Thursday, April 27, 2017

Find Your New Job Easily With These Reliable Mobile Job Search Apps

Nowadays, finding the "dream job" or even just any decent job can be tough. And while competition for limited professional high-paying corporate jobs is intense, there's now a great number of mobile job search apps that can greatly help you achieve your future "work goals."

So don't lose hope and try one of these job search apps below.

Monster


Monster is like the simplified version of LinkedIn/LinkedIn Jobs but without the people network. The app lets you search for job leads, track your job applications, update your resumé (no online portfolio like LinkedIn), receive messages (some legit and some are not), and tweak your settings.

The best advice is to make sure that your resumé is current and updated on all of your mobile job apps. This way, you are sure that you're sending out the same content whenever you're blasting an Easy Apply resumé from whichever app you are on.

The Monster app is available for iOS and Android users.

Indeed


This app doesn't come with all the bells and whistles you would see in other apps like LinkedIn, but since Indeed is a job lead aggregator, you'll probably find many of the same job leads here that you'd find on the other job search apps.

Once you update your resumé and set up your job search agents (via the web interface), you'll be taken to a ton of job leads under "Recommended Jobs" from the app's home screen.

You can download the app for iOS and Android.

LinkedIn


The app for LinkedIn is the simplified version of LinkedIn.com. All of the base components appear at the bottom of the app's screen -- Home, My Network, Messaging, Notifications, and Me. The Home screen of the app looks similar to Facebook's news feed, and sometimes a job posting or two.

And similar to the features offered in the LinkedIn website, the app allows you to update your resume, add companies you've previously worked with, add contacts, co-workers, former supervisors, and so on. Besides the social and labor component, it also shows us loads of news related to your work interest. If you want to be updated, all you have to do is consult the app's main page.

The app is available for iOS and Android.

LinkedIn Jobs


As versatile as the LinkedIn app may be, LinkedIn Jobs is somewhat bare bones. The app's home screen also functions as a place where you can do a search. The only searching parameters you can do here is the "Job title or keyword" and "Location." It'll default to whatever location you have set as yours from your LinkedIn member account.

One of the best features of this app is the Easy Apply, which lets you use your LinkedIn profile to quickly apply for a position instead of having to fill out those dreadful online Applicant Tracking System job applications. However, to make sure that your job application doesn't disappear elsewhere, you still need to use the main LinkedIn app to contact those companies you would like to pursue your application with.

Download the app for iOS and Android.

Glassdoor


With the Glassdoor job search app, you can easily find the job you really love and get hired. It provides access to the latest job listings from companies hiring right now, and you'll have an inside look at company reviews, salaries, benefits, and office photos shared by those who know the company best -- the employees. It also has a tool called Know Your Worth, which can help you determine how your market value has trended over time, how your market value compares to typical workers in the same field, and also plot your current base pay.

With Glassdoor, you can tap into the world's most comprehensive career community to search job openings, discover your earning potential, and see what it's really like to work at thousands of companies worldwide.

The app is available for iOS and Android users.

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Internet of Things: Best Practices for Users Who Own Connected Home Gadgets

The Internet of Things (IoT) is based on sensors and controls in different gadgets. When those different gadgets are used to create a smart home, they can give residents unprecedented control and insight. The proliferation of smart devices, however, also opens the door to new dangers and threats.

Remember when you’re installing a device in your home that it is really just a tiny computer. Even with something as simple as a smart light socket that you can control remotely with your phone, what makes that possible is the little computer in the switch that can talk to the Internet, and anything that isn’t secured on the Internet is fair game to hackers.

There are steps you can take to make cyber-attacks more difficult and to discourage the simpler attacks. Think of these steps as the connected home equivalent of putting locks on your doors and windows.

Be aware of the data each device can capture
Understand the sensors that are at play on each device in your home, so, for example, does your TV have a camera that’s facing out to the entire living room or the bedroom? Whenever you deploy something with sensors in your home, you’re raising your risk of unauthorized access. Make sure any cameras are pointed only at the specific areas you’re concerned about.

Make the most of the security features in the device
One of the major problems is that devices are deployed with some pretty insecure defaults. If you simply set up your devices with their default configurations, an attacker could use tools to find them and learn their passwords. You need to change the default passwords, and, if the device allows it, use a strong password with upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Some vendors can ship their products in an insecure configuration, but they will have built better security into the tool.

Keep your networks separate
A lot of modern wireless routers allow you to set up multiple access points off the same device. It definitely will never hurt to have one that’s dedicated for your home automation system, your TV connection, but keep a separate network for your computers and or phones. Give that network a separate password, so that if someone manages to steal your network password from your laptop, they won’t also get access to your connected-home devices.

Secure your networks
Configure your wireless router to make it invisible so that the associated Wi-Fi network cannot be found using automatic searching. Any user will need to know its name to make the connection.

Be careful about who handles your smart home network
Smart home device owners shouldn’t let unauthorized personnel touch them, especially the devices with USB ports. Watch out for scammers who offer to fix or improve your devices, or unauthorized shops that say they can repair it, but could instead compromise it.

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Providing an Extra Layer of Security and Privacy When Browsing the Web

An increase in cyber-attacks and identity theft seems to make the Internet like a scary place these days. But computers and the Internet, realistically, have moved on to become a “need” in terms of work and even at home.

However, we often take to pause on the enormity of cyber-hacking attacks such as the one announced last year but had been going on since 2014 of a billion dollar identity theft from almost a billion Yahoo Mail users. 

But since browsing the web is an almost daily necessity both at home and at work, how can individuals protect and lay a sort of extra layer of security and privacy for their network and computers?

Make your password really hard to hack
Hard passwords include upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters. They should be at least eight characters in length. They should also not use words or dates easy for hackers to find, like your pet’s name or your birthday.

Then, change your password regularly
A very common mistake made by users is to create one hard password, but then never change it. Remembering a long list of complicated passwords can be difficult. But no password is unbreakable. Hackers are better able to hack multiple accounts if those accounts all have the same password so never use one password for all your accounts. You can change your passwords annually.

Clear your browser history
This goes for your home computer, your work computer, or your friend’s iPad that are used on a daily basis. Internet browsers like Firefox or Chrome keep track of where you’ve been and what you’ve done online. They keep records of every site you visited. Information about what you sent from or saved on your computer can be kept for days or weeks. It is very easy for anyone who sees that information to steal a detailed record of your online activities.

Don’t use free Wi-Fi
An increasing number of public places now offer free wireless access to the Internet. Often, a user does not need a password to connect to these wireless networks. These services might be useful, but they’re also an easy way for hackers to access everything on your device. Unless you really need it, it is best not to use it, and don’t access financial accounts using free Internet.

Watch what you click
One of the most successful ways hackers infect your computer is through a technique called phishing. This occurs when someone opens an e-mail attachment that looks real. But the attachment is actually a virus that immediately infects the user’s computer. If someone sends you a file or a website you did not ask for, it is best not to click on it.

Avoid using public computers
Those without a computer or Internet access at home often use Internet cafes to get online. However, the more different people use a computer, the more likely a virus or malware has infected it.

Have anti-virus protection
There are many anti-virus programs available. They can offer many different types of computer protection. Some anti-virus services are even free. They are a great way to have something professional keep users one step ahead of hackers.

Be careful while using flash drives
Flash drives are small and easy storage devices to use across different computers. They are a popular device that people use to exchange files and documents. They can also spread viruses easily across computers and networks.

Friday, March 31, 2017

5 Strategies to Help Your Business Succeed Thru Social Media



You may have probably been thinking how your competitors are using the best of social media in their business? Do you need help in getting started with your social media strategy? Every business has a specific set of goals and objectives that will guide them in order to successfully connect with their customers. Below, you will find some business strategies that might help you succeed and become a brand persona:

Identify the Goals of Your Business

It's next to impossible to move further without knowing the business goals you want to achieve. Whatever strategy you implement will work only when you're clear about your targets. You need to closely identify the overall needs of your business and how to reach those needs through social media.

Surely, you'll find a number of personalized goals when it comes to marketing through social media. Some of them can be included in your business strategy for attaining brand awareness, retaining customers, and to cut down the relevant costs.

Set Objectives to Measure Your Performance

Usually, the goals aren't useful if you don't have existing objectives and parameters that would let you know which goal you have accomplished. Eventually, it happens that one of your goals is already generating leads and sales, but you don't know how many leads you need to generate to move to the next target. You need to be smart to make your objectives specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound, so that you can always keep track of your progress.

Once you're done with your objectives, it's also important to get those goals achieved with the deadline. If you don't set a deadline, your efforts and resources will get wasted.

Identify your Target Audience

If your business has low engagement on social media, it means you're not reaching out to the accurate audience. Your business can rapidly grow, once you reach out to the ideal customers, at the right time, in the right place. When you're clear with your target audiences' likes and dislikes, age, and interests, it will become easier for you to target them on social media.

Get to Know Your Competitors

When it comes to promoting your business on social media, you need to be aware of your competitors' social media strategy. This would give you an idea of how they work towards reaching their targets. If you find them good enough, you can also think opf ways of how to incorporate those tactics in your business. You can also keep an eye on the content and other stuff they are posting, understand their promotional strategies and ideas, and how they respond to their audience.

Choose the Appropriate Channel

If your target audiences are spending more time on one social media platform than the other, you need to choose the one which has more number of your possible audience. This is an easy way to reach out to more number of people in a very short time.

Almost every business in existence today has its own social media profiles. If you are new to social media marketing, without wasting much time, determine which network works best for your business and reach out to your audience.

Friday, March 24, 2017

4 Awesome Android Apps For Your Wireless File Transfer Needs


Have you ever had an instance wherein you want to transfer a file to (or from) your PC from your Android device, but don't want to go through the hassle of connecting different kinds of cables just to accomplish that task? If your answer is yes, then you may want to check out these helpful apps that will enable you to wirelessly transfer files from one device to another.

Airdroid


Airdroid is a remote access and wireless file-transferring tool, which works by asking the user to sign in from a computer and then creates a virtual desktop that has the capability to access contacts, download apps from the phone to the PC, send text messages remotely, and transfer files back and forth.
The app lets you choose how to complete the connection between the two devices you'll be exchanging files with, and provides all the guidance you need along the way. Other major features include:
  • Notification Mirror - mirror phone notifications from any allowed apps to your computer.
  • Backup & sync - backup photos and videos from phone to computer
  • SMS & Contacts management - send and receive SMS, and manage phone contacts from the desktop.
  • AirIME - use your desktop keyboard to type on your phone
  • Record screenshot - record phone screenshot with one click, no root required (Desktop client only)
  • Speed boost - clean memory and boost phone speed
  • Other phone management features (Web client only)
    • Find phone: locate your phone when it's lost
    • Remote camera: see through the lens of both front and back cameras.
    • Apps & Media: manage photos, ringtones and videos, upload and install and export apks.
Amaze File Manager


The Amaze File Manager app doesn't only let you manage your files on Android with some really slick material design, it also has the ability to host its own FTP file transfer server that anyone can connect to. This means any user can fire up Filezilla (or any other FTP client) and quickly place or remove files from the Android device. However, FTP isn't the only feature this app can offer. Amaze File Manager also has the ability to mount Samba file shares. This feature is perfect for those who have a Samba file server on the network and want to wirelessly grab a file or two.

Portal


Portal is a wireless file transfer tool created by Pushbullet that allows users to throw files into a "portal" and then transfer them wirelessly from any computer to any mobile device with the portal app installed. To transfer a file, the user only need to do is open the app, head to the portal website and scan a unique QR code. After that, it is possible to use the wireless network to instantly beam any file right away.

A lot of mobile users will be glad to know that they can easily get a file from one place to another. Unfortunately, transferring files with Portal is a one-way type of system. Currently, there isn't any way to transfer in reverse. Still, if you're looking for a program that can send a file from PC to phone, Portal is a good choice.

Sweech


Several wireless transfer tools on Android are dressed-up FTP tools. The app itself hosts an FTP server for the user to connect to over the network. This works well, and even though FTP is quite an old technology, it has its uses. Still, sometimes you might want to transfer files from one device to another instead of that standard "access FTP on a Windows PC."


Sweech doesn't only make it possible for users to access the phone for file transfers via an IP address, but the app has other features as well. If you install Sweech on your Android phone, you can the "Android beam" to wirelessly transfer files from one device to another. Also, it has the ability to generate a unique QR code for file-transfers because typing long IP addresses in the web browsers can be a hassle.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

What You Need to Know About Computer Crashes and Its Causes

What causes a computer to crash? Computer crashes can happen for a variety of reasons. While random computer crashes can happen at any time and can be difficult for an average user to diagnose, underneath the surface of a computer crash are these five common culprits.

Full or Corrupted System Registry Files
Every Windows-based PC has a Windows registry. This registry contains random files that are integral to the performance and operation of your computer. Over time, some of those files can become corrupted, misplaced, or gets lost altogether. When that happens, the system registry becomes compromised, and the computer can crash at any time. The best way to arrest this problem is by running a Windows registry cleaning program. Such programs scan your Windows registry for problems then automatically make repairs. If you run a registry cleaner and the crashes persist, they are probably being caused by a different issue.

Disorganized Files
Windows operating systems handle file organization in a way that can be complicated. Basically, they break files up and fit them into gaps in the computer’s memory. As time goes by, these disorganized files can prompt a crash. An optimization solution is built-in right into Windows-based PC’s called “disk defragmentation.” You can easily locate it inside the System and Security section of the Control Panel. By running a defrag once every 2 months you can keep any computer crash at bay.

Malicious Software
This can take many different forms, but if it’s a virus that is accidentally unleashed after opening a strange email or an adware that tags along with other information that is automatically downloaded from a website, you need an antivirus or anti-malware program. There’s no question that any malicious software can wreak havoc on a computer, and even make it crash. There are many topnotch programs out there that can regularly scan your computer for the presence of such problems.

Too Little Available Memory
As never-ending as the available memory on your PC may initially seem to have, the fact is that it can be depleted with incredible speed. You can find out for sure by checking the information within “My Computer.” If it appears that your available memory is low, you can use a PC cleanup program to remove unnecessary files; such programs remove things like temporary Internet files and other file debris that can suck away much-needed memory.

Dust and Heat are Enemies
If you’ve run through all of the preceding possibilities and continue experiencing frequent crashes, a hardware issue could be the problem. An easy one to rule out is overheating because of so much accumulated dust inside the CPU. The central processing unit includes a fan that is designed to keep it running cool. Sometimes, the fan may not work as efficiently because it’s filled with dust or simply just broken. If it’s truly broken, try buying a bigger and better fan that isn’t very expensive. If it puts an end to your PC crashing problem, it will have been more than worth it.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Top Computer Security Threats that Could Dominate in 2017

If 2016 was the year of mainstream hacking, 2017 will be the year hackers will innovate. 2017 may be the year of increasingly creative hacks. In the past, cyber security was considered the realm of IT departments, but now, not anymore. As companies systematically integrate smart security into their systems, the hackers, too, evolve.

Remember that cybercriminals will always follow the money trail. Ransomware attacks will grow quickly this year because the attacks are cheap to operate, and many organizations are not yet applying the proper analysis and decision-making to appropriately defend against this threat. Simply put, cyber security threats aren’t going away any time soon. In 2017 there will be a number of them as technological development continues to advance rapidly and society becomes increasingly dependent on technology, a boon for hackers who are only becoming defter by the day.

Third Parties (Vendors, Contractors, Partners)
Third parties to companies or even just individuals like vendors and contractors pose a huge risk to anyone, and the majority has no secure system or dedicated team in place to manage these third-parties. As cyber criminals become increasingly sophisticated and cyber security threats continue to rise, organizations are becoming more and more aware of the risk third parties pose.

Cyber Espionage
Beyond hackers looking to make a profit through stealing individual and corporate data, entire nation states are now using their cyber skills to infiltrate other governments and perform attacks on critical infrastructure. Cyber-crime today is a major threat not just for the private sector and for individuals but for the government and the nation as a whole. Nation-state cyber warfare will become an equalizer, shifting the balance of power in many international relationships just as nuclear weapons did beginning in the 1950’s. Small countries will be able to build up a good cyber team to take on a larger country. In fact, cyber warfare skills have already become part of the international political toolkit, with both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Ransomware and Extortion will Increase
The days of single-target ransomware will soon be a thing of the past. Next-generation ransomware paints a pretty dark picture as the self-propagating worms of the past may return to prominence, but this time they will carry ransomware payloads capable of infecting hundreds of machines in an incredibly short time span. As more devices become Internet-enabled and accessible and the security measures in place continue to lag behind, the associated risks will steadily be on the rise. Aside from the obvious risks for attacks on consumer IoT (Internet of Things) devices, there is a growing threat against industrial and even government IoT as well.