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6 Contractor Business Tips For Sustainable Growth

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In this post, we will show you contractor business tips for sustainable growth…

If you are someone who is planning to launch a contractor business or already own one and are looking for ways to expand it in a sustainable manner, you are in the right place. 

Given the positive rebound of the construction industry following the pandemic, the demand for contractors will only increase. Additionally, as contractors possess specialized skills, they are likely to be able to take advantage of this business opportunity if they play their cards right. 

In order to do this, we share the top industry tips to ensure your contractor business achieves sustainable and long-term growth. 

1. Get insurance

contractor business tips

As a contractor business, the most important thing is to obtain the right kind of insurance. The different types of insurance options for contracting business owners include general liability, errors and omissions, workers' compensation, commercial auto, and tools and equipment insurance. 

Depending on your niche, you may also benefit from obtaining other types of business insurance. For example, if you specialize in installing solar panels, you may want to get solar contractor insurance. 

Insurance helps protect you and your business from unexpected events such as accidents and injuries and safeguards both your business and employees from financial or legal troubles. Make sure that you get the right kind of coverage so that you are protected in any scenario or unwanted circumstances.

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2. Specialize your contractor business 

Whether you are starting out or are planning to grow your contractor business, you can look beyond being a general contractor and offer specialized services.

This can allow you to cater to a niche market and develop your business in a way that allows you to capture the largest percentage of that market. 

Being specialized is also a good way to differentiate yourself from competitors since you can provide a fair balance between being a general contractor and a specialized one. This can help ensure a higher profit margin in the long run.

Specialize your contractor business

3. Choose the right contract

More often than not, contractor businesses may overlook the importance of having the right contract and as a result, may be at risk of running into legal trouble. For this reason, make sure that you are well-versed in what needs to be included in the contract, and if you need help, consider getting professional help. 

Generally speaking, every type of project you undertake will require a different contract based on the specifications of the client's work.

However, some important details that will be included in every type of contract include the services being offered, timeframe and project deliverables, terms and amount of payment, instances of termination of the contract, general terms and conditions, and process of amendment to the contract.  

4. Hire experienced people

As a contractor business, it goes without saying that you will need to hire professionals for the job. The ideal candidate will have some sort of professional qualification and also experience, which may include an apprenticeship. 

Keep in mind that you are likely to attract more qualified candidates if you offer them something more than monetary compensation, such as perks and benefits, and also training on the job. 

READ ALSO: Sustainable Finance And Positive Global Transformation

5. Provide excellent customer service

excellent customer service

Seeing as how the contractor business is entirely client-facing, you need to ensure a high level of professional customer service. This means being available to answer customer queries during business hours, and setting up alternate lines of communication including a website or a business email. 

Also, ensure that you clearly mention all communication channels to your clients so that they can reach out to your business using whatever means is most convenient for them. This can be easily done using a professional business card or a “Contact Us” page on your website. 

6. Pay attention to your finances 

Staying on top of your financial flows is key to running a successful contractor business. For this reason, always conduct a yearly audit to understand your cash flows and identify ways where you can reduce your expenses.

You may also want to ensure that you are getting paid on time to avoid your balance going negative. 

Additionally, if you submit a bid for a particular project, ensure that you are liquid enough to handle the costs including equipment, materials, and labor. By ensuring timely receivables and low overhead costs, you can be in control of your finances and avoid cash flow problems. 

READ ALSO: Managing Resources for Business Growth

Contractor Business Tips For Sustainable Growth: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most important factors for building a sustainable contracting business?

Several key factors contribute to a thriving contractor business:

  • Strong financial management: Maintain healthy cash flow, avoid overspending, and invest wisely in equipment and operations.
  • Quality workmanship: Deliver impeccable service that exceeds client expectations, fostering positive word-of-mouth and repeat business.
  • Efficient operations: Streamline processes, optimize scheduling, and minimize waste to maximize profitability.
  • Marketing and sales: Implement effective marketing strategies to attract new clients, nurture existing relationships, and build brand awareness.
  • Skilled workforce: Invest in recruiting and retaining skilled workers by offering competitive wages, benefits, and training opportunities.
  • Adaptability and innovation: Stay abreast of industry trends, adopt new technologies, and be willing to adjust your approach to meet changing market demands.

How can I compete with larger contractors when I'm starting out?

  • Specialize: Target a specific niche market where you can offer expertise and personalized service.
  • Focus on customer service: Establish a reputation for outstanding customer service to differentiate yourself from the competition.
  • Build relationships: Network actively with potential clients and industry professionals to build your presence.
  • Offer competitive pricing: Analyze the market and offer competitive pricing strategies while maintaining profit margins.
  • Leverage technology: Utilize project management software, online marketing tools, and other technology to enhance efficiency and attract tech-savvy clients.

How can I attract and retain qualified employees in a competitive job market?

  • Offer competitive wages and benefits: Research industry standards and offer competitive compensation packages.
  • Provide clear career paths: Design and communicate career development opportunities within your company.
  • Invest in training and development: Equip your employees with the skills and knowledge they need to excel.
  • Foster a positive work environment: Promote a collaborative and respectful culture with open communication and appreciation.
  • Recognize and reward achievements: Implement performance-based recognition programs to motivate your team.

READ ALSO: A Step-by-Step Guide To Website Development

What are some common mistakes to avoid when growing a contracting business?

  • Underestimating financial requirements: Ensure you have sufficient capital to cover expenses and unexpected challenges.
  • Expanding too quickly: Grow at a sustainable pace by prioritizing quality over quantity.
  • Neglecting marketing and sales: Allocate resources to attract new clients and maintain a consistent workflow.
  • Ignoring industry regulations and standards: Stay compliant with safety regulations and building codes.
  • Failing to adapt to changing market conditions: Be flexible and ready to adjust your strategies as needed.

Conclusion

Growing your contractor business means that you need to widen your focus beyond the services you offer and pay attention to every aspect of the customer journey. It also means safeguarding your employees and ensuring that you pay close attention to your cash flows to avoid any financial setbacks.

By following our tips, you can ensure that your contractor business achieves sustainable growth.

Remember, success takes time and dedication. By implementing these tips, focusing on continuous improvement, and adapting to market changes, you can put your contracting business on the path to sustainable growth.


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Africgold Review: Is Africgold Legit Or A Scam? [EXPOSED]

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Did you just hear about Africgold recently, and you are doubting its authenticity? Don’t worry; this Africgold review will answer the question – is Africgold legit? is Africgold a scam?

As a beginner or even as an enthusiast in the crypto world, you might be tempted to try a lot of platforms for crypto accumulation, and one of those platforms is Africgold.

With Africgold, it is being said that you don’t only accumulate crypto units but can also convert them to cash. 

However, is this claim true? is Africgold legit? is Africgold a scam? You will find out in this Africgold review today.

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Is Africgold A Scam?

Is Africgold A Scam?

Yes, Africgold is a textbook scam, and investing in it would be a grave mistake. I understand your initial temptation. The promise of high returns can be alluring, but with Africgold, it's a siren song leading to financial ruin.

My research, coupled with the experiences of others who fell victim to this scheme, paints a clear picture: Africgold is a house of cards built on empty promises and anonymity.

The company promises high returns on investments, but there's no evidence to back up these claims.

The company has no proof of its legitimacy or financial stability, and the people behind it are completely anonymous. This means that there's no way to verify their trustworthiness or legitimacy.

I also heard stories of people investing their money into Africgold and never seeing a return.

Many of these people have been left out of pocket and faced significant financial hardship as a result. It's clear that Africgold is looking to take advantage of vulnerable people and scam them out of their money.

It's best to stay away from Africgold and any other similar investment schemes. If you're looking to make money, it's best to invest in legitimate, established companies with a track record of success.

Do your research thoroughly before investing, and make sure you're comfortable with the risks you're taking.

Overall, Africgold is a big scam and should be avoided at all costs. Don't let yourself be taken advantage of by this unscrupulous company – stay away!

READ ALSO: Cryptocurrency Guide

Is Africgold Legit?

Is Africgold Scam

No, Africgold is not a legitimate website. It is operated by a group of Nigerian scammers known as “Yahoo Yahoo boys.”

What these scammers don’t tell you is that no such profits ever exist, and they will just be taking your money and running. They use a variety of methods to lure people into investing in their scheme, from fake testimonials to promises of high returns.

Unfortunately, these tactics can be convincing, so it’s important to be wary of any website that claims to offer high returns on investments without any risk.

It's important to do your research before investing in any online scheme. Be sure to read reviews and check out the website carefully. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Africgold platform comes with mouthwatering offers where you get a high return on investment within a month of registering, as you can see above.

However, the question is if they kept to their promises.

Well, Africgold paid its members at the start to attract more members to the platform. But unfortunately, they have stopped paying. 

So Africgold is a Big Scam. Don't invest in the platform.

From our research to answer the question – Is Africgold Legit? we discovered that the platform does not have a legit source of funding to pay its members. Also, there is no kind of ad program on their website to make profits.

Africgold's only source of income is the registration fees, which are obviously not enough to pay all members.

READ ALSO: Is DHgate Legit And Safe? [Here’s The Answer]

What Is Africgold?

Is Africgold Legit

According to the Africgold About page, this platform serves two purposes, which include mining revenue and converting AFGOLD units to spendable money. The goal of the company is to make crypto acquisition simple for everyone.

Africgold paints itself as a shiny portal to crypto riches, promising both “mining revenue” and effortless conversion of their proprietary “AFGOLD units” into spendable cash. Their mission, they claim, is to democratize crypto access – a noble pursuit, if not for the rotten foundation upon which it's built.

Scratch beneath the surface, and you'll find a web of deceit, not gold. The “next-gen coin mining” is a mirage, and the “instant cashout” is a siren song luring victims onto their financial shipwreck. Africgold is a sophisticated scam masquerading as a legitimate platform, preying on the hopes and dreams of unsuspecting investors.

Africgold is a mining platform website that you should stay away from. It claims to offer gold mining services, but it's actually a scam.

They use their platform to lure unsuspecting investors into giving up their hard-earned money without providing any of the promised services.

The website looks professional and sophisticated, so it's easy to be fooled by them. They also use clever marketing tactics to get people to invest in their “mining” operations, such as offering incentives and bonuses. However, these are all lies and should be avoided at all costs.

The website claims to have various gold mining operations in countries across Africa, but they are all fake. The reality is that Africgold is nothing more than a front for stealing money from innocent people.

The people behind Africgold are not to be trusted. They have a history of ripping off people who have trusted them with their money. There have been multiple reports of people being scammed by this website, so it's best to stay away from it.

As you can see from this Africgold review, Africgold is a scam mining platform website that should be avoided at all costs. Don't be fooled by their sophisticated website or marketing tactics; the only thing they're interested in is stealing your hard-earned money!

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How Does AfricGold Work?

Is Africgold Legit

Africgold is designed like a cryptocurrency mining system where you get paid every minute you mine.

Meanwhile, crypto mining means acquiring crypto coins by solving cryptographic puzzles. This process confirms transactions on the crypto network and increases the trustworthiness of the coins.

On the AfricGold platform, you will find a dashboard that contains all your crypto mining data for record purposes. Also, your mining result will be displayed on your account.

There are three different plans that you can choose from;

  • The Skyway Gold Plan – #15,000
  • The Pentium Gold Plan – #7,000
  • The Musk Gold Plan – #4,500

Each of these subscription plans has its respective prices as shown above. Your chosen plan will determine how much profit you will make.

With the Skyway Gold Plan, you can make up to #110 per hour and #2,640 per day, which is roughly #79,000 per month.

Mining with the Pentium Gold Plan gives you #50 per hour, #1,200 per day, and approximately #36,000 per month.

The Musk Gold Plan, which is the least expensive, earns you #15 per hour, #360 per day, and about #10,800 monthly.

You can withdraw your earnings once it reaches #10,000 or more.

Is Africgold scam

On the other hand, Africgold's operation is shrouded in secrecy and designed to be intentionally confusing, making it difficult to state how it “works definitively.”

However, based on available information and scam analysis, here's a possible breakdown:

1. Luring Investors

  • Africgold uses a slick website and aggressive marketing tactics to attract potential investors.
  • They entice people with promises of high returns from “mining” their own cryptocurrency (AFGOLD) and instant cashouts without referrals.
  • Testimonials and bonus offer further add to the illusion of legitimacy.

2. Joining the Platform

  • Potential investors register on the platform, often paying an initial fee or “investment.”
  • They might be encouraged to purchase additional “mining packages” or recruit others to earn more.

3. The “Mining” Illusion

  • Africgold claims to offer “virtual mining” of AFGOLD units, but details about the actual process and underlying technology are scarce or nonexistent.
  • No evidence of actual mining equipment or infrastructure is ever presented.

4. Generating “Earnings”

  • The platform might display “virtual earnings” for users, but these are likely manipulated figures with no real value.
  • The source of these “earnings” remains unclear, and there's no way to verify their authenticity.

5. Cashing Out

  • Africgold promotes “instant cashouts” as a key benefit, but success stories are rare.
  • The platform might impose withdrawal limitations, fees, or verification requirements that make cashing out difficult or impossible.
  • Many users report facing issues and delays when attempting to withdraw their “earnings.”

6. The Pyramid Scheme

  • Africgold exhibits strong characteristics of a pyramid scheme, relying heavily on recruitment and affiliate marketing to generate revenue.
  • New investors' funds are used to pay out existing members, creating the illusion of profitability.
  • When recruitment slows down, the entire system becomes unsustainable, and investors lose their money.

How To Spot A Cryptocurrency Mining Scams

How to spot a cryptocurrency mining scam

As you can see from our answer to the question – Is Africgold legit? Navigating the world of cryptocurrency can be exciting, but it also carries the risk of encountering scams.

Here are some red flags to watch out for to spot cryptocurrency mining scams:

  • Promises of guaranteed returns: No legitimate mining operation can guarantee returns. Cryptocurrency prices are highly volatile, and mining success depends on various factors like network difficulty and electricity costs. Be wary of any platform promising consistent, unrealistic profits.
  • Lack of transparency: Websites with vague information about their mining process, technology, and team should raise suspicion. Look for detailed explanations of how they operate, the type of equipment used, and the people behind the project.
  • Pressure to invest: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, pushing you to invest quickly before the opportunity disappears. Don't let anyone pressure you into rushing a decision. Take your time, research thoroughly, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
  • Unconventional payment methods: Legitimate mining platforms generally accept established payment methods like credit cards or bank transfers. If they only accept cryptocurrency or other obscure payment methods, it could be a scam.
  • Focus on recruitment: Platforms heavily relying on recruitment and affiliate marketing, where you earn more by bringing in new investors than actual mining, are likely pyramid schemes.
  • Fake testimonials and endorsements: Be cautious of glowing reviews and celebrity endorsements. Scammers often use fabricated testimonials or manipulate social media to create an illusion of legitimacy.
  • Poor website design and grammar: A professional-looking website isn't a guarantee of legitimacy, but glaring typos, grammatical errors, and unprofessional design can be indicative of a scam.
  • Missing whitepaper: A well-written whitepaper outlining the project's goals, technology, and team is essential for any legitimate cryptocurrency project. Be wary of platforms without a whitepaper or one with vague or misleading information.
  • Unrealistic mining requirements: If a platform claims you can mine cryptocurrency with just your phone or a basic computer, it's likely a scam. Mining usually requires specialized hardware and significant electricity consumption.
  • Excessive fees and hidden charges: Watch out for platforms with hidden fees or unreasonable withdrawal requirements. Legitimate mining platforms usually have transparent fee structures.
  • Ignoring negative reports and reviews: Do your research and read online reviews and reports before investing in any platform. Scammers often have negative feedback online, so don't ignore them.

Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always do your due diligence before investing in any cryptocurrency mining platform, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.

If you suspect a scam, report it to the appropriate authorities and share your experience to warn others.

Why Africgold Is A Scam?

Here, we answered the question – is Africgold legit? Is Africgold a scam?

Africgold is a scam for a number of reasons:

  • It promises high returns with little effort. Africgold claims that you can make up to #110 per hour from cryptocurrency mining with very little effort. This is unrealistic and unsustainable.
  • There is no information about the company. Africgold does not provide any information about the company that owns it, such as its address or phone number.
  • It makes unrealistic claims about mining profits. Africgold claims that you can make a lot of money from cryptocurrency mining without investing a lot of money. This is not true.
  • It is not transparent about how its mining operations work. Africgold does not provide any information about how its mining operations work. This is a red flag.

Additional tips:

  • Be wary of any website that asks for your personal information, such as your Social Security number or bank account number.
  • Any money-making websites like Africgold that require users to search for answers to the question – Is Africgold Legit? Requires due research before committing to it.
  • If you're not sure whether a website is legitimate, do some research online to see if other people have reported it as a scam.
  • If you think you've been scammed, report it to the authorities.

Africgold Review – Is Africgold Legit? Is Africgold Scam?

To conclude this Africgold review, I will say Africgold is only a Ponzi scheme launched to scam people off their hard-earned money. A lot of people have testified to this on several forums online, including Nairaland.

Africgold is a scam. It promises high returns with little effort, but it does not deliver. The company behind Africgold is anonymous, and the claims it makes about its mining operations are unrealistic. Avoid Africgold and any other similar cryptocurrency mining scams.

If you want to make money online, why not try other legit means like blogging, freelancing, and affiliate marketing, among others.

Many people are online searching for an answer to the question – is Africgold legit? Is Africgold a scam?’’

You can share this with them.


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4 Essential Tactics For Increasing Sales Today

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Sales are one of the essential elements of any business. However, in today’s economic and social environment, selling has become a task of great complexity. What was effective a few years ago may now fail to deliver results.

Current market conditions are characterized by intense competition, digitization, and globalization, resulting in an uncertain business scenario.  

Moreover, the consumer has become the centre of all commercial activities. So, marketing and retail management teams pull out all the stops to retain existing clients, bring in new ones, and maintain high sales levels, essential to the company’s continued existence and growth. 

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of practical strategies you can employ. They’ll work to boost revenue, win over new clients, and steer a business toward lasting success.

1. Leverage Modern Technology

If a business wants to see an increase in profits, it can’t afford to ignore the ongoing technological revolution. Consumers now have unprecedented access to information and methods of making purchases.

This is thanks to all the advancements in technology. Now, we can better communicate with consumers, manage teams, and conduct business. To increase sales, you must incorporate any relevant technology.  

This is why today’s companies need to be able to rely on marketing professionals. When you hire a Google advertising agency, you can rest assured that experts who understand the intricacies of the use of technology in marketing will take care of your digital marketing in a way that will have a tangible impact on your sales.

To achieve success, companies must constantly invest in improving customer service and user experience, using digital ads, mobile apps, AI, ML, Big Data, Social Networks, and so on.

2. Use Social-Proof-Based Recommendation Advertising

Use Social-Proof-Based Recommendation Advertising 

The use of social proof in advertising is not new, but mainly thanks to social media's impact on consumer behaviour, it’s becoming increasingly popular. Social psychology’s “contagion effect,” which states that people are more likely to act if others have done so before, forms the basis of this sales strategy.

This is because word-of-mouth marketing occurs when one customer buys a product or service and then tells their friends, co-workers, or family how good it is. 

As a means of spreading the word about the reliability and dependability of a brand, “recommendation marketing” works to persuade satisfied customers to become brand advocates.

Gathering the references, testimonials, opinions, and experiences of happy customers and disseminating them to prospective customers via offline or online channels is essential to the success of this strategy.

Building content-rich, engaging social media profiles is a great tactic to strengthen this sales strategy. You can use lead generation tools like LinkedHelper to increase the impact of your social media efforts on your sales.

An excellent social media strategy should help you reach as many users that match your buyer persona as possible and turn them into actual buyers.

Read Also: 4 Ways To Improve The IT Infrastructure In Your Company

3. Sell Solutions to Problems 

Sell Solutions to Problems 

Customers aren’t interested in purchasing goods or services but seek answers to specific problems. So, the key to increasing sales is recognizing these problems and providing solutions.

A successful sales strategy should help the buyer see how the product or service meets an unmet need or desire. The idea is to turn the acquisition into a profitable business venture.  

Instead of focusing on describing the features of the product or service, highlight the benefits and value of the purchase. Conducting a thorough investigation of your ideal client provides the foundation for identifying the client’s needs and offering benefit-based justification for the purchase.

If you want to meet their needs, you must first understand their situation, their worries, and their needs and desires. 

4. Create an Effective Sales Communication 

Create an Effective Sales Communication 

Salespeople would be lost without a good script they can use to deliver their pitches. The point is to have a conversation with the potential client in an atmosphere of trust and closeness and then use that conversation to close the deal. Some businesses rely on persuasive business proposals, which have the same purpose.  

The customer's needs must always come first in any sales script or proposal. The strategy revolves around him. So, it is essential first to understand and address the customer's concerns.

One of the sales message’s best features is the value proposition, which explains the advantages of the product or service and why a customer should spend their money on it.  

Any business that wants to see better results should use creative writing to present the proposal in an appealing, innovative, convincing, and persuasive manner using powerful words and action verbs or storytelling to give the client the hero of their own story. 

Conclusion

As a result of the expansion of the Internet and other forms of modern technology, businesses now have access to previously untapped avenues of customer interaction and direct revenue generation. The secret to success, however, is finding a happy medium between tried-and-true methods and novel approaches to upselling.


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The Gaming Industry Must Be Proactive About DDoS Attacks

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This post reveals why the gaming industry must be proactive about DDoS attacks.

The gaming industry has always been under siege. Think how old the term “booters” is, and the attack pace demonstrates that the complexity and scale are increasing.

At a time when booming popularity should mean the best of times for publishers, their games face endless DDoS attacks by adversaries ranging from cybercrime rings to run-of-the-mill cheaters and trolls seeking to disrupt competition.

Botnet rentals have lowered the bar for entry-level DDoS artists, while more sophisticated attackers are combining DDoS attacks with ransomware in ransom-related DDoS attacks (RDOSs) and adding data theft in lethal triple extortion campaigns.

The crippling of the once-popular Titanfall 2 title shows the potentially devastating impact of such attacks, as compromised systems made gameplay virtually impossible. 

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To protect their business and retain fans, publishers must raise their game against DDoS. If the recent hack of the Twitch game streaming service is any indication of the industry’s current state of cybersecurity, they’ve got a long way to go.

Even seven years after its acquisition by Amazon, the company’s defenses were weak enough to allow hackers to gain seemingly unlimited access to its systems. The attack was a dramatic success, reaping everything from three years of creator payout records to the entirety of the platform’s source code. 

The DDoS threat is hardly an invincible final boss no publisher could hope to defeat; despite its widespread and escalating prevalence, a multi-layered approach to DDoS protection can be highly effective in keeping these attacks from interfering with gameplay. The first step is to understand the nature of the threat. 

READ ALSO: Zero Trust Architecture: Enhancing Network Security

Why Is DDoS So Devastating To Online Gaming?

Why DDoS Is So Devastating To Online Gaming

Amid a crowded threat landscape, the menace of DDoS attacks stands out by targeting game publishers where they’re most sensitive: user experience.

After all, even the most brilliantly designed and vividly rendered game will fall flat if it can’t meet the demanding expectations of gamers using top-of-the-line hardware. Slow down the publisher’s network, and their business will soon follow. 

A DDoS attack is simple: the victim’s IP address is targeted with a high volume of bogus traffic from multiple locations at once, often using a botnet to overload its network or infrastructure and slow or crash its systems.

As one of the most simple and popular forms of cyberattack, DDoS is commonly used against organizations ranging from financial services to government and healthcare, where keeping systems up and running can be critical. To gamers, latency and availability issues can also feel like a matter of life and death. 

For an evil or disgruntled gamer, hiring a DDoS-for-hire service can be a quick and affordable way to undermine a foe or lash out against competition.

This is no theoretical threat; studios including Respawn, Activision, and Ubisoft have been forced to ban gamers for using DDoS attacks to cheat, while Ubisoft has sued the operators of four such services used to launch attacks on its multi-player servers for Rainbow Six Siege. 

Keeping Games Playable With Proactive Protection And Zero Trust

Keeping Games Playable with Proactive Protection and Zero Trust

The discovery of a DDoS attack can put game publishers in a bind. The traditional response would be to clamp down on incoming traffic to the targeted system—but this amounts to doing hackers’ work for them, shutting out legitimate activity alongside illicit packets. At the same time, security analysts scramble to find an effective way to stop the attack.

On the other hand, they can’t just sit by and watch their platform grind to a halt. Either way, the damage is done. Sessions are disrupted, gamers are frustrated, and the publisher’s reputation has taken a significant hit. 

To ensure an uninterrupted, high-quality experience for players, game publishers, and hosters must shift from legacy reactive measures to modern proactive protection to even the odds. Taking a zero-trust approach to security, they should assume that a threat can originate anywhere inside or outside the network perimeter—and act accordingly.

Players (and bots) should be screened through multiple automated checks before being granted access and continuously checked throughout their session for DDoS characteristics to ensure that an authenticated player won’t launch a sneak attack. 

For comprehensive DDoS defense, additional automated defenses and best practices for web and application gaming security should complement a zero-trust strategy. These include:

  • Leveraging comprehensive and dynamic threat intelligence to block known wrong IP addresses  hosting DDoS weapons
  • Applying baselining, artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML), and pattern recognition to detect and block traffic with unusual or suspicious characteristics, such as behaviors associated with the orchestration of a distributed attack
  • Performing real-time watermark inspection on all traffic from the internet to the gaming server to prevent reflected amplification—a common tactic to magnify the impact of an attack

READ ALSO: 5 Adoption Strategies For Zero Trust

Conclusion

With record-setting sales, a new generation of consoles, and developers pushing new levels of creativity, the gaming industry can’t afford the distraction and disruption of DDoS to stall its momentum.

By getting proactive about DDoS protection, they can deliver the best experiences for players—and the best results for their business. 


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Full Review of RememBear – A Reliable Password Manager Application

In this article, we shall review the reliable RememBear password manager. 

A password is a secret word that is needed to access something. It could be a combination of alphabets, numbers, and special characters.

On the internet, a password is required to access various accounts. Email accounts, social media account, e-banking accounts, website accounts, etc. all require passwords for security. 

If you operate multiple online accounts, you would agree that it is not easy to remember all of your passwords. You lose track most of the time. 

Using the same password for all online accounts is usually not recommended. If one account gets exposed, it could be used to gain access to other ones. Therefore, it is advised to make use of different passwords for different accounts. 

Also, people are advised to write down these passwords or store them where they can be easily retrieved when needed. But, managing this can be complicated, which is why people make use of online password managers. 

What is RememBear? 

remembear password manager

RememBear is a password manager application. It stores your passwords and makes it easy for you to remember and enter them when needed. RememBear was developed by the developers of the TunnelBear VPN application. 

The application is a user-friendly one and also very safe, so your saved passwords are not compromised by any third-party. All you need to do is to create a Master Password with the bear. 

It features a bear character to make the process of storing and retrieving passwords fun. The bear got your back and will provide any of your passwords upon request, 

With such an application, the stress of having to memorize and recall passwords to your various online accounts is eliminated. 

In addition to saving account passwords, you can also collect details of your credit/debit cards with RememBear. 

Benefits of RememBear 

Below are some of the benefits you enjoy while using the RememBear password manager: 

  • The application makes it fast and easy for you to log into your online accounts. You do not have to type passwords as if auto-fills them along with their respective usernames. 
  • With RememBear, you won’t forget any of your account passwords, and you don’t even need to remember them. The master password is all you are expected to memorize. 
  • The application makes it fast and easy for you to shop online. While checking out, it auto-fills your credit card details for the payment 
  • RememBear provides you with top-notch security as you have all your passwords, credit card details, and other important information secured in a safe location. 

Features of RememBear 

Below are features that RememBear offers to its users; 

  • User Friendly: the RememBear app is user friendly and easy to use. You create an account using an email and your Master Password. 
  • Independent Audition: the security standards used by RememBear are audited by a third-party to ensure that they are of the highest quality. 
  • Complete Privacy: only you have access to the passwords, credit cards, and other details you save on RememBear. 
  • Top-notch Security: All details you save on RememBear is protected using AES 256-bit encryption. It is the most secure data encryption standard globally. 
  • iOS Touch and Face ID Support: if you use RememBear on iOS devices with Touch ID and Face ID security protocols, you can use them to log in as an alternative to the Master Password. 
  • Auto-Lock: to keep your data safe, the RememBear app auto-locks once it is left inactive for some time   
  • Password Generation: an inbuilt password generator can help you create strong and secure passwords for your online accounts. 
  • Multi-Access: the application is compatible with both mobile and desktop Operating Systems, so you can access your passwords from anywhere. 
  • Cloud Backup: RememBear stores user passwords and other details on the cloud as backup. You can retrieve and recover your passwords if they are mistakenly lost. 
  • Browser Extensions: there are RememBear browser extensions for Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox (Quantum).

RememBear Pricing 

It features a free and premium account. The premium account gives users access to sync between devices, backups, and gain a swift response. It costs $3 per month and $36 per year. 

Upon registration, new users granted access to the Premium account for 30 days. After 30 days, users are expected to pay for premium to continue access. Also, it auto-reverts the account to the free version. 

RememBear Technical Details 

Compatibility

RememBear is compatible with mobile and desktop platforms. Compatible mobile devices are iOS and Android, while compatible desktop devices are Mac and Windows.

Support

On the RememBear website is a help page with articles written on different sections about using the app. Also, you can submit a ticket to the support team by using the contact us page. 

Conclusion 

RememBear functions very well as a password manager. It is easy to use, and you can trust that your passwords are secure. However, the free account does not offer much. To enjoy all features, you will need to pay and upgrade to premium.


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2023 Cybersecurity Maturity Report Released: Why Detecting Cyber Attacks Is Not Enough

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According to recent research, the amount of global cyberattacks grew by as much as 38% in 2022, when compared to 2021. These were orchestrated by smaller, ransomware hackers that focused specifically on tools used in remote working environments. 

For businesses, cybercrime has become one of the most immediate concerns when it comes to success or failure. Overall, as many as 60% of small companies go out of business within 6 months of a data breach.

With cybercrime set to go up 15% every year – an even more concerning prediction seeing as 2022’s percentage was more than double that – it has never been more important for companies to conduct a software composition analysis and ensure they are doing everything they can to deal with the problem.

The Cybersecurity Maturity Report

The Cybersecurity Maturity Report

A recent cybersecurity maturity report – based over two years worth of data and obtained from 500 organisations across 15 countries – found that 32% of businesses had weak security policies in place, with 23% having inadequate authentication mechanisms to deal with the rising sophistication of attacks. 

That being said, the act of detection seemed strong, especially with the wider implementation of open source software. But having attained this data, it is clear that the simple act of detecting cyber attacks is not enough. In fact, detection is only the first step towards cyber protection.

With open source software, it is critical to start with detection, move to prioritisation – finding and focusing on the most immediate issue – and then finishing with remediation – eradicating the issue and protecting the business.

Essentially, this comes through regularly monitoring open source components, as well as their dependencies. Observability becomes a big factor here, especially when it comes to companies with multi-cloud environments.

For any IT team – especially smaller IT teams – it can be hard to track and respond to any issues that might surface in a software; leading the software itself to be in a far more vulnerable state. 

Observability, however, offers logs, metrics and traces to generate records of activity across the infrastructure. This then helps an IT team monitor all of their moving parts, pinpointing the most vulnerable and then focusing on a remediating process.

Having Tools For Complicated – And Simple – Procedures

It’s also important for any company to couple strong visibility with the right tools. This should include finding a way to automate remediation, an open source licensing policy enforcement, malicious package blocking, as well as multiple integration points. 

But tools should not just be implemented into the software. As mentioned previously, 32% of businesses have weak security policies, and this is often as simple as a strong password and an adequate authentication mechanism.

As well as this, attackers have learned how to manipulate unaware employees, allowing themselves to gain manual entry into a system. Even the very basic security procedures must be in place. 

A company needs to know who can gain access to a software, how they can gain access and whether that mechanism is being adequately followed. To increase visibility in this way, it is essential to increase employee awareness. This would mean learning how to train employees in cybersecurity, what malicious malware looks like, how to detect it, as well how to trust other users active within a network.

Altogether, it is vital that businesses do everything they can to build a firewall between them and the millions of attackers who are attempting to compromise their software.

This comes by taking a step past detection and into prioritisation and remediation; as well as raising the awareness within the company about what to expect and how to counteract it.

FAQs about the Rising Tide of Cybercrime and How Businesses Can Stay Afloat

FAQs about the Rising Tide of Cybercrime and How Businesses Can Stay Afloat

How can my business prepare for the increasing cybercrime threat?

Start by prioritizing detection, but don't stop there. Implement observability tools to monitor your systems, prioritize vulnerabilities, and automate remediation processes. Train your employees to recognize and report suspicious activity, and enforce strong security policies like password complexity and multi-factor authentication.

READ ALSO: Managing Open-Source Vulnerabilities Like A Pro!

What are the biggest risks associated with open-source software?

While open-source software offers advantages, its dependencies can introduce vulnerabilities. Regularly monitor your open-source components and their dependencies for known issues, and have a plan for addressing them promptly.

What tools do I need to improve my cybersecurity posture?

Invest in tools that automate remediation, enforce licensing policies, block malicious packages, and integrate with your existing systems. Remember, tools are only part of the solution; strong security policies and employee awareness are equally important.

How can I train my employees to be more cybersecurity-aware?

Provide regular training sessions on identifying phishing attempts, malware threats, and safe online practices. Encourage them to report suspicious activity and create a culture of security within your organization.

What are the financial implications of a cyberattack?

Data breaches can be devastating, leading to financial losses from data recovery, legal fees, and reputational damage. Additionally, businesses may face compliance fines and lose customer trust. Investing in proactive cybersecurity measures is significantly cheaper than the potential costs of a cyberattack.

A Final Word

By adopting a comprehensive approach that combines detection, prioritization, remediation, and employee training, businesses can build a robust cybersecurity firewall and navigate the ever-evolving threat landscape.

Remember, staying vigilant and proactive is key to protecting your valuable data and ensuring business continuity in the face of growing cybercrime.

Leave a comment below regarding this cybersecurity report.


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How To Edit Videos Like A Pro

Here, I will show you how to edit videos like a pro.

Once the shooting for the video is over, the most challenging and time-consuming process of editing starts.

The first video editing work can become the most tedious, if you are new to all of it. Once you start to get the feel of it, things can get better, but to make your video look like it has been the work of a professional can still be a bit daunting.

Here are the top few tricks to help you through the roller coaster ride. It is important to remember here that professional editing work requires a lot of patience and a well understanding of the work.

You need to have an eye for details, and also be ready to work in an organized and planned manner. Remember, this is not the kind of job where you can take any chances in following the steps. You need to execute the same with perfection.

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Virbo AI Avatar
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So, let’s get started!

How To Edit Videos Like A Pro

Tip 1: Planning is the Key to Success

This may sound cliché, but it is the truth, it can help you create your personal brand too, to check out how you can do it click here. There is nothing better than organizing your work. The work, in this case, is editing a  video. The first and initial step is to organize the work. How?

  • Create a folder for the project – you could name it relevantly, for example, name it on the project name or simply call it the Project Directory.
  • Create sub-folders within this folder. Each of these sub-folders should sync with one aspect of your work. For example, there could be one on audio, one on graphics, one on images, music, footage, and so on.
  • Next, whichever file you need to use during the editing process, name it relevantly – connect it with the folder name – so that it is easy to track.
  • Arrange all these files into the sub-folders as per their type and nature.
  • Besides this, also make a work plan to detail out colors, music, sound effects, fonts, headers and footers, titles, transitions, and so on.

Tip 2:  Ensure that you Have a Good Quality RAW Footage to Work With

With the kind of advanced tools that we have today, it is possible to process any kind of image to get a realistic feel.

However, there is nothing like a good raw image! So, rule number two for professional editing is to choose the best files that you have got. That way, you can edit videos like a pro.

READ ALSO: How To Get Into Video Editing

Tip 3: Invest in a Professional Video Editing Software Tool

Invest in a Professional Video Editing Software Tool

It may sound obvious, but many video editors feel that the video editing software that comes with their professional camera is good enough. It is not so.

If you wish to bring in that professional streak in your edited video, you need to use a software tool that is made for experts. These are tools that come with advanced controls and the latest features that make your work effective and easy.

Prosumer-level tools cost money – some could be quite expensive, but none come for free. Research, speak to your colleagues from the fraternity, and seek expert advice before you go ahead with putting your money into a pro tool.

Tip 4: Ensure that You Have a Secondary or External Audio

While the video primarily is all about motion, without effectual audio or poor audio quality, you could very well be putting the video’s life at stake. No one likes to watch a video with a low, distant, and muffled sound, or let’s just say not professionally done.

Besides using a better quality microphone during the shooting, make sure that you have the option to add sound during the editing. The advantage of using a proficient and powerful tool is that you can use it to treat background noise realistically and relevantly. The editor will enable you to add music – free or licensed – to make it look more effective.

Tip 5: Ensure that you Have a Backup File

This is another crucial aspect of a professional video editing job. Make a copy of all the work that you are doing. While you can choose to go for hard drives, keeping the backup on the cloud is highly advisable.

Once the work is over, ensure that you put the entire folder onto a separate hard drive or cloud space.

Tip 6: Cuts

A critical part of video editing is cutting out

A critical part of video editing is cutting out unrequired or distracting elements from the footage. Using the right pro tool will come to your rescue during such times. Often, to replace the cut parts, you would need to bring in other layers of clips to make the video look seamless and good-to-go.

This is where the trick lies – if you are able to do a good job, the transition is going to be immaculate; however, if you are bad at it, things could be quite embarrassing.

Using a Prosumer-grade tool is advised because you have advanced controls to get over with this job with ease. You should also spend time learning the techniques. Another great way to learn is by watching videos and movies made by others.

Tip 7: Enroll for a Professional Course

One way of hitting the bull’s eyes is to learn from professionals. There are numerous online tutorials available – free or paid. How does it help? You get a lot of pro tips from the instructors. You could choose to go with a short video-editing course or do a proper full-time certification from accredited institutes.

Tip 8: It is Good to Use Different Shots in the Video

To remove monotony, this is an effective way to make videos more interesting. Showing the same thing from different angles can make videos attractive. However, do it rationally – use your discretion; do not make it a random affair, work to make this feature smooth and optimized.

Best Video Creator Deals

MiniTool MovieMaker
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MiniTool MovieMaker is your user-friendly, free video editing software that empowers you to effortlessly create stunning...Show More
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Virbo AI Avatar
Virbo AI Avatar
Virbo AI Avatar is your video creation companion, turning text into engaging, AI-powered videos with lifelike avatars...Show More
Virbo AI Avatar is your video creation companion, turning text into engaging, AI-powered videos with lifelike avatars and diverse voices, all in minutes. Show Less

Conclusion

You need to decide which platform you will be using for putting up your video because if it's decided beforehand it can help you select your editing tool, for example if you want to put your video on YouTube, you can try InVideo for editing your videos like a pro.

Video editing is no joke. It is a kind of work that takes years for people to master. So, treat it with that kind of seriousness and dedication. Also, remember, in the end, you need to narrate a story – go about editing your video with this in mind!

Hope you can now edit videos like a pro?


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Exploring The Benefits Of AI-Powered At The 2022 Qatar World Cup

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In this post, we will explore the benefits of AI-Powered at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

The 2022 Qatar World Cup, the 22nd edition of the global football tournament, is set to be one of the most high-tech events in history with the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for security and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) systems.

Benefits Of AI-Power At The 2022 Qatar World Cup

1. Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Technology and its Benefits

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology was used at the 2022 Qatar World Cup to help referees make decisions in real time.

This technology is powered by AI, which helps spot potential mistakes on the field and alert the referee if necessary. VAR will also be used for goal-line decision-making, offsides, penalty kicks, and red cards.

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Technology and its Benefits

Here are the 5 benefits of using VAR technology for the Qatar World Cup:

  1. Increased Accuracy: VAR technology is powered by AI, which helps detect potential mistakes and alert the referee in real time. This ensures that referees have all the information they need to make accurate decisions on the field. 
  2. Improved Referee Performance: Video Assistant Referees (VARs) will be able to review decisions quickly, helping to reduce any errors made by the on-field referee.
  3. Enhanced Fan Experience: Video Assistant Referees can help ensure that fans are part of a fair and exciting game experience by making sure that all decisions are based on clear evidence provided by the system. 
  4. Reduced Controversy: With Video Assistant Referees, there is less of a chance for controversy over referees' decisions. Video evidence can help to settle any disputes that may arise and make sure the game is played fairly. 
  5. Increased Security: Video Assistant Referees can also help improve security at the 2022 Qatar World Cup by flagging potential threats and helping keep players, fans, and referees safe. 

2. Improved Security Surveillance with AI-Powered Video Analytics 

AI-based surveillance technology can provide improved security measures at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Video analytics tools and techniques, such as machine learning algorithms, are used to analyze events that occur within a given range of camera vision.

Video analytics help security teams detect suspicious activities in real time with greater accuracy than traditional methods. This is done by recognizing faces, objects and behaviors that security teams have previously marked as suspicious.

In addition, the technology can be used to identify a pattern of suspicious behavior patterns across multiple camera feeds, helping to spot potential threats before they become an issue.

Video analytics also provide more detailed insights into the activities occurring at the World Cup venue, including crowd size and movements.

3. Eliminating Human Error in Detection and Response to Security Incidents 

AI is able to detect security threats more quickly than humans, as well as respond to them faster and with greater accuracy.

AI-based systems are able to identify security threats by analyzing large amounts of data more quickly than manual security processes, including security footage and access control logs.

4. Automated Access Control for Secure Stadium Entry 

Automated Access Control for Secure Stadium Entry

AI-powered technology provided more secure access control measures at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. AI-based software can analyze a person’s identity data, such as name and passport number, to identify potential fraudulent activity or suspicious behavior.

This helps to keep unauthorized individuals out of the stadium, while also allowing verified fans easy access to the venue. AI-based access control systems can also detect any attempted breaches in security, alerting security personnel if necessary. 

Today, 90% of large-scale sports events use access control turnstiles combined with artificial intelligence technology. Not only do they ensure the security of the venue, but they also provide a seamless, convenient, and enjoyable experience for entrants.

Overall, AI-powered technology provides numerous benefits for the 2022 Qatar World Cup in terms of security, accuracy, and fan experience. in the near future, AI will provide more benefits to human beings in more products and fields.


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