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WebsiteCompass The World’s #1 Internet Magazine SUMMER 21 Compliments of United Communications and TurtleMountain Communications

EXPLORE VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY 10 WAYS TO HELP PREVENT IDENTITY THEFT INS AND OUTS OF INSTAGRAM SHOULD YOU USE CELLULAR DATA OR WI-FI?

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WebsiteCompass

Contents

Website Compass ™ is a publication of Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc.

4815 Caravelle Drive Fort Collins, CO 80526 970-818-5012 ISSN 1525-951X No part of this publication may be

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reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, electronic, photocopying, recording, mechanical, or otherwise without prior written permission of the publisher. Website Compass ™ is a trademark of Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. Copyright© 2021 by Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc. All rights reserved. TRADEMARKS – All brand names and product names used in this publication are trade names, service marks, trademarks, or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Website Compass magazine is an independent magazine and is not affiliated with, nor has it been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation, Google, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook. All screen shots are the property of their respective owners. ADVERTISERS – To obtain advertising information, contact: Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc.

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4815 Caravelle Drive Fort Collins, CO 80526 970-818-5012

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INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS – To obtain additional information about distribution of Website Compass magazine to your internet subscribers and a free customized online version of Website Compass , contact: Shane Petersen Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc.

FEATURE STORY 2 Explore Virtual and Augmented Reality Learn, play, and create with these emerging technologies INTERNET CONNECTIONS 8 Should You Use Cellular Data or Wi-Fi? SOCIAL MEDIA BASICS 10 Ins and Outs of Instagram Share your life and express yourself through photos and videos BACK TO BASICS 13 10Ways to Help Prevent Identity Theft These simple steps can go a long way toward keeping you safe It depends on where you are and what you’re doing

BEYOND THE BASICS 16 The Jetsons Predicted the FutureWell

4815 Caravelle Drive Fort Collins, CO 80526 970-818-5012 shanep@cornerstonenow.com Cornerstone Publishing Group, Inc.

Set in 2062, many of the cartoon’s contraptions are already around today

(the Author and Publisher) as well as any participating Internet Service Provider Partners hereby disclaim all warranties relating to Website Compass magazine or its website, whether expressed or implied, including without limitation any implied warrantied of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Although the Author and its ISP Partners believe the information provided is accurate, neither party claims responsibility for any damage or loss of data to a user’s computer caused by utilizing this information. The Author and its ISP Partners will not be liable for any special, incidental, consequential, indirect, or similar damages due to loss of data or any other reason when utilizing information/tutorials from Website Compass magazine or its websites. In no event shall the Author or ISP Partner be liable for any damages, regardless of the form of the claim. The person using the information contained in Website Compass magazine bears all risk as to the use of the information provided. Cornerstone Group is not responsible for the quality, performance, or reliability of third-party tools or software.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 18 Ask Dr. Webbie Answers to your internet questions A TO Z 19 Internet Glossary Words and definitions

Tutorials in This Issue 12 How to Sign Up for Instagram 12 How to Post a Photo or Video to Instagram

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WebsiteCompass

Feature Story

EXPLORE VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY

Learn, play, and create with these emerging technologies

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) have been on the scene for some time. But 2021 may just be the breakthrough year when they become mainstream. VR is familiar from movies like Ready Player One in which people enter and interact in entirely built worlds. AR is a blend of realities, as with the game Pokémon Go, in which virtual elements are superimposed on objects in the real world.

But both VR and AR have uses well beyond gaming. Want to “try on” clothing without going to a store? AR applications can make it happen. Want your kids to learn about history as if they were really there? VR programs create this type of interaction. Want your next surgery to be noninvasive? AR systems support physicians in this ability.

In the next few pages, you’ll learn more about these and other VR and AR uses. For example, it might not be long before you can“try before you buy” for your next vacation, purchase your dream home without ever stepping foot in it, or “attend” your favorite sporting events from afar. We also cover how to purchase a VR system of your own.

Get ready to see the (virtual) world in a whole new way!

QUICK TIP: Google Earth (google.com/earth) lets you ex- perience the world through VR.

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See the World Without Leaving Your Couch

Ready to enter the realm of VR? As with other forms of electronic enter- tainment, you’ll need equipment. Here are a few tips for finding the best home VR system for your household.

Apps Just as some mobile apps are available only for iPhone or only for Android, some VR apps are available only for certain systems. Before you purchase a VR head- set, research the apps you want to use it for and make sure the system you choose will support them. Price VR headsets range in price from $15 for a cardboard lens that will work with your smartphone to several hundred dollars for a high-end headset. Think about how much you want to spend before you start shopping, so you don’t go over your bud- get. Keep in mind there are hidden costs, including possibly a new computer or smartphone that can operate the applica- tions you want to use. Technology Before buying, research the most important technical specifications for a VR system:

• Interpupillary distance (IPD) is the dis- tance between your pupils as you look ahead. VR lenses should support your IPD. • Horizontal field of view indicates the amount of your field of vision that’s filled by the headset. It should be at least 90 degrees. • Resolution will determine the qual- ity of the images you see. Look for 1080x1200 at a minimum. • Tracking can be internal or external. Internal is preferred. Options Some of the most popular headsets cur- rently on the market include the Oculus Quest 2, the HP Reverb G2, the Sony PlayStation VR, and the HTCVive Cosmos. Remember, there’s no one right VR system for everyone. Choose the one that’s most comfortable and sensible for you.

Microsoft Mesh Takes Teams to the Next Level

Microsoft’s newMesh platform is being promoted as the next generation of Teams, which is like Zoom—a virtual meeting space where participants can share video, audio, and documents from anywhere in the world. In the Mesh environment, participants represent themselves as avatars who move in the same virtual space. For example, a team of engineers could meet in a virtual space alongside a model of a car they’re designing. The system works using Microsoft’s HoloLens 2, a VR headset worn over the eyes. According to The Verge, “Mesh will eventually support what Microsoft calls ‘holoportation,’ allowing people to appear as themselves in a virtual space.” It will also integrate with Teams and a variety of other applications that Microsoft is hoping developers will create, including those that support social gatherings and games. One of those apps already available is AltspaceVR , a virtual space for live shows, meetups, and classes.

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Feature Story

“Feel Like You’re Really There” Entertainment

VR and AR are a natural fit for video games, introducing an immersive element to experiences that already take place from a first-person perspective. Here are a few ways in which VR takes gaming and entertainment to the next level.

Pokémon Transforms Again

In 2016, Pokémon Go became highly popular. After years of existing as a game in other formats, Pokémon was available as a mobile app that became famous for getting people out of the house to catch monsters in their own neighborhoods. This version of the game placed the creatures to be captured in the real world, appearing alongside trees, bridges, buildings, and other physical objects. For many who played it, it was their first AR experience. Now Pokémon has transformed again into Pokémon VR, an unofficial fan- created Pokémon game. It resembles Pokémon Go but gives players a more immersive experience. Players can choose an avatar and join games together to do battle, buy items in a store, or trade —all in different game areas. In 2020, Pokémon also appeared in Virtual Fest, a limited-time VR theme park.

Gambling PokerVR is a VR app that puts you in a lifelike poker game. The experience evokes being in a real casino where you can interact with other players and improve your game by noticing their body language. The app is available for several popular VR systems. Socializing Social communities in the VR space simply allow you to get together with others, as though at a real-life gathering. High Fidelity and vTime are two apps that enable this capability. vTime allows you to spend time with others in immersive virtual environments using highly customizable avatars. Immersive Films The Disney Movies VR app is putting some of your favorite Disney scenes into 3D format. You can also find a more immersive experience on YouTube, with 360-degree/3D VR videos, including musical performances, sporting events, and outdoor adventures. Cultural Sights Numerous museums offer virtual tours that you can take from anywhere you have an internet connection. World-famous museums include the British Museum in London, the Guggenheim Museum in New York, and the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. Go to each museum’s website to find your new favorite tour. Theme Parks In China, a prototype for a theme park puts you in an alien landscape where you must defend yourself from enemies that want to do you harm. The physical space is really just a large, mostly empty room under a Beijing mall, with hopes for much larger parks in locations across China.

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VR and AR Enable Better Virtual Events In 2020, many events that used to take place in person happened online, sometimes successfully and other times not so much. For example, there’s no way to really replicate the excitement of being at a live concert performed by your favorite band. VR can’t take the place of live events either, but it can come closer than endless Zoom meetings. world. For example, according to software development company MobiDev, one organization created a virtual career fair that included traditional-looking tables represent- ing various businesses in an outdoor field. Attendees could approach each table and watch a video about that business. This event was accessed using WebAR, which is web-based AR that users can access directly through a browser, with no app or headset required. The same principle can be applied to other events that might not require the high level of reality delivered by VR. Events like concerts, plays, and confer- ences can be replicated in the virtual

Immersive Tech Makes Shopping More Convenient

Given that so much shopping takes place online, retailers are now offering VR and AR features to enhance the customer experience. The technology can be used for interacting with products as well as the purchasing process.

Fashion Stores like Ikea already have the technol- ogy to help you visualize different ways of using a piece of furniture in your home. With an immersive in-store expe- rience, you can change colors, lighting, and arrangements to get a much wider perspective about the products you’re considering. Learning Opportunities Lowe’s home improvement stores offer the Holoroom Test Drive, an environ- ment in which customers can safely learn how to operate power tools in a virtual space that uses haptics (sense of touch), scent, sound, and visuals. The company promotes this service as a way to prevent DIYers from giving up on home improve- ment projects due to being intimidated by power tools.

Enhanced Shopping AR shopping apps enable you to walk into a brick-and-mortar store and see prices, special offers, and features for the products you’re looking at. For larger stores, these apps can also be used to help you navigate through the space. Product Discovery Within a physical store, AR apps can use information about your preferences to guide you to personalized recommenda- tions. This use is similar to how online retailers make suggestions for products you might like based on past purchases and others items you’ve viewed.

QUICK TIP: Netflix VR puts you in a perfect TV viewing room to watch your favorite shows.

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Feature Story

Virtual Health Care Improves Real World Outcomes

VR Helps Seniors With Travel, Housing, and More Many seniors would like to travel but are unable to do so due to financial or physical limitations. Some want to connect with others more but don’t have friends or family around. And others have challenges with mental abilities such as memory but don’t have resources to improve it. VR can help with all of these issues. At White Sands La Jolla, a senior living facility, the staff recently introduced VR technology to residents. They’ve used it to visit places like the Great Wall of China, return to places they remember from childhood, and experience out- door adventures—all without having to physically go anywhere. The technology can even be used to recreate places individual seniors would like to visit, such as a favorite vacation spot. Another use is to take seniors on “virtual tours” of new housing before they visit or go to live there in person.

As in other fields, the potential uses for AR and VR in health care are nearly endless. With a wide variety of apps, doctors and patients can contribute to higher levels of mental and physical health and well-being. Medical Training Students can be taught how to perform medical procedures using instructive visual rep- resentations on AR headsets or glasses. Doctors in training can also use VR simulators of various health issues to gain empathy for their patients. Surgery AR system Magic Loupe, created by InnerOptic Technology, gives doctors and their colleagues detailed visuals of a patient’s internal organs while simultaneously allowing them to see the physical patient. This technology enables safer, less invasive options for surgeries. Pain Management Chronic pain affects a significant portion of the population and VR pain management applications can help them control it without the need for potentially addictive drugs. These applications train patients to focus on experiences beyond the pain, using a cog- nitive behavioral therapy approach. Mental Health Spending time in VR environments can have therapeutic effects for those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as paranoia, phobias, social anxiety, and other mental health issues. For example, clients can become accustomed to being in crowds in a train setting that gradually adds more people on the train. Well-Being Do you love meditation apps or podcasts? Imagine taking them to the next level with visuals and the ability to place yourself in a serene environment such as a tranquil garden or beautiful forest or beach. Guided Meditation VR, available for a variety of VR devices, is a VR relaxation app that enables you to recharge in exotic locations.

QUICK TIP: The app for Gatwick Airport in London includes an AR component to help you find your gate.

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Any subject can benefit from an immersive VR or AR program that brings it to life. In the coming years, teachers will find increasingly creative uses for this powerful teaching tool. Virtually Unlimited Learning Possibilities

Enhancing Any Subject Instructors of students at any level can use VR and AR to get students more engaged in a topic, including science and music. Imagine having the capability to view organs of the human body, for instance, from the outside in. Virtual Field Trips Primary and secondary classes have been going on field trips to places close to home like museums, farms, and factories for decades. Using VR, they can now visit places that aren’t so easy to get to, such as museums or other cultural landmarks in far- off countries, or even destinations on other planets. Learning History First-Hand In addition to traveling through space, students can travel through time using VR. Programs created by companies like Unimersiv include historical events and locations to help them get a feel for the sights and sounds in ways that aren’t possible with tradi- tional classroom methods. Special Needs VR can help children with special needs. For example, VR scenar- ios can be used to guide those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in learning skills like pointing, making eye contact, and

forming social connections. Programs such as those developed by Floreo include parents in the process.

Attending Classes Anywhere The power of VR can also remove limitations of where students learn. Immersive VR Education has created an education platform that enables educational institutes to host classes accessible by people from anywhere in the world.

Immersive Tech Across Other Sectors Potential uses of AR and VR extend far beyond those already described in entertainment, retail, health care, and education. Here are just a few of the other sectors where it can be beneficial. Military . VR simulations can help troops train for flight, battlefield scenarios, medic responses, and other situations. Sports. Coaches and players can engage in VR situations to improve technique. Fans can “attend” events from anywhere. Automotive. From the design phase to manufacturing to repair, automotive professionals can benefit from AR and VR programs. Tourism. “Try before you buy” can be applied to possible trips as travelers can experience a taste of far-off places without leaving home. Real estate. Buying a house can become less time-consuming with virtual walk-throughs to rule out homes that aren’t a good fit. Newsand journalism . TV broadcasters are already using AR to showweather conditions, especially big storms and other extreme events.

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WebsiteCompass

Internet Connections

Should You Use Cellular Data or Wi-Fi? It depends on where you are and what you’re doing Your phone has two ways it can access the internet—via cellular data or via Wi-Fi. So what’s the difference? And when should you use one or the other?

Cellular Data vs. Wi-Fi Cellular data is offered by your mobile car- rier and covers large geographic areas. Your phone is connected to nearby cell towers to send and receive internet data. This gives you internet access almost wherever you go, provided you can get an internet- capable cell signal. When you signed up with your mobile carrier, your plan probably included a certain amount of cellular data per period, such as 10 GB or 50 GB (Gigabytes) per month. When you go over that limit due to your internet usage, there will be an additional charge. (If you don’t know how much data is included in your plan,

contact your mobile carrier or check your monthly statement.)

use of cellular data to these types of situations: • You’re not at home near your Wi-Fi router and no public Wi-Fi is available to you. • The only public Wi-Fi network you can access is slow, weak, or not secure. • You’re in your home country (as opposed to another country where rates are higher). • You’re only doing simple internet activi- ties such as checking email or Facebook. • You have plenty of cellular data left on your plan for the month.

Wi-Fi, by contrast, means your phone is connected to a nearby Wi-Fi router at your home, a business, or a public place such as a restaurant or airport. The inter- net data you use on a Wi-Fi connection does not count against the Gigabytes included with your mobile plan, so you can use it as much as you want without worrying about being charged extra on your mobile carrier’s bill. When to Use Cellular Data To avoid the unpleasant surprise of data overage charges, it’s best to limit your

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Keep in mind that everything you do on the internet through cellular data on your phone—from getting driving directions to looking up restaurant menus to watch- ing YouTube videos—uses some of your allotted Gigabytes (unless you’re lucky enough to have an unlimited cellular data plan). How much is used depends on the app and the length of activity. When to UseWi-Fi Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to use Wi-Fi on your phone instead of cellular data whenever possible, unless you’re conducting financial transactions and Wi-Fi security is an issue. You’ll know your phone is connected to Wi-Fi if you see the the Wi-Fi icon. If you don’t see this icon and you see bars with 3G, 4G, or 5G instead, you’re using cellular data. As mentioned, the main reason for choos- ing Wi-Fi is to avoid paying additional fees for going over your cellular data limit. It’s also typically a faster internet connection than what you get when using cellular

data. For these reasons, Wi-Fi is definitely best for data-intensive activities such as Skype calls, watching movies, or down- loading music. By connecting via Wi-Fi wherever it’s available, you can save your bundled data for situations where you might not be close to any Wi-Fi hotspots. Another bene- fit of using Wi-Fi to connect to the internet is that it drains less battery life than using cellular data, especially in situations where the cellular coverage fluctuates. The instructions for connecting to Wi-Fi vary by phone, but usually you just look on one of your main screens for a “Settings” icon and press that. Then in Settings, look for Wi-Fi or Connections. Once you get intoWi-Fi, you should see a list of available connections. If the connection you want is not apparent, you may need to check with someone at the business so you choose the correct one. Also ask whether a password is required to connect.

Tips for Managing Cellular Data Usage In your phone settings, typically under “Cellular” or “Data”, you can view data usage by app and turn data on or off for specific apps. You just go down the list and touch the app or the slider to toggle the access on or off. You can always change your settings as needed, but at least you’ll be less likely to have surprise overages. You can even turn your cellular internet off so you can’t use your data unless you specifically turn it back on. It’s also a good idea to check your cellular data usage regularly by going into the cellular settings on your phone or by using your mobile carrier’s system. A more proactive approach is to set limits and/or reminders via email and text when you are running out of data. This gives you a heads-up when you are close to your limit so you can either tailor your usage or add more data for the month. You can do this by going to your mobile carrier’s website, creating an online ac- count, and setting up limits and/or reminders for your data usage.

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WebsiteCompass

Social Media Basics

Ins and Outs of Instagram Share your life and express yourself through photos and videos Instagram has been around for many years and its popularity continues to increase. This image-based social media platform has grown from one million users in December 2010 to over one billion in 2020. Like Facebook (which owns Instagram), it’s a way to keep in touch with friends online, as well as see what your favorite celebrities and brands are doing. Ready to try it? Here’s what you need to know.

What Instagram Offers Instagram focuses on photos and videos. You can access it from any device, includ- ing your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. As with other social media platforms, Insta- gram users can like, comment on, or share others’ content. In addition to uploading photos and videos for posts, users can use the Stories feature to show a progression of visuals throughout their day. Instagram was introduced in 2010 after only eight weeks of development and was a hit from the beginning. It provided

the perfect way for users to share all the photos they were capturing with their smart- phones. It didn’t take long for Facebook to see the platform’s potential. Facebook acquired Instagram and its then 27 million users in 2012 for $1 billion. Prior to that purchase, Twitter had made an offer that Instagram creators declined. Why It’s Fun Instagram users like it for many of the same reasons they enjoy Facebook. By seeing the photos and videos your friends post, you can get insight into what’s

happening in their lives and see the world through their eyes. You can travel with them on their vacations, celebrate important moments like birthdays and anniversaries, and sympathize with their challenges. You can also stay up to date on your favorite celebrities, including announce- ments about their upcoming projects and appearances. Additionally, you can keep tabs on your favorite brands and be the first to learn about new products and ser- vices or get special Instagram-only offers.

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What to Do First To use Instagram, you’ll first need to visit instagram.com or download the app using the appropriate source—the App Store for Apple devices or Google Play Store for Android —for your mobile device. Once you’ve signed up for the service, here are some actions you can take: • Establish your account. Follow a few simple steps to get started. • Adjust your notifications. For example, you can let the service know you want to receive a notification every time you get a like on one of your posts. • Connect to other social accounts. You can set up your account so that when you post something to Instagram, it automatically goes to Facebook or Twitter as well. • Find friends to follow. Instagram will make suggestions for accounts to follow. You can also search for your friends and favorite celebrities. • Create your first post. Because Instagram is all visual images, be choosy about which ones you upload.

Filters are Fun! With Instagram Stories, you can create a video timeline that’s visible to your followers. You can also try out filters, which are fun special effects. For example, you can place a document or photo in your background; change the color of your eyes; make yourself look like an alien, cat, or dog; or add sparkles, flowers, and other items. Here’s a quick lesson on creating Stories and using filters in the Instagram app: 1. G o into your profile page by tapping the photo/avatar icon at the bot- tom right part of the screen. 2. In the upper-right corner, tap the + icon . 3. F rom the Create New menu, choose Story . 4. Toward the bottom of the screen, swipe the filter buttons to activate each filter. 5. W hen you arrive at one you like, tap the center button to snap a photo, or hold it down to create a video. 6. I f you’d like, make edits using the tools on the top part of the screen. 7. A t the bottom of the screen, tap Your Story . 8. Your profile photo will be highlighted and then the Story is available for others to see in your account. 9. Follow the same steps to add more photos or videos and they will be- come part of your Story as well.

Popular Accounts Serious Instagram users compete for the most followers as a badge of honor. On Instagram, the top 50 accounts are held primarily by sports figures, actors, musicians, and other enter- tainers. Members of the Kardashian/Jenner family occupy five of the top 20 spots. The #1 position is held by Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo with 277 million followers and #2 is held by musician and actress Ariana Grande, with 232 million followers. Selena Gomez, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Jennifer Lopez are also in the top 20. These celebrities offer followers glamorous photos, insight into their everyday lives, and announcements about new projects and appearances. Yet it’s not just individuals that hold users’ attention. Brands like National Geographic, Nike, and Victoria’s Secret all hold spots in the top 50.

FAST FACT: You can create and manage multiple Instagram accounts, such as one about your vacations and one about your adorable puppy.

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Social Media Basics

How to Get Started on Instagram Instagram makes it easy for new users. In just a few minutes, you can visit the site or download the app, sign up, and post your first photo or video.

TUTORIAL Sign Up for Instagram

TUTORIAL Post a Photo or Video

The steps below describe how to sign up for Instagram through the Instagram app on an Android phone. The process for your device might be slightly different. 1. Download the Instagram app onto your mobile device. 2. Tap Create New Account . 3. On the next screen, enter your phone number or your email address. Tap Next . 4. On the Enter Confirmation Code screen, enter the confirmation code that Instagram sends to your phone or email. Tap Next . 5. On the Name and Password screen, enter your full name and create a password for your account. Tap Continue and Sync Contacts . 6. On the Add Your Birthday screen, enter your birthdate. Tap Next . 7. On the Welcome to Instagram screen, the username Instagram has assigned to you appears. To choose a different one, tap Change Username . Otherwise, tap Next . 8. On the next screen, Instagram invites you to find Facebook friends to follow. To do this, tap Connect to Facebook . Otherwise, tap Skip . If you skip, you can always do this later. 9. On the Add Profile Photo screen, to upload a profile photo, tap Add a Photo. Otherwise, tap Skip . If you skip, you can always do this later. 10. On the next screen, Instagram offers suggestions for who to follow. Tap Follow for any you want. When you’re done, tap the right-facing arrow at the top of the screen. 11. On the next screen, your Instagram feed appears. It includes posts from the accounts you chose on the previous screen. An invitation to manage how your ads are personalized also appears. If you want to do it, tap Go to Settings . Otherwise, tap the X in this section. If you X out, you can always do this later.

If you can use Facebook, you can use Instagram and the process for posting is similar. The steps listed here are for the Instagram app on an Android phone and might vary depending on the device you’re using. 1. Access your profile by tapping your photo or avatar in the bottom right part of the screen. 2. From your profile, tap the + sign at the top of the screen. 3. Under Create New, select Feed Post . 4. At the bottom of the screen, select Gallery . Choose the photo you want to use. Tap the right-facing arrow at the top of the screen. 5. Alternatively, you can snap a photo right in Instagram by choosing Photo instead of Gallery. 6. At the bottom of the next screen, you can choose FILTER or EDIT to choose a filter for your photo or alter it. When you’re finished with these processes, tap the right-facing arrow at the top of the screen. 7. On the New Post screen, you can write a caption, tag people, add a location, and direct Instagram to post the photo or video to other social media accounts. When you’re finished with these operations, tap the checkmark in the upper-right corner of the screen. 8. Your photo, caption, and other information you’ve selected appear in your feed.

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Back to Basics

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 1.4 million identity theft complaints in 2020. Some of those incidents involved scams related to government benefits, as thieves took advantage of federal stimulus payments meant to help those suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 10 Ways to Help Prevent Identity Theft These simple steps can go a long way toward keeping you safe

What Is Identity Theft? Identity theft is any use of personal information to carry out crimes, such as running up credit card balances or drain- ing savings accounts. One of the scariest things about identity theft is that you might not know it’s happened until you try to open a new credit account or get health insurance, or you receive a notice from the IRS. Other clues that you’ve been a victim include seeing withdrawals from your bank account that you didn’t make, getting calls from debt collectors about debts you don’t have, or no longer receiving bills or other mail.

How Do Scammers Get Your Information?

What Can You Do? The serious problem of identity theft is not likely to go away any time soon. So, the best thing you can do is protect yourself. Here are 10 ways to avoid being a victim. 1. Protect Private Information If someone requests your personal infor- mation—including your birthdate, bank account numbers, Social Security number, or passwords to financial accounts—make sure they have a very good reason for need- ing it. Never provide this information to anyone you don’t know contacting you by phone or email. If in doubt, reach out to

Strangers can gain access to your personal information in many ways, including getting the number from your credit card when you use it in person, dumpster diving for sensitive documents, and online scams that trick you into revealing personal information. It’s not fun to think about, but strangers aren’t the only ones who have access to this sensitive data. Your neighbors, cowork- ers, people you do business with, and even friends and family could potentially become part of these crimes as well.

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Back to Basics

the institution separately with a phone number or email address you already know.

2. Shred Personal Documents Always shred paper credit card, banking, and investment infor- mation, including statements and credit card offers, after you’ve finished reviewing them. If you put these papers into the trash or recycling, there’s a chance someone could fish them out and use the information to gain access to your personal accounts. 3. Take Passwords Seriously Creating strong passwords for your financial accounts is a must. They should be at least 15 characters long, including both lower- and upper-case letters, numbers, and special symbols. If you find it difficult to remember complex passwords, use a password man- ager to store them. Also, always use two-factor authentication (such as a code that’s sent to your phone when you log in) on accounts that offer it. 4. Review Credit Reports and Statements You can get free credit reports at annualcreditreport.com. Do so at least twice per year, review the reports carefully, and take steps to correct any inaccuracies. Also, review bank and medical statements carefully and contact the issuers if you find mistakes.

5. Freeze Your Credit You can freeze your credit with all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This action disallows any- one from opening new accounts using your credit information. If you need to open an account, you can unfreeze your credit. While you’re at it, check to see if your child has a credit report. If they do, they may already have been a victim of identity theft. 6. Use Credit Card Alternatives To prevent credit card theft, consider using alternatives, such as a prepaid credit card when you travel or a one-time use number for online purchases. A mobile wallet is another good option because there’s no physical card to take.

Special Forms of Identity Theft As if identity theft in general wasn’t bad enough, there are special forms that can intrude on your life in specific ways: • Tax identity theft involves someone using your Social Security number to file a duplicate tax return to get a refund. The IRS notes that you might not know you’re the victim of this crime until you’re notified by the IRS about a possible problem with your return. • Child identity theft involves someone using your child’s personal information to commit fraud. Personal data like Social Security numbers and social media credentials can be enough to open accounts in their name. According to credit reporting company Experian, “The damage… can take years to recover from.” • M edical identity theft involves someone using your information to get medical services, prescription drugs, or copies of your medical records. If you’re a victim of this crime, you may get bills for services you didn’t receive or be told by your insurance that you’ve reached your limit on benefits.

Remember, stay informed and stay alert.

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7. Watch Your Mail Stolen mail can easily lead to stolen identity, so watch your mailbox to make sure you’re getting expected statements. The USPS service called Informed Delivery gives you a preview of your mail each day; you can use it to make sure you get everything you’re supposed to receive. Better yet, sign up for paperless billing and bank statements from the companies you do business with. 8. Be Alert to Scams Be diligent about online safety. That includes not responding to any emails that seem fishy and especially not clicking any links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. Check things like the sending email address, grammar, and logos to help you spot illegitimate emails. Use the same level of suspicion for texts, phone calls, and voice mail messages. 9. Protect Mobile Devices Your mobile devices carry so much private information that it’s important to protect them by using a locking feature or password. It might be a little less convenient, but it’s worth the effort. When you need to access online banking, use your bank’s app rather than going through a browser. Mobile security also includes updating software on your device when it alerts you to do so. 10. Secure Your Networks Make sure your home network equipment is up to date and that you’ve assigned it a hard-to-guess password rather than using the factory default. When in public, never use Wi-Fi to conduct personal business unless you have a virtual private network (VPN) on your device.

How to Report and Recover If You Become a Victim If you’ve taken all the steps above yet still become a victim of identity theft, you should report the crime, then create a plan to recover. The site IdentityTheft.gov is the best place to start to do both. It guides you through some questions about what happened, then generates a customized recovery plan. If you create an account, the site walks you through each step and tracks your progress. money, but also your sense of security and safety in the world. If a criminal performs a crime using your identity, you can end up with a criminal record, which could in turn impact things like your ability to get a job. It can take weeks, months, or even years to repair the damage to your credit and your life, so don’t feel bad if the recovery process doesn’t seem easy. It’s important to remember that identity theft robs you not only of

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Beyond the Basics

The futuristic family cartoon The Jetsons premiered in 1962 and was set 100 years in the future. It featured the Jetson family: George, an employee of Spacely Sprockets; Jane, his homemaker wife; teen daughter, Judy; young son, Elroy; and Astro, the family dog. Also appearing in The Jetsons were George’s boss, Cosmo G. Spacely, and the family’s robot-maid, Rosie. The Jetsons Predicted the FutureWell Set in 2062, many of the cartoon’s contraptions are already around today

The Jetsons was produced in color and was the first show ABC broadcast in color. But in 1962, less than 3 percent of Ameri- can households had the pricy novelty of a color TV set. (It wasn’t until 1972 that 50 percent of American households owned one.) Plus, many ABC affiliates had yet to install the color transmitters that would allow them to broadcast anything but black-and-white programming.

people watching on Sunday nights saw the episodes in black and white—a less engaging visual experience. This was one reason for poor ratings and why The Jetsons was canceled after just one 24-episode season. However, the produc- tion company Hanna-Barbera, the minds behind The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo , revived The Jetsons with new episodes that ran in syndication from 1985 to 1987.

most households had this technology. More importantly, The Jetsons provided a glimpse into what everyday life in the future might be like that was remark- ably prophetic in many ways. Let’s take a look at some of the concepts the show got right. Video Calls Members of the Jetson family could see the people they were talking to on the phone, and in 1962, that was a fairly out- landish idea. In 1964, AT&T introduced

So while the show portrayed a bright and colorful space-themed future, most

Clearly, the show was ahead of its time. It showcased color television long before

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Flying Cars George Jetson’s bubble-shaped flying car converted into a portable briefcase, and the Jetsons kids get delivered to school via flying pods. While car technology hasn’t reached these levels yet, there are companies venturing into this transporta- tion territory.

magically churned out. These days, there are vending machines that pump out pizzas —called pizza ATMS—and inventors are developing ways to make more and better 3D-printed food. Jetpacks There were plenty of jetpacks in The Jetsons universe, and people have been dreaming of this individual-sized aircraft for nearly a century. In 2015, JetPack Avia- tion successfully piloted a jetpack around the Statue of Liberty, but jetpack use is still extremely limited. Industry insiders believe that the average member of the public will be able to use a jetpack by the end of this decade. Robotic Household Help On The Jetsons , Rosie the Robot took care of the household chores and even helped care for the kids. While we don’t currently have access to a robot as multi- functional as Rosie, there are a variety of products on the market to handle specific tasks, including these: • iRobot Roomba Robot Vacuum • Grillbot Automatic Grill Cleaning Robot • Worx Landroid Robotic Lawn Mower • Tertill Weeding Robot

the Picturephone at the World’s Fair in New York. It was expensive and difficult to operate, however, and didn’t take off. In the late 1990s, cellular phones started to offer video calling, and Skype came on the scene in 2005 to provide video con- versations using web cams. Today video calls are commonplace thanks to applica- tions including FaceTime, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Google Duo.

For example, the Uber Elevate team is working toward transforming the world

QUICK TIP: Take advantage of smart home devices to enjoy futuristic-feeling convenience today.

Pneumatic Tube Travel The Jetson family entered their home by pneumatic tube, and George Jetson was also transported this way into his boss’s office. (Just picture the pneumatic tube in use at your bank’s drive-through lane, only much larger.) To get a glimpse at today’s pneumatic tube technology, check out virginhyperloop.com. Virgin Hyperloop is testing the first hyperloop passenger transport system.

through aerial ridesharing at scale. The initial launch of its Uber Air service is planned for 2023 and will utilize elec- tric VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft in Dallas and Los Angeles. 3D-Printed Food Meal prep was incredibly easy in the Jetson household. The family had a food- making machine, and all they had to do was select which foods they wanted to be

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FAQs

Dr. Webbie Answers your frequently asked questions QUESTION: Why do some rural communities not yet have access to fiber broadband? ANSWER: The biggest challenge to deploying fiber broadband in rural areas is the lower population density, which results in higher infrastructure costs. With fewer potential subscribers reached by a fiber rollout, the infrastructure price per connection is much higher in a rural area than in a city, often making it economically unfeasible for the provider to make a return on its investment. What does fiber infrastructure cost? That varies depending on whether the infrastructure is aerial (attached to poles) or buried underground, what type of fiber-optic cable is used, and the labor required. But it can be as high as $20,000 to $30,000 per mile. Bringing fiber broadband service to individual homes can also be costly. This is because getting the fiber cable from the utility pole or pull box (if underground) requires additional equipment both at the fiber cable site and on the home. The cost of that equip- ment can range between $500 and $750 per average location. Extremely rural locations can cost substantially more to connect depending on how far away the home is from fiber connections at utility poles or pull boxes. To encourage providers to build broadband networks in rural communities despite the enormous costs, there are a variety of federal and state government programs available to give financial support. These programs are helping to expand fiber broadband to reach more areas of the United States, but this process will not happen overnight.

QUESTION: How can I spot a fake social media account? ANSWER: Since fake social media accounts can promote phony products, spread scams, and share misinformation, it’s important to identify them before you engage with their content. Here are tips to help you spot fake accounts: Take a look at the profile picture. One of the simplest indications that a social media account might be suspect is the lack of a profile picture or the use of a generic stock photo. If it’s a personal profile and the photo doesn’t reveal their face, it’s a red flag. Most scam- mers tend to use stock photos or images that have been widely used before. Check the timeline to establish the type of published content. Accounts designed to spread misinformation or sway political opinions often promote one-sided viewpoints that border on extremism. If an account posts only one-sided political theories and ideals, never revealing information about the person posting, you may be dealing with a troll. Note the number of friends or followers. Fake social media accounts have no interest in connecting with friends. By going through their connections, it should be easy to establish their motives. If an account has few friends, connections, or followers, it’s probably being used for questionable activities. Analyze account transparency. Ask yourself, who runs this account? If an account profile is little more than generic phrases and quotes —with no specifics about a person’s name, occupation, or back- ground—you may have stumbled across a fake account.

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Glossary

ADDRESS BOOK - A feature of an email program, or a stand-alone application, that stores and organizes a list of email addresses and other contact information a computer user frequently uses. ALERTS - Automatic notifications, often by email, that news on topics you’ve spec- ified is now online. APP - Shorthand for application, app is popularly used to describe software that enhances the usefulness of mobile phones, media players, and social net- working sites. AUTO-COMPLETE - Feature that pre- dicts a word or phrase before the user types it in completely. BLOG - (short for Weblog) Writings simi- lar to a journal or diary by individuals that are posted to the internet. Someone who writes a blog is a “blogger.” BOOKMARK - A reference to a file or webpage you plan to frequently visit. Most internet browsers let you maintain and organize a list of bookmarks (also called “favorites” when using Microsoft Internet Explorer) to make it easy to return to them again. BOOLEAN PHRASES - Linking words or symbols in all caps that indicate the rela- tionships of words to each other and refine online searches. BOTNET - A collection of compromised zombie computers running programs automatically under remote direction. BROADBAND - (Broad Bandwidth) A high-speed network connection capable of supporting a wide range of frequencies. BROWSER - A software program that is used to look at various kinds of internet resources. The most popular browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari. BYTE - A group of eight bits that repre- sent a character. Computer memory and disk capacity are measured in bytes. (A bit is the smallest unit of measurement for computer data.) CACHE - The hard drive space your browser uses to temporarily store web- pages. When returning to a recently visited page, the browser can get a copy of it from the cache rather than the original server, saving time and network traffic. The larger amount of space you allocate for the cache, the more web- pages can be stored. CHAT - When two or more people exchange text messages in near real time over the internet. This is unlike email, in which you send your message and wait for the recipient to receive, read, and then respond. Newer technol- ogy allows voice chatting.

CHATBOT - A computer program that mimics conversations with humans. CHAT ROOM - A system where people can “chat” on a website through their browser. CLIENT - A computer or piece of software that requests information or services from a server. Your computer becomes a “client” when you connect to your ISP for a service such as surfing the internet or using email. COMPRESSION - A method by which data, images, and text can be stored using less disk space. After a file is com- pressed into a smaller file size, it will require less time to transmit over a net- work. CONTACT GROUP - A group of email addresses specified by a user. A contact group allows one to easily send a mes- sage to multiple recipients by entering the group name in the “To:” field. COOKIE - A piece of information sent by a Web server to be stored by your Web browser. Whenever the browser makes additional requests to that server, the server is able to use the information stored in the “cookie” to customize a response based on data from a previous connection. CROWDSOURCING – Meeting a chal- lenge by asking many people — via the internet—if they can help. CROWDTURFING – Organized, for-pay efforts that hire people to create accounts under false names and post certain reviews or push a brand or website. CSS - (short for Cascading Style Sheet) A specification for the presentation of html documents that allow Web developers to easily control the style and layout of sin- gle or multiple webpages. DNS - (Domain Name Server) A computer which translates a domain name into a set of numbers called an IP address. DOMAIN NAME - A “domain name” is a unique name that is used to represent and help locate a specific Web server on the internet. For example, “www.website- compass.com” is a domain name. Each domain name corresponds to a set of numbers called an IP address. DSL - (Digital Subscriber Line) Allows users to download and upload data over standard telephone lines. It provides a constant internet connection over which users can receive voice and data simulta- neously. It isn’t available in many areas because it requires a short distance to the DSL provider’s origin. E-LEARNING - Any kind of learning that is provided through the digital technol- ogy used by computers.

E-PATIENT - An internet user who looks online for health information. EBOOK - (short for Electronic Book) A book in digital format that can be read on a computer or other digital device. EDU - When these letters appear as the last part of a Web address, it indicates that the host computer is run by an educational institution, usually in the United States. EMOTICON - (or Smileys) Short for emo- tion icon. Symbols composed of punctua- tion that help convey how an email mes- sage should be interpreted by the reader. Ex. :-) = Happy, :-( = Sad EMOJIS - Icons or small digital images that are used online to express emotions or an idea. E-ZINE - A periodic publication distribut- ed by email or posted on a website. FAQ - Short for Frequently Asked Question. FAVORITE - See Bookmark. FILTER BUBBLES - Process by which websites show you search results and feed items based on your past choices and other factors. FIREWALL - A specially programmed computer that connects networks (usual- ly a local network to the internet) and for security reasons lets only certain kinds of data in and out. FIREWIRE - (Also known as IEEE 1394) A fast type of computer connection–simi- lar to USB 2–that allows for high rates of data transfer. FLASH - A multimedia program for view- ing and creating interactive and animated content on the Web. FORUM - A section of a website where users post and read topics of common interest. FREEWARE - Software provided at no charge by its originator. FTP - (File Transfer Protocol) A com- mon method of transferring files between two computers connected over a network. FTP is a way to login to an internet server for the purposes of retrieving and/or sending files. Many publicly accessible internet sites allow their materials to be obtained using FTP. Most FTP sites require a user name and password. GIF - (Graphics Interchange Format) A file format that uses compression for saving and viewing images. GIGABYTE - A measure of computer storage capacity equal to 1,000 mega- bytes, or 1 billion bytes. GOV - When these letters appear as the last part of a Web address, it indicates that the host computer is run by a govern- ment body, probably in the U.S.

HACKER - A person who tries to defeat computer security measures and break into websites and computers. HASHTAG - A word or phrase preceded by (#) and used to categorize social media messages. HISTORY - A browser feature which keeps track of Web resources that have been recently visited. HOME PAGE - (or Homepage) Original- ly, a Home Page was defined as the webpage your browser was set to use when it was started up. The more com- mon meaning now refers to the main webpage for an organization, business, person or simply the main page out of a collection of webpages. HTML - (HyperText Markup Language) A coding language used to create hypertext documents for use on the Web. HTML files contain instructions on how your browser displays text, images, links and etc. HTML files usually end in “.htm” or “.html.” HTTP - (HyperText Transfer Protocol) The standard protocol for moving hyper- text files across the internet. HYPERTEXT - Text that contains links to other documents. Words or phrases in the document that can be chosen by an inter- net user which causes another document to be retrieved and then displayed. INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT) - A col- lection of unique objects represented and connected virtually. IP ADDRESS - A numeric address which identifies a particular computer or server over a network. ISP - (Internet Service Provider) An institution that provides access to the internet. JAVA - A network-oriented program- ming language specifically designed for writing programs that can be down- loaded to your computer and run. By using small Java programs called “applets,” webpages can include func- tions such as animations, calculators, chatrooms, games, etc. JAVASCRIPT - A programming lan- guage used to add interactive and dynamic features to webpages. It shares some characteristics with Java but is independent. JPEG - (or JPG) Named after the com- mittee that created it, the Joint Photo- graphic Experts Group, this is a file format that uses compression for saving and viewing images. LAN - (Local Area Network) A computer network limited to an immediate area, usually the same building or just one floor of a building.

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