The Wonderful World of Webcams
W
hy are webcam sites so popular?
Webcams allow you to watch, as
they happen, activities taking place miles
away. They can entertain you, educate
you, or simply give you a break in your
day. Webcams also have the “what’s new”
factor similar to that of Facebook: What
happened since the last time I was here?
Did the cheetah give birth? Did the ghost
appear? Did the sun finally come out in
Seattle?
There are so many fascinating things to
watch in the world that the potential uses
of webcams are almost limitless. The
following list covers the most popular
webcam categories:
Staying in Touch
Family members who live in distant places
can see each other speaking live, dispersed
business teams can collaborate in real
time, and gamers can play with others all
over the world.
Observing Animals
Everyone can agree that kittens are ador-
able. How about a website where you can
watch them all day? Other animals you
can observe on webcam sites include eagles,
sharks, pandas, and—eek!—cockroaches.
Watching Cities
There’s just something interesting about
watching passers by on a city street,
especially if it’s a place you want to visit
or move to someday.
Monitoring Weather and Traffic
Of course you can listen to weather and
traffic reports, but seeing it for yourself
provides an even better idea of what to
expect for your day.
Studying Street Views
Google Maps and Google Earth incorporate
panoramic views of many locations across
the globe. Viewing a location before you go
there helps you know when you’re in the
right place.
Tracking Paranormal Activity
Some webcams are set up in places where
ghosts are rumored to visit. You might have
to watch awhile before you see something,
but it may be worth it!
Maintaining Security
Webcams can be used to improve security
in homes or businesses. You can set up a
system yourself or have a professional do it.
Viewing Outer Space
NASA and other organizations have web-
cams set up on satellites and space stations
to view the earth and other celestial bodies
from space.
Common Methods
Used by Identity
Thieves
Skilled identity thieves use a variety
of methods to steal your personal
information including:
•
D
umpster Diving
– They rummage
through trash looking for bills
or other paper with your personal
information on it.
•
Skimming
– They steal credit/
debit card numbers by using a
special storage device when
processing your card.
•
Phishing
– They pretend to be
financial institutions or companies
and send spam or pop-up
messages to get you to reveal
your personal information.
•
Changing Your Address
– They
divert your billing statements to
another location by completing a
“change of address” form with
the United States Post Office.
•
“Old-Fashioned” Stealing
– They
steal wallets and purses. They also
steal mail including bank and credit
card statements, pre-approved
credit offers, new checks, and tax
information. Identity thieves may
even steal personnel records from
their employers or bribe employees
who have access to these records.
One way to avoid having financial
and personal information in your
mailbox is to use eBilling. To sign
up to receive and pay your Wheat
State Telephone bills online, visit
.
Wheat State Telephone • 800-442-6835 •
