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W I N T E R 2 0 1 6
5
N E M O N T
TODAY
FOUR T ECHNOLOGY
RESOLUT I ONS TO MAK E
FOR THE NEW Y E AR
Don’t forget about your computer and other devices when making
New Year’s resolutions. The suggestions below could save you tons of
time and trouble in the coming year.
1. I will back upmy data.
Consider the vast amount of personal data (some of it irreplaceable) stored on your
devices—photos, videos, music files, documents, contacts, calendars, and more. What
happens to these files if someone steals your laptop, your hard drive fails, or there’s a
nasty virus? It’s imperative to back up your data regularly, either through a local solution
such as an external hard drive or a cloud storage option.
2. I will responsiblymanage
my digital reputation.
Think twice before you post photos on
Facebook and other social media sites,
since your digital reputation may be
a factor in a variety of situations. Do
you want a party photo of you to be
seen by potential employers or clients,
extended family, or school admissions
officers? Remember, what you post
online may be accessed virtually
forever through online searches.
3. I will keepmy software and operating systemupdated.
Software makers continually update their programs to fix problems or add more function-
ality. If you have the option for “automatic” updates— in software such as your operating
system, internet security programs, andWeb browser—click to accept this feature. By
doing so, updates will be automatically downloaded whenever they become available.
4. I will fight back against spam.
Spam is a thorn in the side of most computer users, since it clutters up your inbox and
wastes time. You can greatly reduce the amount of spam you receive by employing a
combination of strategies. Check your email or Web mail program to see what your options
are for junk mail filters, and bump up your filters so they keep more spam out of your inbox.
You can also block specific senders or flag words that might suggest the message is spam
(such as“Viagra”).
If another NewYear’s resolution of yours is to get faster internet service, call
Nemont at 800-636-6680 and ask about the speeds available in your area.