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3 Child Safety Apps to Download for Halloween

Halloween is on the way and kids everywhere are already bracing for the impending sugar rush and halloween parties.  This halloween take some early precautions and checkout these 3 Child Safety Apps that will help the kiddies stay safe.

  1. Location Apps | There are some great apps out there where you can track the movement and location of a wireless device. Most mobile carriers – definitely Verizon and AT&T – have their own family locator app, which is usually available with a monthly charge. Most of these apps will typically run incognito so that the person using the phone doesn’t know their location is being tracked. This is a perfect option if you want to give your kid a sense of independence while also keeping tabs on their safety. One highly-rated, free location app called Follow You, Follow Me allows users to track and view each other’s location, and is available for download from the Apple iTunes store. Similarly, GPS Phone Tracker can be used to find a user’s phone and track their whereabouts at any given time, and is available for download from the Google Play Store. If you really want to take the extra step here, consider installing a panic button app that can be used whenever you or your loved one is in trouble.
  2. Set or Automate Check-In Times | You can set an alarm using the pre-installed alarm app on your child’s mobile device to alert them when it’s time to check-in with you. If you’re worried that they’ll just hit the snooze button, you can use apps like SchedCall (Android) and CallBot (Apple) to automate calls to a designated phone number. Some of these apps allow you to schedule calls to multiple people at the same time, while others work their way down a hierarchy of people if the call is missed. The app can alert any parent or guardian first, and if they’re busy, you can arrange for another close friend or relative to be next in line.
  3. ICE and Education | Most of us neglect the ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact lists in our phones, or don’t even know how to add an ICE contact in the first place. In the event of a true emergency, having an ICE contact can help emergency personnel find the right person to immediately get in touch with. These numbers should be one of the FIRST places they check to notify you or another close relative. Most phones have this feature built in, but yes, there are apps for that. For easy access and visibility, most apps allow you to place a widget on the home screen of the device, or you can always ask Siri to help out.

Lastly, these tips and tools are no good if your child doesn’t know why they’re important and how to use them. Most kids seem to have smartphone skills ingrained in their DNA nowadays, so it shouldn’t be an issue to educate them. Furthermore, you can reinforce this education in your local community. If you’re a member of a neighborhood watch or a similar group, spread the knowledge and share these tools with them.

3 Ways to Increase Laptop Security While On-The-Go

Laptop Security

1). Physical Laptop Security

When it comes to Laptop Security an often overlooked aspect is the physical security of the device. There are ways to lock your laptop down from outside of the machine. First, be sure that your laptop bag is always on your person, or that you use a padlock to keep the zipper securely closed. Most work benches at the airport have legs that you can easily secure the carry strap to. Or you can utilize a cable lock to secure it to something like a chair fastened to the ground or a building pillar.

Second, always keep a Kensington lock in your bag, and break it out every single time that you use your laptop in a public area. These are inexpensive, and you can always ask your IT provider if they have any spares. Trust us, if you’re showing initiative to protect company assets, your company will listen.

If you are in a hotel, a good way to keep your belongings safe is to put the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door. If that is posted, then the only foot traffic that should be in your room is your own. If something turns up missing and you and the Hotel are the only people with keys to your room, then this helps narrow down the search for the thief.

2). Laptop Security Software

We’re not talking about computer security like Webroot or Norton here, but something more along the lines of location software. Some examples of this may be Lojack for Laptops if you have a Windows machine, or Find My Mac if you are an Apple user. To help protect your information, these applications will setup passcodes that the thief will have to hack to bypass. Also, they can provide the location of your device if it’s missing or stolen.

3). Lock Screens & Timeouts

This might seem really simple but setting short timeouts on your computer and phone and requiring passwords to unlock can reduce the chance for someone to plant harmful software or steal data.

4). Backup Solution

If, in fact, your device does go missing, you know as well as we do that your work can’t be put on hold. It will continue to pile up – causing a mess of inconveniences – but the world doesn’t stop, even if your laptop is stolen. You need to be able to back up your most valuable data and recover it at a moment’s notice with a legitimate backup solution. And we’re not just talking about a file backup like Dropbox or Google Drive. A truly reliable backup solution allows for virtualizations of your laptop, so you can login to this virtual copy of your machine and it’s just like you’re sitting in front of it again.

Quickbooks 2018 Shows Past Due on All Invoices

New Quickbooks Invoice past due stamp feature

Quickbooks 2018 v.18 now shows past due on all invoices on your screen.  Don’t panic, by default this will not print on the invoices you’re sending to your customers. While many people will find this annoying at first, showing a “Past Due” stamp helps you identify these invoices so you can take action and minimize delayed collection of dues.  I do think that Quickbooks should have a toggle switch to turn off this feature if unwanted but until then rest assured your customer will not get this stamp unless you want them to.

If you want to show the Past Due stamp on printed invoices

You can also email and print these invoices with the stamp to send to your customers.

Important: The Past Due stamp can only be turned on or off on a template level setting.

Add the Past Due stamp on invoices

Note: There are different ways to add the Past Due stamp.

Add the Past Due stamp from the Templates list

  1. Go to Lists > Templates.
  2. From the list, find and edit the invoice template you use for collections.
  3. From the Company & Transaction Information section, check the box Print Past Due Stamp.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Open an invoice that is past its due date. The PAST DUE stamp shows on the invoice.
  6. You may print the invoice or send it through email.

Add the Past Due stamp directly from the invoice

  1. Open an invoice past its due.
  2. Click Formatting and click Manage Templates.
  3. Select the invoice template you want to use and click OK.
  4. From the Company & Transaction Information section, click to check the box Print Past Due Stamp.
  5. Click OK.
  6. You may print the invoice or send through email with the PAST DUE stamp.

Turn off the Past Due stamp

  • If you are on the Basic Customization window, click to uncheck the Print Past Due Stamp box.
  • If you have the past due invoice open, simply click the Turn Off link to remove the Past Due stamp.

Cyber Monday Tech Steals and Deals for 2016

shoppingEveryone will be looking online for the best deals for those holiday gifts this year.  Centrino Times reported that this year’s Cyber Monday sales are expected to be higher as compared to the other holiday deals days like Thanksgiving Day and the Black Friday.  According to the research reports, around 40 percent of the people in the US are expected to shop online on Cyber Monday.  With that in mind you probably want to know where to find the best deals and steals for the holiday season.  Below are a few deals just released by Dell to get you started.

The Dell Cyber Monday 2016 sale will take place on Monday November 28 but shoppers can already today take advantage of select Dell Black Friday 2016 deals in the Dell Black Friday Flash sale.

The Dell Cyber Monday 2016 deals include a hot Sony PS4 Cyber Monday deal. Dell will offer the PS4 Slim 500GB Uncharted 4 bundle with NBA 2K17 and a $25 Dell Promo eGift Card for $279.99. You save $80. This deal is not as dramatic the Steal in an Xbox One S on Black Friday. The Dell Xbox One S Black Friday 2016 Bundle deal saves $170.

The Dell Cyber Monday 2016 laptop deals include Inspiron 13 5000 2-in-1 for $699.99 (Save: $150), XPS 13 for $949.99 (Save: $150) and an Alienware 17 gaming laptop for $1999.99 (Save: $500).

The Inspiron 24 5000 All-in-One for $399.99 (Save: $250) and the Dell Inspiron Desktop – $299.99 (Save: $200). Dell’s UltraSharp 24 Monitor will be on sale for $179 (Save $190.99). One of the Dell Cyber Monday 2016 TV deals announced is the VIZIO 50″ 4K Smart Ultra HDTV – E50x-E1 + Free Logitech Harmony 650 Universal Remote – $399.99 (Save $279.99).

The exact times when the above Dell Cyber Monday 2016 doorbuster deals will be released will be announced at a later date.

For more about the Dell Deals visit deals.dell.com

We will continue to add new Cyber Monday Deals as they are released.

Hurricane System and Office Protection Suggestions

Hurricane Office Protection
Hurricane Office ProtectionHurricane Office Protection Suggestions include some of the following based on severity.
HURRICANE WATCH
  1. Verify that vital record’s are in a safe storage area. Files, records, and storage cabinets may be wrapped in plastic for moisture protection. If necessary, temporarily relocate records to a safe storage facility off-site.
  2. Inventory equipment and secure a copy offsite. Take Pictures & Video.
  3. Create a Full Backup and take drive offsite storing in a secure watertight location such as inside a sealed protective bag off the ground in a safe. This Location should be at least 25 miles away. We highly recommend using a cloud based backup service in addition to this procedure.
  4. Store a hard copy of all staff’s addresses and phone numbers Home and Cell so people may communicate after the storm passes.

HURRICANE WARNING

  1. Move desks, files, equipment and furniture away from un-shuttered windows. Papers, drawings, etc. should be placed inside files or desks.
  2. All Electrical Devices Such as Computers, Printers & Servers should be off the floor to protect from water damage from minor flooding.
  3. Wrap all office equipment, such as copy machine and computers, in plastic to protect against water damage from leaks etc.
  4. All Servers, Computers and Network Equipment should be shutdown and disconnected from all outside lines including phone, cable, data and power.
  5. Turn off all air conditioners, disconnect electrical equipment, turn off lights.
AFTER THE HURRICANE
  1. Do not turn on computer equipment if there are indications of low voltage power fluctuations, low air conditioning output, water under raised floor, broken windows or damaged equipment.
  2. If there is any excessive moisture do not attempt to connect equipment.
  3. Equipment should not be used with a generator or without proper UPS protection.

Read more Are you prepared for a hurricane?

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