Any software that collects information through your Internet connection without your knowledge and is usually used for advertising purposes. Spyware is usually bundled as hidden components of freeware or shareware programs. Once the program is installed, the spyware monitors activity on the Internet and sends that information to someone else.

Ottoville Mutual Telephone is happy to offer SecureIT antivirus and internet security.

Incoming: mail.bright.net
Outgoing: mail.bright.net

POP Settings
requires username and password – Incoming Port 110 – Outgoing Port – 25

IMAP Settings
requires full e-mail address and password – Incoming Port 143 – Outgoing Port – 587

E-mail Utilities:

1. Open the url: http://portal.bright.net
   
2. Type the username & password for your main account
   
3. Open “Mail Account Manager” from the drop down menu
   
4. Click on “Create New Account”
   
5. Fill in the username for the new e-mail address
   
6. Fill in the password for the new e-mail address
   
7. Click on Submit

1. Open the url: http://portal.bright.net
   
2. Type the username & password for your main account
   
3. Open “Mail Account Manager” from the drop down menu
   
4. Click on “Change Password”
   
5. Fill in the new password
   
6. Retype the new password for verification
   
7. Click on Submit

Note: all secondary account management will require the user to log into the portal with the main account information.

Troubleshooting Slow Connections

Slow internet connections happen for various reasons, even when you pay for a ‘highspeed connection’ like DSL or cable. Because the internet (and World Wide Web) is built on hundreds of different technologies trying to talk to each other, there are many places where data can slow down before its reaches your computer screen. There are many other factors to look at. Some of these slow points are within your control, and can be quickly fixed with a little do-it-yourself effort.

1. You might have poor hardware connecting your machine to the wall.
   
2. Maybe your modem-router is not configured correctly.
   
3. Perhaps you have dishonest people leeching your wireless connection from across the alley.
   
4. Your network interface card (NIC) is older and slower hardware.
   
5. Spyware or Malware may be infecting your machine, and secretly using your Internet bandwidth.
   
6. A download may be active in the background, and you are unaware of it.
   
7. Browser memory cache may be full or corrupt.
   
8. Radio or microwave devices in your home might be degrading your internet wireless signal.
   
9. You have left windows open in the background, and they are clogging your computer CPU.
   
10. A dialog box is sitting open in the computer background, stalling your computer CPU while it awaits your yes/no input.

If you think that your internet connection is slow, we recommend checking the following:

Technical Support is available 24/7 365 to assist with troubleshooting internet connections.

1-800-743-5707

1. Do a speed test on your computer: Get-My-Speed
   
2. Check for Wireless Signal Interference
   
3. Scan for Virus/Malware
   
4. Shut down Background Applications
   
5. Check for Faulty Network Equipment
   
6. Call Technical Support check for outages