How to Increase Your Website’s Usability

Posted on by Harrison Jones
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If you’re running a website, it’s essential that you make sure that it is as usable as possible. After all, if people can’t easily navigate your site and find the information they need, they will not stick around for long. In this article, we’ll discuss some tips and tricks that you can use to improve your website’s usability.

Remember that most of these tips can be easily implemented even by someone relatively new to tech. However, some of the approaches might require professional assistance whose funding should be thought through.

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Metrics Measuring the Site’s Usability

For starters, let’s have a look at some of the metrics used to determine how user-friendly the site is.

Task Completion Rate: How often do users complete the task they came to your site to do? If they can’t do what they need to, that’s a big problem!

Error Rate: How often do users run into errors when using your site? They’ll likely give up and switch to other sites if they encounter too many errors.

Time on Site: How long are users spending on your site? If they’re only staying for a few seconds, that’s not good. You want them to stick around and explore!

Number of Pages Viewed: How many pages are users viewing during their visit? If they’re only looking at one or two, they’re probably not finding what they need.

Bounce Rate: How often do users leave your site after only viewing one page? If the number is high, it means people are coming to your site and leaving immediately. That’s not good!

There are a few ways to measure these metrics. Google Analytics is a great tool that can help you track this information. Once you know how people are using (or not using) your site, you can start to make changes to improve things.

Why Usability Is Important

It’s important to have a usable website for a few different reasons:

  • It helps ensure that people can do what they need to on your site. If they can’t, they’re going to get frustrated and leave.
  • It can improve your search engine rankings. If Google sees that people are spending a lot of time on your site and looking at multiple pages, they’ll deem your site to be more relevant and rank it higher in the search results.
  • Usability can help improve conversion rates.

If people are able to find what they’re looking for on your site and navigate the purchase process without any issues, they’re much more likely to make a purchase. On the other hand, if your site is confusing and difficult to use, people are less likely to complete a purchase.

So, as you can see, usability is important for various reasons. If you want people to stick around on your site and actually use it, you need to make sure it’s easy to do so!

What to Improve to Increase the Site’s Usability

Below, you will find a list of factors that can make or mar the user’s experience with your website.

Navigation

People should be able to easily find their way around your site, whether they’re looking for specific information or just browsing. Make sure that your menus are clear and easy to understand and that all of your pages are well-linked. If you have a lot of content on your site, consider using a search function to help visitors locate what they’re looking for.

Design

Another important consideration is the overall design of your site. Keep in mind that people will be viewing your site on different devices, so it’s important to make sure that it looks good and works well on all screen sizes. In addition, pay attention to the typography on your site — use easy-to-read fonts and make sure that the text is large enough to be legible.

Content

Don’t forget about the content on your site! Double-check that all pages are well-written and informative and provide value to your visitors. If you have a blog or forum, be sure to keep it updated regularly with fresh content.

Chatbot

Another thing you could do to increase your site’s usability is to add a chatbot platform. Chatbots are computer programs that can mimic human conversation, and they can be a great way to assist visitors in finding the information they need on your site. You can add a chatbot to your site by using a plugin or service like Drift or Intercom.

Search Function

One more thing one could do to ensure their site is highly functional and user-friendly is to provide a search function. That allows users to input keywords related to what they are looking for on your site and brings up corresponding results. It is most beneficial if your site has a lot of content.

Mobile Usability

Lastly, it’s essential to keep in mind mobile users when designing your website. More people are turning to their phones to browse the internet, so it’s crucial that your site works well on all screen sizes. You can use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to see how your site stacks up. If you would love to make your site more mobile-friendly, consider working with a web development company.

By following this concise yet comprehensive guide, you can ensure that your website is highly usable and provides a positive experience for all its visitors. What other tips can you think of? Share them in the comments below!

Harrison Jones

Harrison has been a freelance financial reporter for the past six years. He knows the major trends in the financial world. Jones’ experience and useful tips help people manage their budgets wisely.

Why an Infographic is the Best Tool For Branding

Posted on by Saoirse Willa
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An infographic is not just a fancy graphic that will get your website visitors’ attention. It also creates an appealing and clean design that helps to convey its message in the most effective manner to any audience. Information graphics encourage users to spend more time on your website, which would enable you to increase traffic, boost search engine rankings and attract new audiences.

An infographic is also said to be better than conventional text because they help improve engagement rates by 85%. Not only do people tend to share infographics easily but they also like seeing visuals instead of reading text. One can make their point instantly and effectively without any delay because infographics generate faster understanding amongst readers thereby satisfying the customer’s needs at once before moving on with other things. They are highly visual, engaging, and appealing at the same time.

Infographics also make for rewarding content marketing tools as they allow you to align your company’s business values with its impact on society at large. The information included in this article brings out the benefits of using infographics for your brand image.

1. The Best Infographics are Visually appealing:

Infographics are highly visually appealing and therefore grab attention. Visually, they communicate your message in a way that other media forms cannot match. They engage the viewers on two different levels – firstly, through visuals and secondly, through text.

2. Maximum impact

Infographics convey large amounts of information in a small amount of space because of their visual appeal. This means that the consumer is able to digest it quickly and take away the message from thereon rather than reading through pages after pages for an article or blog post. In fact, research shows that consumers tend to retain more from infographics as compared to other media forms.

3. A Good Social Media Infographic is Highly Shareable

Infographics are highly shareable, which is one of their main advantages for branding purposes. You can easily upload an infographic on a website or social media network and let the viewers take it forward from thereon to generate more traffic and business leads. By nature, infographics are sharable as they make use of images instead of text. Also, people tend to share infographics that have been posted by others because they include useful information that benefits the readers in some manner. In fact, research shows that 80% of marketers plan to increase their investments in creating original infographics for content marketing this year alone because studies show that visuals aid marketing much more than written communication.

4. A Great Business Infographic May Improve brand awareness

An infographic is said to be the best way of communicating your brand’s story. It helps build an emotional connection with customers and also drives business leads for branding purposes. You can use infographics to describe your company to its market in a visually appealing manner. Also, it makes it much more engaging than plain written text which people tend to avoid. As these graphics are highly informative and well designed, they immediately grab attention and thus enhance brand awareness (which is one of the most important aspects of any marketing strategy for branding purposes).

Need a good infographic fast? Then there is no better app for this than the number one infographic maker – Venngage. Start designing using their app and begin churning effective and striking infographics in no time.

5. A Simple Infographic Improves Information Retention

As mentioned earlier, infographics lend themselves easily to sharing because they contain interesting visuals that people like seeing instead of reading long paragraphs or words. Therefore, infographics help improve information retention rates in readers thereby driving business leads. If you wish to add a factor of creativity and appeal to your content marketing strategy, infographics are the tools for it. When used correctly, they can help improve brand awareness faster than ever before and lead to greater customer engagement with your brand.

Infographics were once considered an unaffordable luxury reserved only for huge companies and businesses due to their high price tags. Nowadays, they have become more affordable and accessible thanks to simple design software available online without having to hire expensive professionals or agencies for this purpose. Therefore, every company big or small can easily take advantage of infographics for branding purposes so as to build a strong relationship with its customers because these graphics are highly useful when it comes to developing long-term relationships with potential customers.

6. Cool Infographics Improves Search Engine Rankings

It is a known fact that Google prefers infographics over other forms of content on the web because its algorithm heavily favors them due to their rich imagery. This has led renowned SEO experts to advise companies to integrate infographics into their content marketing strategy for better search engine rankings. It also provides you with an opportunity of improving your pages’ time on site as well as page views leading to more business leads, which are very important for branding purposes. With over 200 million searches across the world every month on various topics related to your industry, it is best advised to leverage infographics for driving more traffic and improving your website’s standing in search engines.

In Conclusion

Infographics are amazing advertising tools to use to help sell your ideas in the market. However, the bigger impact of infographics might just be on one’s branding!

RSAT Alternative Tool

Posted on by Lincoln Houseman
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RSAT or Regression Suite Automation Tool is the official Microsoft solution for automated testing of Microsoft ERP apps and components. Yet, it has a serious competitor which is Executive Automats designed by XPLUS. This article will help you to compare these tools and understand them better.

Installation Process

Even though the installation of RSAT is relatively simple and quick, it requires crucial additional steps. This includes granting access to the DevOps server, LCS and the ERP apps, monitoring connection between this software after updates as well as manual driver updating for RSAT.

After the installation of Executive Automats that takes only 15 minutes, this app can be used without extra actions.

Ease of Usage and Level of Automation

Both RSAT and Executive Automats are using a codeless approach but their design differs a lot.

For example, while you can access the instances of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations directly from Executive Automats and perform test recording, playing and modification, RSAT breaks the process into several steps. Its test scripts are created with a task recorder, but they are stored in LCS. In order to apply the tests to the ERP  app, they first have to be synchronized with the DevOps server which also stores test results.

The testing processes are performed individually using the logs coming from an ERP app. To create separate test versions, you will have to use Excel which is not well-adapted to inserting some crucial testing elements such as loops, try-and-catches or conditional and optional steps. With the limited codeless design of RSAT, only a part of tasks can be automated. Meeting all of the testing needs of your company requires performing some of the processes manually.

Executive Automats has its own integrated editor which allows testers to add any required logic into the scripts which can be updated automatically. This tool supports simultaneous testing processes and offers rich functionality for performance tests simulating peak loads.

Final Costs

Unlike RSAT available to the users of Microsoft ERP apps under the currently used licenses, you will need to pay for Executive Automats separately. Yet, while choosing a testing tool, it is crucial to estimate all of the costs involved into the process. With the maximum testing automation, advanced testing functionality and convenience for the users without technical background, the final costs of Executive Automats are a way smaller.

Do You Really Need an RSAT Alternative Tool?

If you are a user of Microsoft ERP apps, you can use Microsoft RSAT, however, it will automate testing processes only partially and you will still have to reach out for professional expertise. The usage of RSAT itself as well as the delays and disruptions in your ERP app caused by a poorly optimized testing strategy will generate unnecessary costs.

Such a scenario can be easily avoided by deploying Executive Automats, a fully automated tool provided by a Microsoft Gold Partner.

The Use of Anagram Solver to Level Up Your Scrabble Game

Posted on by Allen Brown
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Synonyms, antonyms, and metaphors are more than just words with similar meanings. They have the invaluable ability to help you score more points when you play Scrabble. However, if you are struggling to turn your random letters into high-scoring words, you might want to make use of an anagram solver. This post will explain what these tools are and how they can help you to up your scrabble game.

What Is An Anagram?

In an anagram, the letters of a word or phrase are rearranged to form a new word. An anagram is often used to create a new term that has a similar meaning to the original but with a different spelling. Anagrams are primarily popular in Latin alphabet languages but can be used in other languages.

What Is An Anagram Solver?

An anagram solver is a program that can find the word that comes from rearranging the letters in a given word or phrase. An anagram solver can be helpful for people who are studying foreign languages, solving puzzles, or just having a little fun with words. For example, if you are using games to learn French, you might enter mots avec w in the search fields and see what it returns. This can be done with any letter or string of letters, which lets you examine different words you might not otherwise know. 

In most cases, you will find anagram solvers online, many of which are free to use. All you need to do is search online and find one that provides you with a decent range of words in the language you want to use.

Why Use One?

An anagram solver can help you find a word with the same meaning as your target word, and it can also help you find synonyms for your target word. It can also be used to generate new words or phrases by rearranging letters in a given word. An anagram solver is useful when looking for words with similar meanings and meanings of synonyms to use in your content. Moreover, they come in particularly handy when playing word games like Scrabble.

What Else Can an Anagram Solver Do?

Even though they’re called anagram solvers, many of these tools have other capabilities. For instance, some anagram solvers like Unscrambled Words, offer users the chance to specify which mode the tool will work in. With Unscrambled Words, one option is to simply unscramble the letters.

Others include solving crossword puzzles and Wordle. You can even specify if you’d like a word to start with, end with, or contain letters in order.

How Can It Help You With Your Game Of Scrabble?

Scramble has become one of the most popular board games worldwide thanks to its ability to unite people who share a love of language. There are many variations of this game, and each one has its own rules, but basically, it is a word game where players try to form valid words from a set of letters. Anagram solver helps players with creative thinking, as they are able to find new ways to play the game with their existing letters. This tool will help you generate new ideas and find synonyms for existing words on the board or in your hand. Moreover, it can also help you with brainstorming and finding related topics.

An anagram solver is the fastest and easiest way to increase your Scrabble score. All you have to do is enter your words, click the button, and within seconds you will see your anagrams. You can use it for practice or while playing.

The Future of Mobile App Development: Trends to Know in 2022

Posted on by Jenson O'Connell
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The mobile app development industry is one of the most fast-growing industries these days. It is one of the leading spheres which offers impressive profits for developers as well. That is the reason why the mobile app market gets constant innovations.

Once checking the most recent mobile app development trends, it is easy to see how they affect the main players in the industry. The latest trends define the way the industry operates at present. They even outline the way the employment process is ensured as mentioned at this essential guide for entrepreneurs.

To stay competitive, it’s crucial for developers to offer advanced software and unique features, keeping pace with constant innovations in the mobile app market. Following the latest trends in marketing your app is essential for success, as these trends shape the future of mobile app development.

Besides, the numerous modern trends will define the development of mobile apps in the near future. It calls for careful research on the most recent tendencies in the mobile application development company.

Top Trends in Mobile App Development

If you want to stay in the top positions in the industry, you need to have a clear idea of the latest mobile app trends. Sure, trends, in most cases, are something that quickly becomes forgotten. Still, on the pick of its popularity, it can be used to gain increased profit or improved visibility for your app.

The trends constantly boost the industry’s development. Thus, it is important to learn the biggest trends and use them for your app development in the future. Following the most recent trends can be very beneficial for the final profit gained by app development companies as well.

Fast Rise of On-Demand Applications

The on-demand sector has gained a huge base of users recently. One of the reasons for such a rise is the pandemics. It caused people to switch more to online shopping and remote employment. Thus, such applications in the grocery, food and healthcare category have become extremely popular. Most modern services have already presented their effective apps that improve the company’s work and cooperation with clients.

For instance, ordering food and groceries online is extremely easy these days. Besides, it is very convenient and does not take much time. Even with the lifting of restrictions caused by Covid-19, people still gladly use online services to order food and groceries through advanced apps.

Strong Influence of Beacon Technology

Beacon Technology is the future of mobile app development. It is widely used in the development of apps from such categories as Healthcare, Hotel, Museum, etc. This is one of the leading trends due to the wide use of proximity marketing and location technology. The technology is highly used in retail as well. It offers to provide instant information about sales. Therefore, the hospitality sphere gains lots of benefits from the usage of technology as well. Beacon technology brings advanced automated machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies into the app development process.

The Importance of Wearable Devices

The rise in the importance of wearable devices is not a recent phenomenon. It was popular for a few years already. People like to use their trackers, fitness bands, and smartwatches often. What is more, this tendency is still ongoing. Sure, these days, the wearable market has gone through numerous modernization processes. The latest wearable devices are more advanced and provide improved features.

This is one of the top 10 mobile app long-lasting trends. It is still expected that the increase in interest in wearable devices will be as significant in the future as it is now. Besides, modern devices use advanced artificial intelligence technology and provide more options for users nowadays. It includes such features as face detection, image recognition, predictive maintenance, speech recognition, etc.

Recent VR and AR Transformation

Virtual and Augmented reality is the equipment used for mobile app development these days. The technology brings numerous advanced features and VR/AR capabilities. Mobile app developers widely use AR in marketing, manufacturing, healthcare, and e-commerce apps development.

Importance of Mobile Wallets

A mobile wallet is an essential technology that allows paying for online services fast. The technology allows the development of the most convenient payment options for app users. The constant upgrades of mobile wallet technology allow ensuring fast and secure payment methods.

Advanced Mobile Security

With lots of information transferred between app users, the significance of proper security is reasonable. Once using a certain application for e-commerce, lots of corporate information is stored and shared. Therefore, the advanced tools and software implemented to improve security are required. The need for constantly solid security will be one of the mobile app industry trends all the time.

Use of Chatbots

The wide use of chatbots is one of the recent application development trends. Modern technology allows dealing with certain tasks faster. Customer support has benefited greatly from chatbot use.

Cloud-Based Technology

The cloud-based technology is widely used in mobile app development. It offers enough space for keeping important data on modern devices. It increases storage capacity in mobile apps greatly.

Conclusions

The prospect of the mobile app development industry is quite bright. Being one of the most fast-growing industries currently, the app development sphere offers constant innovations and advanced capabilities. There are numerous tendencies in mobile app development that are aimed at defining the future of the industry.

The industry benefits greatly from the use of advanced software and technologies, like VR and AR technology, Beacon technology, cloud-based technology, mobile wallets, etc. The huge popularity of on-demand applications and implementation of the latest security solutions define the future of the app development sphere as well. With all the innovations implemented, the app development industry is expected to get even more recognition in the near future.

BIO:

Jenson O’Connell is an experienced content creator who writes on IT development and technology issues. He regularly publishes in many high-profile editions and helps his readers understand trends in the tech industry and programming infrastructure.

Best Gaming Laptops for 2022 To Get Your Hands-On

Posted on by Tanzeel Ur Rehman
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With technological advancements, gaming laptops are progressing neck to neck with gaming PCs and consoles. We come across some of the amazing machines in the market that have proven themselves to be worthy of their title.

However, to feel the raw power of a gaming machine, you need to have a high-end graphics module, amazing processing power, surreal display, and fast-speed internet. We shall be looking at some of the amazing machines ahead but for the internet, you can consider Windstream Internet as it ensures the absolute combination for gaming performance.

Windstream provides the top-notch internet speed needed to run heavy games without lags or disruptions. You can reach out to its customer service and get an optimal plan for your gaming needs. If that’s settled, let’s get check out some of the amazing laptops to get your hands on in 2022:

ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G15

When brilliance meets premium gaming specs, you get ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS G15. Inspired by the G14 series, it has a 15inch gaming screen with 165 QHD/ 1440P display. Boosted by the combined performance from the AMD processing chip and NVidia’s GPU, it’s able to play AAA titles without breaking a sweat.

Next, you get a satisfyingly surreal gaming keyboard and touchpad that makes it feel like rubbing on silk when using them. Although gaming laptops are often not considered because of their low-end battery timing, the ROG Zephyrus G15 has an outstanding 8.5 hours battery backup that makes it highly portable.

Though it doesn’t have a webcam and does not come cheap, it still ranks the highest on the list of the best gaming laptops to get in 2022.

RAZER BLADE 17

Competing with ASUS is the Razer Blade series and the latest 17-series flagship has made its mark in the market with its outstanding performance. But it’s not just the performance that makes it so compelling. The slim 17inch display and chassis are as light as a notebook, making it highly stylish even for a gaming laptop.

Apart from that, you’re getting a 240Hz refresh rate QHD screen that comes with an epic display resolution, able to run high-tier titles without any hassle. Well known for its RGB customization, the Blade 17 allows per-key color customization, which is super amazing.

Again, being among gaming laptops, it’s not cheap and is quite costly, making you think of getting your hands on a gaming PC. However, if you’re thinking of a gaming laptop, then it’s worth the shot.

LENOVO LEGION 5 PRO

The Legion series made quite an impressive entry in the market, particularly the Legion 7 series. However, the Legion 5 was quite promising, and filling in its boots is the Legion 5 Pro series. Powered by the AMD 5000 processor, the Legion 5 Pro can give a relentless performance for extensive gaming needs.

In addition to this, the 165Hz gaming display with its native 2560 x 1600 resolution gives a satisfactory gaming performance that one can ask for. But its screen power is complemented by its 16:10 screen, which makes it easier for users to enjoy everyday tasks and gaming on the go.

Apart from that, it offers 1.5mm key travel and a 4-zone programmable RGB lighting, bringing the surreal gaming vibe that one can ask for. However, the poor battery timing of just 4-5 hours is somewhat a downfall for this machine.

It’s a good option if you’re looking for a gaming laptop with a solid performance and a good display under 2 grand.

MSI GE76 RAIDER

This gaming laptop comes with 11th Gen processing power (12th Gen will be available soon) that makes it high-end in terms of performance.

Apart from that, it comes with a whopping 360 Hz display, amazing enough to bring crisp details from every angle. You can opt for a QHD screen or 1080P screen (the latter comes with a high refresh rate).

However, even with its flashy RGB lighting functionality, the chassis build is thick and bulky, which is disappointing as it minimizes portability for the users. Apart from that, the battery timing isn’t up to par with some of the best-tiered gaming laptops.

It’s a good choice if you don’t plan on being mobile and have an electrical supply for constant charging. However, one should consider other options too before settling for this one.

ASUS ROG STRIX G15 ADVANTAGE EDITION

Another gem from the ASUS ROG series is the Strix G15 advantage edition that comes with AMD Processor and GPU. The best thing about this machine is the outstanding battery performance that can run high-tiered games at high frame rates without requiring a charger, making it one of the longest-lasting gaming laptops.

Apart from that, the flashy LEDs, RGB keyboard, colorful strip around its edge, and bold design make it a dependable edition. The combination of AMD processor and GPU makes it boost performance for gaming demanded by its user. Again, it can last 9 hours on battery, making it one of the best options for portability.

This gaming laptop is all good if you’re looking for an all-AMD-built device, giving a solid performance and outstanding battery workability.

Closing Thoughts

Choosing the best gaming laptop requires a great deal of work. You’ve got to inspect almost everything since it’s a costly investment and you don’t want to regret it later. The ones we’ve listed above hold a great position in the market that you can certainly depend upon when looking for a formidable choice. So, make your bids and get gaming!

Does Your Small Business Need a Mobile App?

Posted on by Mildred Austria
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The mobile market is increasing exponentially. While the market has a wide range of mobile apps for small businesses, some owners are looking into having custom-made mobile apps that will improve their business reach and enhance their customers’ overall experience. 

Considering that consumer experience is one of the primary reasons small business owners want to have customised mobile apps, they should not forget that accessibility is likewise important. If consumers cannot access your business because it is down due to a power outage or problems with the in-store power supply, their consumer experience level will go down. Therefore, you must ensure that your power supply is continuous. 

If you can have customised mobile apps, you can also have customised industrial batteries. You can get in touch with industrial battery companies and discuss the power requirements of your business. Likewise, it is vital for many businesses, whatever their size, to have backup batteries so they can continuously provide their services. 

Going back to mobile apps, you need to understand that various types of small businesses use different apps to improve customer experience. But are mobile apps necessary? If you are a small business owner and thinking of investing money and time to create an app, consider the factors listed below.

Know if You Need a Mobile App

It is not difficult to say that most people today are inseparable from their mobile devices, which is why mobile apps proliferate. But as a business owner, do you need a customised business app? First, consider if your company will benefit from your mobile app. Then, think about what compelling features it should have and how you will maintain them, particularly with fresh content. It should have the relevant information and services available. Likewise, the app should be easy to use. At the same time, it is critical to optimise your business site for various mobile devices.

Determine Your Customers

It is critical to identify your customers when considering the creation of a mobile app. Knowing who will be using your app will help the developers create one that will benefit your business and your customer base. In addition, a deep analysis of consumer demographics is vital, as younger consumers are more likely to use mobile apps than people who are older. 

Consider the Mobile App Orientation of Your Consumers

The younger audiences use apps several times a day, almost daily, but their buying capacity is limited. If you need a retail app, consider that most users are between 35 and 44 years old. This age group is very receptive to in-store advertising or selling products online via mobile devices.

Determine What Your Customers Want

It is vital to consider the needs of your consumers. Many surveys indicate that customers use apps that provide easy-to-use and convenient interfaces. Many also look for apps that offer better promotions or prices not available on other platforms, including business websites.

When considering a customized mobile app for your small business, the critical thing to consider is the convenience and benefits it will give your consumers. Likewise, consider your budget and how you will market your app.

Ways To Keep Your Smartphone Safe From Hackers

Posted on by Deisy Arenas
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Every day, there’s another news report about some major corporation being hacked and millions of people’s personal information compromised. While it’s necessary to be aware of these threats, it’s also important to remember that hackers aren’t just targeting big businesses but also individuals. Smartphones are becoming increasingly popular targets for hackers since they contain so much personal information.

If you’re worried about your smartphone being hacked, you can do a few things to protect yourself.

Keep Your Operating System and Apps up to Date

Make sure that your operating system and all apps are up to date. Hackers are constantly finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in older software versions. Guard.io digital security advises keeping everything on your phone up to date will make it much harder for them to get into your device.

Use a Secure Lock Screen

Many people use simple, easy-to-guess passwords for their lock screens, like “1234” or “1111.” But if a hacker gets past your lock screen, they could have access to all of your personal information. To make it harder for them to get in, use a longer password, including numbers, letters, and special characters. If your device offers fingerprint or facial recognition, use that instead.

Don’t Root or Jailbreak Your Phone

Rooting or jailbreaking your phone can give you access to many cool features, making it easier for hackers to get into your device. If you don’t need to root or jailbreak your phone, it’s best to avoid doing so. There’s a reason major phone corporations warn you not to.

Be Careful What You Click on or Download

One of the most common ways hackers get into people’s phones is by getting them to click on a malicious link or download a malicious app. If you’re not sure if something is safe, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid it.

Use a VPN

Virtual Private Network can help keep your data safe when using public Wi-Fi by encrypting it. This makes it much harder for hackers to intercept your data and use it for malicious purposes.

Don’t Store Sensitive Information on Your Device

If you don’t need to store sensitive information on your device, it’s best not to. This includes things like banking information, passwords, and personal photos. If you must store this kind of information on your phone, ensure that it’s well-protected with a password or PIN.

Avoid Public WI-Fi

Public Wi-Fi is one of the most common places for hackers to target people since it’s often unsecured. If you can, avoid using public Wi-Fi and use your data plan instead.

Use Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that can be used on many online accounts. It typically involves using a code that’s sent to your phone in addition to your password. This makes it much harder for hackers to access your account, even if they have your password.

Keep an Eye on Your Apps

It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your apps’ permissions. If an app asks for permission to do something that doesn’t make sense, like access your camera or contacts, it could signify that it’s malicious.

Know What’s Happening on Your Device

Keep an eye on your device’s battery life, data usage, and storage. If you see anything that doesn’t seem right, it could signify that your phone has been hacked.

Back Up Your Data Regularly

If your phone is hacked, you could lose all your data. To protect yourself, make sure to back up your data regularly. This way, if your phone is ever hacked, you’ll be able to restore it from a backup.

Get a Security App

There are many different security apps available that can help to protect your phone from hackers. These apps can offer features like virus scanning, remote wiping, and more.

Use a Mobile Security Solution

Mobile security solutions like Lookout can help to keep your phone safe from hackers by offering features like malware scanning, lost device protection, and more.

Hackers are constantly finding new ways to exploit vulnerabilities in older software versions. Keeping everything up to date will make it much harder for them to get into your device.

4 Different Types of VPNs Explained

Posted on by James Meyer
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A Virtual Private Network or VPN is the most common cybersecurity measure. It is both easy to use and to implement. Furthermore, it is effective and accessible. These are the features that make VPNs so popular.

However, there are different kinds of VPNs that you can choose as a security method. As we all know choosing a cybersecurity measure can sometimes be complicated. Luckily, VPNs are easy to understand. In this article, we will look at 4 different types of VPNs and explain how they work.

Site to Site VPN

Site to Site VPN is a connection established between multiple networks. A Site-to-Site VPN allows companies to extend their network to different locations by using the public internet. There are two different types of Site to Site VPNs.

The first type is an Intranet-based Site to Site. It allows companies to combine LANs located in different offices into a single Wide Area Network ━ WAN. With combined LANs devices can access the connection as if they are in the same physical location.

The second type is an Extranet-based Site to Site. An Extranet-based VPN allows users to only share the information they choose. It is generally used when companies collaborate, with this service they can choose which data they want to share and which ones to keep private.

Companies with many offices in different physical locations that need to connect and use the company network on a regular basis generally implement Site to Site VPNs. A Site to Site VPN allows a company’s corporate network to securely connect with its remote branches, allowing them to interact and share resources as a single network.

Remote Access VPN

Remote Access VPN establishes a connection between a user and a private network. Since it allows users to connect to a remote LAN or cloud as if they are at the place where that LAN is present it is generally used by companies. It makes it possible for remote workers to connect to the company network by using client software installed on the host. ( Smartphone, laptop, desktop, etc.)

Remote Access VPN uses either a VPN gateway or Network Access Server to allow only authorized users to connect. Network Access Server ━ NAS refers to any device that utilizes remote logins to create a point-to-point protocol connection. These devices are also known as media access gateways or remote access servers.

On the other hand, a Virtual Private Network or VPN gateway communicates with the client software installed on a remote device and establishes a secure “virtual” tunnel between LAN and gateway. Remote Access VPN encrypts any data you send or receive and the VPN gateway decrypts them.

Remote Access VPNs, as part of a sophisticated security solution, provide companies with a flexible and cost-effective approach for businesses to secure their remote workers’ connections and protect important assets.

Point to Point Tunneling Protocol ━ PPTP

The Point to Point Tunneling Protocol also known as Virtual Private Dialup Network ━ VPDN is a technology used to create VPN tunnels between public networks. PPTP allows one point to connect to another point through the internet. The term “tunneling”, on the other hand, refers to how a protocol is encapsulated within another protocol.

Point-to-Point Protocol ━  PPP packets are encapsulated by PPTP using a Transmission Control Protocol control channel and a Generic Routing Encapsulation Tunnel. For the same purpose, several current VPNs use different forms of User Datagram Protocol.

To secure the internet connection, the Point to Point Protocol is wrapped inside the TCP/IP protocol. This protocol creates a direct connection between the two locations, providing for a secure connection, even though the connection is established across the Internet.

It can be said that the Point to Point Tunneling Protocol is the fastest of all VPN protocols which means it is better to use it when speed is important. However, since PPTP uses 128-bit encryption it has many vulnerabilities because of its weak encryption standards which makes it not as secure as other VPN protocols.

Client to Site VPN

A Client to Site VPN creates a secure connection between clients and a company network while preserving the network’s security and resources. It offers a new VPN tunnel that enables users to connect to a network while maintaining safety and confidentiality.

Client to Site VPNs encrypt the connection from the client to the provider and that protects data from Internet Service Providers and third parties, Client to Site VPNs secure connections while using insecure Wireless LANs.

Since the server does not know the client’s IP only clients can initiate the connections. Only client-to-site connectivity is allowed; in most cases, the site can not create a connection with the client. The server’s and client’s configs are different from each other.

Conclusion

As a cybersecurity measure, VPNs provide you with speed, security, and protection. It is generally seen as the first step to securing an internet connection. Also, it is for everyone, whether for you as an individual or for your company.

Since they all offer different services for different uses, it is important to understand what they provide.

How Arizona Students Can Learn Blockchain Development

Posted on by Richard Bertch
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The widely-recognized use of blockchain is in cryptocurrency. Blockchain was designed to support Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies traded on apps like OKX. Blockchain is far more than cryptocurrency; decentralized ledger technology is an excellent system for recording and keeping nearly any type of data or digital transaction. Uses include medical records, tracking shipped cargo, and real estate title searches.

Why Blockchain Technology?

Leading experts and reliable sources such as Gartner cite blockchain as a top strategy. The barriers to broader use and adoption relate to factors like scale and interoperability. The barriers are dropping as research and development continue. The below-listed items describe breakthroughs using blockchain technology.

• Banking and finance institutions limit progress by requiring their permissions to operate and opening during specified hours. The blockchain is a 24/7 enterprise without a central body giving permissions.

• Healthcare records can be securely stored and released only with patients’ permission.

• Cargo tracing using blockchain reduces paperwork and error; the process can reduce the costs of moving freight in every modality.

• Commercial process like retail can use blockchain to solve complex supply problems. A national retailer was able to reduce time needed to trace food products from farms to store shelves. The traditional method requires about seven days; the blockchain assisted process took about three seconds.

A Guide to Blockchain Developer Career

-Computer Science Education

Technical education can be formal, crash training, or specialized courses and certificates. A bachelor’s degree in computer science focused on Information Technology, or cybersecurity is an excellent start. Employers also look for candidates with training and experience that equals a four-year degree. Candidates can develop specific skills applicable to blockchain.

Programming skills are essential, and Python, R, and C++ are good choices. Students should learn to operate in the widely used protocols such as HTML, CSS, and MongoDB

– Four Steps to Become a Developer

Students should read about blockchain and learn its history and case uses. Reading will develop a concept of blockchain, its history, and potential for future applications and innovations.

(1) Learn coding by college coursework, online, or special coursework. It is essential to understanding blockchain and applications that operate on its platforms.

(2) Read and learn about developments, new techniques, software, and application. Blockchain is evolving and new case uses, and projects occur frequently and offer important insights and information.

(3) Decentralized Finance and Smart contracts are keys to growth of blockchain. Some will involve cryptocurrency while many others will demonstrate the potential of blockchain to disrupt tradition industries like banking, insurance, and real estate.

(4) Continuing education is essential to staying up to date and progressing in the field.

Solid Prospects and Rewarding Careers

The prospects for career growth are strong according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Salaries in the overall category are much higher than average. The rate of adoption of blockchain is high and growing. Leading companies are considering ways to add blockchain to their business tools and systems.

The demand for blockchain developers will grow as more companies, government agencies, and other organizations discover the benefits of decentralized ledger technology for their business processes.

Best Android-compatible Smart Door Locks

Posted on by Tzvi Sklar
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Smart locks add additional security layers and convenience to users; outperforming traditional home security solutions. Although smart technology is not new to the security industry, choosing between various smart lock designs and brands can be difficult. In the current market, new brands with appealing bells and whistles are constantly surfacing. Sticking to the fundamentals and understanding what to look for in smart locks protects modern consumers from subpar digital locks.

What are the Best Android-compatible Smart Door Locks in 2022

The best smart locks integrate seamlessly into a smart home system. Top of the line smart locks compatible with Android in today’s market include:   

  • Lockly Secure Pro Deadbolt
  • August Smart Lock
  • Google Nest x Yale Smart Lock
  • Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt
  • Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro
  • Igloohome Smart Deadbolt 2S
  • Lockly Secure Pro
  • Wyze Lock
  • Narpult Smart Lock Deadbolt

Is it possible for a Locksmith to open Smart Locks?

Due to the computer programming involved, smart locks function differently than traditional locks. Smart locks do not use traditional locking mechanisms and thus cannot be serviced by traditional locksmiths. Specialty locksmiths can however install, service, and help with emergency home lockouts among other obligations.

What are the most common smart lock issues?

The most common smart lock issue is a dead battery. To avoid inconveniences, it is important to replace your lock battery once a year. Twice a year is recommended if the lock is used in high-traffic areas such as hotel rooms. Other common issues include the bolt becoming misaligned with the strike plate. A specialty locksmith can readily assess and fix these and any other issue on the smart door lock. 

What skills does a locksmith require to work with smart locks?

To work with smart locks, a locksmith must have lock reprogramming tools and computer skills. Smart locks are more technological than mechanical, but they do contain mechanical components. A locksmith can assist you in the following ways:

  • Home lockouts
  • Alarm system installation and repair
  • Garage door lock maintenance
  • Window lock repair
  • Replacement of a broken lock
  • Working with high-tech entry locks
  • Installation of mailbox locks
  • Installation of master locks
  • New lock system installation

How can a locksmith assist you with smart locks?

A locksmith updated to the latest technologies can handle smart locks with ease. Depending on your requirements, they can assist you in installing the most dependable smart lock systems. Their extensive experience in the ever-changing world of smart locks provides them with the knowledge to assist you in selecting reputable brands. They can also recommend any additional technologies you may require. They ensure that your smart lock system is properly installed and maintained to avoid future problems.

Locksmiths can handle anything related to smart lock systems, such as:

  • Card readers
  • Key-fobs
  • Biometric technologies
  • Electric shocks
  • Systems with multiple paths

Are smart locks vulnerable to hacking?

Smart locks are controlled by a computer component that is vulnerable to infiltration if improperly secured. Hackers will typically gain access to the lock via your phone or the lock’s Bluetooth. The version of your lock’s mobile app may differ from the version of your lock’s firmware, compromising the system’s integrity. They may also attempt to compromise the wifi network to which your lock is linked..

What are the benefits of smart locks?

  • Work with a variety of doors.
  • Both keys and a mobile app can be used to open it.
  • They provide advanced security via biometric readers.
  • Some locks allow you to set a time limit for access.
  • Restrict access to a select group of people.
  • Restriction of access to specific areas of the house is especially important when visitors or children are present.
  • Change permissions for individuals who may have previously accessed the premises.

What are the drawbacks of smart locks?

  • Cyber attacks are a risk.
  • Lockouts caused by a low phone battery.
  • Faulty biometric recognition could result in a lockout.
  • A faulty lock system may allow unauthorized entry or refuse to open.
  • The lock may be vulnerable due to a lack of updates.
  • Installation costs are relatively higher.
  • Unlike mechanical locks, they are powered by electricity.

Who Shouldn’t Have a Smart Lock?

Due to the level of technology involved, smart locks can be a little confusing for some people. Smart locks may not be your best option:

  • If you don’t use a smartphone or understand how they work. Smart locks may not be the best option for you. Smartphones and smart locks go hand in hand.
  • You have a limited budget. Due to their reliance on electricity, smart locks are relatively more expensive to install and operate.
  • If you don’t have a consistent internet connection. A network connects smart locks to your smartphone key. Without solid internet infrastructure, the smart locks become less effective.
  • Don’t understand the fundamentals of cyber security. Individuals who lack common cyber security knowledge are more likely to be exploited.

When should you replace traditional locks with smart locks?

When you keep misplacing your keys and have access to your mobile device, upgrading to smart locks is a viable option. Also, if you have a smart-home setup, smart locks are a great way to supplement the technology because they can be controlled by Alexa and Google Assistant.

Conclusion

If you take the necessary precautions, such as hiring a qualified locksmith, you should be able to enjoy the same, if not better, security than traditional locks. Smart locks are taking over as technology evolves and appear to be here to stay. It is only beneficial to become acquainted with the new systems as soon as possible.

CompanionLink Now Offers Outlook to iCloud Sync

Posted on by Mary Lyons
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CompanionLink Software is now offering sync from Outlook to iCloud for your Mac, Phone and iPad with sync speeds faster than ever. CompanionLink’s new iCloud sync allows you to sync from an Outlook folder and is compatible with Exchange, Pop3, and IMAP folders.

CompanionLink v10 adds direct sync from Outlook® to iCloud® for those that sync to their iPhone and iPad using iCloud. CompanionLink’s Outlook engine can swiftly and efficiently sync data from any form to Apple’s iCloud environment. This solution is an upgrade over the folder replacement option, which requires you to utilize a specific folder in Outlook, or the insecure method of publishing your iCloud calendar. CompanionLink works with Outlook 2007 and later, as well as online versions of Outlook such as Outlook.Com, Office 365, and Microsoft Exchange.

Many people use the iCloud calendar on their iPhone or Mac to stay organized. However, if you wish to link an iCloud calendar to Outlook in order to share it or simply keep track of your schedule, you must first add the calendar to Outlook. Fortunately, there are several clever methods to sync an iCloud calendar with Outlook, but most are not a straightforward process. CompanionLink will make accessing your iCloud data simple.

For those that are not familiar, Apple’s iCloud is a cloud storage service. Basic contact management options are available in iCloud Contacts. One of the most widely used email programs is Microsoft Outlook. There are two ways you would sync your contacts from iCloud to Outlook in order to view your iCloud contacts. You can manually export and import your data or use a faster and more efficient syncing service such as CompanionLink

The ability to sync iCloud contacts with Outlook for Mac or other sources and the practice of doing so helps us be more productive. CompanionLink iCloud Sync is intended for Mac users who want to sync, organize, and manage their contacts with minimal effort and maximum efficiency. It excels at a variety of tasks, including importing and exporting contacts, syncing, backing up contact information to various formats, editing, and eliminating duplicate contacts.

Sync to Apple’s iCloud is a new feature in CompanionLink 10. This enables you to sync directly from Outlook, Act!, GoldMine, and Palm Desktop to iCloud, populating Contact and Calendar data on any iPhone or iPad. This sync isn’t dependent on any Outlook folder type, therefore it’s ideal for businesses that use secure Outlook folders.

Follow this How-To Guide to find out how to begin syncing Outlook to iCloud with CompanionLink in six easy steps.

CompanionLink also offers a remote configuration service where we will set up everything for you called RunStart. CompanionLink also provides direct help from our expert technicians through Premium Support.

CompanionLink® Software, Inc. is a pioneering developer of data synchronization solutions for mobile phones and CRM software and services. They also develop a business-class CRM app called DejaOffice® for Android™, iPhone®, and iPad® devices. For 35 years, CompanionLink has helped mobilize information across devices, computers, applications, and web-based services. For more information, please visit www.companionlink.com.