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April 2019
7462 Old Hickory Drive, Mechanicsville, VA 23111 • www.sklartechnology.com • 804-730-2628
You Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
Your Apps Aren’t Going to Change
I know the damage that can happen if someone does break into my email, that’s not the only reason why I bother.The truth is I like the feeling of relief that comes with security. Adding this extra layer of security isn’t as simple as pressing a button, but it shouldn’t be. It’s like when you’re in a hotel room in an unfamiliar city.You close the door, lock the deadbolt, and slide the door chain in place. It takes a bit more effort to remember to do all the locks, but that sense of security that comes from hearing the chain slide into place helps you sleep better that night. There are few things more devastating than realizing someone is taking advantage of you. It shocks your system and erodes your ability to judge a situation. Right now, millions of people are being taken advantage of all the time. Hackers steal their data and companies make it easy for them, because the right security isn’t in place to prevent it. We launched our Password Management Service to stop our clients from being taken advantage of. I invite you to check out the free demo at Demo.SklarTech.com and discover what resources you need to enjoy that feeling of relief when using technology.We can’t cut technology out of our lives altogether; we just have to be willing to put in a couple extra minutes to protect ourselves better. Convenience Isn’t Worth Your Security
Facebook exposed 50 million users in their data breach and sold personal information about millions more without their user’s permission. People were outraged.They drug Mark Zuckerberg down to testify before a government committee.And do you know what happened? Facebook’s stock went up, and they changed next to nothing about their security or business practices.Your Facebook account is no more secure today than it was in September 2018. This is just one in a long line of tech companies and apps that don’t do enough to protect their user base. But the truth is, they have no incentive to tighten security. People want things to be easy. Research from the software company Symantec estimated that 80 percent of data breaches could be prevented with two-factor authentication. Despite the clear benefit, only 28 percent of people bother using two-factor authentication.We won’t start seeing better data security built into our apps and devices until we make it unprofitable for companies to not have them.
Do you get a nagging feeling in the back of your mind when you put your credit card information into an app like Venmo or when you sync your Google account with a home security system? There’s a brief moment when you wonder if this app or feature is really safe. Then it’s quickly forgotten as we pay for dinner with a push of a button or check the camera at home all hours of the day. But when something’s easy for us, that usually means it’s going to be easy for someone else to break in. Maybe the worst will never come to pass. Maybe we’ll be able to go out every day without facing the consequences of giving up our personal safety. But that optimism quickly comes crashing down when we learn that $12,000 has been taken out of our payroll account, or when we discover a stranger has been using our Nest camera to spy on our teenage daughter.
But right now, we let people take advantage of us by trusting these systems so easily.
Start Locking the Door
Recently, I logged into my Gmail account and realized I hadn’t enabled two-factor authentication yet. My daughter watched as I spent about three minutes creating a unique password with my password vault, enabling two-factor authentication with my Google authentication app, and before finally logging into the account to continue my project.Alyssa asked why I went through all the effort and if I was worried someone was going to break into my account.While
–Randy Sklar
A REFERRAL IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF FLATTERY. WHEN A CLIENT REFERS FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES TO US, IT REPRESENTS AN APPRECIATION OF A JOB WELL-DONE. IF YOUR FRIENDS OR ASSOCIATES COULD BENEFIT FROM OUR SERVICES, I’D BE HONORED TO HAVE YOUR REFERRAL!
Companies That Participate in April Fools’ Day April Fools’ Day might be the only appropriate time of year for you to prank your friends or coworkers with gags like dipping an onion in caramel and offering it as a candy apple or loosening the tops of the salt and pepper shakers. It’s also the one day of the year when big companies get to join in the mischief as well. Check out these company-wide April Fools’ jokes that left millions of people scratching their heads. Netflix’s PSA In 2015, everyone’s favorite online streaming company issued a PSA thatwarned binge-watchers all over the world of the social, physical, and psychological dangers of watching too much TV. In fact, if viewers watched more than two consecutive episodes of a show on April 1, they were greeted with a PSA from popular actors, like Michael Kelly from “House of Cards” or Taylor Schilling from “Orange Is the New Black.” Some stars even told Netflix users to “Turn off the TV and take a shower. You stink!” Burger King’s Chocolate Whopper Just last year, Burger King fooled hungry customers by creating the Chocolate Whopper. The imaginary fast-food treat is made with chocolate cake buns, a chocolate “beef” patty, raspberry syrup as the ketchup, rings of white chocolate as the onions, milk chocolate as the lettuce, vanilla frosting as mayo, and candied blood oranges as the tomatoes. This prank was quite a creative feat by Burger King staff, and merely watching the advertisement spiked glucose levels everywhere. eHarmony’s ‘FURever Love’ Dating Service for Dogs Perhaps the most wholesome prank that’s ever been peddled to the masses was the launching of eHarmony’s FURever Love: Canine Compatibility Companion Service. The dating website claimed that based on the algorithms they use for creating compatible human relationships, they built this service to “create robust profiles for dogs based on key dimensions of their personality.” The biographies they created for the pups’ profiles included canine mate preferences, like “Looking for a tug-o-war partner,” “Must love squirrels,” and “It’s been ruff finding a quality stud to go on walks with.” 3 Hilarious Pranks Played by Businesses
What’s It Worth? Why Hackers Would Love Your Email Password
Who cares? It’s just my email.
Cybersecurity is often motivated by financial fears. This is why keeping cybercriminals out of our bank accounts or payroll software takes top priority. But in the same breath, many people take a casual response to the security of other digital services. When warned of security flaws surrounding their email, far too many shrug off the threat. After all, if they don’t handle money through their email, why would hackers bother trying to break in? This is an incredibly dangerous mindset to have around your personal data security. The reality is that any area of your digital life could be valuable to a half-competent hacker, and your email is a hub for all your online habits. Here are a few ways criminals could make money off your hacked email account. Account Resale If you don’t have two-factor authentication, it only takes then clicking “Forgot password” for hackers to change your password on all accounts connected to that email. Then they can start selling your accounts to the highest bidder. A few examples include:
• iTunes account: $8 • Fedex.com account: $6 • Groupon.com account: $5 • Social media accounts (Facebook/Twitter): $2.50
These aren’t much on their own, which is why hackers use bots to target thousands of emails at a time.
Contact Harvesting With control of your email, hackers can target other people in your email and chat contacts, access Google Docs or Dropbox, and even connect with your friends through Facebook messenger. How much damage could a hacker do if they messaged everyone in your friends list, asking for donations to some cause? Don’t sell yourself short. Your email, like all your data, is valuable. Our Password Management Service can help you treat it that way by setting up two-factor authentication and other important security steps. Check out the free demo at Demo.SklarTech.com and stop leaving your email unprotected.
While these April Fools’ Day jokes were all made in jest, the pranks certainly kept audiences guessing long after April 1 had passed, and it’s not hard to see why.
Book Your Adventure with Next Vacay I Want to Get Away
sophisticated software makes it possible to live that dream without shelling out a small fortune for plane tickets. Start your free trial at NextVacay. com. Be warned: When a roundtrip ticket across the pond for only $450 lands in your inbox, you might drop everything and fly to London.
Next Vacay isn’t just useful for international adventures. Got a conference coming up in New Orleans? Next Vacay can alert you about any deals that come up, which means booking your flight is the last thing you have to worry about. Sure, you still have to focus on finding a hotel and crushing that networking event, but we think “Guess how much I saved on my plane ticket,” would make a great opening line. Instead of filling your inbox with newsletters and notifications from dozens of different airlines or travel services, Next Vacay sends you an email only when a deal that matches your interests comes up. Test the waters by starting with a free one-month trial. If you find yourself with a case of wanderlust, membership to Next Vacay is only $25 a year. If you don’t get your money’s worth, Next Vacay comes with a six-month money-back guarantee. If you aren’t ready to plan your dream vacation by October, you can get your money back, no questions asked.
What’s the best way to save money on your summer vacation?
A. Look for deals on travel sites B. Rack up extra travel miles on your credit card C. Spend hours researching flights online D. Forget about leaving your office and just rewatch “The Office” again The answer, unsurprisingly, is none of the above. The best way to save money on your next vacation, or on any trip you want to take, is by letting Next Vacay find cheap flights for you. Next Vacay is a program created by Naveen Dittakavi, a software developer outside of Atlanta, Georgia. Dittakavi developed a system to automatically search through countless airfare sites, identifying great deals on flights going in and out of specific airports. Next Vacay tracks when flights go on sale, when competing airlines drop their prices, and when human error inputs a flight at a much lower rate than usual. These deals are temporary, with some only lasting a few hours. Next Vacay sends you an email notification of these deals so you don’t have to check Google Flights every few hours.
It’s easy to daydream about getting out of the office and seeing the world. Next Vacay’s
Opening Day Hamburgers With no fancy sauces, no frills, and no cheese, these all-American burgers are perfect for the start of baseball season.
Ingredients
• 4 1/4-inch-thick yellow onion slices • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil • Salt and pepper, to taste • Condiments of your choice
• 1 pound ground chuck, 80 percent lean • 4 soft, white hamburger buns, split • 4 1/4-inch-thick tomato slices • 12–16 pickle rounds • 4 small leaves iceberg lettuce
Directions 1. Lightly grease a small nonstick skillet with oil. Heat over medium-high.
2. While heating, gently shape meat into four patties 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Be careful to handle the meat as little as possible to prevent tough burgers. Season liberally with salt and pepper. 3. Sear patties on each side, about 1 minute per side. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking until desired doneness, about 1 more minute per side for medium-rare, 2 more per side for medium-well. 4. Let meat rest for a minimum of 3 minutes. 5. To assemble, place patty on bottom bun and top with tomato, pickles, lettuce, and onion (in that order). Spread condiments on top half of bun and place on top of onion. Serve.
Inspired by Saveur Magazine
7462 Old Hickory Drive Mechanicsville, VA 23111 www.sklartechnology.com 804-730-2628
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Inside This Issue
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Stop Trading Security for Convenience 3 Hilarious April Fools’ Pranks Played by Businesses The Hidden Value of Your Email Find Cheap Flights Without the Hassle Opening Day Hamburgers Walk to Work Today!
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Walk to Work Day
A Start to a More Active Life
For people who don’t have the time, try taking a short walk around the workplace
Everyone knows that walking is healthy for us, but not very many people have the chance to stretch their legs.With a busy schedule, you might not have the luxury to get up earlier and get a quick brisk walk in. But that doesn’t mean routines can’t be changed.Walk to Work Day is an unofficial holiday that encourages people to walk more in their daily lives. Finding the time to walk for 30 minutes a day can help you lose weight, reduce the chance of heart disease and diabetes, and improve emotional and mental health. A Little History Walk to Work Day takes place on the first Friday of April every year and has been celebrated since 2004. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services promoted the holiday with enthusiasm as a way to counter the alarming rise in obesity and health issues throughout the country. Since its debut,Walk to Work Day has been picked up by people, businesses, and organizations across the world to inspire people everywhere to exercise more. Observing the Holiday To celebrate Walk to Work Day, simply slip on your walking shoes, grab a portable breakfast, and head out the door! Be sure to bring an extra outfit and shoes with you as walking in high heels, dress shoes, and/or dress attire can be uncomfortable.
during breaks or lunch. Getting in a 15-minute walk during the day will help you feel more refreshed and ready to get back into the grind. You can also invite other coworkers or friends to walk with you.
Other Modes of Transportation Although Walk to Work Day encourages people to walk, there are other ways to get to work without having to drive. Biking is an excellent means of transportation and can be helpful for people who might have a longer commute. If you don’t own a bike but are still in need of a quick transport between two locations, you can hop on an electric scooter. These scooters have appeared across America over the past year or so and have proved handy when individuals need to get from point A to point B quickly.
Walk to Work Day offers a perfect chance to change up your routine for a more active lifestyle. Let this holiday be the first step in many that will come!
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