From all of us at Citynet, we want to wish you a prosperous 2009.

 We had many proud accomplishments here at Citynet in 2008 including:

•      Launching our remote, online backup solution, CityVault.

•      New offices and a Carrier-Grade Collocation facility in Charleston, WV; providing even greater connectivity for Citynet and our customers.

•      Outstanding results from our Customer Experience Survey: 93% of Citynet customers would recommend Citynet to a friend or colleague.

Since the economic outlook remains challenging, we’ve created competitive new phone and Internet service bundles complete with features only Citynet can offer. To learn more about these attractively priced technology packages, contact your Citynet representative or just dial 800.903.8906.

Our newsletter this month focuses on email: how to reduce that annoying spam, a warning about email phishing schemes and an invitation to join us for our special anti-spam Webinar this Thursday at 10AM. We are also pleased to announce the promotion of a Citynet team member.

Thank you for your business – Citynet is looking forward to supporting your phone, Internet and technology needs in this New Year.

Spam /’spam/
The abuse of electronic messaging systems to indiscriminately send unsolicited bulk messages.

Given today's economic climate, you must be more efficient with your IT budget. There’s no doubt email is a vital aspect of nearly every business. Therefore, keeping spam and malware out of your inboxes is a key concern.

Spam is no longer just innocuous and irritating, it now poses a variety of serious threats to your business, including:

• Lost Productivity
• Security Threats
• Wasted Storage

If you're interested in seeing just how much spam is costing your business, use our Cost of Spam Calculator. It’s free, easy and does not require you to leave any information (unless you wish to do so).

At Citynet, we are all too familiar with the challenges spam presents for businesses. As a Barracuda Certified Partner, Citynet can help your business finally prevail over spam.

Attend the Citynet/Barracuda Webinar this Thursday at 10AM and learn how. It's easy - simply make your reservation at http://rsvp.citynet.net and save your place today.

Use unusual email addresses.
Some spammers use computer programs to guess at email addresses. Using unusual email addresses containing numbers and letters can thwart this tactic.

Don't provide email addresses over instant messaging programs.
Do not send your email address through chat rooms, instant message services or Internet bulletin boards and newsgroups.

Provide a form not an email address.
If you want to enable users of your Web site to contact you online, provide a form. Make sure the "send to" email address is not contained in the page HTML, but in the form processing script.

Never reply to spam messages.
Never reply to spam messages even when they entice you to reply to "remove" you from their mailing lists. Often the instructions are either bogus, or a way to collect more addresses. Replying confirms to the spammers that your email address is active, and you may receive even more spam.

Use fake email addresses.
Most Web-based sign-up forms require an email address. If you don't want to hear from the site (and don't need a confirmation e-mail or tech support), don't give a real email address.

Opt out.
When you do sign up for or buy something online and you have to give out an email address, remember to opt out of everything you're not absolutely sure you want to receive.

Never submit personal information to non-secure Web sites.
Never submit your credit card details or other personal information to non-secure Web sites. Secure Web sites will have a locked padlock icon that appears in yellow, or in a yellow box, on the bottom bar of the order form Web browser.

Use a Barracuda Spam Firewall.
Even if you follow the above, you're still going to receive spam. By installing a Barracuda Spam Firewall, your company's spam will be immediately reduced. Why not attend our special Barracuda Webinar this Thursday at 10AM from the comfort of your desk, and reclaim your email!

As the economy downturn works out the kinks and begins to turn around, customers will likely see an increase in spam email and phishing expeditions from highly suspect characters.  Citynet would like to advise our customers to be very careful when you get any questionable requests for information.

Here's how phishing works:  phishers send mass emails. The emails appear to come from a legitimate company, such as Citynet, and try to get people to react to a phony situation. Usually a request for sensitive information is made, sometimes directing the recipient to a fake or spoofed Web page. The Web page, like the email, appears authentic, and in some instances its URL has been masked so the Web address even looks real. Because the email and its corresponding Web page seem genuine, the phishers hope at least a fraction of recipients are fooled into submitting their data.

Please keep in mind…Citynet will never ask for your password or private information about you.  We already have this information from you and have no reason to require you to send this information via email.
 
Citynet urges all our customers to keep a diligent watch for any requests for personal/private information.  NEVER give anyone you do not know your Social Security Number or any other private information that they should not be requesting.  Also, be very careful when opening any attachment that may come from unknown sources.  Sometimes this is difficult as phisher’s become more creative.  If in doubt – don’t open it.
 
Your privacy is important to Citynet.  We value your business and want you to be safe while using your online services.  When in doubt about a message that may look to be coming from Citynet, feel free to call our Technical Support Center at 800.881.2638 to verify the message or send us a note and we’ll reply to you.  Inquiries may be sent to communications@citynet.net. 

As Vice-President, Field Services, Ben’s challenge is to integrate the technicians who have traditionally installed and maintained our network services with those who have provided hardware and software support for the customers’ PCs, servers, routers, firewalls, and Cisco Internet Telephony. By so doing, we expect to be able to provide more timely and “seamless” service to our clients, particularly when a dispatch is required.

 A Citynet employee since 2003, Ben has consistently embodied Citynet's Core Values, with outstanding service and dedication on behalf of our customers, and has demonstrated leadership in each of his positions at Citynet.

A native resident of Bridgeport, West Virginia, Ben earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at West Virginia University and is currently enrolled in WVU’s eMBA program. He and his wife, Christa, are expecting their first child this month.

 
As always, we value your opinion.  You may send an email with story ideas, questions or concerns to editor@citynet.net