INSIDE THIS ISSUE Two To View A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss We're Bringing Safety Back! This Month's FAQ Can The Facebook Messenger App Take Control Of My Phone? Hacker Alert Another Data Breach At A Big Retailer Go Pinterest-ing! Cool Stuff To Pin On Your Pinterest Boards Sites Of The Month Great Sites To Check Out In October Short Tutorial How To Correctly Make A Hashtag |
Hello West Central Internet Subscribers It's October, which means pumpkins are showing up all over. Before you start carving jack o'lanterns for your home, carve out a few minutes to review this issue. It begins with an overview of a massive retail data breach, carried out by hackers as malicious as any Halloween ghouls. Make sure you're reviewing your payment card accounts regularly! To really get in the spirit of October, check out the easy-to-make fall centerpieces in the Pinterest section, pumpkin recipes and costume ideas in Sites of the Month, and the time-lapse video of a giant pumpkin growing. Speaking of growth, it's important to keep learning more about social media and other online topics. This issue includes an explanation of the recent brouhaha surrounding the Facebook Messenger app and teaches you what to do (and not do) when making a hashtag. The goal of each of our eNewsletters is to keep our subscribers informed regarding their Internet connection and to improve their Internet experience. We think you'll find this information interesting. To see what's inside this issue, simply scroll down the eNewsletter or click on the links within the index to the left. Thanks for reading! - West Central Internet Services Team |
Two To View – A Couple Of Amazing Videos You Don't Want To Miss
This Month's FAQ – Can The Facebook Messenger App Take Control Of My Phone?
Question: I've heard some people have privacy concerns about the standalone version of the Facebook Messenger app. Can this app really take control of my phone?
Answer: In mid-2014, Facebook rolled out the Facebook Messenger app, a standalone version of that social network's instant chat feature, which users accessed separately on their mobile devices (i.e., without launching the full Facebook app). That rollout prompted renewed interest in a December 2013 article by Sam Fiorella (circulated widely in August 2014) that warned potential Facebook Messenger users that the app's Terms of Service (TOS) "requires the acceptance of an alarming amount of personal data and direct control over your mobile device." Rumors started circulating that Facebook could use the app to surreptitiously take over users' smartphones to take photos or even make phone calls. According to Facebook, those fears do not reflect reality. "If you want to send a selfie to a friend, the app needs permission to turn on your phone's camera and capture that photo," the company said in its message to users. "We don't turn on your camera or microphone when you aren't using the app." In other words, the Facebook Messenger app absolutely CANNOT do these things without YOU initiating them. It needs the permission in advance so that when you ask it to do these things, they work.
Hacker Alert – Another Data Breach At A Big Retailer
Go Pinterest-ing! – Cool Stuff To Pin On Your Pinterest Boards
Sites Of The Month – Great Sites To Check Out In October
Short Tutorial – How To Correctly Make A Hashtag
A hashtag is a phrase or keyword that is preceded by a pound (#) symbol and used by the micro-blogging community to create a thread of conversations around a specific theme or topic. Its purpose is to categorize topics, bring ideas together, inspire exchange, and encourage others to join in.
When you make a new hashtag, follow these guidelines:
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Thanks for your business! Best regards The WCTA Communications Team Internet Specialists WCTA Sebeka 308 Frontage Road Box 304 Sebeka, MN 56477 1-218-837-5151 or toll free at 1-800-945-2163 Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |