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TUTORIAL/FAQ

TUTORIAL/FAQ

Short Tutorial/FAQ – Why Are My Speed Test Results Lower Than Expected?


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Question: When I recently did a speed test on my home’s internet connection, the speeds didn’t match what’s stated for my internet plan. How come?

Answer: Internet service providers typically advertise maximum download and upload speeds for plans, but actual speeds may come in lower. They can also vary day by day, or even hour by hour. This is because factors including these can affect the speeds:
  • WiFi interference – Other electronic devices, physical obstacles like walls and doors, and even other WiFi networks nearby can impact your speed.

  • Range from the router – The farther your device is from your WiFi router, the weaker the signal and, consequently, the slower the speed.

  • Many devices – The more devices connected to your network, the more crowded your network becomes, and this can slow things down.

  • Software updates and background activities – Sometimes, devices run necessary software updates or background processes that can take up a chunk of your bandwidth, causing a slower connection.

  • Older devices – Devices with older WiFi technology take more time to transmit and receive data on your WiFi network, which can slow the entire network down.
It’s important to understand that advertised speeds are based on a wired connection. Wireless speeds will always be somewhat slower than this advertised speed as there are many variables that affect WiFi connectivity and performance. If possible, run a speed test from a computer that is connected via an ethernet cable to your modem or router. This will produce the most accurate speed test result.

CUSTOMER ALERT

CUSTOMER ALERT

Stay Alert – That Email Isn’t From Facebook Security

Watch Out For Facebook Security Scammers sometimes create fake emails that look like they’re from Facebook. For example, Facebook users have received phishing emails that claim their Facebook account was disabled due to breaching Facebook Community Standards.

Users are told they need to click on a link and then log in to appeal the decision. The link leads to a fraudulent website designed to resemble Facebook, which will likely ask you to enter your login information. Scammers are hoping the news that your Facebook account was disabled will result in you acting quickly and without thinking, so they’ll be able to capture your data.

To spot a Facebook phishing scam, check the sender’s email address. All legitimate emails come from an official Facebook.com email address. Make sure to click on the sender’s “From” name to see if it’s actually coming from Facebook. If not, it’s a scam. And as a general rule, always check the status of your Facebook account by using the Facebook mobile app or navigating to the site directly. Don’t click on a link in an email.

You can report an email of concern to phish@fb.com or through the report links that appear throughout Facebook.

Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery Gets Upgrades With SRT and RDFC Grant Funds

Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery Gets Upgrades With SRT and RDFC Grant Funds

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MINOT, N.D. – Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery, 10 miles south of Butte, was recently able to replace fencing along the north and west sides of the cemetery, thanks to funding from a Rural Development Finance Corporation (RDFC) grant matched by SRT Communications.

RDFC awarded a $750 grant to Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery in 2023, which SRT matched with an additional $750. An old wooden fence has been replaced with PVC and fiberglass posts and chain-link fencing.

The cemetery, established in 1906, is cared for by a group of volunteers. The sexton, Dennis Schott of Butte, maintains the grounds with help from his wife, Lois, Tom and Lena Volochenko, Lyle Zinke and his father, Harold, and Dewey Helm. According to Schott, anyone can be buried at the cemetery. Currently, plot reservations are not needed.

Schott said, “My grandparents are buried here. It’s important to have a well-kept resting place for people in our area.”

Volunteer Tom Volochenko added that his grandparents are also buried at the cemetery, along with many other generations of families from the Butte community.

SRT is among the North Dakota rural telecommunication and electric cooperatives that are members of RDFC. A nonprofit finance and development corporation, RDFC provides funding for economic development and diversification projects in rural North Dakota. Applications are submitted to RDFC via SRT; if approved, funds are then matched 100% by SRT.

SRT Communications, headquartered in Minot, North Dakota, is the state’s largest telecommunications cooperative. Established in 1951, SRT employs roughly 180 people and serves more than 24,000 customers across north central North Dakota. SRT earned the distinction as a Certified Gig-Capable Provider in 2017. Services include high-speed internet, phone, and security/surveillance systems for home and business. Learn more at www.srt.com.

The Rural Development Finance Corporation (RDFC) is a nonprofit corporation that encourages economic diversification and community vitality through the generation of funding that supports sustainable asset building. Funding for RDFC programs comes from fee income generated by Dakotas America LLC, a community development entity providing New Market Tax Credits in economically distressed census tracks across the United States. The North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives provides support to RDFC.

TUTORIAL/FAQ

TUTORIAL/FAQ

Short Tutorial/FAQ – How Can I Spot AI-Generated Images?


Download Graphics to View QUESTION: How can I spot AI-generated images?

ANSWER: New artificial intelligence (AI) technology is becoming more sophisticated and easier to use, making it possible for just about anyone to create realistic-looking images. Unfortunately, this also means scammers are now using AI images to lend credibility to their tricks — like making a phony celebrity endorsement look real or convincing family members of a fake emergency.

The Better Business Bureau offers these tips for recognizing AI-generated images:

Find a high-resolution image and zoom in. If you see a surprising photo of a politician or celebrity, look closer before you believe what’s in the picture. Search the image in the highest-possible resolution and then zoom in. You’ll likely find a few giveaways if you’re looking at an AI-generated image. For example, there could be glasses that seem to melt into the person’s face, or fingers that don’t quite close around the coffee cup that’s hanging in midair.

Consider asymmetry and other physical inconsistencies. Less sophisticated versions of AI can have a hard time with physical traits. Asymmetry in human faces, teeth, and hands are common issues with poor quality AI images. You might notice hands with extra (or not enough) fingers, too. Another telltale sign is unnatural body proportions, such as ears, fingers, or feet that are disproportionately large or small.

Strange textures or a glossy effect. AI images often have textured backgrounds or an airbrushed look that real photos don’t share. You might also notice strange-looking backgrounds or sharp images with random blurry spots.

CUSTOMER ALERT

CUSTOMER ALERT

Stay Alert – Quit Answering Those Online Quizzes

Quit Answering Those Online Quizzes Before you take a quiz to find out which Marvel character you are, ask yourself: Do I know who’s gathering this information about me or what they plan to do with it?

Personality tests, quick surveys, and other types of online quizzes ask seemingly harmless questions, but the more information you share, the more you risk it being misused. Scammers could do a lot of damage with just a few answers that give away your personal information. We’ve heard about scammers phishing for answers to security question data through quizzes. They use your quiz answers to try and reset your accounts, letting them steal your bank and other account information. Some scammers hack social media accounts and send malware links to friends of the hacked account holder under the guise of sharing a quiz.

One major way to protect your personal information — in addition to maintaining strong passwords and using multi-factor authentication — is to steer clear of online quizzes. Or just don’t answer them truthfully.

As for accounts that require actual security questions, treat them like additional passwords and use random answers. Asked to enter your mother’s maiden name? Say it’s something else, like Vanilla or another word you’ll remember. Or use a password manager to store a unique answer. This way, scammers won’t be able to use information they find to steal your identity.

If you suspect that an online quiz is a phishing scam, you can report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.