Month: June 2021

Using Artificial Intelligence To Help Keep Your Financial Data Safe

USA crime never sleeps. Without a doubt, cybercriminals are always testing your organizations’ cybersecurity systems 24/7. Hackers are attempting to break into your network and get away with your personal identifiable information or your financial data.

Cybercriminals try to exploit your weaknesses in several ways, whether through phishing, malware or through weak encryption. Regardless of the size of your organization protecting requires a vigilant solution, one that is constantly testing for vulnerabilities and adapting to new threats. Fortunately, artificial intelligence can help supplement your traditional cybersecurity systems for your business, and your customers.

How Artificial Intelligence Enhances Your Information Security

What makes AI such a powerful protector is its ability for machine learning. Machine learning is where algorithms automatically improve through experience. In the instance of cybersecurity systems, AI can learn as new threats emerge. AI’s ability to identify patterns or abnormal actions also proves useful when monitoring users. Even if AI doesn’t identify anything suspicious. It is still analyzing for weaknesses within your cybersecurity system.

One of the most common examples of cybercriminals attempting to access cybersecurity systems is phishing. Phishing is where an attacker sends a fraudulent message that attempts to access sensitive information. By sending emails that appear official, criminals can trick employees to send sensitive information or install malware onto personal networks. With AI constantly monitoring, it can pick up the fraudulent email and get rid of the email before it is even sent to an inbox.

Safeguarding your most valuable financial data requires having cybersecurity systems that never stop assessing threats. For more information and tips on how to use AI to help keep your financial data safe, check out the resource below.  It discusses a few more common ways attackers get access to your data, as well as how AI addresses each of those threats.

Infographic created by Donnelley Financial Solutions, a financial consolidation software provider

The Importance Of Backup & Disaster Recovery For Remote Workers

The current pandemic has rapidly shifted the current workplace toward remote work. As companies return to normal operations, remote work is here to stay. With this change comes a different landscape for security. Most businesses were forced to design and deploy a new digital security strategy overnight for remote workers. This left IT professionals and employees with an increased risk for potential problems in security.

To reduce the risk, it’s important for an organization to create a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery plan. If you are interested in learning more check out the resource below. It describes tips for creating a backup and disaster recovery plan for remote work.

Infographic created by MXOtech, an IT network management company

Proving PTSD after a Car Accident Claim

When it comes to car accidents, physical injuries are often the first thing that comes to mind. However, these events can also leave lasting emotional and mental damage ranging from mild emotional distress all the way to diagnosable Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

In fact, the American Psychological Association states that car accidents are the leading cause of PTSD for non-military Americans. Emotional and mental damage are equally as debilitating as the physical injuries one suffers in accident but can be more difficult to diagnose. Here’s how to prove you have PTSD after your car accident claim.

Diagnosing PTSD

You’ll need your primary care physician to help you diagnose this condition before you can prove it to your insurance company or in court. However, it’s up to you to watch out for the signs and symptoms. Knowing the red flags of PTSD is the first step in getting help. They are:

·         Anxiety over being inside a vehicle

·         Nightmares about getting into accidents

·         Recurring flashbacks about the accident

·         Insomnia

·         Sudden irritability

·         High blood pressure

·         Fatigue and body aches

·         Feeling “jumpy”

·         Difficulty working or concentrating

Showing Proof

With your symptoms identified, the next step is to visit your doctor for a diagnosis. If you’re working with legal aid, like this car accident lawyer in San Francisco, then you may want to talk to them first. A lawyer can recommend a doctor or specialist for you that will get you the proof and help you need.

From there, the challenge is getting your insurance company to work with you. These companies are notorious for covering the least amount of damages possible after an accident, which makes proving PTSD after a car accident claim difficult. To do so, your lawyer will need to prove the following:

·         The other driver’s owed you a duty of care and failed to do so

·         The other driver was acting negligently or carelessly

·         Psychological trauma led to lost wages, pain, and suffering

·         Your PTSD symptoms are a direct result of the car accident

Your insurance company will want to see your medical history, which your lawyer will help you gather and provide. Expect your insurer to use any prior mental illness against your claim. While it is unfortunate, especially on top of your emotional distress, your legal aid will help you fight your case.

Seeking Help

While it’s vital that you gain the financial compensation you’re entitled to, it’s equally as important that you address your PTSD and seek psychological help. Unlike physical injuries, PTSD isn’t something that heals on its own.

After your diagnosis, your doctor or lawyer can recommend psychological professionals. Therapy and counseling are the most useful tools for overcoming PTSD and its symptoms. This condition is one you have to work through, one step at a time, until you regain control over your mind and your life.

On the plus side, proving your PTSD to your insurer and in court will ensure that your treatment is paid for and that can you recover any lost wages from time off work. It might be a long road ahead, but seeking the compensation you deserve makes it that much easier.

Lowes Under Scrutiny for Recent Sexual Harassment Claims

Lowe’s came under scrutiny this week over a lawsuit filed with the Solano County Superior Court in California. The lawsuit shows a troubling pattern of male-on-male sexual harassment, alleging numerous causes of action against the retail giant.

Both the Lowe’s Home Center and 1751 E. Monte Vista Ave. store are involved in the lawsuit, with the claimant’s attorney stating egregious harassment that would have been, “difficult to imagine being ignored had the victim been female. Here are the details so far.

Male-On-Male Harassment

Harassment is often thought of in the context of male aggressors and female victims, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Any man can harass another man just as one woman could do to another. Unfortunately, complaints like these made by male employees are rarely taken seriously.

The case has been picked up by a San Francisco sexual harassment attorney, first filed by Kelly Armstrong on behalf of the victim who has chosen to withhold their identity due to the nature of the case. The attorney has been very outspoken about the reality of male-on-male harassment often being swept under the rug.

The Case

The Reporter obtained a copy of the 17-page complaint filed Tuesday, which the court has acknowledged. It alleges a hostile work environment, failure to prevent harassment, and even retaliation against the employee, all of which violate California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act.

The document also alleges wrongful termination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and invasion of privacy. Armstrong has spoken about how Lowe’s management repeatedly ignored numerous complaints with excessive detail about a growing culture of sexual harassment within their Vacaville store.

The complaint explains that employees spread rumors about John Doe having sexual relationships with other employees, that he gave some STDs, was having group sex, and even that he slept with another female employee.

It also talks about an employee named Mark Fox, an assistant store manager. Fox, according to the complaint and written testimony from Armstrong, repeatedly made inappropriate comments to Doe ranging from describing his genitals to photographing Doe in the restroom while at work and sharing them with other employees.

A Lack of Action

Doe reported each and every instance to Vacaville store management as well as corporate management, but Lowe’s failed to act on those complaints according to the court filings. When addressing Vacaville manager Dave Berlin, Doe was told to drop the issue and threatened with termination.

Doe took the complaint to Lowe’s Associate Care Center, but was then threatened by Fox with physical violence. Armstrong alleges that this was overheard by a department manager but that nothing was done. Doe then requested to be transferred and took a leave, but was denied the request.

What’s to ComeThe court has acknowledged the complaint, which means testimony is the next step. The court will then have to decide if the case moves to trial. In the meantime, Armstrong is urging anyone from the Vacaville location to come forward as a witness. She’s also encouraging any Lowe’s employee to speak up about harassment when they see it.

Why Instagram Is So Popular and How To Set Up An Account

For many people, social media is a critical tool. Individuals use these public platforms to communicate, in addition to updating friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers about the happenings in their lives. Businesses also employ these outreach methods as a means of promoting their entities and attracting new customers. 

One of the more popular social media avenues is Instagram. 

Instagram Overview

Started in 2010, Instagram is a social media platform devoted to photo and video streaming. Users can post photographs and recorded videos to their site for their followers to see and watch. Like other well-known outlets, individuals can follow others with active accounts and vice versa. 

Unlike other social media outlets, however, Instagram is more of a mobile platform that people typically use while on devices, such as their cell phone or tablet. That said, you can still view and post from your laptop or desktop computer.

The Reasons Instagram Is Popular

Visibility: Arguably, the most significant reason Instagram has become so popular is that it is a strictly visual medium. Everyone has heard the phrase that a picture is worth a thousand words. Those who set up an Instagram account are afforded the opportunity to view bright, vibrant photos. Granted, other avenues enable account holders to post and view images. However, these pictures are typically surrounded by blocks of text that might prove distracting or limit a viewer’s interest. 

Creativity: Instagram users favor the platform for its promotion of creativity. People often use the platform to post innovative, enjoyable, inspiring visuals for their followers to enjoy. Given that Instagram is a worldwide entity, these posts can prove quite far-reaching and help heighten the user’s profile manifold. 

Business-Friendly: Instagram has quickly morphed into one of the more business-friendly social media platforms. Establishments from large corporations to local mom-and-pop stores use the versatile platform to display products and services in a way that brings their products and services to life. 

Setting Up An Account

Establishing an account is relatively straightforward. First, choose which device you want to use to Instagram on (most use their phones). Then download the Instagram app onto that device. Next, open the app and follow the directions for setting up and using the account. You’ll be asked to provide information like your email and phone number and then confirm via code texted to your phone (for security). You’ll then be asked to register by creating a username and password. 

Note that Instagram also enables those with active Facebook accounts to register or log in utilizing their Facebook credentials. 

Though mobile usage is the preferred method, Instagram accounts may be established and used on laptop and desktop computers. Those planning on employing Instagram on their computers can visit Instagram’s website and click on the sign-up icon. If you do it this way, you’ll be prompted to enter your email address and then choose a username and password. As with mobile accounts, computer users can log in using their Facebook credentials.

How To Streamline Your App Development Workflow

As the shift to digital accelerates, the demand for new apps has surged. App developers face various challenges in meeting the market’s demands. There are funding constraints, a need to establish quality control systems, and other issues. The most immediate concern for app developers though, is how to work in an efficient and effective way. In this article, we will discuss how you can streamline your app development workflow in order to reduce development costs and speed up turn around times in your quest to build the next great app

  1. Start By Building a Code Library

Writing the actual code that will run your app is a vital part of your process, but it is a part of your process that takes up a big chunk of your time. For many app developers, they will be working from scratch, with very limited resources. Finding ways to write code efficiently is, then, very important. 

So what you need to do is to catalog any existing code in a library. This will improve your productivity by reducing the amount of time that developers will need to write and test new code. All that will need to be done is to retrieve code from the library and use it where needed in future app development projects. Consequently, your turnaround times will dramatically improve.

  1. Reduce your Data Storage Infrastructure

This sounds counterintuitive, because you often assume that the bigger your infrastructure, the better off you are. Yet having multiple databases only serves to increase the number of steps that your team has to go through to achieve their goals. 

Duplication is a likely result of having multiple databases. Often, teams find that they have databases that they do not need or even use, all the while increasing your security risks. Using a single database to store resources is much wiser from a workflow as well as a security aspect. Students in the best STEAM and STEM programs will be familiar with the importance of optimization. Having more than one database is not the best way to achieve optimization. 

  1. Use Layouts of Pre-Existing Apps

Using templates seems to be an admission of some kind of defeat for many developers. Yet, as the great scientist Isaac Newton noted, in order to see far, you should stand on the shoulders of giants. Take advantage of app templates in order to make a better product and work even faster. Using what came before you and worked well will help with your workflow in ways that are often underestimated.

Layouts will come with source code, which means that you will be able to skip a developmental stage by simply using that source code instead of writing it from scratch. There’s no need to consider things like UI/UX design, because someone else has already worked through those problems for you and come up with a solution you clearly like.

  1. Test! Test! Test!

Many apps fail because they are not rigorously tested. Developers kind of assume that their apps work well or that a few tests are enough to get an idea of the capabilities of the app. If you can test your app under the most extreme conditions, even if it seems unlikely that they will occur, you will be able to build a robust app that consumers will like. 
Running continuous tests is a great way to ensure that problems are dealt with as they arise and you receive almost immediate feedback at each stage of development.

Aluminum is Primary Choice for CNC Machining

No material is perfect for every CNC machining situation. To be useful, the right material must check off all of the necessary boxes for your particular job. If you are manufacturing a part that must be highly conductive, for instance, it may be that only copper will do. Likewise, if you need a material that absolutely resists corrosion, you might need to go with titanium.

One metal, though, tends to tick off more boxes than any other: aluminum. Aluminum has a number of useful characteristics. It is a relatively affordable metal, and is lightweight but also extremely durable. As it happens, aluminum is also especially well-suited to the CNC machining process. In fact, with so much going for it, it’s no surprise that aluminum has become the go-to metal in CNC machining.

Aluminum’s Qualities

Many CNC aluminum properties make it ideal for industrial manufacturing. To begin with, it is non-toxic, which means it is safe enough to be used to manufacture cooking appliances and utensils. It is non-magnetic, which makes it perfect for electrical shielding in computer products. Aluminum is also non-sparking and is excellent at absorbing both sound and shock, all useful qualities in automotive engineering. 

In fact, one of aluminum’s best qualities is its versatility. On the one hand, for example, aluminum conducts heat well. At the same time, it is also an excellent heat sink, meaning heat can be drained away from it rapidly. And finally, because of its reflective properties, it can also be used to repel heat and light.

Aluminum’s most important property is its high strength-to-weight ratio. Aluminum is exceptionally light—only about one-third the weight of steel. Yet, many aluminum alloys are, pound-for-pound, stronger than steel. Aluminum is also resistant to corrosion and, unlike steel, and shows increased strength at low temperatures. In fact, its lightweight durability has made it an essential material for the military and in industries like aerospace.

Perfect for Machining

Aluminum also has qualities that make it particularly suitable for the CNC machining process similar to the polished brass flat bar.  

First, aluminum’s malleability and low density make it easy to shape. Additionally, aluminum chips easily. Together, these two properties make aluminum easy to work with, which ultimately means you can produce better final products at a lower price. In fact, aluminum prototypes made with CNC machining can reach tolerances of up to .01 millimeters, and the process can benefit from dust suppression techniques. With that kind of precision, part production becomes repeatable. 

Best of all, aluminum is among the most cost-effective metals you can work with. It has a low raw material price to begin with; it saves additional money because it is so easy to work with; and because it is 100% recyclable, little money is lost to waste. In fact, aluminum can be recycled for just 5% of what it takes to produce initially. 

Many people look to aluminum first when they are considering their CNC machining projects simply because it is so cheap to purchase. After all, we’re all looking for ways to cut costs. In most cases, people wind up choosing CNC aluminum because it has so many valuable qualities

6 Essential Points Why Cbd Is a Good Space for Investors and Innovators

The CBD industry is flourishing and has birthed many entrepreneurs wanting to create something new and exciting. Cannabis has been in the dark for many years despite its medicinal value. Significantly CBD may help in dealing with many health conditions. Luckily, that’s changing lately, with many countries and states legalizing the use of cannabis for both medicinal and recreational purposes. 

Innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors can benefit from the high demand in the CBD industry for a better ROI. So if you are keen to enter the CBD industry, here are six reasons that indicate that it is a good choice.

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1.  Product Value and Diversity

The CBD industry is not just a flourishing one but also a diverse one in itself. You can find various CBD products ranging from CBDistillery to CBD topicals for acne. That gives CBD manufacturers focus on creating unique CBD supplements for their users. For instance, you can create CBD supplements like pills and capsules that fall under the health and wellness category. Similarly, if you incline towards skincare, the list of CBD topicals like body butter, facemasks, bath bombs, and lotions is endless too. The best part of all is that with more research about CBD and cannabis, the variety of CBD products may expand further in the future.

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2. Lower Regulations

The U.S CBD industry has witnessed massive growth lately, thanks to the Farm Bill 2018. The bill legalized the use of CBD products all over the country. That boosted the sales to revenue of $358 million from $108 million in 2014 when CBD products were still not legal in many states. The farm bill also legalized the cultivation and sale of hemp in the country. That played a significant role as well since manufacturers use CBD extracted from hemp rather than marijuana plants. A high concentration of CBD and a low concentration of THC is why manufacturers use hemp-based CBD. Though CBD products may contain THC, the authorized level states that it must not exceed 0.3%.

3. Increased CAGR in the CBD Industry

The growth rate in the CBD industry has been increasing and may continue to remain that way, looking at the market trends. Cannabis was not much of a mainstream herb in the past, probably due to its psychoactive effects of THC. But, the separation of THC from CBD changed it all. Estimated reports suggest that the CBD industry may reach $13.4 billion in sales with a growth rate of 21.2% by 2028. Through proper management and execution, any business owner can make profits with that growth rate. While the numbers mentioned above represent the CBD industry as a whole, the CBD oil industry alone may experience a growth rate of a whopping 38.4% by 2027.

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4. Pet CBD Market

The CBD industry is not just beneficial for humans but also for pets, mainly dogs. Many pet parents use CBD products to help their fur buddies deal with various issues like anxiety, aggression, etc. CBD may help deal with health conditions by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), present in almost all mammals, including dogs. That is the primary reason CBD may be efficient in helping with pet problems as well. The opportunity in the pet CBD market is also increasing recently, with more pet parents relying on CBD for their pet’s overall health. From yummy treats to CBD oils for pets, the product line in the pet CBD market is also diverse.

5. Customers Understanding the True Value of CBD Products

Here’s another factor contributing to the growth of the CBD industry. Users are now able to differentiate between average and high-quality products. Surprisingly, many CBD brands are failing to deliver the customer’s expectations. So, as a CBD brand or company, if you can reach the users’ expectations, you can boost sales. Moreover, achieving superior quality CBD products is not rocket science anymore. Through the proper extraction techniques, procuring high-quality raw materials, one can manufacture the best quality CBD products. Cultivating your hemp is one of the best ways to ensure the final products are of high quality. 

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6. High Scope For Product Research and Development

The best part about CBD is that it may help deal with various health conditions, physical and psychological. For instance, research suggests that CBD can be efficient in reducing chronic pain and inflammation. So whether the user experiences inflammatory pain caused by arthritis or pain from a tedious physical exercise, CBD products may help. CBD may also help reduce insomnia, anxiety, stress, and depression. As it serves various purposes, it allows manufacturers to create products and get into multiple niches in the CBD industry. You may choose to develop products for pain relief or anxiety relief initially when entering the market. Moreover, the CBD skincare industry is also flourishing since CBD may help deal with skin problems like acne, dry skin, etc.

Final Thoughts

The CBD industry is a fast-growing sector. It is not only flourishing but also an easy one if you plan accordingly. Whether you are keen on investing in a CBD company or creating a brand, high-quality products play a crucial role in its success. So, it’s essential to choose the appropriate niche, customer base, and robust business plan to make huge profits in the CBD industry.