Protect Your Computers from Being Hacked!
Computer hackers have been in the news again, breaking into big company systems and wreaking havoc with websites, customer information and general operations.
Small businesses aren't immune to such attacks. Experts say nine out of ten businesses have been hit by some form of cyber crime! And the consequences can be even more disruptive to smaller operations. Some ways to foil the hackers:
1. Have a secure password strategy.
Use a different password for each major login you use. Make sure these passwords are different from ones you have with personal accounts. And change passwords regularly, especially when someone leaves the company. Search online for good password management applications that can simplify these tasks.
2. Set access rules.
You'd be surprised at how many people freely broadcast their Wi-Fi addresses without restricting access to their desktops. Be sure to activate settings that restrict access--just to a drop box, for example. Ask a techie for help on this if you need to.
3. Keep anti-virus programs updated.
Make sure your anti-virus program is set to update automatically. Anti-virus software companies stay on the lookout for new threats and develop code updates to combat them.
4. Beware of all e-mail attachments.
Hackers often use attachments to deliver computer viruses. Only open attachments you're expecting to receive. Even if the e-mail comes from an address you know, check to make sure that person sent it. Hackers can easily steal e-mail addresses. Look out for e-mails sent to large lists of people you don't know.
5. Back up often.
Backups will protect you from a great deal of damage from hackers--plus fires and natural disasters. With a backup, you can quickly recover software, files and website content, losing only data entered since the last backup. And you'll be able to keep operating while systems are fixed. Back up hard drives at least once or twice a day and keep copies offsite if you can.
6. Delete software you don't use.
Over time, computers collect all kinds of plug-ins, and some are security risks. Delete any plug-ins or other software code you don't need or use.
7. Don't forget physical security.
Make sure no one walks away with your computers or hard drives. Lock your office door if you'll be away for a while, or install lockable laptop cables. And do not attach unknown hardware to your computer. Iranian nuclear engineers found some thumb drives in the parking lot, brought them into their high security workspace, plugged them in and watched the Stuxnet virus take down the operation!
8. Get cyber insurance.
Cyber risks are not included on standard insurance policies, but coverage is available. You can insure for a range of computer risks: business interruption, lost income, denial of service, crisis management, privacy and security liability, media or Web content liability, even cyber extortion. Policies are offered by many large insurance companies, so there's no excuse not to be covered.
Protecting your operation isn't difficult; you just have to commit a little time to addressing the issues. But a little time spent now can pay big dividends in the future.... Enjoy a great month!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Smart Phone Security Tips . . . Use a password. It takes a few extra seconds to sign on, but it's worth it to protect your privacy and keep spyware from watching you. For a guide that covers the common smart phone systems, click here. Be smart. Assume you might lose the phone (horrors!). Don't store bank account, credit card numbers or other sensitive information. Depending on the system, you can download a tool that will help you locate your lost phone and wipe out the information. Choose apps selectively. Download applications from sites you trust and read the user reviews to learn from the experiences of others. Don't click on links or call phone numbers sent in emails and text messages. People are three times more likely to click on a link on their phone because they tend to rush. Search for "mobile security" in the Android Market or iTunes store for an app that will stop you from inadvertently downloading viruses. Be wary of public Wi-Fi networks. Eavesdroppers may be able to see your data on web-enabled phones. Only use wireless networks you trust. |
Thursday, August 18, 2011
6 Tips for Timing a Real Estate Purchase
How Fence-Sitters Can Get a Jump on the Competition
In mid-June, interest rates on home loans were lower than they were a year ago. However, this failed to ignite the housing market. Many buyers and homeowners would like to make a move, but some find it impossible to make a decision. They are commonly referred to as fence-sitters, poised to make a move when the time seems right.The housing market is unlikely to turn around soon, but this doesn't mean that now is not a good time to buy or sell. It depends on your personal situation and market conditions in the area where you plan to buy or sell.
Become an expert on your local market. Knowing a good deal when you see it or what price to ask if you decide to sell depends on having a good understanding of how much properties are selling for in your neighborhood.
While you're trying to decide what to do, line up a team that can help you accomplish your goal when you decide to move ahead. You can do this by researching online, attending open houses in the area and asking a real estate agent to keep you on top of market fluctuations.
Your decision to buy should be based on your personal financial situation, not on the national or global economy. For example, if you bought during the bubble market and are now getting divorced, you'll probably sell for less than you paid.
But, if the house is too expensive for one to support, it may be cheaper in the long run to cut your losses and sell now. No one knows how long the housing downturn will last. Prices could move lower before rebounding. This is not an ordinary recession.
HOUSE-HUNTING TIP: Don't get caught up following the herd. Just because most people in your area aren't buying or are having difficulty selling doesn't mean that you shouldn't make a move. Just make sure if you're a buyer that you have job security, a relatively healthy economy in your local area and a plan to stay put for at least 10 years.
The housing market will be volatile going forward. Good economic news will help fence-sitters make the decision to get serious about moving. Bad news of any sort can cause the market to stall. To take advantage of the upticks in the market, you need to be prepared in advance.
Find a good local real estate agent to work with who understands your needs, and wait to buy or sell until the time is right for you. It could take you a year or so to make the final decision. Some agents don't have the patience to stick it out.
Select an agent who will educate you about the market and the idiosyncrasies of the home-sale business in your area. Ask to be kept informed about sales in the area. Many agents are set up to do this electronically, which is an easy way to keep you informed without taking up a lot of the agent's time.
One of the most difficult aspects of the current home-sale business is financing the transaction. Find a loan agent or mortgage broker who is a real professional, has been in the business for years and who understands what current underwriters will require from you to process your loan.
Assemble all the financial documents you'll need for loan approval even before you start looking. Ask your agent or broker to have your loan package previewed by an underwriter so that you know beforehand if there are any problems.
THE CLOSING: Remedy these in advance so that they don't cause last-minute delays in closing.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
5 Tips for Buying a Home with a Family
For many people, finding a new home is more than a matter of personal taste and individual finance – it’s a family affair. I’ve bought a house as a newlywed couple and then again with a child, but buying one now with my three boys would certainly be a different experience. For those buying a new home to accommodate a growing family, it is an exciting step in one’s life, but it can also be a balancing act.
A recent survey released by Coldwell Banker Real Estate found that 65 percent of homeowners who are also parents purchased their first home before becoming pregnant or within one year of their child’s birth. Wow, that’s a lot going on in a person’s life at one time, but it makes sense. It isn’t until you have a child that you realize just how much space this tiny, little person takes up so that apartment or condo you bought won’t cut it with a munchkin crawling around.
For those consumers who are in a position like this, Coldwell Banker has put together five tips for buying a home with a family in mind:
- Proximity to family. Nearly half of the homeowner respondents in a recent survey from Coldwell Banker reported that they live less than 10 minutes from extended family members, with 72 percent choosing to live within 30 minutes. Buying a home that is close to family members can provide support, help and guidance that can be a great benefit both emotionally and financially. With extended family nearby, families have the opportunity to spend more time together and even save money on occasion. The cost of babysitters and long distance travel to visit relatives can really add up!
- Existing floor plan. Each family has its own unique dynamic and should take its distinctive needs into consideration when exploring different floor plans. While having a master bedroom upstairs and the other rooms downstairs may work for some families, others may prefer to have all of the bedrooms on the same level.
- Surrounding neighborhood. The neighborhood looks different from the eyes of a parent. It’s wise to get an idea of what the neighborhood offers for children, such as local recreational centers, parks or playgrounds as well as the school system, before deciding on an area to live. Coldwell Banker recommends home buyers utilize online tools such as Coldwell Banker On Location or local neighborhood sites that can offer consumers a wealth of local market information.
- Future lifestyle needs. They say children grow up in the blink of an eye, and while you don’t believe at first, it’s absolutely true. Make sure the home you purchase leaves growing room and will still fit your family’s needs a few years down the road, especially if there are plans for more children.
- Budget. One of the most important things for all potential homeowners to consider is their personal budget. Growing a family and having children usually means a growing list of expenses as well. Estimate monthly expenses along with a mortgage payment to ensure all financial commitments can be reasonably met.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Free eBook: How to Monitor Social Media in 10 Minutes a Day
Social media can be beneficial for your business, but monitoring different channels can take a lot of time and where do you start!Download HubSpot's new eBook to learn how you can streamline your social media monitoring while saving time!
This eBook will teach you the most important elements you should be monitoring across relevant social media networks. We will suggest a few practical habits you can execute while sipping your morning coffee.
After reading this 20-page eBook you will know:
- How to best spend your time monitoring social media
- How other marketers are spending time on social media
- What tools consolidate your social media information
- What you should be monitoring on Quora, Facebook, LinkedIn and more
Saturday, June 4, 2011
5 Need-to-Knows Before You Move Into the Neighborhood
Buying a home can feel like the most intense research project ever - to make a smart buy, you’ve got to get educated about mortgages, learn how to read a contract, do a deep dive into property condition issues or homeowner’s associations and pay attention to what’s going on in the economic news and the real estate market. But there’s at least one more area wise buyers don’t neglect: neighborhood research.
We know, at a gut level, what kind of neighborhoods we like - tree-lined streets, convenient shops, etc. and so forth. But what specific details should you investigate before you buy or move into an area? Here are 5 items you definitely need-to-know before you move into a neighborhood:
1. Details on Shady Dealings. Most of us think we know which sides of the railroad tracks, so to speak, have high crime rates and which are supposedly safe. But before you buy a home or move into a neighborhood, it behooves you to actually do the research and see whether or not your beliefs are accurate. Check out the Megan’s Law databases to see where registered sex offenders may live, especially if you have young children or other reasons to be particularly worried. Google your address, which might pop up details such as whether your intended home has ever been a meth lab, among other things.
And, whatever you do, don’t forget to tap into Trulia’s new Crime Maps – in a number of metro areas (which will be constantly expanding), you can view uber-detailed (and sometimes surprising!) crime data that is uber-relevant to you. If you’re trying to decide between two homes in different parts of town, you can even toggle back and forth between the neighborhoods to compare them! For example, some neighborhoods have a spike in car break-ins after people leave for work. Or maybe one side of your street-to-be has a significantly higher rate of violent crimes than the other.
That’s the kind of thing you should find out before you move in, don’tcha think?
2. How Recession-Resistant it is. Let’s face facts: some neighborhoods, cities and states have fared better than others over the course of the recession. An area’s proximity to job opportunities, saturation with troubled subprime loans and the amount of housing supply (vs. demand) all have something to do with whether prices plummeted or have held up over the last few years.
Sometimes, a neighborhood’s recession-proofness (or -proneness) is obvious: if the street on which you’re house hunting is riddled with ‘For Sale’ signs (and foreclosure riders on top of them), or you know for a fact that the home you’re buying is a short sale for which the sellers paid double your price just 5 years ago, you might be in an area that has been hard hit. Also, if your neighborhood has a sky-high rate of price reductions or it is much less expensive to buy than to rent a home in your area, these are other indicators that the recession might have hit your district pretty hard.
The fact of the matter is, some of the hardest hit neighborhoods are where the best deals are to be found, so I’m not necessarily suggesting that you shy away from buying in such an area. But do know that the harder hit areas might take longer to see an uptick in home values, too, so the harder hit your neighborhood was by the real estate recession, the longer you should plan on staying put before you buy, to make sure you don’t end up needing to sell and stuck in an upside-down home. While a 5 to 7 year plan might make sense in an area where the real estate market has been pretty robust over the last few years, you might want to be okay with planning to hold your home upwards of 10 years before buying in a foreclosure-riddled area (and you might also want to make absolutely sure you’re very happy with the deal you’re getting).
On the flip side, the more recession-resistant your area has been, the more likely you are to encounter sellers with less flexibility on pricing or even, gasp!, multiple offers!
3. The Neighborhood’s Flavor. Is the area you’re considering a hot spot for outdoor adventures and family events at the park, or chi chi restaurants and wine tastings at the museum? Find out by pulling up some listings on Trulia and scrolling down the see how others who have lived in the area have rated and reviewed it.
Also, take a look at NabeWise - it’s only available for about 10 large cities right now, but it’s got a super useful function where you can search by city and what’s important to you (like being in a trendy neighborhood, or one that’s got ample public transportation) and it’ll surface neighborhoods which might be a good fit for your values.Neighborhoods are even ranked based on prestige and how beautiful residents are (the latter of which I find fascinating - but more as a measure of where the raters’ heads are at than of anything you must include in your neighborhood fit equation!).
4. Where are the hot spots? Before you buy or move into an area, equip yourself with a knowledge of where all the stores, farmer’s markets, parks, restaurants and other hot spots your family will want to use are located vis-a-vis your home-to-be. (Hint: your local real estate agent is a fabulous source for this kind of information - they are especially gifted at knowing where the good food and shopping is!) Your Trulia Mobile App will alert you to nearby haunts that have Yelp! reviews; also, your neighbors-to-be can be a great source of this sort of information - knock on doors and ask for their recommendations.
It also makes sense to search the web for the various sorts of things your family is into, and your new neighborhood’s name. An internet search for running trails in my neighborhood is how I found out my house was just a couple of blocks away from a largely hidden lake we now visit regularly. Then, drive around and see what you can see - or find someone to drive for you. Once, when I moved to a new town, I marched myself onto a city bus, sat behind the driver, told them I was new in town and asked them to point out things they thought I needed to know. I got an hour long tour through three neighboring towns - for $1.25!
5. What the neighborhood looks and feels like at different times of day/different days of the week. Have you ever visited a Sunday afternoon open house when the sun was shining, birds were singing, and charming neighborhood rugrats were rolling their hoops up the street? (Okay - that was a century or two ago, but you get the gist.) Then, you come back a couple of weeks later for your inspections at dusk and find those same rugrats (or their parents!) spraying graffiti all over “your” garage, the neighbors’ underpants flapping on the line in the front yard and the other neighbors’ music blaring? File that under disappointing.
The nature of a neighborhoods changes - sometimes dramatically - before and after the sun goes down. Also, if you visit a home during the week or when it’s cold and rainy out, the street will undoubtedly be busier and noisier - more reflective of the extremes you should be aware of - on the weekend or when the weather is grand. So, before you buy, go see the place in sunlight and after dark, during the week and on the weekend. And, again, there’s nothing wrong with knocking on the neighbors’ doors, telling them you’re thinking of buying, and seeing what kind of insider information you can glean from them!
We know, at a gut level, what kind of neighborhoods we like - tree-lined streets, convenient shops, etc. and so forth. But what specific details should you investigate before you buy or move into an area? Here are 5 items you definitely need-to-know before you move into a neighborhood:
1. Details on Shady Dealings. Most of us think we know which sides of the railroad tracks, so to speak, have high crime rates and which are supposedly safe. But before you buy a home or move into a neighborhood, it behooves you to actually do the research and see whether or not your beliefs are accurate. Check out the Megan’s Law databases to see where registered sex offenders may live, especially if you have young children or other reasons to be particularly worried. Google your address, which might pop up details such as whether your intended home has ever been a meth lab, among other things.
And, whatever you do, don’t forget to tap into Trulia’s new Crime Maps – in a number of metro areas (which will be constantly expanding), you can view uber-detailed (and sometimes surprising!) crime data that is uber-relevant to you. If you’re trying to decide between two homes in different parts of town, you can even toggle back and forth between the neighborhoods to compare them! For example, some neighborhoods have a spike in car break-ins after people leave for work. Or maybe one side of your street-to-be has a significantly higher rate of violent crimes than the other.
That’s the kind of thing you should find out before you move in, don’tcha think?
2. How Recession-Resistant it is. Let’s face facts: some neighborhoods, cities and states have fared better than others over the course of the recession. An area’s proximity to job opportunities, saturation with troubled subprime loans and the amount of housing supply (vs. demand) all have something to do with whether prices plummeted or have held up over the last few years.
Sometimes, a neighborhood’s recession-proofness (or -proneness) is obvious: if the street on which you’re house hunting is riddled with ‘For Sale’ signs (and foreclosure riders on top of them), or you know for a fact that the home you’re buying is a short sale for which the sellers paid double your price just 5 years ago, you might be in an area that has been hard hit. Also, if your neighborhood has a sky-high rate of price reductions or it is much less expensive to buy than to rent a home in your area, these are other indicators that the recession might have hit your district pretty hard.
The fact of the matter is, some of the hardest hit neighborhoods are where the best deals are to be found, so I’m not necessarily suggesting that you shy away from buying in such an area. But do know that the harder hit areas might take longer to see an uptick in home values, too, so the harder hit your neighborhood was by the real estate recession, the longer you should plan on staying put before you buy, to make sure you don’t end up needing to sell and stuck in an upside-down home. While a 5 to 7 year plan might make sense in an area where the real estate market has been pretty robust over the last few years, you might want to be okay with planning to hold your home upwards of 10 years before buying in a foreclosure-riddled area (and you might also want to make absolutely sure you’re very happy with the deal you’re getting).
On the flip side, the more recession-resistant your area has been, the more likely you are to encounter sellers with less flexibility on pricing or even, gasp!, multiple offers!
3. The Neighborhood’s Flavor. Is the area you’re considering a hot spot for outdoor adventures and family events at the park, or chi chi restaurants and wine tastings at the museum? Find out by pulling up some listings on Trulia and scrolling down the see how others who have lived in the area have rated and reviewed it.
Also, take a look at NabeWise - it’s only available for about 10 large cities right now, but it’s got a super useful function where you can search by city and what’s important to you (like being in a trendy neighborhood, or one that’s got ample public transportation) and it’ll surface neighborhoods which might be a good fit for your values.Neighborhoods are even ranked based on prestige and how beautiful residents are (the latter of which I find fascinating - but more as a measure of where the raters’ heads are at than of anything you must include in your neighborhood fit equation!).
4. Where are the hot spots? Before you buy or move into an area, equip yourself with a knowledge of where all the stores, farmer’s markets, parks, restaurants and other hot spots your family will want to use are located vis-a-vis your home-to-be. (Hint: your local real estate agent is a fabulous source for this kind of information - they are especially gifted at knowing where the good food and shopping is!) Your Trulia Mobile App will alert you to nearby haunts that have Yelp! reviews; also, your neighbors-to-be can be a great source of this sort of information - knock on doors and ask for their recommendations.
It also makes sense to search the web for the various sorts of things your family is into, and your new neighborhood’s name. An internet search for running trails in my neighborhood is how I found out my house was just a couple of blocks away from a largely hidden lake we now visit regularly. Then, drive around and see what you can see - or find someone to drive for you. Once, when I moved to a new town, I marched myself onto a city bus, sat behind the driver, told them I was new in town and asked them to point out things they thought I needed to know. I got an hour long tour through three neighboring towns - for $1.25!
5. What the neighborhood looks and feels like at different times of day/different days of the week. Have you ever visited a Sunday afternoon open house when the sun was shining, birds were singing, and charming neighborhood rugrats were rolling their hoops up the street? (Okay - that was a century or two ago, but you get the gist.) Then, you come back a couple of weeks later for your inspections at dusk and find those same rugrats (or their parents!) spraying graffiti all over “your” garage, the neighbors’ underpants flapping on the line in the front yard and the other neighbors’ music blaring? File that under disappointing.
The nature of a neighborhoods changes - sometimes dramatically - before and after the sun goes down. Also, if you visit a home during the week or when it’s cold and rainy out, the street will undoubtedly be busier and noisier - more reflective of the extremes you should be aware of - on the weekend or when the weather is grand. So, before you buy, go see the place in sunlight and after dark, during the week and on the weekend. And, again, there’s nothing wrong with knocking on the neighbors’ doors, telling them you’re thinking of buying, and seeing what kind of insider information you can glean from them!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Mom's the Word
Last Minute Mother's Day Ideas
Our moms play such an important role in all our lives, so it's only fitting that we create a special celebration on the day that honors them. Whether you've already found that perfect gift or you're still searching, you'll want to read on. Here are some ideas to add to the fun.
Sing...Sing a Song: This is especially great for kids who want to do something special for mom. Help them create a play, write a song, make a video, or recite a personal poem. It's the kind of moment every mom loves and will treasure forever.
Plan Some Pamper Time: Spa treatments are a great way to celebrate mom on Mother's Day. After all, no one deserves to be pampered more than the person who usually pampers everyone.
Plan a Special Meal: Design a special meal built around your mom's favorite foods. Not only will she get to spend the day with you, but she won't have to do any cooking or cleaning in the process.
Plan a Day Trip: Surprise mom and take her away for the day. Museums, a play in a nearby city, or a drive to the coast or mountains for a picnic are just some things you can do during a day of fun.
Plan Some Tea Time: A fun treat for Mother's Day is to take your mom to an English teahouse, or for high tea at an upscale hotel where you live. Combine this with a spa treatment for a double dose of bliss.
Frame It: Does your mom have a favorite picture of the two of you? Or does your wife have a favorite picture of your kids? Enlarge it and buy a beautiful frame for it and then surprise her on Mother's Day by placing the picture on her nightstand.
Plant It: For the mom who loves to garden, buy some perennials and then spend the day helping her plant. You'll gift mom in two ways: By spending the day with her, and by sharing something with her that she loves to do.
Note It: Get a pack of cards and have everyone in your family handwrite a special message about how much mom means to them. Then, buy her a special keepsake box just for these cards. It's a tradition you can keep every year, and in the years to come, it will be a wonderful way for mom to look back and remember.
We hope your Mother's Day will be filled with activities and events that the mom or moms in your life enjoy. Most of all, make sure you show her exactly how much you love her. And after you show her, be sure to tell her as well.
Happy Mother's Day!
Last Minute Mother's Day Ideas
 |
Our moms play such an important role in all our lives, so it's only fitting that we create a special celebration on the day that honors them. Whether you've already found that perfect gift or you're still searching, you'll want to read on. Here are some ideas to add to the fun.
Sing...Sing a Song: This is especially great for kids who want to do something special for mom. Help them create a play, write a song, make a video, or recite a personal poem. It's the kind of moment every mom loves and will treasure forever.
Plan Some Pamper Time: Spa treatments are a great way to celebrate mom on Mother's Day. After all, no one deserves to be pampered more than the person who usually pampers everyone.
Plan a Special Meal: Design a special meal built around your mom's favorite foods. Not only will she get to spend the day with you, but she won't have to do any cooking or cleaning in the process.
Plan a Day Trip: Surprise mom and take her away for the day. Museums, a play in a nearby city, or a drive to the coast or mountains for a picnic are just some things you can do during a day of fun.
Plan Some Tea Time: A fun treat for Mother's Day is to take your mom to an English teahouse, or for high tea at an upscale hotel where you live. Combine this with a spa treatment for a double dose of bliss.
Frame It: Does your mom have a favorite picture of the two of you? Or does your wife have a favorite picture of your kids? Enlarge it and buy a beautiful frame for it and then surprise her on Mother's Day by placing the picture on her nightstand.
Plant It: For the mom who loves to garden, buy some perennials and then spend the day helping her plant. You'll gift mom in two ways: By spending the day with her, and by sharing something with her that she loves to do.
Note It: Get a pack of cards and have everyone in your family handwrite a special message about how much mom means to them. Then, buy her a special keepsake box just for these cards. It's a tradition you can keep every year, and in the years to come, it will be a wonderful way for mom to look back and remember.
We hope your Mother's Day will be filled with activities and events that the mom or moms in your life enjoy. Most of all, make sure you show her exactly how much you love her. And after you show her, be sure to tell her as well.
Happy Mother's Day!
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