OCTOBER
2011 ISSUE

Importance of Firewalls

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Win a Home Theatre and TV

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Additional articles
Our New Website
Guelph Storm Tickets
ROC Almost Complete
Tech Tips
Scholarship Winners

Firewalls: Why are they important?


What is a firewall? Simply put, its software that blocks out viruses and hackers that try to reach your computer over the Internet. Just think of a firewall as a big brick wall between the Internet and your computer preventing these dangers from getting through.

Newer versions of Windows such as Windows XP Service Pack 2 and higher, Windows Vista and Windows 7 have a built in firewall and is turned on by default, but it's still a good idea to verify that the firewall is set to “on”. If you're using an older version of Windows or a different operating system, you'll need to download or purchase a software firewall such as AVG Internet Security, offered by Execulink Telecom.

Another form of firewall is a hardware router or wireless router, which allow you to connect multiple computers in your home. Not all routers include firewall protection so it's good to ask if you're considering purchasing one. If you're using a router as firewall protection, it's recommended that you still have a software firewall on each computer to help prevent the spread of a virus in your network should one of the computers becomes infected.

The internet can pose dangers to computers if left unprotected. Installing a firewall is a good first step to ensuring your safety online, however you should improve your Internet security by keeping your software up to date and making sure you are also using antivirus software.

Source: www.microsoft.com


Our New Website

In August we launched a new website with a refreshed look and new features and tools to improve your browsing experience.

Member services, your personal online portal to manage your Execulink Telecom services, has also improved and been renamed to “My Execulink”. With a more intuitive interface, you can find what you're looking for faster and manage your services with ease.

If you haven't yet checked out our new website, visit us today at www.execulink.ca.


Construction is almost complete!
Rural Oxford Connections Initiative

The Rural Oxford Connections Initiative is nearing completion. Hundreds of residents in Oxford County have already taken advantage of receiving their installation for free during the construction phase and are enjoying the benefits of High Speed Internet service. The project should be completed early next year at which time nearly all residents and businesses in Oxford County will have access to High Speed Internet service.

To learn more about the Rural Oxford Connections Initiative, we invite you to attend our two upcoming information seminars. Please join us on Tuesday November 1st from 7:00-8:00pm at the Tillsonburg Town Centre and Wednesday November 2nd from 7:00pm-8:00pm at the Brownsville Community Centre.

For more information, to track our progress or get connected visit roc.execulink.com or call us at 1-877-334-7634. Additional information is also available through Rural Oxford Connections.


2011 Scholarship Winners

We are committed to the personal development of youth in our local communities. To foster this growth, each year three students are awarded with a scholarship aimed to assist them with their advancement into post-secondary education. The selection criteria are based on academic standings in science and math, as well as volunteer contributions to community based organizations.

Congratulations to the 2011 scholarship winners who each received a $500 scholarship courtesy of Execulink Telecom:

Kathleen McLean
Forest, Ontario

Adam Wiggers
Brownsville, Ontario

Kaitlyn VanEngelen
Thedford, Ontario

Have kids heading off to college or university next fall? We'll start accepting applications for the 2012 scholarship program in January. Visit our website for more information.


Have an interesting story idea for Execunews? We'd love to hear it! Send your story ideas to newsletter@execulink.com

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Win a Home Entertainment System!



Sign-up for any new residential service or upgrade an existing service before November 15th, 2011 and you'll be entered into a draw to win a Home Entertainment System – a 5.1 Home Theatre and 40” 1080P LCD TV!

Call 1-877-571-9195 for details!

Some fun Halloween facts…

1. Halloween was brought to North America by immigrants from Europe who would celebrate the harvest around a bonfire, share ghost stories, sing, dance and tell fortunes.

2. Halloween is the 2nd most commercially successful holiday, with Christmas being the first.

3.
Orange and black are Halloween colors because orange is associated with the Fall harvest and black is associated with darkness and death.

4. Jack o’ Lanterns originated in Ireland where people placed candles in hollowed-out turnips to keep away spirits and ghosts on the Samhain holiday.

Source: http://www.halloween-website.com

Enter to Win Guelph Storm tickets!

Enter your name in our draw for the chance to win FREE tickets to see the Guelph Storm team from the 4th row!

We're giving away free pairs of tickets to several Guelph Storm home games this season. It's our way of saying thank you to our valued customers!  Submit an entry today!

Tech Tips

• Find the definition of a word through Google by typing define followed by the word you want the definition for. For example, typing: define internet would display the definition of that word.

 

• Most computer users use the default internet browser that comes with their computer. With Microsoft Windows, the default is Internet Explorer. Although Internet Explorer is still the most widely used browser, there are alternatives that are gaining in popularity because they offer additional features and add-on's. Some of these popular alternatives include Mozilla Firefox, Chrome and Opera.