News & Residential Blog

An August report from marketing-research firm Nielsen confirms what has long been becoming apparent: Streaming television content is now the norm in the United States. More than half of American adults — 56 percent — now watch web-based TV content,…

Without passwords, much of the internet and its contents are unavailable to web users. And without strong security, consumers expose themselves to undue hassles, identity-theft risks and, perhaps most threatening and concerning, the potential for losing money. As such, the…

Whether a consumer is the type who must have the latest gadgets or who prefers to hang onto an outdated device for as long as it will still do the job, there comes a time with smartphones that an upgrade…

Recently, FTC was awarded a combined six awards by readers of The Sumter Item and the employees at the company are humbled by the unbelievable level of support. Most recently the readers selected FTC for the following awards in the…

For the dad who has it all, it can be a challenge to thank him with just one gift on just one day a year. This Father’s Day loved ones can raise the bar with functional tech gifts that are…

Apple fanatics, rejoice. In spring 2018, the brand debuted an attractive new iPad option, a sixth-generation model introduced with a much more affordable price tag than previous models, an upgraded processor and so many features it can be overwhelming to…

In today’s modern world, computers play a role in nearly every part of consumers’ daily lives. In addition to the video gaming, word processing, homework and programming functions that the original personal computers primarily served, today’s laptops and desktops are…

Imagine a consumer opening his or her banking statement in hopes of booking that last-minute spring break vacation for the family and noticing thousands of dollars in unauthorized transactions. Not only is the vacation jeopardized, but also, potentially, the consumer’s…

Most Americans are eagerly counting down the days to their spring vacations — relishing the chance to get away from the daily grind, check out some new or old-favorite destinations, and forget about their work-related worries for a while. But…

Conventional wisdom suggests (as does scientific research) that technology and especially electronic gadgets such as laptops, smartphones and tablets can serve as a hindrance to quality sleep when used around bedtime. But sleep-deprived consumers shouldn’t ban all devices from the…

For music lovers on the move, streaming music services offer an attractive alternative to hauling a collection of CDs around, and they open up an easy avenue to finding new favorite artists. Subscription services from the likes of Spotify and…

For cooks and bakers nationwide, the fast-approaching holidays can bring an often-overwhelming list of kitchen-related to-do items, including grocery shopping, prep work, baking, cooking and cleaning, just to name a few. And, of course, with so many culinary responsibilities on…

He’s jolly, he’s bearded, and he’s coming back! Santa is suiting up to pay a special visit to the FTC stores for FTC Santa Photo Days Nov. 19 – Nov. 30! Each day he will visit a different FTC location…

Sooner or later, that new smartphone becomes an old smartphone and needs to be replaced. Individuals who decide to sell their old phones need to be sure they remove all of their personal information securely before letting a new owner…

It’s a common problem of the digital age: You’ve got an account or app for nearly everything under the sun, and with each different one, you’re advised to create a unique password. This sounds like a great plan, of course,…

As summer winds to a close and the school year kicks off, you are probably making your way down a list of tasks to complete before the first bell rings. While you’re in prep mode, consider these tips to get…

Whether you are just starting to explore Amazon’s Echo and Alexa or you already have an Echo in every room of your house, you’ll want to know how to use Alexa to her full potential. Echo is the “smart speaker”…

10 Songs for Your Summer Playlist Wherever you play music — in the car, at the beach, around the house — these 10 numbers will get your motor running, your toes tapping and your lips moving. Warm up those pipes…

Most of you have experienced this modern-age nuisance before: Your caller ID indicates that you’re getting a local call, perhaps from a neighbor, a friend or, in some cases, even your own telephone number. But when you answer, you discover…

Hollywood celebrated its best and brightest earlier this month with the 90th Academy Awards ceremony (commonly known as the Oscars), where the famous golden statuettes were presented in 24 categories ranging from Best Visual Effects and Best Costume Design to Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Picture. 

While the celebrated awards honor accomplishments on the silver screen, FTC Digital TV customers can catch the biggest award-winners from the comfort of their own couches with our Video On Demand service. Without further ado, we’ll cut to the chase and get to the most-awarded films. And the multiple-Oscar winners available on VOD are …

With technology being at the forefront of our day-to-day lives, we can easily overlook hackers trying to steal our personal information. That’s why FTC tries to alert its customers to possible security threats as they arise. With that in mind, here is information on “typosquatting,” the latest scam to hit the Internet and technology world. It can come as a result of a simple typo.

Our main objective at FTC is to provide excellent service to all of our customers. We also want to make sure they are staying secure while utilizing our services or any other technologies out there. As we stay up-to-date on all things technology, we recently learned of a new industry security threat.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year filled with family, fun, food, drinks and the exchanging of gifts. In this day and age, the majority of those gifts are purchased online and left to sit on dimly lit porches waiting for their owners to return from work. Moreover, ‘tis the season for traveling to the homes of loved ones, leaving homes vacant and prime targets for the greedy eyes of thieves. Follow our tips to protect your gifts, home and holiday fun from the Scrooges of the world this holiday season.

“Hello. We are looking for [YOUR NAME]. We need to discuss your current healthcare plan.”

You should immediately hang up.

Not only are automatic robocalls irritating, but they’re also a dangerous way to phish for your information. As if they don’t already waste your time, they’re getting more clever, more believable and more frequent than ever.