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3 Things People Don’t Know About Being A Pharmacist

Pharmacists are widely considered to be a reputable profession which is often held in high regard, both in general society and in the medical field. Becoming a pharmacist often takes as much work as become a doctor, and can be a very strenuous path involving a lot of examinations, studying, experience and training before becoming a practitioner.

There are many misconceptions which come with the pharmacist profession, especially by those outside of the field. People often think that pharmacists are seen as only counting pills, and sitting at a computer in a pharmacy all day. This is simply not true, as you will find out later in this piece. Pharmacists like Canadian Pharmacy work hard to ensure that people are getting the right medication that they need, and that it does not interact with other medications they may be taking.

Furthermore, they are responsible for logging everything that a patient takes in the system for later retrieval and access by health professionals. Considering that pharmacists are some of the most accessible professions to people out there, there is a lot to know before embarking on the path of becoming one.

Here are 3 things that people don’t know about being a pharmacist.

It takes a lot of school work to become one

There is a misconception out there, which some pharmacists may even find somewhat offensive. The misconception is that it is much easier to become a pharmacist than other health professionals, such as doctors. The two careers have a very similar study path, and they both must undertake a significant amount of studying, training and experience before being considered qualified enough to work. One would usually spend from 1 to 8 years in school before undertaking internships and training for a further 2 years before possibly specializing in a subset of medicine. Becoming a pharmacist is very hard work, and it is not for everyone. The amount of study is comparable to becoming a doctor and similar professions, and the careers are tied together by their study load.

Pharmacists can make medication

A little known fact about pharmacists are actually able to make medications! They are known as compound pharmacists, are they are able to formulate medications for specific patients. This is because some patients may have certain requirements when it comes to how they ingest the medication, or they may have an allergy to a certain ingredient. Compound pharmacists will work to formulate the same medication with the same desired medical effect achieved, but in a different method of ingestion or different ingredients. These pharmacists must ensure that they work safely and they follow quality assurance policies to ensure safety for the patient. Moreover, they are also able to formulate medicines which may have been discontinued or is not available for another reason.

They work in more than just pharmacies

Pharmacists can work in many more settings than just a retail pharmacy. They often work in hospital settings in a variety of settings such as emergency or other wards. Besides the obvious medical fields they work in, they can also work in government positions in public health, pharmaceutical research, informatics and so on. All of these fields require people with working knowledge of medications and their interactions with others. This can help to ensure safety is paramount, and their knowledge is undoubtedly useful.

Pharmacists do much more than sit in retail pharmacies, and can offer so much more. There are many misconceptions when it comes to pharmacists, and they deserve so much more credit. The path to becoming a pharmacist is a long and strenuous one, but is ultimately fruitful.

Starting An Online Business From Scratch In The UK

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A lot has changed since the arrival of the dreaded covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Not only did it affect the gathering and socialization of individuals, but it also led to the temporary closure of schools and businesses.

The closure of the latter led to a shift in the market as the rate of customers trooping into brick and mortar stores plummeted. On the other hand, this meant gold for online retailers. See, with people stuck in their couches and beds all day, online stores became the new haven for shoppers in all parts of the UK.

But, online stores have been around before the rise of the pandemic, and they’ve been a pretty big deal. Therefore, even if there was no covid-19, online stores would still have been a hit and for some good reasons too.

Why Online Stores?

You see, the advantages online stores have over conventional brick-and-mortar stores include the ease with which you can build your website, the fact that this website can be accessed from anywhere at any time, the ease with which customers can go through your catalogue, and much more.

So, without wasting any of your time, let’s get you started and walk you through the steps involved in starting up an online business in the UK.

  1. Do Your Research

Every market launch starts with ideal research on what the market holds for the business individual. Before deciding what to base your online store on, you need a comprehensive knowledge of the current state of the market.

Is your business idea a trend in the market? Are you going up a big competitor or household brand? Who is your target audience? Is your geographical location ideal for your brand idea? Getting updates and latest news on a daily basis about these trends help for better research.

  1. What Model Is Your Business Based On?

After careful evaluation of your business idea in relation to the current market, you need to establish how you monetize your business. For example, a chunk of all online stores bases their business on the e-commerce revenue model.

But other models such as advertising, subscription, and premium services are also ways you can make some pounds from your business. You can even go ahead to combine a few of these models.

  1. Create a Website and Optimize Your Brand

This is equivalent to building up your store because this is where the real work begins. Just like customers need a grocery store to purchase their needs from, your target audience also needs a site they can visit or log in to access your products.

Speaking of having access to your products, the fact that customers will be trooping into your site means that you need to optimize the site with the best of your products, and these products need to be given creative, well-written, and accurate SEO content.

  1. Ensure You Follow Online Business Regulations

Regardless of the cyber nature of your brand store, there still exist certain rules and guidelines that need to be followed to ensure the smooth running of your business and the avoidance of legal problems.

  1. Use Social Media

Your business is not just going to bring in customers from thin air. You need to inform the public about your brand, and the best way to do this is to take advantage of social media. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are all platforms you can use to proclaim the good news of your UK online store.

Michael Molfetta, Head of Molfetta Law, Shares Tips for Setting and Achieving Goals

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Setting worthwhile goals gives direction to your life, but it can be incredibly frustrating and demotivating if you fall short. Few understand this better than Michael Molfetta, founder of Molfetta Law, who also happens to be a former collegiate athlete. Anyone can start a side hustle or play a sport recreationally. Yet, it requires dedication and strategic planning to play sports at the collegiate level and operate a high-profile law firm. Molfetta attributes much of his goal-setting success to the skills he first honed and perfected as an athlete, which he cultivates by hiring former Division I athletes to work at Molfetta Law. Consequently, Molfetta’s leadership and service to clients are unparalleled.

Because goals are anticipated worthwhile accomplishments, striving to achieve them will help you make positive changes in your life. Whether your goals are health-related or career-centric, it’s a worthwhile practice to adopt and perfect. However, it’s not simply enough to decide you want to improve in certain areas. In Molfetta’s experience, how you choose and set your goals will influence how likely you will be to achieve them. Use these proven tips to help put some structure behind your goal setting and increase your chances of success.

Start with your long-range goals.

Long-range goals clarify where you want to be or what you want to achieve within five or ten years. They are big picture ideas, like deciding to buy your first home in five years. But don’t stop there, stresses Molfetta. Achieving long-range goals is nearly impossible without defining intermediate steps to get you to the finish line.

Set short-range goals that help you accomplish intermediate goals that help you achieve your long-range goals. Your short-range goals should be achievable within about a month, and intermediate goals should take no more than a year to complete.

Set specific and measurable goals.

As Molfetta explains, the more specific and measurable a goal is, the more power it has to change your life. For example, there’s not much power in a goal to read more—there’s too much distance between that vague desire and taking action. But, if you define that goal as “I will read at least one self-help book each week,” you know what you need to do and when.

Make a plan.

Former American professional football player and coach Tom Landry famously said, “Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.”

If your goal is to buy your first home in five years, your plan should include a series of supporting intermediate and short-range goals. Those goals would be accomplished by executing a plan, with steps such as setting up an automatic deposit to your savings account. If that’s not attainable, step one of your plan might be to research a gig-economy opportunity that could supplement your income to allow you to meet a savings plan.

Make yourself accountable to others.

If you are the only person even aware of your goal, it’s too easy to let it slide. Molfetta makes it a habit to share his goals with his leadership team at Molfetta Law. Your friends or colleagues can help by encouraging you. If that’s not the appropriate medium for you, share them with your spouse or another trusted friend. The idea is to create a situation where you feel you may disappoint more than just yourself if you abandon your goals.

Reward your achievements.

Be nice to yourself when you achieve incremental successes. Rewarding yourself will look different for each person and make the reward relevant to the goal. If you’ve exceeded your savings plan one month, splurge a little and buy yourself something nice. If you’ve finished the self-help books, you set out to read, give in and pick up a mindless novel as a treat.

Nearly every successful person, including Michael Molfetta, will tell you that setting goals were a large part of their triumph. Be smart about setting goals and making it easier to achieve your dreams.

About Michael Molfetta

Michael Molfetta is the resolute force behind Molfetta Law, a founding partner of CRM Sports Advisors and the CEO of Invictus Sports Management. As a veteran litigation attorney with over 30 years of experience under his belt, he has been lead counsel in nearly 300 jury trials and a legal correspondent for major news networks. Before starting his legal practice, he was the Deputy District Attorney in Orange County and was “1994 Prosecutor of the Year”. Since then, Molfetta has continued to garner acclaim and distinction within the legal field. In 2021, he was named “Litigator of the Year” by The American Institute of Trial Lawyers.

 

Protect Your Retirement Income: Warning Signs of a Social Security Scam, According to D. Paterson Cope

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Scams are unfortunately ever-present in our society, and many of them target people who receive Social Security. Financial advisor D. Paterson Cope says if you want to keep your identity and money protected, you need to recognize the warning signs of a scam.

Here are some common warning signs of a Social Security scam and how you can protect yourself.

Scammers Threaten Legal Action

Many scammers rely on fear to scare Social Security recipients into giving away their personal information or sending money. One way they do this is call people and threaten legal action if they don’t pay a fee or a fine.

Know that the Social Security Administration never threatens its recipients with legal action, even if there is a legitimate issue about which they need to talk to you.

Scammers Not Reaching Out Via Mail

The only way that the SSA will send official requests is a letter sent via the United States Postal Service. They will never send an email or text message or make a call to notify recipients that there is a problem with their benefits or that they need more information.

If someone reaches out to you directly in any way other than the mail, it’s very likely that they’re trying to scam you. If you have a question about whether a call is legitimate, hang up and call the SSA directly, with the phone number provided on their website or other official documentation they’ve sent you.

Scammers Request Payments in Specific Ways

There are times when a Social Security recipient may actually owe the SSA money. In these cases, again, the SSA will send an official letter notifying the recipient and provide instructions for how to make payments using U.S. mail.

What the SSA will never do is ask you to pay a fine or fee to the government using cash, a wire transfer, or a pre-paid card. Scammers tell people that payments need to be made this way for one simple reason — they are very hard to recover and trace.

You should never, ever send money to anyone with any of these methods of payment or any other gift card.

Scammers Promise an Increase in Benefits … for a Price

Another common scam is for people to tell Social Security recipients that they could increase the benefits they receive from the SSA in exchange for a payment made to them.

As D. Paterson Cope explains, Social Security benefits are not a this-for-that exchange. They are determined by each individual’s unique situation and work history.

If someone is owed an increased amount of benefits, the SSA will reach out to them via a letter in the mail and notify them of the steps to take to get the extra money. In no instance would anyone from the SSA actually request a payment be made in exchange for an increase in benefits.

About D. Paterson Cope

Paterson Cope, CFP® is the founder and CEO of Cope Private Wealth, a financial planning and wealth management firm specializing in assisting retirees and people who are about to retire. D. Paterson Cope has been providing financial advice for more than 30 years. He first earned the designation of Certified Financial Planner (CFP) in 1997. When he isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Jennifer Miree Cope, and the rest of his family in Mountain Brook.

Entrepreneur Corey Shader: Can You Scale a Startup Without Venture Investment?

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Many startup companies turn to venture capital to get them off the ground and launch them to the promised land. But, entrepreneur Corey Shader says there are ways to grow your business without using venture capital.

There’s no denying how impactful venture capital can be. The National Venture Capital Association reported that, in 2020, 10,800 companies based in the United States received some form of venture capital.

It’s not just an American form of investment, either. In the first six months of 2021, for instance, there was more than $288 billion of capital venture funding invested across the world.

With so much going around, entrepreneurs may question how they can grow and scale their startup without venture investment. Here are some ways to do just that.

Debt

Taking on debt as you are starting up a business is not always preferable. One of the main reasons is your company may not have enough cash flow at the outset to be able to meet startup loan payments in addition to all other liabilities.

There are some cases in which taking a loan to start your business could be viable. You could take a relatively small loan, for example, to help you stock up on inventory, purchase necessary equipment or technology, or launch marketing efforts.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding campaigns have become an increasingly popular and common way to fund a startup. There are many stories in which startup companies were able to raise a significant amount of capital through crowdfunding.

This can be a great way to fund your startup because it not only raises capital but serves as a way to jumpstart sales and interest in your products or services. A well-written and designed crowdfunding campaign will entice customers to make a purchase from you before your product even hits the market.

One thing that entrepreneurs need to understand about crowdfunding is it will require startups to use the funding exactly how they say they will in the campaign. You will be obligated to deliver on what you have promised these customers.

Equity

Another option to fund and scale a startup is equity fundraising. Through this option, you’ll be giving up a percentage of ownership in your company in exchange for money to use to scale your business.

This can be done in a few different ways today.

You can approach family, friends, and colleagues to raise funds. A lot of entrepreneurs prefer this route, as it would allow them to get the necessary funding without having to take on active partners.

Another option is through equity crowdfunding. Instead of selling products on a crowdfunding platform, you can create a campaign that will give others a slice of your company as long as you raise a certain amount of money.

Corey Shader says another option is traditional equity fundraising. You can find a strategic business partner who would not only provide necessary capital but also be able to bring something more to the business. This could be assistance in an area of their specialty or deals with vendors they’ve already established.

While giving up an ownership stake in your company might not be a preferable route, it also oftentimes results in the most significant amount of non-venture capital funding for startups.

About Corey Shader

Corey Shader is a self-made entrepreneur, consultant, investor, real estate developer, and founder of several companies, notably Insurance Pipeline. Operating primarily out of Ft. Lauderdale, Corey’s endeavors span across the nation, consulting for startups, and sitting on the board of digital media and senior healthcare agencies. As a consultant, Corey helps young businesses develop sales funnels and maximize profitability. Shader takes pride in challenging others to push themselves to be their very best — he believes in constant self-improvement, inspiring others through sharing his own life experiences.

 

Adam Ferrari Talks About Evaluating Investor Results

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You invest your hard-earned money to watch it grow, but there is more to evaluating an investment than the net profit when you sell it. In this article, Adam Ferrari discusses some essential but often overlooked aspects of evaluating investments, the nature of risk, and the role of repeatability.

Evaluating your investments.

The primary reason you make investments is to hold them as they contribute an increase to your net worth. But there’s more to properly evaluating an asset than whether or not it increases in value.

When evaluating assets, people often overlook two areas: how much time and effort they expend nurturing and developing the investment and how the asset fits with their personal life goals and values.

An example of an investment that may consume too much time and effort even though it returns a profit for you is real estate flipping. A 10% increase in value over six months may be acceptable, even an excellent return for many types of investments. Still, if that investment was a home and the labor required to get it ready to resell consumed a large part of your time during that period, it might be a poor return.

An example of an investment that may not fit well with your values is cannabis. Although legal, investments in this sector may run contrary to the values and ethics of some investors. If you can’t feel good about a potential investment, pass on that opportunity.

The nature of risk.

Much has been written about the many aspects of risk, but the one unavoidable and universally acknowledged aspect of risk is the potential for loss. There is always risk involved in investing, and for many investment types, it is your willingness to assume the possibility of loss that earns you the reward if the asset increases in value.

As an investor, you must understand your risk appetite, which, as the term is used for investing, is your willingness and ability to take risks. If you are risk-averse, avoid investments that include a potential loss that you are unwilling to accept. Staying within your acceptable risk limits will make investing a much more enjoyable experience.

To be a successful investor, you must accept a level of uncertainty. Regardless of how well you research investment, there is still a chance it will fail. If you’ve done your due diligence, this is not a reflection of your investing ability; it just means that unforeseeable influences eliminated the prospect of profit in that particular case. Likewise, reaping even a huge gain should not be interpreted as meaning that you have a magic touch.

Is the investment repeatable?

An important metric to track while investing is the repeatability of your investments. Some investments are wholly dependent on unique events or factors that may not be repeatable. It is critical to understand these factors, so you don’t make assumptions about the repeatability of the investment and lose money the next time around.

Let’s say, as an example, you invest in a retail building materials outlet. You’ve done your research, and it has a good location and not too much competition. It seems like a safe and sane investment.

Then comes a significant drop in bank interest rates due to an unrelated circumstance. As interest rates drop, new home loans go up, and there is a building boom. Your investment pays off much better than anticipated, but is it repeatable? The building boom was the result of an unforeseeable and unrelated event. You’re lucky, but don’t misread the results to mean something that it doesn’t.

About Adam Ferrari

Adam Ferrari was born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, IL. He is the grandson of an Italian immigrant coal miner who worked in the mines of Coal City, IL. From an early age, Adam was taught the value and dignity achieved through a hard day’s work. The oil and gas industry provides good-paying jobs for millions of blue-collar men and women across America. This is one of many reasons Adam and his company, Ferrari Energy, are such staunch supporters of the oil and gas industry. Blue-collar men and women built America, and the modern oil and gas industry keeps America moving forward.

What is the recipe for becoming a Digital Master?

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In today’s world of business, everyone is moving towards a Digital Transformation. Considering we are dealing with different types of businesses, we would like to study the forces inside a business that would make being a Digital Master a reality.

Digital Master is a business that is using the IoT and Digital technologies in the best possible way. By implementing these digital technologies into their business, they have drastically improved their overall success whilst giving themselves an advantage over competitors. In other words, they use these technologies to improve their processes and by incorporating this new business model into multiple layers of the organization, are benefitting significantly from it.

Unfortunately, despite this clear success, only 15% of businesses are close to becoming Digital Masters and many business owners are struggling on the path to achieving said status.

So, let’s see how we can categorize a business and its governance in terms of Digital master.

We use the quadrant graph below to divide businesses into four distinct groups:

Mazi Hosseini CEO Arshon Technology, founder of iotLINKS

Every company you review falls somewhere on the graph above. (Ref.: Leading Digital: Turning Technology into Business Transformation book by George Westerman and Ditier Bonnet)

To better understand, we will review all types of businesses.

Imagine a company just started and lacks leadership and digital capabilities. This company sits in the lower-left square.

A company that has been in business for many years successfully yet suffers due to a lack of digital capabilities would be placed in the bottom right square. Due to the management’s absence of exposure to digital technology, they have no clear vision of what is needed to combat these struggles.

Now imagine a successful technology startup already rich in digital technology but their exposure in business is new, and their leadership is young with less experience. This company would sit in the upper left quadrant.

And finally, a company strong in both leadership and digital capabilities would sit in the upper right square. Examples of companies like this would be GE, Netflix, Apple, etc.

Where we are and where we are going?

As a business owner, the first step is honesty. Especially with ourselves. We need to figure out where the business currently stands, and think about where we need to be in order to increase success.

Place your business somewhere on the quadrant graph. Looking at the categories we can see where we are currently and develop a plan of execution to become a Digital Master.

The goal is planning out the most efficient way to get into that top right corner

The goal is planning out the most efficient way to get into that top right corner.

We would like to consider each case and discuss some general ideas and action plans to make sure we continue moving in the right direction.

Starters

We will refer to lower left companies as starters. Ample effort will be needed and it won’t come without its challenges.

A starter company has minimal exposure in business and it has yet to establish enough capital as well as resources to fully integrate its digital strategy just yet. The first step is to increase marketing exposure before looking to implement the digital business model. These steps are not one size fits all and should be adapted to fit the current status of your business.

If a business is not directly technology-oriented

If a business is not directly technology-oriented, then it should carefully investigate digital services to avoid overwhelming the business’ financials and resources. Then, begin to apply the technology as needed by carefully aiming to achieve multiple smaller goals over one big one.

Long-term planning is always good, but for a startup, it must be in multiple smaller steps to make sure ROI is achieved in a shorter time frame to help the business grow organically and mitigate risks.

Another good practice for starters is to look into strategic partners and implement the digital technology with the help of those familiar with the model. Doing this can prevent potential mistakes before they happen.

Sometimes smaller companies’ success is strongly based on smart partnerships with larger players helping them focus on addressing a larger problem.

Fashionistas

These are groups of companies that are not the best in terms of business leadership but have a lot of exposure and familiarity with digital business models. They may find themselves unable to coordinate the business properly to make the whole company move cohesively. In other words, business flow is not optimized, the target market sector is not reached, and they are not successfully increasing profit as well as customer satisfaction.

Imagine you have the best website and the best CRM

Imagine you have the best website and the best CRM. If these two are not properly connected, you will find yourself missing out on optimal results.

We call these groups digitally equipped but in a disconnected manner.

For these companies, we need to look at the business at a higher level, try to connect the moving parts and get all these parts moving in unison. By using digital assets properly, and becoming more customer-oriented, the business will see a significant jump in success.

There are many businesses like this one that appears to be advanced, yet due to lack of proper direction, suffer in silence.

Conservatives

Also referred to as “Traditional Businesses”, are those that are well established and have historically done well. Despite their success, they have very limited exposure to technology and advances in business models.

Many of these businesses fear it is too hard to change and incorporate digital technology into their current models. Some have also tried with improper direction to no avail. They see themselves slowly falling behind their competitors.

Although they are profitable

Although they are profitable, they are in danger of losing to forward-thinking companies.

These companies should hire digital consultants to review and incorporate the digital technologies into the traditional processes and work with the business to become digital masters.

Digital Masters

These are established companies that have incorporated digital technology into many layers of their business.

They are typically more successful than other businesses

They are typically more successful than other businesses. Their only advice is to always review their incorporation of digital help to constantly combat problems that may arise, as well as continue improving and evolving upon their model.

There is no stop to Digital Transformation, regardless of where you stand!

Mazi Hosseini CEO Arshon Technology, founder of iotLINKS

Questions about Securities and Investment Fraud Answered!

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Security and investment fraud are certainly big and intimidating words. Even if you are largely aware of what they mean, you may still be uncertain about key concepts or specific questions. Yet these questions are essential if you wish to become educated on investment fraud, how to avoid it, and how to recover.

Luckily, that is what we are doing here! Keep reading to finally have five essential questions about security and investment fraud answered. When the time comes, you’ll be thankful for the knowledge!

What are the most frequently seen examples of investment fraud?

If you are unsure about the different types of investment fraud, you could accidentally fall victim. In addition, knowing about the various schemes will help you spot them when they occur. Some common investment fraud schemes include:

A ponzi or pyramid scheme, where investors are lured in and profits from earlier investors are used to pay new investors. The promised money is never received, and the scheme depends on luring in new people.

  • A real estate investment scheme
  • Embezzling funds
  • Misrepresenting an investment in order to fool investors

These are just a few of the common types of investment fraud! In general, you should also stay on the lookout for anyone encouraging you to make an investment without proper certification or tried and true evidence of their legal operations.

What can security and investment fraud attorneys do?

It can be hard to muster up the courage to fight back once you’ve been the victim of investment fraud, but getting a qualified attorney can be a huge help. Attorneys that specialize in security and investment fraud are skilled at navigating a complicated field, and aside from simply making your case in civil and criminal court, they can also offer you their professional advice in order to make an informed decision.

With professional attorneys you can get advice, justice, and hopefully even compensation for any investment fraud troubles. Don’t be afraid to reach out and let the professionals handle it!

How can you tell when investment losses were actually fraud?

Sometimes, you just make a bad deal or luck is not in your favor. Investments don’t always work out, and that is not anybody’s fault! However, it does raise the question of how to determine if losses were simple bad luck or a true case of investment fraud. Here are some common signs that a typical investment loss was actually a sign of something more insidious.

  • Success was guaranteed to you, and your broker made it sound as though there was no risk. A true broker would let you know about the risks of investment.
  • Being unable to contact your broker after the loss.
  • There are unauthorized or an increase in trades on your account, beyond what was communicated.
  • The loss suffered was much more extreme than what was communicated.

Is it possible to recover investment losses due to fraud?

This is the question on everyone’s mind after they have been a victim of fraud. How do you get the money back? Unfortunately, recovering money that has been lost can be extremely difficult. Skilled fraudsters are experts at skipping town and minimizing their involvement. You should seek out the services of skilled attorneys to maximize your chances of holding the criminals accountable and recovering what has been lost. Without legal help, chances of recovering are slim.

What is social media investment fraud?

Investment fraud has been rising on social media, so it is essential to be aware of the scheme. Sometimes, influencers may promote fictional programs or apps that steal the information from their unwitting followers. Fake websites with pretend hype and followers can persuade people to pay money or give up their information to follow a trend. In general, never give away your information on social media!

Hopefully, some of your burning questions about investment fraud have been answered! Knowing the signs is the most important protection you can take to ensure your information and money remain secure. If you do fall victim, don’t be afraid to reach out to an attorney! Their quality services can be your secret weapon in fighting against investment fraud.

The Best Ways to Guarantee Privacy Online

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It is true that we are more online in today’s age than we have ever been before. Social media platforms, online shopping, and even searching the internet for a good place to eat are everyday occurrences. In this internet age, it is essential that we learn more about how to find and keep our privacy online.

Be careful about what you share online – less is more

The first and most basic tip about finding privacy online is to share as little personal information as possible. It is common practice for people to post about themselves on social media, and the information might seem inconsequential. But in reality, hackers or people wishing to find information about you can do it easily. This includes companies who can personalize their advertisements to you based on your online activity.

Personal information should never be given out online if you wish to maintain your privacy in all areas. This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many people freely give out information on their social media accounts and then are surprised when their privacy is breached.

Consider using a VPN

A virtual private network (also known as a VPN) is an excellent way to render your online activities completely anonymous. A VPN works by creating a totally private network from an otherwise public internet connection. Your IP address will be completely covered, and all online activities from your IP address will not be traced.

Using a VPN when you are on public WiFi is good practice. Public WiFi includes a library, a café, or a restaurant. It is easier for hackers and internet providers to see your personal information when you use public WiFi, so a VPN will protect you and keep your data anonymous.

Use a private search engine

True online privacy is hard to come by when you are using a typical search engine. The Deep Searches private search engine does not keep track of cookies or use javascript, so the terms you search and the sites you visit are truly unrecorded. This keeps your online activity private, even more so than simply using incognito mode.

A private search engine is the best choice to keep your online activity from being seen, and they are free and easy to use.

Get good antivirus software

Viruses and software with malicious intent are sadly all over the internet, and they can seriously corrupt your computer and the data within it. Antivirus software protects your computer from being remotely taken over by hackers or vicious code that aim to view or release your personal information. This also includes updating your antivirus software, as installations frequently come about in response to new hacking attempts. You should not only find quality antivirus software, but maintain it as well!

Don’t click unknown links or advertisements

Finally, you can protect your online privacy by only clicking links and advertisements that you are familiar with. Malware or hacking initiatives can hide inside mundane-appearing advertisements and links, and when you click them, access to your data and personal information can be given to hackers. Much in the same way that antivirus software protects your computer, exercising caution with your online clicks protects your privacy and essentials from hackers.

As you can see with these tips, online privacy is difficult to maintain. It must be an effort that comes from all sides. Luckily, being careful about what you share online and what links you click as well as using a private search engine is an excellent place to start! With these tips, you can maintain your online privacy.

The True Travelers Top 5 Essential Experiences for Tuscany Tours

The Toscana region of Italy has been a popular tourist destination for centuries. The region is full of history, culture, and unforgettable experiences that are waiting to be had. For those who are planning Tuscany tours during their time in Italy, there are so many things to do and not enough time.

So, what should you prioritise with Tuscany Tours? Seeing the statue of David? Having an espresso in one of the finest cafes in the country? Sharing a bottle of Chianti red with your significant other? With the help of our Tuscany tours guide below, we hope you can make some sense and begin booking one of these 5 most essential experiences.

A Little Toscana History

Before we dive too deep into the wonders and potentials of Tuscany tours, it helps to get a glimpse of the wide and beautiful history of the region. Toscana is a region of Italy that has been around since the Etruscan times and continues to amaze people from all over. The region was once home to many different tribes who resided in this area for hundreds of years before it became the Toscana as we know it today!

Many artists called the place home including Tasso, Michelangelo and Dante as you’ll learn as you venture on Tuscany tours and dig a little deeper into the history. It is a place that has long been known to be of great inspiration for artists and poets alike throughout the years. Toscana was also home to many amazing rulers who shaped many parts of Italy into what they are today.

You won’t run out of room either with Tuscany tours as the beautiful region encompasses about 24 thousand square kilometres or much larger than other Italian regions like Emilia-Romagna (21 thousand square km) but smaller than Lombardy (33 thousand square km).

1) Museums Everywhere

One of the principal reasons people head on Tuscany tours is of course, the museums. The region is home to many wonderful museums of art, architecture, archaeology and much more. Locals have a deep appreciation for their history in the region which has led them to be one of the best places in Italy when it comes to preserving their past by way of museums that showcase Toscana’s beautiful story.

2) Orvieto Cathedral

The Orvieto Cathedral stands tall above its surroundings at 114 feet high and reaches toward the heavens. This cathedral took almost 400 years to construct, but if you take a look inside you will see why so much time went into creating such a masterpiece. This cathedral in particular is a must for Tuscany tours.

3) The Leaning Tower Of Pisa

Of course, we cannot have Tuscany trips without mentioning the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. The tower was completed in 1372 and became so popular that it drew many admiring visitors to see its magnificence. Unfortunately, there are also a lot who believe that this Toscana attraction is only “a little lopsided.” While we try to avoid the cliché answers on this list, it’s simply too good to not mention and to see for yourself.

4) Wine Country

Famous for its vineyards, no Tuscany tours would be complete without a visit to wine country. The region is full of vineyards and wine tasting opportunities, so it’s a must for Toscana visitors. There are many wineries to visit that have been in the family for generations or just opened up within recent years.

5) Campo di Fiori

Rounding off our Tuscany trips list is of course, Campo di Fiori. As Toscana’s largest square, Campo di Fiori is a part of Toscana that you simply should not miss. It has been the site for many important historical moments, from executions to political uprisings, and everything in between.