Here’s what’s inside our June 2016 Newsletter:
SECURITY ALERT – A NEW TWIST ON TECH-SUPPORT SCAMS
GO PINTEREST-ING! – COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS
FREE FEATURED APPS – THESE THREE ARE WELL WORTH A LOOK
TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
SHORT TUTORIAL/FAQ – HOW CAN I CONTROL WHO SEES MY POST ON FACEBOOK?
The Gulfcoast Networking Team
SECURITY ALERT – A NEW TWIST ON TECH-SUPPORT SCAMS
For some time, scammers have known how to trick innocent computer users into divulging sensitive information (which they can later use for malicious purposes) by calling and offering to “fix” the victim’s computer. To sound convincing, these crooks make up phony reasons why the computer needs to be repaired. Now the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been hearing reports of people getting calls from scammers claiming to be from the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (GPEN) saying that the victim’s email has been hacked and is sending out fraudulent messages. The criminals further claim they must fix the problem immediately or the user will be subject to legal action.
GPEN is a real organization that strives for cooperation in the enforcement of cross-border privacy laws. Its website has issued the following statement as part of an alert addressing this scam: “GPEN and PrivacyEnforcement.net do not contact individual consumers via phone or email.”
The alert further cautions you to not send money, give financial information, or follow instructions if contacted by someone claiming to be from the site. Here are some additional tips from the FTC:
~Don’t give control of your computer to anyone who calls you offering to “fix” it.
~If a caller pressures you to act immediately, hang up.
~If you have doubts about who is contacting you or why, call the company the person is claiming to be from directly with contact information you already have.
Remember, scammers will always try, but they don’t always have to succeed. Cut them off, and they won’t be able to get what they’re after.
In addition to the GPEN scam mentioned above, we have heard from a number of people who have gotten a call from “Microsoft” telling them that their computer has been infected and needs to be cleaned up. If you get one of these calls, hang up IMMEDIATELY.
Other people have gotten popups telling them something similar and instructing them to call Microsoft at a specific phone number. If you get one of these, hold the power button until the computer turns off and then restart it.
For good measure, I fixed a machine this past weekend that used the computer speakers to tell the computer owner that the machine was infected. Again, this is a scam and the computer needs to be checked out, but not by calling the number suggested.
How can you protect yourself from these threats? The best solution is to have a tech company that you know and trust that you can call any time you have a question. Gulfcoast Networking offers both consumer and business support plans that provide telephone support, anti-malware protection, and other features designed to keep you and your computer safe.
For Consumers:
We offer a range of Safe Computing Packages. These plans are affordable and designed to keep you and your home computer out of trouble.
For Businesses:
We offer a full array of IT management services. These include real-time monitoring of your network, anti-malware protection, backup solutions, telephone support, on-site support, email, and web hosting. We can even roll in a subscription to the latest Microsoft Office products. Your business then has one number to call for all of your IT needs and questions.
All of our consumer and business support options include remote technical support, allowing us in most cases to solve your issues without you having to bring a computer to us or us driving to your office.
We would love the opportunity to talk to you about how you can simplify your life by letting Gulfcoast Networking handle your IT needs. Give us a call at 727-847-2424 or drop us a line via the Internet.
GO PINTEREST-ING! – COOL STUFF TO PIN ON YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS
Quick & Tasty Lemon Blueberry Layer Cake
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775859866140/
Freeze Fresh Herbs & Save For Later Use
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AdviISXosq0bRDcd6ZdQIGo5jooCP9Ckg3cT988yulLeZW4PaUeDuiA/
Make This Unique Domino Wall Clock
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291537775859866196/
You haven’t started pinning on Pinterest yet and you want to get started?
To sign up, go here https://pinterest.com/join/signup/
FREE FEATURED APPS – THESE THREE ARE WELL WORTH A LOOK
Stack
In this addictive game, you try to stack colorful moving blocks right on top of each other. While seemingly simple, Stack is surprisingly challenging.
Learn More Here: http://www.ketchappstudio.com/
The Pit Pal BBQ App
Created to help cooks create more consistent BBQ, this app enables you to monitor your cooking, store your information, and take photos of the end product.
Learn More Here: http://www.thepitpal.com/
Zillow
This useful app helps you learn everything you want to know – including pricing, features, and nearby schools – about residential real estate all over the U.S.
Learn More Here: http://www.ketchappstudio.com/
Solving The Retirement Mystery
http://1.usa.gov/25ckk1Q
Fewer pensions and longer lifespans mean Americans need to take control of their own retirement. This site takes a mystery-solving approach to helping you “discover” where you can find money now and in the future. Review it to learn how to save, make your money last, and find planning help.
Farm-To-Table Recipes
http://bit.ly/1syds0v
Summertime is farmers’ market time, but what do you do with all that delectable produce once you get it home? Visit this site to find some great ideas for cooking many fresh fruits and veggies. Try making some fresh asparagus soup, cherry cobbler, or fresh tomato salad. Yum!
Creative Online Marketplace
http://etsy.com
If you haven’t yet discovered Etsy, stop by to find unique goods sold by creative entrepreneurs for yourself or a friend. Shop for clothing, accessories, jewelry, craft supplies, home décor, and more. Or, if you’re the artistic type, consider promoting your creations with an Etsy shop of your own.
Tips For Traveling Light
http://onebag.com
Packing light when you travel can help you save money, increase your mobility, and keep track of your belongings. Yet, lightening the load is easier said than done. This site provides detailed suggestions for what and how to pack, to keep your luggage burden down to just one bag
TWO TO VIEW – A COUPLE OF AMAZING VIDEOS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2016/1606_VIDEO_A.htm
Cyclists Chased By Ostrich
One thing not to worry about on a bike ride: an ostrich chasing you down – right? Not for the two confused cyclists in this video!
http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2016/1606_VIDEO_B.htm
Twin Strangers
Watch as a young woman finds her unrelated look-alike. The resemblance is uncanny, especially when they change their looks to appear even more similar.
SHORT TUTORIAL/FAQ – HOW CAN I CONTROL WHO SEES MY POST ON FACEBOOK?
Question: I want to post some personal news on Facebook, and don’t necessarily want all my friends to see it. How do I choose who can view it?
Answer: There are a couple of ways you can go about selecting who views your posts on Facebook. The first way is to choose a default setting that your posts will automatically adhere to. To do this, follow these steps:
1. From your home page, click the down-arrow in the upper-right corner.
2. Select Settings.
3. In the left-hand column, click Privacy.
4. In the main content area, under “Who can see my stuff?”, select “Who can see future posts?”
5. Click the audience selector, and choose your preference. If you’ve created friend lists, your selection can be even more specific.
6. This selection will now be used for every post unless you change it.
To change your default selection, create your new post as you normally would. Then, follow these steps:
1. Click the audience selector, and choose your preference for this post only.
2 .Click Post.
3. Your post will be viewable only by the people you selected.
You can even change the audience for an item you’ve already posted. To do this, simply find the post on your timeline, click the audience selector, and choose a new selection.
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.)
©2016 Gulfcoast Networking, Inc.
Portions ©2016 Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc., used with permission