We think you’ll find the information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable tool for enhancing your Internet experience.
Here’s what’s inside our January 2015 Newsletter:
SCAM ALERT – AVOID THE TOP 5 FACEBOOK SCAMS
GO PINTEREST-ING! – COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS
FEATURED APPS – THESE ARE WELL WORTH A LOOK
SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN JANUARY
TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
THIS MONTH’S FAQ – WHAT DO THE TERMS “DIGITAL NATIVE” AND “DIGITAL IMMIGRANT” MEAN?
The Gulfcoast Networking Team
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SCAM ALERT – AVOID THE TOP 5 FACEBOOK SCAMS
Online scammers may be unscrupulous, manipulative, and deceitful, but they’re also smart. They know where to find victims for their schemes to steal valuable data, identities, and money. One of the richest sources of unsuspecting targets is Facebook because so many people use it to share so much personal information. But these ploys can only work if you cooperate by clicking on their fraudulent messages. There are numerous ways for scammers to “getcha” on Facebook. Here are a few of the most common “don’t click” scenarios:
1. Profile Views and Blocks. You may see a message promising access to information about who has viewed your profile or who has blocked you from their profile. In reality, this information never has been and never will be available to Facebook users.
2. Profile Color Change. Facebook doesn’t provide a way to change the color of your profile but these messages claim you can do just that. Don’t fall for it!
3. Free Items. This scam’s messages promise you will receive free gift cards, tickets, clothing, electronics, and other items if you complete a survey. You won’t.
4. Facebook Security. As with your email account, you should never respond to supposed security representatives asking for your login credentials. Once they can get into your account, scammers can create any number of serious problems.
5. Celebrity News. Gossip messages about the rich and famous — including fake death notices, sex tapes, and other “OMG” type stories — are used as click bait. Steer clear!
As time goes on, Internet scammers are becoming more sophisticated, and so should you.
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NEWS FROM THE SHOP
So many exciting things are going on, it is hard to know where to start. 2014 was one of the most eventful years in our company’s history.
We signed on as a Xerox partner last month, allowing us to offer FREE color laser printers to our business customers. All they have to do is buy the consumables from Xerox and the monthly fee is applied to the cost of the consumables!
We revamped our websites. Some of the changes were obvious, some not apparent to visitors. We have two primary websites:
http://gn.gulfcoastnetworking.com – This is our business / corporate site, concentrating on providing information for business clients.
https://home.gulfcoastnetworking.com – This is our consumer site. It includes information of interest to individuals and is the home of this monthly newsletter.
A special mention goes to http://robmarlowe.com – This is a blogging site that I created to provide updates on New Port Richey and community issues after my election as Mayor in April. What you probably don’t realize is that robmarlowe.com ALSO serves as a testbed as I experiment with new features that then show up on our corporate sites and the client sites that we manage. SEO tweaks, enhanced use of photos, and social media integration are just three of the features that have shown up on robmarlowe.com before they have been installed elsewhere.
One of the new features we rolled out this past year is a tighter integration of mailing lists with our websites. We split our email list last summer into three lists:
A corporate list, providing email notifications regarding things of interest primarily to businesses. We use this list to send out security information, such as the US-Cert notifications regarding Windows updates.
A consumer list, providing email notifications regarding topics of interest to individuals. Emails go out to this list for specials we are running in the store as well as notices when our monthly newsletter goes online.
A New Port Richey list, providing notifications when I post a new article about the city on robmarlowe.com. This list is the most active, with messages going out weekly.
The new lists offer a lot of features (eg. pictures) that weren’t available with the old list. You are welcome to sign up for any or all of the lists. You will need to sign up for each list you want to be on separately. Just click on the links above and sign up. Be sure to respond to the confirmation email that you will get in a few minutes.
Gulfcoast Networking will continue this coming year to emphasise proactive approaches to computer and network issues. It simply makes sense to address computer issues BEFORE they become major problems.
- Our Safe Computing Packages offer special value in keeping your home computer clean and in top shape. These packages feature the award winning F-Secure security products.
- Our suite of Managed IT Services provide our corporate clients with the comfort of knowing that they have professionals watching over their networks for a predictable monthly cost. For all intents and purposes, we become their IT department. Unlike our break / fix competition, it is to our benefit to keep our clients’ networks running smoothly and our Managed IT clients don’t have to worry about extra charges when they call us for help.
- Our expanding range of web services offer regular content updates, patches, and much more for our clients who depend on their website to promote their business. Our clients can concentrate on their businesses rather than worrying about whether or not their website has all the latest security patches.
We will also continue to offer some of the best computers available at any price. We believe that investing in quality pays off in the long run. Our clients agree.
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GO PINTEREST-ING! – COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS
Quick Hot Chocolate For Cold Winter Days
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775853181998/
Slow Cooker Dinners Make Dinner A Snap
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775853181977/
Guests Will Get A Kick Out Of These Footballs
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775853218906/
You haven’t started pinning on Pinterest yet and you want to get started?
To sign up, go here https://pinterest.com/join/signup/
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FEATURED APPS – THESE ARE WELL WORTH A LOOK
Vine – FREE
Vine allows you to record and share six-second looping videos. Interact with friends, browse videos from other users, or share your creations on Facebook or Twitter.
Learn more here… https://vine.co/
Flixster – FREE
Love to read? Then you’ll love this app, which lets you borrow thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, and videos from your local library.
Learn more here… https://www.overdrive.com/
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SITES OF THE MONTH – GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN JANUARY
Major Life Events Can Affect Your Taxes
http://irs.gov/Individuals/Did-you-know-life-events-like-marriage,-birth-and-divorce-may-have-a-significant-tax-impact%3F
When you’re caught up in the joy of a baby, marriage, or new house—or in the challenges of divorce, bankruptcy, or a natural disaster—the last thing you’re probably thinking about is taxes.
But these types of situations can have a significant tax impact. Visit this site to learn more.
Tools To Get Fit, All in One Place
http://fitday.com
FitDay can help you meet your weight loss goals with several helpful tools: articles that focus on the challenges of weight loss, a dietician to create a custom health plan, a calorie counter to track calorie
intake, and a mobile app to keep track on the go.
Secure Online Financial Tracking
http://mint.com
Time to get your finances in order? With Mint, you can categorize and budget to achieve your financial goals. This online application allows you to see your cash, credit card, loan, and investment accounts all in
one place. You can also organize your bills and get alerts when they’re due.
Get And Stay Organized
http://unclutterer.com
From financial files to kids’ toys to upcoming events, the Unclutterer can help you unclutter your life! This practical blog offers advice in numerous areas including kitchen, garage, and travel. For example, learn how to sort out your recipes, prepare yard tools for spring, or make the most of airport waiting time.
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TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2015/1501_VIDEO_A.htm
Discover The Secret Of This Optical Illusion
Here’s a great reminder that things aren’t always what they seem. The dots appear to be moving in circles but are actually moving in straight lines.
http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2015/1501_VIDEO_B.htm
See How Wolves Transform A Landscape
This fascinating presentation shows how the reintroduction of just a few wolves into Yellowstone National Park in 1995 dramatically changed its ecosystem and geography.
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THIS MONTH’S FAQ – WHAT DO THE TERMS “DIGITAL NATIVE” AND “DIGITAL IMMIGRANT” MEAN?
Question: I’ve heard the terms “digital native” and “digital immigrant” but I don’t know what they mean. Can you explain?
Answer: The terms “digital native” and “digital immigrant” both refer to how much of their lives people have spent in the digital world. Digital natives are those who have been interacting with digital devices, and especially the Internet, all their lives and feel comfortable with this technology. Digital natives are usually people in Generation Y and younger.
Digital immigrants are typically people belonging to Generation X and previous generations, who experienced life before the Internet. These folks may have grown up with TV, video games, and early computers but were introduced to the Internet as teens or adults. They have adapted to the Internet and related technologies but the interaction isn’t as comfortable as it is for younger users.
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We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It’s our way of keeping
you posted on the happenings at our shop.
Thanks for your business!
Best regards,
Rob Marlowe, Senior Geek
Gulfcoast Networking, Inc
6335 Grand Blvd
New Port Richey, FL 34652
727-847-2424
(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.)
©2015 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
Portions ©2015 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission