Posted on September 13, 2021
With CREDO funding, National Low Income Housing Coalition continues to advance affordable housing solutions for those most in need
The National Low Income Housing Coalition works to achieve socially just public policy to ensure the lowest-income people – seniors, people with disabilities, families with children, people experiencing homelessness, and disproportionately people of color – have decent, accessible, affordable homes.
Since 1987, CREDO members have helped us distribute $183,627 in donations to NLIHC, and the organization received a $49,005 grant in November 2020. Here are some recent victories achieved by NLIHC for those most in need, helped in part by CREDO and our members:
- In December 2020, with robust advocacy thousands of partners and low income housing allies, NLIHC helped to achieve a bipartisan compromise COVID-19 relief package with $25B for emergency rental assistance (ERA) and an extension of the CDC moratorium; another extension of the moratorium by the new administration to June 2021 (eventually extended to July 2021 and then reinstated as a targeted moratorium through October 3, 2021); and nearly $50B in additional ERA and other housing and homelessness resources in the “American Rescue Plan Act” in March 2021!
- NLIHC also urged the administration to take immediate action to address several emerging and troubling roadblocks in ERA programs identified by NLIHC through its ERA tracking and analysis. On May 7, 2021, the Treasury Department and the White House responded, publishing new ERA program guidance and summary with major program improvements recommended by NLIHC to ensure these critical resources reach the lowest-income and most marginalized people in need. See NLIHC’s side-by-side comparison of the previous roadblocks in ERA programs, NLIHC’s recommendations, and how the Treasury and White House’s revised guidance addresses each.
- NLIHC also succeeded in getting the administration to include an unprecedented $318 billion for affordable housing in the president’s “American Jobs Plan,” including two priorities in NLIHC’s HoUSed campaign for universal, stable, affordable housing for people with the lowest incomes: $45 billion for the national Housing Trust Fund and major investments in public housing. Then, on August 11, the Senate voted 50-49 to approve a budget resolution that sets the stage for a $3.5 trillion infrastructure and economic recovery package, including investments up to $332 billion for housing and transportation, meaning the ultimate bill may match or exceed the president’s request for affordable housing.
- NLIHC’s ability to mobilize the affordable housing community was demonstrated during our response to the pandemic and through our HoUSed campaign for long-term affordable housing and homelessness solutions, engaging thousands of advocates on many calls/webinars, campaigns, and calls-to-action. The organization leveraged that strength and high-quality research and policy analysis to have a strong, ongoing impact on members of Congress and the new administration, directly influencing many policy initiatives. Decision makers have relied on NLIHC for its advice and guidance, often incorporating our policy recommendations virtually verbatim into their solutions. The bold pandemic housing and homelessness resources and protections enacted have been historic, as have the administration’s and Congress’s proposals for long-term housing solutions – in all cases strongly influenced by NLIHC policy recommendations.
NLIHC thanks CREDO and our members for the generous donation and the added attention these critical issues received, especially at a time when those needing rental assistance needed it the most.
If you’d like to learn more about the National Low Income Housing Coalition, please visit their website, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
And if you’d like to help us distribute our monthly donation to three more amazing nonprofit organizations, please visit CREDODonations.com.
Posted on September 13, 2021
With funding from CREDO members, People For the American Way is fighting for equal rights and constitutional liberties
People For the American Way, a recent CREDO grantee, is a progressive nonprofit fighting for equal rights and constitutional liberties, working hard to ensure that young, diverse progressives are leading the way in their communities and have the resources and support they need to run political or issue campaigns, take office, and advance justice and equity.
With a January 2021 grant from CREDO members, PFAW supported young progressive electeds as they advanced reforms on priorities like climate justice and public safety and continued to work to enhance the political leadership of young leaders from underserved communities. Here are some recent victories and projects launched, thanks in part to funding from CREDO:
Building on the success of the “Souls to the Polls” movement that PFAW led the creation of 25 years ago, the organization launched VESSELS Vote, to provide clergy with the tools and skills they need to be even more powerful advocates of voting rights, social justice, equality for all. With the support of its network of Black faith leaders, PFAW are leaders in the fight against voter suppression and political disenfranchisement.
PFAW galvanized its African American Religious Affairs (AARA) network in support of voting rights.
- As part of this effort, members of its network led a strategic boycott of Home Depot, a Georgia based corporation. This boycott leverages the trusted voices of Black clergy members from throughout The Peach State, and was initiated in response to Home Depot’s failure to speak out against the passage of Georgia SB202; voter suppression legislation designed in response to increased minority voter turnout during the 2020 general election.
- They hosted a “Home Depot Caravan” to the Georgia State Capitol, to voice our collective concern to Georgia state legislators about the passage of SB202 and the pending economic consequences of boycotts that may impact Georgia in the wake of the bill becoming law.
PFAW advocated for the U.S. Senate to pass S1, the For the People Act.
- Its minister’s council led advocacy efforts on the passage of the For the People Act. Recently, its network of clergy members rallied in Washington, DC and met with the White House to help build support for passage of the bill.
- They also partnered with Black Voters Matter to host the 2021 “Freedom Ride for Voting Rights” to raise awareness of voter suppression and build support for DC statehood and the For the People Act.
If you’d like to get involved with People for the American Way or learn more about the organization, you can take action on one the groups recent campaigns or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
And if you’d like to help us distribute our monthly donation to three more amazing nonprofit organizations, please visit CREDODonations.com.
Posted on September 13, 2021
Women’s March is harnessing the power of everyday women to create a multi-racial feminist democracy
Women’s March harnesses the power of everyday women to fulfill the promise of a multi-racial feminist democracy where everyone can thrive. Our organization was born after millions of women and allies peacefully flooded the streets in January 2017, pledging as they marched to use all nonviolent means to resist the rising tide of white nationalism, bigotry, authoritarianism, and hyper-concentrated wealth. We’ve been mobilizing to meet the moment ever since, even as the country’s leadership and the challenges we face have changed.
At Women’s March, our work began as resisting the harms of the last administration. Now, as we lift up the dreams and aspirations of the millions of progressive women who dedicated their time, efforts, and resources to change the country’s direction, we are future-focused, emphasizing imagination and experimentation, even as we remain vigilant about the threats to our communities, well-being, and democracy. Our current organizational priorities arise from three broad goals:
Ending White Supremacy
To build a multi-racial feminist future rooted in values of justice, we must reduce the death grip that white supremacy has on hundreds of millions of people, including many white women. Women’s Marchers are taking this work on directly in their communities, guided by women of color leadership and supported through trainings, resources, and political education.
We’ve been mobilizing Women’s Marchers to fight disinformation online through our innovative, data-driven Digital Defenders program. Now, through our partnership with United Vision Project, we’re mobilizing our volunteer base – which is 70% white women and 70% women new to activism – to reach out one-on-one to individuals who are susceptible to, or immersed in, the extreme-right disinformation underlying the spread of white supremacist ideology.
Promoting Feminist Economies
We seek an economic system that values the rights and contributions of all, and that supports safety and dignity for everyone. These feminist values prioritize stewardship and caregiving, and the just distribution of collective resources. We’re taking on the Billionaire Boys Club, and fighting for a wealth tax to begin reversing the grotesque hoarding of wealth that should be used to fund solutions. We’re working with Women’s Marchers all around the country to envision what feminist budgets might look like in different local communities, and to translate those visions into concrete policy wins. And we’re fighting for concrete measures like student debt abolition, paid parental leave, and an increased minimum wage that will bring us closer to a democratic economy that supports all women.
Reimagining Democracy
We need a democracy that works for all, in which everyone can participate fully. The opponents of multi-racial democracy have shown they are willing to use any means, from partisan gerrymandering and racist voter suppression to insurrectionary violence, to promote minority rule. We will continue to work with great urgency to counteract these authoritarian power grabs, which threaten fundamental rights and freedoms, including our power to control our own bodies.
Even as we fight to end the filibuster, defend voting rights, and promote equal rights for all, we are working to rethink democracy from the ground up, exploring visions for what a government and political system rooted in feminist values might be.
To learn more about Women’s March and how you can get involved, visit https://womensmarch.com/
To vote to help CREDO distribute a portion of our monthly donation, vote for Women’s March and the other great progressive groups on the ballot at CREDODonations.com
Posted on September 8, 2021
Why the T-Mobile hack reminds us to immediately secure our personal information
In August, hackers compromised personal data, including names, addresses, license and Social Security numbers, of more than 50 million current, prospective and former T-Mobile customers.
Not long after, sensitive data was up for sale on the dark web, where criminals could open credit cards or file fraudulent tax returns.
While the company claims no passwords or accounts were stolen, this massive breach reminds us why it’s so important to secure our online accounts and protect our personal information — because the next big hack could be around the corner. In this week’s tip, we’ll show you a few important ways to immediately safeguard your private information.
First things first: Here at CREDO, protecting your privacy is a core value of our company, and we have a long record of fighting for our customers’ privacy. Your personal data isn’t for sale, and we work to protect your data from government intrusion.
But your personal data is at risk in other ways. While you can’t prevent hackers from compromising the data of a Big Tech company or financial firm — where your personal information might be stored — you can take some steps to make it very hard for criminals to steal your identity, use your information for illicit activity, or gain access to your accounts.
Two of the best steps you can take right now to protect your personal information is by using a password manager and turning on two-factor authentication for your most sensitive accounts. Here’s how to get started.
Stop reusing passwords & start using a password manager
If you’re reusing your passwords, you’re not alone. According to a recent study, more than 50 percent of all people reuse or modify similar passwords across their internet accounts — and this is a big problem.
Once hackers have your password from a data breach — even if it’s a very complex one — they could access other accounts that use the same or similar password. That’s why it’s so important to utilize a password manager to create strong and unique passwords for each site you use.
Password managers help you create long, complex passwords that you’ll never have to remember, then encrypt and store them in a digital vault that only you (or a loved one) can access. When you visit the login page for a site, the password manager automatically fills in your credentials from your vault.
Some popular password managers are LastPass, 1Password, Keeper, BitWarden and Dashlane. They all charge a monthly fee for premium accounts, but we think the protection they provide is worth it.
To learn more and to get started using a password manager to secure your accounts, check out our previous tip, “Here’s why you need to start using a password manager — and how you can get started.“
Start using two-factor authentication right now
One of the best ways to secure your most important accounts is by turning on two-factor authentication. It’s one extra, yet quick and easy step to ensure your accounts remain a little bit safer amidst the skyrocketing number of hacking attempts.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a way of accessing your accounts using two separate steps to verify your identity, usually with a username and password combination, along with a second step that requires a separate identifier, like your phone, an app, a physical key, or a fingerprint.
Most common online services, like Google, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, as well as most financial institutions, have the option to turn on two-factor authentication. If your bank and other online services offer 2FA, you should strongly consider turning it on, especially as data breaches become more common — because if a hacker has compromised your password, it is unlikely they will have compromised your second factor method.
To learn how to use 2FA and find instructions on how to turn it on for popular services, please read our previous tip, “Start using two-factor authentication right now to protect yourself from hackers.“
Posted on September 3, 2021
Our August grantees thank you for your support
Each month, CREDO members vote on how we distribute funding to three incredible nonprofits. Those small actions add up – with one click, you can help fund groups working for voting rights, climate justice and humanitarian aid. In August, CREDO members voted to distribute our monthly donation to Black Voters Matter Fund, Friends of the Earth Action and Mercy Corps.
These donations are made possible by CREDO customers and the revenue they generate by using our services. The distribution depends entirely on the votes of CREDO members like you. And for that, our July grant recipients thank you.
Black Voters Matter Fund
$46,965
“Thank you for your support! It is CREDO members like you that help us to increase power in marginalized, predominantly Black communities. Effective voting allows a community to determine its own destiny, and we can’t do this work without you.” – Cliff Albright, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter
To learn more, visit www.blackvotersmatterfund.org.
Friends of the Earth Action
$62,599
“Thank you for voting for Friends of the Earth Action! CREDO members like you are fueling our work for climate justice. You are empowering us to push leaders for a fair and equitable solution to the climate crisis – one that puts people over profits.” – Erich Pica, President, Friends of the Earth
To learn more, visit https://foeaction.org/.
Mercy Corps
$40,435
“Thank you! Together with support from CREDO members like you, Mercy Corps is helping communities forge new paths to prosperity in the face of disaster, poverty, and the impacts of climate change in more than 40 countries around the world.” – Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, Mercy Corps Chief Executive Officer
To learn more, visit mercycorps.org.
Now check out the three groups we are funding in September, and cast your vote to help distribute our donations.
CREDO members who use our products are the reason why we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile, the carrier with a conscience.
Posted on August 31, 2021
The results are in: How prepared are you for a natural disaster?
Here at CREDO, our hearts go out to everyone affected by the recent hurricanes in the Gulf and Northeast, as well as the wildfires that continue to rage in the West.
As climate change continues to intensify natural disasters, we all must be prepared for their effects. That’s why we teamed up with our allies and recent grantees Mercy Corps for a quick and informative quiz on disaster preparedness, including which kinds of emergency kits you should have ready and how much water you should keep on hand.
Roughly 3,000 CREDO members took the quiz — and here are the results.
Last month, CREDO members helped us distribute a portion of our monthly donation to help Mercy Corps respond to the world’s toughest challenges, provide immediate life-saving support to meet urgent needs of today and create opportunities to build community wellbeing for a stronger tomorrow.
Out of the 3,000 responses we received, only 13% scored a 100% — but that’s okay! Our quiz was not trying to measure knowledge and certainly wasn’t a competition; it was meant as a fun way to learn from the experts at Mercy Corps on how we can take preparations now to be ready for a disaster that might strike next.
So without further ado, here are the answers to the quiz:
About how many natural disasters occur each year around the globe?
- 6,800
What are the most common natural disasters around the world?
- Floods
To be best prepared, which two types of emergency kits should you have on hand?
- Evacuation kit
- Sheltering in place kit
Which combination of items are essential to include in your emergency kits?
- Water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies
What are the three best locations to store an emergency kit?
- Home
- Work
- Car
Approximately how much water should you plan to store per person, per day?
- 1 Gallon
How many days-worth of supplies should you store in your emergency kit?
- 14 Days
Which disasters and emergencies has Mercy Corps responded to?
All of the above:
- Nepal earthquake in 2015
- Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004
- Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas in 2019
- Hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa
- Ebola epidemic in Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
- COVID-19 pandemic across the globe
How many people received water, sanitation, and hygiene assistance from Mercy Corps in 2020?
- 12.3 million people
Who does Mercy Corps support in times of disaster?
- Families who lack access to basic resources like soap and water
- People who have been forced from their homes by violence and live in refugee camps
- Entire communities that have been destroyed by an earthquake or flood
- People who have been hit the hardest by disasters and need humanitarian support
We also asked which natural disasters concern our members the most, and 33% responded with “Pandemics, including COVID-19,” while 24.9% responded with “Wildfires” and 18% said “Power Failures.”
If you’d like to learn more about Mercy Corps’ critical work, please visit https://www.mercycorps.org/
And if you want to help us distribute our monthly donation to three amazing progressive nonprofit groups this September, vote today at CREDODonations.com.
Posted on August 27, 2021
CREDO Mobile named one of the Top Corporate Philanthropists in the San Francisco Bay Area
Do you put your money where your values are? CREDO customers do!
We’re excited to announce that CREDO Mobile has been named one of the Top 100 Corporate Philanthropists in the San Francisco Bay Area!
Why is this so significant? Well, we were up against huge tech companies, multinational corporations, even Wall Street and Big Oil — many who stepped up giving in the past year — so the competition was fierce.
Here at CREDO, philanthropy is our reason for staying in business. And thanks to our members who care so deeply about climate justice, civil rights and economic justice, we’ve been giving to the causes that matter to CREDO members every single month. In fact, we’ve donated more than $92 million to groups like ACLU, Fair Fight Action and Sunrise Movement since we were founded in 1985.
If you’d like to help us distribute this month’s donations to three amazing groups — Black Voters Matter, Friends of the Earth Action and Mercy Corps — please visit CREDODonations.com and cast your vote for one, two or all three groups today!
Posted on August 25, 2021
How to turn off annoying notifications on your smartphone
If you’re like us, your smartphone gets filled up with pop-up notifications daily. Many of them are not just annoying; they can be downright overwhelming, distracting and even bad for our mental health.
One study found that smartphone users who turned off notifications for 24 hours felt less distracted and more productive. In another, researchers found that certain smartphone notifications can negatively affect a user’s mood.
While many notifications can be extremely useful — say, that important text message or work email — many are not. Here are some quick tips to manage or stop those annoying notifications on your smartphone.
Manage notifications on iOS (and iPadOS)
In the current version of iOS 14, you have a few options to handle notifications — by managing how they display on your home screen, manage app by app, grouping by app, or by turning them off altogether. In the upcoming iOS 15 (available sometime this fall), Apple redesigned notification management to give you more control, so stay tuned for that update.
For now, here’s how to manage your notifications in the current iOS:
Change how notifications are displayed on your home screen
- Go to Settings > Notifications > Show Previews
- Choose Always, When Unlocked, or Never. (You can override this setting for individual apps.)
Manage notifications app by app
- Go to Settings > Notifications and scroll to Notification Style to see a list of your apps
- Choose the app you’d like to manage
- Toggle the slider for Allow Notifications to turn notifications on or off
- If you turn on notifications, you can manage alerts, including on your lock screen, notification center and banners, as well as sounds, badges, and previews (overwriting the setting above)
Manage notification grouping
- Since iOS 12, you can group notifications from the same app to reduce clutter on your home screen
- Go to Settings > Notifications and choose the app you’d like to manage
- Scroll to Options > Notification Grouping, then choose Automatic, By App, or Off
Silence all notifications
- Go to Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb
- Turn on Do Not Disturb. To learn more about the settings in Do Not Disturb, read this article from Apple
Manage notifications on Android
Just like iOS, you can control your notifications on an Android device in a few different ways — app by app, snoozing, or stopping notifications altogether. You can see your notifications by swiping down from your home screen, but you can also control how they are displayed when your phone is locked. Note: Settings can vary phone by phone with Android, so check with your manufacturer.
Snooze notifications
- Snoozing allows you to choose which apps you’d like to silence notifications.
- To turn on snoozing, go to Settings > Notifications > select Allow notification snoozing.
- To snooze a notification, drag it slightly left or right, and then tap Snooze. To pick a time, tap the Down arrow.
Turn off all notifications with Do Not Disturb
- Do Not Disturb will silence your phone, including stopping all notifications, sounds and vibrations.
- To turn Do Not Disturb on or off, swipe down from the top of your screen, then tap Do Not Disturb.
Turn off notifications app by app
- Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications.
- Under Recently Sent, you will see which apps have sent notifications, and you can turn them off.
- You may have to choose Advanced to turn off all notifications for a listed app and for additional options.
Posted on August 24, 2021
How to keep your apps from draining your phone’s battery
It’s frustrating when the battery in your phone dies unexpectedly — but there are a number of ways to keep your phone’s power from draining too fast.
One way: Find out which power-hungry apps are sucking the most juice from your smartphone and put a stop to it.
Here are some tips on how to prevent your apps from draining your phone’s battery and keep your device running longer.
Which apps use the most battery?
When it comes to battery usage, not all apps are created equally. According to UK-based USwitch, these are the top 10 power-intensive offenders:
- Messenger
- WhatsApp Messenger
- Amazon Alexa
- Gmail
- Uber
- Waze
- Google Chrome
- YouTube Music
In addition to these, keep in mind that games and streaming apps use quite a bit of power when in use, too.
You can also find out which apps are using the most power on your phone. On both Apple and Android devices, go to Settings > Battery to see a list of which apps are hogging power on your device.
Disable app data/refresh in the background
Some of your apps will continue to gather data in the background while you’re not using your phone, and that can drain a lot of battery life. This is a great feature for, say, a music app playing your favorite tunes, a news app to give you the freshest information the next time you load it up, or a navigation app helping you get around town, but not every app needs this feature to function properly.
- To turn this feature off for your apps on iOS, go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. Here, you can choose whether you want this feature on or off completely, or just WiFi only. You can also toggle this on and off for individual apps.
- On Android, go to Settings > Data Usage to see which apps are using the most data. Tap on the app you’d like to restrict and disable background data. For some apps, you may be able to turn on Battery Restriction, and be sure to turn on Battery Optimization.
Should I quit my apps when I’m done with them?
It would seem to make sense: when you’re done using an app, you should close it to save battery life. While it might sound counterintuitive, you’ll probably want to keep those apps open. Not convinced? Here’s some authoritative proof:
When Apple iOS chief Craig Federighi was asked if he himself quits apps or if quitting apps helps with battery life, he unequivocally said “no and no.”
So what about Android? Hiroshi Lockheimer, the VP of Engineering at Android tweeted “(closing apps in the background) could very slightly worsen unless you and algorithm are ONE (you kill something, system wants it back etc).”
And here’s a technical explanation why closing apps probably doesn’t save your battery.
Still having issues?
If your phone’s battery is still draining too quickly after these tips, check out our recent post, 8 easy ways to extend your phone’s battery life, which will give you even more advice on keeping your device running longer.
Depending on the age of your device, you might also consider upgrading your phone with us here at CREDO. We’re offering some amazing deals right now on new and refurbished phones, and you’ll feel good knowing that your phone bill is supporting incredible progressive non-profit organizations fighting for climate justice, civil rights, economic justice and more. Visit CREDOMobile.com and find a new phone and plan that’s right for you!
Posted on August 19, 2021
7 Great Back to School and Office Ideas for the Progressive Shopper
It’s that time of year: Back to school — and the office! For some of us, this might be the first time back in 18 months; for others, you’ve been in-person this whole time.
Now is also a great time to spruce up your wardrobe, pick up some necessities, or give a gift to that special student or worker in your life. That’s why we’ve put together a quick shopping list of progressive items you can buy or give, while giving back to the causes you care about.
Stepping up your mask game
We can’t talk about going back to school and to the office without talking about masks. While some right-wing, anti-science governors have backed themselves into a corner about masks — while threatening the health and safety of workers and students — we know that masks have been proven to be one of the best ways to reduce transmission.
And now that masks have become a part of our daily wardrobe, it’s time to spruce them up a bit! Here are a couple suggestions if you’re looking for a new mask to show off your values:
Raygun masks. Raygun, an Iowa-based apparel company, makes ethical, union-printed, non-sweatshop USA-made masks with clever and fun slogans that many CREDO members would stand behind, like “I believe in Science,” “In Fauci we trust,” “America needs teachers,” and even a mask featuring RBG’s favorite lace collar (it’s technically not the dissent collar!).
Most masks are made from eco-friendly recycled materials, and Raygun donates a big chunk of their net profits to groups that fight for public education, equality and the environment.
Kids’ masks. Children and parents have a lot of choices when it comes to masks, so we’ll leave it to the experts at Wirecutter who’ve tested kids’ masks for the best fit, filtration and comfort. Check out their reviews here.
ACLU Pocket Constitution & “Know Your Rights” Handbook
Everyone should have access to understand and know their rights at their fingertips. Obviously, as a mobile phone company, we’d suggest using your device to learn more about the Fourth Amendment or what to do when stopped by the police, but sometimes that’s not always feasible.
Enter two great references for everyday use: A pocket Constitution and the ACLU’s “Know Your Rights” Handbook. Armed with one of America’s most important documents and a handbook detailing how to exercise your rights and what to do if they are violated, you’ll feel a little more secure as you venture back out into the world.
The “Know Your Rights” Handbook is available at the ACLU shop for $20, and the pocket Constitution comes in a pack of 10 for $17.87 (cleverly, the year the Constitution was written), so give out 9 extras as gifts to your friends and family.
March for Our Lives Merch
As we all know too well, COVID-19 isn’t the only affliction overwhelming our nation; the gun violence epidemic continues to devastate families and take a toll on our communities and schools. Our allies at March for Our Lives are working tirelessly to end gun violence by harnessing the power of young people across the country to fight for sensible gun violence prevention policies that save lives.
Show your support for our partners and help put an end to gun violence by picking up some March for Our Lives student-designed merch, like a #MarchForOurLives “United We Stand” hoodie ($44.99), a “Gun Free Zone” Hat ($19.99), or a “Stop Gun Violence” Tee ($25.99).
EFF’s Sliding Laptop Camera Cover
If you or a loved one will be working from home or attending school remotely, you probably use a personal computer with a webcam to participate in all those Zoom meetings, classes and conference calls. That also means you could be susceptible to webcam hacking.
So how can you protect yourself? In addition to installing the latest security updates running current anti-malware software, you may also want to consider covering your webcam’s camera when it’s not in use.
Remember when Mark Zuckerberg popularized the use of tape to cover his webcam? Well, you can take your webcam covers to the next level with a sliding laptop camera cover from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a longtime CREDO partner and grantee. They’re just $8 from EFF’s online store.
Black Voters Matter Backpack
Going back to school is always a great time to get a new backpack. Our allies at Black Voters Matter offer three great options emblazoned with their simple white logo on a black bag to help you show your support for voting rights and fund their work to stop voter suppression: a one-size-fits-all black backpack ($25), a laptop carry bag ($20) or a drawstring backpack ($15)
BONUS: You can vote to fund Black Voter Matter this month on CREDO’s donations ballot! CREDO funding will help BVM develop a community-driven agenda for expanded voting rights and progress, plan and strategize on local issues, and provide SMS access and digital support to our partners in our 11 target states. Visit CREDODonations.com to cast your vote.
Sunrise Movement Stickers (and Fanny Pack)
Sometimes it’s the small things that can have a big impact. Take the Sunrise Movement’s logo sticker. No matter where you stick it — your laptop, water bottle, phone case — you’ll be making the statement that you stand for climate justice, a Green New Deal and a fair and just transition to a clean energy economy.
Available at the Sunrise Movement store for just $1.75. And while you’re there, pre-order the Sunrise fanny pack, coming in December.
CREDO Mobile Phone
Speaking of phones, at CREDO, we offer the best phones on the nation’s best network. And just by using our phones and services, you can help us contribute more to great nonprofit organizations fighting for climate justice, voting rights and more at no additional cost to you. Head back to school or the office with a new CREDO phone or better yet, bring your existing phone and skip the cost of a new one. Visit our homepage at CREDOmobile.com to shop our latest offers.
