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Commercial Power Outage Affecting Internet Service in Beavercreek Area - October 27, 2026

Oct 27, 2026 | posted by Conner Williams
#power #outage

10/27/26 5:18PM: Commercial power has been restored to the area and all services should be functioning normally.  10/27/26 7:19AM: BCT is currently experiencing an internet service interruption due to a PGE commercial power outage in the area of Fishers Corner. The PGE Outage Map currently...

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Service Impacting System Updates Scheduled for 12:01AM on November 17 & 18, 2026

Oct 20, 2026 | posted by Conner Williams
#internet #maintenance

BCT will be updating our network software on Tuesday, November 17 and Wednesday, November 18, 2026 beginning at 12:01AM PST with an estimated completion by 4:00AM each day. Members with BCT managed WiFi equipment will experience a brief interruption in access to Internet service for...

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New Battery Backup System Will Help Keep BCT Members Connected During Power Outages

Jun 10, 2026 | posted by Conner Williams
#power #technology #company information #news

Image caption: BCT Outside Plant Supervisor Brian Mount examines a power supply system in Beavercreek’s Lower Highland area. It’s no secret that power outages are common in the Beavercreek area, and we know how frustrating it can be when your internet connection goes out as a result. That’s...

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Webmail Emergency Maintenance

Aug 10, 2026 | posted by BCT
#maintenance #outage #email #webmail

Emergency Maintenance is being performed on the firewalls for the Webmail platform ( mail.bctonline.com ). This maintenance is causing disruption to service access and is currently extended through this morning. We will provide additional details as available.

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Traffic Ticket Scam Texts Are Back

Jul 9, 2026 | posted by Lily Chavez
#scams #scam #fraud

Just a reminder: if you receive a strange text message from an unknown sender, you don’t have to reply. A traffic ticket scam text is back, and scammers are ready to take your payment and personal information. Recently, people have been receiving text messages from scammers pretending to be the...

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You're Invited to the 2026 BCT Annual Meeting!

Jun 30, 2026 | posted by Conner Williams
#company information #annual meeting

As a BCT subscriber, you are part of a community cooperative. Join us for the 2026 Annual Meeting to learn more about your co-op’s roadmap and projects, meet the leadership team and Board of Directors, and connect with fellow members. What: 2026 BCT Annual Meeting Where: BCT Central Office...

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Traffic Ticket Text Scam Returns

Jun 22, 2026 | posted by Lily Chavez

The Traffic Ticket Text Message Scam Is Back  If you receive a text message claiming you owe money for an overdue traffic ticket, toll, parking violation, or court notice, pause before you click. This scam is circulating again, and the messages are designed to look urgent and official. Some...

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Some Streaming Devices Can Affect Your Internet Performance

Mar 20, 2026 | posted by Conner Williams
#tips #technology #wifi

Why Slowdowns Happen   When internet slowdowns happen, the cause is often not on the connection itself, but rather by certain devices or apps running on the network. Some streaming devices allow apps to be installed outside of official app stores (sometimes called...

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Here's Why the Random "Hey how are you doing" Text Is a Scam

Mar 4, 2026 | posted by Lily Chavez
#fraud #scams #scam

Have you gotten a random text message simply saying “hi, how are you?” or “What are you doing?”  From  an unknown number? Before you reply and start wondering if  it’s  an old friend or a friendly stranger… think again.   Scammers are using a tactic to keep you...

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Tech Term: Algorithm

Mar 2, 2026 | posted by Lily Chavez
#tech term

An algorithm is a set of well-defined, step-by-step instructions used to solve a problem or a perform a computation. It provides a specific procedure that takes input, processes it in a sequence of steps, and produces an output.  Algorithms are used in many areas of computing. They serve as...

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Unexpected Calls About Back Taxes Are Scams

Mar 1, 2026 | posted by Lily Chavez
#scam #fraud #scams

Scammers are calling people unexpectedly and claiming they owe back taxes, but these calls are not legitimate. The callers often use official sounding names or say they are part of a tax relief or mediation program to seem credible. They may leave urgent voicemails or warn that this is their...

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Things to Check on When the Clocks Spring Forward for Daylight Saving Time

Feb 12, 2026 | posted by Conner Williams
#tips

Daylight Saving Time begins on March 8, 2026, and this time of year is a great reminder to check on a few important things around the house and in our digital lives: Replace smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries if needed Rotate and/or flip your mattress to even out wear  Top off vehicle...

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Tech Term: Digital Second Skin

Feb 1, 2026 | posted by Lily Chavez
#tech term

The future of wearable technology is no longer distant. It is already becoming part of our everyday lives, blending seamlessly with the human body. As devices grow thinner, smarter, and more adaptable, a new concept is emerging: digital second skin. A digital second skin is a very thin, flexible...

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Tech Term: Typosquatting

Jan 22, 2026 | posted by Lily Chavez
#tech term

Typosquatting is a cybersecurity threat in which attackers register domain names that are slight misspellings or variations of legitimate website URLs. The goal is to exploit common typing errors made by users and divert them to fraudulent sites. These fake sites may attempt to steal personal...

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Pockets of Beavercreek Area Experiencing Commercial Power Outage

Jan 19, 2026 | posted by Conner Williams
#outage #power #internet

Update 01/19/26 4:20PM: Commercial power has been restored.  Update 01/19/26 10:56AM: A generator has been set at the Steiner Node to power BCT cable internet in the area.  01/19/26 9:48AM: BCT is currently experiencing a cable internet outage due to a PGE commercial power outage...

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What Is Typosquatting and Why It’s Tricking Microsoft Users

How a tiny URL change can lead to a big security mistake

Jan 5, 2026 | posted by Lily Chavez
#scam #fraud

Have you heard of typosquatting ? Typosquatting is when scammers register web addresses that look legitimate at first glance. Often, they swap a letter or slightly change the structure of a website. On many screens, the fake site can look identical to the real one unless you check closely. A...

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Beavercreek Area Experiencing Commercial PGE Power Outage - Jan. 4, 2026

Jan 4, 2026 | posted by Conner Williams
#outage

Update 10:12AM: Power has been restored. The generator has been removed and the Henrici area is back on commercial power .  Update 8:55AM: A generator has been set at the Henrici Node to restore cable internet to members in the area with alternative power sources. PGE crews are in the area...

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Reports of Webmail Outoing Message Issues

Dec 22, 2025 | posted by BCT
#outage #email #webmail

Update 12/22/2025 11:30 AM -  Additional resources have been deployed to the Email platform to alleviate issues seen by some users when trying to send email. The team continues to investigate the overall issue to identify a fix. We have received reports that SMTP (outgoing mail) is...

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Tech Term: AI Agents & Multi-Agent Systems

Dec 15, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#tech term #AI

AI agents are software programs that can observe their environment, make decisions, and act toward a goal. They power everyday tools like digital assistants and recommendation engines, using data and rules to operate with some level of autonomy. Multi‑agent systems take this idea further by...

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How to Stay Safe from Data Breaches

What happened with DoorDash and understanding social engineering attacks

Dec 10, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#fraud #scams #scam

If you  haven’t  heard,  DoorDash recently experienced a data breach  in which hackers gained access to the names, emails, phone numbers, and physical addresses of some users, including customers, dashers, and merchants. While DoorDash reported that “no sensitive...

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Reports of Increased Load Times for Webmail

Dec 1, 2025 | posted by BCT
#outage #email #webmail

December 3, 2025 – 7:03 AM: Upgrades to the email platform have been completed, and it appears to be very responsive and stable. We will continue to monitor and provide updates if the experience changes. December 2, 2025 – 3:58 AM: Webmail appears to be loading normally. We are waiting for an...

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Tech Term: Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Nov 17, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#tech term

Two factor authentication, often called 2FA, is a security process that requires users to provide two different forms of identification when signing in to an account. Instead of relying only on a password, 2FA adds a second step to confirm that the person attempting to log in is truly the...

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Notice of Webmail Login Interruptions

Nov 7, 2025 | posted by BCT
#outage #maintenance #email

Update 11/10/2025: we have been aware of an issue with the specific domain mail.web-ster.com.  If you are getting warnings or having issues receiving mail, please try changing the webmail login URL (or POP/IMAP server) to mail.bctonline.com. We are working with our email vendor to resolve...

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Tech Term: Digital Wallet

Oct 22, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#tech term

A digital wallet is an electronic tool that stores payment information, identification details, and other personal data on a smartphone or online platform. Instead of carrying physical cards or cash, users can make purchases, transfer money, or verify their identity using their mobile device....

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Stay Safe During Medicare Open Enrollment

Oct 22, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#fraud #scams #news

If you are looking to make changes to your Medicare health or drug plan during this open enrollment, be sure to take cautionary steps—scammers are also trying to impersonate Medicare. Here are some tips to help you have a safe experience when changing your health plan:   Be suspicious of...

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Tech Term: Digital Identity

Sep 23, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#tech term

Digital identity refers to the collection of information that represents a person, organization, or device online. It includes details such as usernames, passwords, email addresses, biometric data, online behavior, and any other data used to recognize or authenticate someone in digital spaces....

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Tech Term: Task Manager

Aug 22, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#tech term

A task manager is a computer tool that allows users to view and control the programs and processes running on their device. It provides a snapshot of what the system is doing at any moment, showing details such as active applications, background processes, CPU usage, memory consumption, and...

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Scheduled Update to the BCT CommandIQ Network Management App

Aug 7, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#maintenance #wifi #CommandIQ

The BCT CommandIQ network management app will be updated to the latest software version mid-August. This update will provide a new look and feel of the app with additional functionality, giving users greater control over their home network.  For users that have automatic software...

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Upcoming Overnight Network Maintenance

Aug 6, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#maintenance

BCT will be performing routine network maintenance between 12:01AM and 6:00AM on Wednesday, August 27. This maintenance is expected to take 2 hours and will interrupt cable broadband internet service.  We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your understanding as we work to ensure the...

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BCT Sponsors Local Student for 2025 FRS Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.

Molalla High School incoming senior Anna Goodson represents BCT in a national leadership experience.

Jul 29, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#community #scholarships #FRS Youth Tour

In June 2025, BCT proudly sponsored Anna Goodson, an incoming senior at Molalla High School, to attend the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. The annual event brings together high school students from across rural America to explore the nation’s capital, learn...

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Tech Term: Gache Game

Jul 22, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#tech term

A gacha game is a type of video game that uses a chance based system to let players obtain characters, items, or other in game rewards. The name comes from Japanese capsule toy vending machines called gashapon, where each purchase gives a random toy. In gacha games, this concept is recreated...

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How to Avoid Getting Scammed While Shopping Online

AI Generated Product Scams

Jul 16, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#fraud #scams #news #tips #online shopping #AI #technology

One of the best creations since the internet is being able to shop online without ever needing to leave your home . The modern internet has certainly evolved and has made anything from selling, shipping, and making easy — anywhere around the world. However, if you are not leaving your home...

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Have You Received This Email? This is a SCAM!

Scammers Claiming to be BCT

Jul 15, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#fraud #scams #news #onlinesafety

Have you received an email similar to the one above?  Several members recently received this email claiming to be from BCT. Make no mistake: this message is a SCAM! BCT would never ask you to click on a link to enter your personal or payment information. We would also never urgently threaten to...

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Watch Out for Fake PayPal Invoices!

Jul 1, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#scams #fraud #tips #news #email #online shopping

Stay Safe Together: Watch Out for Fake PayPal Invoices!   Hey neighbors! Scammers are trying to trick folks with fake PayPal invoices—bills for things you never bought. They can look super real, but don’t worry, we’ve got your back.   Here’s how to spot a fake invoice:...

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Join Us for the 2025 BCT Annual Meeting

Jun 30, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#company information #annual meeting

As a subscriber of BCT services, you're a member of the community cooperative. And as a member, you're invited to join us at the 2025 Annual Meeting! There, you can meet the leadership team and Board of Directors, learn and ask questions about the company roadmap and projects, gain insight into...

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Tech Term of the Month - June 2025: ATM Skimmer

Jun 25, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#technology #scams #tech term #tip

Have you ever heard of an  ATM skimmer ? It's a nefarious device that scammers can attach to an ATM to steal your card info when you insert your debit or credit card to get cash. Here's how to spot one and stay vigilant against scammers: - If the card reader is loose or oddly bulky - There may...

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Don’t Try to Outsmart the Scammers

Jun 16, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#scams #fraud #tips

It might feel satisfying to prank a scammer or get revenge, but experts warn that fighting back often makes things worse. Some people who’ve responded to scammers were harassed with nonstop calls, had their personal info posted online, or faced real threats. Remember—scammers are criminals,...

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Accidental Deposit Scams

May 22, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#scams #fraud #tips

What Are Accidental Deposit Scams?  Accidental deposit scams happen when a scammer “accidentally” sends you money using a mobile payment app like Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App. They’ll then message you, saying it was a mistake and ask you to send the money back.  Here’s the...

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Tech Term of the Month - May 2025: Mobile Data

May 21, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#tips #technology #tech term

Mobile data  is what lets you access the internet on your smartphone when not connected to a WiFi network. Most mobile carriers offer plans with either certain amounts of data you can use in a given month, or an unlimited plan that lets you use as much as you want. With mobile data, you can use...

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SCAM ALERT: Fake Email Asking For Account Information

Apr 30, 2025 | posted by BCT Member Services
#emails #scams

Scam Email Warning: Several BCT Members have reported receiving an email like the one pictured below in the last 24 hours. This is a scam and is not from our cooperative. Do not click on any of the links within the message. If you have, we encourage you to change your password for your BCT...

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Tech Term of the Month - April 2025: Deepfake

Apr 23, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#tips #technology #tech term

With the continued advancement of AI systems and content generators, artificially-created photos and videos are getting a little harder to tell from the real thing. Most content is used in a harmless way, but some can be used to spread misinformation or be used for scams. For example, a...

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Is This Job Legit? How to Spot a Job Scam, Especially as a College Graduate

Mar 21, 2025 | posted by Lily Chavez
#scams #fraud #ftc-article #college

Job Scams: How College Students Can Avoid Them  As a college student, finding a part-time job can be exciting, but it also opens the door to potential job scams. Scammers often target students with fake job postings, hoping to steal personal information or money. Here's how to spot and...

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Tech Term of the Month - March 2025: Search Engine

Mar 18, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#tips #technology #tech term

A  search engine  is an online tool that helps users find information on the internet by indexing and ranking web pages based on relevance. Popular search engines include Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. Users enter keywords or questions, and the search engine retrieves a list of relevant or...

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Tech Term of the Month - February 2025: AI Detector

Feb 20, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#tips #technology #tech term

With the continued advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools used to make pictures, videos, essays, and more, it can sometimes be tough to tell what's what. Thus, there is now a variety of  AI detector  programs designed to try and identify content created by AI. They can analyze text,...

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Win a Free Trip to Washington, D.C. for the FRS Youth Tour

Apply by 5:00PM on Monday, March 17, 2025

Jan 27, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #community #company information #scholarships

The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Youth Tour brings together over 100 high school students from rural communities across the nation to Washington, D.C. for five days to learn about legislative and agency processes and the important role of broadband services in rural communities. This...

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Tech Tip: How to Organize Your Digital Life

Jan 22, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#technology #tips

Are you always looking for files or photos on your computer or smartphone? Do you want to make sure you have backups in case something happens? Check out these tips to help organize your digital life: For files and folders on your computer or in the cloud, try to use a uniform naming convention...

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Tech Term of the Month - January 2025: Factory Reset

Jan 20, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#tips #technology #tech term

Did you get some new devices for the holidays and want to donate or sell your old ones? Make sure to complete a factory reset before letting them go - that's when you remove all your personal information from the device and restore it back to its original factory settings. This is important to...

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2025-2026 BCT Scholarships Are Now Open!

Apply by 1:00PM on Friday, February 28, 2025

Jan 16, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#company information #community #scholarships

Do you know a local student looking to advance their education after high school? The  BCT  cooperative allocates annual scholarship funds to help local students pay for higher education costs. Qualifying criteria and application instructions can be found at  www. BCT elco.com/scholarship ....

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Several Mobile Phone Carriers Experiencing Issues Receiving Calls

Jan 8, 2025 | posted by Conner Williams
#voice #phone #company information

UPDATE: Calls are now going through as normal. Please give us a call if you're experiencing any issues at 503-632-3113.  Multiple mobile phone carriers are currently experiencing issues receiving outbound calls from BCT. This issue appears to be isolated to BCT landlines attempting to call a...

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Landline Phone Service in Beavercreek is NOT Being Discontinued as Massachusetts Company Claims

Dec 31, 2024 | posted by Lily Chavez
#announcements #phone #news #voice

Did you receive a letter in the mail recently from a company making claims about landline phone service being discontinued in Beavercreek ? Several B CT members shared with us a letter from Community Phone, a Massachusetts based company. While this is a legitimate company, several...

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Outage Notice: Issues with Webmail Login Portal

Dec 20, 2024 | posted by Jason Nugent
#email #outage #webmail

Update: While it appears the webmail portal has mostly recovered, we've been hearing intermittent reports of users still having issues. The first thing to try if you see an issue is a "Hard Refresh" using your keyboard; press the CTRL and F5 keys at the same time. This will clear the cache in...

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Tech Term of the Month - December 2024: Cookies

Dec 19, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #technology #tips

When you visit nearly every website these days, a little text box appears on the screen somewhere asking if you want to accept or reject cookies for the site. But what exactly does this mean? A cookie is essentially a piece of code that can be used to remember information about a user's visit to...

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Thanks for Celebrating 120 Years of Service with Us!

Nov 21, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#community #events

Hard to believe it’s already been 12 decades since the BCT cooperative was formed. Time flies when you’re having fun and serving your community!  Thank you so much to all of our members and neighbors that joined us earlier this month to celebrate 120 years of service to the Beavercreek...

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Tech Term of the Month - November 2024: Smishing

Nov 20, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #technology #tips #scams

Scammers are getting craftier in their attempts to steal personal or payment information from unsuspecting victims. A popular method of scamming is called  smishing , a term combining 'phishing' and 'SMS' AKA text messages. This is where a scammer sends out text messages pretending to be...

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Stay Safe from Holiday Scams

Nov 12, 2024 | posted by Lily Chavez
#scams #fraud #holidays #onlineshopping #security

Stay Safe from Holiday Scams The holiday season brings more online shopping, making it a prime time for scammers. Here's how to protect yourself: Watch Out for Fake Websites and Apps Scammers often create fake websites and apps that look like trusted retailers. These sites steal your payment...

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Tech Term of the Month - October 2024: Jitter

Oct 30, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #technology

There are many factors that contribute to the quality of an internet connection, one of them being jitter. When you send and receive data over the internet, it’s transferred in small packets. The time it takes for data to leave your connected device (smartphone, laptop, tablet), travel to its...

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Only Scammers Ask You to Pay for Services with a Gift Card

Oct 21, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #scams #fraud

Has anyone asked you to pay a bill or a fine with a gift card? If this seems unusual, it's because it's a scam. No real business or government agency will ever tell you that you need to pay with a gift card. Generally, these sorts of scams begin with a phone call, text message, email, or social...

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Tech Term of the Month - September 2024: Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Sep 19, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #technology

You've likely seen a TV ad or heard someone mention a VPN recently, but just what is it? VPN stands for Virtual Private Network , and it is essentially an online encryption tool that masks your identity and hides device IP addresses, providing greater privacy online. Many folks use VPNs when...

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Traveling internationally? Here’s how to access your email on the go!

Sep 10, 2024 | posted by Jason Nugent
#email #support

We wanted you to be aware that we have international security measures in place to prevent automated connections to email from countries that typically host malicious attacks. Because of these protections, if you’re traveling internationally, your ability to sync email to your desktop client...

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Tech Term of the Month - August 2024: Random Access Memory (RAM)

Aug 20, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#education

If you've purchased a computer or laptop in recent years and compared the specifications between options, you've likely seen something called RAM , or Random Access Memory . RAM is the hardware that provides temporary data storage for quick and easy access by the device's processor, and it is...

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Congratulations to the 2024-2025 BCT Scholarship Winners!

Aug 19, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#community #news

BCT is proud to support local students and families with financial aid opportunities to help with the cost of continued education. The co-op allocates funds every year to provide scholarships to local students that live within the service area for the upcoming academic year. This year, all...

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Beavercreek National Night Out: Fun for the Whole Family

Aug 19, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#community #events

We had a wonderful time at Korner Park on August 6 for the first Beavercreek National Night Out event! It was so nice to see all of our members and neighbors out enjoying the evening.   We gave away a $50 bill credit to one lucky winner that entered the drawing at our booth. The...

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Tech Term of the Month - July 2024: 4K

Jul 18, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#education

Do you have a 4K television or computer at home and wonder what exactly that term means? Screen resolution technology continues to advance for a variety of devices, including smartphones, laptops, mobile gaming consoles like Nintendo Switch and PlayStation Vita, ad of course TVs. But unless...

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Tech Term of the Month - June 2024: USB

Jun 21, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#education

So many cords, so many acronyms. Just what does USB mean? Universal Serial Bus is the official name for a series of physical connections that allow data exchange and delivery of power between many types of electronic devices. You've likely used various USB cords and connections many times if...

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FTC Scam Awareness: Why It's Not Rude to Ignore "Hi, How Are You?" Text Messages from Strangers

From the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Blog

By Gema de las Heras, FTC Consumer Education Specialist

Jun 6, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #security #education #ftc-article

A text message from an unknown number that simply says: hi, how are you? seems harmless. Your first instinct might be to respond to see if it’s someone you know. Or maybe tell them they made a mistake. But it’s best to ignore these type of text messages. Scammers are using this tactic as a...

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Tech Term of the Month - May 2024: .exe

May 16, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #security #education #technology

Have you ever received an email with file type .exe attached to it and wondered what is was? Or maybe you've downloaded an app or program to your computer that ran a .exe file to initiate the download and setup? Like a .jpg, .png, .mp4, .mp3, or .doc, .exe is a naming extension that denotes a...

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Tech Term of the Month - April 2024: Bluetooth

Apr 18, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #technology

If you've ever connected a pair of wireless earbuds or headphones to your smartphone, laptop, or TV, then you've used Bluetooth technology before. Bluetooth is a short-range wireless connection method used for exchanging data between devices, generally limited to about 10 meters (~33 feet)...

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Join Us for the First-Ever BCT Community Class: iPhone Basics on April 10 at 12PM via Zoom

Mar 26, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#community class #education

Watch the recording of the BCT iPhone Basics Community Class from April 10, 2024 below:  Could you or someone you know use a little help with your iPhone? In this first-ever BCT Community Class, our team will discuss some useful shortcuts to help you get the most out of your iPhone. We'll go...

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Tech Term of the Month - March 2024: The Cloud

Mar 19, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#technology #education

You hear about it all the time, but what exactly is 'the cloud?' A shorthand name for 'cloud computing services,' the cloud is essentially a collection of servers that host software and computing infrastructure. For example, when you upload a file or photo to the cloud, like Apple iCloud, Google...

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The IRS Doesn't Send Tax Refunds by Email or Text

From the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Blog

By Larissa Bungo, Senior Attorney

Feb 20, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #security #ftc-article

Got an email or text message about a tax refund? It’s a scam. IRS impersonators are at it again. This time, the scammers are sending messages about your “tax refund” or “tax refund e-statement.” It might look legit, but it’s an email or text fake, trying to trick you into clicking on links so...

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Tech Term of the Month - February 2024: Smartphone Mirroring

Feb 20, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#technology #education

Smartphone mirroring is when you wirelessly project the content displayed on your smartphone to another screen, like a television. On Apple devices like iPhones and iPads, this technology is called AirPlay, while Chromecast is the predominant tech used in Android phones. Many modern TVs include...

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How Are Robocallers Getting Your Phone Number?

From the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Blog

By Andrew Rayo, Consumer Education Specialist

Jan 18, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#scams #security #ftc-article

Does it ever feel like you’re getting more robocalls than calls from actual humans? Illegal robocalls aren’t just annoying — they’re also often scams. But you might be wondering — how did they get my number in the first place? Sometimes robocalls are random. But sometimes, a company tries to...

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Tech Term of the Month - January 2024: Augmented Reality

Jan 17, 2024 | posted by Conner Williams
#technology #education

Have you ever used the "see it in your space" feature when shopping for furniture or other items online? Or maybe played the popular mobile game Pokémon Go? If so, then you've experienced augmented reality (AR) firsthand. AR is the result of using technology to superimpose computer-generated...

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Tech Term of the Month - December 2023: Vishing

Dec 14, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#security #education #technology #scams

Vishing , short for 'voice phishing' is the fradulent practice of making phone calls or leaving voice messages pretending to be from legitimate companies or organizations intended to get people to reveal personal information. Vishing is similar to phishing, which is when scammers attempt to get...

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Scammers Hide Harmful Links in QR Codes to Steal Your Information

From the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Protection Blog

By Alvaro Puig Consumer Education Specialist

Dec 6, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#tips #security #scams

QR codes seem to be everywhere. You may have scanned one to see the menu at a restaurant or pay for public parking. And you may have used one on your phone to get into a concert or sporting event, or to board a flight. There are countless other ways to use them, which explains their popularity....

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Tech Term of the Month - November 2023: Refurbished Tech

Nov 16, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#education #technology

When shopping for tech items online or in-store, like TVs, gaming consoles, cell phones, and others, it's common to see some that are labeled as "refurbished." This means that the product has been restored to a like-new condition by the manufacturer or a specialized third party. When a product...

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BCT Provides Donation to Carus Historic Schoolhouse Foundation

Nov 14, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#community #news

Friends of the Carus Historic Schoolhouse organization chair Chris Ritter (left) accepts a donation from BCT President Paul Hauer. BCT is proud to help support the preservation of the Historic Carus Schoolhouse through a donation to the local organization spearheading the efforts. Learn more...

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Smart TV Terminology Can Be Confusing. We’re Here to Help

Shopping for a new TV but confused about the tech jargon?

Nov 13, 2023 | posted by Conner Williams
#tips #technology

Looking for a new Smart TV this Black Friday or Cyber Monday for your streaming or gaming needs? Let us help by defining some common terms seen in Smart TV product descriptions and sales.  LED vs. QLED vs. mini-LED vs. OLED:  LED stands for Light Emitting Diode and is the most common...

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