Advertising Through The Web

The public knows about various goods and services because of advertising. Businesses actually spend a great deal of money to make sure their brand is seen by people everywhere, from traditional billboards, newspaper and magazine spots, TV commercials, and these days, the web is the new and best platform to get your business noticed by everyone.

E-advertising, online advertising, online marketing, web advertising, Internet advertising or plainly called e-word of mouth, advertising on the web is the best thing any business can do to grow their business and take advantage of the various tech innovations to their advantage. There are different tools one can use without spending a fortune. Social media is one of the easiest and cheapest platform and most businesses are going crazy in promoting their brand here and there.

 Large and small companies may leverage an investment in social media marketing differently, according to HubSpot. In fact, these average differences in the way companies of different sizes portion their budgets help to illustrate how SMBs have used this kind of online advertising and marketing to help level the playing field between themselves and their larger competitors.
For example, HubSpot reported upon these differences between the way that smaller businesses and large enterprises have allocated their budgets:

Small companies were likely to spend 2x as much of their overall marketing budget for online advertising on social sites.

Enterprises were likely to spend far more money on such outbound advertising tactics as mail, phone marketing, and trade shows.

Media Marketing

The figures from HubSpot do demonstrate that SMBs find online advertising an economical way to run an ad campaign, expand their reach, and even interact with prospects and customers. At the same time, they can’t expect to operate exactly the same way that big companies do.

(Via: http://www.business2community.com/small-business/social-media-advertising-smbs-vs-enterprises-01817402#kUwLIDlCKk3bddS4.97)

Everyone is on the web nowadays. People spend a great deal of their time online, whether for work or just plain browsing. It is why businesses are also taking advantage of online advertising because traditional advertising just became far too expensive but does not deliver the results most businesses are after.

Nowadays, even online advertising is taking a major hit as businesses are no longer happy seeing their ads in dubious sites, fake news and even pirated shows. With traditional advertising, they know just where their ads go but not with online advertising.

 In the tangled ecosystem that is online advertising, such nefarious websites collectively reap billions of dollars annually bilking advertisers. Many large companies wouldn’t want their ads financing distributors of misleading news, deceptive or counterfeit products, pirated movies and TV shows, or extremist groups. But that’s exactly what happens every day.

Media companies and their advertisers are shortchanged $8 billion a year because of scams, or more than the estimated combined revenue of Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures and MGM Studios.

Advertisers think they're getting the desired views and clicks. But companies taking closer looks are finding unwelcome results. Websites where ads appear are visited by robots — computers hacked to impersonate real browsing behaviors. Others traffic in content people crave but upstanding businesses wouldn’t want to support, such as bootlegged movies or terrorist propaganda.

“A lot of advertisers don’t look that close because there’s so many websites involved,” said Erik Mekkelson, who bought the ads for the tech firm. “There’s hundreds, thousands of websites. And these are sneaking through.”

The set-up is siphoning potential revenue from legitimate media companies to shady ones. And it’s enabling hucksters to profit in fake newswriting and piracy thanks to ad views.

(Via: http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-fake-news-piracy-20170410-story.html)

The web remains to be a major force in the world today. And it is not always a walk in the park when you do business online. The web is full of scams and scandals that would put even the most liberal person to shame, not to mention the part of the dark web where many cyber criminals like pedophiles abound.

But still, e-advertising remains to be the most practical thing to invest in these days for businesses because people frequent the web almost daily whether through their computers or their mobile gadgets. And for many, social media marketing, particularly with video has been a fast favorite because everyone is on most social networks that you can be sure your ads are seen by virtually everyone on the web. And most of the time, when people see something they like, they tell others too and it’s like a chain reaction after that and it’s what businesses keep rolling despite the competition.

The following blog article Advertising Through The Web is courtesy of TNI

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/advertising-through-the-web/

The Effect Of Social Media On Human Behavior

The human species is so diverse despite our similar appearance. Unlike other species in this planet with sub-species that look so different from one another, humans almost look alike except for a variety in skin color and some features that determine our regional ancestry. Meanwhile, our cultural diversity also explains the difference on human behavior.

However, human behavior changes the more we dabble with technology especially with social media. Aside from the fact that most people in the world today use the Internet in their daily lives, social networks are also a popular hub to connect and communicate with the world at large. After all, we are a product of the environment. Relationships, shopping choices, good humor, and even study habits are now affected by social media. These social networks initially started to support existing social relations we already have but as the years go by, other social media platforms were developed that encouraged people to meet and befriend complete strangers aside from the ones where they already have existing offline relationships with.

People adopt unique personas for different social networking sites such as Facebook or LinkedIn, a team of researchers, including an Indian-origin researcher, have found.

"Users tend to portray themselves differently in these different worlds," said Dongwon Lee, associate professor at Pennsylvania State University in the US.

Researchers theorised that these different personas stem from a desire to fit within the distinctive culture or etiquette of each site.

For instance, a photo of someone's colorful drink may be popular on Instagram, but the same image post to LinkedIn would be frowned upon.

"The users tend to portray themselves differently in these different worlds," Mr Lee explained.

(Via: http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/on-facebook-or-linkedin-youre-likely-to-adopt-unique-online-persona-for-each-social-networking-site-1682143)

Human behavior is so flexible it enables people to adapt to different circumstances with ease but at times this trait does more harm than good. When people change who they are to fit in to what society dictates they should be, that’s when things start to become a cause of concern.

The challenge is that most of the work on social interaction has been conducted using “real world,” face-to-face social networks, in contrast to the types of online relationships that are increasingly common. So, while we know that old-fashioned social interaction is healthy, what about social interaction that is completely mediated through an electronic screen? When you wake up in the morning and tap on that little blue icon, what impact does it have on you?

Prior research has shown that the use of social media may detract from face-to-face relationships, reduce investment in meaningful activities, increase sedentary behavior by encouraging more screen time, lead to internet addiction, and erode self-esteem through unfavorable social comparison. Self-comparison can be a strong influence on human behavior, and because people tend to display the most positive aspects of their lives on social media, it is possible for an individual to believe that their own life compares negatively to what they see presented by others. But some skeptics have wondered if perhaps people with lower well-being are more likely to use social media, rather than social media causing lower well-being. Moreover, other studies have found that social media use has a positive impact on well-being through increased social support and reinforcement of real world relationships.

(Via: https://hbr.org/2017/04/a-new-more-rigorous-study-confirms-the-more-you-use-facebook-the-worse-you-feel)

A lot has changed since technology took over the world. Back then, not everyone had access to these sophisticated gadgets because they are far too expensive and only the rich can afford it. But with the mass production of these things, even the masses can now afford to buy one without spending a fortune. And it’s not that impossible anymore to get these gadgets fixed once they get broken.

Human behavior also changed along with the rise of the Internet and social media. People are always on their smartphones or gadgets checking on their social media accounts that they often mistake virtual reality for real life. Moreover, people usually only show the good side of their lives to the public but in reality, life is not a bed of roses. There are difficulties and challenges that come our way but we often bottle it up, to give others the perception that our life is perfect. In that way, social media affects human behavior negatively. The key here is to use it in moderation knowing how many people often lose themselves when using it. Even too much of a good thing can still be bad for you.

The blog article The Effect Of Social Media On Human Behavior See more on: https://www.newinfluencers.com

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/the-effect-of-social-media-on-human-behavior/

Social Media Redefining E-Commerce

Humans are social animals. Although we long for our peace and solitude at times, we mostly thrive in the company of others. From our childhood to adult life, we have various relationships with the people around us. And our modern world capitalized on this relationship-based society in making social media what it is today. There are all sorts of social media everywhere but still, people can’t get enough of it. Social media users grew exponentially and it is now even used in growing and promoting businesses as well.

Along with the advent of the Internet are E-Commerce businesses. This platform enabled most conventional businesses to sell online and even opened up a whole new plethora of internet-based businesses only. And then along came social media to take things to a higher level. The ads you see on your screen are there for a reason and many people are making money out of it. Even E-Commerce sites are using social media to grow their profit and tap a wider audience.

Facebook, Social Media and E-Commerce boom and their connection.

When the internet was born, it was helping the armies, however, it began as a competitive advantage for every business that embraced it. Nowadays, very quickly, the Web becomes a business necessity. It is simply not possible to remain competitive without having an online presence.

Over the last few years, the number of adults using social media has skyrocketed worldwide. Facebook recently reported that it had more than 1.2 billion monthly active users on the site in 2013, according to Reuters. More than 70 million people use Pinterest, while Twitter had more than 200 million active users in 2013. In 2016, according to Malaysian Digital Association, Malaysian spends the average of 18 hours on internet per week and Facebook is on top of the list for social sites accessed by Malaysians. Although many people use these and other social media platforms just to stay in touch with their friends and family, they have a profound impact on many aspects of business and e-commerce.

The companies that embraced the existence of social media are now generating roughly $2.4 million every minute through e-commerce. A large chunk of this revenue comes directly from social media, with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter helping to generate more than $40,000 every 60 seconds.

(Via: http://www.valuewalk.com/2017/03/facebook-social-media-e-commerce/)

Whenever you log into your social media accounts, you see various sponsored posts or postings about businesses here and there. They are subconsciously promoting their business to us through the engaging posts and photos they post daily and we end up wanting more.

E-commerce is everywhere now.

But as brands move beyond their apps and court customers on social media and the mobile web, there’s still plenty more for them to do to get ahead, according to a new study by L2.

The market research firm said contextual commerce — practice of giving shoppers the option to buy where they want — offers expanding opportunities to retailers as consumers pass by a multitude of apps in favor of the mobile web and social media.

(Via: http://wwd.com/business-news/technology/e-commerce-apps-social-media-facebook-instagram-snapchat-10731813/)

All businesses must establish an online presence if they want to keep up with all the changes happening in the world today. E-Commerce and social media now go hand in hand if you want to beat the competition and make your brand stand out, so the people think of it first when they need a product or service in line with your industry.

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are the most popular social networks, and each has a unique audience. It’s important to first get to know these differences so that you can take a specific approach with each one. Here are a few things to know as you plan your marketing efforts.

Facebook

Facebook is less open than other social media platforms, but its continuing popularity makes it impossible to ignore. The platform is very community based, making it ideal for local B2C businesses. However, when used correctly, it can also be a valuable resource for online retailers that operate without regional restrictions. Shares are crucial to success on Facebook, since they’re the only organic way to reach people who haven’t liked your page. Include photographs with every post and overlay them with text describing your current special. 

Instagram

As popular as Facebook has become, its demographic skews slightly older, making it less-than-ideal for businesses interested in reaching those in their teens and 20s. Instagram’s demographics falls squarely into that age bracket, with 55 percent of all 18- to 29-year-old Americans who are online using the site.

Twitter

Twitter’s 140-character limit makes it a challenge for marketers, but when used correctly, it can be a powerful tool. Through the use of hashtags, you can reach customers who might be looking for items like yours. However, images that encourage re-tweets can be even more effective in reaching potential customers. Twitter has also become a venue for customer service requests, so it’s important to maintain an active presence and set up notifications to ensure you know as soon as your brand is mentioned. 

(Via: http://www.cio.com/article/3132468/social-networking/how-to-choose-the-right-social-media-for-your-ecommerce-business.html)

We can’t stop progress from happening and that direction is taking us to more technological advancements in the years to come. Our lives will forever be intertwined with technology. For you to thrive in this new world, you have to embrace it and master it as soon as you can. As they say, ignorance is never an excuse.

The same thing is true in the world of e-commerce. Whatever your opinion of social media is irrelevant and you have to put it aside in order to grow your business. Join in on the bandwagon and make money using this platform that allows you the best and widest exposure at the most reasonable price. There is a social media platform for each demographic and you can make the most of it to promote your business and grow your brand while at the same time building a long list of growing followers and social media influencers who can help establish your empire. E-commerce is not just a term anymore for online shopping. You now influence people to patronize your brand because of your strong social media presence.

Social Media Redefining E-Commerce See more on: NewInfluencers.com

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/social-media-redefining-e-commerce/

The Modern Battleground

War is never a good thing, no matter what the reasons are. While nations fight over sovereignty, safety and security against terrorists and issues of global importance, what many people in the world forget, especially world leaders of powerful nations is that the innocent civilians are the victims here and their whole lives are shattered in just one or several air strikes. Many of us actually don’t understand what is going on in Syria. How this war started and why it lasted for so long? Do people really have to die? And for what cause?

In any war, there is great bloodshed and death. And while the great world wars 1 and 2 are far behind us now, the threat of a looming world war 3 is on the horizon as many nations in the Far East have become modern-day battlegrounds. The Syrian Civil War is one of the most deadly wars we have witnessed in recent years. From bombings here and there and refusal to accept refugees by other nations to the use of chemical warfare on innocent people, the casualty has been high and is expected to continue to rise as the U.S. joined in on the attacks.

President Trump ordered the military on Thursday to carry out a missile attack on Syrian forces for using chemical weapons against civilians. The unilateral attack lacked authorization from Congress or from the United Nations Security Council, raising the question of whether he had legal authority to commit the act of war.

Mr. Trump and top members of his administration initially justified the operation as a punishment for Syria’s violating the ban on chemical weapons and an attempt at deterrence. But they did not make clear whether that was a legal argument or just a policy rationale.

The strike raises two sets of legal issues. One involves international law and when it is lawful for any nation to attack another. The other involves domestic law and who gets to decide — the president or Congress — whether the United States should attack another country.

(Via: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/07/us/politics/military-force-presidential-power.html)

It remains to be a hot topic on social media and people all over the world are debating whether the recent intrusion of American forces was justified or even legal.

President Trump, inspired by TV images of faraway suffering to launch missile strikes against Syria, may be about to discover a lesson that has confounded presidents for 25 years: American power can only do so much.

That truth is also embedded in another set of disturbing images that Mr. Trump has not cited publicly: those from Nigeria’s conflict-torn northeast, where a very different crisis is drawing different American action toward different ends.

Those two conflicts, in both their contrasts and commonalities, reveal something of the role that Mr. Trump has taken on and its limitation.

Both are humanitarian disasters whose ground-level stories horrify and enrage. And they are both crises of a sort that the United States, since emerging from the Cold War as the world’s policeman, has repeatedly tried but often failed to resolve.

The range of American intervention efforts, as well as their often modest success, can be seen in those two crises that Mr. Trump inherited: Syria, whose civil war has become a global issue, and Nigeria, where fighting with Boko Haram rebels has killed tens of thousands and displaced an estimated three million people.

(Via: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/world/middleeast/trump-syria-nigeria.html)

Six years ago, this peaceful uprising against the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad started and has now blown out of proportion and killed as many as 300,000 civilians and the body count continually rising aside from displacing hundred thousands more refugees. What started as a civil war between the people and the government has drawn support from various nations all over the world – either pro-people or pro-government supporters. Powerful countries like the U.S., Iran, Russia, and Saudi Arabia backed the war and made this now war-torn state their modern battleground.

As the world continues to watch the massacre that is going on in Syria, our hearts bleed for all the innocent lives that were lost, for all the bloodshed and all the atrocities ordinary Syrian people have to endure because of this war. President Trump expressed his disinterest in pursuing wars of any kind aside from the immigrants he so badly wants to purge from the country but has changed his heart and decided to go on with the attack on many civilians – especially young children – died on one of the most recent Syrian chemical attacks.

We can only hope and pray for the peaceful end of this war. But until no one concedes and gives way for the greater good, we will likely see more wars happening in different parts of the world where tension is ripe for another battleground.

The article The Modern Battleground is available on https://www.newinfluencers.com

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/the-modern-battleground/

Grow Your Business With The Help Of SEO And Social Media

We are all familiar with social media while we have heard of SEO now and then when we surf the web unless you work online for a living. Back in the days, we rarely use the web when we use the computer. Most of the time, we just use Word to type in documents, play Solitaire or other PC games or work on Excel. As technology advances and internet services became more reasonable and widely distributed, people got hooked into web browsing and social media became a big hit, all the more reason for us to stay online for longer.

If you just found out about SEO or search engine optimization, you’ll find out that it no longer focuses on singular keywords but of intent and search user needs as well as long-tail searches. People search for something on the web because they have a need for it, which may or may not always translate to a sale. By adding social media into the equation, it provides your site more visibility and a wider audience. However, many are still puzzled whether contents that go viral on social media, also help boost your site’s ranking as well.

Content marketing is about informing and entertaining your audience, social media is about promoting your content, and SEO is about making sure the technical t’s are crossed and i’s are dotted so search engines can find your content, right? Wrong. All three work toward the same thing: achieving relevance for your audience.

With the organic online marketing ecosystem growing, it’s no surprise that SEO, social media, and content marketing are finding themselves under the same umbrella. When the three are working in sync, they help acquire customers and increase website traffic through valuable content. This is in part due to the changes to Google algorithms, which now factor social signals as an indicator in search rankings. To make an organic marketing plan that works towards your company’s goals, it’s important to know how content marketing, social media and SEO all fit into the same strategy.

(Via: https://blog.hootsuite.com/how-social-media-affects-seo/)

The goal is to build the business and increase profit through increased visibility and also grow your online presence, so people think of your brand first whenever they think of the industry product/ service you are in.

Is SEO dead? With the ever-changing digital landscape and social media takeover, SEO isn’t what it used to be.

While SEO is certainly not dead, it is definitely changing. No longer is SEO just relevant to search engines like Google and Bing. People are now going to social media sites and using them as search engines. Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, LinkedIn – these are all be utilized as “search engines” by billions of people.

With more than 2.3 million Google searches per minute, Google is still a major driver of all internet traffic and it’s crucial that your business has prime real estate in Google. Leveraging the power of social media properly, can not only increase your visibility on social networks, but it can also increase your search engine rankings.

(Via: http://webcasts.business2community.com/events/leverage-social-media-enhance-seo)

While shares made on social media may not be that helpful in boosting your site’s page ranking, they can still work as credible bank links, which may actually still hep boost search listing over time.

The relation and impact between social media and SEO is two-way, whereby Social media impacts your SEO efforts whereas SEO influences your presence on social media platforms. However, as much as the two impact and influence each other, they do work hand in hand to the benefit of your business. This is because you cannot at any one time reap the benefits of one, without the impact or influence of the other, and that is a good standoff.

• The impacts of social media and SEO to your business;

• LEVERAGES LOCAL SEARCH

• DOMAIN AUTHORITY

• NETWORK DEFINED SEARCH RESULTS

• BRAND AWARENESS

• INTERACTIVE CUSTOMER FEEDBACK AND SATISFACTION

• COST EFFECTIVENESS

(Via: https://www.adeogroup.co.uk/impact-benefits-social-media-seo-business/)

With competition taking on the global stage, you need your SEO and social media marketing game strong and on-point if you want to succeed and make a name in the industry you are in. Even if you are already an established business, you need to build a strong online presence to maintain and grow your business. Most people go online now for various reasons, and you don’t want to miss out on the opportunity of reaching people from all over the world and possibly sell your product or service.

Businesses often hire SEO and social media experts to do the job for them while smaller businesses often manage social media accounts once the site has been set up by a professional because it is cheaper to operate that way. SEO and social media, when both done right, can multiply your earnings by 10 to 100 times it is now. The potential is limitless when you are on the Internet, so don’t miss out on this chance.

The blog article Grow Your Business With The Help Of SEO And Social Media is republished from https://www.newinfluencers.com

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/grow-your-business-with-the-help-of-seo-and-social-media/

Are Macs Susceptible To Virus Too?

About 20-30% of computer users own a Mac. For starters, Macs are more expensive than your regular Windows PC. Apple sells high-quality technologies that do not come cheap. So, it is safe to assume that almost all Mac users are fairly rich themselves to afford such a fancy and high-tech product. Over the years, we have been used to hearing about viruses and malware (and now the more modern ransomware attacks) that damage Windows PCs.

Macs aren’t actually immune to these viruses or other cyber attacks although they are often more secure than Windows PCs despite the absence of security software. Still, the debate between which platform is better continues. The Mac is susceptible to the “Trojan” virus that is just as sneaky at stealing data as its Windows counterparts if you don’t update your device to the latest software update.

The question of whether Macs need antivirus is not a new one, but the answer is changing. While Macs are generally more secure than Windows PCs, they are far from immune.

Head over to the forums on the Apple's website and you'll find the same answer time and again - 'you don't need security software because I haven't got security software and it's never been a problem'.

The scientists among you will recognise this as a confusion of cause and effect. It's also a simplification of a complex issue.

2017 has already seen multiple reports that suggest Macs are less secure than they once were. Business Insider claims that Macs are now more vulnerable to viruses and attack than even Windows PCs. And Fortune has warned of Mac malware that can freeze Apple computers.

(Via: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/how-to/security/do-macs-get-viruses-3418367/)

This problem is hard to detect and the victim (you) will only likely find out about it if you have a firewall in place. While Mac wasn’t a hot target for cyber criminals in the past, times are changing especially that more people are using the web or taking their businesses online to keep up with the advancements and stay relevant in the market. Most Mac users are actually rich people because Apple Mac devices are generally sold at a much higher price than the rest of Window powered PCs.

For consumers and businesses, it needs to be a reminder of the importance of keeping operating systems updated – and all data backed-up more than once. Windows may be the primary target, but Mac malware is growing – which includes ransomware.

McAfee said recently that Mac malware grew 744% last year. Most of it was adware, which is an irritation rather than a threat to data, but not all of it.

In January, we saw an attack which hijacks Safari and the Apple Mail app to cause Macs to crash and a separate attack that captures screenshots from them. In February, a Word macro specifically aimed at Macs allowed arbitrary code execution capable of anything from keylogging to webcam captures. In April, a fake macOS update allowed an attacker to spy on all Internet usage, including secure websites. In May, malware disguised as a Flash updater made its way from Windows to Mac, and a Handbrake mirror got hacked to allow a malicious version to be installed.

In case you thought I’d forgotten to include something from March, that was a doozy. That was when we learned from Wikileaks that the CIA has a hacking unit devoted to iOS malware and has lost control of most of it. Indeed, governments are probably the biggest customer for zero-day exploits, and have the biggest teams working on discovering new ones. The WannaCry attack itself uses an exploit developed by the NSA.

(Via: http://www.cio.com/article/3197105/os-x/will-macos-protect-you-from-ransomware-attacks.html)

So technically, Mac isn’t safe from the viruses, malware, and ransomware that about the web these days. But since there aren’t as much Mac users out there than Window users, it is also the reason why cyber crooks target Windows PCs because most computer users use Windows computers so there is a bigger market to exploit and it is easier to do so as well. Its operating system is like sandboxed itself similar to having several fire doors that protect your Mac device from harmful malware. If it does gain entry, though, it will have a hard time messing up your system.

Basically, you have nothing to worry about these pesky viruses and malware if you only use your Mac at home and for personal use only. However, it is a different story if you own several Macs and use it for business purposes. You may opt to get some sort of protection for your Mac device for your own peace of mind.

The following blog article Are Macs Susceptible To Virus Too? was first seen on The New Influencers Blog

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/are-macs-susceptible-to-virus-too/

Hard Drives Of The Future

Computing technology keeps on advancing and there is no stopping that. If you look back on the technology available to us ten to twenty years ago, they definitely pale in comparison to what we have now. Not only do computers look cool and sleek (industry groups like IEEE have helped with this) they can do various functions too, all at once and the storage is the icing on the cake. Most files have gone digital and we need a sturdy and big enough hard drive to store all our important files.

While computers and other computer-related accessories are still somewhat expensive, their efficiency has more than doubled over the years. Almost everything that you need requires the hard drive to work and we need them for storage of non-volatile memory that we happen to need the most. Most modern laptops and computers still rely on mechanical hard drives to do the job for them but DNA-based ones will probably rule the future considering that experts are grooming artificial intelligence to dominate the future.

It isn’t only the junk processor that makes a really cheap computer slow. Or the memory or the video card (or lack of video card). The primary reason your cheap laptop loudly chugs along at glacial speeds is because of the hard drive. Cheap laptops use cheap hard disk drives, which are much slower than the solid state drives found in better computers. But Intel’s new Optane Memory changes that. This little $70 chip makes a cheap hard disk drive run as fast as a solid state drive.

It does all this by using a brand new type of memory. That sounds very boring, but memory might be one of the most important components in your computer.

What the hell is memory?

Memory is anything in a computer that reads and writes data. There’s memory in your processor, in your RAM, and all the way down to your USB drives. “It’s like a pyramid,” Greg Schulz, a storage analyst and operator of StorageIO told Gizmodo. “As you go down the pyramid the capacity is cheaper, but slower.” So the tip of the pyramid is the memory in your CPU, then comes DRAM, then NAND-based flash storage like SSDs, then hard disk drives. At the very bottom would be the oldest and cheapest kind of memory tape drives.

(Via: https://gizmodo.com/intels-optane-memory-could-make-cheap-computers-fast-ag-1794576969)

Speed and reliable storage solutions are the names of the game right now. Computing devices can now perform a myriad of processes, so it needs a powerful hard drive to keep up with everything your computer can do. And thanks to competition, prices have considerably gone down without sacrificing quality. Unfortunately, no matter how advanced or sophisticated your hard drive is, it is still susceptible to cyber attacks by cyber criminals who are after your data to make lots of money.

On Friday 12 May and over the weekend, thousands of computers were attacked by malware called WannaCry, also known as WCry, WannaDecryptOr and WannaCrypt. It’s ransomware and stops you from accessing any files on the ‘infected’ computer until you pay the ransom.

NHS computers were infected in the UK by the attack (but not specifically targeted), along with computers in over 100 other countries including those owned by FedEx, Renault and others.

What is ransomware?

It's a malicious program that's like a computer virus. It's designed to scan your hard drives and encrypt as many files as it can so you can't access them. The files are still there and you have to pay a sum - the ransom - in order to get your files back. This is usually done via Bitcoin, as it's anonymous. 

Sometimes, manual human intervention is required of the hackers to decrypt your files once you've paid. But since you're dealing with criminals, there's no reason to think they will do what they promise. So most experts recommend you don't pay.

(Via: http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/feature/security/what-is-ransomware-how-do-i-protect-my-pc-from-wannacry-3659036/)

There are various viruses or malwares that aim in corrupting your hard drive either to steal information or render it useless. If you aren’t careful enough, you can become a victim of one and end up losing precious files you can no longer replicate. Even modern and sophisticated hard drives don’t stand a chance once the virus, malware, or newer ransomware attacks have gotten into your system.

Hard drive failure remains to be one of the most pressing issues when it comes to computer use. Of course, you’d want to save your computer and all its parts whenever possible because it is such an expensive investment but there may come a time when buying a new one is inevitable. So before that happens, make sure you take proper care of your device and stay suspicious of all emails you receive whether a spam or not.

The article Hard Drives Of The Future See more on: The New Influencers

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/hard-drives-of-the-future/

How Social Media Affects A Student’s Education

Education is crucial in preparing a student to become responsible adults who can help run the world sooner rather than later. From teachers to policemen, accountants, lawyers, doctors and nurses, they all received education in their youth to widen their knowledge and understanding of the world and where they fit in the equation.

But a lot has changed since the last time today’s adults were youth themselves. Technology was only used in big businesses back then and the closest an ordinary person has access to technology is in using home appliances. Today, even a toddler knows how to operate a smartphone. These modern-day contraptions were unheard of two decades ago, so it’s but fitting to wonder how popular ideas like social media affect student and their study habits. Is it helpful in terms of doing homework and research or does it make them lazy because all the answers can be found in just one search?

But times have changed. Students now know to keep their Facebook profiles spotless. Regular "Facebook cleanups" are a thing, with savvy high-school students conducting a precollege scrub to sanitize their various profiles.

Fear and anxiety — about being barred from college, getting kicked off a team or a sorority, being passed over for an internship or a job — are driving this vigilance on social media. The wrong post has the potential to go viral. So we have entered a new stage in the digital 21st century: the professionalization of social media. And that professionalization has led to a new phenomenon, especially among young people: the transformation of the self as brand. While that shift has been good in some ways, they, and we, have lost something in the evolution.

Our students are now some of the most responsible and self-aware users of social media. We — their professors, college and career counselors, mentors, coaches, and parents — have instilled fear in them about the high stakes of posting online, as I discovered in interviews with nearly 200 students at 13 colleges and universities, and from an online survey of more than 800 participants.

(Via: http://www.chronicle.com/article/Instagrim-Why-Social-Media/239983)

Students these days know how to protect their online reputation especially when it involves their personal accounts. One can easily lose a scholarship, internship, or get fired from a job because of careless comments or vulgar posts that a sensible and responsible soon-to-be adult or young adult should not make. It’s also the reason why many students also create a different account using a pseudonym to protect their reputation and at the same time enjoy full freedom of being able to let loose and show their true colors without worrying about its nasty repercussions.

What if I told you that social media is killing school? Though we don’t like to think about that, it’s slowly become more and more real.

What does an important research paper do compared to a powerful meme?
According to Word Stream, 81 percent of Millennials uses twitter at least once a day. 22 percent of the world’s population uses Facebook.  These are numbers that you just don’t see in higher education.

Imagine if we had our community of educated professors engaging the masses through memes, gifs, and clever tweets. Too often, they’re stuck in their offices, grading papers for students who don’t care about their grades.

The question now remains of how we should handle this transfer of social power. Should we fight the power that social media has given students or should we embrace it?

(Via: http://www.good4utah.com/utah-wire/social-media-is-the-new-education/699250305)

Nine out of ten teens have a social media account. If only they also go to school and finish college, then the world will definitely be a better place instead of having these young kids browsing the web all day and having a laugh or two on some senseless memes. These students already know how powerful social media is and there’s no point in telling them that. Almost all students also own a smartphone, so access to social networks aren’t an issue anymore as there is WiFi connection or a more pricey cellular data.

It is easy to see the negative aspects of social media because it is what’s always highlighted by adults and by the media. But like in business, social media can also help students learn more about these tech advancements and make doing research easier in aid of higher learning when used properly. Educators today are starting to realize this and take advantage of the benefits of social media in nurturing the young minds of the future leaders of our nation.

How Social Media Affects A Student’s Education Find more on: The New Influencers Blog

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/how-social-media-affects-a-students-education/

Social Media Can Transform Any Small Business

Social media is life. Ask any millennial or teen these days and they definitely live and breathe social media. The emergence of smartphone and other smart gadgets made social networks a household name and a habit many people can’t resist. And who could, right? There is an entirely different world inside these social networks and hours will pass by without you ever feeling lonely or bored ever again.

While social media started as a social networking site, it has now evolved and became an excellent tool for business owners to grow and promote their business without spending a fortune. Most importantly, you are in touch with your customer base and you’d know for yourself what they really want or not directly from them. There are various social networks and they work differently from the other. So keep that in mind because certain businesses thrive in certain networks and not on some. For a small business that lacks money and manpower, social media can be your friend and take your small business to the next level.

When Snapchat went public this year, it was a reminder to many small business owners that they need to be part of the social media evolution. But which network? Snapchat? Facebook? Instagram? All of the above?

Many owners opt for a mix, picking services that will be the best marketing tools for their companies.

“Each channel is used in different ways, and should be used in different ways. There’s no ‘one size fits all,’” says Michelle Vroom, whose eponymous public relations company in the Philadelphia suburb of Horsham advises small businesses on how to use social media.

Instagram and Snapchat, for example, have more young users. LinkedIn, for many people, is a tool for professional networking and job searches. The majority of users on Pinterest are women, while Tumblr appeals to social bloggers. There are also channels focused on specific industries, such as Architizer for architects and Glozal for real estate.

(Via: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/small-business/2017/05/17/many-social-media-options-small-businesses-need-focus/101804946/)

Most entrepreneurs right now are also young adults who know very well how social media works. From Youtube vloggers who earn a fortune from the clicks, likes, and shares of their viewers to entrepreneurs who started online shops, the potential is limitless if you know how to use social media right. Even social media influencers themselves receive free products from companies and get invited to events for free just so they can promote these products on their social media accounts.

Since its early development, social media has become an increasingly important and constantly evolving component of online behavior. What used to be platforms for connecting with friends have expanded to include features that integrate everything users need and do online. That overlap includes everything from reporting features and live video sharing to news publications and e-commerce transactions, all streamlined in a way that makes social media platforms the watering hole for modern users. Users now turn to social media platforms to stay informed, post reviews, buy things, and more, and the data that shows just how many users do that is staggering:

• 81 percent of millennials check Twitter at least once per day

• More than 56 percent of online adults use more than one social media platform

• 79 percent of American internet users are on Facebook

• 93 percent of Pinterest users use the platform to plan or make purchases

(Via: https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/05/tips-for-social-listening-small-business.html)

The statistics have spoken. Your business misses out on a lot of things by not having an online presence in any of these social media channels. Imagine all these people who can possibly be converted into paying customers just by showing off what you sell or what you can do online. Advertising here is really cheap and when people are satisfied with your product or service, they’d spread the word for you. It is why social media is dubbed as the e-word of mouth because, in essence, that’s how it works.

In social media, you are equals with big brands out there as long as you know how to capture the people’s attention and make sure they stay hooked. After all, being relevant is what business is all about, big or small. If people remember your business, they’d likely choose your brand over the competitor. In no time, your business won’t be just a small nameless enterprise but a well-known brand with a strong social media following and cash registers filled to the brim.

Social Media Can Transform Any Small Business is available on TNI

source https://www.newinfluencers.com/social-media-can-transform-any-small-business/