Cybersecurity ⯀  

Cybersecurity stands as a serious topic in many business circles. In places where it isn't, the topic should be. Entrepreneurs may make the unfortunate mistake and assume cyber-criminals aren't interested in small business enterprises. If one credit card number can be stolen, a hacker walks away with a lot and the business, however small, will face serious repercussions.

Security ⯀  

In today's world, security is becoming the most important things that businesses need to worry about. Without proper web security, you are opening yourself to being hacked. If this happens, it could mean you lose your valuable customer data or personal business information. The results could lead to your business failing, so it is not a risk worth taking.

Security ⯀  

Networks are at risk. Small businesses, major corporations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other organizations keep very private information stored on their network infrastructure. Entities do exist that wish to access that information.

Apps ⯀  

Automation is increasingly becoming the trending technology in most industries, businesses, and homeowners. Automated systems comprise of elements specifically designed to carry out programmed tasks. Repetitive tasks become simpler with the incorporation of automated apps with appliances.

Business Tools ⯀  

The headlines in local newspapers are filled with news about burglars taking advantage of homeowners and business owners vulnerability. Burglaries are up across the country. Burglars are clever criminals that look for soft targets in their chosen neighborhood.

Soft targets are properties that are easy to hit and run. In other words, they do not have a security system like ADT. ADT pulse makes your security system work for you. In addition, their property is easily accessible in the dark. However, there are several ways to feel confident your home or business is secure. Here is more to consider.

Install A Home Security System

Residential and business property owners should not overlook installing a professional grade security system. The fact is that a professional system will deter crime. Burglars and other criminals do not want to get caught on camera. They avoid properties with a security camera or security signs in view.

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Secure Windows & Doors

It just makes good common sense to make sure that the doors and windows are kept locked during the day and during the night. Criminals look for easy entry points like an unsecured window or door. Don't fall victim to a crime because you provided easy access to your property through unlocked windows and doors.

Outdoor Lighting

Criminals lurk through neighborhoods looking for properties that provide easy access in a hard to view area. Therefore, every property owner should light up the night with plenty of security lights installed around the perimeter of their property. Install motion sensor lights or regular security lights, to protect your property and keep criminals away.

Add More Security

Of course, a professionally installed security system is the top way to keep burglars and other criminals away. However, it is also a good idea to add an extra layer of security to your property. For example, a homeowner might add a dog to the household. The dog is a warning system that announces any strangers on the property or approaching the property. In addition, the bad guys avoid homes with loud, barking dogs. A business owner might add uniformed security, along with a guard dog to their business to walk the perimeter of the property during business hours and at night.

Criminals are always on the hunt for easy targets in the neighborhood. Fortify your home or business with the tips that are included here, to keep the bad guys out and your property safe.

By  Harper Harmon	Embed
Author Bio - Harper Harmon believes that science and technology are the path to the future. She lives to help those who seek to pursue that growth by providing them with quality content to give them tools and inspiration.

Cyber Security  

It has been predicted that the IT industry in India will gain over 1 million cyber security jobs and $25 billion in revenues by 2025. What's more India isn’t alone in experiencing the rise in demand.

India is poised to benefit from a global rise in cyber security. The National Association of Software and Services Companies predicts that the industry in India will total 1 million jobs and $25 billion in revenues by 2025.

The report, which was released on April 19th, expects the cyber security industry to total up to $3 billion by the end of 2016, with an annual growth rate of eight percent.

This highlights the rapid growth opportunities within India’s tech sector and ripe opportunity for the country. The same report predicts the formation of 1,000 cyber security-related startups.

Global Trends

India isn’t alone in experiencing the rise in demand for safe cyber security.

In the U.S., President Barack Obama said cyber security is one of the biggest challenges the country has to deal with. The government has been improving its internal cyber security measure in an effort to limit outside threats and the damage those threats could do. The 2016 budget had allocated $14 billion for cyber security.

It’s not just federal agencies that see the importance of investing in cyber security, though. Large corporations are sometimes learning the hard way of the harm cyber security flaws can create.

One of the highest-profile cases was a hack of credit card information stored by the retailer Target. In 2013, around 40 million credit cards were comprised when someone installed malicious software to steal information from all of the company’s stores.

Half a year before the attack happened, Target spent $1.6 million in cyber security measures to prevent such an incident. They had teams in Bangalore, India and the U.S. ready to deal with anything that occurred.

Despite warning signs, Target failed to act on the threat and became the subject of numerous lawsuits.

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Global Growth
The Target attacks highlighted just how fragile even expensive cyber security systems can be and the enormous fallout that happens when a company fails to protect sensitive information.

With even more devices and information utilizing the Internet, the importance of cyber security measures is higher than ever. Now, homes and cars are connected to the Internet in ways they never were before. This technology is meant to increase convenience and productivity, but a cyber security attack could render these devices close to useless.

The threat is so real that the FBI has issued warnings about vulnerabilities in Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Security threats from technology are everywhere, and it’s no surprise there’s a heightened interest worldwide in cyber security. The whole industry totaled $75 billion in 2015 and is expected to hit $170 billion by 2020.

Security awareness training has also proven to be a big industry. Educating IT staffs at both companies and governments is now a billion dollar industry, according to Gartner, a tech research company.

India Prepares

Companies aren’t taking cyber security threats lightly, and this increase is important to India’s growth as an IT provider. From a financial standpoint, this growth is great news. It’ll also help as the country works to increase Internet connectivity.

The country’s government has been making efforts to increase Internet access and infrastructure with its “Digital India” campaign. With the government pushing the Internet, both for citizens and government agencies, cyber security is especially important.

To prepare for the rise of cyber security firms in India, The National Association of Software and Services Companies has partnered with the Data Security Council of India and the U.S-based Symantec tech company to ensure India is ready.

"Building the next generation of cyber professionals is key to securing India's critical information infrastructure, battling cybercrime and making the 'Digital India' initiative successful,” Sanjay Rohatgi, a senior vice president at Symantec, says.

When it comes to cyber security, there’s no such thing as too much.

By Kayla Matthews

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Author Bio - Kayla Matthews is a technology journalist and blogger, as well as editor of ProductivityBytes.com. Follow Kayla on Facebook and Twitter to read all of her latest posts.

Apps  

With today's home security apps it is easy to keep an eye on your property and possessions, all from your smartphone. What's more, the best security apps won't cost you a penny!

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SOURCE  JMC Secure

By 33rd Square

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Security  

The future of home security systems is here, and it includes increased automation, convenience and savings for users.

Home security systems have gone well beyond the simple cameras and keypads of the past. With the advent of the smart home, security systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated. The smart home places a large emphasis on security, and this has increased the investment into new home security systems. The future of home security systems is here, and it includes increased automation, convenience and savings for customers.

Everything is Mobile

In 2014, home security systems started to take advantage of the increased mobility of customers. Many security systems can now be controlled completely by a smart phone. Using a cell phone or other wireless connection, it's possible to arm the system, check on any movement in the home, and even adjust the air or adjust the lighting of the home. These kinds of enhancements make it more difficult for thieves to know when people are truly away from the house. According to NorthStar alarm reviews, companies will continue to enhance and refine these systems in the future, and eventually systems will include the ability to record crimes in progress, speak directly to intruders, and control all functions from a single command center in the palm of your hand.

Security Drones

Drones are becoming increasingly affordable and popular in the mainstream. One of the limitations of a home security system involves the way that cameras are set up. A fixed camera can only see what is directly in front of it. Even cameras that respond to movement are limited. As technology improves, home owners can expect to see the rise of drones that can be used to give a bird's eye view of the property and rotate to get angles that cameras would miss. These live drones can monitor your property and make you aware if someone has entered your home or is attempting to enter your home. This prevents the possibility of walking in on a home invasion in progress. Drones can even be used to snap pictures of license plates, get a better look at criminals, and protect residents from harm.

Cloud Computing

People are aware of personal assistants like Siri on the iPhone, or Cortana on the Windows phone.

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These assistants work by using trillions of bits of data in the cloud and can work more intelligently and efficiently to communicate and answer questions. You'll notice that without an Internet connection these personal assistants won't function because the amount of data these software programs require would far exceed the device capabilities of the phone. Security systems in the future will make use of cloud-based data to alert customers of high-risk times of year,

Security systems in the future will make use of cloud-based data to alert customers of high-risk times of year, inform users when there is a robbery in progress nearby.

inform users when there is a robbery in progress nearby, and generally make the home safer by giving the owner a heads-up on dangerous situations. Security systems will also be able to detect a crime in progress and alert the authorities when needed.

Protecting the Car and Home

Soon, security systems will be integrated with your car's security system. Companies are working to provide options to link these two alarm systems so you can use one mobile app to control all of your security programs. The car alarm system can be disabled, turned off, or activated remotely. This can also be a useful feature when you're trying to find your car in a sea of cars within a parking lot.

When someone breaks into your home, it's best to have a security system you can control and take with you. As security systems begin to include certain artificial intelligence-based features, the security system will be able to identify unusual activity around your house. This can help to alert homeowners about anything that could pose a threat to their family.

By Brooke Chaplan

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Author Bio - 33rd Square contributor Brooke Chaplan is recent graduate of New Mexico University where she studied journalism. She loves to hike, bike, run and explore around her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She also enjoys blogging about health, fitness, fashion and many other topics.

Cyber Security  

Summary There are ways to be safe with your money online, despite much of what we hear in the media about hackers and cyber crime.

Many individuals choose not to conduct their financial business online, largely because of the perils inherent in conducting said business on the World Wide Web. It is commonplace to hear news about hackers compromising different systems or institutions; this makes the average individual wary, even if no identifiable information was stolen.

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent and protect personal finance information on the internet. This article will share some ways in which to do such.

Use Different Passwords and Change Them Frequently

It cannot be emphasized enough how important is for an individual to use different passwords on different financial sites. According to an April 2014 survey from Harris Poll, 25% of American internet users who have password-protected accounts use no more than three passwords in total. This is despite the fact that 56% of Americans have more than ten accounts requiring a password. It is imperative to use complex passwords-- at least eight characters, including uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols-- on financial account sites.

But, you may ask: how will I remember a bunch of different passwords? One solution is to use a password manager such as Dashlane. Another strategy is to use the first letters of words in a sentence that holds significance to you-- i.e "Bob went to the market to fetch eggs," would formulate "Bwttmtfe." (From here, you can always substitute certain characters for others.) Experiment with different solutions.

Review Financial Statements

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In 2012, the Department of Justice (DOJ) found that existing account fraud was the most common type of identity theft, with over 15.3 million people affected, half of whom through their bank accounts. Victims of bank account fraud have been shown to be twice as affected as those who have been affected by credit card fraud.

Check your bank account statements on a regularly basis—daily, if possible. You will want to verify that every transaction posted is accurate. It is important to do this regularly because criminals will frequently "test" you by charging small transactions before racking up bigger fraudulent charges. You want to catch the fraud before it escalates.

Don't Do All Transactions Online

Check your bank account statements on a regularly basis—daily, if possible

If you're very concerned about security on the internet, one solution is to do only some transactions online. Physical checks can be used for some transactions; there are many places to order checks online.

Cash is also a solution in the sense that your personal information will never be associated with it. For the very concerned, crypto currencies such as Bitcoin, may be an option.

Subscribe to All Opt-In Notifications

Most credit cards and bank accounts offer alerts for when there is suspicious activity. Sometimes it'll be easy to opt-in, but other times it takes more effort-- you will have to look for said notifications.

Some options allow for one to be emailed when a card is charged without being physically present, while others allow for a notification every time a card is charged. Many individuals look at constant reminders and notifications as being a nuisance, but they are very helpful in preventing fraud.

Shred Physical Statements

Although you can opt to have digital statements, physical statements are still commonplace. When and if you do have a physical statement, shred it before you throw it out. People will find account numbers and confidential information if you make it accessible.

The World Wide Web era has brought many advances to the financial world, but it has also brought many more perils. It is much easier to access identifiable information should you not protect it, but measures can be taken to protect said info. It is all about being informed and smart, with which hopefully this article helped.

By Lizzie Weakley

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 Smart Houses  

As exponential technological growth continues, we are increasingly seeing changes to our homes.  In this article, guest writer Lauren Johnson looks at some of the elements of the 'smart home.'

Y
ou and your family just arrived at the luxurious hotel suite that you booked for your family vacation, but something's bothering you and you just can't figure it out. As your wife excitedly points out the fantastic view, you realize what's wrong: you completely forgot to engage your security system before traveling 500 miles away. Instead of panicking and calling your nearest neighbor, however, you just laugh to yourself. With your smartphone, your security system is just a few seconds away from being completely engaged.

What is a "Smart House"?

Much like a "smart television," a smart house features a variety of applications and automation that can control. Huffington Post even suggests that the technology be used on something as mundane as a toothbrush and toothpaste. Until recently, the dream of a smart house was mostly distant because of technological issues. There was not a cohesive network through which these individual applications could interact. As an example, a cooling system needed to be managed and installed separately from a security system. Cloud technology, however, may very well pave a path to a truly unified smart house system.

Image Source: http://www.wisesupport.net/products/home-automation-systems/

Security Advantages of a Smart House

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The first smart house designs were focused heavily on the security aspects of a home. A smart house can be remotely locked and unlocked. Some of these homes even have proximity sensors that can open garage doors as the homeowner nears. Smart houses can have surveillance systems which are accessible remotely and they can even feature a certain amount of automation, such as the ability to lock and unlock pet doors on a schedule. As noted by SecurityCompanies.com, however, a security system can also do much more than just secure a home. It can also control temperatures and lighting within a home based on the presence of the owner.

Smart Appliances

As noted in Engadget, there is also a push by many appliance manufacturers to get smart features put into appliances, with the overall goal being to create a single, centralized network. Refrigerators could automatically order products when inventory is running low and an oven could potentially display recipes or send you an alert once something is done. Electronic pantries could even alert you to sales on products that you tend to buy often.

Centralization is the Sticking Point

The technology is there for a truly automated home, but it hasn't advanced further because of the need for separate applications and technology for each individual device. Homeowners need to check one application for their security system, another for their heating system, another for their television's recording feature and finally another to check on their refrigerator. This is why many manufacturers are fighting to create a single line of products that can link all possible home automation features, and it is very likely that this type of centralization will be achieved within the next few years.

By Lauren Johnson

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Author Bio - Lauren is a homemaker who volunteers for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She hopes her efforts will help her loved ones do everything they can to prevent breast cancer.