Below are five simple tips for protecting yourself online against identity theft, costly data breaches and legal liabilities:

1. Use a Unique Password for Everything

Chances are you’ve done some online shopping recently, which means your personal information is now in more online databases than before. It also means your personal information is at more of a risk of falling into the hands of people you’d rather it not. When you’re shopping online, most retailers ask you to create a free account that you can use when you return to shop again. The problem is, most people use the same passwords for all of their online accounts – whether it is sites they shop on, community sites, social media sites, email, etc. Hackers know this, and they love it. If your personal information is leaked anywhere, they can match your email address and password everywhere online – not just the place it was leaked from.

2. Change Your Passwords for 2012

Make it a point to change your passwords before the end of the year. You should have a different password for everything you use – but definitely your email, online banking, mobile service providers, blog, social media. If you use a unique password for all of your online accounts, you can limit the risk you face if (and when) your personal information is leaked online.

3. Make Your Passwords Longer

When you create an account online, you’re probably assuming that the password you’re entering is being kept secure by the company you’re giving it to. Most likely it is (or they think it is), but even encrypted passwords can be cracked using a rainbow table. Words from the dictionary can easily be cracked, and even using passwords with punctuation isn’t that secure.

But if you use a unique passphrase instead of a common word, then the chance of the password being cracked is much more unlikely. An example of this would be “remember to clean up list of to-dos by end of day Friday.” I could put that phrase on a sticky note on my computer or in a Word document so I’d know what my password is, but to somebody else it just looks like a reminder I’ve made for myself.

4. Make Sure Your Webite is Updated

If you have a website or blog, you need to be sure it’s updated. There are thousands of websites using old scripts that have huge security vulnerabilities in them. Hackers will go from site to site quickly testing vulnerabilities with scripts (like SQL injection), and Google makes it easy to find them.

If your website is using an old script, check to see if there is an update available. WordPress is an incredibly popular tool for running blogs and websites, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve logged into a WordPress installation only to find it’s been over a year (sometimes years) since it was updated. WordPress and other scripts release updates for a reason – usually because there are security flaws that have been fixed! If you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, shoot us an email and we can take a look.

If you do end up in a situation when your site has been hacked, make sure you find out how it happened and fix it immediately. Actually, we had a situation where a website had been hacked and we found out who did it – so we reached out to the hacker and worked with him to resolve the vulnerability.

5. Use Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

If you’re collecting information from visitors to your website, it’s important to have these documents available. In the event a hacker is able to steal personal information you’re storing, your Terms of Use and Privacy Policy documents can save you from too much liability. The bottom line, though, is to protect yourself by making sure information is collected in a secure manner.

Do you have any tips or suggestions for staying safe online? Have you ever had your personal information stolen or been a victim of identity theft? Share your comments below, and please pass this information along. Suggest to your relatives and friends over the holidays that they should spend a few minutes updating their passwords heading into 2012 and why.

Here are a couple of other resources to help prevent identity theft and your business network.  We’ve worked with both of them and they are the best. John Silo, Identity Theft Expert www.ThinkLikeaSpy.com and Mike Foster, Network Security Specialist www.FosterInstitute.com

That’s why I put together some time-tested and proven tips and strategies designed to give you a big boost in growing your business.  I think you’ll find a lot of value from the quick-read ideas presented in “Profit-Rich Marketing: Proven Strategies to Help You Grow Your Business,” which are designed for easy implementation.

The practical marketing approach and proven strategies will help you to:

• Create the Marketing Mindset
• Create Explosive Growth in Your Business
• Utilize Marketing Secrets of the Masters
• Measure Marketing Success
• Design Profit-Rich Marketing Materials
• Write Copy Like the Pros
• Build Your Online Money Machine
• Drive Targeted Traffic
• Use Blog Marketing to Build Your Business
• Monetize Your Social Media Marketing Efforts

Get more details on my “Profit-Rich Marketing: Proven Strategies to Help You Grow Your Business” and leave us a comment to let us know some of the ways you’d like to improve your business.

I just watched this Wireless Hacking Demonstration by IT Security Consultant, Mike Foster as he shows how easily your personal data and wireless traffic can be stolen even with a firewall, virus protection and spyware installed.

Watch the two videos now…  The second video is the Mike’s demo showing the Laptop wireless hacking demo. You don’t need to be technical to understand how scary this is if you are traveling… and it can even happen at your business. His new book “The Secure CEO explains how to protect your computer and network in plain english. Get it today and get secure! You’ve been warned… so don’t call me when you lose your vital computer data.

How Safe Is Your Computer Data from Internet Hackers? Watch The Demo Below:

“The Secure CEO: How to Protect Your Computer Systems, Your Company, and Your Job” Packs Plain-English Security Solutions for Executives

Viruses… hackers… malware… identity theft… security breaches… it’s enough to make any CEO’s head spin. In order to remain competitive and profitable these days, it’s absolutely imperative that you—and your organization—take control of your IT issues before they take control of you!

In his new book “The Secure CEO,” Vital Systems Security Review Specialist Mike Foster combines his considerable Internet technology experience with his innate understanding of the latest business and security technologies. The result is “The Secure CEO,” the definitive IT handbook for CEOs and key executives. And best of all, it’s written in easy-to-follow “plain English” that readers can understand, regardless of their technological background.

Foster’s premise is that although CEOs may ‘think’ their networks and company information are safe from prying eyes, more often than not they are not. In his book Foster asks critical questions key executives need to consider, such as:

• Are you sure your network isn’t running illegal programs that have been remotely installed by criminals in other countries without your knowledge?
• Is your IT team so under-trained or over-whelmed that daily “fires” keep them from performing critical security tasks?
• Are unclear communication and negative personality types adversely affecting your IT department?

“The Secure CEO” gives you the bottom line answers you need to effectively analyze your current use of Internet technology. Readers will uncover strategies to minimize IT security breaches, tactics for keeping their companies safer, and proven “best practices” to implement to help keep systems secure in the future.

http://www.keepmynetworksafe.com/secure-ceo.html

I like to read blogs, newsletters, and magazines to stay up to date. I realize everyone has an opinion, but I would think a publication like “BusinessWeek” would be more diligent in checking the content they publish.

I’m referring to an article by Gene Marks, titled “Tech ‘Solutions’ Your Small Biz Can’t Use: A lot of highfalutin software and gadgets aim to help you run your company, but too little of it is suited for a small-business environment.” Gene Marks writes for BusinessWeek on MSNBC and his column is read by a large percentage of small businesses.

I bring attention to it, not because it’s helpful in content, but to illustrate the point that you, the reader, must be a critical thinker! I use technology in many facets of my business and this guy is an idiot. He’s misleading small-business owners. Just read the many reader comments, over 109 on BusinessWeek’s site.

It’s so bad, it got him listed as “dumbass of the week“ on Ask Kalena: The Daily Search Engine Advice Column. I’d go into more detail about what’s wrong with his post, but they did a superb job of it.

Action Tip:

1. Become a critical thinker

2. Do your due diligence when selecting any type of technology

3. Check references

4. Focus on your outcome and match the technology to the desired solution

 Let me know your thoughts. Comment below.

What do your customers hear when they’re put on hold?

Neither you nor your prospects get anything of value when your customers are left listening to music… and having them listen to a radio station isn’t much better. Chances are they’re not even hearing music, just commercials. Worse still, they may end up hearing a commercial for a competitor! Putting callers on hold and leaving them in complete silence can leave them thinking they’ve been disconnected and they’ll hang up.

If you’re not using your “music-on-hold” system to promote your business, you’re missing out on significant relationship-building opportunities.

Maybe in the past you played with the idea of having a custom “on-hold” message, but figured it’d be too hard to set up or too expensive, but these days nothing could be further from the truth!

There is a vast selection of top-quality “on-hold” message systems available for businesses of all sizes and budgets. You can compare features and prices at just about any major brick-and-mortar electronics store, as well as on dozens of “music-on-hold” websites.

The custom options for “on-hold” messages can be summed up in two words—variety and affordability. There are “bare bones” setups starting around $50, all the way up to multi-line, multi-message units designed for larger companies.

If you’re a mom-and-pop-size business, then an entry-level single-line, music-on-hold unit may be enough for you. These can be used by anyone wanting to provide music or custom messages to callers placed on hold. Just plug in your phone line from the wall, your single-line telephone, and a sound source (CD player, MP3 player, computer sound card). To place callers on hold, just push a button; to remove hold, push button again. It’s that simple.

Digital “on-hold” players are great because you don’t have to worry about wear and tear on your tape-recorded message—it’s stored on a digital memory chip. It will sound exactly the same even after a year or more of playing to your callers. And again, many units let you use your own audio source like a CD player, an MP3 player, or your computer. And if there’s a power outage, most digital units automatically reload when power is restored.

Some equipment for “on-hold” systems you can purchase, others you lease under contract. Be careful leasing though, as with some companies you may end up paying much more for that player over time than it’s actually worth. Costs vary with the systems and your requirements. Some “on-hold” companies have subscriptions that require a monthly payment (even if you only update your message once a year); others let you purchase a one-time program with nothing more to buy. Word to the wise… do your research.

Technology options aside, the most important part of your “on-hold” system is the message.

I’m sure you already know this, but just as a reminder, content is king, so it’s important that you craft an informative, benefit-driven marketing message for your “on-hold” audio. Messages should be about 10 to 30 seconds long and mention the benefits/solutions your business provides.

I recommend recording a loop of two or three different “messages,” each separated by music. This way you’ll have a variety of messages for callers to hear, reducing the chances of them always hearing the same recording.

Make sure your recordings are fast-paced, to the point, and dynamic (like a real conversation and not a robot reading from a script!). Other points to keep in mind include:

• Assure prospects that a representative will be with them as soon as possible.
• Every message should end with a quick statement of appreciation for the customer’s call.
• Change your messages periodically. If you offer special promotions and sales that change frequently, you’ll need to update often. Change your “on-hold” message at least once a year.

There are hundreds of “music-on-hold” companies online that for a fee can sell you the equipment, help you write your script, provide the voiceover talent and help you find the right music too. You can visit their websites and listen to samples of “on-hold” messages to get an idea of what you need.

There will always be times when you have to put a customer on hold, but there’s no reason why it can’t be a win-win situation for you and your prospect. If they’ve got to be on hold, don’t waste their time playing music or commercials for other businesses.
Whether you go the “do-it-yourself” route or pay a professional service to create your messages, the important thing to understand is that you definitely need a custom “music-on-hold” system as part of your relationship-building and marketing program.

If you’re still not convinced, let me leave you with this: one recent telephone marketing survey showed that custom “on-hold” message systems can increase sales by as much as 26%.

Wouldn’t a double-digit sales increase make your day?  If you want to hear the Prime Concepts Group on hold marketing message just call us.  Of course, it’s our goal to make sure that you aren’t on hold very long, if at all, in the first place, but when you are, you get helpful information that makes the time on hold speed by…

What do you think?  Post your comments below.