How to Protect Yourself from Cyberattacks? How Does a VPN Help?

Posted on by Jacob Davis
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It’s a reality that technology is developing more quickly with each passing day. Your data is now more likely to be exposed to individuals who shouldn’t have had access to it, which is one of its side effects. The studies also demonstrate that individuals are currently more concerned than ever about their cybersecurity.

Sadly, there are constantly new dangers. Computer virus-related issues are no longer the sole ones. Maintaining the most recent information regarding online threads appears to have become the standard as the situation worsened.

People began installing a free VPN online to avoid or reduce the risk of having their data stolen while accessing the internet.

How does A VPN Protect You Against Cyberattacks?

A VPN is a technological solution that increases your online security and privacy. Your online traffic is hidden behind an encrypted tunnel to make it operate. Data is encrypted so that no one, not even your ISP, can see which websites you visit. You can conceal your IP address using a VPN. Your ISP and location can both be revealed by an IP. A VPN alters that, though. Your connection is redirected through a secure server, and your IP is changed to conceal your location.

Your actual IP address is changed by the VPN app, which then gives you a brand-new one from its database. That is how you may disappear online.

IP address exchange is necessary for internet communication. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP), city, region, and nation are all identifiable by your IP address. However, knowing your precise location and actual address is insufficient. No one can figure out your address, but observers would know that you are in a particular place. By hiding your IP address, you can avoid being tracked online. In this manner, your IP address will never be used to link any of your online activities to you.

Since you connect to a server in another country when using a VPN, it also hides your actual physical location. Anyone snooping on you will believe you are in the UK if you connect to a UK VPN server, even though your actual location is in Asia.

Your identity is not private when sharing or downloading files. Since you’re consuming excessive bandwidth, your IP address is the first thing that appears in your ISP’s data detectors. In addition to your ISP, the government and marketers can keep tabs on your download activities. You can receive letters of warning, fines, or legal repercussions depending on your download. Connecting to a VPN eliminates all these dangers! To prevent anyone from ever monitoring your download history, hide your IP address and encrypt your files.

Your information is exposed to virus attacks, data breaches, and other online dangers. They threaten your private information, including your credit card information, email conversations, and login credentials. The best tool for protecting all of this personal information is a VPN. For further protection, it employs a safe tunneling procedure and uncrackable 256-AES-bit encryption. It would be difficult for even the fastest and most intelligent computers to break this encryption.

Types of Cyberattacks A VPN Can Protect Your From

Man In The Middle Attack

A MITM attack occurs when a hacker inserts themselves in the middle of your internet communication with a user or web server. In the same way that an eavesdropper interrupts a conversation or data transfer to steal information, hackers do the same. A hacker can intercept your data transfers if they are aware of the network you are using and can take advantage of its lax encryption standards. You won’t even notice it, which is the scariest part. Hackers can quickly obtain sensitive data using this technique.

With a VPN, everything about your internet activity is encrypted. The encryption used by VPNs is complicated to break. Your IP address will be moved around when you use a VPN. Even your IP address, which is connected to the network, won’t be known to the hacker. Since they won’t know which websites you’re visiting, they can’t intercept your traffic or reroute it to bogus websites.

DDoS Attack

In a DDoS attack, the attacker overloads the target server with traffic to sabotage and possibly even bring the target down. But unlike conventional denial-of-service attacks, which even the most advanced firewalls can recognize and address, a DDoS attack may make use of numerous compromised devices to flood the target with traffic.

There are several techniques to avoid a network breach in the first place, even though DDoS attacks are difficult to track using traditional methods. Using a virtual private network (VPN), which establishes a safe, secure, and anonymous connection to the internet, is one of the most efficient ways to fend off a DDoS attack.

After you’ve established a connection to a VPN, all of your traffic is routed through the network’s server to cloak the websites you browse and provide an extra degree of security that prevents hackers from discovering your actual IP address. Only the servers of a VPN service, which often either don’t track activity or maintain the anonymity of online activities, will be accessible to anyone attempting to hack into your machine.

Hacking Threats

The use of a VPN will make it extremely difficult for threat actors trying to steal information during transfer (through your connection). Some VPNs, such as those that use military-grade encryption technology to encrypt data, can provide a considerable obstacle for hackers looking to steal information in motion.

Therefore, a person using a VPN need not be concerned about malicious individuals intercepting their data when they connect to a public wifi hotspot in their area. Their data is sent to a remote server via a protected, encrypted connection.

Conclusion

Utilizing a VPN has several benefits beyond security. They help prevent information from being accessed by nosy governments and private companies, they shield sensitive data from prying eyes, they can help get around firewalls and other barriers, and, to top it all off, they can increase speed, lessen privacy hassles, and they can enable users to access content that is restricted to specific regions around the world.

Tips for Maximizing the Potential of Your Email Campaigns With Email Activity

Posted on by Alexandra Munteanu
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How often have you sent an email, waited, and wondered whether it ever got through? All of us have been there.

In the past, it was customary to have no clue what occurred when we sent an email. Did our receiver get it? What happened to it in their inbox? Is it in their spam folder? When I sent them emails, did they access the links or attachments? It wasn’t known until today. It is now possible to monitor who opens your emails, clicks on the links, and examines the attachments using special software.

Email activity tracking allows us to create and keep connections in an excessively packed, competitive mailbox environment. This article will discuss maximizing your inbox’s potential via email monitoring software.

How exactly does email tracking function?

Using a tracking system, you may see whether and when any emails you send are seen. By inserting a tiny invisible picture pixel into your emails, email monitoring software can determine when someone opened them. First, we’ll go over the advantages of email monitoring before diving into how to set it up.

The Value of Monitoring Emails

Email tracking saves time.

No one wants to receive many follow-up emails when they haven’t read the first one. When you use an email monitoring service or email tracking tool, you can observe whether your subject line piqued the recipient’s focus enough for them to click through and open the email. If they haven’t opened the first email, they won’t open anymore; therefore, sending more is no use. Email monitoring saves time for the sales professional and the receiver by reducing the number of follow-up emails that aren’t essential.

Similarly, if you see that a contact is checking out the content you sent them, such as a cover letter or a proposal, you know that you are currently fresh in their mind. 

As a result, it is essential to keep track of emails.

Email monitoring gives you vital information about your email exchanges with contacts, networks, clients, or prospects. You may utilize this data to boost your outreach by catering to their particular connection with you.

  • If a contact opens your email many times in one day, you should get in touch with them again while you’re still fresh in their mind.
  • Before a meeting, check whether your contact has read any links or files you sent through email.
  • By sending a follow-up email, you can tell whether the receiver is reading your message.

As a result of email monitoring, you may get valuable information.

It’s no secret that composing email messages can be a stressful and challenging task. It’s easy to struggle with how to start or what to say to fill that space.

With Email Oversight’s Email Activity Tracking, you’re presented with more than vital information on your contact’s engagement with your emails. Additionally, you will have access to their resume, corporate information, social media accounts (including Twitter), email correspondence, and whatever else they have chosen to make public.

You enable read receipts in your emails. After this, what should be done?

Occasionally, someone asks us, “What should I put in the opening sentence of my email?” How can I best get in touch with them? Second, what do I say? Ought I should shoot off an email? What do you think?

As with the answer to everything: It depends. Everyone has a unique purpose for these alerts. We propose the following applications.

Create a discussion about something that matters.

You may use email intelligence tools to make your messages more timely and relevant to your audience. Emails sent using a template are not only impersonal but also ineffective. Use what you know about the recipients’ business and history of contact with your organization to focus your material. If that initial email isn’t opened, stop there. If the recipient of an email hasn’t opened it after the first attempt, there’s no use in sending any more.

Keep the conversation going by providing background information.

Use alerts to learn when to provide more information to complete a task. Assume a contact has shown interest in your company’s culture by clicking a link; you may want to follow up with them by providing further resources. Adding a personal touch is always welcome, and a potential client could be impressed if you can already predict their wants and requirements.

Remove dead email addresses.

If a contact hasn’t opened your emails in a while, you can either delete them from your list or send them one final email with an easy unsubscribe link.

Audio Transcription Software: Pros and Cons

Posted on by Kelly Maryland
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Audio transcription software has been gaining popularity in recent years as a way to convert recorded speech into text. This is probably due to the increasing availability of digital recordings and the need to transcribe them for various purposes such as academic research, legal proceedings, or business meetings.

This article will discuss the pros and cons of using audio transcription software.

What is Audio Transcription?

Audio transcription is the process of converting recorded speech into text that can be done manually by transcribers who listen to the recording and type out what they hear, or it can be done automatically using transcription software. Audio transcription is used for a variety of purposes, such as converting recorded speech to text for academic research, legal proceedings, or business meetings.

How Does Audio Transcription Software Work?

Audio transcription software works by converting recorded speech into text. The software typically has a built-in speech recognition engine that converts the audio into text. Once the audio is converted into text, the software can then output the text in a variety of formats, such as Word documents, PDFs, or even Excel spreadsheets. There are a variety of different audio transcription software programs on the market, and they vary in terms of features, accuracy, and price.

What Are the Pros of Using Audio Transcription Software?

There are several pros to using audio transcription software:

It Could be More Accurate Than Manual Transcription

This is because the software can listen to the recording and convert it to text without the need for a human transcriber. This means that there is less chance for errors in the transcription. On the other hand, if the recording is of poor quality or has a lot of background noise, then the transcription might not be as accurate.

It is Faster Than Manual Transcription

This is because the software can transcribe the recording much faster than a human transcriber can. It can transcribe an hour of audio in a matter of minutes, whereas a human transcriber would take hours to transcribe the same amount of audio. The entertainment industry uses transcription software to transcribe movies and TV shows so that they can be subtitled or captioned.

It is Cheaper Than Manual Transcription

This is because you do not need to pay a human transcriber to do the work for you. A human transcriber can charge by the hour, so if you have a lot of audios to transcribe, it can be quite expensive. The pricing for audio transcription software is usually a one-time fee or a monthly subscription, so it is much cheaper in the long run.

It is More Convenient Than Manual Transcription

This is because you can transcribe the recording yourself, in your own time, and from the comfort of your own home. It is very suitable for the current era where time management has become very important. You can also transcribe the recording on the go if you have a portable transcription device.

Flexibility

Audio transcription software is typically very flexible and can be used for a variety of different purposes. For example, some software programs allow you to transcribe multiple speakers, add time stamps, and even edit the transcriptions.

It Can Be Synced with Your CRM

If you’re in the business world, you know that customer relationship management, or CRM, is vital to success. Audio transcription of a meeting with a client can be synced directly to your CRM software for easy access and follow-up.

What Are the Cons of Using Audio Transcription Software?

There are also several cons to using audio transcription software:

The Accuracy of the Transcription Can Vary

This is because the software is not perfect and can make mistakes when transcribing the recording.

You Need a Good-quality Recording

This is because the software relies on the recording being of good quality in order to be able to understand it and transcribe it accurately.

You Need to Be Familiar with the Software

This is because you will need to know how to use the software in order to transcribe the recording properly. Using any kind of software requires a digital orientation, which many people do not have.

Conclusion

Audio transcription software can be a useful tool for transcribing recordings, which is required in many fields, such as business, law, entertainment, and medicine. It has many pros, such as being more accurate than manual transcription, being faster, and being more convenient. However, it also has some cons, such as the fact that it can make mistakes and that you need to be familiar with the software in order to use it properly.

Google Authorization Error 400 invalid_request – Compliance with OAuth 2.0 Policy for Keeping Apps Secure

Posted on by Kelly Maryland
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Although they are frequently confused with one another, authentication and authorization are simpler to comprehend when viewed from the perspective of an application. An app that authenticates users confirms the user’s identity. An app that authorizes users is attempting to access or change user-owned property.

Since OAuth was created as an authorization protocol, every OAuth flow ends with the app obtaining an access token to access or edit a user’s account. The access token itself doesn’t identify the user in any way.

An app can learn a user’s identity in several ways through various services. One straightforward method is for the API to provide a “user info” endpoint that, when called with an access token, returns the authenticated user’s name and other profile information. Although this is not a requirement of the OAuth protocol, it is a typical strategy many services have adopted.

Google Changes to Google OAuth in 2022

Google has made its OAuth changes and launched its official error message:

“Authorization Error – Error 400: Invalid Request.”

Starting in October 2022, Google has changed the OAuth Process. CompanionLink’s most recent versions are compliant.

If you encounter this issue, you only need to update to the most recent version.

Why Apps Need to Comply with Google OAuth 2.0 Policy

For PC and Mac Apps, Google sign-in and authorization flows are powered by the Google OAuth platform and, over the years, have developed to keep users safer online. The current message comes because Google is ending support for legacy flows and now requires developers to use methods that offer greater protections. For example, the “This App want to access” screen, which displays tools for Contacts and Calendar for Outlook Sync, generates an OAuth token.

When Google OAuth Login is Required

CompanionLink customers with a new Google account, who have recently changed their Google password, or user who have recently reinstalled CompanionLink, may see the Error 400: invalid_request  pop-up if your software is out-of-date. The quickest workaround is to select the link for Manual OAuth Process. This will allow you to get an OAuth Token without updating your software.

Updating CompanionLink for OAuth 2.0 Requirements

You need to upgrade CompanionLink for a long-lasting fix. CompanionLink v9 (build 9070) or CompanionLink v10 (build 10014 or higher.) is the needed version. After updating, you might need to sign into your Google Account one more using CompanionLink. There won’t be a change required if you and Google are currently in sync until the OAuth token is updated.

Any owner of CompanionLink v9 or a later version is qualified for a free update.

You Can’t Sign In with Old Apps

At this time, Google is now blocking apps that do not comply with Google’s security policies that were announced several months ago.

According to Google’s Documentation: “OAuth out-of-band” (OOB) is a legacy flow developed to support native clients who do not have a redirect URI-like web apps to accept the credentials after a user approves an OAuth consent request. The OOB flow poses a remote phishing risk. PC Apps must migrate to an alternative method to protect against this vulnerability.”

Other Apps that Sync Google Contacts and Calendar with Outlook

While CompanionLink has been ready for the OAuth change, other sync vendors may have old products that require a new purchase. CompanionLink offers a competitive update for a $30 savings on our Google and Outlook sync solution. Anyone who has utilized the following sync tools is qualified for this discount:

  • Sync2
  • gSyncit
  • OggSync
  • Go Contact Sync Mod
  • Outlook Google Calendar Sync

To claim your $30 savings:

  1. Use this link to Buy CompanionLink for Google.
  2. In the “What Motivated You to Purchase” box, enter your past Sync product.
  3. In the Affinity Code Box, type “AUTH22.”.

Where YouTube will Stand After 10 Years – The Highest Paid Social Media Platform or The Declining Platform?

Posted on by Hamza Razzaq
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The first video uploaded on YouTube was called “Me at the Zoo” and it currently has over 240 million views. A 19-second clip circa 2005 opened the door to a social media revolution as YouTube took the online world by storm. As of 2022, YouTube reported advertising revenues of around $7.34 billion, showing a 5% increase year-over-year. This makes YouTube one of the largest social media platforms globally.

What’s more, YouTube reported 2.5 billion active users in 2021, making it one of the most popular social media platforms in the world. The platform also offers a premium service, where users can download videos and enjoy content with no ads. In 2021, YouTube reported around 50 million premium users too.

Now the question is will YouTube continue to dominate the social media game as it does now or will the short videos trend will change the online landscape and make YouTube irrelevant with time?

The Current YouTube Landscape

YouTube is currently enjoying great numbers. A Pew Research report showed that 81% of Americans prefer watching content on YouTube as compared to Facebook (69%). YouTube was also one of two digital platforms that saw serious growth during the last two years when the world was on lockdown. The other platform was Reddit.

Experts believe that YouTube’s growth can be attributed to ease of access and users having a lot of time on their hands. There’s a certain satisfaction in being able to find a video about whichever topic you want to learn more about or catching up with your favorite vloggers and celebrities. YouTube’s layout and format make it easy for users to keep scrolling and watching, even when it impacts their productivity.

The platform is owned by Google, which means that analysts are constantly crunching numbers and monitoring performance. YouTube gets praise for being the kind of platform that listens to its users by screening videos and shutting out dangerous or harmful videos. The expansion into providing a premium service with no ads and creating YouTube TV has also helped attract new users.

The Trouble with YouTube

Even though YouTube appears to be enjoying massive success at the moment, there are three main challenges that the social media giant has to contend with, as follows:

Business Challenges

When you compare YouTube to Netflix, the problem becomes obvious. Both are video streaming platforms but where Netflix can license original content or generate new shows that appeal to its audience, YouTube has to rely on its users to keep the platform going. Netflix would still have content even if independent creators decided to boycott it while YouTube would be dismantled. Having user-generated content as a business model is tricky and leaves YouTube open to vulnerabilities, considering the rise of hundreds of other social media networks.

YouTube is trying to avert disaster by hosting meetups, holding conferences, and employing whom they call “partner managers” who invite celebrities, gamers, and musicians to create more video content. They also give them early access to new features and invite them to workshops where they can polish their skills to become more successful on YouTube.

Content Monitoring and Free Speech

The second challenge has to do with content monitoring and free speech. The YouTube algorithm keeps users hooked on the platform by actively learning what they’re watching and suggesting similar content. This leads users down a rabbit hole where they end up spending hours on the platform just consuming content. However, YouTube has faced some backlash with people complaining that the algorithm encouraged conspiracy theories and hate speech.

YouTube tries to counter this by relying on external ratings for its video content. If users downvote a certain video, YouTube moderators say that it’s flagged and reviewed for problematic content. However, this isn’t a foolproof solution because people who use hate speech wouldn’t downvote a video that had hate speech in it.

Treatment towards Content Creators

The third and most important challenge perhaps is YouTube’s treatment of its content creators. The platform has proven to be discriminatory to smaller content creators or those vloggers that live in countries other than the United States.

YouTube has somehow improved it in recent years, but there is always a chance that smaller content creators can get disheartened and switch over to another social media platform.

Will YouTube Be Relevant in the Future?

There are mixed reports all around. While many pessimistic users believe that YouTube is going downhill, the numbers don’t support it. In fact, as mentioned earlier, YouTube has been gaining subscribers and revenue over the last five years. So even though the data shows continual growth, why do people feel like YouTube is fading away?

One of the reasons that there might be a shift away from YouTube is due to different content formats. Instagram’s Reels are one such example. Content creators and viewers now prefer short, bite-sized content that they can consume. Alternatively, some videos like gameplay and episodes are preferred in longer segments. The problem could be in longer videos, where users spend more time watching content but watch fewer videos because they’re long. This results in a lower number of overall videos consumed.

Another reason is that there’s a lot of content to watch and stream. Platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, and others offer exclusive content that users can binge in one sitting. This can be more attractive when compared to user-generated content. However, one of YouTube’s strengths is that it’s still free to access and users can find a plethora of content on it. Creators who have kept up with changing times are likely to be successful versus those who haven’t.

YouTube is likely to be successful ten years down the road because it offers something for everyone and there isn’t a social media platform that can replace it. You can watch anything from gaming videos to recipes all in one place. Plus, the platform offers something that streaming services don’t, i.e., socialization. YouTube will always be a place where users can interact with their favorite content creators, and for those reasons, it will continue to flourish.

Ethereum 2.0 Merge is just Around the Corner with the Success of the Last Testnet Goerli

Posted on by Hamza Razzaq
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The second largest cryptocurrency by market value, Ethereum has successfully completed its final dress rehearsal before the much-awaited major upgrade of the platform to Ethereum 2.0. The last dress rehearsal of Testnet Goerli has moved the platform much closer to deploying the proof-of-stake model for its network, which will consume significantly less energy. The Ethereum 2.0 Merge event is expected to occur by this month, which is considered the most important event in the history of the crypto industry.

Since the creation of Ethereum almost a decade ago, the cryptocurrency is being mined by a proof-of-work model. This model requires solving complex math equations, where thousands of miners compete to solve the equation first. This results in massive consumption of energy. The same mining approach is followed by Bitcoin.

For the past many years, Ethereum has been working to upgrade the network from a proof-of-work model to a proof-of-stake model. With this new model, the company believes that it will reduce over 99% of energy consumption. So, rather than using energy-intensive mining, the proof-of-stake model will require users to stake their current Ether collections to verify transactions and get rewards with new ethers. This approach eradicates the competition and might also result in faster transaction speed. So, when can we expect Ethereum 2.0 Merge? Let’s explore the testnet Goerli and see what it means for the upcoming Merge event.

Testnet Goerli – Everything You Need to Know

Goerli was one of the main test networks or testnets of Ethereum that was meant to simulate a process same as what the main network or mainnet will execute in September during the Merge event.

Goerli (named after a train station in Berlin) was the last of the three public testnets that the company planned to execute during the dress rehearsal of the Merge event. Testnets help developers to test new things and take necessary steps before the final update is rolled out all over the blockchain. The successful execution of the Goerli testnet presented that the proof-of-stake validation process reduced the energy demand significantly and also validated that the merger process works rightly. The success of Goerli testnet has made the mainnet Merge one step closer, and it is highly likely that the Merge will occur by this month.

The mainnet Merge is a very complex task that requires extensive efforts, trials, bugs fix, and a lot more. The developing team behind the merge event has performed multiple testnets prior to Goerli. The testnets are identical to their mainnet variants and help developers to test upgrades, look for bugs, pinpoint security loopholes, etc. Sepolia and Ropsten were the previous two testnet merges before Goerli that were also very successful. The success of all three testnets has indicated that the Merge will likely occur this month or at least by this year.

ETH Reaction to the Goerli Testnet

When the news of the success of Goerli testnet emerged, the Ethereum price showed a positive response and rose by around 12%. This showed how the community welcomed the much-awaited Merge event. However, the Ether price has declined from the upward trend, mainly due to the uncertainty in the crypto market for the past few months and the focus of investors to book profits before the upcoming merge, as per the research of CryptoSlate.

Ethereum Merge Countdown by Google

To your surprise, search engine giant Google is also on-board with the Ethereum Merge hype. Google has launched the countdown timer for the merge that will appear in the search if you search for the term “Ethereum Merge” or similar other terms.

For the past one month, the search data of the Ethereum upcoming merge is trending. The countdown ticker displays a close estimate of how much time is left till the merge will occur along with data on the current hashrate, algorithm difficulty, and merge difficulty. The timer also displays two cartoon pandas that are holding an object identical to Ethereum’s logo. As per developers, the pandas will come closer as the merge approaches.

The countdown by Google shows clear support for the Ethereum Merge. It is also beneficial for the crypto market because of the volatility of the crypto prices and the eagerness among investors for the next big news in the crypto space. The Ethereum Merge is already receiving positive responses across the crypto community, so it’s great to see that Google is also supporting the hype.

Wrapping Up – The Wait is Ending Soon

Since December 2020, the Ethereum developers have been testing the proof-of-stake model on a separate chain called beacon, which is running along with the current main proof-of-work chain. Beacon did help developers to solve many main problems.

The testnet Goerli also bought some other key development news. One of the main ones was the testnet Ropsten (the longest-running Ethereum testnet), which successfully merged its PoW execution layer with the PoS beacon chain. This news also gave clear signs that mainnet Merge will occur as per the plan.

Although Merge is a big event, but don’t think of the merge to cause a significant change in the network throughput or capacity. As per Ethereum Foundation, the gas fees will remain unchanged. The gas fee charges will depend on the demand and supply, i.e., more people using the blockchain will increase the gas fee charges and vice versa.

To sum up our discussion, the Ethereum Merge is undoubtedly one of the biggest events in the crypto market. Not just it is going to eradicate the energy-hungry mining model, it will also post numerous benefits for the developers and users. For example, developers will be able to build dapps much easier and more compatible. Moreover, the network will be able to process roughly 100,000 transactions per second. So, Ethereum Merge has a lot to offer and it’s just a matter of days that the much-awaited Merge will finally occur.

Insurance Agent vs. Broker: What’s The Difference

Posted on by Lokesh Jaral
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When someone talks about insurance policies, an insurance agent and broker is something that can commonly be heard. Have you ever thought about an Insurance agent vs Broker? Well, both of these terms are often used interchangeably, however, there is some difference between the two. If you are up for an insurance transaction, you must know the difference between these two terms.

There are many more terms when it comes to insurance. For example, the answer to the common question, “What are insurance points?” Is something you should know with confidence. These are the points that are added to your driving record by the department of motor vehicles of your state. 

The DMV adds any violations or at-fault accidents to your driving record behavior and when you apply for any insurance, the company checks out your DMV record to know the number of insurance points you are having and this impacts your premium rates for insurance.

For those looking for an Insurance agent Vs Broker, an insurance agent works as a salesperson for any insurance company. While a broker offers the consumers more generalized insurance services concerning any insurance agents or underwriters. This is the most common difference between the two. 

Let us move ahead and find out the difference between an insurance agent and an insurance broker.

Insurance Agent vs Broker: Comparison Table

It is necessary to check out the comparison table of the difference between an insurance agent and an insurance broker. So, let us have a look at the comparison table of the insurance agents and the brokers to better understand insurance agent vs broker. 

Basic ComparisonInsurance Agent Insurance Broker
AppointmentThey are appointed by the insurance companies themselves.They are selected by the buyers after choosing carefully from a pool of available brokers.
RepresentationThey only represent a single insurance company or a specific company and work for that.They represent multiple insurance companies for prospective insurance buyers.
RecommendationRecommendations are biased towards the company they are representing.Recommendations are in the buyer’s favor as they are working for the consumers only.
Support Quality As they are having an entity to back upon, hence the back office support is better in this case.Better quality support as highly personalized service is offered by them.
MotiveTheir main motive is to make a profit. They usually work on selling those products of the company that can help them to earn the highest profit from an individual customer.The broker doesn’t get any additional thing for any specific range of products offered by him.
TypesIt has two types: Captive and independent agents.It has two types: Wholesale and retail brokers.

As we have done a comparison between the insurance agents and insurance brokers and understood the basics of the difference between an Insurance agent vs broker, let us further check out the types of insurance brokers and types of insurance agents. 

Types of Insurance Brokers

There are two types of insurance brokers. Retail brokers and wholesale brokers are the two types of insurance brokers. Let us have a look at what they both mean.

1. Retail Broker

The retail brokers are the ones who work closely with the clients. They work to find the right and apt insurance for their clients and purchase that directly either from wholesale brokers or from an insurance company. They usually work with general and less complex policies of insurance covering common risks.

2. Wholesale Broker

Wholesale brokers are known to sell more specialized insurance products. They sell such products to retail brokers as well as insurance agents. They don’t have to work with the clients to understand their requirements and needs. 

Let us now check out the types of insurance agents for a better understanding of Insurance agent vs broker.

Types of Insurance Agents

There are more than one type of insurance agent. The primary two types of insurance agents are captive agents and independent agents. So, let us have a look at their meanings.

1. Captive Agents

The captive agents are the ones who work only for a single company that can either be full-time or work as an independent contractors. They receive administrative staff and office support from the company that hires them. They are highly knowledgeable about the products they represent and are offered by the insurer as they only sell these products.

2. Independent Agents

The independent agents work with several insurers and they are not just tied to a single company. They often offer a huge range of insurance products. They are pretty similar to insurance brokers. 

As we have got to know the types of insurance agents and insurance brokers, let us move ahead and find out more related to the insurance agent vs broker.

Insurance Agent vs Broker: The Difference Between the Two

Let us have a look at the difference between an insurance agent and an insurance broker to better understand the insurance agent vs broker. 

1. Representation

Insurance agents only represent a single company and sell the products in the lineup of the company. Brokers sell products that belong to different companies in the market. They don’t have any allegiance to a specific company and sell products as per the requirements of the customers.

2. Products Offered

The insurance agents offer you the products and services that are available in their employer companies and also for the flawless processing of various documents such as premium payments, paperwork, and forms. On the other hand, insurance brokers provide you with information regarding the suitable options as per your requirements. 

3. Scope

There is a narrow scope in the case of insurance agents as compared to the insurance brokers as the insurance agents only work with specific companies or just a single company. However, a wider scope might be considered in the case of insurance brokers as they have broader access to the full insurance marketplace because they are not just limited to a single company.

4. Accountability

The insurance company is accountable for the actions of the agent while it is not so in the case of insurance brokers. Brokers have higher accountability because they aren’t backed by any insurance company. The insurance company is penalized for the insurance agent’s wrongdoings while it is not the same in the case of insurance brokers. 

5. Clients

The insurance agents sell policies directly to the consumers on the behalf of their insurance companies while it is not the same in the case of insurance brokers. An insurance broker acts as a liaison between the consumers and insurers, underwriters, or agents with loyalty towards everyone.

This is the common difference between insurance agents and brokers. This is all about the insurance agent vs broker.

This is all about an insurance agent vs broker. The most common difference between the two is that an insurance agent works for a specific company while this is not so in the case of a broker. An insurance broker works by considering an individual consumer’s needs. If you have to choose between an insurance agent vs broker, you can choose one as per your requirement. Take the above points into consideration and then decide the best one that you require!

The Future of Smart Homes: Trends and Predictions

Posted on by Elisabeth Green
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Needless to say, the world as we know it is going through some significant changes. Of course, we won’t focus on the negative. There’s no reason to do so since today’s topic is somewhat more optimistic than anything else one could think of once the “the world is going through some changes” phrase comes up in a conversation. Anyway, when it comes to technological advancements, one can’t help but mention the current & future state of so-called smart homes. We’re witnessing a massive influx of consumers looking for ways to reduce energy consumption, improve safety, and automate every necessary yet irritating household task they can. That being said, today we’ll talk a bit about the future of smart homes and the trends & predictions related to the subject in question. Stay tuned!

What Is a Smart Home?

Before we continue, let’s consider the main term for today. Therefore, let’s pose the following question: what is a smart home?

The definition of a smart home is quite simple: we’re talking about a home that’s equipped with lighting, heating, and electronic devices that a person is able to control remotely by using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. Of course, there are certain examples of smart home innovations & trends that will most probably dominate the market in the following years. Let’s take a look at some of them!

Smart home devices make our lives easier.

The Future of Smart Homes: Trends and Predictions

Without further ado, let’s see smart home trends & predictions for the following couple of years!

1. Who Else but Robots

That’s right, the first thing we’ll mention are robots, even though they’re a bit of an obvious answer here since they’ve already found their way into our homes. However, the model for the future will be further away from just a digital voice assistant. Here’s an example: have you heard about Amazon’s home robot called Astro? Astro is just another point in the line of Alexa-powered devices (Alexa is Amazon’s Siri). The device in question will include a home security drone and a video-chat service aimed at helping young people communicate with their relatives or friends from far away. Also, Astro acts like an ordinary home robot we’ve seen in the movies. It can, for instance, deliver drinks or assist the oldest members of your family in various activities.

All in all: one should expect that this technology will gain more & more popularity in the upcoming period. Who knows? Robots might even help you make a super-productive weekly schedule.

Needless to say, robots are the future of smart homes.

2. Smart Kitchen Gadgets, Anyone?

One can expect a ton of innovations in the smart-kitchen-gadgets field in the following years. Currently, there are many of these on the market. For instance, we’re talking about smart rice cookers being connected to Alexa, smart crackpots, and integrated apps. What was once a dream (an app telling you in a human voice how much time’s left to cook rice or you being able to control the cooker with your smartphone) is clearly a reality now. All in all: experts note that there’s still enough room for innovation. Therefore, we shouldn’t worry about the smart-kitchen-appliances market in the years to come.

3. Smart Thermostats

Remember the whole energy-saving part we mentioned earlier? Yup, now it’s time to talk a little about that. We’re witness to smart thermostats being one of the most widely accepted smart home devices. Who or what can we thank for their popularity? Well, they’re pretty easy to install. Also, you can customize your desired temperature and your routines. In other words, you’re able to modify the atmosphere & environment inside your home from, well, just about anywhere.

So, where’s the eco-friendly, energy-saving part? Here’s the thing: since you can control the temperature inside your place while you’re away from home, you turn the heating or cooling off or on from whatever location. Therefore, you can cut a good percentage off your energy bills. Some sources, like Consumer Opinion, claim that US citizens save about 10-12% on average on their heating bills and around 15% on their cooling bills in annual usage. All in all: this will most probably encourage many folks to welcome smart thermostats into their homes.

4. What About a Smart Home Office?

There’s no need to underline that the recent pandemic (we won’t mention its ugly name) somewhat revolutionized how we imagine the workspace. Currently, we’re in something folks like to call the post-pandemic period. However, we haven’t seen the expected back-to-the-old-office wave as more & more companies adopted the remote-work concept, regardless of whether there’s a pandemic. So, one can assume that smart home office gadgets will go through a boom in the following years due to the remote vs. in-office battle. Smart devices such as noise-canceling windows or air-filtration systems have become a necessity.

A smart home office hasn’t got an alternative.

5. The Future of Home Security

Nothing is more pleasant than knowing your home’s safe from intruders. Therefore, many folks are investing in smart home security systems. Even folks that aren’t so afraid of the good old jeez-someone-just-broke-into-my-crib scenario appreciate advancements in home security technology. For instance, security cameras let you see what your pets are up to once you’re not home, away during the day. Also, you can see once a package has been delivered to your porch. Anyway, it’s not just the security cameras; there are many security devices one can choose from. You’ll have to pick out an option that suits you best. For instance, you might want to opt for a smart video doorbell such as the Ring, which is something of a virtual butler, all thanks to Amazon’s Alexa Smart Responses.

Final Words

Okay, folks, so much for the future of smart homes. We’ve gone through some of the trends & predictions for years to come. There’s a good chance you’ve heard about some of these additions and introduced them to your home. One can conclude that the future seems bright for smart home devices. Also, one can hope that none of these will compromise our privacy, as we’re all concerned about our personal data. But, as we’ve said at the beginning, let’s avoid discussing the negative.

How to Make Money on Affiliate Programs: Step by Step Guide

Posted on by Alina Maksymchuk
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Working with CPA affiliate programs is a great way to make money on the Internet in a convenient format and with a minimum initial investment. This type of cooperation consists in the fact that the advertiser pays the affiliate marketer for the targeted action performed by the user.

Different actions can be considered targeted: buying a product or service, registering on a website, filling out a form, downloading an application. That is why the CPA model is most often used in the B2C industry. But in order to get a stable income in the CPA network, you need to start somewhere. We will tell you about what should be the first steps on the path to success in affiliate marketing.

Search for an Affiliate Program

The affiliate program brings together advertisers and affiliate marketers, and each of them benefits from cooperation. Typically, affiliate networks sign contracts with various Internet resources on the one hand and with advertisers on the other.

However, it is important to be cautious of affiliate marketing scams and thoroughly research the reputation and transparency of statistics before partnering with a CPA program.

However, if you have never worked with a CPA network before, you should start with direct programs. This is a special type of CPA affiliate program where the network acts as an advertiser. That is, you will work without intermediaries or complex schemes. Benefits of working with direct programs include:

  • A huge selection of offers
  • Your own support service
  • Reliable and regular payments
  • High rates.

When choosing an affiliate network, also find out how open the company is, how much traffic it has, whether the statistics are transparent, whether there is a possibility of direct interaction with affiliate marketers to discuss individual conditions. The transparency of statistics will help you partner with the best affiliate programs.

Selection of Offers for Promotion

The next step in working with an affiliate program is choosing the offers that you will promote. An offer is a commercial offer that should interest the buyer. Offers are combined into verticals, and each of them has its own characteristics. Some of the most profitable and popular verticals are nutra, e-commerce, household, lifestyle and online gaming.

It is worth choosing offers you are well versed in, because in the future it will be difficult for you to advertise products that are unfamiliar and uninteresting to you. When choosing offers in a CPA network commodity, examine them for three criteria:

1) How relevant are the offers to the consumer?

2) What payouts does the CPA network offer for these products?

3) What is the expected cost of traffic?

Product Study

You have decided on the offers. Now you need to pay attention to the target audience of the product. Different factors are important: gender, age, level of education, target audience areas of employment. Geo plays a particularly important role – having studied it, you can take into account the peculiarities of the culture, language and mentality of buyers.

In addition, it is worth learning about what desires, needs, problems that need to be solved, interests and hobbies users have, as well as where they most often spend time (in the future, this will help you choose the right traffic channels).

This analysis of the target audience is necessary in order to understand how much the consumer may be interested in your offer, and to choose the most effective tools for its promotion.

Find the Audience Source

After choosing an offer, you will need to select a traffic source. The main task is to find the most effective channels that will help attract an audience to an offer from an affiliate network. If you are a beginner, it would be optimal to start with 2-3 channels, if necessary, changing the traffic sources or their number.

Please note that most offers have lists of allowed and prohibited sources. Popular traffic channels include social networks, native ads, push notifications, pops, banners and other types of advertising.

One of the most powerful tools it to use SubID tracking for affiliates. This is a way to track additional data on your affiliate link that gives you granular detail on the customer. Tools like this are invaluable to get the focus no need to succeed.

Audience sources that increase the effectiveness of the offer, combine well with each other and bring traffic, form the so-called “working bundle”.

Run Ads and Earn

We advise you to start working with a CPA network commodity with one product – this way the cost of a mistake will be insignificant, and you will be able to gain experience in promoting the offer. Run ads on offer and start earning.

When the first successes appear, connect other products to the promotion. It is desirable that the offers are from the same affiliate program, so you will have a better chance of getting good traffic and profit from all offers.

Do not be afraid to practice and test different offers – you can profit from any of them. With minimal experience and a willingness to develop, working with a CPA network can be an excellent source of income. Your task is simply to take the first step.

Bitcoin Vs. Dollar: Which is a Better Investment?

Posted on by Dean Miller
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Bitcoin and the U.S. dollar are two of the most popular currencies in use around the world today. However, if you are confused upon which financial asset to rely on between Bitcoin and Dollar, then you can be assured that it is quite obvious. Thus, to give some limelight to your confusions, you can go through the thebitcoincode.

This article will help you understand how Bitcoin works, why it’s useful, and how it is compares to other currencies like Dollar.

1. Bitcoin Vs. Dollar: Price Action

  • The Bitcoin price is volatile. This means that it can go up and down significantly in a short time, making it an attractive investment for traders who want to make money from buying and selling assets quickly.
  • The dollar price is stable, making it an attractive investment for people looking to hold onto their currency for extended periods without worrying about losing out on potentially significant gains or losses from trading.

2. Bitcoin Vs. Dollar: Reliability

Reliability is a significant factor for any investment. If you are not sure about the reliability of your investment, then it will be hard for you to stick with it for a long time. Bitcoin is more reliable than the Dollar because:

  • It is decentralized and not controlled by any government – The Dollar is controlled by the U.S. government, while bitcoin isn’t affected by inflation or monetary policies of any country.
  • The supply isn’t fixed – Bitcoin’s supply increases slowly over time, but it can never exceed 21 million coins. On the other hand, there is no limit on how many dollars can be printed by U.S. Treasury.

3. Bitcoin Vs Dollar: Volatility

One of the main differences between bitcoin and the Dollar is their volatility. If you look at bitcoin’s price over some time, it will be easier to see that it’s more volatile than the Dollar. This means that there are extreme highs and typical lows when compared to the USD – its value can change very quickly in either direction.

The volatility of bitcoin has created a lot of talk amongst experts who believe that its value will increase as time goes by and more people adopt it as their preferred payment method. However, others think otherwise because they feel this digital currency has no backing whatsoever.

4. Bitcoin Vs. Dollar: Convenience and Accessibility

Bitcoin and the Dollar are convenient and accessible. Global acceptance makes Bitcoin easier to access than the Dollar.

Cryptocurrency can be used worldwide, unlike most fiat currencies (e.g., USD). Since bitcoin can be used anywhere, you don’t need to discover retailers who accept it or calculate how much cash you’ll need.

Bitcoin is available worldwide and has lower transaction fees than many other forms of payment. Many credit cards incur processing fees when travelling internationally or shopping on foreign websites or stores.

5. Bitcoin Vs. Dollar: Transaction Speed

If you consider comparing Bitcoins and Dollars in terms pf transaction speed, then you have to keep in mind that Bitcoin takes at least 10 minutes to come to existence. But on the other hand, Dollars take only a few minutes to attain the desirable results. Thus, you should consider these points before deciding your choice of currency.

In summary, Bitcoin is a better investment than the Dollar because of its price action, reliability and volatility.

The cryptocurrency market is still young and volatile, and you can’t miss out on this opportunity to get rich quickly. You will not only make money from buying cryptocurrencies at their early stage but also from their appreciation over time.

With BitQL you can us an AI algorithm in order to speed up your trading accuracy and efficiency.

Conclusion

Well, that concludes the discussion on the comparison between the two currencies. As you can see, Bitcoin has a lot more to offer than dollars, but there are some things it needs to improve before becoming a truly better investment. With its price currently at $2,900 per BTC and growing by the day, there’s no doubt that this cryptocurrency will be around for years to come. So if you want to invest in something good like a good trading app such as Crypto Trader App and start trading today, you might gain profits in the coming years.

Bitcoin Vs Dogecoin: Which Is Better?

Posted on by Dean Miller
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You must have heard about Bitcoins as they are the hot topics of discussion in today’s world. However, it is not the sole crypto coin which has successfully won millions of hearts. The News Spy platform are other cryptocurrencies like that of Dogecoin and memcoin as well. Dogecoin itself is a meme coin which came to the trade market as a joke.

However, when Elon Musk declared Dogecoin to be one of his most favorite and preferable cryptocurrencies, people went absolutely crazy after this digital coin.  In fact, Dogecoin got so much popular among the youth, that popular Tesla entrepreneur decided to legalize the car payments with Dogecoins. Hence, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoins and Dogecoins are in the hype at present. If you are confused upon which one to settle for, then you can check out the following article right away.

1. Bitcoin Has More Adoption Among Investors

Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency and has been around for a decade in the trade market, which gives it an edge over Dogecoin in terms of adoption. It’s also the most valuable cryptocurrency with a market cap of $66 billion compared to Dogecoin’s $1 billion market cap.

2. Dogecoin Is More Volatile Than Bitcoin

Dogecoin is more volatile than other altcoins. The price of 1 DOGE can fluctuate from $0.00027 to $0.0036, whereas Bitcoin’s range is much calmer, from $9,169 to $7,837. This means that Dogecoin is more likely to experience sudden rises and drops in value than Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency, for that matter.

However, it does bring some benefits for the users because short-term traders can use the higher price swings as an opportunity to  gain profit from them quickly before they settle down again or move on to something else entirely. 3. Bitcoins are easier to store in Digital Wallets When you compare Bitcoins to Dogecoins, you need to remember to consider the storage options in the first place. You can’t make purchases with Dogecoin unless your digital wallet has the coin that you want to spend. However, if you want to buy and sell Bitcoins on an exchange then all that’s required for verification is your email address and phone number.

3. More of the Bitcoin Supply Is Mined Than the Dogecoin Supply

Bitcoin has a much higher supply than Dogecoin, with 21 million coins compared to Dogecoin’s 100 billion. This means that there are far fewer Bitcoins in the market than Dogecoins, making them rarer and more valuable.

Although the price of Bitcoin has dropped significantly in recent months, it is still far more valuable than Dogecoin and many other cryptocurrencies.

4. Bitcoin Is Older Than Dogecoin

Bitcoin and Dogecoin are both cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin is the oldest and most popular, while Dogecoin is newer, less popular, and a meme. Age makes a difference with trading tools like BitAlpha AI.

Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that can buy and sell goods and services online without being tied to any country or government. The first cryptocurrency was Bitcoin in 2009; it’s now accepted by thousands of merchants worldwide, including Amazon, PayPal and other brands like Microsoft.

The more mature Bitcoin has considerably more options available, and greater depth to the trading patterns.

Cryptocurrencies are different from traditional money because they’re decentralized: no person or company controls them—the transactions happen through peer-to-peer networks instead.

5. Both Have Pros and Cons, but Mostly Pros if You Invest Wisely

Of course, there are downsides to both Bitcoin and Dogecoin. For example, there’s a greater chance of losing your coins if they’re stored on an exchange where they can be hacked or stolen. You should research and invest as responsibly as possible, so you don’t lose all your money.

But one thing is clear, if you invest wisely, Dogecoin could very well be the next prominent cryptocurrency—and it has every possibility of becoming a better investment than Bitcoin itself! It is better to set up an account on authentic trading apps like trade crypto to survive the trading industry, especially when it’s other coins than bitcoin.

Conclusion

After reading this article, you should better understand whether Bitcoin or Dogecoin is the right cryptocurrency for you. However, remember that there are many other cryptocurrencies and altcoins out there that could be great investments. However, before getting indulged into the process, you need to make sure that you have done enough research beforehand.

Bitcoin Versus Stocks: Volatility Comparision

Posted on by Dean Miller
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While discussing about cryptocurrencies, the first thing that springs up in the mind is none other than the fluctuating market. The volatility of bitcoin has been a hot topic in the news, and now that you’re an investor, it’s a good idea to know how volatile Bitcoin is compared to other investments.

How Do You Measure Volatility?

  • Why does volatility matter? Which investments are more volatile than others?
  • And finally, which stocks have had the highest/lowest volatilities over time?
  • Does a trading platform like the Immediate Enigma site ameliorate the risk?

1. Bitcoin’s Price Is More Volatile Than the S&P 500 or S&P/TSX Composite

Bitcoin is a risky investment. It came to the market to make sure that the financial segment continues to stay strong and intact even amidst the corruption in the political and economical sector. Also, since there’s no asset backing it and its price isn’t determined by supply and demand like stocks are, its value can fluctuate wildly.

In contrast to Bitcoin’s volatility, the S&P 500 index or s&p/tsx composite index has been much more stable than Bitcoin over the past 100 years (see graph below).

2. Bitcoin’s Price Fluctuations Are More Significant and More Frequent

  • Volatility is the amount of price movement over a given period.
  • Bitcoin has a much higher volatility than stocks. To check the updates over trading, you need a proper authentic trading app, and one amongst them is the Yuan Pay group which can help you give the possible predictability.
  • The S&P 500 index, considered a good representation of U.S. stock market conditions on average, has an average annualized standard deviation (or volatility) of 20% over the last ten years. This means that prices move somewhere between +20% and -20% during an entire year, about 68% per cent of the time!
  • Similarly, investors can compare bitcoin’s price performance with other leading cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Litecoin and Ripple [source].

3. Bitcoin’s Daily Price Movements Were Three Times the S&P 500’s

In addition, bitcoin had twice as many days with large price movements. It also had half as many days with small price movements. This means that bitcoin is significantly more volatile than stocks in terms of both magnitude and frequency of price change.

The variability of bitcoin’s returns over time was significantly enough to say that bitcoin is a more risky investment than stocks.

4. Bitcoin Experienced Twice as Many High- And Low-Volatility Days

You may see in the chart above that bitcoin had twice as many high volatility days and a half as many low volatility days. A high volatility day means it traded with a percentage change greater than 5 per cent within 24 hours. This means that there is a lot of movement these days, and traders are more likely to have lost money or made money if they had any exposure to bitcoin. Low volatility days are the opposite — their percentage change was less than 1 per cent.

In both cases, high volatility days are followed by downtrends (bearish trends), whereas low volatility days are followed by uptrends (bullish trends). So this makes things even harder for traders trying to predict what will happen next since there’s no clear pattern between these two indicators!

5. Bitcoin’s Volatility Makes Stocks a Safer Investment

Before you dive into the comparison, it’s essential to understand the difference between stocks and cryptocurrencies.

Stocks are investments in publicly traded companies. In exchange for buying a stock, you receive rights to a portion of their future profits (dividends) and voting power within the company. The easiest way to think about bitcoin is that it’s like gold: It’s valuable because people believe it has value, not because someone will always accept it as payment for goods and services. If enough people stop believing that bitcoin is worth anything, then its price will drop dramatically—precisely what happened when China banned trading earlier this year. Try Bitcoin Dynamit to use AI-based tools to trade Bitcoin like a pro.

Conclusion

While it may seem like a no-brainer that stocks are safer than Bitcoin, it’s important to remember that both have risks and rewards. If you’re looking for more stable investments, then investing in stocks might be the right choice. On the other hand, if you’re looking to take on some risk with hopes of making some money from an exciting project or product, then maybe cryptocurrency is the ideal investment vehicle!