Meet Kevin Sell, Field Services Technician


Kevin Sell, Socket's You-Make-the-Difference Winner for April 2012Every month, Socket employees nominate and vote on a co-worker who best exemplifies our Core Values and Beliefs.
 
This month, we picked Kevin Sell.
 
Kevin came to Socket a little over a year ago, bringing a decade's worth of field service experience to the position. Lately, he's been performing pre-installation work in rural Boone and Callaway counties. As we prepare to begin installing fiber-to-the-home services in this area, Kevin talks with customers about how the fiber will be run to their home. Check out a video of him in action.
 
Originally from Springfield, MO, Kevin has lived in Columbia for the past seven years. In his spare time, he enjoys wakeboarding, knee boarding and keeping up with his four-year-old daughter.
 
"Kevin does make a difference," said a co-worker who nominated him for the award. "He's the go-to guy for installs and dispatches, and he comes through in a pinch."
 
Congratulations, Kevin!
 
Read about other You-Make-the-Difference-Award winners. 
 

Check your computer for DNS Changer malware


Internet users are urged to check their computers to avoid connectivity problems when the FBI completes its shut-down of a massive international hacking ring later this year.

To check your computer, click this link to : www.dns-ok.us
 
What happened?
 
Last November, the FBI arrested several criminals who were operating a hacker ring that distributed viruses to computers worldwide. The viruses pointed Internet users to fake websites that resulted in millions of dollars in advertising revenue for the hackers.
 
When the FBI made the arrests, they moved Internet traffic from the hacker’s servers to special servers established to avoid Internet disruption for affected computers. The FBI plans to shut these servers down on July 9, however, which will result in Internet outages for infected computers that have not been cleaned.
 
What is Socket doing? 
 
Our engineers were notified by the FBI of affected IP addresses on our network and worked with affected customers to clean the virus off those computers.
 
We are also proactively monitoring Internet traffic to determine if any users on our network are visiting the hackers’ sites. We have not seen any such traffic. If we do, we plan to notify those users and help them take appropriate action to clean their computers.
 
How do I tell if my computer is infected?
 
It's still a good idea to check your computer for DNS Changer malware.
 
Visit http://www.dcwg.org/ and click on the “Detect” link in the upper left-hand corner. Scroll down and click the link next to “English.” This test will not install any software or make any changes to your computer, and it only takes a few seconds.
 
If you see a green graphic, your computer is likely not infected. Socket does not redirect DNS traffic for its customers, as the warning advises users to be aware of.
 
If you see a red graphic, follow the instructions or call Socket Technical Support at 1-800-762-5383 for assistance in removing the virus from your computer.
 
What else can I do?  
 
Help spread the word and encourage your friends and family members to check their computers as well. If more users check their computers now, there will be fewer outages in July when the FBI servers are shut down.
 
Also, be sure your computers are protected with an up-to-date anti-virus program. Socket recommends and supports Trend Micro Internet Security and offers it at a discounted rate to our customers. Learn more or call 1-800-762-5383.
 
Additional resources
 
Read more about Operation Ghost Click, the FBI's operation to dismantle the international cyber ring.
 
Fill out this form if you believe you have been victimized by the DNS Changer malware.
 
View more DNS Changer information and instructions from the FBI.
 
 

Go Green (Not Broke) This Earth Day


A few simple ways you can help the planet.

 
Earth Day is right around the corner, and many Missourians are looking for ways to lessen their negative impact on the environment. While everyone knows how important it is to reduce, reuse and recycle, many are afraid of what it may cost them to "go green."
 

Consumers and businesses can actually save by going green--and without spending a dime. "Green" practices are often free-of-cost and have high and promising returns on investment.
 

Reduce electricity consumption.

 

Reducing consumption and energy usage is key to saving money and the planet. Often, it's as easy as simply evaluating technology use.
 

When you aren't using appliances and electronics, turn them off and unplug them. Leaving your computer and other electronics on, or even just plugged in, actually uses energy and racks up your electricity bill.
 

In an effort to reduce electricity consumption, it's also recommended to replace old computer monitors with LCD monitors--which use one-third as much energy--and replace screen savers with the "turn off monitor" feature, since it saves energy and increases the lifespan of a monitor.
 

Reuse electronics.

 

Reusing items is another good way to conserve resources and save money. For example, reuse old ink cartridges by taking them to a store that specializes in refilling them. Discarded electronics are another significant source of waste. Websites like Gazelle pay consumers for used electronics; if the electronics are not worth any money, the site will pay for shipping costs to properly recycle the items.
 

Recycle unwanted items.

 

Finally, recycle items that cannot be reduced or reused--many recycling centers and websites offer small monetary incentives for bringing in recyclables. Some recycling centers are willing to pay per pound for aluminum. Recycling is a great way to save the planet by reforming and reusing natural and non-renewable resources.
 

The common misconception of "going green" is that it costs a lot of green. But by merely adapting lifestyles to the rules of the three Rs--reduce, reuse and recycle--consumers can save big bucks while protecting the planet for years to come.
 

04-16-12 Fiber Splicing At The Huts


Fiber connection lines are being installed from the road to customers' homes, and that means a lot of splicing needs to be done at our service hut locations. Watch this video to learn more about how the technology works and how the network delivers high-speed Internet through fiber-optic lines.
 
Watch the video here.

Browsing Mobile Sites on Dial-Up


 
Still on dial-up?
 
If so, you know how incredibly frustrating it can be to browse today's high-powered, multimedia-filled websites. Even a good dial-up connection can't support much of the Flash animation, Java script or large video and image files on popular sites.
 
That's why dial-up users may have better luck browsing mobile versions of popular websites. If you have a smartphone, you're probably familiar with mobile websites--they're trimmed-down versions with reduced graphics and are free of frames, Java and other design elements that make browsing on a slower connection more difficult.
 
You can often substitute the letter "m" for the "www" in a website's URL in order to access the mobile version. For example:

Not every site has a mobile version, and some may not display very well on a traditional computer monitor. But it's worth it to give the mobile version a shot if you're looking to speed up your browsing experience and cut the unnecessary page elements that won't work well with your dial-up connection.
 
 

The Development of Socket's Hosted PBX Product


It’s not like it’s the first time. We have done it many times before.  But it’s still one of the most fun parts of being in business. The moment a plan goes the way you had predicted it would on the back of a piece of paper years before.
 
We knew years ago that we would have to get into the phone system business. We could see the slow march of our PBX partners to start offering SIP trunks from a national provider to replace the phone service that Socket was providing today. We even looked at traditional PBX offerings, and considered purchasing an existing interconnection company to get us up and running fast. But each time we would come back to the move toward “cloud services” and how customers wanted more from their phone systems than what a traditional premise-based system could provide. More flexibility. More mobility. To not have their phone system stuck in a physical location. To be able to route their calls where they want, when they want. In the event of a disaster or in their normal course of business.
 
We spent years building our system. Geographically redundant – check. Ability to do call recording – check. Ability to support many embedded schools' handsets using Cisco-proprietary SKINNY protocol – check. Ability to do complex and true call center environments (not just hunt groups) – check. It felt like it was never going to get off the ground to me, but SIP was still maturing. We saw many companies jump in with a single system that wasn’t mature, and the results where disastrous. We needed a system that could be a leader in class on day one.
 
So how did it go so right this time? It was for a small town rural hospital with a 30-year-old phone system with 103 handsets that was on its last leg. They knew they needed to bring new technology online, but the budget wasn’t there for a six-figure capital outlay to bring a modern PBX into service.
 
They were able to save enough money each month off of their traditional local phone service bills to able to afford a new Hosted PBX for all 103 seats, and have savings left over. This will be our 2nd 100+ seat Hosted PBX sale in mid-Missouri alone in the last 60 days.
 
If you want to learn more about Hosted PBX or see a demo, be sure to reach out to us. We would be happy to show you what's written on the back of the next napkin!
 
 

E-Filing Your Taxes


Tips and warnings for online taxpayers
 
With the April deadline approaching quickly, many Missourians are thinking about filing taxes. Taxpayers can be at ease, however, because the Internal Revenue Service offers a convenient e-filing option.
 
According to the IRS, filing income taxes online results in faster refunds, greater accuracy and quicker confirmation, giving taxpayers assurance during a usually stressful time. Other benefits include secure and confidential submission, a “file now, pay later” option, 24/7 access, and the ability to confidentially save tax information for next year. Because of these benefits, the popularity of e-filing is increasing dramatically.
 
The IRS also considers e-filing to be the most secure method of handling sensitive tax information because of secure online submission. The lack of paper trails associated with e-filing prevents tax forms from getting lost in the mail and therefore inhibits the increased risk of identity theft, ultimately ensuring the safety of last-minute filing.
 
Despite its acclaimed safety, many Missourians may still have apprehensions when filing taxes online. For maximum security, follow a few safety measures:
 
Submit tax information only on secure websites. The Internet identifies secure websites with specific addresses and symbols. Make sure tax preparation Web addresses begin with “https://” to indicate a secure site. In addition, secure sites are identified with either a closed padlock or unbroken key icon at the bottom of your Web browser.
 
Select a reputable provider. Well-known companies such as H&R Block, TaxACT and TurboTax all have credible options for filing online. For a more extensive list of e-file providers authorized and supported by the IRS, visit www.irs.gov. Nearly all e-file providers charge a small fee.
 
Use secure passwords. Choose a password with at least eight characters and a combination of both letters and numbers. Don't use commonly known information (such as a birth date, anniversary date or pet's name).

Remember to log out of tax preparation software. This is especially important if you are using a public or shared computer.
 
Tax preparation providers now offer different packages to better meet the needs of individuals, families and businesses. However, for some taxpayers there are a few situations where e-filing is not the best option. If in doubt, be sure to consult a tax professional in your area.

Protect Your Computer from Spring Storms


It's always busy here in Tech Support after a spring thunderstorm strikes.
 
Storm-damaged computer equipment is more common than you probably think. Probably because a modem (and our other computer equipment) is one of the last things we think to protect in the event of inclement weather.
 
But it's not too difficult to avoid the hassle of replacing your modem--or, even worse, the cost of replacing your entire computer system.
 
A simple surge protector can do wonders. It'll protect your computer equipment from most thunderstorms, as well as common power fluctuations that occur with rain or wind. Just be sure you're getting a surge protector and not just a power strip (which just provides extra outlets).
 
Surge protectors can't always protect against heavy storms, though, so it's a good idea to unplug your computer when a storm is in the forecast. You should also unplug your peripheral equipment (printers, scanners, etc.). This is pretty simple if you have a surge protector--just unplug the surge protector from the wall (there's no need to disconnect your equipment from the computer).
 
And don't forget your high-speed modem and router. If your Internet connection runs through the phone line, disconnect the cord from the jack. Power surges can travel through the phone line and fry your modem.
 
If you didn't get a chance to disconnect your computer before a storm and a power outage occurs, go ahead and unplug your equipment (assuming you've got a flashlight handy!). Power spikes can occur when service is restored, so this will help prevent damage.
 
When the storm ends and the power comes back on, connect and turn on your computer first, then peripheral equipment. This will protect against power spikes that can occur as the computer starts up.
 
Preparing for a storm should only take you a couple of minutes. And trust us--that's nothing compared to the frustration you'll deal with if your computer or modem falls victim to a lightning strike or power surge.
 
So unplug. Disconnect. Then enjoy the storm.
 
 
 

Who is Socket

Founded in 1994, Socket is a Missouri-based telephone and Internet service provider with the largest service area in the state.

Socket is a privately held company that provides families and businesses a choice for local and long-distance phone and Internet service. We combine the highest quality customer service with in-depth technical knowledge.

Our network serves more than 20,000 residents and businesses in more than 400 Missouri cities, and our customers enjoy simple billing and quick, friendly service.
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