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What Are The Security Features On The QuickBooks Desktop?

Marie Beaujolie | ✔️Fact-checked by: Angela Daniel
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What Are The Security Features On The QuickBooks Desktop?

This post answers the question – what are the security features on the QuickBooks Desktop?

QuickBooks software from Intuit is businesses and individuals' most widely used accounting application. 

It's highly convenient to use for payroll management, bill payment, expense management, and business payments.

Traditionally, users installed QuickBooks on their Desktops and could only access their data through them. 

QuickBooks Desktop software can now be hosted on an internet server, allowing data to be accessed remotely from any place. 

This is ideal for individuals who are frequently on the move or wish to access the same data to many individuals in various locations.

By utilizing the cloud, the service provider strengthens the security of your QuickBooks Desktop and avoids data leaks. They provide a sophisticated Cybersecurity system that uses the most potent capabilities accessible. Also, it is reasonably priced and simple to operate.

What are the security features on the QuickBooks Desktop

The cloud's significant security aspects illustrate why it is an excellent choice for hosting QuickBooks software and data.

Contents

  • Role-Based Access
  • Robust Backups
  • Hardware Independent
  • Reliable Data Servers
  • Data Recovery
  • Multi-Factor Authentication
  • IT Infrastructure
  • Technical Expertise
  • Cloud Security Features

Role-Based Access

One of the main concerns with QB data security is a lack of control. In a traditional setup, all data is stored locally and is easily retrievable if the system is hacked.

Also, limiting its accessibility is difficult because an employee or a visitor has a greater chance of physically accessing the system. And, even if you secure the hard disk with a password, what if it steels?

Cloud hosting stores all data off-site in a data center; accessing it is significantly more complicated than local storage.

Moreover, it enables you to virtualize data separation and privacy protection. Because a unique authorization controls access to data, you can restrict its accessibility and assign it to different individuals based on their roles.

Robust Backups

Robust Backups

While digitizing data eliminates paper's inherent vulnerabilities and significantly increases its durability, it has drawbacks.

 It is easily damaged or lost forever if the store device destroys or malfunctions.

And even if you use backup software and do routine backups, there are many risks. 

Your backup software may break without your notice, or your technical team may lack the expertise to back up your data correctly.

With QuickBooks hosting, you can increase the dependability and security of your data-handling tasks. 

Cloud service providers use expert IT staff that perform backup scans regularly and monitor the process.

READ ALSO: How To Organize Your Digital Life With Desktop.com

Hardware Independent

Accounting firms must exercise extreme caution with their data due to their access to sensitive information such as tax returns, credit card information, and Social Security numbers. 

For example, consider that you're traveling for work and find that your laptop has been stolen. If you use QuickBooks Desktop, you expose your data to its risk for illegal purposes.

QuickBooks becomes hardware-independent when it is hosted in the cloud. Thus, even if your office laptop is lost, your data is protected because it is stored on secure cloud servers. 

You can reach it from any supporting device and restart work without fear of losing your data. Also, no one can access your data without your login credentials.

Reliable Data Servers

While traditional data storage methods involve storing data in-house, implementing premium security measures for them is extremely expensive and significantly strains your financial resources.

You may be forced to settle for less expensive alternatives, again exposing your data in the long run.

By investing in the cloud, you may obtain high-quality security services at a low cost. 

QuickBooks hosts in Tier 3+ or higher data centers.

These are enterprise-grade data servers equipped with various security features such as extensive CCTV surveillance, security guards for physical protection, specialized entrance cards, cutting-edge anti-hacking solutions, firewalls, and biometric verification for added security.

Data Recovery

Data Recovery

In a traditional system, data loss results in complete data loss, for which the business is responsible. 

Regular and safe data backups on secure data servers are included with QuickBooks hosting. Reputable cloud service providers conduct daily data backups.

This is highly advantageous in human error or natural disaster; the data can quickly be recovered and restored. As a result, you can rapidly resume normal business operations and return to work after retrieving the cloud-based data.

Multi-Factor Authentication

In today's world, where hackers are constantly developing new methods for breaking into systems and stealing data, an extra layer of security is always helpful. 

While implementing password security is critical, an extra layer of protection recommends ensuring that the system is only accessible to verified users.

QuickBooks hosting providers use multi-factor authentication to ensure the protection of your data. 

Once the password has been validated, the user must authenticate the login using another mobile device, such as a Smartphone, tablet, or iPad. Thus, the danger of a hacker obtaining access to the system is reduced.

IT Infrastructure

With the number of cyberattacks increasing daily, it is essential to maintain an up-to-date IT architecture to protect your data against current hacking attempts.

However, most QuickBooks accounting data still maintains an out-of-date terrestrial system that is inefficient and sensitive to modern threats. 

They are incompatible with modern anti-hacking tools or feature insecure security frameworks that readily exploit.

Cloud hosting encrypts your data and stores it on cutting-edge IT infrastructure that builds to withstand modern hacker efforts.

It includes enterprise-class firewalls, antivirus software, and cutting-edge IDS/IPS software for adequate data protection. 

Also, some cloud service providers apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to monitor the security flow on your server and discover any critical security flaws that could further strengthen the security of your data.

Technical Expertise

When it comes to expanding security solutions, a substantial difference in quality can be made. 

For example, while an accounting firm may excel at developing complicated financial strategies and assisting customers in making the most use of their fiscal resources, it may not be the best at addressing Cybersecurity.

It must have an expert IT staff supervising and managing the infrastructure's security.

QuickBooks cloud hosting makes significant investments to protect the integrity of its cloud services. 

They use skilled employees who are conversant with contemporary methodologies and adhere to current security measures.

These professionals do regular security audits, monitor suspicious activity, apply the newest patches, and perform other necessary tasks. 

Also, they contribute to developing a multi-tiered security system in which, even if one protection layer breaches, a hacking effort can stop at a successive stage.

Cloud Security Features

Cloud Security Features

QuickBooks is a stand-alone application when running on a local device. 

It comes with restricted security features such as firewalls and antivirus. Regularly updating them is a significant effort for the IT team, and any delay puts the data and system at risk.

When QuickBooks is hosted in the cloud, it receives additional security features from the cloud service provider, such as regular automated firewall upgrades, antivirus software, antimalware, and anti-ransomware software, which protects the data cyberattacks. 

Moreover, the cloud service provider assures compliance with the government's security policies, ensuring the security is impenetrable.

Safeguarding Your Financials: QuickBooks Desktop Security FAQs

QuickBooks Desktop offers various features to enhance data security. Here are some FAQs to explore these functionalities and ensure your financial information remains protected:

Does QuickBooks Desktop have security features?

Yes, QuickBooks Desktop offers several security features to safeguard your financial data. Here are some key aspects:

  • Password Protection: Requires users to create strong passwords to access the company file.
  • User Roles: You can assign different user roles with varying access levels, restricting unauthorized users from accessing sensitive information.
  • Data Encryption: QuickBooks Desktop uses encryption to scramble your data, making it unreadable in case of a security breach. (Note: Encryption might vary depending on your QuickBooks Desktop version.)
  • Audit Trail: Tracks user activity within the QuickBooks file, allowing you to monitor changes and identify any suspicious actions.

What are some additional security measures I can take?

Here are some best practices to strengthen your QuickBooks Desktop security:

  • Regular Backups: Maintain regular backups of your QuickBooks company file to a secure location in case of data loss due to hardware failure or other unforeseen circumstances.
  • Strong Passwords: Enforce strong and unique passwords for all QuickBooks user accounts. Consider using a password manager to generate and manage complex passwords.
  • Firewall and Antivirus Software: Ensure you have a robust firewall and antivirus program running on your computer to protect against malware and cyber threats.
  • Limit User Access: Only grant authorized users access to QuickBooks, and assign user roles with the least privileges necessary for their tasks.
  • Software Updates: Keep QuickBooks Desktop and your operating system updated with the latest security patches to address potential vulnerabilities.

Are there any security vulnerabilities with QuickBooks Desktop?

While QuickBooks Desktop offers security features, it's essential to be aware of potential vulnerabilities:

  • Physical Security: Ensure your computer and any external storage devices containing QuickBooks backups are physically secure to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Phishing Attacks: Be wary of phishing emails or scams disguised as legitimate QuickBooks communication. Don't share your login credentials or click on suspicious links.
  • Outdated Software: Using an outdated version of QuickBooks Desktop increases your risk of security breaches, as older versions might have known vulnerabilities.

Is QuickBooks Desktop data encrypted?

Some versions of QuickBooks Desktop offer data encryption to protect your financial data. However, encryption capabilities might vary depending on your specific version. It's recommended that you consult QuickBooks documentation for your version to confirm data encryption specifics.

Conclusion

With its always-up-to-date solutions, the cloud has been a game-changer in terms of securing your QuickBooks Desktop data.

Data backup, role-based access, and the most recent security advancements ensure that you can focus on other business processes rather than worrying about data security.

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Antivirus Best Practices For Complete Cybersecurity

Chandra Palan | ✔️Fact-checked by: Daniel Segun
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Antivirus Best Practices For Complete Cybersecurity

Antivirus best practices are procedures or guidelines you take to prevent compromising system security. 

In today’s world of advanced malware threats, data and identity theft, and other cybersecurity issues, it is absolutely important that computers used for personal or business purposes remain protected in the best possible way from such cyber threats.

Keeping systems protected round-the-clock not only involves antivirus installation but also includes a series of protective measures geared towards ensuring that both personal and business computers remain protected from threats even when not connected to the internet.

antivirus solutions

Below are antivirus best practices that can guarantee complete system protection, ensure normal day-to-day system functioning, and detect and eliminate threats when followed to the letter.

READ ALSO: Best Antivirus For 2022

Antivirus Best Practices 

  1. Limit physical access to computers to a few authorized users. Limiting access to computers can greatly reduce the chances of system compromise by preventing malware transmission through emails, file downloads, and other compromising activities. 
  2. Log or track uses activities on a network to reduce the risk of security compromise.
  3. Monitor computer usage by creating user accounts protected by passwords for authorized users. This is important to track users’ activities and compromised accounts.
  4. Secure your home, work computer, or server with strong and complex passwords to guard against unauthorized users. For office use, it is advisable to adopt the least privileged principle.
  5. Install an antivirus security suite on all systems and devices, and ensure that the antivirus engine remains enabled at all times to ensure regular system scanning, timely virus definition updates, and necessary security patches. Only devices with installed and updated antivirus software should be allowed to connect to a home or office network due to the increased rate of attacks on mobile devices.
  6. Enable real-time malware scanning; if possible, you should enable real-time alerts for malware detection and configure Antivirus logging to alert the support team.
  7. Educate yourself and your staff about trending cybersecurity issues via regular bulletin updates from your antivirus vendor. It is important to educate yourself and your staff on how to recognize phishing emails.
  8. Back up your system regularly to external storage devices or cloud storage. No matter what happens, your valued files and folders remain secure and well-protected in backup locations; hence, you can easily restore your files and folders after reinstalling an Operating System.
  9. Use email filters to filter emails with executable file attachments to reduce phishing attempts.
  10. Download files, folders, and attachments from trusted sites; make sure to scan all downloaded files and attachments with an antivirus program before opening.
  11. Enable ‘show file extensions' to help identify malware masquerading as useful files. For, some cryptojackers can masquerade as PDF or doc files with hidden .exe extensions, and enabling ‘show file extensions' will show hidden malware extensions like file.doc.exe.
  12. Limit external storage usage on home or work computers. Ideally, you can revoke read/write permissions for guest users to prevent malware infection.
  13. Scan all external storage devices and make sure they are free from malware infection before use.
  14. Seek help and technical support only from certified IT technicians and support teams when dealing with malware infections.
  15. If you're working from home and need to connect remotely to an office computer, you should use a secure remote connectivity suite like Teamviewer.
  16. Turn off mapped drives to prevent malware from jumping computers.
  17. Never surf the internet from a computer acting as a server to reduce the chances of infecting your computer server, which can easily spread to other computers on the network.
  18. If you run a home or office network, try to install different antivirus solutions on your server and workstations to increase the chances of early malware detection. Using different email filtering solutions or internet gateways can help reduce your chances of malware infection.
  19. Perform periodic assessments to evaluate your system/network security to identify new or evolving cybersecurity threats.
  20. Employees should be restricted from downloading and running unauthorized software from the internet. 

READ ALSO: Best Lightweight Antivirus For Old Computers [EXPERT LIST]

Strengthening Your Defenses: Antivirus Best Practices and Overall Cybersecurity – FAQs

Antivirus software is a vital tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, but it's not a magic bullet. Here are some FAQs to explore antivirus best practices and gain a wider perspective on comprehensive cybersecurity:

What is the role of antivirus in cybersecurity?

Antivirus software protects your devices from malware, including viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and ransomware. It can detect, quarantine, and remove these malicious programs that can steal data, harm your system, or disrupt operations.

What are Antivirus Best Practices?

Here are some key practices to maximize the effectiveness of your antivirus software:

  • Use a reputable antivirus program: Choose a well-known and trusted antivirus provider that offers real-time protection and regular updates.
  • Enable real-time protection: Ensure your antivirus is constantly scanning for threats in the background.
  • Schedule regular scans: In addition to real-time protection, run periodic full system scans to identify any potential threats that might have slipped past real-time detection.
  • Keep your antivirus software updated: Regular updates ensure your antivirus program can recognize and defend against the latest malware threats.
  • Be cautious when clicking links or opening attachments: Phishing emails and malicious attachments are common ways malware spreads. Be wary of unsolicited emails and only download files from trusted sources.
  • Use strong passwords and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): Strong and unique passwords for each online account and MFA add an extra layer of security to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Be mindful of what you download: Only download software and files from trusted sources. Free software downloads or files from unknown websites can harbor malware.
  • Back up your data regularly: Having a recent backup ensures you can recover your data in case of a malware attack or system failure.

READ ALSO: Best Antivirus For 2023: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS & Android

What are the best practices of cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity goes beyond antivirus software. Here are some additional best practices:

  • Software Updates: Keep your operating system, applications, and web browsers updated with the latest security patches.
  • Firewall: Use a firewall to filter incoming and outgoing traffic on your network, blocking potential threats.
  • Wi-Fi Security: Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities and use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for added security on public networks.
  • Social Engineering Awareness: Be cautious of social engineering tactics used in phishing scams or malware distribution. Don't share personal information readily online.
  • Physical Security: Secure your devices with passwords and keep them in a safe place.

What's the best method to prevent computer viruses?

A layered approach combining a reputable antivirus with the best practices mentioned above offers the most robust defense against computer viruses and other cyber threats. There's no single “best” antivirus software, as different options cater to specific needs. Research and choose a solution that fits your requirements.

What are the best methods used for cybersecurity?

The best methods for cybersecurity combine technical solutions like antivirus software and firewalls with user awareness and responsible online behavior. By understanding cyber threats and implementing best practices, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to cyberattacks.

Conclusion 

Deploying antivirus solutions is an effective way of guiding against malware threats and infections. However, it is not 100% foolproof as evolving malware, and phishing attacks can bypass stringent antivirus configurations.

Hence, it is recommended that you adhere to the above-recommended best practices to ensure round-the-clock protection for home or office devices.

Remember, cybersecurity is an ongoing process. Stay informed about the latest threats and update your security practices accordingly. By following best practices, you can create a more secure digital environment for yourself and your devices.

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How To Convert Spotify To MP3: A Guide For You

Daniel Segun
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How To Convert Spotify To MP3: A Guide For You

Do you know how to convert Spotify to MP3? How do you choose the best Spotify to MP3 converter? You can find out the answers in this article.

“I have been an avid fan of the Spotify application for a long time now. I am a premium Spotify user and I love listening to several playlists. However, I recently realized I want to listen to my Spotify favourites using my other MP3 player or stream them via my car’s stereo. I did some research and found out that I need to convert Spotify to MP3 to make these things work. But how do I do this?”

The Spotify application is offering enormous perks both to its free and premium users. This is why it is regarded as one of the best music streaming platforms containing several different genres of songs and music catalogs. However, like with other apps, there are still drawbacks that we can’t ignore.

How To Convert Spotify To MP3

One thing that premium subscribers enjoy is the ability to download tracks for offline listening. These songs would be downloaded in Spotify’s format, the OGG Vorbis, and are protected by DRM encryption, hindering users from streaming these on unauthorized gadgets or media players.

Though paying the monthly due, even premium users aren’t allowed to keep copies of any playlist or song and save them to a personal computer or any other device. What more if you are a free streamer? If you think about burning them into CD discs, that won’t work as well.

But the above is not an issue at all. It might seem to be a limitation, but we always have an answer to that! If you want to keep those tracks forever on your PC or have them accessed on any player anytime and anywhere offline, we need to convert Spotify to MP3 then!

How will this be done? Learn and stay tuned!

Part 1. How to Choose the Best Spotify to MP3 Converter?

For you to convert Spotify to MP3, you must have the best MP3 converter with you, of course. But before deciding which one to use, among the many available MP3 converters, there are several things that you must know and take note of. To choose which will best suit your needs and style, here are four important points to consider.

The Sound Quality

The Sound Quality

While trying to convert Spotify to MP3, you should not put the sound quality of the output files at risk. Of course, apart from the ability to have the tracks accessed on multiple devices, we would still want to keep our listening experience at the best state as much as we can. Thus, considering what sound quality of the output from a certain MP3 converter is a must. The sound quality of at least 320 kbps would be considered good.

The Format Of The Audio

It is always recommended to choose a converter that offers several output format options to its users. Getting one that can convert Spotify to MP3 would be good enough as this format is often taken as the universal audio format (flexible enough and is supported by a wide variety of media players). It is also good to have other output formats available as those will be helpful in the case in the future if needed.

The Cost Of Getting The Converter

Of course, the cost of the software application is high. There are several MP3 converters that you can see on the web. Paying or professional applications are always recommended as they offer advantages that would surely benefit you.

However, if you think getting one would be too much and you won’t be able to afford it, the free and online converters are also worth giving a try. Just make sure that before using one, reviews and comments about it will be read thoroughly so as to avoid any issues.

The Converter’s Processing Speed

Converter’s Processing Speed

We always want to get things done as fast as possible. Well, this applies even when we try to convert Spotify to MP3. Getting a converter that converts Spotify to MP3 too fast will save us time and let us have the MP3 files immediately!

Of course, the speed would sometimes depend on the number of files being processed but still, there are applications that can do the job 6x or even 10x better than the others! You just have to find out which one does!

Now that you know the four important points before finally deciding what MP3 converter to get, then it’s time for you to learn more about the app that we truly recommend. Let’s head on to the second portion.

Part 2. Best Spotify to MP3 Converters You Should Use

By browsing through the web, several options – both paid and free ones – will surely pop up. But how sure are you about using the first one on the list? Will it be worth it?

If you think reading reviews and doing thorough research is a waste of time, then you should take note of these two amazing Spotify music converters. Of course, both can convert Spotify to MP3 while offering added features to their users. We’ll begin with DumpMedia Spotify Music Converter.

DumpMedia Spotify Music Converter

DumpMedia Spotify Music Converter

The DumpMedia Spotify Music Converter is a professional converter that is trusted already by a lot of users worldwide. Because of its many benefits, its subscribers find it too convenient and efficient to utilize. Here are the apps’ features for your reference.

  • It can convert Spotify to MP3 and many other supported output formats while removing the DRM encryption of the tracks. Thus, making the new files playable on any device and available for offline playback.
  • It has a fast conversion and downloading speed (that is at 4x faster than the others) that makes it too worthwhile to process a number of Spotify songs.
  • Worry no more if you are a free Spotify user, that won’t matter now because DumpMedia Spotify Music Converter can help you download any song, album, or playlist of your choice.
  • How about ID3 tags and metadata information? Well, those will be kept as well even after the whole processing of the files. Original music quality won’t be lost as well as the tracks’ titles, names of albums, artworks, artists’ names, and more.
  • It also has advanced features – multi-language, versatile settings, and easy file uploading.
  • Of course, the app promotes ease of use. It has an interface that is simple to understand. Thus, the conversion of Spotify files would be so easy.

To know more details of how you can convert Spotify to MP3 using DumpMedia Spotify Music Converter, it is best to visit the main website. The installation needs are as well there!

Here is how the conversion will be done using this app to give you a quick overview.

using DumpMedia Spotify Music Converter

  1. Complete all the needed requirements and install the app on your PC. The good thing is that both Windows and Mac computers support this app. So, installation shouldn’t be an issue at all. Once successfully done, just launch.
  2. Begin importing the Spotify tracks by dragging and dropping them onto the screen. Batch conversion is possible so you can drag a lot and have them processed in one go (take note that the conversion speed will depend on the number of files to convert).
  3. Choose MP3 as the resulting format and change some output settings if intended. Afterward, you can tick the “Convert” button and files would be processed right away!

AMusicSoft Spotify Music Converter

AMusicSoft Spotify Music Converter

Apart from the DumpMedia Spotify Music Converter, another remarkable converter is this AMusicSoft Spotify Music Converter.

  • This professional app, apart from having the ability to convert Spotify to MP3, can also transform even your loved podcasts for offline streaming.
  • It supports the conversion to several output formats, including MP3, of course, WAV, AAC, AC3, MA, and FLAC.
  • With its 5x conversion speed, you can be able to process lots of songs in a short span of time while keeping the 100% original quality of the tracks.
  • Both ID tags and metadata information will also be kept once the transformation of files is over.
  • And, the same with DumpMedia Spotify Music Converter, this AMusicSoft Spotify Music Converter can also get rid of that DRM protection making the tracks accessible on any device.
  • The whole conversion process is too easy to follow and do.

And oh, if you wish to know further details about this AMusicSoft Spotify Music Converter, you can head to its official website right away after reading this post!

If even after reading this portion of the article, you still would want to check out some online converters, we’ve got some listings here for you as well. Check those out as you continue reading the third part.

Part 3. How to Convert Spotify to MP3 Online?

It is true that at times, the online MP3 converters work primarily if you will be doing the conversion one-time (not too often), and if you are not looking for more features and perks.

To help you out, here are two tools that can help you convert Spotify to MP3.

AllToMP3

AllToMP3 Spotify

You might have heard about the AllToMP3 before. This online converter works not only on transforming Spotify tracks but as well as files from YouTube, Deezer, and even SoundCloud. As this can be used online, you just have to ensure your internet connection is stable enough. Plus, this is totally free of use.

You have to navigate to the official AllToMP3 website, and processing should be done easily since its interface is simple. Perform only three steps and you should be done!

While using the AllToMP3 site, keeping your Spotify up and running is unnecessary. It is also open source.

Unfortunately, since this is free of use, there are limitations present. The only available output format is MP3. Also, there is no chance of altering the output settings if you wish. In addition, if you aim to convert more than 100 Spotify songs, there have been reported cases in which AllToMP3 might crash and won’t function. There are also times when the conversion is a bit unstable, and some Spotify links are unrecognizable.

Apowersoft Free Online Audio Recorder

Apowersoft Free Online Audio Recorder

Apart from AllToMP3, you can also try using an online recorder like this Apowersoft Free Online Audio Recorder. This is also free of use and should work well if connected to a stable internet provider. Both Windows and Mac PCs support this and can record Spotify songs and save them as either an MP3 file, WAV, or WMA file. Using this online tool, you can cut unwanted parts of a track and add the needed ID3 tags.

The only drawback of using this recorder is that the quality of the output files might be not so good and if you wish to make sure all metadata information will be kept, there is a need to get the paid version.

Part 4. To Summarize How To Convert Spotify To MP3

Spotify to MP3 converter

Always take note of the things you need to check before getting a converter that can convert Spotify to MP3. Those are important points that must be considered, especially if you invest in professional and paid tools.

It is always okay to try the online and freeways but remember that limitations will always exist. Be keen in deciding which app to install and try to avoid any issues on your PC or device to use. 

If upon reading this post, you’ve decided to get the paid apps, your money would be worth it if you are to get either the DumpMedia Spotify Music Converter or the AMusicSoft Spotify Music Converter.

READ ALSO: Ways To Convert Apple Music To MP3 Via iTunes And Apple Music App

How To Convert Spotify To MP3: Frequently Asked Questions

Can you convert Spotify songs to MP3?

Technically, there might be tools that claim to convert Spotify songs to MP3. However, these methods often come with risks and violate Spotify's terms of service. Here's why it's not recommended:

  • Security Risks: Third-party converters might require your Spotify login credentials, posing a security risk.
  • Malware: Downloaded MP3s from these converters might contain malware.
  • Copyright Infringement: Downloading copyrighted music without permission is illegal.

Are there alternative solutions to listen to Spotify music offline?

Here are some legitimate ways to enjoy Spotify music offline:

  • Spotify Premium: Upgrading to Spotify Premium allows you to download songs and playlists for offline listening within the Spotify app.
  • Third-Party Downloaders (with Caution): A few services claim to download Spotify songs, but proceed with extreme caution due to potential copyright infringement and security risks. It's best to stick with Spotify's official options.

Are there MP3 players that can play Spotify directly?

No, standard MP3 players can't play Spotify songs directly. Spotify content is DRM-protected (Digital Rights Management) and can only be played within the Spotify app or authorized devices.

How to download Spotify songs for free?

Spotify offers a free tier with limited features, but downloading songs for offline listening is not available on the free plan. Upgrading to Spotify Premium allows for offline downloads.

What is the best Spotify to MP3 converter?

We cannot recommend specific tools for Spotify to MP3 conversion due to the copyright restrictions and potential risks involved. There are safer alternatives like subscribing to Spotify Premium or exploring DRM-free music stores.

Remember: Respecting copyright laws is important. Downloading copyrighted music without permission is illegal. Consider using Spotify's official options for offline listening or explore services that offer downloadable MP3s with the proper rights.

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Why Facebook Were Right To Hit F5 And Refresh?

Christian Schmitz
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Why Facebook Were Right To Hit F5 And Refresh?

There has been a lot of debate regarding the new Facebook user interface. So this is the reason we want to tell you why Facebook were right to Hit F5 and refresh.

Although, you are entitled to your opinion. As a matter of fact, your opinions are highly welcomed in the comments section.

Facebook, as we all know, is one of the biggest social media in the world, with over 2.85 billion active users in 2021. So, when changes occur on the platform, it is normal to bring a lot of reactions.

I could remember how a lot of people were mad at the new Facebook interface that was updated in September 2020. 

Some people threatened to quit the platform, and others expressed their displeasure on Twitter, describing it as a nightmare.

From this feedback, one could easily tell that the majority of Facebook users didn’t welcome the change. 

But don’t let that stop you from looking at the development from a positive angle.

So let’s tell you;

Why Facebook Were Right To Hit F5 And Refresh?

Why Facebook Were Right To Hit F5 And Refresh?

I want to assume that you are aware of the changes on the Facebook interface. Yes, I am talking about the logo, color, layout, and many others. A lot of developments have been made regarding those listed.

The Logo

This is one of the most obvious changes. The old logo has a white ‘F in a dark blue square background, while the new one has a white ‘F in a light blue circle background.

Be honest with yourself: which of them is cooler?

The new one, obviously!

The Layout

The new Facebook homepage layout is flexible. The icon bar on the homepage is automatically arranged based on your interests, unlike the former one, which was static.

To confirm this, you should ask any of your family members or friends to open their Facebook mobile app, then check the layout and compare it with yours. 

You will notice a difference in the arrangement. This is so because it has been programmed to display your most used feature on the icon bar.

For example, I don’t have the Facebook Page Icon on my homepage because I don’t use it often. I can only locate it when I visit my other menu section.

Isn't that cool?

Navigation 

However, this might be controversial because it isn’t always easy to adapt to change. 

The old Facebook was easy to navigate, but the new one is easier to navigate. You only need to get used to it.

Facebook Dark Mode

Facebook now has a dark mode option.

Medically, operating your device in dark mode has been proven to reduce eye strain. Aside from that, most people find dark mode cool.

But if you are not fine with it, you can switch back to light mode. So, this is a win for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why might Facebook be said to have “hit F5” (refreshed itself)?

Facebook might be said to have “hit F5” if they made substantial changes to their platform, such as:

  • A major redesign of the user interface: A complete overhaul of how Facebook looks and functions.
  • Implementation of new features: Introducing entirely new functionalities to the platform.
  • Shifting focus or priorities: A change in Facebook's core direction or emphasis on specific aspects of the platform (e.g., prioritizing privacy or creator tools).
  • Addressing user concerns: Making significant changes based on user feedback or criticism.

Does F5 (refresh) actually change Facebook itself?

No, hitting F5 on your keyboard doesn't change Facebook itself. It only refreshes the data displayed on your specific device, ensuring you see the latest version of the Facebook webpage according to any recent updates made by Facebook.

READ ALSO: Protecting Your Website Against Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks

How do you refresh a webpage?

There are a few ways to refresh a webpage:

  • F5 key: This is the most common keyboard shortcut for refreshing a webpage in most web browsers.
  • Click the refresh button: The refresh button is usually located in the address bar of your web browser, symbolized by a circular arrow icon.
  • Swipe down on the page (for touchscreens): On mobile devices with touchscreens, swiping down on the webpage can often trigger a refresh.

Why would you want to refresh a webpage?

There are several reasons to refresh a webpage:

  • To see the latest content: Websites are constantly updated, and refreshing ensures you see the most recent information.
  • After making changes: If you've filled out a form or uploaded something, refreshing might be necessary to see the updated content.
  • If the page content appears incorrect or is not loading properly, Refreshing can sometimes fix display issues or errors.

Conclusion

From the points, I highlighted so far you will realize that Facebook hit F5 and refresh for the sake of the users. 

Not to remove the fact that they give their brand a refreshing look, which was also necessary.

Over to you! 

If you still prefer the old Facebook design, then share your reasons with us in the comment section below. 

However, we urge you to embrace the new Facebook look, as there might be other interesting features you might be missing.

Don’t forget to share this article with your colleagues who might be interested in knowing why Facebook were right to hit F5 and refresh. 

BTW, you can follow SecureBlitz on Facebook.

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How To Remove Avast Password Manager [ALL DEVICES]

Abraham Faisal | ✔️Fact-checked by: Angela Daniel
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How To Remove Avast Password Manager [ALL DEVICES]

This post will walk you through how to remove the Avast Password Manager from your PC.

The Avast Password Manager is one of the components of the Avast Antivirus suite. Its function is to store, manage, and retrieve passwords and credit card details from your device.

Strong passwords are usually hard to remember due to their complexity, often consisting of long phrases or a mixture of alphabets in upper and lower cases, numbers, and symbols. 

By using a password manager, it becomes easy to generate, store, and retrieve strong passwords without the need to memorize or store passwords in vulnerable locations.

If you already have a password manager installed on your PC, having an additional password manager (thanks to the Avast Antivirus suite) becomes unnecessary since extra PC resources are used up.

Avast Password Manager

Not to mention, the Avast Password Manager is no longer supported. Hence, you should uninstall it. 

Nevertheless, you should consider using efficient password managers like 1Password or RoboForm as worthy alternatives for Avast Password Manager.

If you’ve chosen to uninstall Avast Password Manager but don't know how to go about it, follow the detailed uninstallation steps below.

Best Password Managers: 1Password, RoboForm.

How To Remove Avast Password Manager 

How To Remove Avast Password Manager From Windows PC

How To Remove Avast Password Manager From Windows PC

Solution 1

  1. Launch the Avast User Interface and click on the Menu
  2. Select ‘Settings’ from the Menu option
  3. Click on ‘General' in the ‘Settings' Menu
  4. Select ‘Troubleshooting’
  5. In the ‘Troubleshooting' menu, scroll down and click on ‘ADD/MODIFY COMPONENTS.'
  6. Uncheck the ‘Password’ checkbox and click on ‘CHANGE’ to uninstall Avast Password Manager
  7. Restart your PC to complete the uninstallation process

Solution 2

If you’re yet to update Avast antivirus, this solution is for you.

  1. Launch the Avast Antivirus app by double-clicking on the Avast icon on your desktop. Alternatively, you can launch the avast antivirus program from your Windows start menu.
  2. Once the Avast Antivirus is launched, click on the menu at the top-right of the user's panel.
  3. In the ‘Menu' options, click on ‘Settings.' 
  4. From the settings menu at the left side of the screen, select ‘Component,’ second after ‘General.’
  5.  Navigate to the ‘Privacy section' in the ‘Component menu.'
  6. Scroll down and click on ‘Password’ to reveal more details
  7. Click on ‘Uninstall Component’ to start the Password uninstallation process.
  8. An ‘Avast information' dialogue box that says, ‘Do you really want to uninstall Passwords?' is displayed on your screen.
  9. Click on ‘Ok’ to proceed with uninstalling Avast Password Manager from your PC.
  10. Restart your PC after the uninstallation process is completed

How To Uninstall Avast Password Manager From Mac PC

  1. On your menu bar, click on ‘Go.'
  2. Navigate to ‘Applications’
  3. Scroll through and right-click on Avast Passwords
  4. Click on ‘Move to Trash’ to uninstall Avast Password Manager.

How To Remove Avast Password Manager From Android Devices

How To Remove Avast Password Manager From Android Devices

This process might vary depending on your Android version 

Follow the steps below to uninstall Avast Password Manager from your android device

  1. Go to your device’s Settings menu
  2. Scroll down to ‘Apps’ or search for ‘App Manager’ if you’re using old android versions.
  3. Select ‘Default Apps’
  4. Scroll through installed apps on your device and click on ‘Avast Passwords’
  5. On the Avast Passwords ‘App info’ page, tap on the ‘Uninstall’ icon to initiate the uninstallation process
  6. A pop-up appears asking ‘Do you want to uninstall this app?’ Click on ‘OK’ to uninstall Avast Passwords from your device.

How To Uninstall Avast Password Manager From iOS 13 And Later Versions

How To Uninstall Avast Password Manager From iOS

The following steps will guide you to uninstall Avast Passwords from iOS 13 devices

  1. Touch and hold down the Avast Passwords icon
  2. Tap on ‘Remove App’ from the menu options displayed
  3. Tap on ‘Delete App' to proceed with uninstalling Avast Passwords from your iOS 13 device. If you're not sure you want to delete, you can choose to ‘Remove from Home Screen' to keep the Passwords app in your App library.
  4. A pop-up appears on the screen showing ‘Delete “Passwords?” Deleting this app will also delete its data.’
  5. Tap on ‘Delete’ to completely uninstall Avast Passwords from your iOS 13 device.

How To Uninstall Avast Password Manager From iOS 12 And Below

If you use an iOS 12 device or an earlier version of iOS, follow the steps below to uninstall Avast Passwords.

  1. On your home screen, hold down the Avast Passwords icon until it wriggles
  2. Tap on the ‘x’ at the top-left corner of the Passwords icon to delete Avast Passwords
  3. A pop-up appears on your screen saying, ‘Delete “Passwords?” Deleting this app will also delete its data.’
  4. Click on the ‘Delete’ icon in the pop-up to uninstall Avast Password Manager from your device.

Saying Goodbye: Removing Avast Password Manager – FAQs

Whether you're switching to a different password manager or no longer need one, here are some FAQs to guide you through the uninstallation process for Avast Password Manager:

How do I remove Avast Password Manager?

The removal process depends on whether you're using Avast Antivirus or the standalone Avast Password Manager extension.

Removing Avast Password Manager from Avast Antivirus:

  1. Open the Avast Antivirus user interface.
  2. Click on the ☰ Menu and navigate to Settings.
  3. Select General > Troubleshooting.
  4. Under Add / modify components, uncheck the box next to Passwords (old).
  5. Click Change and confirm to uninstall the Password Manager component.

Removing Avast Password Manager Extension:

On Chrome, Firefox, or Edge:

  1. Open your web browser.
  2. Access the extensions menu (typically under Settings or Add-ons).
  3. Find the Avast Password Manager extension on the list.
  4. Click Remove or Uninstall.

What if I forgot my Avast master password?

Unfortunately, without your master password, you won't be able to access the passwords stored within Avast Password Manager before uninstalling it. However, you can still uninstall the program itself following the methods mentioned above.

Do I need to uninstall Avast Antivirus to remove the Password Manager?

No, you can uninstall the Password Manager component within Avast Antivirus without affecting the core antivirus functionalities.

What happens to my passwords after I uninstall Avast Password Manager?

Any passwords stored within Avast Password Manager will be deleted when you uninstall it. Make sure you have an alternative way to access your passwords before proceeding. It's recommended to export your passwords from Avast Password Manager before uninstalling (if your master password is available) and import them into your new password manager.

Wrapping Up – How To Remove Avast Password Manager

Remember, having a secure and reliable password management solution is crucial for online security. Choose an alternative password manager that meets your needs and security preferences.

Avast Passwords is a robust password manager; however, you may not need it if you have a stand-alone password manager or you rely on your browser to manage your passwords efficiently. 

Hence, uninstalling ‘Passwords' from your device can free up used system resources while optimizing your system performance. 

INTERESTING POSTS TO READ

Integrate Your Calls To CRM System

Christian Schmitz | ✔️Fact-checked by: Daniel Segun
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Integrate Your Calls To CRM System

Do you know that the best way to improve your sales and customer service is to integrate your calls to CRM system? 

Have you ever thought about what points during a call conversation got the big deal for your business or what behavior made your customers happily satisfied? If no, just imagine a measure that lets you analyze your business call recordings and train your sales team to improve their results. It seems incredible, right?

The Best Way to Improve Your Sales & Customer Service
The good news is that you can achieve all these magical benefits with a simple measure, i.e., – integrating your calls to your CRM system. With recorded calls and conversations, be it with your customers, clients, future prospects, or your team members, you can re-listen and analyze the whole conversation and enhance your productivity like never before.

Keep reading the article if you want to know how to do business call recordings and CRM integration and experience the benefits of a call recording system.

Integrate Your Calls To The CRM System

The best way to integrate your calls to the CRM system is using advanced call recording software such as mobile 2 CRM.

This software ensures that every business call is automatically logged into the CRM system. Also, you can make your phone calls anywhere and approach them later to track or document the conversation. 

After proper integration, you will be able to record mobile calls, SMS records, Whatsapp business sessions, or other business-critical mobile communications, and you won’t have to interfere with the privacy of your employees’ personal mobile devices.

Why Should You Invest in a Call Recording Software?

1. Better Customer Service

An efficient cellular business calls recording software can improve your communication with your customers to a whole new level. You can utilize android or iPhone call recording apps for businesses to examine and improve your calling manners and encourage your team to perform better interactions with your customers next time.

Plus, they help you listen to your call in the highest audio quality and work on improvisations if needed.

Better Customer Service

2. Better Follow-Up

One of the most important benefits of business call recording software is that you can attend your calls without any stress if you don’t have a formal team for client interactions and are traveling or going out anywhere. Then, when you are back at the office/home, you can listen to the whole recorded interaction and make detailed notes for better follow-ups.

This way, you and your team can work remotely, and even if you are communicating with your own team members, they will be able to listen to and comprehend all the things discussed during the phone call. Plus, if someone could not attend the call, they can follow the discussion with recordings.

3. More growth opportunities

Phone call recording and regulation help your team in knowing the main attraction or lows of the conversation. So, once your team members understand that this particular point excites customers and improves sales, it can boost your overall business exponentially.

Plus, you can also use some content from these complimentary customer calls (with permission, obviously) for your next marketing campaigns.

More growth opportunities

4. Appropriate Behavior

Call recording for business would also ensure that your sales or customer service team members maintain a healthy decorum in their calls and do not make any inappropriate remarks or some sensitive information.

5. Proof of Conversation

Lastly, these recorded calls become the proof of your conversation in case a client is not happy or makes some nasty comments, etc. These are your legal proof of the overall communication and help you in settling the dispute.

Bridging the Gap: Integrating Your Calls and CRM – FAQs

A well-integrated CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system and phone system can significantly enhance your sales, marketing, and customer service efforts. Here are some FAQs to explore the benefits and answer questions about integrating your calls with your CRM:

What is CRM phone integration?

CRM phone integration allows your phone system and your CRM platform to work seamlessly together. This means that call data (incoming, outgoing, missed calls) and voicemails are automatically logged within your CRM system, creating a centralized record of all customer interactions.

What are the benefits of CRM phone integration?

There are numerous advantages to integrating your calls with your CRM:

  • Improved Data Accuracy and Efficiency: Automatic call logging eliminates manual data entry, reducing errors and saving time.
  • Enhanced Customer Service: Agents have instant access to a customer's history with your company, allowing for more personalized and efficient interactions.
  • Streamlined Sales Process: Call recordings and detailed call logs provide valuable insights for sales reps, helping them close deals faster.
  • Better Reporting and Analytics: Track call metrics alongside other customer data within your CRM, providing a comprehensive view of customer interactions for better decision-making.
  • Increased Productivity: CRM integration automates tasks and streamlines workflows, freeing up your team to focus on core activities.

How does CRM integration work with calls?

Here's a simplified overview of how call integration with CRM functions:

  1. Call is Made or Received: When a call is made or received through your phone system, relevant data (caller ID, call duration, recording) is captured.
  2. Data is Sent to CRM: The call data is automatically transferred to your CRM system through an integration API.
  3. CRM Updates Contact Record: The CRM system automatically updates the contact record with the call details, including any notes or voicemails left.
  4. Improved Customer Experience: With all customer interactions documented in one central location, representatives can provide a more informed and efficient service experience.

What is CRM in calls?

CRM in the context of calls refers to leveraging your CRM system to manage and track your phone interactions. Integration allows this data to flow seamlessly between your CRM and phone system.

What does a CRM system use for?

CRM systems are used for a variety of purposes, including:

  • Managing customer data: Storing and organizing contact information, purchase history, and communication history.
  • Sales pipeline management: Tracking leads, opportunities, and deals throughout the sales process.
  • Marketing automation: Creating and managing marketing campaigns, email marketing, and lead nurturing.
  • Customer service management: Providing efficient and personalized customer support through various channels.
  • Reporting and analytics: Gaining insights into customer behavior and interactions to improve overall business strategies.

What is CRM and VoIP?

CRM systems manage customer data and interactions, while VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) refers to the technology that allows you to make and receive phone calls over the internet. CRM phone integration specifically focuses on bridging the gap between these two aspects, allowing call data to flow into your CRM for a more holistic view of your customer interactions.

Final Thoughts

By understanding the advantages of CRM phone integration, you can create a more efficient and data-driven approach to managing customer relationships within your organization.

A powerful business call recording software can help your business in ways that you hadn’t even imagined. Also, several functions of these types of software make them essential for your firm’s data safety and settlement of disputes.

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Craigslist Scams: Examples And How Not To Fall For Them

Gina Lynch | ✔️Fact-checked by: Angela Daniel
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Craigslist Scams: Examples And How Not To Fall For Them

This post will reveal the Craigslist scams, examples, and how not to fall victim for them…

Since the birth of the internet, the world has been blessed with many simple methods to purchase and sell items or services online, ranging from eBay to Amazon. However, Craigslist, a long-time staple of the communal virtual garage sale and ad area, may stand alone as a new type of beast. 

The online classifieds site, which is used for anything from selling residences to posting resumes, has grown in popularity among people searching for a range of services and products.

However, with every online innovation designed to make people's lives simpler comes the unavoidable chance to make it millions of times worse – therefore, came Craigslist scams. But if you are aware of what to expect – they are easy to stay away from.

READ ALSO: Website Security Check: How Secure Is Your Website?

With this in mind, let’s look at some popular Craigslist scams and how you can avoid them completely:

Craigslist Scam Explained

Craigslist Scam Explained

Craigslist scams can sometimes be challenging to detect and this is because the site looks pretty much complex. Whether it's a scam involving fake money services, fake commodities, or shady meet-ups, cybercriminals have certainly gotten clever in finding out how to trick people out of their money.

While Craigslist scams are not always evident, a few main scams have been used repeatedly – and may often be identified if you are extra careful and take your time examining the issue. 

Examples Of Craigslist Scams

#1 Canceled or Fake Tickets

Scamming people for tickets is one of the most common types of Craigslist scams. Although scalpers, in general, can cost you a lot of money by getting tickets cheap and selling them at a high markup, you might lose everything if you're duped into purchasing fake or canceled tickets.

Several scammers have created fake tickets that appear genuine for various significant events such as concerts and sporting events. 

#2 Non-Local Ads

In general, if an ad is not local, it is not a brilliant idea to pursue it. Why? Because posters of non-local advertising are unlikely to meet you in person and will sometimes need you to transfer money via an online platform.

Some ads may come from active-duty soldiers in Iraq or other remote locations, prompting online transactions that might be misleading. In addition, Craigslist states that the site is intended for local transactions in most situations, so be wary of non-local ads. 

Although specific measures should be taken while meeting and executing a trade in person, some people who claim they cannot meet in person may be scammers on the platform. 

#3 Fake Craigslist Site

Fake Craigslist Site

Interestingly, some people get duped by accessing fake Craigslist sites in the first place.  Scammers have previously used fake websites with similar domain names to steal internet searches from the genuine Craigslist site and convince people to believe the fake ones. 

Some of these websites appear to be highly realistic and may cost you a lot of money. Keep in mind that any Craigslist site that does not include the address https://www.craigslist.org is a fraud.

#4 Scam Email from PayPal

Some fraudsters can also use PayPal to send or receive money on Craigslist. PayPal cautions users to be careful of advertisements requesting that they use the site for transactions, as many of them will never follow through – or, worse, will give you a fake PayPal email confirmation of the payment. 

The site warns Craigslist users that such fake PayPal emails may contain features such as not addressing you by your full name or stating that money is being held until you complete some action. 

#5 Fake Checks and Money Orders

Fake Checks and Money Orders

Consider it a major red flag when a customer or seller attempts to pay you using a money order or wire transfer. 

Scammers have devised complex fake packing slips or even money orders purporting to be from reputable organizations such as Western Union over the years. And they may tempt you to give the buyer your products before the fake check or money order clears.

To prevent being scammed, don't take money orders on Craigslist, and if you must use a check, make sure it clears before shipping the item purchased.

#6 Fake Escrow Service Site

While escrow services (businesses that store money for two parties in a transaction until it is completed) might offer you peace of mind when dealing with large sums of money, they can also be a sneaky technique for fraudsters to take your money. 

Scammers put up fake escrow service websites and trick you into depositing money; however, you never receive what you paid for and lose your money. 

To avoid being scammed by a sham escrow business, only choose reputed escrow services and recommend selecting them yourself when doing transactions.

#7 Fake Craigslist Purchase Protection

Even if an email or invoice from Craigslist appears to be legitimate, it isn't; fraudsters have repeatedly used the “Craigslist Purchase Protection” plan to defraud consumers. 

Because Craigslist does not guarantee any transaction, avoid any email or text that purports to confirm or guarantee your recent purchase. 

To avoid scams, manage your transactions yourself and be wary of any strange messages claiming verification or protection from Craigslist itself.

READ ALSO: What Is A Fake Antivirus? Overview And How To Spot Them

How To Avoid Craigslist Scams

How To Avoid Craigslist Scams

While some of the most common scams seem to be easy to spot, that is not always so. And it seems that everyone, from investors and visitors to bitcoin owners, is dealing with scammers.

So, according to Craigslist's official website, some ways to avoid being scammed include not paying people you haven't met in person, never giving out financial information such as bank account numbers, dealing primarily with locals in your area to avoid shipping scams, and never sending money through Western Union. 

Likewise, if you want to meet anyone locally, you can take extra measures and use online resources like Nuwber or a simple Google search to check the person before meeting them. Enter their name or address to see whether they haven’t lied about it.

While there are several additional strategies to prevent being scammed, always read every listing carefully and do not give out important information that might be used to defraud or steal from you. While Craigslist may be a valuable resource, it is best used locally.

Craigslist Caution: A Guide to Avoiding Common Scams – FAQs

Craigslist can be a great resource for finding deals or selling unwanted items. However, it's vital to be aware of potential scams to protect yourself from falling victim. Here are some FAQs to equip you with knowledge and safeguard your online transactions:

What are some common Craigslist scams?

  • Fake cashier's checks or money orders: Scammers might send you fake checks or money orders that appear legitimate but ultimately bounce.
  • Overpayment scams: Scammers might offer to overpay for an item and request you to send back a difference, often through gift cards or money transfers (the overpayment is fake).
  • Phishing scams: Emails or messages impersonating Craigslist may be sent to steal your login credentials or personal information.
  • Rental scams: Fake rental listings with very low rent prices might lure you in. Scammers may request deposits or personal information upfront before disappearing.
  • Shipping scams: Scammers might agree to buy your item and offer to arrange shipping, but then send fake shipping labels or disappear with your item.

How do you tell if someone is scamming you on Craigslist?

Here are some red flags to watch out for:

  • Deals that seem too good to be true: Extremely low prices or unrealistic offers are often signs of scams.
  • Pressure to pay quickly or upfront: Legitimate buyers won't pressure you to pay before meeting or finalizing details.
  • Requests for gift cards or money transfers: Never send gift cards or use money transfer services for Craigslist transactions.
  • Unwillingness to meet in person: Legitimate buyers are usually open to meeting in person for deals involving larger sums.
  • Poor communication or vague responses: Scammers might use broken English or avoid answering specific questions clearly.

What should I be careful of on Craigslist?

  • Never give out personal information: This includes your address, social security number, or bank account details.
  • Be wary of requests for wire transfers or money orders: These are common methods used by scammers.
  • Meet in a safe, public location: Avoid meeting at your home or secluded areas. Take someone with you if possible.
  • Trust your gut: If something feels off about the interaction, it probably is. Don't be afraid to walk away from a suspicious deal.
  • Use Craigslist's built-in communication system: Avoid communicating outside of Craigslist's platform to minimize the risk of phishing attempts.

What is Craigslist's trustworthiness?

Craigslist itself is a platform that connects buyers and sellers. It's important to remember that Craigslist doesn't vet users or guarantee the legitimacy of listings. The onus is on you to be cautious and avoid scams.

What are the 4 most common craigslist scams?

  • Overpayment scams: As mentioned earlier, these involve scammers offering to overpay for an item and requesting you to send back a difference.
  • Phishing scams: Emails or messages imitating Craigslist designed to steal your login credentials or personal information.
  • Fake cashier's checks/money orders: Scammers send you fraudulent checks or money orders that look real but ultimately have no value.
  • Fake job postings: These might lure you in with promises of high pay but often involve upfront fees or attempts to steal personal information.

What is the purpose of fake Craigslist ads?

The purpose of fake Craigslist ads varies depending on the scam. Here are some common goals:

  • Steal money: Through fake checks, overpayment scams, or requesting upfront fees for non-existent services.
  • Gain personal information: For identity theft or future scams.
  • Sell you something worthless: Like a fake product or service.

A Final Word…

By understanding the Craigslist scams, you can navigate Craigslist more safely. Remember, a healthy dose of skepticism, secure communication practices, and meeting in person for transactions can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to scams.

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Ways To Convert Apple Music To MP3 Via iTunes And Apple Music App

Chandra Palan | ✔️Fact-checked by: Angela Daniel
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Ways To Convert Apple Music To MP3 Via iTunes And Apple Music App

If your goal is to have an unlimited Apple Music listening experience and with no restrictions to think about, it is best to know the ways on how to convert Apple Music to MP3. Having your Apple Music favorites in MP3 format through the help of a professional converter will upgrade and change the way you enjoy your music.

Apple Music songs are known to be protected by DRM or Digital Rights Management making the songs not playable on a lot of devices except those authorized by Apple, meaning that you only have limited options to enjoy your all-time favorite Apple Music songs.

Apple Music songs

This is already a reason why you should consider having your songs converted into another audio format. If it is about the audio format that you can access on several devices and has a good sound quality at the same time, it is no other than MP3 format.

In this case, you should consider converting Apple Music to MP3, especially if you have very huge storage space available in the device you are using.

As you continue reading the entire post, you will learn about the alternative ways that you can use in order to convert Apple Music to MP3. The steps to convert Apple Music to MP3 through iTunes and Apple Music app are also to be discussed in the coming sections.

Part 1. What Format Is Apple Music?

If you plan to download songs from your Apple Music app, you should know in what audio format the songs are encoded. All Apple Music songs are encoded in MPEG-4 AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) format and with an extension of .m4p in its file name.

The AAC format is a bit different from MP3 format in such a way that MP3 is slightly bigger than AAC, in case you are trying to compare the two formats. But you would not see that much of a difference when it comes to the resulting audio quality.

MPEG-4 AAC Advanced Audio Coding

The AAC format is generally used as an alternative to the MP3 output format. This audio format has undergone compression and is known as well as a lossy format.

Though considered as a lossy and compressed sound format, songs encoded in AAC format are good to listen to because of the better audio quality and the transparency it contains. The AAC format is encoded at 256 kbps and has been also popularly utilized by Apple Music streaming since then.

This audio format has considered as well the incorporation of 48 full bandwidth audio channels, which is amounting to about 96 kHz, in just a single stream. In addition to this, the AAC format has improved a lot when it comes to coding effectiveness and coding accuracy for both stationary signals and transient signals respectively.

Part 2. How To Convert Apple Music To MP3?

Actually, there are so many ways that you can easily search over the net on how to convert Apple Music to MP3, but in this section, we will be tackling the two most popularly used ways on how you can convert Apple Music to MP3.

First method is through the use of iTunes and the second one is via the Apple Music app.

Convert Apple Music To MP3 Via iTunes

Solution 1: Convert Apple Music To MP3 Via iTunes

  1. The first step that you have to do is to get “iTunes Preference” opened. For those who have been using Mac devices, click on “iTunes” and then “Preference”. On the other hand, if you are using Windows, click on the “Edit” tab and then look for “Preference” on the set of options that are presented next.
  2. On the page displayed on your screen, locate the “General” tab. Once successfully found, take a look at the lower part of the window and notice the button of “Import Settings”. Once seen, have its button clicked.
  3. After clicking on “Import Settings”, a pop-up menu will be shown and a set of options about the encoder you are to use will be displayed under “Import Using”. From the set of encoders listed, click on the MP3 encoder in order to convert Apple Music to MP3. Aside from the MP3 encoder, the choices available include the AAC encoder, AIFF encoder, Apple Lossless Encoder, WAV encoder, and many more.
  4. Do not forget to click on the “OK” button that you will find at the bottom part of the dialog box after selecting “MP3 Encoder”.
  5. Since it is alright to select not just one song from your music library, you can have all the Apple Music songs that you want selected at once. Click on all the songs that you want to convert and have them converted at once. Then the next thing to do is to head into the “File” tab and then “Create New Version”. To convert Apple Music to MP3, select “Create MP3 Version”.

Despite the fact that you only have simple steps to follow and understand, having to use iTunes to convert Apple Music to MP3 is a little bit lacking especially when it comes to retaining the natural good quality of the sounds.

Another thing to be reminded of is, if you are going to use this method there would be high chances that you might have a hard time if you want to convert your old songs into another audio format because they are encoded in AAC format.

So, it is best if you are going to utilize and try another method like using the Apple Music app to convert Apple Music to MP3. This may be the method that will work the best for you.

Solution 2: Convert Apple Music To MP3 With Apple Music App

Convert Apple Music To MP3 With Apple Music App

  1. First step is you have to go to your device’s Apple Music application and have it opened.
  2. Take a look at your menu bar and then select the “Music” section and then click on “Preferences”.
  3. Same with the instruction a while ago, locate the “Files” tab and then select “Import Settings”.
  4. After clicking on “Import Settings”, you will then be displayed a menu under “Import Using” wherein you have to choose the best audio format encoder that you want. So, in our case choose “MP3 Encoder”. After choosing the encoder, click the “OK” button right below the box for the menu.
  5. Now, try pressing the key of “Option” for a little bit of time and then select the “File” tab from the set of tabs that you will see. After doing that, click on the “Convert” button and then “Convert to (Import Preference)”.
  6. Now, the next step to do is to have a folder or disk and then start browsing your music library to get all the songs that you wish to be converted.
  7. After following the steps properly and after the process of conversion has finished, in your Apple Music library, you can notice the appearance of the Apple Music songs successfully converted into MP3 format along with the initial format of the songs before undergoing the entire procedure.

Both iTunes and Apple Music apps are very capable of doing their aim for today which is to convert Apple Music to MP3. The only downside that you can find here is that they are both limited to unprotected song files only, so, since Apple Music songs are protected by DRM, it is sure that you will be having a hard time making this possible.

So, the best thing to do is to have the DRM protection removed through the use of an effective third-party tool which is to be discussed in the next section.

Part 3. What Is The Best Apple Music Converter?

TuneSolo Apple Music Converter

If you are looking for the best tool that could take good care of your favorite Apple Music songs, then you must try using “TuneSolo Apple Music Converter”. To know more about this converter, let us discuss the features it can offer.

  1. First on the list is its capability to convert Apple Music to MP3 as well as its skill to convert iTunes M4P into output formats including MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, M4A, AC3, and more. Once you have converted the songs into another audio format with the help of “TuneSolo Apple Music Converter”, you are now able to have them played on any device that you prefer to use. Another good thing here is that even if you have canceled your Apple Music subscription or even without a paid subscription, to begin with, you can access the songs and other content without having to connect to the internet just because you have utilized this notable converter.
  2. We all love to have the job done in the fastest way possible, so we are always seeking the best tool that can make this happen. And I am happy to say that “TuneSolo Apple Music Converter” is also very capable of making things done in the quickest way it can. It can convert Apple Music to MP3 and any other content into other audio formats up to 16 times faster than the normal speed of conversion. What is even better is it has incorporated the feature of batch converting as well. You can literally have a lot of time saved with “TuneSolo Apple Music Converter”.
  3. Of course, all of us are mostly after the quality of the songs after undergoing the process of conversion. With “TuneSolo Apple Music Converter”, you are 100 percent assured that you have the best quality of sounds because it perfectly retains the original audio quality of the Apple Music songs.
  4. If your worry is the limited number of devices where you can have Apple Music songs played to, you won’t be having issues in using “TuneSolo Apple Music Converter” because you are able to play the songs on a bunch of devices at once though you not have availed a family membership plan.
  5. What is good also with the “TuneSolo Apple Music Converter” is that it is compatible with many devices such as Android phones or tablets, iPod classic, iPod shuffle, iOS devices, PSP, Xbox One, Apple Watch, and a lot more. It works well as well in macOS and Windows 10.
  6. And for your knowledge, “TuneSolo Apple Music Converter” is very great for incorporating an advanced ID tag identification technology that automatically determines the significant information of songs such as the Metadata and Artwork. You can also rest assured that the ID3 tags are retained even after the process of conversion.
  7. You can also edit or modify the basic information of the songs like the artist, title, genre, and the corresponding year of its release.

With all the features mentioned above, I know that you are slowly falling in love with “TuneSolo Apple Music Converter”. Now, if you wish to convert Apple Music to MP3 using this converter, then you can follow the steps below.

how to use TuneSolo Apple Music Converter

  1. First step is to head into your phone’s application store and download “TuneSolo Apple Music Converter”. After downloading, have it installed on your device.
  2. Second is to select all the Apple Music songs that you wish to be converted.
  3. From the set of common output formats mentioned above, choose MP3 format as the end format of the Apple Music songs.
  4. You will also be required to allow an output folder for the songs after the conversion.
  5. Now that all the requirements are set, you can finally click on the “Convert” button to convert Apple Music to MP3.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Apple Music app convert to mp3?

No, the Apple Music app itself doesn't have a built-in feature to convert songs to MP3 format. This is due to licensing restrictions on Apple Music content.

How do you turn iTunes songs into MP3 files (if you are using an older computer with iTunes)?

If you have an older computer with iTunes, you can convert songs you've already purchased on the iTunes Store to MP3. Here's how:

  1. Open iTunes.
  2. Go to Edit > Preferences > General (on Mac) or Edit > Settings > General (on Windows).
  3. Under Import Settings, choose MP3 Encoder from the Import Using menu.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Select the songs you want to convert in your iTunes library.
  6. Go to File > Convert > Create MP3 Version.

Important Note: This method only works for songs you've purchased from the iTunes Store, not for Apple Music streaming content.

How do I transfer music from iTunes to the Apple Music app (if you want to keep using Apple Music but access the songs on another device)?

If you want to access the iTunes songs you purchased on the Apple Music app, you can use the iCloud Music Library. Here's how:

  1. Make sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID on both your computer with iTunes and your device with the Apple Music app.
  2. On your computer with iTunes, go to Edit > Preferences > General (on Mac) or Edit > Settings > General (on Windows).
  3. Tick the box next to iCloud Music Library.
  4. Your iTunes music library will be uploaded to iCloud and synced to your Apple Music app on other devices.

Can I put my Apple Music on my mp3 player?

Due to copyright restrictions, you cannot directly transfer Apple Music songs to an MP3 player. Apple Music is a streaming service, and downloaded songs are encrypted for offline playback within the Apple Music app.

Alternatives to Consider:

  • Subscription to MP3 Streaming Services: Explore music streaming services like Spotify that offer downloadable MP3 files as part of their subscription plan.
  • Purchase and Download MP3s: You can purchase MP3 music files from online retailers like Amazon Music or the Google Play Store.

Remember: Downloading copyrighted music without permission is illegal. Always ensure you have the rights to download any MP3 file

Conclusion: Ways To Convert Apple Music To MP3 Via iTunes And Apple Music App

convert Apple Music to MP3

There are a lot of ways that you can use to convert Apple Music to MP3, however, in order to make sure that you are not wasting any of your time, you must be convinced enough that you are using the most perfect way to have the work done.

And with all the benefits that you can get from using “TuneSolo Apple Music Converter”, there is no doubt that having to rely on this professional tool is the best way that you can utilize to convert Apple Music to MP3.

INTERESTING POSTS

How To Convert M4P To MP3 [EXPERT GUIDE]

Abraham Faisal | ✔️Fact-checked by: Angela Daniel
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How To Convert M4P To MP3 [EXPERT GUIDE]

If you want to learn how to convert M4P to MP3, this post is for you.

Certain files would probably need conversion. A specific conversion would be required, especially if a file has protection or is incompatible with your device or digital platform.

A common occurrence that would need conversion is a file with an m4P format because this format has protection. With this protection, it is not going to be read easily by standard devices. This part is where you realize the need to know how to convert m4P to mP3.

Converting m4P to mp3 would make the files accessible, especially in the user's standard devices and digital platforms. 

Part 1. What Are iTunes M4P Files – The Things You Need To Know

Before knowing how to convert m4P to mP3, it is proper to understand the nature of the m4P files. Knowing these files would make you learn more about the essence of converting them into more commonly-used formats. Apple uses the m4P files in its files through iTunes and other platforms.

The m4P files are also known as iTunes Music Store Audio Files

The m4P files are also known as iTunes Music Store Audio Files. These files are AAC files with the DRM protection provided by Apple to its files. The DRM protection gives the m4P files the protection from easy access, especially to other devices. You must remove this protection first before these files may be accessed since the format is not readable by other devices not intended to have these files.

When you download music files from iTunes, you will see the m4P extension file format similar to m4A minus the DRM protection. If you want to access these files from other devices and other digital formats, you will need to decrypt and remove the DRM protection. You may be able to do this through converters. The converters will transform your files into a more common mP3 format that is easily readable and accessible through various devices.

Part 2. How To Convert M4P To MP3 Files?

There are several solutions that you could use in converting m4P to mP3 files. Knowing how to convert m4P to mP3 is essential in enhancing the accessibility of your iTunes files.

Solution 1. Convert m4P to mP3 files without iTunes

To convert m4P to mP3 files without iTunes, you would need the aid of an Apple Music Converter. The Apple Music converter will decrypt these files and remove the DRM protection and make them into the more commonly-used formats making them more accessible.

Convert m4P to mP3 files using TunesFun Apple Music ConverterA powerful Apple Music Converter is TunesFun Apple Music Converter. This converter offers a wide range of features which include its compatibility with Windows 10 and macOS. TunesFun also has a 16x conversion speed while keeping the ID3 tags and all metadata. With the help of TunesFun, you can convert your music into formats like FLAC, MP3, AC3, and WAV, among others.

 

You can keep the original quality of the music files after conversion with its lossless feature. TunesFun is also a user-friendly application making it easy to use for people who want to convert their m4P files and listen to them online anytime, anywhere.

By just following a few simple steps, you may be able to convert m4P to mP3. Take note of the following steps for an easy and rewarding conversion experience:

TunesFun Apple Music Converter

Step 1. Download and Open the TunesFun Apple Music Converter application.

Step 2. Select the Apple/M4P files that you want to convert.

Step 3. Choose the output format applicable for your device and usage and select the file path for the converted file.

Step 4. Click on the “Convert” button to start the conversion.

By just following those few easy steps, your files will be accessible using your standard devices, and you may enjoy Apple Music anytime you want.

Solution 2:  Convert m4P to mP3 with Online Converter

Convert m4P to mP3 with Online Converter

Apart from using Apple Music converters, you may also use some online converters to do the job. If you want to convert m4P to mp3, there are several online converters that you may use.

FreeConvert.com
FreeConvert.com is an online converter that can cater to your needs. This online converter uses both open source and custom software to ensure the quality of conversions. You may also do some fine-tuning of the parameters upon conversion, making the conversion go your way. The FreeConvert.com online converter works on any web browser, and it is for free.

MP3Cutter.com

MP3Cutter.com is a helpful tool if you want to convert m4P to mP3. MP3Cutter.com is also an online converter that could help you with your needs concerning your Apple Music files. This online converter is secure and for free forever. Another distinguishing feature is the ability of this online converter to change audio quality, fade in/out, and you may change the sample rate of the target mP3 file.

Any of the two online converters could help you in being able to convert m4P to mP3. They also come in easy-to-use features and may be done with a few steps.

Part 3. Conclusion – How To Convert M4P To MP3

To maximize usage of your Apple Music files, you should feel the need to convert m4P to mP3. By converting your files, you may be able to optimize their usage. The wide range of accessibility for these files would give you the idea of using them without much restrictions imposed by the presence of DRM protection.

How To Convert M4P To MP3

We learned that we could remove the DRM protection by using Apple Music converters, and we can convert these files into the more commonly-used formats. TunesFun Apple Music Converter is one of the front-running converters in the market, and its features could give you an effortless experience for the best quality.

With a high conversion speed coupled with a lossless feature, you can enjoy your Apple Music files just like before you converted them. The easy-to-use feature is also one of the key features that could make you do things quickly without sacrificing a bit of entertainment value. 

Another option would be online converters, which you may also use for conversion. You must never forget that you should consider the features of the converters. With this, you may choose the best solution.

READ ALSO: Ways To Convert Apple Music To MP3 Via iTunes And Apple Music App

How To Convert M4P To MP3: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I convert M4P to MP3 for free?

There are free online converters that claim to convert M4P to MP3. However, these services often come with limitations or risks:

  • Security Concerns: Uploading your M4P files to a third-party website might pose security risks, especially if the website is not reputable.
  • Limited Features: Free converters might have limitations on file size, conversion speed, or output quality.
  • Malware Risk: Some free converters might bundle malware with the downloaded MP3 files.

Are there alternative solutions to convert M4P to MP3?

Here are some alternative approaches to consider, keeping in mind copyright restrictions:

  • Use iTunes (for files you purchased before April 2009): If you have M4P songs purchased on the iTunes Store before April 2009 (when Apple switched to DRM-free AAC files), you can convert them to MP3 using iTunes. Follow these steps:

    1. Open iTunes and go to Edit > Preferences > General (Mac) or Edit > Settings > General (Windows).
    2. Under Import Settings, choose MP3 Encoder from the Import Using menu.
    3. Select the M4P songs you want to convert in your iTunes library.
    4. Go to File > Convert > Create MP3 Version. (Note: This only works for pre-April 2009 purchases).

  • Subscription to MP3 Streaming Services: Explore music streaming services that offer downloadable MP3 files as part of their subscription plan. This allows you to access and download music legally in MP3 format.

  • Purchase and Download MP3s: You can purchase MP3 music files from online retailers like Amazon Music or the Google Play Store.

Important Note: Downloading copyrighted music without permission is illegal. Always ensure you have the rights to download any MP3 files.

How to convert M4P to MP3 on iPhone?

Due to restrictions on iPhones, directly converting M4P files to MP3 on the device itself isn't possible. You'll need to use a computer with the alternative solutions mentioned above.

How to convert M4B to MP3 (for audiobooks)?

Similar to M4P music files, converting M4B audiobooks (also protected with DRM) to MP3 directly isn't recommended due to copyright restrictions. However, you might be able to play audiobooks purchased from the iTunes Store on authorized devices using the Books app or iTunes.

Remember, respecting copyright laws is important. The alternative solutions mentioned focus on M4P files you might have purchased before DRM restrictions or using services that provide downloadable MP3s with the proper rights.

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