May 20, 2012

Posts Comments

Three Common Online Scams

An HSBC Solo debit card issued in the UK in 2007

Image via Wikipedia

There are plenty of scammers finding ways to trick you into giving them money, your personal information or contact information. Here are three common scams:

A false bank email. Many scammers will send you an email that looks like it is sent from your bank. It will say it needs to verify your information, and will direct you to the bank’s website. Instead of entering your information into the website, however, a pop up window will appear asking for your card number and pin. This window is not from the bank and will send your information to the scammers.

 

Nigerian email scam. In this scam, you will receive an email claiming that someone in another country needs you to help them access a large sum of money. They will claim that they cannot do it for various reasons, and will offer you a percentage of the money in return for your help. They may even send you a check and have you cash your percentage and then send them the rest. After you have sent your money, their check will bounce, and you will be out the sum you sent. In these cases, there is usually nothing authorities can do to help you recoup the money you lost.

Fake Ipod giveaway. For this, you can get an email or see an ad that claims that you are the winner of a free ipod, Xbox, or Iphone. It will direct you to a website that will ask you either for your contact information, or for your debit card and pin. In the first case, you will have unwanted spam and advertising emails filling up your mailbox and voicemail. In the second case, you will have your identity stolen. Neither case will give you the promised Ipod.

To protect yourself from these scams, remember that your bank will never ask you to verify your information via email. Almost no unexpected email saying you won money will be legitimate, and you should never trust a stranger asking you to transfer money for them.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Internet Updates Tagged With: , ,

Where Technology is Headed

 

 

it's real :)

Image via Wikipedia

 

Technology has an exciting future that revolves around two words: portable and efficient. These two areas of advancement have allowed business professionals and the general public to take the Internet with them on the go.

One of the most important advances in this arena has been the smart phone and those fitted with Android technology. These small phones are essentially computers that can be held in the palm of your hand. You can read e-books on them, surf the Internet, check your e-mail and even do video chat as well. These cell phones are also being outfitted with cameras that can take quality, high resolution images.

Computers have now become the size of tablets that are extremely portable. This makes it simple for professionals on the go to take their work with them. Outfitted with wi-fi capability, these computers can pick up Internet anywhere there is a hot spot available. When coupled with new software that allows for online digital backup, there is no longer worry about losing your work if the computer crashes or gets stolen. When these two forms of technology are put together, the possibilities are endless for creativity, research and the ability to handle business tasks from anywhere.

Software applications have also advanced to make life much easier. There are hundreds of programs available for creating graphics, company logos, websites and much more that can be used by the average individual. This makes it more affordable to do many high-tech tasks yourself instead of having to hire a professional.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Internet Updates, Search Engines Tagged With: , ,

The New Way to do Research

 

 

Image representing Amazon Kindle as depicted i...

Image via CrunchBase

 

Researchers now have one of the most powerful tools available in the form of the Internet. They can access libraries around the world, check out historical video footage and explore resources that were once out of reach to many.

When wanting to look at historical footage, researchers now can access everything from World War I films to present day historical events with a click of the mouse. They can easily find them on YouTube, government sites and a plethora of other sources. The federal government, especially through the National Archives, has digitized numerous resources that can be reached through its many websites. This allows researchers to do their work in a more organized and efficient fashion in the comfort of their home and office.

Libraries have also digitized collections, photos and other resources that patrons can access twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Books have also become more common in the digital universe, with companies such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble and many others allowing you to purchase and download them within minutes. This is also a great boon to students, who can do homework with ease as they peruse all of these offerings.

The key to this type of research is that the individual must understand which sources are reliable and which are not. Whenever you use a source from a website, you should always double check the information from first-hand accounts and related documents found from educational institutions, historical organizations and from government websites. This reduces the chance of using a source that has been written with a strong bias in one direction.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Internet Updates, Keyword Searches Tagged With: , ,

New Ways to Communicate with Your Customers

Digital media can be a powerful tool for any business, especially when you consider the variety and wide reach of appeal that it can have. When coupled with the World Wide Web, you can help your business to grow in a whole new way.

One of the most effective types of digital media to use can be combining a business blog with a podcast. These are excellent tools to advertise your expertise, your line or products or your services that you offer to the public. When setting up your blog, find a focus for it that will help to drive traffic to your local business and its companion website store. You want to give your customers information that they can use and that will draw them into a conversation. Every few entries, be sure to mention your product line or services and include links back to your online store.

When setting up the podcast, you can review recent topics that you discussed in your blog, give new information and do mentions of products as well. You can release your podcast through such venues as iTunes. This will give it a greater reach to customers all over. You can also set up a live RSS feed to your blog that can be shown on your business website. Another tactic is to mix in video posts to your blog that give your customers a personal view of you close up. This gives more appeal and a personal touch to your business, which your customers will appreciate.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Internet Updates, Search Engines Tagged With: , ,

How to Get the Most Out of Your Email

 

 

Modest Mail

Image via Wikipedia

 

 

E-mail is now a standard tool used by businesses on a daily basis to keep up with current events, communicate with customers and to do a wide variety of other tasks.

One of the first ways to get the most out of your e-mail is to check it daily and answer important messages in a timely manner. If not, your inbox will soon become overloaded and you can quickly fall behind in getting back with people. Set aside a certain time each day to clean out your inbox. E-mail is also an effective marketing tool to use with your customers. You can do follow-ups after a purchase, send out a company newsletter and send press releases about new items in your store. It is also great way to send coupons and other enticements that will keep customers coming back to you again and again.

Many online hosting services offer assistance with e-mail marketing that can make this process much easier. The key consideration here is to avoid sending spam to customers. You should only send these types of messages if you have permission to do so. Your e-mail can also serve as a type of documentation of conversations and dealings are you have with co-workers and customers. By saving these e-mails in organized folders, you can easily retrieve them if a dispute or situation comes up down the road. This is important if you have to deal with liability and litigation issues. By following these tips and tricks, you can get the most use out of your e-mail.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Add-Ons, Internet Updates Tagged With: , ,

Effective and Efficient Business Communication

 

 

A Polycom VSX 7000 camera used for videoconfer...

Image via Wikipedia

 

Communicating with co-workers and clients in this technology rich age is as simple as clicking your mouse. You can now reach out to anyone in the world through the Internet.

One example of this is the use of video conferencing online. This is an essential tool for any business that markets their products worldwide to customers. A business location in one country can easily have a face-to-face meeting with a co-worker thousands of miles away using one of numerous services available online. This makes handling business deals, problem solving and brainstorming in an efficient and more personalized manner. It can also save the company quite a bit on travel expenses that were once required for conducting business in the past. Video conferences can be recorded and added to the company website. They can then be used for employee training at a later date.

Instant message chat is another useful tool that businesses put to use on a daily basis. Employees within a department can easily talk to one another without leaving their desks by simply sending a short message via the Internet. This has the advantage of not only efficiency but also saving paper and time put into writing memos. Companies can even directly talk to their customers online through such programs as Skype, which provides a greater level of customer service.

Businesses that utilize these resources are given a greater edge in the market to compete with rivals. They can also cut costs from their bottom line and increase their productivity.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Filed Under: Internet Updates, Search Engines Tagged With: , ,

3 Killer Android Photo Apps

The Android OS can do a lot of cool things that other smartphones aren’t capable of yet. They offer great graphics, fast speeds, and the ability to access thousands of great apps. However, many people are reluctant to switch from another smartphone to the Android because there is a belief that they don’t have access to great photo apps.

The truth is there are some killer photo apps available for any Android smartphone. Here’s a look at the top three killer photo apps for Androids.

Pudding Camera

Pudding Camera is a photo app that allows Android users to add special effects to their photos. Just take a photo using the Android Tablet and then scroll through the hundreds of effects that are available through Pudding Camera to get the desired special effect.

Little Photo

Little Photo is a great photo app for those that love to take original photos and really make them shine. Whenever you take a photo the app will pop up on the screen and allow you to choose a number of special effects that you can add to the photo. There is a preview option which allows you to view the photo before you share it or save it.

Retro Camera

Retro Camera is a fun app that allows you to turn your Android into a number of vintage cameras. Instead of having to play around with the effects to get the colors you want, you can turn your Android into a black and white camera and take the photo instantly.

These killer apps can turn your Android into a great camera and photo-editing device.

Filed Under: Internet Updates, Search Engines Tagged With: , ,