Monthly Archives: December 2019

Cybersecurity Top Tips for Traveling

phone

Whether traveling for fun or for work, you are hopefully busy enjoying the sites. However, it can be easy to get caught up in the adventure that you forget to stay on top of your personal cybersecurity protection. While you begin packing your bag, don’t forget this list of top tips!

Update all of your devices.

You’ve probably made sure your devices are charged, your toiletry bag is refilled and you have new reading material for your voyage. But before walking out the door for your trip, you need to update every device you have. These periodic updates that you see from the manufacturer do more than produce slight layout changes. They protect your device by patching holes and fixing bugs in the software. If not done, your wall of protection has weak points that can be taken advantage of. 

Watch out for wandering eyes.

In addition to keeping an eye out for anyone who may physically take your device or other items, watch out for lurkers. They may be looking over your shoulder or at your laptop from behind you. They’ll be looking out for any information that can tell them how to enter into your device. 

Always lock devices.

If you don’t have a passcode on your devices, you will want to get one. Don’t make it easier for criminals!

Remove auto-connect features.

Sometimes, it can be great to know that most public places nowadays have free Wi-Fi. Especially when traveling internationally, you may rely on this to send a simple text message to family back home. However, for your own security, it’s most important that you disable the auto-connect feature on your Wi-Fi. You want to set up your device so that it only connects to networks that you consciously choose. 

Turn off Bluetooth.

Similar to Wi-Fi auto-connect, Bluetooth should be turned off unless you are choosing to use it. The reason for this is that criminals will use this as an opportunity to connect themselves to your phone and crack into it remotely. If you’re like most people, you have a lot of PII (Personally Identifiable Information) on your phone. This can be used to take your identity. 

Statistics on Cybercrime 

  • You are 20 times more likely to be robbed on your computer than on the street.
  • 14.4 million people were victims of identity theft in 2018.
  • It is estimated that 33 billion records will be stolen in 2023. 
  • The US government spent $15 billion towards cybersecurity in 2019.

With these tips in mind, we hope you have a safe and fun travel experience!

Farm Loans 101

farm

“Let us not forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other arts will follow. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization” (Daniel Webster). We love our farmers and believe they are the backbone of this nation. If you are new to farming or if it has been in your family for years, it’s important that you know about farm loans. Here are the basics you should be familiar with. 

FSA

When talking about farm loans, we should first discuss what the FSA does for farmers. FSA stands for Farm Service Agency. They are a branch or agency of the US Department of Agriculture. You may be able to obtain a loan through the FSA if you meet certain requirements. If you need to start your farm, expand or sustain it, you are likely going to need a farm loan. Choosing a lender like Milledgeville State Bank to help you through the process will be the first step.

Who Qualifies?

  • A need to buy equipment or livestock
  • A desire to expand your business/land
  • Experienced a natural disaster

These loans are meant for those who are not able to get credit from a commercial lender. They are usually used by farmers within their first ten years of business. When you are able to receive credit, you will no longer qualify for a loan through FSA and will need to go through a commercial lender. 

Types of Farm Loans

Farmers have very specific needs. There are types of loans that many farmers seek out to help their farming businesses thrive. 

Operating Loans: These can be essential to the success of a farm. They help purchase things like fertilizer, livestock, irrigation, seed and harvest. 

Equipment Loans: No matter how big or small the farm, you’re going to need equipment to ensure its success. Equipment loans can be used to help buy things like tractors, grain bins and farm trucks.  

Real Estate: This loan is for growing or expanding your land. 

There are a variety of options available to farmers in terms of loans. Let us help you figure out a loan tailored to meet your business needs and goals.