Mark-it-Secure.com

Do you use Google? Do you have an email account from Gmail? Are you like me and use Google Homepage? Ever wonder how much Google Tracks about you? Well, there is a way to find out. It is called Google Dashboard. Google:

Google Dashboard

Google Dashboard is a new service that shows a summary of the data stored with a Google account. You’ll soon find a link to Google Dashboard in the “personal settings” of the “my account” page.

The dashboard lists some of the information associated with the Google services you use: your name, your email address, the number of contacts, the number of conversations in your Gmail inbox, your Google profile, the most recent entries from the web history etc. It’s a long answer to the question: “What does Google know about me?”.

This handy site allows you to see what services from Google and other affiliated services you use and the top or most frequent information regarding those services you generate. This will help you tailor your browsing and Internet habits to prevent unwanted disclosures. If you do not want it tracked, you have to remember to log out of the services. If you have to keep logged in, say you use gmail as your work email, then look at using a different browser to find information or post things you do not want associated with your work email account. There was a security breach where the data from searches was released to the public for a large number of e-mail addresses.

Share on Facebook

Read Users' Comments (0)

Here is something new for small business owners to get your message out to a whole new demographic. It is called a QR code. If you have a phone that supports a QR reader (Almost any Smart Phone), you can create these images to send a very targeted or general message. You can put this on the back of your Business card. If you create flyers for marketing then you can add this and the people who see your poster or flyer can go directly to your event website. It can send you an email, a discount coupon. The possibilities are huge.

Here is a site to generate the codes http://qrcode.kaywa.com/. Learn more here.

Looking through today’s magazines and Newspapers you will notice these codes, they can target specific ads or campaigns or just help people get to your site. It is a great way to beat the “I do not have a pen or paper!” situation. No more ripping off little tabs for phone numbers on flyers.

Share on Facebook

Read Users' Comments (0)

A report from the Ponemon Institute in conjunction with Intel, the theft of a laptop costs a company $49,246 – of which only $1,582 is the replacement of the laptop. 93% of companies that lose significant amounts of data are out of business within 5 years.
Do you have a back up solution? Have you tested it? What is your solution like?
On a recent job, I looked over the clients network setup. Their backup solution turned out not to be one. The drive they had for back up was being used for current data. And it was one single USB drive. If that went they would be out of business and so might a few of their clients.
If you have your own website, then for a few dollars more you can host your backup on the host company’s servers. You should have a solution in place that mirrors the data and has an off site component for the drives.
Can you recover if one of the drives fails? Did the data record correctly? Is it current?
If you or your IT staff have not tested the recovery of the data then you should as soon as possible.
Murphy was after all an optimist.

Stolen laptop contains man’s dreams

John Boldt is asking the thief who stole his laptop to return his years of research for his master’s degree.
Updated: Thu Aug. 26 2010 15:28:14
ctvcalgary.ca
A Calgary man is desperate to get his stolen laptop, with years of work on it, back.
It was stolen from the trunk of his car while he went for a run in Edworthy Park Wednesday night.
John Boldt is pleading for the return of his hard drive, which contains research and notes for the thesis he was writing for his master’s degree in history. He only had three chapters left to write before his paper was complete.
Unless he gets it back, Boldt will have to abandon his dream and quit at the University of Calgary.
“It’s so many years of my life just thrown away,” he says.
Some clothes, cash and credit cards were also stolen. Boldt doesn’t care if he gets any of that back, he just wants his computer and hopes the thief does the right thing.

Share on Facebook

Read Users' Comments (0)

Well, school is just around the corner and looking at some of the prices of things my kids need, I wondered how to save. One thing I needed was labels for everything. Simple solution was a label maker. I went with a Brother PT-2700 P-Touch Black/White Labelmaker and the Brother TZ231 1/2 Black On White TZ Tape. To save on Batteries, I also got the AC Adapter for Brother P-Touch Labeling Systems .
Hook this label maker to your computer for really easy labels. The time saved was worth it, and I can use it for bar coding my equipment as well.

Share on Facebook

Read Users' Comments (0)

Well I am looking to find a service locally, where do I go to get information? The Internet of course! I use Google Maps Search Nearby function, and Voila all the locations I need pop up with the links to the websites, right?
Well about that, it seems no one has told the locals about this new thing called local search. It looks like a good thing to use. I am on there, it is free, and reaches lots of people. Lets see if I can get some business from this.

Share on Facebook

Tags: Advertising, Local, Search, SOHO, Websites

Read Users' Comments (0)

I am switching from Bell to TekSavvy for Internet and home Phone. I am also testing out a new Asus Router that is flashed with Tomato Firmware.

The switch over will be on April 01. I already have my Router and a new Modem. The router is an Asus WL-520GL that I had, but I would have like to try it on a Linksys WRT-54GL, this is a solid Linux based router. The Asus I had because I was using the USB print server built in. I was initially going to use the dd-wrt software, but it did not support USB. There is a version of Tomato that does and I now have the USB printer shared out. I will also be testing it as a way to share out a small NAS by USB.

Share on Facebook

Read Users' Comments (0)

In today’s world, as a business, large or small, You need to have a web site. Even if it is only a one page simple site telling people where to find you and the contact information. How do you start?
Well first off you need to register your domain. This helps solidify your Brand and online site. You may have to play with the name combinations to get a good priced domain or register with a country specific domain.
Next you will have to get a good hosting package. This will allow you to put up a webpage easily. It can also provide a place to house your off site backup. A good solution to a difficult problem.
It is easy to get a wordpress page up to have a professional looking page with your information. This can be updated and expanded as wou have time and information to fill.
You can do all of this for around a hundred dollars a year. It can bring in many customers. But that is another article..

Share on Facebook

Read Users' Comments (0)

Share on Facebook

Read Users' Comments (0)

OK, you have business, Do you have a plan for emergencies? What should your employees do? What can they do?

Well if you have planned for it they will do what you want and do it safely.

First you need to know the main emergencies that will possibly strike your location of business. This will vary depending where you are. Check your local state or city websites for information. You should be able to get building evacuation information from your Landlord or Fire Marshall. Once you have this information you can plan what needs to be done. Again the information can be found from your state and local city websites.

Depending on the size of you operation, you might have to appoint some fire wardens. They can help you keep things organized. Write out all the plans and have the employees read and sign them. Make emergency kits, like the one listed below, in an accessible location. After you have everything in place you can do a few emergency drills. If you have hazardous materials in your workplace, you might even have a training run with the local Fire department. On the List of things to have is Essential business documents.

Here is a list of what should be included.

Constitution, bylaws, charters, franchises and orders-in-council

Accounts payable and receivable
Bank and audit records

Capital and fixed assets records
Contracts and agreements

Licenses and permits
Leases, deeds, property and land files

Blueprints and technical drawings
Inventories

Mailing lists
Organization charts

Financial signing authorities
Union agreements

Software
Supplier listing

Annual reports
Other documents you deem essential to the operation of your business

Insurance policies
Procedural manuals

Sales records and guarantees
Special agreements with clients

Research, technical data and specifications on specialized projects
Personnel records, payroll documents, pension files, salary deduction lists

Your business emergency preparedness kit should contain adequate supplies to keep you and your employees self-sufficient in the event of an emergency.

Assemble the supplies in an easy-to-carry container and store it in an easily accessible, well-marked location.

Your emergency preparedness kit should contain:

*Battery-operated or crank radio

*Flashlights and extra light bulbs

*Extra batteries

*Utility knife

*Rope

*Shovel

*Fire extinguisher: small canister, ABC type

*Essential business documents (see checklist for details)

*First aid kit (see checklist for details)

*Petty cash

Share on Facebook

Read Users' Comments (0)

So you made the plunge to start your SOHO or Small Business. You will most likely be getting a computer or maybe a few for the office. What are you going to do now? Well this series will look at ways to optimize your computer, network and save you time and money. We will explore some of the basic things you will need to set up and some nice things to have that will make it easier.
Lets look at what we will cover.

* Your computer, What do you need? How much should you spend and how to connect it.
* A Website. Why you should and how to do it.
* Other equipment and software you should consider
* Service for your business computer
* Other considerations that your compute should be used for

Your computer will be your doorway to many of your customers and allow you to market your business more effectively. It is easy to do.

Share on Facebook

Read Users' Comments (0)