New York Times Hacked Via Crafty Phishing Attack

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• New York Times Hacked Via Crafty Phishing Attack
• How To Find The Necessary Funds For Your Business
• Tawki Develops One-Click Video Production
• Putting Television in Your Lobby or Place of Business: What you Need to Know
• 4 Old Fashioned Ways of Marketing that Aren’t Dead – Yet

New York Times Hacked Via Crafty Phishing Attack Posted: 28 Aug 2013 04:00 PM PDT It was another reminder of the vulnerability of businesses that conduct all or some of their activities online. Both the New York Times and Twitter were hacked yesterday.  Or, at least, their domain names were “hacked” — i.e., hijacked for a time. The two companies essentially had their domain names rerouted to different servers.  In the case of the New York Times, it was the entire NYTimes.com web URL that was affected.  In the case of Twitter, it was only the domains for the images hosted on Twitter. A group claiming to be loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad claimed responsibility in a series of messages on Twitter. The group, calling itself the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA), also claimed to have hacked the Huffington Post, but that site does not appear to have been affected. How The Hackers Did It: A Phishing Email The SEA hacking attack was relatively low-tech (as such things go). It started with a phishing email. The email enticed an employee of a reseller of Melbourne IT in Australia to give up login credentials. Melbourne IT provides online DNS services for The New York Times website, Twitter and many other clients. Typically, a phishing email tries to get unsuspecting recipients to click on a link taking them to a fake page that may look exactly like a legitimate site. Upon logging in, the login credentials are captured. Once the SEA had the login credentials, they were able to gain access to the DNS records for the New York Times website. They then changed the records to point to a different server. When visitors went to the NYTimes.com site, they saw a screen with an SEA insignia. That’s because the DNS information was directing Internet traffic to go to the substituted server location for information, not to the New York Times' Web servers. Writes The Next Web, "DNS is akin to a 'phone book for the Internet' and is responsible for taking you to the website that you want to visit." Although Melbourne IT changed the DNS information back promptly after the intrusion was discovered, the effects lingered. The reason:  it can take up to 24 hours for your ISP's caches to be cleared of information. Almost a full day later, some people (including here at the Small Business Trends offices) were still not able to access the New York Times website. Up until nearly noon Eastern time today, New York Times Vice President of Communications, Eileen Murphy, was still responding to inquiries on Twitter from readers who said they could not access the site. The DNS tampering also affected Twitter to a lesser degree. The SEA managed to access the DNS records for where Twitter images are hosted (although not the main Twitter servers). Twitter issued an official status update saying "Viewing of images and photos was sporadically impacted." 2 Lessons You Can Take Away: 1 ) Train employees to spot and avoid phishing emails. Be wary of unexpected emails that seem to come out of the blue prompting logins. Look closely at the URL for any page you are directed to. Sometimes the pages look perfect, and only the URL is a giveaway that it's a phishing site.  Make sure employees are trained to watch out. 2) Secure the Logins for Your Domain Name Accounts Small businesses typically have their domain name registrar manage their DNS. If someone gains access to your domain name account, they may be able to tamper with where your website traffic is pointed to. While domain registrars usually require multi-step security for transferring a domain name, that may not be the case for changing DNS settings.  Protect login credentials carefully. New York Times Building Photo via Shutterstock The post New York Times Hacked Via Crafty Phishing Attack appeared first on Small Business Trends.

How To Find The Necessary Funds For Your Business Posted: 28 Aug 2013 01:30 PM PDT What is the toughest challenge for an entrepreneur? Most times, it’s finding the appropriate funds to launch the business and then grow it. So, how do you embark on this task? The first and foremost step in materializing your business ideas is to collect the necessary money. Certain funding opportunities like grants offer very limited capital. It does not cover all the costs needed for a new business and entrepreneurs with for-profit enterprises are often refused grants. If you aspire to establish a non-profit organisation, the chances of getting grants are positive. In the midst of these uncertainties, the wisest idea is to weigh all the options for finding the right financial match for your business. Below are some simple tips to guide you through the fundraising process of all the stages of a business cycle. Where to Find Funds For Your Business Bootstrap: Use Your Own Financial Resources In the initial stages of your business, using money from your savings account may be the right option. Since you are in the experimental stage, taking loans may not be safe. Keeping in mind the chances of succeeding in the long run, you may decide to stick to the current business idea or shift focus to a new one. If you are considering bootstrapping, you need to be careful of making use of your precious savings. Ask Among Family and Friends If you do not have adequate savings to invest in your business, there is no need to lose hope as there is another way. Invite your family and friends to invest in your venture. Once you are successful, repay the money to them. Before any of your family and friends make an investment in your business, come to an understanding that it may a considerable amount of time to repay the money. Crowdfunding If you don’t have enough money in your savings account, you’re not ready for venture capital funding, you have failed to qualify for a bank loan and your family and friends are not willing to invest in your business, then you must be wondering whether there is any other way left. The answer is yes, and it comes in the form of crowdfunding. Launched on January 1, 2013 under the JOBS Act, crowdfunding allows a wider group of small investors with fewer limitations. When it comes to investment in the early stages of a business, this option is ideal. There are many sites offering crowdfunding. In such situations, you require selecting with utmost awareness. Carry out thorough research on top online resources for crowdfunding and decide on the best one for you. Angel Investors When your business advances to the next stage of growth and you need more capital to progress further, you may approach angel investors. Is the concept of an angel investors new to you? If so, angel investors are wealthy individuals or a group of individuals that offer funds for launching a business in exchange of translatable debt or ownership equity. You can locate angel groups on the Internet. They make their presence felt on the Web with an eloquent description of their objectives. These groups decide whether your business fulfills their requirements. If so, they will arrange a meeting to collect more data. Investments can start from $50,000 to $500,000 and even more. Bank Loan A growing business in the later stages may require funding for different purposes to ensure long-term growth. At this juncture, a bank loan can be the source of monetary resources.While applying for the loan, the financial institution will ask for detailed information about you and your business. This information is vital to secure a loan. The process is lengthy and complicated. You can facilitate it by establishing an amicable relationship with the bank at the nascent stages of your enterprise. The point of contact need not be for a loan at first. It can be a merchant account, checking account or credit cards. With time, the financial institution will become familiar with your enterprise and you as an entrepreneur and you may find yourself in an advantageous position to avail of their services. If you devise a business plan, taking into account these five options for funding, it will be easier for you to secure the capital you require, no matter which stage of business you are in. Searching Photo via Shutterstock The post How To Find The Necessary Funds For Your Business appeared first on Small Business Trends.

Tawki Develops One-Click Video Production Posted: 28 Aug 2013 11:00 AM PDT Small business owners realize the value of online video in marketing these days. The rise of Vine and Video on Instagram demonstrate video’s role in social media too. But some entrepreneurs just can’t make time to create their own video on a daily basis no matter how important. That’s where Tawki comes in. Fundraising Launched for Tawki Development Developers expect Tawki to function as both a video production tool and a social media platform when completed. The Tawki team includes members with backgrounds in video production, Search Engine Optimization, social media marketing and site development. And developers thought specifically about small business users at every step in the process. The group launched a campaign on fundraising platform IndieGogo yesterday in hopes of generating at least $100,000 to complete phase two of the site’s development. Contributors could receive a range of rewards depending on the sizes of their donations. These rewards could include, in some cases, the option to become a beta tester or to give input on the product. Video Production and Video Sharing The first innovation the new platform will offer is what the development team calls one-click video production. With the entry of a keyword, Tawki will create very simple video with still photos, short video clips and background music fitting that keyword or phrase. "It's kind of like stock photography, but in video form," said co-founder David Leonhardt. However, Leonhardt said the video production tools would also allow some customization. The system will allow users to upload their own photos or video clips, enter text, choose their own music, and add voice-overs. Beyond the basics, Tawki will also offer some custom animation options. See a sample of the kind of animation it will create below. And that’s not all. Tawki will also help you easily share the videos you’ve created on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. Developers say the Tawki platform will also function as a social media site. So this will allow you to share your new videos with others quickly and easily on Tawki too. The post Tawki Develops One-Click Video Production appeared first on Small Business Trends.

Putting Television in Your Lobby or Place of Business: What you Need to Know Posted: 28 Aug 2013 08:00 AM PDT Sponsored Post Whether your business is hospitality-driven, office-related, or sports-minded, having a television can boost your sales and lead to happier customers. In today's 'want it now, want it fast' world, customer expectations are at an all-time high. Customers seem to want to stay connected to what's happening and have access to the outside world all the time, no matter where they happen to be. And a few magazines scattered on tables in the lobby are not enough anymore — people want to engage through visual technology. That's where business TV comes in. Today, TVs serve as customer service amenities for customers and clients who have to wait, and marketing aids for visitors to your business. Televisions lend themselves as efficient and inexpensive tools for conveying information to employees. In hospitality-related businesses such as bars and restaurants, TVs can be an important part of your offering mix to draw customers, and keep them staying longer and spending more. Dollar for dollar, business television is an inexpensive marketing and customer satisfaction technique. Let's take a deeper look at key points you need to know about business TV and the role it can play in your business: What Kinds of Businesses Benefit from Business TV? There are some obvious choices for business television, and some not so obvious ones: Bars, Restaurants, Coffee Shops – Bars are a natural for TVs. Sports bars, in particular, need televisions with the most up-to-date sports packages just to compete. But think outside the box. Casual restaurants, coffee shops and sandwich shops can also also benefit from television — think morning news or local programming that draws in regulars. Offices/Lobbies – Business TV gives visitors the impression that your business is vibrant and connected. And for companies that use television integrally to serve clients – such as PR firms and advertising agencies — television is an important work tool. Waiting Rooms – Whether a doctor, lawyer, car repair shop or dentist, use TV as an amenity that keeps clients feeling positive even if they must wait. TV can create a welcoming environment, and reduce anxiety. Exercise/Fitness Centers – People today love to multi-task. Getting caught up on the news, watching sports or simply enjoying their favorite talk shows while they exercise, can make all the difference to those who don't like to exercise. It's an added amenity that can set your facility apart from competitors. Your cable television service provider may offer packages designed specifically for your type of business or needs. That can make your choices easier. Hardware: What Size and How Many TVs? The answer to this question depends on the type of business, the number of people watching, the setting and layout. Here are some thoughts to get you thinking: Sports bars generally need multiple large screen TVs, at least 50 inches or larger. You should have enough TVs where your patrons can watch several events from several locations. In a small business lobby or waiting room of a professional, TVs can be the same size as what you'd find at home. For instance, in a doctor's office with two intimate seating areas, two 32" tabletop sets may be best for patients. In the lobby of your company's offices, a single 42" wall mounted TV may suffice. When it comes to fitness centers, even small ones might have at least four wall-mounted TVs, 42 inches or bigger. For large fitness centers, the number of TVs needed could be much higher. Where Do We Place TVs? In places with high foot traffic or lots of people, flat screen televisions mounted high up on the wall, — perhaps one in each corner — will typically be the better choice, versus set top models or a TV placed in an entertainment center. Consider traffic patterns and seating arrangements. Try to make it so that people (including wait staff) walking about do not disrupt others' line of sight. And try to ensure that every seat in the house has an unimpeded view of at least one TV. In larger or unique environments, speakers and acoustics may be another consideration. Tilting helps reduce glare, and tilt mounts are necessary for higher mounting applications. Every business owner shudders to think about it, but you need to consider theft and vandalism. Wall mountings that are up high make it harder to reach TVs so they can't be accidentally broken. Some wall mounts come with the ability to lock the television to the stand with a key, making theft harder. If your place of business is compact, you may be able to install the television hardware in-house. But for larger installations, bring in a professional audio/video company to lay out where to place television sets, and get the right configurations, including mountings. Professionals also have access to a greater range of hardware than you can buy retail. Affordability and Tax Considerations Your cable TV provider can provide service packages with the correct number of TV outlets for your facility, along with suitable packages of local, news, sports and/or entertainment programming. Look for packages specifically set up for businesses similar to yours. By bundling with Internet and related services, you may be able to get additional savings. Finally, keep in mind that costs associated with business television can usually be deducted or depreciated on your business taxes. You should always consult with your own tax advisor for specific tax advice, but for general background information we reached out to Barbara Weltman, the author of JK Lasser's Small Business Taxes. She says that the cost of monthly business television cable service and programming "can be viewed as an ordinary and necessary business expense, which makes it deductible" provided the TV service is used for business purposes. When it comes to hardware, such as television sets, she notes, "Generally, the cost must be depreciated. However, the cost may qualify for the Sec. 179 deduction (up to $500,000 for 2013 as long as the business is profitable for the year) and/or bonus depreciation (50% of cost in 2013 as long as the equipment is new and not pre-owned)." As you can see, there are good reasons to use TV in your business. And the cost can be affordable, especially when you factor in the potential for tax deductions and depreciation. Gym Photo via Shutterstock The post Putting Television in Your Lobby or Place of Business: What you Need to Know appeared first on Small Business Trends.

4 Old Fashioned Ways of Marketing that Aren’t Dead – Yet Posted: 28 Aug 2013 05:00 AM PDT Internet marketing. When you hear this buzz phrase, chances are you inevitably think about social media, virility and PPC (pay per click) campaigns. While these are certainly some of the best avenues for marketing in today's digital world, the market is so saturated that it can be difficult to gain a foothold. YouTube, for instance, has an astonishing 72 hours of footage uploaded to the site every minute. And millions of users and pages update their Facebook so often that posts easily get lost on the news feed. With so much competition in modern day advertising, why not consider old fashioned, yet highly effective, ways of marketing online and in the real world? Alive and Kicking: Old Fashioned Ways of Marketing Mailed Newsletters Yes, I mean physically mailed, not emailed – like with an envelope, stamp and mailman. Direct mail is considered one of the cheapest yet most effective ways to create customers in today's digital age. On average, the response rate of direct mail campaigns hovers around 4.4 percent. While the cost per lead is generally the same or comparable to the cost of email marketing, customers created through direct mail are more likely to perform repeat business. One of the great aspects of direct mail is the ability to directly tie it into your current Web marketing efforts. For instance, encouraging direct mail recipients to enter a promo code as they purchase your product online is a proven technique to introduce the recipient to your website. Promo Materials Whether it's key chains and water bottles for an upcoming convention or fancy products for major giveaways, promotional materials are an easy way to help your business gain attention. Because physical items such as pens, bags and bumper stickers will circulate throughout a wider audience than the person who receives the promotional product, you will experience a higher ROI (return on investment) for this type of marketing. In fact, you can even directly tie promotional materials into your digital advertising by always printing your logo on each product. This ensures that if a potential customer has a need for your products or services, they'll be able to easily recall your business or website and avail themselves of your offerings. Earning Attention Instead of paying the high price for short-lived marketing campaigns online, why not achieve attention the old fashioned way? By earning it. In online marketing, we refer to this as SEO – search engine optimization. Through content marketing and website optimization, you can clearly define the purpose of your Web presence and business for the search engines. By regularly making your site a trusted resource in your industry, you will gain authority among consumers and major search engines such as Google. Hosting a Contest With all the focus on SEO and website design, it's easy to forget the simpler tactics that drive traffic quickly and effectively to your site. One of these tactics is to host a contest for your consumers and fans. By determining the winner via vote count, entrants will share their submissions with their friends, thereby earning more exposure for your business. Entrants will inadvertently become ambassadors for your brand. Mailbox Photo via Shutterstock The post 4 Old Fashioned Ways of Marketing that Aren't Dead – Yet appeared first on Small Business Trends.

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