Kopis donating $1000 prize at state-wide innovation series launch

  January 29, 2020

Kopis donating $1000 prize at state-wide innovation series launch One of the state’s leading software companies will be donating $1,000 to help spur the next level of innovation in South…

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Posted in: lowcountrybizsc, midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: on-the-move, technology

‘Critical issue’ requires update

  January 21, 2020

By Katie Ritchie   Do you use Windows 10? You may need to update your computer. The NSA alerted Microsoft to a vulnerability. The software giant released a patch to…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Is your phone eavesdropping?

  January 14, 2020

By Katie Ritchie   The secret is out: our smartphones and assistants are listening in. The default settings on devices allow our voices to be recorded. The recordings are collected,…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Don’t forget your medicine

  January 8, 2020

By Katie Ritchie   The weeks after the New Year are usually dedicated to creating new habits. Many folks want to get to the gym or eat better. The habit…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

DPX Technologies unveils a new brand

  January 6, 2020

DPX Technologies, a manufacturer of laboratory consumable products, announces the launch of a new brand image. DPX has been manufacturing pipette tips for sample preparation since 2007. Their patented technologies…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: on-the-move, technology

Immedion partners with Veeam for advanced backup solutions

  January 6, 2020

Immedion LLC, a premiere provider of cloud, data center and managed IT services, announced enhanced backup services through an expanded Veeam Cloud & Service Provider (VCSP) partnership with Veeam® Software,…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz, upstatebizsc   Category: hi-tech-information-tech, it-services, on-the-move, technology

Foreign spies use your chat app

  January 2, 2020

By Katie Ritchie   Many of us are wary of the way companies and apps use and misuse our private information. Facebook and Twitter are common offenders. Last week the…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

FTC settlements protect consumers

  December 17, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Every month it seems like news breaks of another big scam or data breach. This week I wanted to focus on some positive news. First is…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Google gathering your health data

  December 13, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Have you heard about “Project Nightingale?” It’s not a covert military operation. It’s the name of the partnership between tech giant Google and Ascension. one of…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Beware dangerous phone chargers

  December 3, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   It has happened to all of us. You’re out and about and realize your phone is running low. It’s especially common when you’re traveling. Airport waiting…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Do Not Call Registry data book released

  November 25, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Over the last year, robocalls have been a popular Tech Talk topic. One of the resources I mentioned for stopping telemarketers was the Do Not Call…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Simplify cooking and grocery shopping

  November 19, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Have you planned your Thanksgiving menu? How about your holiday meal grocery shopping list? If you still need to work on it, there are free apps…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Just hang up on a robot

  November 13, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   If you’ve been bombarded by more robocalls than usual in the last 2 months, you aren’t alone. A reader emailed to report he has gotten calls…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

SC vulnerable to ID theft, fraud

  November 6, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Identity theft and fraud are serious issues. From January 1, 2005, to August 31, 2019, there have been 10,818 breaches. That comes out to 1.6 billion…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Ellipsis Technologies announces WordPress form spam protection

  October 30, 2019

Ellipsis Technologies announces today the release additional features for their WordPress Human Presence TM security plugin specifically designed for WordPress and focused on combating form spam for WordPress site owners.…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: on-the-move, technology

iPads, iPhones need software updates

  October 29, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Do you have an iPhone or iPad with WiFi and cellular service? If your device was made in 2012 or earlier, you need to update your…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: on-the-move, technology

UofSC Law Cybersecurity webinar to focus on fighting cybercrime – Oct. 29

  October 24, 2019

Coinciding with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the University of South Carolina School of Law is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 12:30 – 2 p.m., featuring federal law enforcement…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: business-services, chamber, education, government, hi-tech-information-tech, it-services, law, on-the-move, technology

Secure your accounts

  October 22, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   This week’s Cybersecurity Month topic is multi-factor authentication (MFA). It’s a mouthful to say, but a simple idea. Think of it as another level of security.…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Keep devices safe while traveling

  October 15, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so I’m sharing tips for traveling safely with your devices. Keep this list on hand when traveling during the holidays.…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

VC3 celebrates National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

  October 15, 2019

VC3 is celebrating National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) during the month of October. Observed every October, NCSAM was created by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: government, it-services, on-the-move, technology

New phishing scams are here

  October 8, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. For the rest of October I’ll be sharing information on cyberthreats and how you can avoid them. This week is…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Make your iPhone battery last

  October 4, 2019

By Katie Ritchie The last in this series of battery boosting tips is for the iPhone. I saved the iPhone for last because iOS 13 released an update September 24.…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

You can boost battery life of Pixel 3

  September 24, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Last week I shared ways to extend Note10 battery life. This week features tips to boost Pixel 3 battery life. Many of these tips also apply…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Tips to boost Note10 battery

  September 17, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Last week I shared ways to extend your Windows 10 laptop battery life. This week I’m sharing tips to boost your Samsung Galaxy Note10. Have a…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Extend your laptop battery life

  September 11, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Does your laptop battery last long enough? Most folks answer that with an enthusiastic “no,” regardless of what device they mean. In this series, I’ll share…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Be wary of stalkerware

  September 3, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Jesse’s ex-boyfriend had always been difficult. He called it “over-protective because he cared.” Her family called him controlling. He wanted to know where she was and…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Samsung announces $100,000 donation to Columbia’s Fisher House

  August 28, 2019

This is the largest donation given to the Columbia Fisher House to date Samsung’s Vice President of Strategic Communications, Megan Pollock, announced a $100,000 donation to the forthcoming Fisher House…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: non-profit, on-the-move, technology

AirDrop settings may put phone at risk

  August 27, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Is your iPhone open to files from strangers? If you’re an Apple products user, you may have used a feature called AirDrop. It’s a handy filesharing…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

New tech may prevent hot car deaths

  August 20, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Each year infants, children, and pets are in danger during the summer months. The National Safety Council reports that 32 children have died so far in…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Facebook, Youtube address ‘miracle cures’

  August 13, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Have you ever been duped by a “miracle cure”? You wouldn’t be the only one. Phony physicians have promised cure-alls for health problems for hundreds of…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Are generic cell phone chargers safe?

  August 6, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Who made your cell phone charger? If it’s not your phone manufacturer, you may be at risk. Electrical Safety First, an electricity safety organization in the…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Wait for a letter announcing jury duty

  July 23, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Have you ever been summoned for jury duty? If so, you know official jury paperwork comes through the mail. For Federal cases, you may get a…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Are the police after you for an accident?

  July 17, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   What would you do if you got a call from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department? The deputy on the phone claims he needs to discuss a…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

US Attorney prevents fraud with Bingo campaign

  July 9, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   “Fraud Bingo!” That was what seniors called out at a Justine Department awareness campaign. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Stephens and Rob Sneed shared tips for seniors.…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Learn to code for free

  July 2, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Do you have an aspiring software developer or web designer in your family? SC Codes is an online learning platform which launched in September of 2018.…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

FCC responds to Robocall complaints

  June 26, 2019

by Katie Ritchie Did you hear the good news? We might finally get some relief from robocalls. The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to give cell phone companies more power…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, on-the-move, technology

S.C. BlueCross Foundation launches new funding for innovative health solutions

  June 18, 2019

The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation is encouraging organizations to apply for a new grant opportunity to improve the health and well-being of South Carolinians. The Catalyst grants initiative…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: health-care, hi-tech-information-tech, non-profit, on-the-move, philanthropy, technology

Try a free spam blocker

  June 11, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   If you followed the instructions from last week, you should be on track toward a much cleaner inbox. It can take up to 30 days for…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

How to get rid of email spam

  June 4, 2019

by Katie Ritchie   The best scam email I’ve ever gotten read as follows: Dear beneficiary, I have been mandated to inform you that, “Yvonne Wachendorfer” has come to let…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Use secure passwords

  May 28, 2019

By Katie Ritchie   Are you using a common, easily hacked password? The National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) released the first UK Cyber Survey. With it, they released the 10,000…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology

Time to upgrade your entire system?

  May 21, 2019

by Katie Ritchie   Do you have an older computer using Microsoft Windows software? You’ll need to update your computer. On May 14, Microsoft announced a computer bug it had…

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Posted in: midlandsbiz   Category: advice, technology