Sometimes things get a little slow here at Socket Technical Support. Especially during the holidays.
 
You might recall the same thing happening a few months ago on a warm, sunny weekend.
 
Our techs took the opportunity to tap into their creativity a bit further, creating a companion (or enemy?) for our friendly little mascot.
 
Meanwhile, no one around here can find their staple removers.
 
In any event, if you are having problems with your phone or Internet, please call us at 1-800-762-5383. We've got plenty of local techs ready to help you seven-days-a-week.
 

As the temperature drops and the heating bill soars it is time to start evaluating your energy consumption to help save money on your energy bills.

Here are a few myth-busters you can use to save energy all year round while sitting right there at your computer – at home or at work.


Myth #1 – It is a waste of time to change all my computer settings to save energy. It is only going to save me a few pennies anyway. I should focus on other major appliances.

It is true other appliances use more energy and may be a better focus for energy savings, but you can save up to $75 per computer (sometimes even more) according to Energy Star.


Myth #2 – I should use a screensaver to save energy when I'm going to be away from my computer for a while.

Nowadays, most screensavers actually use more energy than other settings. Most computers now come with a monitor-dimming option or sleep mode that can save more energy and should be used if you will be away from your computer for at least 15 minutes.

To adjust the energy setting on a windows computer you simply navigate to the start menu and search “powercfg". From there you can change your energy plan settings.


Myth #3 – I should leave my computer on because every time I turn my computer on there is a power surge that uses more electricity.

While there is a power surge when a computer boots up, it is so miniscule that it actually shouldn't affect your energy bill. In this case, it is more about personal preference to use a sleep setting vs. turning the computer off.


BONUS TIP: Are you gifting a computer this holiday season? Consider a laptop. Laptops often suit the average person’s needs and consume about half the energy of most desktop computers.

How many old or unused electronics do you have sitting around the house? Not sure what to do with your outdated computer or cell phone?

This week is National Recycling Week and the world has been said to toss over 20 million metric tons of electronics a year (that’s like over 45,500 fully loaded 747s), according to Well Home. The rapid growth in our landfills means it is more important than ever to dispose of e-waste properly.
 
Ready to get rid of that old computer sitting in your basement?
When you are recycling your computer it is important to make sure that your personal data is removed from your hard drive. In some cases the organization offering e-waste recycling can do this for you and provide you with a certified document verifying the information removal.  You do not want to simply move your sensitive data to the recycle bin icon on your computer, as that does not permanently delete  the files from your hard drive.
 
 
Check out the other computer items you can recycle.

• Ink and toner cartridges
• Compact and floppy disks
• Computer monitors and CPUs
• Keyboards and mice
• Laptops

Now your computer is ready to be recycled. Don’t stop there.
 
These electronics can also be recycled.

• MP3 Players
• Cellular phones and other telephones
• Cassette and video tapes
• Video gaming consoles
• Batteries
• Compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Office machines (Fax, scanners, copiers, printers)
• TVs
• DVD players
• VCRs
• Audio and video cables
• Stereos
• Alarm Clocks

Check with your local recycling center or city offices to find out where you can recycle these old items.

What is done with your recycled e-waste?
 
Your electronics can be used to recover parts and materials used to create new or refurbished products. A few of the natural resources found in e-waste are aluminum, plastics, copper and other metals. Providing these items to a recycling facility will help keep the landfills from piling up.

Usernames and passwords are abundant nowadays, allowing us to access customized information and easily manage our accounts online.
 
However, it can be difficult to come up with login information that is both secure and easy to remember.
 
Doing so is crucial, though, to avoid becoming a victim to cyber criminals, who use sophisticated programs to crack passwords and steal your personal information.
 
So if you're using a password like "123456" or "letmein" it's time to take a few minutes and beef up your password strength.
 
Luckily, we're here to help with a few simple tips.
 

• Get creative. Words from the dictionary or common abbreviations aren't going to cut it. Start mixing together letters, numbers and special symbols in a combination only you know. Try substituting special characters for letters, such as $ for S, 3 for E, etc. 
• Don't get personal. Avoid using your name, birthdate, driver's license number or other personal information in your passwords. These could potentially be deciphered by hackers.
• Make it long. Passwords should be at least eight characters. Fourteen is even better. String a short phrase or sentence together, take out the spaces and add or substitute some numbers and special characters.
• Don't reuse it. If one of your accounts gets hacked, don't let them all become vulnerable. It's best to create slightly different passwords for each of the sites you visit.
• Check security. Use a tool like Microsoft's Password Checker to find out how strong your new passwords really are.

 
Remember that a password is ultimately all that stands between your private information and a cyber-thief. Take the time to increase that protection now, or risk dealing with even bigger hassles down the road.