We deliver: Advanced internet solutions & trade publications for our clients.
Industries we serve: Forestry & sawmilling, construction and powersports.
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TechPoint Newsletter - November 2007 In this Issue ... Trading gold for bobbles: protect your privacy As the Internet and wireless communication continue to infiltrate our lives, we must be vigilant about knowing that for the enticements offered by this powerful medium, trade-offs always exist. People are often quick to grab onto the benefits of new and convenient online services with little or no consideration of the potential downside or risks – that is, until something bad happens and by then it can be too late.
If there's one thing people seem quick to sacrifice when it comes to the Internet it's their personal and private information. Social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace highlight just how often and how quickly people will spill every detail of their lives as these sites encourage users to fill up databases with personal information including pictures, video, text, emails and more. In return they offer the chance to post, search and surf to one's heart's content -- the promised golden path to a vibrant social network. There is, of course, little talk of how this can backfire. Initially these sites offered very little in the way of privacy or security so information was available to anyone with an Internet connection. Though minor security features were finally made available, many users do not know about them or choose not to use them. This can pose some serious issues for users who post every aspect of their lives under the false impression: only “invited” people will ever see it. It can be stunning to look at what some people readily put up for the world to see. Imagine in one search, discovering every detail of someone's life, from where they live, what they look like, who their family is, where they work and what they do in their private life to phone numbers, birthdays, who their friends are and much, much more. All this relatively benign information can easy turn into a huge liability in the wrong hands. From the most serious threats of Internet predators, identity thieves and stalkers to more subtle risks such as online scams and privacy invasion, careful consideration must be given before putting any private information online. A general rule to keep in mind is this: if you wouldn't put it on a 40-foot billboard along a major highway in your hometown, it probably shouldn't be posted on the Internet. A subtle example of how posting personal details on the web can effect someone's life revolves around the simple act of applying for a job. Savvy employers can easily go online and search out information on potential employees and what they find can influence their hiring decision. Pictures from a drunken party or something else the potential employer finds distasteful can spell the end of a chance at a dream job. The same goes for businesses when choosing potential suppliers. The more critical the supplier the more likely they will want to know as much as possible before they make the decision. Many online services are all about trading convenience and trendy features for highly personal information – the more legitimate ones as a marketing ploy, the least reputable for worse. It really comes down to trading gold for bobbles and trinkets, and no matter how compelling those online goodies are, careful consideration should be given before sharing personal data, after all there is no such thing as a free lunch. Have you ever thought about how much data you tap out on your keyboard? From emails and letters to passwords and user names, everything you do on your computer goes through your keyboard.
What if you could put a quiet little program onto a computer that doesn't take up much space, doesn't interfere with the operation of the computer, is really hard to detect and silently runs in the background with two simple functions: monitor the keyboard and send out a report on keyboard activity? Well, you can. It's called a “keylogger virus” and it can be incredibly dangerous. The keylogger is a Trojan virus designed to get onto a computer and monitor the keyboard strokes looking for sequences consistent with entering user IDs, passwords and account numbers (originally bank accounts). Once it detects these strings it uses the infected computer to send out an email with this data to the person who created the virus. With this information criminals can log into banking and other accounts, causing havoc for the unsuspecting user. Depending how long these viruses go undetected they can send out private information about every single activity done on a computer. This is a relatively old virus originally identified in 2003, but still widely used today because so many users do not keep their virus and anti-spyware up-to-date, which is the simplest way to protect yourself. Only a week ago I read an article about a fellow whose privacy was badly compromised by a “keylogger.” He only discovered he was infected because the perpetrator had altered his MySpace picture and a friend asked about the change. Since the victim hadn't altered his account, he started looking into it and soon found his bank account, email and even his remotely managed home security system were also compromised. In the end not only had he lost money, he also had to reformat his laptop and change every security code and account he had. This is just an example of one particular virus and a reminder that information security is the responsibility of every user. Regular security updates and operating system updates are also critical. Users should consider passwords and user IDs that are more complex for sensitive accounts and easier to remember for unimportant things like blogs or newsgroups. For example bank account passwords should not be common words like “maple”; they should always be a combination of numbers, letters and symbols such as “HaM#mer57”. Complex combinations for passwords and user IDs are much harder to “crack” in the event a computer is compromised. Committing a bit of time and effort on a regular basis is key to protecting your information online. The majority of security breaches don't occur because there's nothing available to prevent them; they happen because the necessary protection isn't in place. Here are a few links to some great services you can use to protect your information: Microsoft Windows Update When it comes to business on the web, the old “set it and forget it” mantra is no longer viable. As more and more customers turn to the web for answers, a solid and effective site management plan must be in place for every business. Typically we see many companies spend a lot of time and energy rolling out a new website, often with no concrete plan to accommodate the site's management or future development. Two or three years down the road the site is stale, out of date and requires another major re-build just to freshen it up.
A good website is like a good pick-up truck: well-built, highly reliable, easy to accessorize, repaint and modify to the owner's needs and, in the end, able to provide years of service. Too many times we've looked at sites that have much of the content and services customers expect, but are built in such a way that even changing the graphic design calls for a major ground-up rebuild. This doesn't have to be the case. A well-designed website with good architecture should allow the company to simply “tune-up,” “re-paint” or “refresh” every two years without having to start all over. Case study: Menominee Saw and Supply Menominee Saw and Supply, a long-time client of Point One Media, had a static, brochure-ware website that needed an overhaul on its design and functionality. The company's owner had little control over updating the site's content and direction.
Problem Though Menominee produces a broad range of services and supplies, its site -- consisting of three basic, static pages and a request form -- did not convey the company's true scope. The graphic design was out of date and lacked the competitive edge provided by a contemporary, eye-catching look and feel. The basic HTML pages disallowed company staff the ability to manually update the site's content in a convenient and simple way.
Solution  Menominee Saw and Supply started with a Launch Point site that ensured top quality graphic design and a simple, yet fully encompassing site. The company then added two of Point One Media's Business Online Service Solution (BOSS) web tools, providing an effective site management solution. The addition of Dynamic Content Editors granted Menominee staff the ability to easily update and archive content on the site, ensuring the ability to keep the site fresh and potentially attract more traffic. The Inventory Manager replaced Menominee's existing, limited product list with a dynamic, flexible and fully up-datable product inventory to which staff can input extensive detail on the product range.Results Upon completion, the Menominee Saw and Supply website provided the company with the flexibility, control and dynamic ability to keep the site fresh and interesting for existing and potential site visitors. Its clean, contemporary design conveys the image of professionalism Menominee Saw and Supply deserves and the web tools lay a solid foundation for convenient site management and future development. Soon to launch.
Featured web management tool: Inventory Manager The Point One Media Business Online Service Solutions (BOSS) modular system and its components are easy to use and enable you to interact hassle-free with your customers, dealers, staff and suppliers. The BOSS will empower your website giving your company more than an online brochure. BOSS modules allow you to quickly and easily manage your website and share important data with customers, distributors and staff through any web browser connected to the Internet.
Inventory Manager module - Use this module to easily maintain a continually changing list of new and used equipment, parts, products or any other items on your website. Call 877.755.2762 or email Point One Media to request an online demonstration
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