E-mail scam - New phishing attack reported on banking customers
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Ask the Help Desk - What is a buffer?
Great sites to check out this month
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Attention customers: New area code coming to 815 area code
E-mail con artists have frequently masqueraded as banks in an effort to collect personal information such as account numbers. One of the latest such scams, first reported last month, takes a slightly different approach. These e-mail messages are being sent to customers of Bank of America and various other financial institutions, but claim to be promoting a new security program called SFN (Stop Fraud Now). That's right - they're committing fraud by pretending to be an organization that fights fraud.
The bogus SFN program offers to provide you with protection against cloning of credit cards and asks recipients to register by supplying their Social Security Number, credit card number, and ATM Personal Identification Number (PIN). Keep your eyes out for an e-mail resembling this one:
Go to this URL: http://www.cornerstonenow.com/newsletter/section-a/2006/0608_sample.gif
Remember, you should always be suspicious of an e-mail requesting personal financial information, even if it appears to be from a financial institution with which you have a relationship. Legitimate banks will never send you an e-mail asking you to disclose your credit card number or online banking password. Do not reply to this type of e-mail or click on any link included in the message. Just hit "Delete."
Get the freedom of Unlimited Calling and the fun of this area's #1 high-speed Broadband Internet. All for one very low price on just one bill.
Unlimited Calling and Broadband $60 a month (first 6 months)
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Gallatin River Communications is one of the nation's oldest, best-performing
local telephone companies. Our telephone service is crystal clear, works
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This is real, reliable phone service with customer care that's also
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Get this area's best Broadband
With super-speed Internet, you'll send email in a snap, surf at lightning speed,
play online games with crushing speed, download music and watch online
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Sign up today. Simply apply online at http://www.grics.com
or give us a call at 800-223-1851.
Question: I've heard someone mention a "buffer" when referring to listening to music online. What is a buffer?
Answer: When you download an audio or video file from the Internet, your media player software, such as Windows Media Player, saves portions of the file in temporary memory during the process. This is called buffering.
The media player uses buffering technology to begin playing the clip before the entire file is downloaded. This means the clip will be played much sooner than if the entire file had to be completely downloaded before playback.
A buffer is also used to speed up a computer's performance by holding information in temporary memory (random-access memory [RAM]) until it's committed to a permanent location or task.
When you use a word processor, for example, your changes are held in temporary buffer memory until you save the document to your hard drive. Buffers also are used to transmit data between hardware devices, such as a computer and a printer. This buffer is needed when one device can transmit data much quicker than another can receive it.
Survival Stories from the World Trade Center http://wtcmovie.com - Opening this month is World Trade Center, the poignant and powerful 9-11 movie from Oliver Stone. It tells the true story of two officers with the Port Authority Police Department, Will Jimeno and John McLoughlin, who were buried under 20 feet of rubble inside the WTC but were rescued 12 hours later. Their incredible tale of survival is brought to life by a cast including Nicolas Cage, Michael Peña, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Mario Bello. A highlight of this movie site is the "In Their Own Words" section featuring video interviews with Jimeno and McLouglin themselves. Rated PG-13.
The Key to Free Typing Lessons http://learn2type.com - Do the e-mail messages you write contain a few too many typos? Or do your kids need better typing skills to master the homework ahead? This site offers free interactive typing exercises (including new Learn2Type for Kids) that automatically adjust to your skill level. Start by taking the short typing test to instantly assess your speed and accuracy. Then login whenever you like and complete the lessons at your own pace. Free, convenient, and effective - that's our type of typing tutor.
Home Business How-To's http://entrepreneur.com - August is officially "Home Business Month." If you'd like to start a home-based business or expand the one you already have, this site from Entrepreneur magazine is an excellent resource. It covers all the basics, from marketing and sales to money and finance. You'll also find low-cost startup ideas, stories from successful "mompreneurs," and guides to starting the most popular businesses around.
Listen to Your Elders http://elderwisdomcircle.org - When you need advice, there's nothing more valuable than the insights of someone older and wiser. This site provides free advice from volunteer "cyber grandparents" between the ages of 60 and 103. Elder Wisdom Circle is one of the largest providers of personal advice anywhere, and visitors to the site can get help with most any issue ranging from parenting problems to dating dilemmas. Read the responses to questions submitted by others, or send in one of your own for a fast, personalized reply.
News on the Net - US Open Tennis Championships http://www.usopen.org/home/default.sps - The 2006 US Open is August 28 to September 10 in New York. If you've always dreamed of going, get on the ball and visit this site for tickets and visitor information. Last year's US Open set an all-time attendance record of 659,538 fans - evidence of the sport's growing popularity. Never played tennis but want to take a swing at it? You'll also find tips on getting started and information about tennis instruction including free Tennis Block Parties held across the U.S.
Our Internet service is designed to be fast and reliable. If your service isn’t working as it should, don’t hesitate to call us. We’re here for you around the clock, with friendly professionals who are committed to answering any concern you may have. We’ll do it fast and we’ll make sure you’re fully satisfied.
Here’s how to contact us:
Question about your account or bill? Dial 800-223-1851 Monday through Friday.
Technical question about your dial-up Internet service? Dial 877-538-8502 anytime, around the clock.
Technical question about your high-speed Broadband service? Dial 877-538-8503 anytime, around the clock.
To accommodate the increasing demand for telephone numbers within the 815 area code, a new area code (779) is being created for this area. The new code will not replace 815, but will be an additional code serving the same area. As a result of the new area code, a new dialing procedure will be phased in over the next several months.
By February 17, 2007, the new dialing procedure will require callers to dial 11 digits when placing a call within the 815/779 area code boundary. The price of these calls, coverage area, or other rates and services are not affected by the new area code. For more information on the 779 Area Code overlay, please click the Residential or Business link below, or visit www.icc.illinois.gov http://www.icc.illinois.gov.
If you have specific questions related to the overlay, please do not hesitate to call us at 1-800-223-1851 (residential) or 1-800-371-6712 (business).
779 Area Code Overlay – Residential Customer Information http://gallatinriver.com/new_area_code_residential.pdf
779 Area Code Overlay – Business Customer Information http://gallatinriver.com/new_area_code_business.pdf
We hope you found this newsletter to be informative. It's our way of keeping you posted on some of the latest happenings. If, however, you'd prefer not to receive these bulletins on a monthly basis, send us an e-mail at and type REMOVE in the subject line.
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Gallatin River Internet