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Bytes vs. bits and How Internet Speed Affects File Download Times  

Posted on by DataVision

Internet terminology can be a little confusing, so we’re here to help clear some things up about some common phrases and numbers used when measuring internet speed, file size, and how your subscribed speed impacts file download times.  

A bit (b) is short for binary digit, and bits are most commonly used to measure the rate of data transfer, like when transferring files from a USB flash drive to a computer. In addition, most internet providers measure their internet speeds in Megabits per second (Mbps). 
 
Bytes (B), on the other hand, are used to measure data capacity, like the size of a file or hard drive. 1 Byte equals 8 bits, and 1,000 Megabytes equals 8,000 Megabits. 

Now that we know the difference between bits and Bytes, this can help give us an idea of the amount of time needed to download files on several different internet speeds. Let’s take a look at a video game that is 50 Gigabytes (GB) in size expanding on the calculations for bits and Bytes discussed earlier. 
 
So, 50 GB equals 50,000 Megabytes (MB), and 50,000 MB equals 400,000 Megabits. To figure out how long it will take to download a file on a given internet speed, we need to take the total file size in Megabits and divide it by the internet speed, measured in Megabits per second. 

On a 50 Megabits per second (Mbps) internet speed, that would look like: 400,000 / 50 = 8,000 seconds. That means that a 50 GB file will take about 8,000 seconds to download on an internet speed of 50 Mbps. That’s about 2 hours and 15 minutes. 
 
Next, let’s take a look at the math for an internet speed of 1,000 Mbps, also known as 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps). 400,000 Megabits / 1,000 Megabits per second = 400 seconds. That means that the same 50 GB file will take about 400 seconds to download on a 1,000 Mbps internet speed, or just over 5 minutes. 
 
That’s the power of high-speed internet! 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday: Online Shopping Tips  

Posted on by DataVision

While looking for the best online deals this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, check out these tips for safe and efficient browsing: 

  • Watch for scams and fake offers. Scammers love to use popular sales like these to try and take advantage of people looking to find a good deal.  
  • Build a list early and even consider adding items to your online ‘cart’ in advance. Sale items often go fast, and some online outlets will automatically adjust the price for an item later on even if it’s already in your cart.  
  • Use internet browsers’ built-in coupon finding tools. Many internet browsers, like Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome, can automatically find and apply any active coupon codes.  
  • Shop on legitimate websites. Check the URL in the search bar and verify it starts with HTTPS – the S stands for ‘secure’ and ensures that traffic to and from the site is encrypted and protected. 

Think Twice Before Taking That Social Media Quiz  

Posted on by DataVision

Your childhood pet’s name, your mother’s maiden name, your first car. Why would a random social media quiz about which Harry Potter character you’d most relate to need to know these things? Well, there’s a chance it’s a scam.  

These types of topics are all common account security questions used to help safeguard your account against bad actors. Scammers recognize this, and they create quizzes and other games that use these kinds of questions to try and get people to give up their personal information. Don’t fall for it! The more information you share, the more you risk it being misused. Scammers will then use any information they’ve collected to try and reset accounts, giving them access to online banking, email, or other accounts.  

One of the best things you can do to protect your personal information is to steer clear of online quizzes, or at least don’t give real answers about yourself. And for accounts that require you to set a couple of security questions and answers, you can make those answers up too. “In what city were you born?“ Jupiter. “What was your first car?” DeLorean time machine. You can treat these like secondary passwords, and using random answers can help protect your account security if scammers were to ever get ahold of the real answers somehow.  

DataVision Community Class: 5 Ways to Protect Personal Information Online 

Posted on by DataVision

Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 7:00PM

Scammers are getting smarter and it’s becoming more difficult to spot legitimate messages and emails from fake ones. New computer technology and software make it easier to crack weaker passwords. Scamming people out of their hard-earned money has become a billion-dollar industry. It’s more important than ever to make sure you’re taking the necessary precautions to safeguard your personal information online. In this FREE upcoming Community Class, the DataVision team will discuss some of the best ways to do so, including:

  • How to spot scam emails and texts
  • Creating longer, more complex passwords
  • Using a password manager to store login credentials
  • Enabling multi-factor authentication for increased account security
  • Being aware of social media scams

What: DataVision Community Class: 5 Ways to Protect Personal Information Online

When: Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 7:00PM

Where: Remote on Zoom

Click here to register for the class with your name and email address.

After registering for the class, you will receive a confirmation email along with reminders leading up to the class. You can join the class meeting room up to 30 minutes early from a reminder email. If you register and are unable to attend, we will email you a recording of the class within a week. You do not need a camera or microphone to join the Zoom class, but you will need a screen and speakers to see and hear the presentation along with access to a keyboard to type questions into the chat. You may also email questions you have beforehand to CustomerCare@DataVision.coop and we will attempt to address them during the session.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Customer Care Team at 503.792.3611 or email us at CustomerCare@DataVision.coop. We hope you will join us for this informational class!

Watch Out for Automatic Account Renewal Scams Like This One

Posted on by DataVision

Have you received an email or text message that looks like the image above? In this scam email that was sent to a DataVision team member, the sender is posing as Norton, a company that offers anti-virus software. An invoice has been included in the email that details a subscription to “Norton 360 premium.” There are a number of red flags that indicate this email is a scam – let’s go through 4 of them.

  1. The bill is addressed to “Dear Customer.” When was the last time you received an invoice that was addressed to “Dear Customer” and not your name?
  2. There is a typo here – the zeroes in 699.00 are actually the letter O.
  3. This note says that the supposed subscription has been auto-renewed. If that were the case, why does the invoice say that there is a balance due?
  4. This section says that the invoice has been paid successfully, but then goes on to say that the recipient should make the payment if they haven’t yet. Real companies tend to know what bills have been paid and what haven’t.

And finally, the biggest telltale sign that this was a scam is that the DataVision employee did not have a Norton anti-virus subscription in the first place. The most important step you can take when you receive a suspicious message like this is to stop and think about what it’s saying. This email is trying to scare the recipient into thinking that $699 has been taken out of their account so that they’ll try and contact the scammer, who will then attempt to swindle further personal or payment information. Don’t fall for it!

Protect Your Smartphone in the Heat this Summer

Posted on by DataVision

Summer is officially here, and that means ample opportunities for great photos out in the sun. Unfortunately, smartphones don’t enjoy the sunshine as much as we do. Follow these tips to protect your cell phone from overheating. 

Keep your phone out of direct sunlight and hot cars

• Leaving a phone in the heat for too long can cause damage to the battery and the phone itself. It can also potentially burn your skin if you attempt to pick it up without letting it first cool down. Find a shaded or covered area to keep your phone when out in the summer heat.

Wait to use your cell phone 

• Phones naturally heat up even when used in a normal, cool environment. Attempting to use a phone in hot conditions places additional stress on the device and can cause it to overheat or shut down. Minimize your usage to avoid damaging the phone.

Turn off unused and battery-draining apps

• Apps that run in the background drain the phone’s battery and can cause the phone’s cooling system to run overtime. In addition, apps that use more battery life than others can cause the phone to overheat. Make sure to close all unused apps still open and turn on the phone’s “power saver” mode.