Why Privacy Matters in a Digital World (and Tips to Protect Your Personal Data)

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In this digital age, there are two important facts you should keep in mind. First, the online world is not a safe place. Second, internet privacy always matters.  

As of January 2017, statistics show that 50% of the global population has access to the Internet. While this may sound like amazing news, being connected to the online world, however, has its drawbacks – and one of these is the access and abuse of your personal data. 

Did you know that hacking attacks happen every 39 seconds? Cybercriminals, organisations and even the government can get your information easily and use it for their own purposes. In fact, a survey from TechRepublic in 2016 found that 95% of breached records came from the following industries: Government, retail, and technology industries. In 2018, cybercrime generated at least $1.5 billion. No wonder the cybersecurity market is expected to be worth $300 billion in 2024. 

If you don’t take your online privacy seriously, a lot of unexpected things can happen. Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself and your family from data security threats.

The Importance of Online Privacy

Privacy is a person’s right to keep their personal matters and information a secret from the public eye. Data privacy refers to how data (a piece of information) is gathered, shared and used. Internet privacy (also known as Personally Identifiable Information) falls to the category of data privacy.  

Issues related to data privacy can occur in response to information from different sources such as health records, financial transactions, privacy breaches and using persistent website cookies. In addition, as more and more people are using the Internet to search for information, purchase things online or send emails, data privacy has become increasingly important, but at the same time, at risk of cyberattacks. 

Cybercriminals use advanced techniques to get your personal and financial information. They violate consumer privacy because they can earn from it. Once they can access your account, they can easily steal your most important data such as your contact details, email addresses, credit card numbers, and working IP address. Government agencies and private companies, who also collect your data, are also at risk of major data breaches, which can cause them extensive and damaging after-effects. 

That’s why internet privacy is critical. As a user, it is your responsibility to protect your personal data by staying vigilant with any information you share online. You have the right to secure your privacy and to file a legal complaint whenever your information is being used without your permission. 

Surprising Online Privacy Facts You Need to Know

The following online privacy facts further explain the importance of data privacy and how to stay safe while you’re using the Internet. 

Ads follow you around the web – have you noticed that when you jump from one website to another, the same ad shows up based on your recent web searches or visits? This is called “behavioural retargeting”, which is used by advertisers for around 8 years. They do this by dropping Cookies on your browser, and other techniques. This helps them track your activities online including your browsing habits. To avoid this, be sure to disable or delete cookies as often as needed. 

Always online? You can be at greater risk for cyberattacks – in 2017, 17 million Americans have been affected by identity theft (Javelin Strategy). Cybercriminals are getting smarter. They use various strategies to trick users into revealing their personal information or infect their devices with spyware and malware. By simply downloading files or clicking and sharing links with an unknown source, you can easily lose your personal data or bank account details.   

Reusing passwords can make your account hackable – are you guilty of using the same password for all your accounts and devices? Though this helps you to remember your password easily, it can also compromise your data privacy. Once a cybercriminal can get into one of your accounts, they could also access your other accounts or devices that use the same password. Securing your passwords in the first place using a password manager can help prevent this threat from happening. 

Skipping reading the Terms and Conditions means access to all kinds of data – A website’s Privacy Policy is the gist of information that tells the way the website gathers, uses, and discloses your data. Be sure to take the time to read the Policies and don’t click the Agree button right away until you fully understand what’s written on the document. 

Your Internet records are retained – Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or Telecom companies can store your Internet connection records for a longer period. They don’t only monitor your activities online but also filter your email and slows down other websites. In addition, they also know your browsing history and have a record of all your contact information such as emails, contacts, schedules including the places you’ve been to and the photos you uploaded.

The Facebook-Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal

In early 2018, the Internet community was shaken by what was deemed as a major political scandal in history involving two giant companies: Facebook and Cambridge Analytica.

Facebook, as we all know, is one of the largest and most influential social media company services in the world today, with 500 million active members. Cambridge Analytica, on the other hand, is a data analytics and consulting firm based in the UK with offices in New York and Washington DC.

The scandal was revealed in March 2018. Cambridge Analytica was accused of illegally collecting and using data from over 50 million Facebook users in America and at least a million in Britain. This data was used to “change audience behaviour” and influence a number of political campaigns like the US presidential elections and Brexit. As stated by the Cambridge Analytica whistle-blower Christopher Wylie, “We exploited Facebook to harvest millions of people’s profiles”.

How Facebook Data was used by Cambridge Analytica?

To better understand this complex situation, here’s a summary of what really happened between Facebook and Cambridge Analytica:

  • In 2014, Facebook launched a personality quiz app called “thisisyourdigitallife”, which was created by University of Cambridge Psychology Professor Aleksandr Kogan.
  • The app involves filling out the questionnaire which allows the software to collect the user’s personal information, including their Facebook friends’ details. Kogan passed the gathered data to Cambridge Analytica.
  • The data harvesting of users who took the quiz, including their connections, resulted in the data breach of the overall 50 million Facebook users’ personal information. This activity is illegal in many countries and violates Facebook’s data policy.
  • Cambridge Analytica used the collected data points from Facebook to create a profile-based model and run personalised political campaigns suitable for different users on other social media platforms, aside from Facebook. This system allegedly influences the target voters’ decision making and election choices.

Following the data breach revelations, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued his public apology:” We have a responsibility to protect your information. If we can’t, we don’t deserve it… This was a breach of trust, and I’m sorry we didn’t do more at the time. We’re now taking steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” As for Cambridge Analytica, CEO Alexander Nix was suspended from his position and the company stopped its operation on the 1st of May 2018.

Easy Ways to Help Protect Your Personal Data 

Here are some simple and quick tips to help you stay smart online:

  • Don’t automatically provide your personal data. Think carefully before you click. Determine if the source can really be trusted. If you are asked online in an exchange of downloadable material, consider using an old or fake account to protect your personal information. 
  • Use and create different accounts depending on the platform you’re using. For instance, have a different email address for your social media, and another separate email for your other online accounts. 
  • Use strong and unique passwords for all of your important accounts. Avoid saving passwords on your devices. Be mindful of what you and your family share on social media. 
  • Safely delete all important data from the gadgets and devices that you are no longer using such as computers, smartphones, and tablets.  
  • Before throwing them away, shred papers and documents that contain personal and sensitive information. 
  • Update your computer’s operating system and browser. Make sure that you’re using a licensed and latest version of security and antivirus software.
  • Enable encryption in your messaging apps. Store your most important data on a backup external disk and not on a device you often used.  

The fantastic advances in the field of electronic communication constitute a greater danger to the privacy of the individual. — Earl Warren

Data privacy is a serious matter and must always be taken seriously. By keeping these reminders in mind and by being cautious of sharing your personal information online, you can prevent privacy risks and improve your private browsing experience. 

They say online privacy is dead. At Life Intelligence Group, we say it’s fully alive. Securing and protecting the privacy of our online community is one of our top priorities. This is why we use technology to protect your privacy only. You can get your own personal assistant to do your online transactions while staying completely private.  To learn more about how our tools (TaskSpur & Ari) can keep your personal information and Internet activities private, please visit our website: https://www.taskspur.com/.

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What we say about NitroPack

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Allow me to let our Google PageSpeed Score tell you what Nitropack can do.

Google PageSpeed Score: Mobile

Nitropack Review: Does it Really Work? 1

Google PageSpeed Score: Desktop

nitropack-brodneil-google-pagespeed-score-desktop

By far, this is the best plugin I’ve tried to speed up WordPress websites. Nitropack can also be used for Magento, OpenCart, WooCommerce, and custom websites.


Google Adsense and Nitropack

I know for a fact that Google Adsense Installation Slows Down My Site or Drops My Google PageSpeed Insights Score Significantly.

With Nitropack, this is no longer an issue.

Here is something I just learned today (2020 11 9) and I got this from Deyan of Nitropack.

If you would enable Google Ads on the site, enable the Optimize Ads option under Settings.

Nitropack Review: Does it Really Work? 2
Enable Optimize Ads
Ads will not block the initial page render

Source: https://www.brodneil.com/nitropack-review-does-it-really-work/
Nitropack Review: Does it Really Work?

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What is Broadband internet connection?

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Modem WiFi router

Broadband refers to high internet connection. In other words, it is fast internet access. There are no clear definitions of what high internet connection should be but it is easy to determine if your internet is fast enough on some set benchmarks. High internet connection is anything which has speeds of over 256 Kilobytes per second. However, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recognizes high internet speeds to be a minimum of 768 kbps or more in bit rate. The standard dial-up internet connection which most of us use, has only a bit rate of 56kps.

However, I understand that numbers are not everyone’s bread and butter and therefore if the above numerals do not mean much to you, what you simply need to understand is that a high internet connection allows you to download, upload, stream or do any other task online without a hitch. Broadband internet connections will give you a breath-taking internet experience.

Compared to the dial-up or the narrow internet connection, broadband connection is similar to a highway with countless lanes which allows more traffic. Most broadband connections are done by use of a modem WiFi router, cable or the DSL connection. The use of DSL makes broadband internet connection more affordable but the speeds and quality of the connections will all depend with where you are located.

To get a reliable broadband connection, you need to hire the services of a reputable Internet Service Provider (ISP). One well established UK business broadband provider is Lascom Solutions Ltd. They offer  free telephone line with broadband installation, along with all the various technologies, ADSL, FTTF, FTTP and leased lines. They can tailor an unlimited use package to suit business needs. That’s why it’s wise to settle on a provider with best, affordable and guaranteed coverage in your location. Their prices are also, fixed for the duration of the contract and for UK based business only.

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Future of E-Commerce

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E-commerce v Retail: 

For all its enduring hype — physical versus digital, offline versus on — the old war is over. In fact, it’s always been a lie. Choice, not location, is commerce’s greatest opportunity and its most-looming threat.

In defense of retail’s “apocalypse,” brick-and-mortar losses are mounting; the four-year bankruptcy count now sits at 57 once-landmark chains. Manufacturing market share and in-store sales for consumer packaged goods are flat or declining. Born-online “microbrands” have devoured the lion’s share of growth. And ecommerce’s gains continue to trounce retail as a whole.

Here’s the uncomfortable twist: brick-and-mortar still dominates online sales by over $20 trillion. And the gap will widen. After a quarter century, ecommerce’s spread is slowing, 80% of 2018’s gains belonged to Amazon, and (in the U.S.) the top five online retailers own 64.7% of sales:

The brands that are winning,” says Fab Dolan, Head of Marketing at Google Canada, “are the ones that understand and own the fundamental interplay between experiential and transactional. If we were to believe that retail is dead, then we should be spending all of our money doing online ads and guiding people to our website. And yet, what we’re seeing time and time again is that building anticipation and an appreciation for the magic of our products happens in the real world even though most people buy online or through call centers.

“Will retail look fundamentally different and maybe unrecognizable in ten years? Yeah. But it’ll always depend on how you navigate the interplay between offline and online worlds, how you — the brand — interlock customers and products.”

The future belongs neither to legacy giants nor pure-play ecommerce. Instead, it belongs to direct-to-consumer (DTC) models, often referred to as digitally native vertical brands (DNVB). Just don’t let the name fool you.

Read more:https://www.shopify.com/enterprise/the-future-of-ecommerce

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Epson EH TW9300W Review of the best bang for buck projector

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Leading Evaluations Confirmed Purchase of the Epson EH TW9300W

https://youtu.be/nKajcKf7JoE

Follow the link for more information https://amzn.to/36GsNRI

I acquired my last projector back in 2002 – an LCD Toshiba MT7 1000 lumen “400:1 ANSI comparison” projector. It had a good widescreen image and has also offered excellent contentment for over 15 years. I eventually obtained an Epson EH TW9300W as I was fed up with not having an HDMI input considering that Hollywood has really worked so successfully to make RGB inputs dated.

Epson EH TW9300W review

This EH-9300W Epson is commonly kept in mind as a Best buy, after a couple of weeks use, I really do concur. A much brighter sharper image. Outstanding comparison (though constantly restricted by location darkness). And also the 4K improved (not the 8 megapixels of real 4K, yet a real 4 megapixels which is still twice the pixels of HDTV) picture is visibly sharper than HD alone. The 9000:1 on-off comparison is undoubtedly far better than my previous projector, nevertheless, it is fascinating that also 400:1 can look fantastic in my partly lit resting space. I utilize a repainted inflexible 110″ diag screen (taking advantage of Goo Display Paint) however this projector can rapidly predict a really viewable 160″ image!

One of the most intriguing as well as practical features of the Epson EH TW9300W is that for about ₤ 150 more; it includes a WiHD 60GHz cordless transmitter to beam 4K pictures wirelessly to the projector. Additionally, the little transmitter box has four complete HDCP 2.2 rated 4K HDMI inputs (much better than the wired inputs on the projector itself) and additionally will definitely likewise reroute and also result in full digital audio on it’s HDMI out port to my non-HDCP v2.2 qualified Yamaha Theater Amplifier. This suggests I can get full Dolby TrueHD etc from 4 K resources (like an Apple TV 4K) without needing to scrap my 2-year-old Yamaha. The wireless link functions flawlessly every time given <10m and sight. The only disadvantage is a 4 second “optimizing” duration prior to a photo exists each time an input is transformed. In addition the HDMI inputs on the transmitter can authorize a bigger collection of framework prices in addition to colour depths than the inputs on the projector (which has silly restrictions because of a 10Gbit/s chipset being made use of in contrast to a more recent 18Gb/s one) Overall the cordless alternative is extremely much recommended for this projector, in my perspective.

Epson EH TW9300W review

I am delighted in High Dynamic Array/ Wide Colour Range flicks from my new Apple TV 4K. Numerous clients have actually said that HDR is “incredibly readable” on this projector, as well as additionally it might undoubtedly be far much better than the competitors, nonetheless in my point of view, the typical scene illumination loss is not worth the increased light selection or larger color of the image. I select to have some light in the space as well as using the more vibrant SDR image. The SDR picture is genuinely excellent in addition to the choice is still there to attempt HDR in a completely dimmed room should I in the past intend to.

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Smartphone Insurance for Your New iPhone or iPad

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It happens in an instant. You are walking down the street listening to music on your iPhone or iPad when you stumble and drop it. Your stomach sinks as you see your extremely expensive phone flying through the air before landing on concrete, smashing the screen.

Unfortunately, it is very easy to damage fragile electronic devices like iPhones and iPads in this way. They can be destroyed instantly if they are dropped onto a hard surface or exposed to liquid. Additionally, iPads and iPhones are frequently targeted by criminals because of their high value, with thousands of devices being stolen each year in the UK.

The limited warranty provided by Apple doesn’t cover breakdown outside the warranty period, accidental damage, loss, or theft. This means that your expensive electronic device is vulnerable and could be lost or destroyed at any moment.

Fortunately, it is possible to purchase insurance for smartphones and tablets. This can provide protection against theft, loss, accidental damage, and breakdown outside of the warranty period. Here is some more information about how smartphone and tablet insurance works, and the main benefits of purchasing this type of insurance.

What is Smartphone and Tablet Insurance?

Smartphone and Tablet Insurance is similar to other forms of property insurance. You pay an insurance company a monthly or annual premium to cover one or more smartphone or tablet devices.

If one of your devices is stolen, lost, damaged, or breaks down (outside of warranty period), you can lodge a claim and the insurance company will immediately repair or replace your device. The scope of protection goes beyond warranty or guarantee provided by Apple or the company you originally bought the device from.

Most mobile and tablet insurance policies will cover any accidental damage, theft, breakdown, or loss of your phone. However, it is possible to purchase plans which only cover specific types of incidents. So, if you are only concerned about your device being stolen, you can obtain coverage for theft alone.

In most cases, you will need to pay a small “deductible” when making a claim. The deductible is the amount of money you will pay in an insurance claim before the insurance company makes a contribution. The size of an insurance deductible will vary based between different plans.

 Benefits of Smartphone and Tablet Insurance

There are several benefits obtained by purchasing smartphone and tablet Insurance, including:
#1 – It can save you a lot of money

iPhones and iPads seem to go up in price every single year, with the most expensive devices now costing well over £1,000. This is a lot of money to lose if your device is broken, lost, or stolen.

Smartphone and tablet insurance will reimburse you or pay for repairs if something happens to your device. The only cost you may have to pay is a deductible, the size of which varies based on the type of insurance plan you are on. The savings can be huge, particularly if your device is one of the more expensive models.

 #2 – Minimizes disruption to your life

If you are like most people, your smartphone or tablet will hold the contents of your life. You might use it for many tasks including work, to communicate with friends, to manage your finances, to book flights, and so on.

If your device is stolen, lost or broken, it can significantly impact your personal and professional life. It could make it impossible to work effectively or impact your ability to socialize with others. Having smartphone and tablet insurance means you can lodge a claim and quickly obtain a replacement device. This minimizes the amount of disruption to your life if something happens to your iPhone or iPad.

#3 – Insurance covers scenarios that warranties don’t

The warranties provided by manufacturers like Apple are very limited. They will only cover defects in materials and workmanship when the device is used normally in accordance with the company’s published guidelines. If the device is used in a way that was not intended, breaks down outside of warranty period, is stolen, accidentally damaged, or lost, Apple will not help you. Insurance provides much-needed coverage for these other scenarios.

 #4 – Insurance is affordable

Mobile and smartphone insurance is surprisingly affordable and has low deductibles. You can obtain coverage from as little as £3 a month, which is a tiny fraction of the cost of your device.

 #5 – Filing a claim is simple
If something does happen to your insured phone or tablet, getting a replacement or repair is simple. You won’t have to negotiate with the company you bought the device from, you simply lodge a claim and pay your deductible. It is a much faster process than dealing with Apple or another retailer.

#6 – Unauthorized calls are often covered

If your phone is stolen, the person who took it may begin making long distance calls. This can turn the theft of your phone into an even more expensive dilemma as any incurred call charges will be your responsibility. Fortunately, it’s common for insurance companies to provide a certain amount of reimbursement for unauthorized calls.

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