Many Internet users have been receiving fake email messages informing them that parcels shipped to them via FedEx could not be delivered to them and were being held at the local FedEx office (or Post office). These messages are an attempt to lure recipients into clicking on a link to download "postal receipts" which could be used to claim the undeliverable package.  Below is an example of what the email might look like:



These emails are fraudulent!  FedEx posted an Alert on their web site to notify customers that such message were bogus.  If you receive a message like this DO NOT OPEN THE EMAIL, ATTACHMENT OR CLICK ON THE LINK.  You can forward suspected fraudulent emails to abuse@fedex.com.  FedEx does not send unsolicited emails to customers requesting information regarding packages, invoices, account numbers, passwords or personal information. 

For more information about email scams see our January 2013 Newsletter.

Over the last month it came to our attention that a new customer did not have control of their Internet domain name. As it turns out, the previous computer support company changed the ‘Registrant’ of the domain name, the person controlling the domain. This effectively locked the customer out of their own Internet presence thus preventing them from doing business. Not good…

 

At Swick Technologies, we make sure our customer is the registrant of their Internet domain names. Why is that important?

 

Wikipedia: “A domain name is an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control on the Internet. Domain names are formed by the rules and procedures of the Domain Name System (DNS).”

 

SwickTech.com is our Domain Name and establishes our presence to other companies on the Internet. We can verify who Controls a domain name easily based on the rules for Internet Domain Names, check with the Registrar.

 

Wikipedia: “The right to use a domain name is delegated by domain name registrars, which are accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization charged with overseeing the name and number systems of the Internet. In addition to ICANN, each top-level domain (TLD) is maintained and serviced technically by an administrative organization operating a registry. A registry is responsible for maintaining the database of names registered within the TLD it administers. The registry receives registration information from each domain name registrar authorized to assign names in the corresponding TLD and publishes the information using a special service, the whois protocol.”

 

At the website http://www.whois.com/, you can enter your domain name and get a report of your domain name information. SwickTech.com yields this information.

 

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, LLC (http://www.godaddy.com)

   Domain Name: SWICKTECH.COM

      Created on: 26-Sep-06

      Expires on: 26-Sep-13

      Last Updated on: 30-Jul-08

 

   Registrant:

   Swick Technologies

   15700 W. Cleveland Ave.

   New Berlin, Wisconsin 53151

   United States

 

   Administrative Contact:

      Swick, Gary  @swicktech.net

      Swick Technologies

      15700 W. Cleveland Ave.

      New Berlin, Wisconsin 53151

      United States

      +1.4142579266

 

   Technical Contact:

      Swick, Gary  @swicktech.net

      Swick Technologies

      15700 W. Cleveland Ave.

      New Berlin, Wisconsin 53151

      United States

      +1.4142579266

 

   Domain servers in listed order:

      NS0.DNSMADEEASY.COM

      NS1.DNSMADEEASY.COM

 

The Registrant of the domain name has ultimate control of that domain. We insist that our customer’s current name and address be listed as the registrant. If you check your domain name and are not listed, you should check with your IT support company to see why.

 

The Technical Contact should be your current IT support provider. If you would like it to say Swick Technologies, let us know.

The USPS recently announced the retirement of the POSTNET™ barcode for automation price eligibility by January 28, 2013.  To continue to be eligible for automation prices, mailing of letter-size and flat-size mail pieces, as well as postcards, will need to have an Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb).  In addition, Permit Reply Mail and Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) will be required to have an intelligent Mail barcode.

 

Intelligent Mail is the technology platform for the next generation of mailing services, features and products. Mailers and the Postal Service™ will gain end-to-end visibility into the mailstream through the use of the suite of Intelligent Mail barcodes and by submitting electronic documentation, which will create actionable information about mail for marketing, financial and operational environments.

 

By starting the transition to the Intelligent Mail barcode now you will continue to benefit from automation prices and will set the foundation to participate in the Intelligent Mail Full-Service option.  The Full-Service option will provide you with the lowest automation discount price, address correction for Full-Service mail pieces and visibility into your mailing.

 

Learn more at http://ribbs.usps.gov

Credit cards are very useful for buying anything online. Shopping via the internet is convenient, fast and you’re not bound by geographical location.  You can shop anywhere, anytime and be competitive about it.  While shopping on the Internet beats the hassles of fighting the mall crowd, it also carries the risk of identity theft and credit card fraud.

Credit card fraud is on the rise, and credit card fraud on the internet is rising even more drastically.  Internet credit card fraud and identity theft can be devastating.  Although credit card transactions are very safe on the internet, you need to take special precautions to ensure you don’t end up paying a huge amount and legal hassles for something you did not buy.  Here are some tips for shopping safely online:

• Choose Credit Over Debit:  Credit cards offer protection from identity theft that debit cards don’t.  If you’re using your debit card online and someone gains access to it, they can clean out your checking account before you even learn there’s a problem. It’s likely you’ll get part of that money back, but possible that it can take a while, and that you won’t get it all. So, use a credit card instead and pay the bill off monthly.

• Avoid Questionable Websites:  Anybody can create a website, so make sure the business is legitimate. Find the company’s address and phone number, and call the merchant. A site that provides no physical address or phone number should raise a red flag. Do a search on the Internet about the business and see what turns up.

• Use Secure Sites Only:  Only provide personal information on sites that have "https" in the web address or have a lock icon at bottom of the browser   After you move to the order page where you type in your credit card number, there should be an “s” after “http” in the URL. That indicates that the site uses encryption technology, which scrambles information, such as your credit card number, to protect it from hackers as it’s transferred from your computer to the online retailer’s computer system. Other clues include a closed padlock or an unbroken key on your screen.

• Look for Seals of Approval:  Check to see if the business is a member of organizations that set guidelines and provide seals of approval for Internet safety, such as the Better Business Bureau’s BBBOnline, VeriSign, or TRUSTe.

• Read the Privacy and Security Policy:  Every reputable online business provides information about how it processes orders.  Those details are in a privacy or security policy. Make sure the business displays one or both of those documents, and check to see what they say.

• Use Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software:  Make sure you have the best security software products installed on your PC.  Use antivirus protection, a firewall and anti-spyware/anti-malware software protection.  Once you encounter spyware and other forms of malware while doing your usual activities online, spyware silently begins collecting your information and wreaks havoc on your computer.  Without your knowledge, spyware runs in the background recording your Internet browsing habits and keystrokes, monitoring the programs you use and collecting your personal information.

Ultrabooks are designed to be very thin and light-weight, have good battery life, have instant on from sleep mode, be more secure and have good performance.

The Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook is a slim 6 mm at its thinnest point and only 18 mm at its thickest point.  With a weight of less than 3 lbs. it lets you effortlessly take it anywhere you travel.  It features a 13.3" High Definition display in a compact body similar to an 11" laptop.  The edge-to-edge Bonded Corning Gorilla Glass makes the XPS 13 extremely durable.  Machined aluminum and carbon fiber are incorporated to enhance the performance of this Ultrabook.  It goes beyond beauty.

The Dell XPS 13 boots in as little as 8 seconds and resumes from sleep mode in just 1 second (4 seconds from deep sleep).  A solid state drive and Intel® Smart Connect Technology make it possible.  With WiFi Connectivity, Intel® Smart Connect Technology keeps your email, contacts, calendar and social networks up to date, even when your XPS 13 is in sleep mode.  The XPS 13 is designed to save you time and keep going longer -- delivering up to 8 hours and 53 minutes of battery life.  It is business ready with Dell ProSupport and Windows Professional included.  Read more here.