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Having a secure password is an easy step everyone can take in order to protect themselves from identity theft, fraud, or other online dangers. With technology evolving, simple one-word passwords aren’t going to be able to protect your information anymore. Some of your most important data and information is stored online, so it is essential to ensure that it is protected. Here are some tips to help you create and manage secure passwords. The Basics The first step to making your password more secure is to understand how hackers can guess your passwords. When most people imagine someone trying to hack into their Facebook or bank account, they imagine someone sitting a computer typing in different passwords. However, the reality is that hackers use complex software that can use algorithms to make random guesses until they guess your password. These programs can make guesses at a very high rate and the more complex your password is, the harder it will be for the software to guess. Here are some basics to help you create a strong and complex password:

For a long time, Netflix was the king of streaming services. However, other major media companies are now cashing in on the rising popularity of streaming services. Within the next several years, you can expect a huge influx of new streaming services from brands that you already know and love, such as Disney, NBC and Apple. Here’s a breakdown of some of the streaming services slated to be launching soon! Disney+ Probably the most buzzworthy streaming service coming this year is Disney+. Launching on November 12, 2019, it will feature content from the Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars franchises, as well as 30 seasons of The Simpsons and 21st Century Fox classics. In addition to a library of licensed content, they will also be releasing original movies and TV shows, only available on Disney+. Plans will start at $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year. Apple TV+ Unlike other streaming services, Apple TV+ will only feature original TV shows and movies. You can expect a myriad of content from Hollywood power players including Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Anniston, M. Night Shyamalan, Reese Witherspoon, Oprah, Brie Larson and Jason Momoa. You do not have to have an Apple TV device in order to watch; the service will be available on any device that supports the Apple TV app. Subscriptions will be on $4.99 a month, and if you purchase a new Apple device, you will get a year of Apple TV+ for free!

With the temperatures starting to cool down, pumpkin patch and corn maze season is quickly arriving! This is the perfect time of year to get outside, spend some time with your family and friends and enjoy the cooler weather. We wanted to share some Central Valley fall attractions that are sure to get you and your family into the fall spirit. Tulare County Vossler Farms in Visalia Check out one of south Valley’s most epic corn mazes at Vossler Farms! The 2019 season opens on September 28 and the ten-acre corn maze will be open Wednesday through Sunday, with the pumpkin patch open every day of the week. Fresno County Pumpkin King in Fresno Located on Blackstone and Shaw in Fresno, Pumpkin King will be open beginning on September 27 and will be open seven days a week. Pony rides, bounce houses and a straw bale maze for the kids make this a great place to take your family. Hobb’s Grove in Sanger

Cable providers don’t want to dig trenches. In most rural areas, traditional wirelines Internet services like Comcast or AT&T aren’t available. Cable companies only offer services within urban or suburban areas that have a high population density. In order to bring cable Internet service to rural areas, providers would have to dig trenches to bring the wirelines out to the country. Unfortunately, these providers do not think that it is worth it to dig trenches in rural areas, as there are fewer customers per mile than in urban areas. DSL is slow and does not guarantee their speeds. DSL Internet can be available in certain rural areas through a local phone company. However, even if DSL is available, speeds can drastically vary depending on how far away you are from the phone company hub. Even if you are close to the phone company hub, your speeds may still be inconsistent because most DSL providers do not guarantee their speeds.

There’s nothing better on a hot day than staying inside and streaming your favorite movies and TV shows. Here are some of our staff’s favorite Hulu picks: If you like throwbacks, you might like… Seinfield Described as a “show about nothing”, comedian Jerry Seinfeld and friends live in New York City in the 90s. Seinfeld is packed with one-liners and is the epitome of 90s sitcoms. Full House This heartfelt family sitcom depicts the lives of a widowed father and his three daughters, who raises them with the help of his brother in law and best friend. Veronica Mars Hulu is bringing back everyone’s favorite private investigator in Hulu’s reboot of the popular 2000s show, Veronica Mars. If you like sci-fi, you might like… Star Trek: The Original Series In the first television series in the Star Trek franchise, Captain Kirk, Spock and friends must complete their mission aboard the USS Enterprise to explore the galaxy and defeat intergalactic enemies. Lost Lost was a cultural phenomenon when it first premiered in 2004 and now you can stream it anytime on Hulu! Airplane passengers who crash landed on an island must figure out how to survive and how they can get home. If you want something to watch with the whole family, you might like… Garfield and Friends Based on the classic comic strip, this TV show follows the adventures and mishaps of a lasagna-loving cat and his friends Odie, Orson Pig and Wade Duck. Shrek An ogre and a donkey go on a quest to save a princess, but there’s more to the princess than meets the eye! Both parents and kids alike will love this iconic animated movie. If you like to laugh, you might like… Last Man on Earth

When signing up for unWired, you will need a router to deliver your Internet connection into your home. You can either buy your own router or purchase a managed router for a small monthly fee from unWired. If purchasing your own router, you can find them on Amazon or at an electronics store like Best Buy. Here are some of the routers that we recommend: ASUS AC1900 / Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 On the lower end of the price range, these routers are recommended for mid-size homes, as they can cover homes up to 3000 sq. ft. They are also perfect for gaming and streaming. These routers range from $150 – $200. ASUS AC3100 / Netgear Nighthawk X6 AC3000 Perfect for larger homes, these routers will cover around 3000 – 5000 sq. ft. They are slightly better for gaming and streaming, but the real improvement is on the Wi-Fi range. These routers range in price from $200- $250. unWired Managed Router If you want to avoid setting up your own router or paying for replacement routers, you can purchase an unWired managed router. For $9.99/month, we will set up your router and pay for any maintenance, as well as take care of changing the passwords and adding port forwarding for different devices. You can cancel your managed router service at any time. At unWired, we have done extensive router testing with a variety of brands and the brands that we do not recommend are D-Link, Belkin, TP-Link, and almost all routers under the $75 mark. However, if happen to have one of these routers, don’t worry! They are not necessarily bad routers; they may just burn out sooner than the other major brands. If you are buying your own router, we suggest that you also purchase a warranty

There’s nothing better on a hot day than staying inside and streaming your favorite movies and TV shows. Here are some of our staff’s favorite Netflix picks: If you like dramas, you might like… Dead to Me – Laugh and cry as you uncover the unlikely friendship of Jen and Judy, after Jen’s husband is killed in a hit and run accident. Designated Survivor – When a national disaster strikes and kills almost every member of the American government, the HUD secretary is thrust into presidency in this political thriller. The Crown – Based on the life of Queen Elizabeth II, each season of The Crown chronicles each decade of her reign. If you like cooking, you might like… Chef’s Table – This documentary series follows several culinary geniuses who are revolutionizing gourmet foods around the world. The Chef Show – Jon Favreau and Roy Choi travel around the world to learn from legends in the culinary industry. If you need something to watch with the whole family, you might like… Fuller House – Fans of Full House will love this family-friendly spin-off which depicts the life of DJ Tanner, Stephanie and Kimmy! Lost in Space – When a family crash-lands on an alien planet, they must do whatever it takes to escape dangerous situations and find their way home. If you like throwbacks, you might like…

Just because the school year is over doesn’t mean that it’s time for your kids to stop learning! Whether it be phonics, geography, or a foreign language, these apps can keep your kids motivated to learn throughout the summer. Duolingo Duolingo is a great app to help kids learn a new language. It’s perfect for kids because every lesson is gamified to make learning a new language fun and entertaining. Each lesson includes a variety of speaking, listening, translating and typing. With languages from Spanish to Klingon to Ukrainian, there’s bound to be something that piques your child’s interest! The best part is that Duolingo is completely free, but you can upgrade to Duolingo Plus for even more features. ABCmouse At $9.95 a month, ABCmouse is a comprehensive learning program that grows up with your kids from age 3 to 2nd grade. It covers subjects from reading to math to science and social studies. With over 850 lessons, your child will never run out of activities. ABCmouse also has a ticket and reward system to keep your child motivated. Google Earth You may be surprised to see Google Earth on this list, but Google Earth is a great way for your child to learn about geography and explore different locations around the world. From the Eiffel Tower to Times Square to the Great Pyramids, your child can learn about world history and see the world all from an app! The Google Earth app is free to download. Hooked on Phonics With over 275 activities, Hooked on Phonics can help your child learn to read! Perfect for ages 3-7, th

Being a new parent is stressful, wonderful and scary all at the same time. From giving you peace of mind to giving you a couple more hours of sleep, these devices can help you make the transition into parenthood a little easier! Owlet Smart Sock 2 Designed to give new parents peace of mind, the Owlet Smart Sock 2 wraps around your baby’s foot to detect heat rate, oxygen levels and sleep patterns. You can place the base next to your bed, which will glow green if everything looks good and it will notify you with flashing lights and an alarm if your baby’s levels leave the preset zones. You can view live readings of your baby’s stats using the smart phone app. The app can also track your baby’s sleep, oxygen and heart rate patterns. Nanit Plus Camera The Nanit Plus Camera mounts on the wall of your nursery to give you a perfect view of your child’s crib. The camera connects to an app which tracks your baby’s sleep trends and give you a time-lapse of your baby throughout the night. The app also uses background audio to let you hear your baby, even when your phone is locked, or you are using other apps. Hatch Baby Grow Smart Changing Pad and Scale If keeping track of your baby’s weight is important to you, then the Hatch Baby Grow Smart Changing Pad might be perfect for you! This changing pad has a built-in scale that connects to your smart phone through an app. Every time you change your baby, the scale will automatically track how much your baby weighs, as well as measure how much your baby is eating at every feeding. The information will then sync to the mobile app.

You don’t have to have thousands of dollars or a complicated camera system in order to protect your home. Wi-Fi-based security cameras make it easy! These cameras connect to your home’s wi-fi and allow you to view a live feed or save video footage to the cloud when a motion sensor is triggered. Most wi-fi based cameras also connect seamlessly to smart assistants such as Google Home or Amazon Alexa. Now anyone can keep an eye on their property and home from anywhere in the world! Here are some of our favorite home security cameras to give you peace of mind. Ring Starting at $99, Ring’s most well-known product is their video doorbells. This camera replaces your doorbell, allowing you to get a perfect view of what’s happening at and around your front door. One of their newest cameras is their doorview cam, which is a camera that you place on your front door that acts as a peephole and security camera. They also have indoor cameras to help you keep tabs on what’s happening inside your home. Their cameras include audio abilities that let you communicate with those in the vicinity of the camera. Nest Nest offers indoor and outdoor cameras that give you mobile alerts when the camera’s motion sensors detect motion. It also has enhanced night vision technology so that you can have a clear view no matter what time of day. Some of their cameras can even recognize familiar faces so that it doesn’t waste storage space or battery. Nest cameras start at $199 and go up from there depending on features and capabilities.