As we fast approach the new year, all of us at Lamorinda Technology, Inc., thank you for your patronage, friendship and support. We are privileged to have you in our lives.
We hope that your 2018 is filled with Love, Peace, Health and Prosperity.
This email contains 4 security tips, and 1 informational note:
- Update on recommended steps to take to protect your credit after the Equifax data breach.
- Steps to protect yourself from phone and email scams.
- Free Norton Anti-Virus for Xfinity (Comcast) residential customers.
- Steps to protect yourself from home and car break-ins and thefts.
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- After the Equifax data breach, where almost everyone’s credit information has been compromised, many of you are very concerned about how to stay safe. I recommend using a credit monitoring service. They will keep an eye out for criminal activity on your credit file, such as new accounts being opened, change of address attempts, etc.
Equifax is offering 1 year of free credit monitoring. I use the credit monitoring service from Costco. If you’re a Costco member, their service is very reasonably priced and has lots of important features. Signing up is done on the Costco website.
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- The Holiday Season is a very busy one for the criminals of the world. Popular scams include, fake email tracking links and attachments, that contain a virus, Fake phone calls claiming your computer has an issue that needs an urgent fix.
With a little preparation and common sense, you can send the criminals away empty-handed:
- Make sure you keep your computer, smartphone and other devices updated. This one step, along with using extreme care before clicking on any links or attachments, will prevent most issues.
- Keep anti-virus software on your computer. Comcast (Xfinity) residential customers can get Norton Anti-Virus for free (see #3 below).
- Don’t believe ANY phone call you get claiming that your computer has a problem. Ask for their company name and phone number and give us a call at 925-283-5666. We’ll let you know if they’re legit. (hint: they’re not!).
- Don’t trust pop-ups that claim your computer needs an update. The safest thing to do is to open your web browser and manually type the software manufacturer’s web address, and download the update that way.
Note: we will happily let you know if a call or pop-up you get is legitimate. There’s no charge for this service-it’s just our way of protecting you, and giving back to you for your patronage and support. For pop-ups, the best thing to do is to take a picture of the pop-up on your smartphone and email it to support@lamorindatechnology.com.
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- Free Norton Anti-Virus for Xfinity (Comcast) residential customers.
Yes, this excellent software is really free for Xfinity residential customers. To download & install, go to www.xfinity.com, scroll to the links at the bottom of the page and click the link called “Download Norton Security”. You may need to login with your Xfinity username and password.
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- Steps to protect yourself from home, car and business break-ins and thefts.
Many criminals look for easy targets-Let’s make their lives hard this holiday season!
- Lock your doors, windows and side gate. This will prevent many burglaries.
- Leave lights on when you’re not home, to give your home the look of being occupied.
- Don’t leave valuables in plain sight in your car. If you’re going to put valuables in the trunk, do so BEFORE you get to your destination. Many criminals will watch for people putting briefcases, packages, computers, backpacks, etc. in their trunk when they park, and break into that vehicle.
- Have packages delivered to your office if possible. There are many packages stolen off porches and doorsteps.
- Get a locking mailbox. Many people’s identities are stolen due to mail theft.
Happy New Year!
Edward
