3 Cybersecurity Tips for Entrepreneurs

Posted on by Bobbi Sanchez
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In 2017, a number of 24.089 records were compromised based on the average data breach records. This cost businesses over $3.62 million in a single year. At this point, it is believed that one in four online businesses can expect a data breach at some point of their existence on the online market.

Cyber security is a huge concern of people who use technology. It has received a lot of press in the past few years, which results in continuous updates and changes that aim to reduce, if not eliminate, cybercrime on the Internet. As a person who has an online business, you need not only learn what is cyber security, but also learn how to protect your online business from criminals.

Seeing how the numbers above are only expected to grow, there are some things you must do to protect your business from cyber-attacks.

1. Make Good Use of Cloud Storage

Did you know that 43% of all cyber-attacks occur on small businesses and startups? This means that, even if you’re an entrepreneur at a small business, your data is still at risk. Thanks to clouds, you can now keep your data safe from breaches and incidental losses.

However, remember that clouds aren’t always are completely safe. You’re still at risk when you store your data in a cloud format. Some of the more popular cloud options like Google Drive and Dropbox do their best to secure your content. But, no matter how hard a cloud server plants cyber security into their products, you are still vulnerable.

Therefore, you should choose the safest cloud you can find, but also provide an extra layer of encryption to protect your data. To keep it secure, you need to use various encryption SSL systems and tools. This doesn’t make a cloud service bad, but it makes you a responsible and cautious entrepreneur. Think of it this way – it is like when you order assignment help in Sydney from the most popular company, but still use a plagiarism checker to make absolutely sure of the originality.

2. Always Use Strong Passwords

A password can determine whether a cyber-criminal accesses your data or not. It’s the part of the security keychain that’s most commonly the reason for breaches. Therefore, you need to make sure that you have the most secure password on all your systems, data, e-mails, and even profiles on websites.

Your cyber security plan must include utilization of stronger passwords with complex order and more characters. Thankfully, there are plenty of tools and apps that can help you pick the best password.

3. Require Multi-Factor Authentication

To make it even harder for attackers to use your business data, require multi-factor authentication to keep your accounts protected. You can combine passwords, make use of your hardware and smartphone, and even use your fingerprint or face recognition to unlock an account.

The face recognition feature is currently under debate when it comes to security. It is really handy, yes, but a single picture of your face can unlock the account. However, taking into consideration that most cyber criminals don’t know what you look like but are only interested in business data, you can definitely consider it as one of the authentication methods. It may be necessary to use one of these top VPN providers.

Conclusion

Technology has been one of the best and most effective changes in the business world. However, all great things come with their own set of risks, which in this case, is cybercrime. As an entrepreneur, it is your obligation and job to keep the business data safe and confidential. Therefore, it is time to make some changes to implement a safer and stronger cybersecurity strategy that will give your business a better chance to thrive and survive. In the unlikely event that you still got attacked by cybercriminals even with the necessary precautions taken, look for a digital forensics company to help you.

How To Protect Your Laptop While Traveling

Posted on by Steve Jones
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There are multiple aspects to keeping a laptop safe. It does you little good to encrypt your laptop against malware if you conduct actions which leave it wide open to thieves, and vice versa. Here are a few tips to help keep your device safe and your trip relaxed.

Your laptop is probably the most expensive thing on you when you are traveling, and yet it is incredibly fragile. Few things can ruin a vacation faster than losing your laptop to theft, viruses, or other threats, especially if you are in an area on the globe where you may be unable to easily obtain a new one.

Get a New, Padded Laptop Backpack

A good laptop backpack is a major first step towards protecting your laptop from bumps, falls, water, and other damaging things. PC Magazine has a list of good backpacks, though you can check Amazon or any office or electronics store in the area.

When you are selecting a backpack, prioritize checking its padding above anything else. The backpack should have a rigid frame, and if it does not you can add backpack armor to make it sturdy. Also look for multiple compartments so that you can store just the laptop in a single compartment instead of squishing it alongside clothes and wires and other things. Go for functionality over style, as the only people you will end up attracting with a cool backpack are thieves. 

Note that you should try to get a backpack instead of a briefcase or messenger bag. A briefcase is a clear sign to unsavory individuals that something valuable is inside, and is easier to rip away from you than a properly secured backpack. It is also easy to carry a backpack on a long hike instead of awkwardly shifting a messenger bag from shoulder to shoulder.

Stay Alert

If you leave your laptop unattended in a public space for a minute or two to use the bathroom, you may as well kiss it goodbye. Laptops are prime candidates for thieves, whether it is for the value of the data in the laptop or for the device itself. And while you can lock your computer or even put a cable lock around it to deter thieves, your best weapon against them is constant vigilance.

Take your laptop with you wherever you go, instead of leaving it in the hotel. But also keep it out of sight when you can. Keep it in a backpack, or cover it with a jacket. The less people know where your laptop, the less likely anything bad will happen to it.

Backup your Data

You should be regularly backing up your data already, but it is important to do a full backup right before you go on a trip. Store all of your important data on an external hard drive or in the cloud so that you do not lose any critical data on top of losing your computer. Create a log of passwords outside the computer so that anyone who gains access cannot access personal records.

Also consider backing up your data while you are on the trip itself. If you have created any documents or files on the trip, store them on a CD or USB drive in your hotel at the end of the day and put those things in a secure place.

Use a VPN instead of public Wi-Fi

Sitting in a café in some foreign land and connecting to the Internet may seem like the epitome of how globalization brings us together, but doing anything on a public Wi-Fi can be extremely dangerous. The problem is that as CSO Online describes, hackers can easily position themselves between yourself and the connection point. This gives them access to any data you send out, such as your email passwords, business data, and credit card data. Even if you are just logging into some internet forum or checking sports scores, they can use any information to deduce personal information about you. Furthermore, hackers can also send data back and infect your computer with malware.

Consequently, you should be looking to connect online as little as possible. If you are in a situation where you absolutely must connect, use a trustworthy VPN which will encrypt your data. If you are not sure what a VPN is, cooltechzone has an excellent guide on what they are and how to set one up.

A VPN enables you to create a secure and safe pathway for you to send and also receive data. This is encrypted and allows you to unblock restricted sites such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer etc. The team at VPN Geeks has a nice article explaining exactly how a VPN works. 

Note that a VPN will not make your data completely hackproof. But the hacker will likely not want to make the effort when there are other computers sending unencrypted data. Your company should provide you with a VPN you can use when traveling abroad. Also make sure to turn wi-fi off when not using it, as the computer is still transmitting data when it is on.

Should You Leave Your Laptop at Home?

Your laptop will face numerous threats when traveling that it will never have to deal with if you leave it at home. So maybe you should not take your laptop at all.

This is especially true if you are on vacation. You are traveling to see the world and explore new sights, not stay hooked to the Internet like you are on most days. And even if you want to stay connected to some degree, Trip Savvy points out that a tablet or phone can serve just as well for someone just on vacation. The only major reason to bring a laptop along is if you may have to work when traveling.

If you really, truly, absolutely must bring a computer along, consider bringing in a cheaper laptop. Do you still have that old, slow, dying laptop lying around which you replaced with your brand new device? Take the old one instead. You may be frustrated with longer loading times, but you will not have to be looking over your shoulder all the time out of fear of losing or damaging it.

Best Phone Tracking Apps to Save Your Business

Posted on by Jessica Davison
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A company has to conduct audits, regular inventory checks, and reconcile cash regularly to prevent frauds. The Owner of the company should personally review the financial statements each month. You are responsible for protecting your business from theft and fraud of employees. With a phone tracker, you can track the activities of your employees. Here are some best GPS tracking apps for your business:

With the right App you can track your phone effortlessly!

Hubstaff (for Android and iOS)

Time tracking app of Hubstaff comes with GPS location service for businesses of all sizes. It is a powerful management tool for remote companies, sales teams, and mobile fleets. Productivity monitoring, payroll integrations, and automated reporting are some highlights of Hubstaff.

After collecting location and time with this app, you will be able to make good decisions for your business. The free Android and iOS apps can give you an accurate picture of team works. With its geofencing feature, you can easily track the performance of your teams.

ezClocker (Android and iOS)

ezClocker is a highly rated time tracking and scheduling app for small businesses. Ideal for small teams who need a simple to use app that works within their budget. One of the reason’s ezClocker is highly rated on the AppStore is it’s simple design where even a non-tech person can figure out how to use it. 

Employees can clock in with a touch of a button, view their schedule, and total hours worked. Employers use ezClocker to view timesheets, create schedules, view overtime and export time entries to process payroll. 

Timesheet Mobile (Good for Android and iOS)

With Timesheet mobile app, you can track locations and work time of your employee. Real-time synchronization with this portal can be a good idea for employers. It is easy to track the timing of incoming and outgoing schedules of your employees. The timesheet helps you to capture mileage for expenditure reports.

Labor Sync (For Android and iOS)

Use this multilingual cloud-based application to track your workers from your comfort zone. It will be easy for you to check the location of your team. Labor Sync comes with a map (interactive) to observe their workday. With this app, you can decrease the use of paper timesheets.

You will get modified and filtered reports by timeframe, job, and employee. Labor Sync allows you to see the exact time spend on every project. Feel free to track multiple employees with one device. With its messaging feature, employees can get notifications for schedule changes and meetings.

HoursTracker (Android and iOS)

With its powerful features and easy to use interface, you can easily track your earnings and time. Clock out, and clock in is adjustable as per your convenience. It can group your entries by month, week, or day. HoursTracker can automatically calculate the pay period, such as net pay estimates and overtime.

HoursTrackers allow you to track location for easy editing and entry. With its automatic location awareness, overtime, filters, tags, and time reached alerts; you can keep an eye on the performance of your workers. This app will give you notifications of someone’s departure and arrival. It can send necessary notifications to users.

TSheets (Android and iOS)

Do you need a flexible app to track time? TSheets can be a reliable solution. You will get intuitive experience with changing job codes, clocking function and management, and monitoring actions. With its GPS functionality and background harmonization technology, it can provide you with necessary information without draining your battery. You can get a map of daily activities to increase your visualization.

Timr (Windows, BlackBerry, Android, and iOS)

Timr helps you to track working time on your project. It is necessary to track your remote employees. This app emphasis on time tracking. The mobile apps allow you to handle GPS tracking. Mobile and web apps can sync consistently to provide users with updated data.

Gleeo (Good for Android)

For efficient time tracking, Gleeo can be a reliable app. The reliable interface and touchscreens make it a user-friendly app. Time tracking is easy with Gleeo. You can easily access reports and export them via Bluetooth or email. Gleeo offers unlimited projects along with an animated timeline. It is available in light themes and different colors.   

Google Calendar Down – How to sync Outlook without Google

Posted on by Wayland Bruns
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Google Calendar and G-Suite Calendar is experiencing a worldwide outage.

This is a great time to remind people that “big data” has a problem. Google, Microsoft and Apple want to tie you into their corporate cloud ecosystem. The flaw is that it will put your business down if you depend on them.

There is an alternative.

CompanionLink is a vendor of non cloud-based tools. We have a cloud sync system, but it’s only role is to transport your data. With our tools your data is entirely contained on your PC, your Android Phone, your iPhone and your iPad. So when the data network is down, or when your internet is connected, you can continue to add, schedule, complete and make notes. When your phone connects later, the sync will “catch up” to all your devices.

DejaOffice for Android features Android Widgets that give a great preview of your day today.

DejaOffice for iPhone has a highly secure data model and lets you store hidden data in your database. This is great for password or other confidential information.

DejaOffice for PC offers an array of multi-user and secure options, as well as Live Windows Widgets that let you add events and notes without opening any App.

When you need to move data from Outlook to your Phone, keep in mind that CompanionLink and DejaOffice can do this without sharing your data with Google, Microsoft or Apple.

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How Adware Affects Your Computer

Posted on by Shawn Abraham
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While on your Computer or mobile device, you notice an annoying pop-up advertisement, and regardless of how often you close it, it keeps reappearing. Chances are its Adware.

Adware is short for advertisement and Software. It is an advertising-supported Software. It is the name given to programs that are designed to display advertisements on your Computer, redirect your search to advertising websites, and collect data about you. For example, it receives a history of sites the user visits, and this sends this information back to the ad company. The information collected is often used to deliver custom advertisements to you.

Adware is a financially supported Software, and most times, developers bundle them with other files that you’ve downloaded. They might be malicious in nature so you must run a scan using Adware Removal tool. Sometimes they are not harmful, but they have the potential to be, and users see them as an invasion of privacy and distraction.

How Adware is Installed

Are you in a situation where specific advertisements keep showing up on your Computer, whether in any of your browsers or sites you’ve never seen ads before? If you answer ‘yes’ to this question, your system might be affected by Adware that injects ads into websites as you browse.

Aside from getting rid of Adware; a big question you might be asking is how did it get there initially?

Adware overtime has been responsible for many successful and prevalent programs including AOL instant messenger, Endora and many more. A method in which Adware can get into your system is when you download a free program. Other times, producers of software bundler pay for ads to appear when you search for specific Software. These adverts lead you to download a software bundler instead of the free, neat Software you were hoping for, leaving you with many ad injections.

Another method which is as well insidious occurs when you’re visiting a website. It doesn’t matter if it’s a trusted site or a sketchy one. Whichever way, your device can be infected with Adware. This way takes advantage of the vulnerability of your browser. The Adware burrows in, start collecting information, redirects you to malicious sites and pop up more advertisement.

How Adware affects your Computer

Sometimes, adware fall under the category of malicious software ‘malware.’ Adware is often harmless, but are now used in bad manners to exploit your system. Below are ways Adware can affect your Computer.

Slows down your Computer

The first warning of malicious Adware is the deterioration in your Computer’s performance. Adware has a reputation of engaging resources and in turn, hurting performance and speed.  Adware runs continuously in the background without your knowledge and uses valuable resources such as memory processor speed.

Increase Bandwidth Usage

Adware does this by downloading unwanted stuff. When you authorize the download of Software, new Software is downloaded and installed simultaneously. Many adware programs enter into your Computer unknowingly. These programs invade your Computer and run in your Computer’s background, eating up bandwidth. If you notice a constant use of your internet, but you can’t find any program regularly using this bandwidth on your Computer. It is likely Adware.

Make Computing Experience Worse

Adware is an annoyance to most computer users. For the majority of people, the primary problem with Adware is its ability to display advertisements in a pop-up form whenever it wants. These adverts grab your attention, and if you click on them, they install Software on your system without your permission. These installed Software keeps displaying adverts related to whatever you have clicked before. This pop up over a user’s work can plague the user.

Costs Money

Shopping is now a lot easier with the availability of online stores. The idea that one can buy anything from the comfort of their home is soothing. Right products, reasonable prices, and new offers/discounts are some of those things that make online shopping attractive. However, there are dangers associated with online shopping. Adware throws fake advertisements for an online store at a user. These ads are illegitimate, and most times, they offer a ridiculously low price of an item or a service that is hard to pass up on. Once a user clicks on it, a malicious user can steal their info (credit card info, for example).

Invades Privacy

Another negative side is an invasion of privacy. Some adware programs can download and install spyware. These programs can capture user personal information, and they send confidential information to advertisers or criminals. Additionally, they can collect browsing history and send it to ad managers.

How to Get Rid of Adware

Look out for suspicious/unknown name in installed programs and remove it.

As discussed earlier, most pop-up ads install a program on your Computer. Though not as a general rule, you’ll need to check for malicious programs to remove it.

Navigate your way to the programs screen and scroll through the list of currently installed programs. Look for recently installed unknown programs, any other unwanted or unknown program and uninstall from your Computer.

Depending on what application has installed the adware infection, the program may have a different name on your Computer. If you cannot find any unwanted or unknown programs on your Computer, then you can proceed with this next step.

Look out for suspicious/unknown name in installed browser extensions and remove it.

Adware generally bombards web browsers with ads. An important step is to look out for unknown extension and uninstall it.

Besides, you can reset Internet Explorer settings or other browsers to return them to the state they were in on the first installation on your PC. This reset feature fixes many issues while saving essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history, and open tabs.

Install MalwareFox

As easy as the above steps look like, things are not completely easy in most cases. There are situations in which these programs might be hiding deep in system setting and prove challenging to remove.

In cases like this, it is reasonable to scan the system with adware removal tool like MalwareFox. MalwareFox performs deep cleaning, detects, and cleans Adware; removing annoying ads, toolbar, and search in a click.

Additionally, MalwareFox restores performance by deleting adware infections which engages resources. With this method, there’s a gain of lost power of the computer system.

Is Privacy a Luxury Good?

Posted on by Wayland Bruns
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Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently opined that “privacy cannot be a luxury good offered only to people who can afford to buy premium products and services” (NYT – May 7 2019). This bears a look at whether privacy is free, or something to be paid.

Read the comments of the article to see through the statement. Google claims to respect privacy, at the same time as working hard to undermine it. No one is fooled when it comes to Google and Privacy; if you use their free services, you have no right to stop them from monetizing that service by selling your data.

Pay for Cloud, Pay for Privacy

At CompanionLink we offer DejaCloud as a paid service. As a paid service, our sole source of income on DejaCloud is the money that is paid. We also offer Software as a paid service. And our only source of income is what people pay to us.

The has come an expectation from some people that software should be free. Vendors like Google and Facebook push free service as a model. But they would not be corporations if they had no income, so you need to watch carefully where that income is coming from.

Apple and Microsoft are not far removed from the fray. Although Apple charges for their phones, they offer free iCloud service. There are serveral reports that Apple monetizes iCloud service by sharing your data with Google. Microsoft has also spoken clearly about monetizing Windows 10 by tracking your purchases.

At CompanionLink we have a simple love for how software used to work. You buy it, you own it. No one should have ulterior motives in selling your data. We make upgrades available and send marketing to our customers as a way to keep our revenue stream steady and provide needed support to our customers. When they get a new PC or new phone, they may not need to pay at that time for an upgrade. But the average of all upgrades has to be there for our team to be able to provide the needed products and services.

At least with CompanionLink and DejaCloud, your data is secure, and not being sold to the highest bidder. We hope through our basic product revenue to stay that way for the future.

FaceTime Stuck On Connecting: What To Do To Troubleshoot Issues?

Posted on by Michael Jones
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Since its first launch, FaceTime has proven to be a convenient and simple way to stay in touch with your family and friends. It is one of the top-rated tools for communication used by millions of people all over the globe.

Unfortunately, despite its popularity, sometimes the app fails. Such issues often catch users by surprise, leaving them without connection. This situation can be rather frustrating. What to do in this case? Our article will give you the answer!

Simple Ways To Deal With The Problem

If you have found the application not responding or stuck on connecting or your iPhone 13 stuck on screens, chances are it is an internal failure of the app itself. Thus, your main task is to define the causes of the issues you’ve faced and find possible solutions. In the guide below, we will tell you about the main steps you could undertake to find the reason behind the problem and fix it. The solutions are offered in a special sequence from the simplest to the most complex ones, so make sure you try them in the same order!

1. Restart

Whenever you face any sort of issues, the first thing to try is to restart your computer or another device. If it’s only the application itself that is not responding, you can reboot your device the traditional way. Otherwise, you may need to use special tools.

You can try doing a force restart, otherwise known as a hard reset.

In any case, this is the first step to take. After the reboot is complete, go back to the application to see if the issue is solved and if not, go on to the next step.

2. Make sure you haven’t missed an OS update

Since FaceTime is one of the default apps on iOS devices, it may work improperly when your OS version becomes too outdated. This means that if you find FaceTime stuck on connecting screen, you might want to upgrade to the newest OS. This will likely solve the problem. In fact, this tip can apply to all the other system or app failures.

3. Reactivate the application

Sometimes, connection failures can be resolved by reactivating the app. To do this, go to your Settings and find FaceTime tab. Open it and turn it off. Then turn it back off and wait until the activation is completed. Once you do this, go back to the home screen and try launching the app now to check if it works.

4. Check your settings

Sometimes, you may be unable to make or receive calls when you are using FaceTime not with Wi-Fi, but with a cellular connection. Why does this happen? Most often, the reason for such failure is just the wrong settings. To check if it is the case, go to your device’s settings and find the section that manages Cellular connection settings. Then, find a tab called Use Cellular Data For and make sure that you allow the app to work when you are not connected to Wi-Fi.

5. Reset settings

One more effective method requires you to resetting all network settings. This action will not remove your files from the device, so you shouldn’t be worried about that. It will only delete all the previous network settings including VPN, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

To try this method, go to your phone’s settings and navigate to the General tab. Next, find the Reset section and pick an option that resets only network settings. Wait for the process to be completed, connect to Wi-Fi again and see if FaceTime works now.

6. Try a VPN

Planet VPN is a completely free VPN service that ensures unrestricted traffic and connection speed. A VPN will allow access to music streaming websites, sport events, games, social media, messengers, and more, while having a safe connection.

Completely free VPN service that provides unlimited traffic and connection speeds; Improves online security and privacy for everyone; The product has received excellent reviews in all app stores and works with all popular devices.

7. The Last Option

What if any of these steps help you? It may be worth your time to check out the best platform to stream on for new options that will work for you.

In this case, it might be a problem with the device itself. It may be worth your time to check out the best platform to stream on or contact the iPhone repair center in your neighborhood. Your last option would be to take your device for a repair.

FaceTime

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3 Best Ways to Sync Outlook Calendar with iPhone

Posted on by Amit Chauhan
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Outlook is Microsoft’s very own e-mail service. It comes bundled as an integral part of the Microsoft work suite, a platform that enables Microsoft users to efficiently manage the calendar, emails, and contacts. Although Apple is known for exclusivity (from the open-source point of view), still Outlook happens to be hugely popular with iOS users. And what is interesting is that Outlook allows iPhone users to sync their calendar events to other devices. This little boon of a functionality is unknown to many iPhone users, while others seem to be in the dark regarding how set it up and use it. If you are an active iPhone user and the topic at hand interests you, read on to know how to sync outlook calendar with iphone. We present here the top three ways of doing so and additionally, we also let you know an alternative to these three ways. So, let’s get started.

1. Add Outlook Calendar to iPhone with iTunes

If you use iTunes to manage your iPhone, this method is meant for you.

Step 1 – Connect your iPhone to your computer using the USB cable.

Step 2 – Launch iTunes if it doesn’t automatically pop up.

Step 3 – On the left pane, click the device icon of your iPhone and then click the “Info” tab.

Step 4 – Tick on the “Sync calendars with” option and from the drop down menu, select Outlook.

Step 5 – Next you may choose to either sync “All Calendars” or only “Selected Calendars”.

Step 6 – Click “Apply” and you’re done

2. Add Outlook Calendar to iPhone with iCloud

If the previous option didn’t work for you and you’re still wondering as to how to sync outlook calendar with iphone, you could try your hand at Apple’s web-based cloud storage i.e. iCloud which allows users to back up their iPhone data. Let’s see how.

Step 1 – If you don’t already have iCloud installed on your PC, just download and install it from Apple’s official site.

Step 2 – Convert your entire Outlook folder into an iCloud folder. iCloud uses it’s own unique folder system.

Step 3 – Check mark all the items that you’d like to sync (including calendars).

Step 4 – Click “Apply” and that is it.

3. Add Exchange Calendar to iPhone with iPhone Mail App

This option allows you to make use of your iPhone to add your Office 365 account to it. Note: This only works if you use Office 365 Exchange folders on your PC. This will not work with IMAP or Pop3 Accounts. Here’s how.

Step 1 – Open Settings on your iPhone.

Step 2 – Click on Password & Accounts.

Step 3 – Next click on Add Account and tap outlook.com.

Step 4 – Enter your Office 365 account credentials.

Step – Grant the app the permission to sync your data when prompted.

Step 5 – In the list of accounts, tap Outlook.

Step 6 – Choose what you want to sync with your Outlook account (ensure to enable Calendars).

4. Choose direct sync Outlook with iPhone

Finally, here’s the best alternative regarding how to sync outlook calendar with iphone in case none of these ways is fit for you. CompanionLink’s iPhone Outlook sync software allows for fast, easy and direct syncing from Outlook to iPhone. Probably the best tool to sync Outlook data to your iPhone, CompanionLink is safe, secure and trusted by numerous iPhone users.

Do give it a try and enjoy hassle-free syncing of your Outlook calendar with your iPhone. If none of the above options help you resolve the issue with syncing to Outlook, you may have a problem with the functionality of your phone. In this case, we advise you to contact the local phone technicians immediately.

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How to Securely Sync Your Phone Calendar and Contacts

Posted on by Amit Chauhan
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Smartphones: Indispensable tools but beware of data loss

Our phones have become more like e-wallets or, let’s say, e-storage devices, akin to a vault where we have an ocean of all our important as well as ‘not-so-important’ data stored. In face of such a scenario, could you imagine losing either your phone or your data? That would be nothing short of a nightmare, wouldn’t it? Well, not anymore! With the option to synchronize all your data across devices, the potential loss of valuable data is increasingly becoming a prospect least likely. But wait, that’s not reason enough to snub the possibility of losing your precious data because syncing usually requires a third-party tool and that’s what the catch is. Not all third-party tools and software available out there for syncing your phone data and contacts do what they claim to. What you therefore need is a reliable tool that can sync your data across devices with entirety.

Sync Android with Outlook without sharing your data with Google, iCloud or Microsoft.

CompanionLink: Providing trusted syncing solutions for a range of devices

With a swarm of third-party tools available for syncing data, finding out the best one could be a major hassle. The hassle magnifies if you are looking to sync your outlook data and contacts wherein you need to use Exchange in order to send your valuable contacts’ data and calendar data securely to your phone. What then is the solution? Well, CompanionLink Software Inc. is a US based software firm that aims to bridge all gaps that exist between third-party sync tools and a seamless data syncing experience. CompanionLink’s Android sync software is perhaps the best tool out there to sync outlook contacts with android and the best part of the story is that with CompanionLink’s software, you do not have to use Exchange when you sync outlook contacts with android; just USB or WiFi or Bluetooth or DejaCloud is all that you need as CompanionLink offers direct sync using these options. Now that’s what is called ‘delivering what is promised’.

Secure syncing: That’s what CompanionLink stands for

Whether you are an iPhone an Android lover, what ought to concern you is the fact that you are constantly sharing your data with either Apple or Google or Microsoft. Does that ring a bell in your mind regarding the security of your data? If it does, you have another strong reason to try CompanionLink as it offers fast and secure sync from your PC to your Phone. Another problem faced by users of licensed tools for effectively syncing data over devices is that the license of the tool belongs to the PC. When one buys a new computer, a new license of the tool needs to be purchased. Thankfully, that’s not the case with CompanionLink. The license for any of CompanionLink’s tools is for you and not for your PC. CompanionLink uses your email address to register the software on a new computer. Now that’s pretty smart, isn’t it?

So, that brings us to the conclusion that in order to do away with a multitude of hassles associated with third party sync software, CompanionLink is the answer. With CompanionLink and the seamless experience it offers, you no longer have to depend on just any untrusted application to sync outlook contacts with android.

CompanionLink for Outlook
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How to Sync Outlook Contacts with Your Brand New Google Pixel 3a/3aXL

Posted on by Amit Chauhan
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DejaOffice App on the Pixel works like Outlook on the PC

To sync Outlook to Pixel 3a, and have Contacts, Calendar, Tasks and Notes all one one spot, you can use the DejaOffice App.

  1. From Google Play Store, install DejaOffice on your Pixel 3a or Pixel 3a XL
  2. On your PC, download CompanionLink for Outlook on your PC.
  3. Configure both for DejaCloud Sync
  4. Watch your Outlook Contacts and Calendar appear on your phone.

DejaOffice is Free.  CompanionLink runs on a two-week trial.

Samsung Pixel 3a is the latest flagship from the world leader of Smartphones. There’s nothing faster or more effective.  Here I have an argument with Apple.  With iPhone there is no Widgets, and Widgets are so useful, you’ll never catch me using a phone without them.

What is a widget?  A widget shows App information on the phone desktop.  A widget allows me to quickly see my day view, and my contact list – without opening an app.  I can quickly tap on the location and get to my next appointment.  No search, no scroll.  Just one tap and I’m in maps.  One tap and I can call or sms.  Automatically updated all day.

Special features of DejaOffice:

  • Time zone management, so when you land your Calendar doesn’t go wonky
  • Calendar Colors that match Outlook
  • Templates that save time entering new Appointments and Tasks
  • Persistent alarms to be sure I don’t miss anything.
  • Recurring tasks compatible with Outlook
  • Optional:  Franklin Covey task priorities  A1, B2, C99
  • Works same on Android and iPhone, Phones and Tablets.

How to Sync Outlook Contacts with Android: Use CompanionLink for easy and secure sync from Outlook to your Pixel 3a phone. This is a better system than Google, who sells your data, or Microsoft who hosts your data on their exchange server. Here are some setup guides for CompanionLink sync:

CompanionLink for Outlook
Average User Rating:
Average rating: 4.83 out of 5 based on 659 reviews.
Free 14 day trial. Price $14.95 3-Mo Subs - $69.95 One-time License.

CompanionLink Express updated for Salesforce Outlook Sync

Posted on by Wayland Bruns
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CompanionLink has updated CompanionLink Express for to better support Outlook Sync with Salesforce. Salesforce recently discontinued Salesforce for Outlook Sync. CompanionLink Express is a drop-in replacement for the discontinued product. The new solution from Salesforce is to use their Office 365 and Lightning Integration, which is not an option for people who use POP3, IMAP, or Standalone Outlook folders or who use a private Exchange server that cannot connect to Salesforce.

CompanionLink Express – Sync Salesforce with Outlook on your PC

CompanionLink has long supported Outlook to Salesforce Sync using our CompanionLink Professional product. Today we are moving this capability to our lower priced CompanionLink Express product, and re-launching our landing page for this product.

CompanionLink Express can synchronize Outlook 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and Office 365 with Salesforce. Contacts, Calendar and Tasks are synchronized. CompanionLink also synchronizes Salesforce Accounts to the Outlook Contact list (with the notation “Acct”) and Salesforce Opportunities to the Outlook Task list (with the notation “Oppt”). More information can be found in the setup guide.

This product is needed by people who use Outlook folders that are on Exchange, like POP3 and IMAP folders, or where the Exchange permissions on the folder are such that Salesforce cannot access it. In these cases, a PC side program is required.

CompanionLink Express costs $79.95 for a one-time purchase, or if you like a recurring charge $19.95 once every three months. You can download a 14 day trial from this page: https://www.companionlink.com/salesforce/outlook/

CompanionLink Express
Average User Rating:
Average rating: 4.83 out of 5 based on 659 reviews.
Free 14 day trial. Price $19.95 3-Month Sub - $99.95 One-time License.

What Your Remote Employees Can do to Protect Your Network

Posted on by Alex Mitchell
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6 Tips for Remote Employees

Thanks to increased use of technology in work, it has enabled a lot of persons to work less and less from the office. What this means is that we now have more persons working from the comfort of their homes, a coffee shop, hotel or some other remote location of their choosing.

Despite the many advantages of having employees work remotely, these advantages come at a cost, usually, in the form of data security. Normally, having your employees work in a traditional office space means you can monitor what comes in and goes out of your company’s network – the IT team can catch viruses early, password changes can be forced upon employees using auto-reminders, and regular security checks means you catch issues early and deal with them.

This ability to work from anywhere gives employees the needed flexibility, and for the employers, it means they can enjoy the services of talents from around the world without having to worry about the overhead occasioned from staffing.

However, with remote employees, you lose all of this control, and it leaves your network open to virus attacks, cyber leaks and all other forms of cyber threats. When things like this happen, financial, legal and reputational problems may result. Therefore, you need to have a system in place to protect your network when you have employees working remotely. You employees should follow the things below to protect your network.

• PROTECT THEIR DEVICES AT ALL TIMES

Often, most data-stealing malware that affects devices arrive via the web or email and to reduce the chances of a security breach you have to restrict access to personal web browsing and email. However, enforcing this is costly and can be difficult. Therefore, to protect your network, you have to ensure your employees use the latest versions of all applications and install security patches as soon as they are released. You can also manage things from your end by activating automatic updates from software makers.

• LIMIT THE USE OF PUBLIC WI-FI

Internet on public Wi-Fi is provided from unknown servers, and this means security is not guaranteed. This makes the network susceptible to hackers since anyone can access it; therefore, you should have a standing order which forbids your employees from sending or receiving sensitive information over public Wi-Fi. As with public Wi-Fi, so too is cyber café, your employees should not conduct company business with them.

• EMPLOY CLOUD SERVICES

By employing cloud-based applications in your office tasks, it allows your employees to work from any location and transfers the burden of managing data security to the cloud service providers who usually are more equipped to handle it.

The cloud-based service provider gives you safe virtual storage and working space while your employees manage passwords. You should ensure your employees use strong passwords as this helps keep data secure. In fact, you can employ cloud applications to secure employees access to the web, and there are quite a number of companies which offer these services.

• LIMIT THE USE OF EXTERNAL STORAGE DEVICES

External storage devices like USBs can easily be misplaced so your remote employees should restrict their use and if they must be used to house only non-sensitive information.

Beyond this, USB devices can be used by hackers to install malware on your computer so your remote employees should avoid using a friend or stranger’s USB on their laptop.

• GET EDUCATION ON SECURITY TRAINING

Some companies may be tempted to give employees the benefit of the doubt by assuming they know how to manage security. However, this should not be the case as employees should be mandated to take up basic security courses which would teach them how to handle suspicious emails and links and to understand what a secure password should be like. It is important employees understand that work computers are for the company and not for personal use, therefore, should be treated as such.

• INSTALL ENCRYPTION SOFTWARE

Lost and stolen devices can pose a source of danger in the wrong hands, but you can lessen this risk with encryption software which bars unauthorized users from accessing the device.

Also, you can install remote wipes on your devices so data on them can be erased in case they go missing.

In conclusion, although remote workers can save the company money in terms of expenditure on overhead, they can also pose a risk to the firm especially if they use office devices for personal use. Therefore as a company, you have to put measures in place to handle staff remotely while remote workers should do their bit in adhering with safety measures.

Case Study: Android Outlook USB Sync causing Windows Sockets Error

Posted on by Wayland Bruns
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A customer contacted us this week who had been using a competing Android Outlook Sync product. A Windows Update caused the sync to fail with a Windows Sockets error.

We recommended CompanionLink for Outlook, which can synchronize directly from Outlook to Android using a USB Cable. There are a number of Outlook Android sync products, but only a few companies will handle it like old Palm Hotsync from PC to Phone using a USB cable.

The customer was in a hurry, having already spent hours on the problem. So we recommended our RunStart service. With this service a technician logs into the computer to set up the software. The sync needs to match up the Contacts and Calendar items that are already on the phone, so it is helpful for an experienced technician to watch for any problems with duplicate data.

It is not uncommon to see duplicate data when switching from one sync product to another. The reason is that your data is already on both sides of the sync. So if there is any formatting changes, a computer product may not recognize similar contact and calendar data. CompanionLink 8 contains a dedupe utility that can quickly clear duplicates from Outlook and your Phone. There is no extra charge for this function.

CompanionLink offers a competitive upgrade for anyone who has purchased a product from one of our competitors. You can purchase the “Upgrade” price, even if you are buying from CompanionLink for the first time. Here is a link for a Competitive Upgrade to CompanionLink for Outlook.

Here is a link with added RunStart service, and an additional $10 off your purchase – total $78.95. With this service, you will be on a fresh new solution in just a few minutes, and ready to carry on your normal day’s business.

CompanionLink for Outlook
Average User Rating:
Average rating: 4.83 out of 5 based on 659 reviews.
Free 14 day trial. Price $14.95 3-Mo Subs - $69.95 One-time License.

WSJ Shockingly Good Phone article features Nokia 7.1

Posted on by Wayland Bruns
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The Wall Street Journal published a great article this week called: Shockingly Good Smartphones You Can Get for $350 or Less (WSJ -Paywall).

It makes a point that we tend to think of first-run phones as being $1000. But that there is a variety of Mid-Priced phones that are pretty effective.

The main recommendation is Nokia 7.1 which happens to be one of my favorite phones. As the Article points out, it is a good modern phone running Android Oreo 8.1, with a nice screen, good camera and is pretty free of the bloatware that comes on Android devices.

The other featured phones in the article are the Lenovo Moto G7, and the Xiaomi Pocophone F1.

For all the mid-range phones, you can download DejaOffice from the Android App Store, and easily set up CompanionLink for Outlook to synchronize Outlook to the phone. DejaOffice for Android features widgets for the Android home screen to show your calendar, Category colors on Calendar, and integrated Tasks and Contacts so your whole work desktop is in one place on your phone.

It’s great to see Nokia is back to making great main stream phones again!

CompanionLink for Outlook
Average User Rating:
Average rating: 4.83 out of 5 based on 659 reviews.
Free 14 day trial. Price $14.95 3-Mo Subs - $69.95 One-time License.

Fabulous Ways to Make Money from Your Smartphone

Posted on by James Hunt
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These days people are looking for more convenience as well as plenty more choice when it comes to improving their financial situation. A lot of people are utilising technology in a bid to make money, and there are plenty of side gigs that can be enjoyed in this sense as well. Making money from your smartphone is something that is becoming more and more a reality, and you need to look at what you can do to embrace this.

It is essential that you look at the different avenues available in this regard, and this is something that you need to make sure you get right immediately. There are a lot of different ways in which you can make money using your smartphone, and this is something you need to keep in mind right now – check out these examples to help get you started today.

Day Trading

If you feel like you have a good understanding of the stock market, you might like to consider something like day trading. This is an option that is readily accessible from your phone, but you need to be careful because this can be very volatile, and there is a chance you could lose a lot of money. If you are a skilled day trader, and you set yourself limits, then this is a good way for you to make money using your smartphone.

Business Apps

There are plenty of business apps you can use for your smartphone that will help you to run your company more effectively. In the modern world, running a business has become a popular choice, and this is something you should look into. What better way to make money than by running your own business right now? Make use of the right apps in order to help you make the best possible choice when it comes to making money using your phone.

Surveys

Surveys rank among the best money making apps out there, and they are a great way of generating some extra cash without having to spend a lot of money or work very hard. Sure, you’re not going to earn megabucks by doing this, but you will be able to supplement your earnings with a bit of additional cash, and it’s a pretty easy way of making money as well.

Gaming

There are plenty of things you can do with your smartphone that will help you to earn more money, and gaming is one of the best. Make sure you do as much as possible to understand what it takes to make money from gaming. If you can get this right, you should have no problems being able to earn while you play, and do so on the move as well.

These are just a few of the fabulous tips you need to consider when you are looking at the best ways of making extra money when you use your smartphone. There is a lot that you can do in this regard, and it makes sense to embrace this wherever you can. Have a look at the different ideas and try to use them to get the best out of your phone, and start making more casin in the process.

Case Study: Migrate from Microsoft BCM to DejaOffice PC CRM for Outlook

Posted on by Wayland Bruns
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Recently we were approached by a customer who used to use BCM, and wanted a solution that worked with Office 365.

The customer had used Microsoft Business Contact Manager from 2013 to 2018. They had Contacts, Accounts and Communication History. This customer had tried a migration tool to move BCM contacts to Office 365 contacts. This tool was not successful. (CompanionLink Professional can move BCM Contacts to Outlook contacts using a folder-to-folder sync.)

At the time the customer contacted us, they had not used BCM for many months. So the BCM database was out of date.

Our new product DejaOffice PC CRM for Outlook adds certain CRM functions to Office 365 Outlook (Outlook 2019). Among these functions are History Also, DejaOffice can import from older CRM systems like Microsoft BCM which was discontinued in 2016.

The customer also purchased Premium Support, which is a service where our technician could log into his computer and set everything up.

What we did was Sync the old BCM database to DejaCloud. We moved the Accounts, Contacts and Communication History. Then on the new computer, the customer installed DejaOffice PC CRM for Outlook. In addition, the customer uses a Mobile Phone and DejaOffice has the complete database there also.

The entire operation of moving the old database to DejaCloud, and sync to the new PC took our technician about 30 minutes. Most of this time was checking the data each step of the way. The actual sync time was about five minutes for both sync phases.

Now, the customer can make a new contact from an Outlook email. When they look up a Contacts, they an see the communications history imported from the old PC. And they have Caller ID and History on their Phone.

Here is a link to order this same service – DejaOffice PC CRM for Outlook along with Premium installation and one year of support. Give us a call at (503)243-3400 to schedule an installation or talk about your needs.

DejaOffice PC CRM Standalone
Average User Rating:
Average rating: 4.83 out of 5 based on 659 reviews.
Free 14 day trial. Price $69.95