Email is the most common form of web communication today, it is also the login most people use for other online account registration, for those reasons it is susceptible to hackers. If your account is hacked, that “hacker” may now have potential access to not just your email account, but other sensitive accounts as well.

To avoid being a victim of hackers here are some steps to follow in safe guarding yourself:

• Use a strong password for your Email, and make this password, and all of your other passwords unique to just that specific login. Using the same password for all of your accounts makes all your accounts vulnerable in an instance where any of them are maliciously compromised.
• Know who you are communicating with – Email attachments that contain malware are also popular vessels for cyber mayhem. The easiest way to avoid these scams is by not clicking the links or attachments. Instead, open another tab, and go to the website of the company in the email or link to see if the information presented matches the official source. As a general rule, never open links or download attachments from unknown senders.
• Whether a home user or a small business owner, identifying who and what is on your network is as important as ever, as unauthorized users could be trying to hack into your system. Ensure you change the admin password for your router and set your Wi-Fi password to something really strongthat a hacker could not crack.
• Whenever a security update is released for your operating system, update it immediately. Consider this a basic tenet of information security.

If you have questions or concerns, we are here to help. Contact our local business offices or Tech Support 24/7.

Access to affordable voice and Internet service is vital to stay connected in today’s world. People need these services to connect with healthcare providers, potential employers, educational programs, and loved ones. Affordable service remains a challenge for many low-income consumers. The federal Lifeline program helps close the gap for these consumers by offering a monthly discount of up to $9.25, or up to $34.25 for those on Tribal lands, towards a qualified household’s phone or Internet service. A household is a group of people who share income and expenses. Consumers who live with another person already receiving the Lifeline benefit may still be eligible for the discount if they do not share income and expenses with that person.

Households with income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for the Lifeline program. Consumers enrolled in a government assistance program, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Federal Public Housing, Veterans Pension or Survivor’s Benefit may qualify for Lifeline as well.

Consumers have several options to apply. They may visit the LHTC Broadband business office in their area. Consumers also have the option to submit an online application at http://www.checklifeline.org  or mail in a paper application (https://www.lifelinesupport.org/wp-content/uploads/lifeline/documents/LI_Application_NVstates.pdf) to the Lifeline Support Center.

USAC’s Lifeline Support Center serves as a resource for prospective and current Lifeline participants. Consumers may submit questions via email to LifelineSupport@usac.org, or by calling (800) 234-9473. More information is available on our website www.LifelineSupport.org.

• Lifeline is a government assistance program
• The benefit is non-transferrable to another person
• Only eligible consumers may enroll
• Lifeline is limited to one discount per household

The Lifeline Program is one of four programs administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), under the policy guidance of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Leprechauns, rainbows, and pots of gold aren’t the only things to look forward to on St. Patrick Day. These yummy recipes and DIY activities from HGTV.com and FoodNetwork.com are a few more reasons to celebrate the Irish holiday this year!

When I think of St. Patrick’s Day, I think GREEN. When I think GREEN, I think MINT. So why not incorporate these St. Patrick’s Day Mint Shakes into your meal plan on the 17^th. Simple, refreshing and a great way to feel a little Irish.

Click here for the full recipe & video: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/st-patricks-day-mint-shakes-3362525

The pot of gold may be somewhere over the rainbow, but the real treasure is this Lucky Charms Cheesecake. The triple dose of cereal in the crust is what really makes it stand out. Melted white chocolate, whipped cream, and more cereal top the cheesecake, making it worthy enough of Leprechauns, or any human dessert lover.

Click here for the full recipe & video: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/lucky-charms-cheesecake-5167723

What makes a nacho recipe Irish? The Stout of course! This Irish Nacho Dip recipe is great for dipping potato chips, French fries or tots. The blend of sour cream, cream cheese, onion dip, bacon, cheddar cheese and stout just work out.

Click here for the full recipe & video: https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/entertaining/irish-nacho-dip-recipe

If you are looking for a fun and easy activity to do with the kiddos this St. Patty’s Day, try these DIY Painted Sham “Rocks” from HGTV.com. They are a great way to add a little luck to the garden, or turn it into a sham “rock” hunt.

Click here for the full recipe & video: https://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/handmade/st-pattys-day-rocks

So, if you are like my family, every year we try and trap the Leprechaun. And every year it seems to get away, but what if this year it leaves a surprise! These Unwrappable Surprise Balls can be filled with tiny gifts, like toys, chocolates, stickers, bracelets and more. All you need is crepe paper, tape, pipe cleaners, gold spray paint and a glue gun. Make it extra special by adding a note from the leprechaun!

Click here for the full recipe & video: https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/holidays/unwrappable-st-patricks-day-surprise-balls

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and finding the perfect gift is as simple as opening your Internet browser with LHTC Broadband Fiber Internet service! To make things even easier we’ve found 12 unique gifts that will be perfect for your Valentine! Sit back, relax and open your Internet browser! It’s time to SHOP!

The majority of cable television providers deliver cable signals from satellites orbiting the earth high above our homes and businesses. However, these messages from space are not without very brief, interruptions caused by sun outages, often called sun spots, but what exactly is this phenomenon?

What are Sun Outages?

Twice a year, you may experience some degree of television interference due to “sun outages.” Such outages are caused by a phenomenon called a “solar satellite interference.” These brief outages occur when the sun is in a direct line behind a satellite transmitting cable signals. When the sun is aligned with a satellite, solar radiation, an energy the sun is emitting, interferes with the satellite’s signal and thus causes a brief signal outage.

Cable TV providers are not the only ones affected by these sun outages. Pretty much anyone who relies on satellite communications are affected by sun outages. This could include certain streaming services or some internet providers that use satellites for online access.

When Do Sun Outages Happen and How Long Do They Last?

Sun Outages occur every year, in the fall and spring. Since they are a naturally-occurring phenomenon, there is no exact time or date when they will occur. However, they typically only last a few seconds or minutes in most cases. In some rare occurrences they have lasted up to ten minutes. The majority of the interruptions are very brief.

What Kind of Interference Can I Expect?

During the sun outage, customers may experience a pixelated picture, picture freezes, or audio distortions for a brief period of time. You may even see a message that says, “One Moment Please”.

You can still watch TV recordings stored on your DVR without any trouble during sun outages. Be aware, however, that programs being recorded during sun outages will likely be affected.

What Should I Do During These Interruptions?

You don’t have to do anything to restore your service but wait a few minutes for the event to end. If you have trouble with your TV service that lasts longer than a few minutes contact your local LHTC Broadband business office.

Fall Into these Local Events and Festivals

It’s time for pumpkin spice and everything nice, and there are plenty of places for you to get your fall feels this year! As summer comes to a close, our area is gearing up for fall activities and festivals. The cooler temperatures, changing leaves and crisp fall air make our area a popular destination in September and October. It’s also a great time to get out and support all the local businesses and organizations at their fall festivals.

Whether you are looking for the perfect pumpkin, colorful mums, delicious baked goods, fall crafts or family friendly activities, there are plenty of events to keep you busy this fall. Check out the list below and start planning your fall weekend adventures.

LAUREL HIGHLANDS:

Flax Scutching Festival– Saturday, September 18^th 9AM-6PM- Sunday, September 19^th 9AM-5PM

Flax Scutching Grounds- 1703 PA 711, Stahlstown, PA

Mount Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival– Friday, September 24^th– Sunday, September 26^th 11AM-7PM

135 Liberty St., Mount Pleasant, PA

Pumpkin & Fall Celebration– Saturday, September 25^th 10AM-4PM

1383 US 30 Laughlintown, PA

Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Mini-Fall Festival– Saturday, October 2^nd 11AM-

Twin Lakes Park-219 Twins Lake Rd. Latrobe, PA 15650

Pumpkinfest– Friday, October 1^st– Sunday, October 3^rd 10AM-5PM

Confluence, PA

Delmont Apple Festival– Saturday, October 2^nd 11AM-6PM-Sunday, October 3^rd 11AM-5PM

Shield’s Farm, Delmont, PA

Fort Ligonier Days– Friday, October 8^th– Sunday, October 10^th 9AM-5PM

Fort Ligonier- 200 S. Market St., Ligonier, PA

Fall Craft Days– Saturday, October 9^th 11AM

Seven Springs Mountain Resort-777 Water Wheel Dr., Champion, PA

Fall Fest at Caddie Shak– Saturday, October 16^th 1PM-5PM

Caddie Shak Family Entertainment Center-132 Caddie Shak Rd., Donegal, PA

Golf n’ Goblins– Saturday, October 23^rd-Sunday, October 24^th and Saturday, October 30^th-Sunday, October 31^st 12PM-6PM

Night at the Zoo– Fridays and Saturdays in October 7PM-9PM

Living Treasurer’s Wild Animal Park- 288 PA 711, Jones Mills, PA

NORTHERN POCONOS:

Hawley Harvest Hoedown– Friday, September 24^th  – Sunday, October 3^rd

Downtown Hawley- 508 River St., Hawley, PA

Carbondale YMCA Annual Fall Festival– Sunday, September 26^th 1PM-4PM

Carbondale, YMCA-82 N. Main St., Carbondale, PA

Rocktoberfest– Saturday, October 2^nd 12PM-5PM

Hawley Silk Mill-8 Silk Mill Drive, Hawley, PA

Harvest and Heritage Days– Saturday, October 9^th– Sunday, October 10^th

Downtown Honesdale

Boo At the Zoo-Saturday, October 9^th 10AM-6PM

Claws N’ Paws Wild Animal Park-1475 Ledgedale Rd., Lake Ariel, PA

Lake Genero Fall Fest– Saturday, October 16^th 9AM-4PM

Lake Genero-1300 Hamlin Hwy, Lake Ariel, PA