Feeling intimidated by online security? You don’t have to! Since October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s turn that fear into action. With a few simple steps, your online safety will be more manageable. These easy tips will help you feel safer online:

1.Vary Your Passwords

Many people are guilty of using one password for every login they have. However, it is strongly recommended you don’t use the same password for every account, email, and app. Varying passwords limits the potential for someone to access all your accounts if they have gained access to one. There are reputable password managers available that will randomly generate secure passwords. You are only required to remember one password to access the password manager.

2. Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication

This simple additional step can make a huge difference when protecting yourself online. Multi-factor authentication can require a text or email to be sent to registered contact information that acts as a second layer of defense.

3. Keep Your Software Updated

Software updates aren’t just about new features; they frequently contain security patches that fix vulnerabilities hackers actively exploit. If your phone or computer are notifying you of an update, especially one with security patches, it’s best to update as soon as they are available.

4. Limit Information Shared on Social Media

As tempting as sharing personal information with your social network might be, hackers can use the information to gain access to your personal data. Security question answers can often be determined by scrolling through someone’s social media feed, like the name of your pet, your favorite sports team, where you like to travel, or names and/or birthdays of your children. Making your social profiles private instead of public can also help protect the information you share on social media.

5. Be Suspicious

When it comes to your personal data, you can never be too cautious. It is best to always be suspicious of anyone or anything asking for information. If you think it seems suspicious, it probably is. This is especially true when it comes to phishing (emails pretending to come from a trusted source), or smishing (text messages that appear to be from someone you know).

The option of 5G home internet has grown in recent years. This can be confusing when deciding between fiber internet and 5G home internet. A look at the differences can help you determine which is the better option for your home.

The Unseen Limitations of 5G

The technology behind 5G home internet, which uses radio waves traveling through the air from 5G cellular network towers, is quite different from SRT Fiber Internet, which is delivered via fiber optic cables buried underground directly to the customer’s home. This core difference leads to a few potential issues for 5G users:

• Unstable Service: Wireless signals are more apt to be disrupted by weather, physical obstructions, and distance from the cellular tower. This is especially true in rural areas where 5G towers are not as prominent as they are in larger cities. This can lead to frustratingly inconsistent speeds and buffering, unlike our Fiber network that brings a dedicated, fast Internet connection straight to your home.
• Deprioritization During Peak Hours: Because 5G is a shared network, your connection competes with other 5G home internet users in your area. During busy times, your service may be “deprioritized,” which means your speeds are intentionally slowed down to ensure a baseline service for everyone on the 5G network. With SRT Fiber, your connection is yours alone, which means no sharing and no slowdown times during the day or evening.
• Slower Than Advertised Speeds: 5G home internet promises top speeds, but the speeds a customer may experience in their home are different than those advertised due to network congestion and signal interference. With our Fiber network and a hardwired connection to your devices, you get the service you pay for with matching upload and download speeds, and an overall more reliable home internet experience.

The Advantage of SRT Fiber Internet

SRT invested in building the area’s only 100% Fiber network because we know how important fast, reliable Internet is to your everyday life Whether you work from home, are an avid gamer, or simply have multiple smart devices in your home, SRT Fiber Internet will support everything you do

The only potential downside to Fiber internet is that it’s not available in every corner of the United States. But don’t worry; SRT has you covered. We built our Fiber network to every business, home, school, and farm in our service area, making sure everyone has access to the fastest, most reliable Fiber Internet today.

Don’t settle for the unpredictable performance of a shared 5G wireless connection. Choose SRT Fiber for the stability, speed, and reliability you and your family deserve.