Google shoots my site in the foot! (Unnatural outbound links)

I got this email Thursday!

It wasn’t the best news that I could of wanted from Google.   After all, I was getting some great traffic from searches.   Although, admittedly I am not really to worried about page rank.   It isn’t like I was making a ton of money from people coming to my site but it is the principle of thing that really bothers me and makes me really un happy.  I would of like Google to email me saying we think you have unnatural links and suggest which links were unnatural instead of just dropping my page rank.   some sites just do not know some of this, I am working long hours at work and this comes my way.   It’s like Google likes to shoot all sites in the foot just because they can.

Granted, Sites like to Make Money!

It would be silly of my to say that I didn’t like the adsense revenue that started to happen last month.   I pretty much doubled my adsense in a months time and I am quite sure it was all by my doing alone.  I know which posts Google had a problem with and I’ve pretty much dealt with them.  It was my Gust Posts from other people and organizations.   I found out that Google thought I was getting paid for these guest post.   In truthfulness these were really from BlueFirePR, which isn’t necessarily anything bad but I guess Google Doesn’t want them to control SEO rankings.  So I am instituting a new guest post policy.    Anyone wanting to submit any guest posts, must now be using the NOFOLLOW policy, and maybe a Dofollow policy for anything that I think is a good site but I have the final say so.   I have already went and put all those links that I think were not tech related as nofollow and I have also submitted a request to remove the block and asked that they give back my rankings.   I do not know if I will be at the same level as before, or if it will go down and never recover but I am willing to work with Google on this.

Guide Lines for Other Webmaster!

I thought it best to talk about some of the things most webmaster will want to implement as soon as they hit that little snag in the road.  It isn’t everyday you get an email like this from Google.  I have submitted a manual request but it could take several weeks before I find out the results of what they will do!  Until then here are some suggestions for future guest posts that you might do on your own site:

• Guest Posting — If your looking for quality guest posts, join something like Guest Crew (Affiliate Link).  I’ve been on their for some time and I have been publishing posts to other sites with little effort and been making my site more popular!
• Only have one Dofollow link — If you looking publish an article that isn’t in your niche you may as well make all links nofollow just so you do not make Google suspicious!   It is up to you how you publish or post your content.
• Niche Guest Posting — If you are going to post, it is suggested that you keep the post in your niche and that way Google will not get to suspicious.   This is where Guest Crew (Affiliate Link) can help.   It can find posts that are in your niche and you have the final say so!

I was going to do a how to on finding these culprit links but there are plenty out there that do the job for me and I didn’t have to look far or long to find the problems on my site since I have been doing this for so long, I know Google doesn’t act slowly, so I knew it had to be really recent that was the red flag for them.   If you think it is something really old, then you will need to do a lot of searching but I knew it wasn’t so for me.

I’ve played a version of this game before and I know my site is older than it looks but I also know what to do when I get hit by these problems.   Stop think, re-examine the problem and you will always come out on top!  

Has it happened to you, how about leaving a comment telling me what you did?

Virtual Assistants: The Secret Weapon of Your Business

Admit it: sometimes you wish you were as intelligent as Tony Stark to have someone like J.A.R.V.I.S. at your side to sort your business’s schedule, plan out appointments and calculate taxes. Well, while we might not have that kind of technology today to wait for us on hand-and-foot, there is such a thing as a virtual assistant, which is the next best thing to living like Iron Man.

Many are convinced that virtual assistants are the future, and the reality is that a good majority of professional relationships are starting off as virtual. Having a full-time, physical assistant can certainly have it perks, but hiring a virtual assistant may be a better option in most cases. Too often do entrepreneurs wait to get the help they need because they assume that hiring a full-time assistant is the only choice they have; however, this is not the case at all.

Cost

There are plenty of perks to using a virtual assistant. While cost-effective, flexible, and with the commitment to learn, a VA can accomplish nearly anything a full-time assistant can while not actually being required to show up at the office. In addition, because virtual assistants and independent contractors do not have to go through the same employment procedures that a full-time employee would, you are only required to pay them for services rendered. So, in a sense, hiring a VA can be much less expensive than a full-timer, as you only need to pay them when you actually need them— no valuable time lost.

You also won’t need to worry yourself about withholding income tax, superannuation, Worker’s Compensation insurance, new computer, or office equipment or timely payroll processing or PAYG statements. And, since your VA won’t be hired as a full-time employee, you will not be responsible for providing them with health benefits or sick and vacation days.

Training & Space

One of the biggest perks of hiring a virtual assistant is that he/she is already skilled enough and is accustomed to an online working environment, therefore, that time saved by eliminating formal training will give your business the opportunity to get the important tasks done more quickly.

While there is a slight chance that you’ll need to communicate what your business is all about, it’s less likely that you’ll need to worry at all about their skills and qualifications.

How much money would you say you spend on each new employee that joins your business? Depending on what their responsibilities are, the average cost of hiring a new employee is usually in the thousands of dollars. Not only do you have to consider their yearly salary; you’ll also need to think about the equipment a new employee will need to fulfill their duties.

On the other hand, with a VA, those expenses go completely out the window. They will (and should) usually have their own reliable computer and internet connection.

Learning How to Delegate

Contrary to popular belief, having an assistant isn’t all about barking orders at someone. It’s more like inviting someone you trust to contribute to your success, and delegating is a crucial art you’ll need to learn if you’re going to hire a virtual assistant.

For many,finding a new employee that fits with the team you already have can take some time, something that you don’t normally have, which is precisely where a VA can help. As a professional, hiring a VA can be a wise investment, as a skilled assistant is something definitely worth paying for.

Dean Olsen, an enthusiastic writer who dedicates his time to researching topics on the progress of communication within technology and its relation to business practices. You can read more of Dean’s work on his blog at GlobalTollFreeNumber.com

Moving Abroad: Do I Need a Smartphone or Tablet?

The kids are out of the house, and you finally get the chance to move overseas. Maybe for a few months, maybe forever. You’ve already created a packing list, but there’s one item that you’re just not sure you’ll need—your smartphone or tablet. They can be a useful tool when you’re in a new country. But with the wrong service, they could be a useless money pit.

Library on the Go

When moving abroad, you don’t want to take your entire house with you. Heavy things like books can be difficult to haul around. The upside of taking a smartphone or a tablet on your trip is that either device can function as a traveling library while taking up just a small corner of your suitcase. Download your favorite guidebooks to the reader on your phone and virtually fold down your favorite pages. Use an app like Word Lens to translate signs and menus. Read reviews of area restaurants and entertainment with Trip Advisor or another travel app. You’ll feel at home in no time.

You can even use your smartphone to help you learn the language faster. With the free Google Translate app, you can speak up to 50 words into your phone, and the app will translate them for you. All of a sudden, asking directions, booking a train ticket, or getting to know the friendly couple at the edge of the bar just got easier!

Escape Roaming Fees

The downside to taking your smartphone or tablet abroad is the potential of roaming fees. According to travel writer Rick Steves, roaming charges in Europe can be high, but if you have an unlocked phone, you can replace your SIM card with a card made in that country to make calls at a more affordable rate.

Depending on your provider, you can avoid roaming charges altogether. T-Mobile, for example, recently announced a change to their roaming policy. The company, which also offers a wide selection of travel accessories—everything from Bluetooth headsets to Muse mini speakers—has lifted roaming charges in 100 countries. According to CNET, T-Mobile customers can text and access data without paying roaming fees. The company simplified its calling charges as well by setting them at a consistent 20 cents per minute.

Go Unplugged

Moving abroad should be an exciting experience. For some, this means enjoying a new environment with all the comforts of home, while for others, it means going unplugged. If you prefer the latter, consider leaving your electronics at home and get fully immersed into your travel adventure. Contact loved ones from local phones, or send them letters and emails from Internet cafes. However, if you do choose to go unplugged, it means that you will need to bring paper versions of all of your travel guides and translator tools.

If you don’t have access to free roaming, make sure that you download the data you are going to need while roaming. That way, you can pull up your map or itinerary without paying roaming fees.

Paige Hornell — Teacher, International Traveler, Margherita Pizza Connoisseur

5 Minute Guide to Making your iPhone more Secure

An iPhone is an incredible device but don’t think that it is secure enough that no one can access your important information. It is not a security fortress and is prone to the same risks as other cell phones. However, following these simple guidelines can help you make your iPhone a secure device and protect it from those who want to lay their hands on your information.

Use a passcode:

This is literally the first thing any mobile phone user should do. You should use a passcode to access your phone. Though it is not the strongest security measure you can take, it will help ward off those who want to access your phone and everything in it. You can even set your iPhone to erase all data stored on it automatically if someone tries to unlock it with a wrong passcode for ten times. Passcodes can also be set on many individual apps.

Don’t use unnecessary features:

It is very important that you turn off all the features and services that you are not using. Turn off Bluetooth, WiFi, voice control, email syncing, location tracking and such as they can let anyone with some knowledge of phone hacking could exploit the flaws in these services and access your information and data.

Update:

Apple releases firmware updates on a regular basis. These are meant to update your iPhone against any security loophole and performance hiccups that you encounter in your daily use. You should update your phone immediately after an update is available. These updates can also bring some new functionality to your phone.

Tinkering with your phone:

Tinkering with your phone’s protected software, or jailbreaking, can be risky. This allows users to bypass Apple’s security layer and change settings in the phone’s software. It will also allow you to install apps that are not downloaded from Apple’s App Store. This is a potential security risk as you can’t be sure if any such app is secure or not, and whether it is accessing your private info or not.

Privacy settings:

The iPhone allows you to protect your information in many ways. One of those is to use the privacy settings in Safari, found in settings menu. Safari is iPhone’s web browser and allows you to connect with the internet. It is crucial that you review your privacy settings and tune them to your needs. Otherwise, you could leave your information unprotected and at the risk of being hacked. You could become a victim of iPhone spyware, malware and other malicious codes without even knowing.

Use ‘Find my phone’ feature:

Another cool feature of iPhone is its ‘Find my phone’ option. This practically allows you locate your phone in case you have lost it. You can lock your phone, make it ring, show warning information, and erase your data to make in case you cannot retrieve it or it is taking too long to retrieve it.

Erase your data before return, repair or resale:

One of the common mistakes that most users make is that they do not erase their data when they return, repair or resell their iPhones. This way you are actually handing out your information to the

person you are giving your phone to. Make sure you have erased all your data, including messages, contacts, call logs, images and videos, notes, calendar entries and other important information, when you return your phone to the seller, send it for repairs or resell it to someone.

Follow these simple security tips and make your iPhone a secure device to use.

Author Bio: Jessica Carol is a tech writer who has written articles based on developments and new trends in the world of tech for Mobistealth. She can be reached at @Jcarol429.

How to Avoid Social Media Scams

Photo credits: Nate & Tilly Ritter

Social media networks can be a lot of fun - not to mention useful - but you really need to make sure you take steps to stay safe. Knowing how to avoid social media scams is an important skill to have in the Information Age. The good news is that it’s not that difficult to avoid them if you use common sense and are careful when you’re online. We’ve put together a list of several specific tips you can use to make sure you don’t run into any problems.

How to Avoid Social Network Scams

Here’s a look at some specific ways that you can avoid scams no matter what social media network you visit frequently.

• Privacy Settings - The first thing you’re going to want to do is spend some time learning about the privacy settings for whatever site you’re on. For some - like Facebook - this can take quite a bit of time before you understand, but it’s essential if you want to protect yourself from scams.

• Know Your Friends - While you may want to get as many “friends” as you can, this isn’t really that smart. Try to only allow people you really know in real life to be part of your social circles online.

• Ignore Unknown Links - If you see a link from a source you don’t recognize, ignore it or delete it if possible. Following links from strangers online is usually not a good idea on social media sites.

• Avoid Public Computers - Like public bathrooms, you should avoid using public computers as often as possible. You never know if one is infected with a keystroke logger that will allow others access to your social media accounts.

• Be Cautious - This is common sense, but it can be easy to get caught up in the moment online. Learn to take your time and not get involved - by clicking links - until you know exactly what’s going on and that you’re dealing with someone who can be trusted completely.

• Software and Firewalls - You should also make sure your anti-virus programs are up to date with their definition file. Additionally, you might think about installing a firewall so that you can add another layer of protection between you and the bad guys online. Luckily, you can usually find free software that will help protect you. Just make sure you set it up correctly.

By following the advice above, you’re going to be able to avoid the scams while still being able to keep up with the fam. You don’t need to avoid social networks completely, but you should be very selective about which sites you visit and how you interact with people you might not know personally.

Written by: Maegred Mithi is working in copper industry. Her job is to buy ethanol and remove the rust from the raw copper. She is also studying on line reputation management, because she has special interest in online world algorithms that affects the search engine results.

7 Privacy Tips for Safer Social Media

Photo credits: U.S. Army RDECOM

If you’re not worried about your privacy online when interacting on social media sites, you should be. These days, it’s easier than ever before for bad guys to get ahold of your personal information. Even large corporations are having problems. For example, in December 2013, Target was targeted by hackers and lost just under 100 million credit card numbers and other identifiable information about their customers.

Seven Privacy Tips for Social Media

To help you stay safe online and protect your personal information, here’s seven specific privacy tips for when you’re on social media websites.

1. Know the Settings - The first thing you want to do is make sure you study a website’s privacy policy - including how to change the settings. Unfortunately, most websites make this very difficult to do. The more information you share with Facebook and others, the more money they can make off of you.

2. Watch for Changes - Privacy policy changes may or may not be announced, so you want to make sure you keep your eyes open for changes that occur. Hopefully in the future legislation will be passed to make it more difficult for companies to make wide changing changes without a lot of notification and options for users.

3. Sign-Out - While this can be a pain, make sure you log out of your social media accounts when you’re not using them. This is one of the best ways to make sure Facebook or Google isn’t tracking your every move online.

4. No Phone App - Try NOT to install the Facebook or Twitter app. Or, if you do install it to use occasionally, make sure you log-out whenever you’re not actively using it. While using the Facebook app may seem convenient, you’re giving them quite a bit of information that they’re going to sell to the highest bidder.

5. Use a Device Password - Make sure you set up your smartphone so that it requires you to enter a password to unlock it and use it. Unfortunately, not a lot of people take the time to do this, which is a big obstacle to privacy.

6. Use Encryption - Whenever possible, make sure you’re using encryption. Most operating systems have software that will encrypt and protect your sensitive data.

7. Unfriend Strangers - While getting your friend count to some crazy number might sound like fun, you should try to NOT friend anyone who you don’t know in real life.

Following the advice and tips above will help make sure you maintain your privacy when you’re using social media websites. Do you have your own method of staying safe on social media websites? Feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you do to maintain your online privacy.

Written by: Shorna stiksal likes smartresumewizard because it’s so easy to use. She helps her company with reputation management and has been paid very well for her assistance.

Non-Profits Turn to Technology for Holiday Fundraising

While most people take the holidays to relax with family, non-profits organizations see this season as a chance to capitalize on the abundance of generosity and good cheer. Charity fundraisers and events are popular this time of year, as even our favorite stars take the time to give back. Celebrities run successful charity events for causes they are passionate about, including Harrison Ford’s conservation initiative, Olivia WIlde’s fundraiser, “Artists for Peace and Justice” and Ashton Kutcher’s charity to end human trafficking, “Real Men Don’t Buy Girls.” The holiday season is an important time for these and other charities.

Last year and this year, a coalition of non-profits came together to promote “Giving Tuesday,” a spin-off of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The day is designed to kick off the holiday seasoning the right frame of mind. Launch the right fundraising campaign and your non-profit will take a stocking full of momentum into the new year.

Embrace technology to spread your cause this holiday season. Social media is the perfect way to connect with potential donors. If you’re out on the street seeking donations, a mobile credit card reader is a convenient tool to process credit card transactions. Above all, a clear message and purpose with draw the attention of willing donors.

Craft an Elevator Pitch

Non-profits don’t like to think about competing with each other, but during the holidays, they are. You’re competing for attention and awareness, and the only way to make your mark is with a strong, concise pitch. No one wants to get guilt-tripped into donating. Those who donate after hearing how little they care for a cause usually won’t be drawn to a life of activism. Rather, people want to partner with causes that they believe in. Instead of reciting how much your non-profit needs to raise, lead off with what you’re going to do with the money. Craft your campaign’s elevator pitch. Why are you raising money? Where will it go? And how can people donate? You’ll earn money from donor who relate to your cause and respect from those that aren’t able to donate.

Social Giving

Fundraising campaigns are as much about awareness as they are about money. Get a wave of support behind your cause and the money will follow. Luckily for today’s non-profits, a revolutionary marketing tool is at your disposal, and it’s free. Social media is the most efficient way to spread the world about your holiday fundraiser. The key is connecting with users through videos, photos or personal messages. Consider adding incentives to your social media fundraising campaign. Randomly selecting those who re-tweet a link to your donation page will generate some viral energy and awareness. The more creative you with your social media content, the better.

Accepting Donations

You’ve seen Salvation Army representatives ring bells outside of malls and department stores. It’s obviously an effective fundraising model, but it’s held back by it’s analog nature. As fewer shoppers carry cash, non-profits that are able to accept credit and debit cards have the upper hand. Mobile credit card readers turn your smartphone into credit card POS system, complete with electronic receipts and encrypted software. Intuit credit card readers, for example, attach to your smart phone and receive credit card swipes. You can accept credit cards anywhere will cell service, and Intuit charges as little as 1.75% per transaction. If your non-profit asks for donations on the street, a mobile credit card processor will undoubtedly boost your income.

Cedric Goodwin

Cedric loves all things sports and is the social media director for several local sports teams.

More Mobile Phones than Clean Toilets?

 

Photo by Yuichi Shiraishi / Flickr

On World Water Day, the United Nations released a very interesting, and possibly disturbing, factoid: “There are now more people with mobile phones (six billion for world population of seven billion) on earth than there are with access to clean toilets (4.5 billion).” Wow.

Things That Make You Go, Hmmm…

This statistic points out that developing countries still lack basic sanitation. But apparently do not lack phones. Or phone infrastructure. Again, wow. What is going on here? What’s next?

What’s Going on?

So how has the world come to a level where cell phones are so easily distributed, mobile phone service is so widely available, yet about 2 billion people do not have access to basic human civilization level of potties? How did we get here? And do we all fully understand the situation?

Sanitation issues extend beyond being unpleasant and uncomfortable. This isn’t like having to use a Port-o-John at a festival and being inconvenienced for the afternoon. Disease from poor sanitation reportedly kills over 4,000 kids per day. PER DAY.

But, Why?

• Greed: The profit margin for installing sewers, plumbing, and bathroom facilities is significantly less than the profit margin in the mobile phone world. Greed motivates people. Hence, lots of phones. And on the toilets for everyone, not so much.

• No Infrastructure: Many developing nations are only vaguely titled as such. In fact, it is development in specific that is lacking. Many countries simply have no infrastructure for sanitation. No pipes to bring clean water in. No sewers to take tainted water away. No treatment facilities to keep the cycle going.

• Broken Infrastructure: In many countries the infrastructure that is present is aging and broken, leaking pipes and the like. Particularly in nations where a colonizing force installed the infrastructure and then a people’s revolution took over, which had no clue on what the former rulers had going or how to keep it going.

• Government Sucks: Often in developing nations the government is so unstable or corrupt that serving the needs of the masses with sanitation services is either not on the agenda, or hasn’t been reached yet. Corruption often brings the developing part of a nation to the leaders of the nation first. Like we said, greed.

• Corporations Rock: Yeah, not usually our first thought. But, greed can also bring the good. Granted, choosing between mobile phones and sanitation is not possible, but if you’re not going to have one, you might as well have the other. And the spread of mobile devices also brings the spread of social networking which brings exposure to things like a lack of sanitation.

FTW

While these mind-blowing statistics appear disheartening at first read, the spread of mobile phones is a positive development for developing nations. Mobile phones bring connectivity on more than just a cellular grid, but also between people and causes and even more people to help with those causes. Maybe the concept of clean toilets just needs a really good KickStarter campaign.

Written by: Adam Prattler knows that 001flowerflower.com is a high quality website. When not  buying flowers, he likes to write content for marketing purposes online. He thinks he’s pretty good at it.

Top ten Laptop brands that are used in USA.

Photo by Rob Pearce / Flickr

If you’re in the market for a new laptop, we have some information about which brands are most popular in the United States right now. This is very helpful information because it can assist you in making sure you get the most for your hard earned money. Taking your time to make sure you get the best laptop for you personally makes a lot of sense for many different reasons.

Top 10 Laptop Brands in America

Here’s a look at the leading ten brands of laptops in the US right now. Going with any of these brands will help make sure you’re happy with your decision.

1. Apple - When it comes to the best quality and design, nothing beats an Apple laptop - especially the newer ones. Just be prepared to pay a pretty penny to get one of these.

2. Lenovo - This is probably the least well known laptop company, but they bring a lot to the table. Research them a little bit, and you’ll know what I mean.

3. Google - Yes, the Chromebook may not be as full featured as you want, but it’s a nice little laptop for surfing the web and checking email and social media accounts.

4. Samsung - Known for high quality mobile devices, going with a Samsung laptop can give you something that will run reliably and not look too bad either.

5. Alienware - For gamers, nothing beats an Alienware laptop - especially if you get one of the high-end models with all the bells and whistles. The more you spend, the longer the system will last.

6. Acer - While Acer may not be too well known when it comes to laptops, they actually have a lot of great laptops at very reasonable prices - even if they’re not flashy.

7. ASUS - You may not be familiar with this brand, but they actually offer a lot of value for the money. Check them out if you’re on a budget.

8. HP - When it comes to dependable and reliable laptops, HP is a brand name that is well known in the world of laptops. Be prepared to spend money on the name, though.

9. Toshiba - If you’re looking to save money, going with a Toshiba laptop will help you get a little more power for every dollar you spend.  

10. Sony - Lastly, you may want to look at what Sony has to offer when it comes to laptops - just be prepared to spend a little more money because of the brand name.

When choosing a laptop, it’s important to make sure you take your time and do the homework necessary to find something that fits you personally. A lot of different companies are making all sorts of laptops, tablets and other mobile devices these days.

While all this selection is good on one hand, it also means you have a lot of choices to narrow down to find something that works for you and your lifestyle. If you think we missed any top laptop brands, write a comment and let us know. Thanks for participating.

Written by: Sheila Kurdinger buys shapeware corsets online because that’s the easiest way to get it done. She once saw a great infographic about different clothing styles throughout the centuries.

Best Security Apps for your iPhone (Guest Post)

Security has always been an important concern for smartphones. With these gadgets coming with features that enable us to easily access our e-mail, bank accounts and many other private features, it is mandatory that you have security features that keep your personal information from falling into the wrong hands. There are a few apps that help you to prevent strangers or malicious software from accessing your phone. Here is a list of some useful apps for the iPhone.

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Electric Cars Deliver More Value for Money

Electric cars are great for the environment but somewhat less friendly on the wallet. Because of their battery packs, electric cars tend to cost between $8,000 and $15,000 more than comparable gasoline-powered sedans before federal tax and state clean tax credits, as The Washington Post reports. Through researching new vehicles, you’ll find the price differential may finally be narrowing, if the current crop of electric vehicles is any indication. Here in no particular order are some of the best electric cars for your money:

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Protect Your Consoles From Hacks and Phishing

Only a few years ago, the largest threat to a gamer involved having to blow the dust out of their cartridges. Today, Hacking NetFlix reports that three out of four current-generation console owners utilize an Internet connection for gaming and streaming, making them vulnerable to identity thieves who prey on gamers. Today’s consoles provide an all-in-one entertainment device, but this makes them vulnerable to all the safety hazards of online play and communication. How can you protect yourself when playing online?

Xbox Live

Due to the necessity of using a credit card to access Xbox Live, Microsoft’s gaming console has proven a prime target for hackers. BehindTheGames reported in May of this year that a particularly effective hacking protocol left nearly fifty million users exposed to identity theft. Turning off Xbox Live will prevent digital identity theft, but makes you unable to enjoy your games online. Instead of cutting yourself off, you can get a Hard Drive Transfer Kit (this comes standard on new 120 GB Xbox 360 units) that transfers information from one hard drive to another, so that your information remains backed up and you can swap out the sensitive data when you want to play online.

Playstation Network

Since Playstation offers its online services for free, fewer hackers try to break into the console digitally. Keep in mind, “fewer” does not mean “none”, and Sony made headlines in 2011 when their online breach put millions of customers at risk. Ars Technica reported that they were fined just under half a million dollars for the security fault. The good news is that all of your information on a Playstation can be protected by simply placing all data onto one of the removable ports, loading it onto a USB drive, and taking the drive out. While your information remains digitally stored, hackers have a very long way to go before they find out how to remotely hack an unconnected USB drive.

Wii

With only about fifty percent of Wii users logging onto the Internet to play, Nintendo has avoided the data breach scandals of its competitors. In fact, their biggest brush with hacking comes from the pirates who try to “crack” or “brick” units to play modified games. Nintendo Life reports that the company has tested its new Wii-U against external hacks and found it to be “uncompromised”. What’s more, their data protection service is easier than any other. Simply go into the Wii shop channel and choose “remove account” in settings and features. This wipes your credit card and identity information, which you can simply re-enter whenever you want to make an online purchase.

Online Accounts

Credit card fraud and identity theft becomes common when a person fails to wipe their console of information, but console hacking can be prevented rather than retroactively dealt with. You can protect yourself by using LifeLock services against all-purpose identity theft, whether it stems from bogus emails or hackers. Lifelock advice applies to consoles, as well, according to its website. It’s recommended to use pre-paid credit cards for online purchases, so that a hacker who does get hold of a credit card number has stolen only chump change.

Julius Ballard

Julius is a blogger skilled in speaking technobabble to describe his two loves: gadgets and computers. LifeLock is a Sponsor to my webpage and anything you buy with that link will give me a commission so feel free to support my site!

4 Gadgets Every Techie Should Have

If you consider yourself a techie, you need the right tools in your arsenal to keep up to date in today’s rapidly changing world. It’s easy to confuse yourself with what seems to be the next greatest product. That said, every techie should focus on getting these four essentials before they branch out to what would be considered extra.

A Smartphone

For starters, every techie needs a smartphone, which will keep you up to date on everything going on in the tech world. There is always going to be the debate about whether you should purchase an iPhone or other model. The choice is completely up to you, since every techie has their reasoning for which they chose. Be prepared to defend your decision against other techies, because there will never be consensus. Be wise in your smartphone choice because your smartphone will become your right hand man.

A Tablet

The next best thing for a techie would be a tablet. The benefits of the tablet seem to be endless. Most people see a tablet as just a larger version of a smartphone, but there is so much more to a tablet than meets the eye. A tablet is really a smaller, more portable computer. In fact, today’s tablets have become so powerful that they have the capability of running faster than a lot of computers. Tablets give you certain application functions and internet browsing speeds that you would otherwise miss out on if you were using a smartphone. Tablets are big enough to give you access to a full keyboard, just as you would on a computer. 

A Computers

As obvious as this next one might sound, in today’s world, people are tending to skip out on purchasing a computer. However, computers will always have the most capability when it comes to internet browsing. It likely won’t ever be beaten in software capability. A computer provides access to useful programs such as Photoshop and Microsoft Office that you just can’t duplicate on a Smartphone or Tablet. Computers nowadays are seen as kind of clunky, but they aren’t ‘big’ for no reason - they have much more memory and overall storage ability. For at least the next decade, there will be certain things that can only be done on a computer.

That Watch

Finally, every techie needs their very own techie watch. They’ve advanced, bu it can get a bit pricey. After all, nobody said being a true techie would be cheap. For the right price, you can purchase a watch that displays the weather, your heart rate, bits of news, and of course the time and date. Some techies prefer the even higher-tech bracelets, such as Nike fuel bands that track physical movements and distance covered, but they come at a pretty penny.

Vanessa Alvarez writes all about technology. Her recent work is on the Top Online Software Engineering Programs.

4 Essential Elements for Your Parents' IT Care Package

Your parents know how to turn on the computer and are getting better at sending texts. But let’s face it, they are basically clueless when it comes to technology. Have you ever once seen your mom pick up that iPad you and your brother chipped in to get her for Christmas? Probably not unless she’s reading a book. She doesn’t know how to use it. Now that you’re away at college and the other kids are already out of the house, your parents are floating around in technological darkness.

Since you’re not at their beck and call for tech support anymore, give them a helping hand. They’ve sent you plenty of care packages of the comforts of home since you’ve been at school. Why not do the same for them with an IT care package? Include items allowing your parents to handle their Internet and tablet needs on their own (or by you, remotely).

Spyware Protection

Most parents don’t have a clue how to protect their computers from spyware. They may not even know how important it is to do that or how easy it is for someone to hack into their computer. Fortunately, you do know and you can help them. Teach them how to avoid spyware by sending them your favorite anti-spyware program with instructions for how to install and use it. Include the tech support number for their Internet service provider if they have any trouble removing existing spyware from their computer. They’ll love you for it once they realize how important this is to computer security.

Skype

It’s inevitable. Your parents will need personal help from you every now and then until you get them independent enough to handle computer issues on their own. Send them to Skype and instruct them to download it. If they have a real problem that only you can solve, they can have a face to face conversation with you and you can walk them through it until they get it right. Just make sure they know that Skype is like the Batphone as far as you’re concerned — they should only use it to contact you in a computer-based emergency. You’re not a one-person tech support department who is always on call and this is something your parents have to learn.

Remote Assistance

Sometimes, even an in-person conversation isn’t enough to help parents solve their tech problems. You’ve simply got to do it yourself. In the past, this might have been a problem if you were across the country at school. Now, you can take charge of your parents’ computer wherever you are with Remote Assistance for Windows. This will only work if they have a PC, but most parents aren’t Mac-savvy (as you discovered with the iPad incident).

Remote access can be installed on both your computer and theirs. You can use it to simply get into their computer and fix the problem for them. Remind them that this option is to be used even less frequently than Skype. Ask them to consider Remote Assistance the 9-1-1 call of tech support for you. There may be financial penalties for misusing it, just like in the real world, such as having to send you extra gas or grocery money this month.

Google

This is probably the simplest solution to any computer problem. It’s also the one your parents are most likely to overlook. Send them a big sticky note with the word Google.com written on it in their IT care package. Remind them that any tech question they have can often be answered by Googling it and then following the instructions found on a website Google provides. This should save a lot of unnecessary phone, Skype and Remote Assistance sessions with you, so you can finally untie those tech support apron strings and start to enjoy the college life at last, knowing your parents are on their way to becoming IT independent.

Henry Tinsley — Henry teaches business courses and ESL at his local community college.

If You Cherish Your Identity, Start Paying Attention...

Identity theft is a growing concern for many consumers, especially we increasingly conduct business online and share our personal information on social media. Pittsburgh’s WPXI reports that identity theft occurs at the whopping rate of once per every three seconds. Even for people who keep much of their personal information as private as possible, recent security breaches at several major organizations show that no individual is safe from a loss of personal data, regardless of their personal habits.

For example, a security breach at the national payroll company ADP recently exposed the names and social security numbers of nearly 5,000 Houston government employees, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently settled a case in which the names, social security numbers and dates of birth of 26.5 million veterans and their families were stolen. Situations such as these are, unfortunately, out of consumers’ hands.

However, there are ways people can protect themselves and their family members from identity theft, even if their personal data is somehow compromised. Several companies are rolling out additional identity theft protection services every day.

Banking Trends

One industry implementing its own identity theft precautions is banking. Most banks offer customizable account alerts, but many consumers may never look into the advanced area of their control panels. Consumers who do want to take advantage of account alerts may be surprised to see what they can control. Account holders can get texts, emails or even calls in the event of suspicious activity or low account balances. Many banks can also alert clients if there are transactions larger than specific amounts on their accounts.

Credit Reports

The three major credit reporting bureaus all offer credit score and credit report monitoring services. These agencies can alert you to any inquiries to your credit reports or any adverse actions noted on their credit reports. Consumers can also freeze their reports in events they believe their personal information has already been compromised. Credit reports should be requested on an annual basis from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus, to make sure there is no suspicious activity.

Options for High-Risk Consumers

Certain consumers may be at higher risks of identity theft. These consumers include those who do a lot of transactions online or otherwise have high levels of exposure. If this is you, consider using an identity theft protection service such as LifeLock for added security. This protection service detects any threats on an individual’s identity and sends alerts if anything suspicious occurs. It also helps consumers track their credit scores and allows them to view their reports at any time.

Do you use any identity theft protection yourself? Tell us your preferred services in the comments.

Get a 30-day free trial of LifeLock Ultimate and save 10% off your final purchase!

Heidi Diamond

Heidi is a grad student working on a Ph.D in linguistics and communication. When she’s not studying and blogging, you can find her jogging on the beach with her beloved golden retrievers.

Google Glass: The New Smartphone!

Thanks to smartphones, we are able to carry the universe in our pockets. But the next big advancement in technology could take us beyond the horizons reached by smartphones and tablets, allowing for the full integration of the virtual with the real world with Google Glass.

How Does Google Glass Work?

Google Glass is a lot like a smartphone or tablet in that it allows for constant connectivity. But instead of having to fumble with a hand-held gadget, this device allows you to simply look through a pair of glasses perched on your head. Those with Google Glass are able to utilize a variety of apps and Internet functions through use of voice commands.

Google Glass For Fashionistas

Although the very development of Google Glass is impressive in and of itself, the technology currently is not without significant problems. One major concern voiced by a number of prospective users surrounds the wearability of the device. Many worry about the aesthetics of the glasses, which are, admittedly, pretty far from fashionable. While proponents of the gadget argue that those concerned with fashion can simply take off the glasses in situations where they are not appropriate, others feel that, if the device needs to constantly be removed, its accessibility really isn’t much of an improvement over that of the already existing smartphone.

Google is beginning to address these fashion-related concerns with the help of glasses designer and manufacturer Warby Parker. Once Google Glass and Warby Parker are able to develop a design that is functional, comfortable and reasonably stylish, users should truly be able to integrate Google Glass into every aspect of their lives.

Google Glass And TV

Just as smartphones and tablets have had a major impact on the world of entertainment, it’s expected that Google Glass would also make its mark. But would the new technology harm TV or add to it? Arguably, the latter option would have the greater impact. After all, while many people have begun to watch their favorite shows on their tablet computers, more have opted to use mobile technology as a means of supplementing the viewing experience while still utilizing the TV as the primary medium. The same could easily be true for Google Glass.

Google Glass could easily determine the direction of the streaming, cable and satellite market in years to come. New packages are likely to develop alongside current HD and premium channels. These future TV packages might include live news and sports feeds integrated with the wearable Google Glass, explains Install-direct-tv..

Will Google Glass Just Be A Passing Fad?

The current excitement related to Google Glass has led many critics to wonder: does this technology have the potential to stand the test of time, or will it just be a passing fad? The answer to this question will be determined by a number of factors. First, in order to truly make its mark, Google Glass will need to be kept affordable. Right now, the introductory price is listed at $1,500, which, for many, is way out of reach, according to PC World. Factor in questions of the gadget’s limited durability and you have some critics positing that Google Glass will die out in a few years.

Sarah Davenport believes quality and relevant content is the future of the digital age, which is why she is happy to write about all things pertaining to SEO and social media.

What To Look For in A Quality Video Game!

There are hundreds of video games available to purchase, but a lot of them are not worth their cost or will only provide a few hours of entertainment. Luckily, there are an abundance of great video games from every genre. When purchasing a game, it is vital to do research in order to save money. Everyone has different tastes in video games, though most people first and foremost want to be entertained. Here are four tips to find a quality video game that basically anyone can benefit from!

 Reviews

To find out a game’s popularity, check out reviews on the game. Gaming magazines routinely review the newest games, going as far as to recommend the game or not. Better yet, check out reviews on sites that sell the game. Reviews from fellow gamers will be unbiased and offer a unique prospective. Take extremely positive or negative reviews with a grain of salt - they are likely to be fake. Most sites will have an overall rating, such as four out of five stars. Reviews from fellow gamers will give the buyer an idea on how enjoyable the game is.
 

Long-Running Series

Some video games seemingly come out with new versions every year. These include games such as Madden Football, Resident Evil, or Mario. Any video game that has been around for many years certainly has gained a devoted following. Gamers speak with their wallets, so this is a sure sign that the game is a solid choice.

Borrow or Rent

It is difficult to find an enjoyable video game without testing it out first. The only way to test a game is to bring it home and play for a while. There are rental services that work much like Netflix, but for video games. This is a powerful way to test out games without shelling out very much money. This can help the gamer determine if the game is quality or if they should save their money. Another way is to borrow the game from a fellow gamer - this is a fantastic & free option to test out a desired game.

Previews

Often, software companies release free downloads for their video games. Downloading and installing shareware offers a terrific way to get a feel for any game. This allows the gamers to test out the basics, and to get a feel for the game. The great thing about shareware games is they can be obtained quickly and tested out within an hour or two. Many gaming companies have sections of their sites devoted to shareware downloads. It may not seem like it, but many gamers would testify that it’s crucial to test a game in order to get a true feel for it.

Tim Gail writes about all thing related to technology. His best work focuses on online computer science degrees.

Common Pitfalls in Software Development!

At times, software development is a tremendously difficult process. Not only do multiple departments need to come together, but deadlines are often difficult to meet. Most software companies release software later than their expected release date. Most pitfalls are avoidable, while others are an inevitable part of the process. Oftentimes, software companies have unrealistic expectations regarding their software engineers. Here are the five most common pitfalls in software development.

Communication

Software development involves multiple departments. This can cause communication problems. Oftentimes, the marketing department, has entirely different ideas than the software engineers. The finance department can have problems with both marketing and software development. In software development, there needs to be communication between all departments and their. At a software company, everyone from the CEO down to software testers should be involved in the process. Poor communication results in missed release dates and will cost a company a lot of money.
 

Expectations

This goes along with communication - a company needs to set realistic release dates. Quality software needs to be tested by the quality assurance department multiple times, and the engineers need time to fix errors. Setting unrealistic expectations will cause the software to be released prematurely, with errors and omissions. Engineers that that constantly work long hours are going to put out an inferior product.

Estimates

When making estimates for a release date, many software companies set their release date way too early. When starting a project, it is almost impossible to have a release date for nine months in the future. Instead, software companies should set estimates on a different scale. A company needs to set estimates for each release and QA testing round. Following a schedule is much easier when setting short term release dates; this will also give the company a rough timeline for release.

Robin Hughes writes about education and technology. Her most recent work discusses online web design degrees in the US.

Free Anonymous Browsing with Opera-Tor

Photo by Philip Chapman-Bell

Anonymous browsing is something of huge interest to the Internet users, who are very particular about their online privacy and security. There may be many reasons and situations, when you might be interested in using internet anonymously; for instance, you may be working on a public place and do not want to leave the traces or you may not like your family members or office colleagues to know what you have been doing online. Whatever be the reason, but still, it is an area, where a lot research is to be done.

How Anonymous Browsers Operate?

At present there are two dominant techniques used by various anonymous browsing tools. One is the use of JAP Networks, which was used hugely used earlier but later it ran into controversies after a backdoor had to be put into the product to allow interception of child pornographers on insistence of German Police.

The second technique is the use of Tor (The Onion Ring), which only allows anonymous browsing but also facilitates other applications like anonymous P2P, email, IM, and IRC chat. This technique is dominantly used in present day anonymous browsing tools.

Operator – A useful anonymous browser

OperaTor is small and relatively fast anonymous web browser, which combines the browsing platform of Opera, with privacy provided by Tor engines and the speed of browsing provided by Polipo.

You can download this 7MB application in your USB drive and carry it whenever you need to use a public computer for anonymous surfing.

In my testing, I was pleasantly surprised with the speed of browsing, which I was getting with this little tool. I had earlier used XBBrowser for anonymous browsing, but it was too slow, as compared to Operator. In fact, there was hardly any noticeable difference in the browsing speed as compared to my normal Opera browser. This is because of Polipo, the small caching web proxy, that comes bundled with Opera-Tor.

Since Operator allows only http and https protocols in anonymous mode, you should avoid Javascripts and Opera's IRC functions running through it.

Some people complain that it has not yet released the source code of itself. But my view is that unless you are hard-core programmer and really need to tweak the source code, why should you worry about that. After all, trusted networks like CNet says OperaTor has been tested spyware free and Softpedia gave OperaTor its 100% Clean award. Major antivirus vendors, like GData, Kaspersky, McAfee and Microsoft, confirm that OperaTor contains no malicious software.

Overall, one of the best applications for anonymous browsing available today.

Download Operator.

[This is a guest post by Silki Garg. She advises on how to eliminate spyware, online threats and malware detection, on her Internet Security Blog. A visit to her Blog is highly recommended. You’re sure to find something of interest.]