road to reach for your phone.
  Amazing Amish Barn Raising
See more than 10 hours of barn building in just 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Clearly, many hands do make light work!

Short Tutorial – How To Save Interesting Items On Facebook
Tired of scrolling through a friend's Facebook news feed to find the link to that cool story you didn't have time to read when it was originally posted? Thanks to a new feature in Facebook, you can save interesting items to check out later.

Download Graphics to View To save something you see on Facebook:

  • From your News Feed: Click the down arrow icon and then select Save

  • From a Page: Click the three dots icon and then select Save

  • From an event: Click the bookmark icon Save

Note: You can't save photos or posts without links.

When you save things on Facebook, they'll appear in your Saved Items that only you can see.

To view the things you've saved:

  1. Go to Facebook.com/saved or click Saved in the left column of your homepage after you've saved something.

  2. Click a saved category at the top or click a saved item to view it.

For more details, visit this link.

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, please see the links at the bottom of this email to manage your preferences.

Thanks for your business!

Best regards

Your eCurrents Team
3 Rivers Communications



Join Us On Facebook Download Graphics to View 3 Rivers Communications
202 5th St S
PO Box 429
Fairfield, MT 59436

1-800-796-4567 406-467-2535

WEBSITECOMPASS
©2014 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.