Valerie Roy, Author at FTC-I

Sep

22

2023

The Best Touchless Payment Methods for Businesses

With the right contactless payment technology, businesses can make point-of-sale transactions fast and secure for customers and employees. While COVID certainly heightened retailers’ desire for touchless payments, consumers often prefer these checkout modes because they simplify transactions and offer flexible payment options. With a few changes to a point-of-sale setup, nearly any company can initiate touchless payments for its products and services. What Are Contactless Payments & How Do They Work? Contactless payments are transactions that are completed without swiping or inserting a credit or debit card or handing over cash. Instead, the payment card is placed near a point-of-sale...

Sep

07

2023

5 Convincing Internet Scams and How To Avoid Falling for Them

Most consumers are aware of scams on the internet but not enough people realize how many phony offers and fraudulent ploys exist or how to protect themselves. Today’s cybercriminals have grown more savvy, adding text messaging to their stockpile of email and internet scams and making it difficult for the average consumer to keep up. Anyone with a mobile device or internet connection should keep reading to learn more about internet scams, including what they entail, the warning signs and how to avoid becoming a victim. An Overview of Internet Scams Each internet scam comes with its own warning signs,...

Aug

16

2023

Take Your Hunt High-Tech With FTC’s Game Cam Scout Service

Hunters looking for an extra edge this season can up their scouting game with a trail cam service that delivers real-time photos and videos to any device. Rather than hiking through the woods to retrieve a trail cam memory card, a hunter can let technology do all the work. A trail cam with cellular service streams photos and videos to any designated phone, tablet or computer. Not only does this let anyone scout from anywhere at any time, but it also reduces trips to the woods that can spook wildlife and alter their movement patterns. For those who have not...

Aug

04

2023

4 Great Smartphones for Teens

Choosing phones for teens who are ready for new responsibilities is not an easy task for parents, but diligent research can help make the decisions easier. Learning differences between mobile phone models lets caregivers find the right device for each teen’s needs so their children get the freedom they want, without compromising safety or security. While many adults might be tempted to purchase used or discontinued cell phones for teens, buying new devices through a wireless carrier ensures the phones are capable of running the latest security programs and lets families handpick the best wireless plan. Why Teens Should Have...

How to Keep Children Safe Online

The best way for parents to keep their kids safe online is by combining website, app and usage restrictions with proper online-safety education. As more devices offer internet access and younger children become increasingly tech-savvy, staying vigilant about children’s online habits and safety is ever more crucial. It is estimated that more than 45 million U.S. children ages 10–17 use the internet. While tracking every keystroke is difficult, there are several ways to ensure children are kept safe from harm online. How Can Parents Keep Kids Safe on the Internet? Parents can help protect their youngsters by taking precautions, like...

Jun

05

2023

7 Signs That a User’s Facebook Account Has Been Hacked

Most Facebook users have seen the signs of a Facebook account hack before. Whether it is questionable posts from friends or seeing their birthdays changed within the accounts, signs of Facebook hacking often leave users feeling uneasy, or worse, can lead to greater online threats. Many users, however, might not even realize their accounts or friends’ accounts have been hacked, which makes correcting the issues even more difficult. But with a little awareness and skepticism, users can nip hacks in the bud and begin to correct the issues before they get worse. What Are the Signs a Friend’s Facebook Has...

May

26

2023

The Benefits of Faster Internet for Videoconferences

Whether at home or in the office, most Americans have experienced the frustration that can come with a slow internet connection during a video call. Frozen video feeds, heavily distorted words and active participants simply dropping off the call are just a few of the problems that can plague a Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Teams or Webex call when internet speeds are slow. Fiber internet for business not only solves these issues but also helps improve clarity, increase productivity, reduce costs and enhance collaboration across the board. In today’s telecommuting business environment, the benefits of efficient video calls cannot be...

May

15

2023

How Business Mobile Plans Help Companies

With employees increasingly using mobile phones for business calls, emails, software verification and messaging, companies are more at risk. Business mobile plans help reduce cybersecurity risk by keeping all company data on a device that can be adequately secured to prevent data leaks. Decision-makers should also consider adding a business mobile plan to their operations to give their teams the tools needed to perform in a fast-paced environment. What Are the Benefits of Mobile Plans for Businesses? When a company gives its staff access to a business mobile plan, it helps boost communication between employees, enhances security, and, in the...

May

10

2023

What Is the Cloud and How Should Consumers Use It?

The cloud and cloud computing refer to the process of storing computer files and programs on external servers rather than locally on a device’s hard drive and then remotely accessing the files and programs via an internet connection. In this sense, “the cloud” serves as a metaphor for the global network of computer servers that actually houses the files and programs, making them easily accessible from remote distances. And when paired with gigabit home internet speeds, the files can be shared seamlessly without any wait time. What Is the Purpose of the Cloud? The overall purpose of the cloud is...

Apr

28

2023

How Faster Internet Helps Businesses

Faster internet helps businesses by increasing productivity, improving cloud capabilities, allowing for better videoconferencing, enabling quicker data backups, supporting scalability and boosting profits. In a long list of 21st century workplaces, there are few tasks on the daily to-do list that are not aided in at least some way by a faster internet connection. From business-critical activities like communications, research and customer service to vital tasks like marketing, supply procurement and order fulfillment, along with plenty of key areas in between, productivity can take a major hit when the internet slows down. How Does Internet Speed Affect Business? As more...