Data science platforms have been a major topic in numerous industries since the past decade. Telecommunications, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and government, almost every major sector has been taken over by these platforms. Leading experts even suggest that by 2026, its market value will skyrocket to $165.5 billion.

But while it’s not new to data science experts, the majority of people, including you, might not know what a data science platform does or how it works. But now there’s another new trend in this sector–in-house data science platforms.

At this point, your questions must be piling up one after the other, but rest assured, this guide will answer your questions and more regarding in-house data science platforms. 

What Is A Data Science Platform?

At its core, a data science platform is a digital workstation for data scientists. It’s where the majority of data science tasks are done. It’s where they find the necessary tools, too. 

Basically, it’s a platform that helps data science experts throughout a data science project’s life cycle, including:

• Data Collection
• Data Preparation
• Training
• Development
• Parameter Tuning
• Deployment

Data science platforms are popular for several reasons. Smoother communication, easier collaboration, and web accessibility are just a few examples. Eventually, this technology reached the commerce sector, which is probably where your company belongs to, and this then led to the term ‘in-house data science platforms.’

What Makes In-House Data Science Platforms Different?

When a company wants a dedicated data science platform, they usually hire a third-party agency to develop the platform for them. In other words, they outsource the data science platform.

Conversely, if your company wants to create a data science platform without any agency’s help, that’s what we call in-house data science platforms. Simply put, it’s when a company develops the platform independently by using their own employees and resources.

However, creating a data science platform can be challenging and requires a considerable investment. As such, a company must first consider a few things. Here’s an official source to help you in that aspect. 

Regardless, business owners often have second thoughts about developing an in-house data science platform due to its difficulty, so is it really worth it?

Should You Develop Data Science Platforms In-House? 

If your company doesn’t have as many data experts as other agencies, it would seem like developing a data science platform is a bad choice. While that’s partially true, there are cases where ‘insourcing’ data science tasks offers more benefits than when you outsource them. 

Here are some examples: 

• Developing a data science platform in-house provides greater control over your data. 
• It’s easier to add functions and tools into the platform than when you outsource the development to a third-party agency. 
• Outsourcing leads to the risk of exposing confidential information to outsiders.
• Misunderstanding is common when collaborating with a third-party agency.

Unfortunately, struggles are inevitable, even if you outsource the platform. You’ll have to organize a team of data science experts, purchase data science tools, and more. Naturally, you’d want to know if it’s worthwhile to develop a data science platform. 

Why Do You Need A Data Science Platform?

If your company has been around for a long time, there must already be a few teams within the organization. Sales, customer support, and human resources (HR) are some examples. While you may not be aware of it, each team uses different platforms. 

For example, the sales team uses Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. The customer support team uses a ticketing platform, and the HR team uses team management software. Either way, each team will often require a platform to aid with their operations; the data science team is no exception. And yes, what they need is a data science platform.

But you have to remember that not all in-house data science platforms are useful. Put simply, the concept of success and failure also applies to the development of data science platforms. So, how will you know if the platform is a success?

What Makes A Data Science Platform Effective?

Data science platforms are, without a doubt, powerful tools that aid in data science tasks. So, if you feel like there’s no change within your company’s data science operations, there must be something wrong with the platform, which begs the question, ‘what makes an in-house data science platform effective?’ 

Here are a few things a data science platform must do: 

• Allows collaboration between other teams within the company. 
• Makes complex data science tasks possible without the help of DevOps.
• Produces data science insights and conveys them to the company’s stakeholders. 
• Enables the use of open-source tools. 

Conclusion 

While in-house data science platforms certainly have tremendous benefits to a company, it’s not always a good idea to develop the platform right off the bat, especially if your company is currently busy with some other matters. Perhaps you’re busy with product development or maybe you’re currently working on cybersecurity. Regardless, it’s essential to know when’s the right time to develop an in-house data science platform.

Endpoint protection is something that many businesses and even government systems don’t think about, but it’s becoming more and more necessary as the internet of things continues to grow. Protecting businesses is one thing, but protecting municipal and government systems is critical to the integrity of government systems as a whole. 

Let’s look at what endpoint protection is, and why it’s so important to municipal/government systems. 

What is Endpoint Protection?

We can define endpoint security as:

“The practice of securing endpoints or entry points of end-user devices such as desktops, laptops, and mobile devices from being exploited by malicious actors and campaigns. Endpoint security systems protect these endpoints on a network or in the cloud from cybersecurity threats. Endpoint security has evolved from traditional antivirus software to providing comprehensive protection from sophisticated malware and evolving zero-day threats.”(Definition from Mcafee.com).

So, to put it plainly, endpoint protection helps armor all of your entry points against attack, including your IoT devices. This is crucial protection to have as more and more devices connect to networks in businesses and cities. 

IoT Devices

What is the internet of things, anyway?

The IoT devices we use on a daily basis include:

• Smart cars
• Smart TVs
• Smart homes/locks
• Home security systems
• Some appliances
• Sensors
• Analytics tools
• Alexa/Google home controllers
• Doorbell cameras
• Smart light switches
• Air quality monitors
• Smart smoke alarms

These are just a few examples of how the internet has infiltrated our everyday lives and networks. Each of these devices, even though they don’t seem like something a hacker would focus on, is a potential entry-point for hackers and viruses. That’s right—your refrigerator is a potential viral entry point.

City systems include many of these and more, making them potentially more vulnerable to an attack with so many entry-points to cover. That’s where an endpoint protection platform comes in. The system covers all entry points, provides threat detection, monitoring, and response, and more to ensure all the points are covered and the entire system is well-protected. 

Growing Threats

So, why is endpoint protection becoming such a necessity at the individual, business, and governmental levels? The answer is simple: cyber crime is on the rise, and viruses and attacks are more sophisticated than ever before. The more viruses and hackers advance, the more careful we have to be.

The scary part is that most breaches occur due to human error. The average employee at a business, including at the government level, has access to nearly 11 million files (on average), and security is, unfortunately, not the prime concern. The problem is that we can’t fix human error permanently. All we can do is design more sophisticated protection in order to meet the sophistication of hackers and viruses.

The average cost of a data breach today is around $3 million dollars, according to IBM. Most businesses don’t have the money to cover such an expense, and a city system can potentially be crippled by such a breach. 

Vulnerability of City Systems

Municipal systems can contain far more sensitive information than any one business. If a hacker breaches a municipal system, he can potentially gain access to tax records, addresses, birth certificates, criminal records, and more. This is a troubling thought, but it’s not far from reality.

The SolarWinds breach of last year showed us that even the top government systems aren’t safe from hacking. In what’s been dubbed as the largest single cyber attack in history, Russian hackers were able to breach the federal government’s internal systems, as well as high-level tech companies. 

The bottom line is that municipal and government systems aren’t automatically safe. Even they require endpoint security to ensure such a massive breach doesn’t occur again. 

The Risk

Leaving systems vulnerable could cause disastrous consequences. As we saw in the SolarWinds attack, targeted breaches can inflict massive damage without being noticed for several days, weeks, or even months. The scale of breaches is beginning to rise, as hackers look towards larger prizes than the average bank account. Ransomware has been shown to affect businesses more in the previous years, and we’ve seen some of the worst cybersecurity disasters in the last two decades. 

So, where do we go from here? How does a municipal system protect itself? First and foremost, endpoint security should be a standard platform for any high-level system. Closing the gaps prevents intruders from entering in the first place, either directly through the network or via IoT devices. Second, we need to respond to threats quicker, which an endpoint security system can also help with. 

Conclusion

It’s time to look closer at our municipal and government systems to ensure maximum security. In the growing internet of things, vulnerabilities can go unnoticed until it’s too late. We need to start protecting all of our devices with endpoint security software. 

Do you want to earn cryptocurrency but don’t know how to do it? Just register in the trusted bookmaker company. Here you will be able to make your BTC sports betting – 1xBet has created optimal conditions for this.

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If you want to make your BTC sports betting really profitable, 1xBet has created great conditions for this. The main thing is that you will not face any problems while playing. This will allow you to focus on bets and steadily increase your assets.

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Artificial intelligence has been playing a significant role in digital technologies recently, including website accessibility. A lot of modern start-ups are developing web accessibility solutions using AI. However, several business owners do not feel very confident to use these solutions because they cannot grasp the concept entirely. 

People often get confused or intimidated by the terminologies used in relation to AI. For example, people may wonder whether data visualization should be considered while discussing the best accessibility practices for AI-based solutions.

Some people also get confused between AI and machine learning. For example, if the software is advertised as an AI-powered solution but is technically a machine learning product, would it still be a part of the AI ethical framework? The answer to both these questions is yes. 

AI Key Terms and Explanations

Let us look at some of the key terms used in relation to AI and their brief explanation.

• Machine Learning (ML) is often confused with the same thing as AI. But the truth is that it is a subset of AI which tells the software what it needs to learn and how to learn it. Machine learning can take vital decisions and provide predictions with the help of neural networks.
• Neural Network is a combination of algorithms that imitate the working patterns of the human neural system.
• Deep Learning is a subset of machine learning where the neural networks communicate with huge amounts of data so that the software can perform tasks like image recognition or lip reading for automated closed captions.
• Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a part of AI which uses machine learning to understand the meanings and uses of human languages. It allows the software to handle tasks like speech recognition and auto-translation.
• Data Visualisation is used to present a visual representation of the results churned by machine learning. It is one of the quickest ways to summarise the information visually to analyze patterns and links.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the science of imitating human abilities. It is a collection of technologies that recognizes patterns and gathers insights from a huge amount of data.

How Accessibility Benefits From AI Technologies

Several digital inclusion solutions are running on AI-powered technologies these days. Even though most of them get developed keeping people with disabilities in mind, not all of them work the same way or achieve similar results. Some of the aspects of these technologies include but are not limited to:

• Using image recognition technology to add missing all text on pictures for screen reader support
• Reading the lip movements on videos to generate automatic closed captions, transcriptions, and translations for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
• Adjusting the web design elements for the benefit of people who suffer from epilepsy or ADHD
• Shortening or summarising web content for people with ADHD
• Optimizing or altering the visual elements on a website to become accessible to the visually impaired
• Assisting with reading or focusing for those suffering from cognitive disorders
• Using voice control for people with mobility issues
• Offering facial recognition to handle authentication challenges for people with visual or memory-related disorders

AI and machine learning can be used to automate accessibility audits and make the necessary changes to your website to make the content accessible. However, most of the software using AI to achieve accessibility are SaaS (Software as a Service). The software uses API to correspond with accessibility data stored on a server elsewhere to audit and rectify the accessibility issues present on a website.

As we mentioned before, all of the AI-powered accessibility solutions do not provide the same results. We have noticed that most of them primarily focus on visual disabilities and often ignore the other forms of impairments. A lot of these solutions correspond with incomplete data, which often results in inaccurate alternative tests or closed captions.

That is why businesses must choose robust and scalable accessibility solutions like accessiBe and LAcces. The use of reliable solutions will ensure that the website becomes accessible to people with all forms of disabilities. The software also works for websites created without using a CMS (Content Management System) platform.

The Future of AI in Website Accessibility

Other than the well-known positive results achieved with AI developments, we can expect boundless possibilities in the future. As more and more companies integrate AI technologies for their digital offerings, they are bound to encounter some debates regarding ethics and accessibility.

For example, a parent might wonder how educational institutes will ensure that students with disabilities will be able to use AI-powered learning tools or environments. However, it is evident that using an inclusive attitude is essential when using any form of technology.

As far as AI for web accessibility is concerned, the software should use the current Web Content Activity Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) for reference. WCAG 2.1 might not include every form of disability in the world, but it is the most comprehensive guidelines we have as of now. With WCAG 2.2 and 3.0 in the pipeline, we can expect additional instructions for AI-powered accessibility solutions.

We hope that we have clarified some of the doubts you had regarding the use of AI for web accessibility. We also hope that we have given you some food for thought for a better decision-making process to choose the right solution.

There are two kinds of people in this world. The first kind thinks of tablets as just an extension of smartphones and find these devices redundant. The second kind has realized the potential a tablet offers for brand building, marketing, and customer service. 

Here’s the thing – the use of a tablet isn’t just restricted to binge-watching Netflix and browsing the internet. When used correctly, it can be an excellent way to grow your business and deliver an outstanding customer experience. 

From digital signages to point of sale devices and self-service kiosks – there are various ways in which brick and mortar businesses are utilizing tablets. You can use tablets to display menus and product catalogs, as well as take orders from customers.

This, in turn, makes tablet stands a wise investment for every business that intends to utilize tablets. The good news is that you’ll find a wide array of tablet stands in different sizes and price ranges. Apart from enhancing the overall customer experience, tablet stands also go a long way to protect the device from theft and damage.

However, considering the different types of tablet stands available in the market, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by the options. Should you use a magnetic stand or a wall mount? What’s the right height for your tablet stand? What type of security enhancements should you look for in a tablet stand?

This is just a glimpse of the questions that’ll storm your mind when you start scouring for the tablet stands. In this blog, we’ve outlined a few tips to help you choose the right tablet stand for your business. We’ll also discuss the factors you should consider before making the final selection. Let’s get started.

1. List Your Requirements

First things first – you need to know why and how you’re going to use a tablet at your workplace/store. Are you going to solely use it for the purpose of displaying digital signage? Or do you want to create a more interactive shopping experience by letting customers browse your products and place orders?

Or do you intend to use a tablet to record employee attendance? Your answers to these questions will determine the type of tablet stand you should use. For instance, wall mounts are more suitable for branding and digital signage.

However, portable rolling stands are a great choice when you want your customers to be able to physically move around your showroom while placing their order. This is also a good time to consider whether the device is going to be freestanding or fixed. 

2. Set Your Budget

Here’s the thing – you’ll find a wide range of tablet stands to suit every budget. Make sure you carefully analyze your needs, survey a few online stores, and set a realistic budget for the type of tablet stand you need. Make sure you consider factors such as size, durability, and accessories before setting the budget.

3. Online vs. Offline: What’s the Right Choice?

This is also a good time to consider whether you’d like to purchase the stand from a brick and mortar store. While online stores offer great discounts, they strip you of the opportunity to physically check out a product before purchasing it.

You could get the best of both worlds by visiting an actual showroom to take the available options for a spin. Check out the prices they’re offering and ask for the possibility of a discount. Once you’ve zeroed in on the right tablet stand, compare the online and offline prices to make an informed decision.

4. Evaluate the Available Options

You need to assess, analyze, and compare different tablet stands to shortlist the top contenders and ultimately select a winner. Here are the parameters you should use for judicious evaluation:

Durability

As a ground-rule, you should choose a tablet stand that uses heavy-duty material for all its components. Check the base and find out whether it’s sturdy enough to support the weight of the tablet. Also, check whether there’s any provision to insert screws at the base. This is crucial if you want to mount the stand on a countertop.

Size

Choosing the right tablet stand size is the biggest dilemma you’re going to face. While you’ll find plenty of one-size-fits-all options, it’s a good idea to choose a stand that’s been designed for a specific tablet size and dimension. This is because the tailor-made ones are sturdier and have more secure enclosures.

Height

Consider whether your staff/customers are going to sit or stand while using the tablet. Also, decide whether you’re going to mount the base on a table/counter or keep it freestanding on the ground. Based on these factors, choose a tablet stand that has the optimal height to let users comfortably operate the device.

Security

Make sure you look for tablet stands with secure and lockable enclosures. Also, make sure the enclosure is tightly attached to the stand. This is also a good time to consider whether you want to use a single key or multiple keys to unlock different tablet stand enclosures.

5. Check Customer Reviews

Now that you’ve shortlisted your favorite tablet stands, it’s time to run a quick online search and find out what real-life users think. Check out popular e-commerce sites, as well as consumer review forums, to explore whether a particular stand lives up to its reputation.

How did you go about selecting the right tablet stand for your business? Share your experience in the comments section below.

Avid modern technology users are well aware of the acute issue of malicious programs and viruses that can cause serious harm not only to their equipment but also to their financial security. Unfortunately, today, there is a great multitude of threats that can penetrate your computer, laptop, and even mobile gadgets easily and imperceptibly. And some of them disguise themselves as popular search engines such as Bing and Yahoo. 

Hence, if you were unlucky to become a victim of the destructive actions of the Yahoo Search malware, you should first understand what this virus represents. After all, it is essential for the subsequent treatment of the system. In fact, this widely spread malicious software represents a particular “reconfigurer” that changes the browser’s start page to Yahoo Search. Besides that, after getting this harmful program into your computer, you will often see advertising banners when surfing the Internet.

It is worth noting that many users who did not consider this malicious program somewhat dangerous ended up in an unpleasant situation in which they lost crucial personal data. We are talking about saved usernames and passwords. After all, this nasty virus also serves as a browser invader that can steal your private information. As you can see, it is of paramount importance to have detailed instructions on how to get rid of Yahoo Search as soon as you can.

Operating Principles of the Yahoo Virus

All of us are probably familiar with Yahoo Search – a world-renowned search engine that plenty of people select as their home page or as the default query engine. Nonetheless, recently, there have been many malware and advertising viruses, redirecting users to the Yahoo search engine’s official website. What’s worse, they do this without their consent. 

Usually, such malware penetrates the computer along with a plethora of free programs. Meaning that the app that alters the browser settings is built in the installer of the program you plan to use. Thus, when you install the desired free program, the configuration of your preferred browser changes. This malicious software can affect almost all existing browsers.  

No matter which home page you select, “search.yahoo.com” will always open every time you launch the browser. When you try to fix the program shortcuts or restore the settings manually, you will realize that, after some time, the malicious web address will return to replace it once again. All because this harmful program can monitor the state of browser configuration in real-time and change them repeatedly when you try to restore them yourself (for instance, change the query engine or homepage to Google).

Although Yahoo is a great search engine that is in no way connected to the discussed virus, when some free applications automatically set it as the start page and searching system, it causes a fair dissatisfaction of the user. Unluckily, it replaces the home page, the page emerging when opening a new tab, and the default search engine.

How Can Your System Get the Yahoo Search Malware?

Let’s try to figure out how this destructive malware program can be brought into your PC system. After all, it is always easier to prevent infection than to treat it.

1. The first way you might stumble upon this virus is to follow any suspicious links and banner ads. Do not be surprised if your home page changes, and your browser becomes replete with annoying ads after that.
2. The second variant implies the use of the so-called download managers. While downloading or installing programs, you risk receiving a “gift” in the form of dangerous computer malware, as it is pretty well hidden inside of most downloaders.  
3. Another scenario involves the use of a realm of hacking programs. Moreover, reliable antivirus software usually considers such applications a potential threat to the entire system’s integrity. The “hackers” often contain Trojan horse viruses and computer worms. 

In short, it is highly advised not to resort to the abovementioned content.

Signs of System Infection with the Yahoo Search Malicious Program 

Before you clean the system from the Yahoo Search malware, it is vital to determine how this harmful program can manifest on your PC or laptop. Sometimes even when the first suspicious signs appear, you can find and neutralize the system infection before it causes negative consequences.

1. The first warning sign that indicates the Yahoo Search malware program’s presence is, of course, frequent “freezing” of your computer. If earlier processing took a few seconds, now it can take a couple of minutes. 
2. The second worrying sign consists of suspicious software showing up on your computer that you do not recall installing. For the most part, these programs are useless, as they only take up space on your hard disk. 
3. Another sign of infection is, of course, the abundance of ad banners and the change of your original homepage to Yahoo Search. At the same time, it is impossible to change the welcome page, and a whole host of ads appears repeatedly. 

Avid modern technology users are well aware of the acute issue of malicious programs and viruses that can cause serious harm not only to their equipment but also to their financial security. Unfortunately, today, there is a great multitude of threats that can penetrate your computer, laptop, and even mobile gadgets easily and imperceptibly. And some of them disguise themselves as popular search engines such as Bing and Yahoo. 

Hence, if you were unlucky to become a victim of the destructive actions of the Yahoo Search malware, you should first understand what this virus represents. After all, it is essential for the subsequent treatment of the system. In fact, this widely spread malicious software represents a particular “reconfigurer” that changes the browser’s start page to Yahoo Search. Besides that, after getting this harmful program into your computer, you will often see advertising banners when surfing the Internet.

It is worth noting that many users who did not consider this malicious program somewhat dangerous ended up in an unpleasant situation in which they lost crucial personal data. We are talking about saved usernames and passwords. After all, this nasty virus also serves as a browser invader that can steal your private information. As you can see, it is of paramount importance to have detailed instructions on how to get rid of Yahoo Search as soon as you can.

Operating Principles of the Yahoo Virus

All of us are probably familiar with Yahoo Search – a world-renowned search engine that plenty of people select as their home page or as the default query engine. Nonetheless, recently, there have been many malware and advertising viruses, redirecting users to the Yahoo search engine’s official website. What’s worse, they do this without their consent. 

Usually, such malware penetrates the computer along with a plethora of free programs. Meaning that the app that alters the browser settings is built in the installer of the program you plan to use. Thus, when you install the desired free program, the configuration of your preferred browser changes. This malicious software can affect almost all existing browsers.  

No matter which home page you select, “search.yahoo.com” will always open every time you launch the browser. When you try to fix the program shortcuts or restore the settings manually, you will realize that, after some time, the malicious web address will return to replace it once again. All because this harmful program can monitor the state of browser configuration in real-time and change them repeatedly when you try to restore them yourself (for instance, change the query engine or homepage to Google).

Although Yahoo is a great search engine that is in no way connected to the discussed virus, when some free applications automatically set it as the start page and searching system, it causes a fair dissatisfaction of the user. Unluckily, it replaces the home page, the page emerging when opening a new tab, and the default search engine.

How Can Your System Get the Yahoo Search Malware?

Let’s try to figure out how this destructive malware program can be brought into your PC system. After all, it is always easier to prevent infection than to treat it.

1. The first way you might stumble upon this virus is to follow any suspicious links and banner ads. Do not be surprised if your home page changes, and your browser becomes replete with annoying ads after that.
2. The second variant implies the use of the so-called download managers. While downloading or installing programs, you risk receiving a “gift” in the form of dangerous computer malware, as it is pretty well hidden inside of most downloaders.  
3. Another scenario involves the use of a realm of hacking programs. Moreover, reliable antivirus software usually considers such applications a potential threat to the entire system’s integrity. The “hackers” often contain Trojan horse viruses and computer worms. 

In short, it is highly advised not to resort to the abovementioned content.

Signs of System Infection with the Yahoo Search Malicious Program 

Before you clean the system from the Yahoo Search malware, it is vital to determine how this harmful program can manifest on your PC or laptop. Sometimes even when the first suspicious signs appear, you can find and neutralize the system infection before it causes negative consequences.

1. The first warning sign that indicates the Yahoo Search malware program’s presence is, of course, frequent “freezing” of your computer. If earlier processing took a few seconds, now it can take a couple of minutes. 
2. The second worrying sign consists of suspicious software showing up on your computer that you do not recall installing. For the most part, these programs are useless, as they only take up space on your hard disk. 
3. Another sign of infection is, of course, the abundance of ad banners and the change of your original homepage to Yahoo Search. At the same time, it is impossible to change the welcome page, and a whole host of ads appears repeatedly. 

Although this malicious software is not as harmful as other computer viruses, deleting it should become your priority. In case you are not entirely sure that you can handle this nasty virus on your own, MacPaw specialists will always come to your aid.

Many computer users store sensitive information on their PCs and laptops. Also, lots of companies have information on their computers that must not be lost or compromised. Having a virus attack your computer may leave you frustrated. 

While there is the option to save your data on the Cloud, you still want the information on your system protected. There are myriads of antiviruses in the market. However, many of them only offer basic protection.

You may find an antivirus that offers excellent protection from viruses. The same antivirus may offer inferior protection for security threats such as ransomware and phishing. Some internet users may only need basic security for their devices.

Features of a Good Antivirus

Your choice of antivirus will be dictated by what you use your laptop for. If all you do with it is to browse the net at home, then a basic antivirus is enough. However, if you use it for sensitive things such as online banking, you need a stronger antivirus. 

The best antiviruses for laptops come with features such as the following:

• Multiple internet security features
• Real-time malware scanning: protecting your system from being damaged by malware in real-time
• Network firewall: protects your laptop from unwanted internet traffic
• Anti-phishing protection: prevents bogus websites from accessing private data
• Wi-Fi network protection: makes sure that you are connected to safe public Wi-Fi networks
• Performance enhancement: cleans up junk files and caches, hence, optimizing performance
• Fast VPN: allows you to browse the internet anonymously
• Advanced scanning engine: searches for malware such as viruses, ransomware, and other security threats

Here are some of the best antiviruses for laptops that you will find on the market.

1.    Norton 360

Do you know everything about Norton antivirus? It is an excellent antivirus that provides real-time scanning, hence, offering a 100% protection against malware. It comes with features such as the following:

• A password manager
• Cloud backup
• Secure VPN
• Parental controls

It protects your laptop and communication devices from phishing threats, identity theft, and digital surveillance. Also, it helps to optimize your device’s performance. 

2.    McAfee Total Protection

This is a top-quality scanning engine that provides extensive web protections as well as identity theft protection. It comes loaded with multiple security features and other add-ons. It helps to prevent malware attacks and is created to protect multiple devices. 

The antivirus contains features such as:

• Real-time protection
• Performance optimizer
• Secure firewall
• Password manager
• Secure VPN

3.    BullGuard Premium Protection

If you have multiple devices to protect, the BullGuard Premium protection antivirus is an excellent option. Although it does not include a VPN, it contains exceptional parental control features. It is a great engine scanner that can protect up to 10 computers and mobile devices. 

This antivirus offers you the following additional features:

• A superb malware scanner
• A game booster for gamers
• Identity theft protection

4.    TotalAV Internet Security

This one is relatively new on the market but is already giving the big names a run for their money. The antivirus scanner is powered by Avira and comes with a VPN created by Windscribe, a top-rated VPN provider. TotalAV brings on board the following features:

• Cutting-edge malware detection
• A great VPN
• Excellent device optimization tools

5.    Avira Prime

Avira Prime is an effective scanning engine that provides an excellent VPN as well as privacy enhancement tools. It also comes with identity theft protections that help to keep your system safe. 

Are Free Antiviruses Suitable for a Laptop?

If all you need your laptop for is to browse on the net, read your mail and watch YouTube, a free antivirus is an excellent option. You only require basic protection. However, to protect more sensitive data such as credit card information and more, it is best to go premium. 

Some of the best free antiviruses offer a few privacy optimization tools and an excellent scanner. However, there are many security features that you may miss out on. These include features such as:

• Firewall
• Dark web monitoring
• Wi-Fi scanning
• Advanced malware protection

Free antivirus is great for basic protection. However, a premium package gives you the ultimate online protection. 

Conclusion

All laptops require at least some basic protection. It is especially important if your laptop runs on Windows. This is not to mean that MacBooks should run without an antivirus. Good antiviruses are packed with excellent malware scanners designed to keep your systems safe. 

Operating systems only offer basic antivirus protection. They do not offer advanced features such as real-time or ransomware protection, and more. A good antivirus keeps your systems protected from all types of malware, hence protecting your identity and keeping your data secure.

Simplifying the login process can add an extra layer of security to your business’s password infrastructure by reducing the likelihood of a serious error, as well as streamlining the entire process. Many businesses use SSO to great success, but if you’re not sure how it works, you’ve come to the right place. 

Here, we’ll cover what SSO is, how it works, and some of the benefits it can offer your business. Take control of your business’s passwords and your password practices by using SSO in combination with a password manager for teams.

What Is SSO, Anyway?

Single sign-on is a login method that allows a user to access several network destinations with only one set of login credentials. One username, one password. This allows businesses to streamline their login processes. For example, if your employees go through multiple login processes during the day to access company sites, servers, etc., you can use an SSO to allow for just one login, saving time. 

Why Businesses Are Using SSO

Businesses all over the country are benefitting from the incredible benefits of using SSO. Form streamlining their work productivity to reducing errors and more, let’s look closer at some of the reasons businesses are using this method.

Lower Chance of Error: Using just one login process can prevent grievous errors from occurring on the part of users trying to sign on. These errors can compromise passwords, productivity, and more.

Reduced Password Fatigue: It is very difficult to remember dozens of passwords or even just a handful of passwords. Using an SSO removes this password fatigue; you’ll only need to remember one set of login credentials.

Greater Security: It would seem like having only one username/password would be less secure, but on the contrary, SSO can increase security. You can secure your credentials with two-step authentication methods and MFA.

While SSO is secure, it still presents some challenges. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that an SSO solution can completely secure your passwords. Using a password manager and other tools to help boost security can prevent a disaster.

Reduced Need For Help Desk/Tech Support: One of the most common complaints to tech support/help desks is that a user has forgotten one or more passwords. By utilizing SSO, there’s only one set of credentials to remember, thus reducing the workload of your help desk and saving you money.

Speed: In some cases, a faster login process is a necessity. Hospitals and military installations may require an SSO to log in as quickly as possible in life or death situations or emergencies.

Monitoring Employees

Keeping an eye on what sites your employees are accessing, apps they’re using, or content they’re downloading at work can help you identify potential threats, slacking off, and unauthorized downloads. SSO can be easily traced within your company’s network, so you’ll always be able to see who’s accessing what and when.

Global and local compliance rules are what keep your employees productive and your network secure. Be sure to enforce the rules you’ve set; if you discover a breach or unauthorized access, letting it slide could mean compromising your entire network! 

Bad Password Habits

Once you’ve signed up for your 10th app or website, you’re exhausted. You don’t want to have to create any more unique passwords. This is where most users slack off, resorting to familiar numbers/letters/personal information in their passwords. Bad password habits don’t just affect one employee; they can jeopardize an entire organization.

In combination with your SSO services, it’s a good idea to begin teaching employees (and yourself) good password habits. A good password is complex, contains no familiar phrases or number combinations, and absolutely no personal or company information. Yes, that means birthdays. And anniversaries. And addresses. And the last four digits of your phone number. And your spouse’s birthday. 

You’d be amazed by how many people practice poor password habits, especially with password management. Creating a good password can mean the difference between a system-wide threat and a localized one.

Take careful measure of the passwords you’re currently using. If you’re switching to an SSO solution, you’ll need to come up with a master password. Follow these guidelines:

• At least 11-13 characters long
• Contain numbers, upper and lowercase letters, symbols
• No consecutive upper or lowercase letters
• No repeat characters
• No personal information of any kind
• No familiar phrases

Following these guidelines will help you create a strong password that isn’t easily hacked or phished.

The Bottom Line

Password security, especially in business, should absolutely be taken seriously. A compromised password can bring about financial ruin and woe, as well as jeopardize customer or employee/company information. Take careful steps to create better passwords, and use a password manager and SSO solution to provide extra security and management for your new passwords. Never use the same password twice!

A remote administration tool or RAT is software that gives somebody full control over tech devices from a remote location. Most often, this applies to desktop and laptop computers. However, there are also ways to do this from a mobile device. 

In themselves, RATs are neither good nor bad things. They are there to extend the device’s functionality and are meant to facilitate better access for you. For example, if you needed access to your work computer while you were at home, you could use a RAT. That’s why they are built-in to most operating systems.  You can look at buy essay online here.

Unfortunately, threat actors take this technology to access your files, turn on your webcam, and even make changes to your devices. 

Learn everything about RATs, including how to protect yourself against hackers who may try to use them against you below. 

Who Uses RATs? 

RATs have a large array of different legitimate uses. For example, a computer technician can use them to access your computer to remove something that may be causing problems on your device. 

This is just one of the many times a RAT can come in handy. Whether you want access to a key file, need to remote erase your computer if it’s been lost or stolen, or just want to watch a few of the movies saved on your hard drive, they can be extremely useful. 

Here are some of the other activities RATs can do: 

• Create, delete, modify any file 
• Execute commands including changing system settings
• Install software 
• Control hardware including webcams and keyboards 
• Harvest information including personal documents 
• Take screenshots 

Can I Use a RAT? 

Absolutely. There are many great apps that you can use to take advantage of the benefits of remote administration tools. 

Since Windows XP, every version of Windows has included a Remote Desktop Protocol to allow users to access their device remotely. Other notable software tools include: 

• Chrome Remote Desktop
• Apple Remote Desktop
• TigerVNC for Linux

When RATs Go Wrong

As you can see from above, RATs are pretty powerful. This, unfortunately, is a double-edged sword that can come back and haunt you. If one of these tools falls into the wrong hands, and a hacker leverages access to your device, it can put you in serious risk. 

Downloading one is easier than you realize. Hackers may disguise a RAT inside a legitimate-looking file. Once downloaded, it will act invisibly, and hackers can begin wreaking havoc to monitor your webcam, install malware, and steal your personal data. 

Some of the most dangerous types of RATs include DarkComet, BlackShades, and NJRAT. 

How to Avoid RATs

The best way to protect against a RAT is to prevent yourself from downloading one in the first place. These tips and tools will not only protect you against RATs but also other types of malware. 

1. Use a VPN 

A VPN or virtual private network encrypts your internet connection and masks your IP address. You’re likely thinking, “what is my IP address?” Your IP address is the unique identifier that can reveal your internet activity and your approximate location. 

With RATs, hackers will use your IP address to connect your device. If your true IP address is concealed, it is extremely difficult for hackers to deploy these tools against you. 

2. Watch what you click on and download 

Since RATs are so often packaged inside email attachments, links, and other files, it’s easy to install them yourself unknowingly. That’s why, no matter who sends you a file or link, be sure to scan it first to know that it is safe. 

3. Be Cautious Using P2P File-Sharing 

This is not a lecture on the rights and wrongs of torrenting—that’s your call. But you have to be careful because many of these may contain more than you bargained—like a RAT packaged inside. 

4. Use Comprehensive Security Software

Windows Defender is a great start. But you should also invest in some additional antimalware tools to further protect your data. The added benefit is that these will not just scan and remove malware but also flag any suspicious connections to your device. 

The Bottom Line: Remote Administration Tools

Like any other software, remote administration tools or RATs are all about the person behind. For the average user, a RAT can give you more access to your device, creating all kinds of conveniences. 

However, the same tools are incredibly dangerous if a hacker gets their hands on it. That’s why you must start integrating these security tools and strategies into your everyday device usage. Because just as much as you wouldn’t want a real-life rat running loose in your home, so too do you not want these RATs running unattended on your device.