Officers: President - Brenda Mann - Retired Education Administrator

Vice-President - Ellen Zornes - A.C.T.I.O.N. Generation

Secretary - Lee Ann Collins - Community Trust Bank

Treasury - Holly Grimsley - Deputy CJE

Executive Director - Sue C. Stivers

Administrative Asst. - Kathy Johnson

Directors: Bobby Bowe - Bowe Rental Properties

Kim Dykes - The Adanta Group

Jelaine Harlow - Adair County Health Dept.

Kerry Humphress - Arrow Exterminators

Ann Martin - First & Farmers National Bank

Roger Meadows - United Citizens Bank

Dr. Ronald Rogers - Rogers Chiropractic

Debbie Selby - Bank of Columbia

Sherry Selby - Duo County Telecom

Brandon Thompson - Past President

Chris Wilson - Golden Rule Wilson Real Estate & Auction

Honorary Members

Michael Stephens - Adair County Judge Executive

Curtis Hardwick - Mayor, City of Columbia

1. Backup your data. In the event your phone goes missing from the coffee shop table, is dropped in the water off the curb or is simply missing, if you have a backup of your data not everything is lost. Personally, I once found a missing phone, three days later and after having replaced it. The family dog had it in her bed, with other toys. I was very thankful, at the time for Google being the backup destination for my contacts lists, text messages and even installed applications of that Android based smart phone.


2. Use a security application. Just as you do with your computer, secure your smartphone with a firewall and applications that protect your data from breaches. Most all viruses have been written for the Windows platform instead of the Linux or Apple systems for two reasons. Microsoft owns the largest market share and Microsoft operating systems are known to be insecure, by default. The Android and iOS platforms are more secure than Windows, but they also hold the largest numbers of the market of smart phones. It makes sense the viruses and malware for our phones is already here.


3. Examine the permissions applications want on your device. Considering item 2, above, it will probably be an application installed on your smart phone that will be the entry point for malicious software. And the more access the application wants, the worse the infection can be. As an example, a recent free game a family member asked me to play with them required access to my contacts list, text messages and call history. The last thing I wanted was for some game to start blasting my business contacts with unwanted advertising and spam.


4. Avoid using public Wi-Fi. Yes, public WiFi is convenient. And using that instead of your data plan is simply cost effective. But public WiFi is not secure. Using an unsecured WiFi network is like having a conversation across the room, loudly. Everyone can hear it. Most will tune it out. But it is there none the less. Some hackers have been known to sit nearby, monitoring that unsecured network just to listen in on what is being shouted across the room ... in WiFi signals.


5. Use a PIN, password or pattern lock on your phone or device. This is like hanging a lock on your gym locker. It keeps most people out. But those who are most determined ... well, they will at least be slowed down. This means that any effort to get into your, physically, will take a moment or two, unless they already know you very well or have gotten your code, some other way.


6. Encryption. Many of us will add extra capacity to our devices, usually through a MicroSD card. Many devices will use those cards not only for storing our MP3s but also some of our apps and the temporary files that app creates and uses. Encryption helps secure the data on those cards by requiring the PIN or password mentioned in item 5 before the data is decrypted and made useful.