We tend to think we are more sophisticated than most people online, and to a degree that’s probably true. But that attitude of superiority can be our enemy if it causes us to drop our guard.Target Stores were certainly no novice in online commerce, but their store systems wre the victim of a major data theft through a virus planted on their POS terminals.You and I can have our sites hacked, too, if we are not hyper-vigilant. We can be attacked by viruses on our personal computers. And we can be victims of phishing. Phishing is the sending of emails, appearing to be from legitimate businesses,... [...]

InfoWorld.com reports that there’s a new threat growing out of the easy extensibility of Google Chrome with add-ons. It has always been possible for someone to create a malicious or adware plugin and attempt to place it on the Chrome Web Store. Google worked hard to assure that such apps didn’t see the light of day or at the least were removed immediately.But there’s a back door Google apparently hadn’t considered: What if a good app goes bad? That’s what happened to two such add-ons, Add to Feedly and Tweet This Page.Once considered useful extensions downloaded... [...]

A marketer sends me email regularly that violate the common sense rules for building a trust relationship with readers.1. He (or she) never gives his name. The only signature is “admin” . In my inbox the from column also has only “admin”.2. His subject lines are usually deceptive. Here’s a sample: * You requested a new password for access id #82181 * Check #PP3241682KY Issued * Daily Electonic Transfer (Confirmed) * A deposit has been made to Acc ID : [my email address] * Re: $257.00 Tranferred to Bank Local3. In the last 30 days,... [...]

Once in a while we learn about tragic events in our world that tug at our hearts. The destruction in the Philippine islands from Typhoon Haiyan, even though geographically distant from most of us, hits close to home. It could have been our families that were killed, maimed or rendered homeless.Some concerned marketeers have developed a plan to assist in the recovery from this devastation. They have organized a huge sale of marketing training, software and mentoring, and they pledge to give all proceeds to relief efforts in the Philippines.They have explained their plan at : http://www.internetmarketersunite.com/.... [...]

For 15 years, Google has occasionally changed their iconic search logo for a day, to celebrate a particular historic event or person. When you go to their search page, http://google.com, if you arrive on a day when the logo is changed you will see modified logo, which is usually whimsical and often amusing.Cnet (http://CNET.com) has created a slide show, chronicling the history of these Google Doodles:http://news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10018261.htmlIt’s a warm trip down memory lane. But it’s more than that. It illustrates:• Google’s awareness of the larger society•... [...]

In my office, I have some dead spots, where the WiFi signal doesn’t reach very well. The result is that the speed drops significantly, or sometimes even stops altogether. That can be bad news for your efficiency.So, I am interested in whatever can be done to improve our WiFi results, including an article I read today. As reported on DailyFinance.com, there is a “simple change” you can make to improve your WiFi reception so you can reach your whole area at a normal speed. It involves “improving” your router’s antenna with a home-made reflector. The problem?... [...]

The news this week is about Google’s 15th anniversary of its search engine. It has been an amazing success story. Many of the online giants of 15 years ago are dramatically shrunken or gone completely. But Google has grown larger and more prosperous, and has added many useful services beyond the initial search engine.There’s another anniversary this year, too. IM NewsWatch just turned 8. First started in 2005 (the first story was published in August of that year) by Mike Mograbi and his partners, IM NewsWatch was dedicated to a wide-ranging reporting of news of interest to individuals... [...]

There have been many comments around the web on Google’s announcement that it has changed its algorithm for presenting search results. This time, the target doesn’t seem to be spam sites. Instead, it aligns with the Google strategy of bringing you the most personally relevant results it can.It also addresses the fact that peole are asking more complex questions today, and many of them are accessing Google from their smartphone, not from a PC.One article, addressed to non-technical people, comes from Forbes Magazine. It begins this way:Google has updated its core algorithm that controls... [...]

The definition of Authority Site is mushy. Clearly Amazon is an authority site for books and ESPN is an authority site for sports. And most solo entrepreneur internet marketers would agree that IM NewsWatch is an authority site for internet marketing.But practically speaking, the issue comes down to profitability. Authority sites, by virtue of their authority, are profitable. That’s why we all long for the “scent of authority.” And for profitability, the key question is “How much authority does Google (and Bing) attribute to your site?”That’s a particularly... [...]

I got a note from Shelley Owens. She and her partners are giving away a coat of arms creation tool. You can choose what symbols appear on the shield, the motto to appear below it, and more. And it’s all free, and all fun.Get yours here: : Coat of Arms for You [...]