Bloomfield Chamber hears about cyber security

Wednesday, November 25, 2015
MADELINEDEJOURNETTadvancensc@sbcglobal.net SEMO Electric Cooperative System Manager, Brad Milan, discusses cyber security with the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce on Nov. 20, 2015. (Shown L-R) Goldie DeGroot, Dee Loflin, Shaarin Geisler, and Ruth Strickland.

Chamber conducts grand opening, christens new sign

A large turnout of local business leaders greeted Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce President Glen Cantrell at the final meeting of his term on Nov. 20, 2015.

SEMO Electric System Engineer, Brad Milam, was the main speaker at the Friday meeting at the Elderland Restaurant. Milam reviewed several aspect of cyper security, including holiday scams, intrusion protection, digital and firewall security, and the need for "firmwear" to be updated.

MADELINEDEJOURNETTadvancensc@sbcglobal.net Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce members welcome Genesis Home Care into its new quarters on Highway 25. Front: Tyla Walker (Genesis), Back row: (L-R) Lisa Bemister (Genesis), Sue Mayo, Jason Williams, Brook Allen, Goldie DeGroot, Paula Yancey, Glen Cantrell, Shaaron Geisler, Kelly Murphy (Genesis), Tina Buchheit (Genesis).

"These days, 33 percent of employees work from home," Milam explained. "It is crucial that a company be able to protect the system that these employees are plugging into from their home computers."

Milam also discussed the security issues with the Payment Card Industry (PCI), the new technology whereby credit cards have imbedded chips, rather than magnetic strips.

Goldie DeGroot reminded business owners to check for a customer's ID, if the credit card is not signed. If businesses do not buy the new machine, they can be held liable for any fraudulent charges on the card. Credit card holders should NOT sign their names on the back of their cards.

MADELINEDEJOURNETTadvancensc@sbcglobal.net The new sign at the south entrance to Bloomfield is recognized by Chamber members. Also included are Mingo Job Corps students and the instructors who supervised the work. Front row, kneeling: Mingo students, William, Kaitlinn, JoAnn, Knoske, Steven. Standing (L-R), Shaaron Geisler, Glen Cantrell, Brook Allen, Jason Williams, Goldie DeGroot, Chris Dover, Tommy Stephens, Sue Mayo, Paula Yancy, Tina Buchheit.

Glen Cantrell discussed pole attachment legislation, explaining to the group that the telephone and cable companies do not own the utility poles; they merely rent them. Legislation is needed for these companies to be able to use the poles for the new fiber optics lines they want to install around the country.

Milam stressed the importance of strong passwords: Use 11 characters with a mixture of characters, letters and symbols.

Cantrell reminded the group that a new Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce Board will meet on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016. Cantrell will be an ex officio member of the new board.

After the meeting, members met at Genesis Phase II at 106 S. Prairie for a ribbon-cutting event.

The next stop was at the new City of Bloomfield sign at the south entrance to town.

The brickwork for the new city sign was done by the Mingo Job Corps, under the direction of instructors Tommy Stephens and Chris Dover. It was completed in October.

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