Out Box Communications

The Internet is constantly evolving, as are the devices used to access it. High-tech smartphone and tablet users need to know how to avoid compromising their personal information online. Thus, there are many ways that individuals can safely use today’s technology. “As people continue to utilize smartphones, such as the iPhone 7 and Samsung Galaxy S8, for online purchases and other activities where security is paramount, it is important that they know how to stay safe and secure online,” said Nathan Waddell, U.S. Cellular’s director of sales for U.S. Cellular in the Mid-South. “We want to be a resource for customers, and we encourage safe online habits to reduce privacy risks.” In honor of Internet Safety Month in June, U.S. Cellular offers the following online and wireless device tips: • Password Protection – First and foremost, smartphones can be locked to require a pin or fingerprint to do anything other than dial 911. It is also valuable to have pins or passwords on any down

Remembering a dog’s name, 12345 or password123! is easy, but when it comes to protecting valuable information, those passwords share common patterns, creating vulnerability across the various accounts we all use every day. While many accounts are requiring stronger passwords with a combination of letters, numbers and characters, 59 percent of adults admit to reusing passwords due to the difficulty remembering them, according to a Harris Interactive survey. When using the same few passwords across countless accounts, ranging from the ones that need to be most secure, like bank and credit cards, to social media sites or free subscriptions, users are asking for trouble. If one account gets hacked, all accounts sharing the same password and email are at much greater risk. Keeping accounts safe is simple for those who have no trouble creating and recalling complex passwords and can remember to change them every few months. However for many, that’s no easy task. Fortunately, wit