This is a time of the year when we should make many changes. Daylight Savings Time ended on November 2nd and you not only moved your clocks back an hour but you changed the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as well... didn't you?

Computer experts also recommend changing the passwords on your computer accounts, and for any online access, twice a year as well. 

Changing your passwords, to log on to your computer or access critical stored information (bank accounts, etc.), is an important thing to do.  This reduces the chance that someone will be able to "break in" to your computer files or access your online information.  See tips to protect your passwords.

It's a good time to check that your back-up system for your computer is working - you are backing up your computer, aren't you???  We don't want you to be one of the horror stories we hear.

If you don't already update your Website and advertising/marketing monthly, you should consider doing it at least four times a year.  Otherwise both can become like yesterday's news... no, more like last month's news.  People will stop paying attention... they've already looked at it!  It's time for something new.

Check out our Chamber's Member Benefits Discount Program for many services offered by our Chamber members. You can also participate.  Contact our Marketing Committee Chairman, Michael Reichgut at 923-4411 and let us know what services or products you'd be able to offer at a discount.

For example, SolutionsIC Web Design offers FREE evaluation of your existing Website. A FREE consultation for developing a new Website. And, a 10% discount on building your Website (FREE Domain Name search) or graphic design for new clients.

For advertising benefits contact the Bilingual Weekly newspaper, they are offering our members a FREE Business Card size advertisement for 4 weeks. See their contact information to get your free ad.

If you aren't able to offer your employees medical insurance there is an answer for their medical needs - Meridian Medical Group. They offer Low cost medical services so your employees don't need to go to the emergency room for medical attention for regular services like X-rays, MRI, Clinical Labs, Immunizations. Vitamins, skin care, etc.  They are offering additional cost savings... see their coupon on the discount page.

 

If you need assistance with your marketing and advertising, Words For The Web offers 10% discounts, for Chamber members, on any new writing project for your Website, advertising, marketing, etc. Isn't it time you strated growing your business likes these companies are doing?  Contact us now so you can become a Chamber member... or complete our application form and send it to us.

 

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Tips for Developing Passwords
Experts caution that you shouldn't "sequence" your passwords to make them easier for you to remember.  If someone gets hold of an old password of yours, "green03," and it doesn't work, it won't take long for your average computer hacker to guess the new password is "green04" or "green05, etc."  You can dramatically increase its security by mixing upper and lowercase letters and including numerals and select special characters.

It's a good idea to have different passwords for different things.  This can be hard to do in practice because there are so many things needing passwords.  Experts say having a several different passwords can be helpful. Use one for less important things like your log on to your local newspaper online or an Internet message board, and another, more complex one for more important things like your online banking or the place you store sensitive business documents on your hard drive.  Whatever you do to make it easy for you to remember your passwords but hard for others to guess is best.

Try to vary your passwords by using things that aren't easy to guess or find out.  Don't use things like your Social Security number, your birthday, or child's name.  Another good idea, experts say, is including letters, numerals and symbols in passwords.  One way to do this is to substitute numbers that look most like the vowels for a, e, i and o.  "A" can be "4", "E" can be "3", "I" can be "1" and "O" can be "0".  A password for an "agent" might be "4g3nt." But, don't make it to easy or a hacker could guess them as easily.  These letter/number combinations are harder to guess but also, harder for a hacker to remember if they somehow are able to see them very briefly.

If it's in the dictionary or a family name or birth date, then it shouldn't be a password.  Passwords must be absolutely confidential.  You should never divulge your passwords to anyone... especially if you receive a call or an email requesting it.