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cyber safety

SecureIT Discontinued by Manufacturer

SecureIT Discontinued by Manufacturer

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We appreciate your business and want to make you aware that SecureIT Plus is being discontinued by its developer.

As of March 31, 2026, full functionality of SecureIT Plus will end, as will its technical support and product updates.

This means that after March 31, 2026, the SecureIT Plus app will not have awareness of the latest threats and will not provide full protection. Also, the dedicated support staff for SecureIT Plus will be closed.

What you should do:

Once you have acquired a SecureIT Plus replacement, you should uninstall the app from your device(s) before installing the replacement. For SecureIT Plus uninstall instructions, go to www.securitycoverage.com/support/secureit.

We want to help you find a suitable alternative to the SecureIT Plus anti-virus application. Some options for free or low-cost alternatives include your device’s built-in applications like Windows Defender, and third party applications like Avast, BitDefender, and Sophos, to name a few.

SecureIT Plus dedicated technical support remains available at 877-373-3320 through March 31, 2026. 

Please know that the SRT Internet Helpdesk remains available 24/7 at 701-858-7873. Again, thank you for your business and we apologize for the inconvenience.

How to Spot a Phishing Email

How to Spot a Phishing Email

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Be on the lookout! A lot of phishing is going on (and not the fun kind involving North Dakota lakes in summer). Bad actors are better than ever at making emails seem realistic and tricking unsuspecting people into clicking malicious links or opening infected documents. Often, phishing emails will have a company logo, and at first glance, seem quite realistic. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has also made phishing scams more believable. However, there are some simple things to do when opening an email that can save you time and stress in the long run.
 

Check the Sender Address

Hover over the from address to see if the email is who it says it is. A quick Google search will often provide you with what the legitimate email address should be.

Look for Grammatical Errors

Legitimate companies are less likely to have grammatical errors as opposed to someone posing as a legitimate company.

Check the Salutation

If you receive an email with a generic salutation such as “hello sir/madam,” or “hi dear,” it is likely to be a scam. Reputable companies will have your name on file and are unlikely to address you in this manner.

Watch for Urgency

If an email is flagged or the subject line includes words like “urgent, time-sensitive, immediate action required,” it is likely not a legitimate email.  

Question the Need for Credentials or Personal Information

Rarely will a legitimate company or agency request personal information through an automated email. SRT will never ask you for sensitive information over email, so if you receive an email request supposedly from SRT to provide personal credentials, it is best to call our direct company phone number and confirm the request.

Don’t Click on Suspicious Documents or Links

If there are documents or links within a questionable and unexpected email, it is most likely a scam. When in doubt, it’s best not to click on any links or download documents until you have confirmed the legitimacy of an email.

Think Critically

Some bad actors are trying so hard to fool unsuspecting people that they don’t think to ensure you utilize the service or company they are pretending to be. For example, you receive an email from someone claiming to be from Netflix, you panic, and open the link. However, you didn’t stop to remember that you don’t have a Netflix account. Something as simple as knowing you do not use the service can save you from opening a bad link.

However, if you do have an account with the company that you received an email from, like SRT, it is always best to call the number on their official website and verify. We are always happy to clear up any misconceptions and set your mind at ease. Keeping your personal information secure is our top priority!

CUSTOMER ALERT

CUSTOMER ALERT

Stay Alert – Fake Gift Card Balance-Checking Sites

Watch Out For Charity Scams Can’t remember the balance on one of your gift cards? Make sure you don’t accidentally go to a fake gift card balance-checking site!

As part of their customer service, many legitimate companies provide sites for customers to check their gift card balances. Unfortunately, scammers have become increasingly skilled at creating deceptive balance-checking sites with fake URLs. If you want to check your card balance and do a Google search, among the top results may be a link that seems perfectly legit — even endorsed by Google Ads — but the whole thing is just a facade. Should you end up on one of these fake sites and enter your gift card number and PIN, you’ll unknowingly give scammers direct access to the funds on your card.

Keep this in mind: Just because a site to check your gift card balance appears at the top of a search, it does not mean it’s legitimate. Search results can be filled with fake gift card balance-checking sites, and scammers are constantly finding new ways to get their pages to show up at the top of results.

The safest way to check the balance of a gift card is to refer to the back of the card for a web address or phone number. If this information is not provided, proceed with caution. Avoid entering your gift card details into any search result labeled as “Sponsored” or “Ad.” In addition, be cautious of any site title that appears in wacky fonts or next to odd emojis. Scammers often use this tactic to make their fake sites both visually pop and appear towards the top.

CUSTOMER ALERT

CUSTOMER ALERT

Stay Alert – “Accidental” Texts May Be First Step in a Scam

Watch Out For Charity Scams People accidentally text the wrong number all the time, and you’ve no doubt received texts that were meant for someone else. Unfortunately, wrong-number texts aren’t always innocent mistakes. Scammers send “accidental” texts to catch you off guard and exploit your friendliness and kindness for financial gain.

These types of texts might say something like, “Sorry I’m running late, I’ll be there in 15 minutes.” Or they may reference a medical appointment or business meeting. Not wanting to be rude, you respond to tell the sender they’ve got the wrong number. The scammer then tries to engage you in an ongoing conversation to gain your trust — often the first step in a romance or employment scam. By using AI messaging bots, some scammers are able to target thousands of people at a time.

Here’s what to do if you receive a wrong-number text:
  1. Don’t respond. If you receive a text from an unknown number, ignore it. Responding, even to correct the mistake, can confirm your number is active.
  2. Block and report. Use your phone’s features to block the number and report the message as spam. This helps prevent others from falling victim.
  3. Be skeptical of investment opportunities. Be cautious if someone you don’t know starts discussing investments or money-making opportunities. Scammers are skilled at making their offers seem legitimate.
If you’ve been scammed, contact your financial institution immediately to try to recover your money, and report the scam to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

CUSTOMER ALERT

CUSTOMER ALERT

Stay Alert – Fake PayPal Invoice Scams are on the Rise

Watch Out For Charity Scams The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline has recently seen a rise in reports of PayPal scams. Cybercriminals use the payment system’s invoicing tool to send victims fake invoices for large purchases. When the invoices are sent, PayPal sends an official notification email to the recipient, which makes the otherwise fake invoices appear legitimate. The scammers include an official-looking message in the “seller note to customer” section of the fake invoice, encouraging the victim to call a fake customer service line to prevent the charges from being processed.

If the victim calls this line, the scammers attempt to fool them into paying the invoice or giving them credit card or bank information. In some cases, victims are asked to install software they claim will help with the recovery process. Instead, this software records the victim’s keystrokes or gives the cybercriminals remote access to the victim’s computer.

How to avoid PayPal scams:
  • If you receive a suspicious invoice or money request, don’t pay it.
  • Don’t call any phone numbers in the invoice note or open suspicious URLs.
  • Never send money to a cryptocurrency wallet mentioned in an invoice or money request.
If you receive a suspicious invoice, you’re encouraged to report it by logging into your PayPal account at paypal.com or by using the PayPal app.