How to Manage Your Business Cash Flow

Learning how to manage small business cash flow is one of the most important things you can do for your business. With proper management, your business will have the cash it needs to stay in operation and grow. Without management, you may find yourself running out of money and unable to keep your operations going.

Let’s take a closer look at what cash flow management is, why it’s important and how to do it.

What Is Cash Flow Management?

You know that cash flow management is important, but what exactly is it? Original keyword was “managing cash flow small business,” but I adjusted it to be grammatically correct  is both an art and a science. It’s the practice of:

  • Tracking the cash that’s coming into your business.
  • Tracking the cash that’s going out of your business.
  • Taking steps to ensure that more cash is coming in than going out.

When you know how much money your business is bringing in and how much it’s spending, you can determine whether you need to make changes to your operations or sales to avoid running out of money.

Why is Cash Flow Important to a Business?

Cash flow is vital to a business because it determines whether the company has enough cash to:

  • Pay their suppliers/vendors
  • Pay employees
  • Pay their utilities, debts and other bills
  • Continue operations

Let’s say that a business has more cash going out than coming in. This would be considered negative cash flow. Eventually, the business will run out of money and may struggle to continue operations if they hit a slow period. With cash flow management, you can make decisions to cut back on costs or change your pricing to help bring your cash flow back into the positive range.

Alternatively, if a business is generating more cash than it is spending, decisions can be made to help the company grow, such as hiring or expanding to new locations.

Whether positive or negative, businesses need to be tracking their cash flow. The financial health of their business depends on it.

How To Manage Your Cash Flow Effectively

So, how do you manage cash flow for business? Cash flow management doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some tips to help you effectively manage your cash flow.

Create Cash Flow Forecasts

One of the simplest and most effective ways to manage cash flow is to create cash flow forecasts. Forecasting helps you predict problems with your future cash flow and take steps now to prevent them.

Forecasting also helps you make smarter business decisions and plan for slow periods to prevent your business from running out of cash.

Identify Income and Expenses

To manage your cash flow, you need to know how much money is coming into your business and how much money is going out.

  • Identify all of your income sources, including sales, investments and loans.
  • Identify all of your expenses, including overhead and debts.

Make sure that you identify all sources for both your income and expenses. Then, go over your list carefully and review bank statements to ensure you’re not leaving anything out.

Reduce Expenses

Reducing your business’s expenses will have a positive effect on your cash flow. Review your expenses carefully and determine whether you can reduce or eliminate unnecessary spending.

Consider:

  • Negotiating with suppliers to see if they can offer a better price or better payment terms
  • Negotiating with your landlord (if renting your space) to lower the cost of rent

If you have expenses that are eating into your cash flow and don’t really have a positive impact on your operations, then see if you can eliminate them entirely.

Keep Up with Reporting

Financial reporting plays an important role in cash flow management. Make sure that your financial reports are up to date. Otherwise, it will be difficult to create accurate cash flow forecasts and statements.

Financial reports help you:

  • Create accurate and reliable cash flow forecasts, projections and statements
  • Make plans for the future
  • Gauge the financial health of your business
  • Apply for loans or financing strategically

Don’t let financial reporting fall to the backburner if you want to manage your cash flow properly.

Final Thoughts

Cash flow management is crucial for every business. If you’re not keeping track of how much money is going into and out of your business, you can easily find yourself struggling to make ends meet. Proper management will ensure that your business has the ability to grow and thrive.

 

 

What You Need to Know About Buying Furniture Online

Trying on a piece of furniture before making a purchase was standard practice in the past, but this is no longer the case. Because of the rise in the number of reliable online stores, it is now possible to shop online for home furniture and decorations. When you shop online, you should be sure that you are receiving the best deal possible for your money. The following are some helpful ideas to consider when shopping for furniture online:

Before you buy something, be sure you understand the store’s policy on returns.

Even though a product is exactly as it is portrayed in the advertisement, it could have defects such as damaged or missing parts. There are some instances in which the colour is not what it seems to be. Regarding issuing refunds, some businesses simplify the procedure while others don’t bother doing it.

What sort of action is taken with objects that have been damaged? Is there not a procedure for a certain component that needs to be completed? If you’ve made a purchase that you later come to regret, are there any options available to you to get your money back? Virtually every online business has a page dedicated to customer returns. Could you read them before you make your purchase?

Take into consideration a website that also has a physical presence.

When compared to shopping at a physical store, prices can frequently be discovered to be more favourable when done so online. Examine and test out a variety of various pieces of furniture in the store. If you first conduct some research to get the best prices, then you can find the best deals by shopping online using your computer or mobile device.

 Check reviews

 After choosing a piece of furniture that appeals to you, head online to research where it can be purchased and read reviews written by previous buyers. It is conceivable for a product to have positive reviews on one website while having poor reviews on a different website. You might be able to find deceptive or dishonest products by reading multiple reviews written by customers. Even if the reviews are all the same, the costs can be very different on different websites.

Inquire as much as you want to

 When you are making a buy online, make sure you ask for specifications so that you can confirm the product will satisfy your requirements. For example, buying homewares & furniture from Papaya will ensure that customer service representatives are available both over the phone and online to assist you with your needs and answer any questions you may have. Investigate everything that you can. Before selecting a piece of furniture with drawers, it is essential to understand how they function.

They can’t be opened that easily. Determine whether the drawers have a loud banging sound or if they may be closed quietly. Several seemingly insignificant details can have a significant impact on the allure of an item. Make sure you find out how firm the cushions on your sofa are. Request more photographs of the piece of furniture you’re interested in purchasing.

Out-of-State Pharmacies are Profiting from Federal Program Designed to Reduce Health Costs for Vulnerable Californians

When the COVID-19 pandemic again reinforced that California’s communities of color disproportionately bear the burden of public health threats, some California lawmakers made promises about closing gaps in health equity and access. More than two years later, however, many Californians inhabited by its most diverse populations are still struggling to access and afford their health care. One federal program – the 340B Drug Pricing Program – is a particularly troubling example of how empty promises leave vulnerable California communities in the lurch and how a lack of transparency in health care allows corporations to grow their bottom lines at the expense of patients.

In 1992, Congress created the 340B Drug Pricing Program to expand access to treatment and care for uninsured and low-income Americans. Through the 340B program, hospitals who served a disproportionate share of vulnerable patients could purchase medicine at heavily discounted prices, with the intention that those savings would be used to increase affordability for low-income patients.

Thirty years since its enactment, research suggests that some hospitals may be exploiting the 340B program to generate greater profits while not passing the savings on to patients. Discounted drug purchases made through the 340B program totaled at least $38 billion in 2020, which is a 27 percent increase since 2019. For example, in 2020, Memorial Health Services in Los Angeles admitted to overbilling Medicare for drugs through 340B and paid $31 million in damages to the federal government. Some hospitals have accepted 340B discounts on drugs and subsequently limited the number of uninsured patients who could use their services.

One of the ways that hospitals have exploited the 340B program is by contracting with more and more pharmacy chains so that they can dispense more medication and pocket more of the 340B discounts. In the past three years, the number of relationships that California 340B hospitals have with contract pharmacies has more than doubled. California 340B hospitals currently have contract pharmacy relationships with more than 3,200 pharmacies. Even more troubling is that more than 1,100 of those pharmacies are not even in California. Rather than using 340B discounts to defray costs for patients in local communities, California hospitals are shipping those savings to pharmacies in far-flung places like Maine, all while pocketing the profits.

State legislators have introduced Senate Bill 939 as a means to strengthen the 340B program, but I am concerned that, as currently written, SB 939 may do the opposite. The bill does not require enough transparency and accountability from California hospitals and pharmacies to ensure that California patients are actually seeing the benefits of the program. SB 939 enshrines in the law many of the opaque business practices that currently prevent us from knowing this information. In fact, we know that many vulnerable patients continue to pay full price for their medicines.

I urge California legislators to take action to ensure that the 340B program is functioning properly to increase access to care and treatments for vulnerable California communities. A good first step will be requiring additional transparency as part of SB 939.

Dr. Robert Bitonte is a Los Angeles physician and president-elect of the American College of Legal Medicine (ACLM).

Top 5 Video Editing Tools to Grow Your Business

In this digital era, business competition is getting tougher, encouraging businesses to always be creative in conveying their marketing messages. One of the best ways to promote your business is through video marketing.

Social media platforms are now leaning toward video content. YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, Facebook Live, TikTok, you name it. Marketing strategies through video content will not only provide an opportunity for businesses to expand their reach but also make it much easier for them to be able to display various essential features of their product engagingly.

But, just like any other marketing tools, videos need to be well-produced and well-edited to bring the result you want to you. When you create excellent quality videos,video helps you  convey a marketing message and give a more personal impression.

Therefore, it is essential to use the best video editing application to produce higher-quality content. With hundreds (if not thousands) video editing tools out there, we’ve narrowed them down into the top five:

1. Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is professional video editing, one of the best in its field. The selection of features is also diverse and greatly facilitates the work of video editors.

Moreover, It also offers a straightforward software interface to understand so that anyone can use it, from beginners to professionals.

The feature options are diverse and make the job of the video editors out there a lot easier. That way, you can create various kinds of quality videos such as cryptocurrency videos, product videos, How-to videos, etc.

Interestingly, the project file that you created can be imported into Adobe After Effects for adding visual effects to make it more stunning.

2. Lightworks

Lightworks is a video editing tool specifically for experienced videographers. Many award-winning telvision programs and films have used Lightworks.

This application includes a top-class video editing application capable of color correction, motion graphics, and composition capabilities. This application requires a high level of knowledge in its operation.

That’s why only professional videographers are suitable to operate it. You can use the free version first to try the basic functions and features. If you are satisfied, you can start subscribing to the paid version.

3. Animoto

This video editing tool is quite remarkable because Animoto is suitable for use by anyone. Starting from vloggers and photographers to marketers. With Animoto, you can create videos with the quality of professional videos.

There are various kinds of videos that you can make in this tool—starting from recipe videos to news videos. You can also create short videos with engaging visual animations, such as explainer videos that are currently popular among marketers.

4. FilmoraGo

FilmoraGo is one of the most popular video editing tools. Over 100 million users have downloaded this video editing tool on Android and iOS.

FilmoraGo is a fantastic video editing tool that offers a variety of features to make your videos the star of the show. Most features are free of charge, but there are also some premium extras you can purchase if you’re interested.

With a simple, user-friendly, and cost-effective tool system, filmoraGo is perfect for beginners and those of you small budget businesses who want to promote your products through high-quality product videos.

In addition, another advantage of using this video editing application is that the edited video does not have a watermark and a video duration limit.

5. Animaker

Animaker is an online video editing tool for creating animations and live-action videos in real-time, which may be suitable for beginners and professionals who want to save time and money. Interestingly, they offer more than 1000 templates to create videos using drag and drop editors.

The Animaker platform is an excellent solution for content marketers, storytellers, entrepreneurs, and maybe HR teams. You can quickly create various types of videos, such as training videos, animated videos, explainer videos, product videos, etc.

Takeaway

Nowadays, video content has become one of the most popular social media content. Many businesses are competing to make video marketing to attract customers’ attention. However, most of them struggle to produce attractive and high-quality videos.

With the five video editing tools above, you can help your business produce high-quality videos that can attract customers’ attention in seconds. A well-edited marketing video is key to a higher engagement– which then translates into business growth in the future.

Author Bio

Andre Oentoro is the founder of Breadnbeyond, an award winning explainer video company. He helps businesses increase conversion rates, close more sales, and get positive ROI from explainer videos (in that order).

Twitter: @breadnbeyond

Email: andre@breadnbeyond.com

LinkedIn: Andre Oentoro

 

How to Retain Your License After a DUI?

Driving Under the Influence is an infraction committed by people driving while they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs and have reached the limits set by law. Typically, the state you reside in has a set amount of alcohol in your bloodstream when driving and can still be considered legal. The same goes for different kinds of drugs.

The punishment for a first-offense DUI differs from state to state and depends on several factors. The most crucial factor is the blood alcohol level during the arrest. If you were caught driving under the influence of a blood alcohol level, the higher it is, the stricter your punishment is likely to be. If caught by a breathalyzer, you may be sentenced to jail. Your license can be revoked or suspended if you are sentenced to jail.

The punishment for second and third offense DUIs differ from state to state and depends on several factors, such as blood alcohol level at the time of arrest, which case the judge had heard before, or the type of conviction DUI is not considered a crime in some states when a first-time offender commits it.

The judge can revoke, suspend or cancel your license. If your license has been revoked, you cannot drive for a specific time. If it is suspended, you will be able to drive again after that time elapses, but you must have an interlock device installed to do so.

How to Retain Your License After a DUI?

Regardless of the consequences of a DUI, you still have the right to challenge the decision of a judge or any law enforcement official who issues or revokes the license. A DUI defense lawyer can challenge the decision of a prosecutor, an arresting police officer, or any other law enforcement official who might have issued a sentence or revoked your license. A DUI attorney can defend you in court and reduce your sentence if convicted. Suppose a DUI arrest occurs in front of a judge. In that case, the lawyer can represent you during the court trial and provide ways to help in compelling arguments that may reduce your sentence or eliminate it.

In most situations, you have the right to keep your license if you are willing to go for a DUI class and attend a mandatory alcohol education program. In some states, you must complete the program within a specific period. When it is all set and done, a certificate of completion will be issued by your instructor as proof that you attended classes. That certificate will be sent to your state agency and included in your file.

For some people, retaining a license can be difficult. Maintaining a license can be very difficult if it is not too far from your home or if you have dependents. That is why some states allow for endorsements of licenses when there are issues with the representation of a driver’s skill or ability to drive safely.

The Consequences of Not Retaining the License After a DUI

Even if you still possess a license, you may face several consequences. For example, while some cars are equipped with interlock devices that measure alcohol levels in the driver’s exhaled breath, other individuals may be forced to rely on public transportation to get where they need to go.

In some cases, drivers may increase their insurance rates due to a DUI conviction. Depending on your employer, your job description, and the nature of your business, DUI convictions can also impact your ability to remain employed.

Further, if you are caught driving with a revoked or suspended license, you may find yourself at the mercy of state officials again, and unfortunately, those punishments can be far more severe than if you were caught the first time. If that happens, your best course of action would be to retain legal representation immediately and have them advise you on your options.

The consequences of a DUI are not always easy to handle. You may find hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in fines and other costs. You may be faced with community service or even jail time as well. But, if you retain the services of a DUI attorney, you can increase your chances of keeping your license after a first-time DUI and avoid long-lasting consequences.

 

 

Why Are Online Casinos So Much Fun?

Sir Eric T. Schneiderman, a former Attorney General of New York, tells us about gambling in this line. Gambling is a type of entertainment and people need entertainment in their lives.

Gambling has a very rich history and background. It has been around for ages as an amazing source of entertainment. The popularity of gambling has soared with the advent of the digital era. The platforms of online casinos and gaming are easily accessible and have a large variety of games that can be explored. The pandemic has been a great reason for the soaring popularity of online casinos. The online gambling sector has seen exponential growth during the Covid period.

Why Are Online Casinos So Much Fun?

Here are some major reasons why online casinos are so much fun.

1.   The Adrenaline Rush

Many people involve themselves in online gambling just for the adrenaline rush. Adrenaline is a hormone that is released by our body when we are very excited or angry. The joy of winning some bets or the anger of losing some gives people a rush of excitement.

2.   A Social Activity

You can see gambling as a social activity, where different people come together and place their bets. It allows you to connect with different kinds of people, which can be a fun experience in itself. You can play different games on online casino platforms with your friends and family over a meal and have a good time.

3.   A Myriad Of Games

Online casino platforms provide a myriad of games like blackjack and kolikkopelit netissä, i.e. slots. These games are easy to play and come with an instruction video if you are new to the game. The best part about playing games on online casinos is that you can play any game of your choice without having to wait in long queues.

4.   Ease Of Accessibility

There is a good to fair possibility that you are reading this article on your smartphone within the comforts of your living area. Technology has given us easy access to many of our favorite things. You can check out any of your favorite platforms and choose any of your favorite games and place your bets, and all of this can be done from a small device in your hand.

5.   Tempting Offers

It is almost impossible to not fall for the amazing offers that these online casinos offer. The introductory bonuses and promotional offers are so enticing that you will not be able to resist them. These types of offers make a customer feel welcomed, happy and secure with their decision of choosing their platform.

Conclusion

Online casinos are very popular in countries like the USA, UK, Japan, and many more. There is no doubt that they are very fun and exciting. It is one of the best ways to earn some bucks while doing something you enjoy doing. But it is important to understand the repercussions of overly playing these online games as they can easily turn into an addiction. Have fun and play safe!

 

3 Things to Look for In a Good Electrician

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When you’re looking for an electrician, you want to make sure that you find someone who is good at their job. Here are three things to look for in a good electrician:

  1. Experience – A good electrician will have plenty of experience under their belt. This means that they’ll be able to handle any problem that you might have, no matter how big or small.
  2. Training – A good electrician will have gone through the proper training. This means that they’ll know how to safely work with electricity, and they’ll be up-to-date on the latest electrical codes.
  3. Reviews – Take a look at online reviews to get an idea of what other people have thought about an electrician’s work. If you see mostly positive reviews, then you can be confident that you’re hiring a good electrician.

If you keep these three things in mind, you should have no problem finding a good electrician to work with.

How to Prepare for The Electrician’s Arrival

Once you’ve found a good electrician, there are a few things that you need to do in order to prepare for their arrival.

  1. Make sure that the area where they’ll be working is clear. This means removing any furniture or other items that might get in their way.
  2. If you have any pets, make sure that they’re out of the way as well. The last thing you want is for your electrician to get distracted by a curious cat or dog.
  3. Gather up any paperwork that they might need. This includes things like your electrical plans and your permit (if you have one).

By taking care of these three things, you’ll make it easy for your electrician to do their job. And that means that the job will be done right, and you’ll be one step closer to having a safe and functional electrical system.

Elektriker’n Kjell Sæterøy

Elektriker’n Kjell Sæterøy in Norway is a certified electrician with more than 20 years of experience. The company has worked on everything from small residential projects to large-scale commercial ventures. They also boast certified instructors who offer training courses for those who want to learn more about electrical work. If you’re looking for an experienced and qualified electrician, Elektriker’n Kjell Sæterøy is a great option.

They work with everything from solar power to traditional electric grids. Their major market is located in the southern part of Romerike, but they also take work elsewhere in Oslo and Akershus.

Svenska Eljouren

If you are looking for an equivalent to Elektriker’n Kjell Sæterøy in Stockholm, Sweden, Svenska Eljouren is one of the country’s leading electrical contractors. The company has a team of experienced electricians who are qualified to work on both residential and commercial projects. Svenska Eljouren also offers courses for those who want to learn more about electrical work, so you can be confident that you’re hiring a qualified electrician.

Svenska Eljouren is located in the central part of Stockholm, but they also work in other parts of the city and in surrounding areas.

SAK-ELECTRIC in Denmark

SAK-ELECTRIC is a leading electrician in Denmark that offers a wide range of services, from small residential projects to large industrial ventures. They also offer courses for those who want to learn more about electrical work, so you can be confident that you’re hiring a qualified electrician.

SAK-ELECTRIC is located in the Copenhagen area, but they also work in other parts of Denmark.

Conclusion

If you’re planning on having any electrical work done, it’s important to hire a qualified electrician.

If you’re looking for an experienced and qualified electrician, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, check to see how long the electrician has been in business. Second, make sure that the electrician has gone through the proper training. And third, take a look at online reviews to get an idea of what other people have thought about the electrician’s work. By following these tips, you should have no problem finding a qualified electrician to work on your project.

Be sure to look for an electrician with plenty of experience, who has gone through the proper training, and who has positive reviews. And, once you’ve found a good electrician, be sure to prepare for their arrival so that the job can go smoothly.

 

Ways to Find Legit ED Pills Online

If you’re like most men, you may feel uncomfortable discussing your ED problems with anyone. You also may not want to go through the hassle of making a doctor appointment for an ED prescription. Plus, there’s always the possibility that your insurance won’t cover the cost of ED medication.

Thankfully, there is a way to get prescription-strength ED medication without having to see a doctor face-to-face. In this blog post, join us as we review the best ways to explore personal wellness and living life to its fullest.

What Is ED and Why Is It Difficult for Men To Talk About?

ED, or erectile dysfunction, is a common condition that affects men of all ages. According to the Mayo Clinic, ED is defined as “the inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.” There are many potential causes of ED, some include:

  • Stress: In today’s fast-paced world, it’s not surprising that many men suffer from ED due to stress.
  • Anxiety: Anxiety can also be a major cause of ED.
  • Relationship problems: ED can be a sign of underlying relationship issues.
  • Depression: Depression is a common mental health condition that can also lead to ED.
  • Age: As men age, they may experience ED due to changes in hormones, blood flow, or nerve function.
  • Injuries: An injury to the penis, prostate, bladder or pelvic area can cause ED.
  • Low testosterone levels: Testosterone is the hormone that helps maintain muscle mass, bone density, and sex drive. As men age, their testosterone levels naturally decline. This can lead to ED.

What To Do if You’re Struggling With ED.

For many men, the thought of talking about ED with a doctor is daunting. They may feel embarrassed or ashamed. They may also worry that their doctor will think less of them. However, it’s important to remember that ED is a common condition that affects millions of men. There’s no need to be ashamed or embarrassed.

If you’re struggling with ED, there are a few things you can do:

  • Talk to your doctor: As we mentioned, ED is a common condition that many doctors are familiar with. They can help you explore the potential causes of ED and find the best treatment option for you.
  • Try an online consultation: Many online pharmacies offer consultations with licensed doctors. This can be a great option if you’re uncomfortable talking to your doctor about ED.
  • Get a prescription online: Many legitimate online pharmacies will allow you to get a prescription for ED medication without seeing a doctor in person.
  • Try over-the-counter medication: If you’re not interested in taking prescription medication, some over-the-counter options may help. However, it’s important to speak with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications too.

Do You Need a Prescription for ED Medication?

In most cases, you will need a prescription to get ED medication. However, there are a few over-the-counter options that may help. And some online pharmacies do not require a prescription.

Are There Any Risks Associated With Taking ED Medication?

There are a few potential risks associated with taking ED medication, such as:

Allergic reactions.

Some men may be allergic to the active ingredients in ED medication. If you experience any allergic reactions, stop taking the medication and speak with your doctor.

Side effects.

Side effects are also possible when taking ED medication. Common side effects include headache, flushing, and upset stomach. If you experience any severe side effects, stop taking the medication and speak with your doctor.

Drug interactions.

ED medication can interact with other medications you’re taking. Be sure to speak with your doctor about all the medications you’re taking before starting ED medication.

How Can You Get ED Medication Online Safely?

Now that we’ve reviewed some of the basics of ED and ED medication, let’s talk about how to get ED medication online safely. Here are a few tips:

  1. Do your research: Not all online pharmacies are legitimate. Some may sell counterfeit or dangerous products. Others may sell prescription medication without a valid prescription. Before you buy anything online, be sure to do your research to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable company.
  2. Check for a license: Any legitimate online pharmacy will be licensed by the state in which it operates. Be sure to check for this license before you buy anything.
  3. Look for customer reviews: Customer reviews can be a great way to gauge the quality of an online pharmacy. Look for reviews from trusted sources, such as the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Reports.
  4. Get a prescription: If you plan on buying ED medication online, be sure to get a valid prescription from your doctor first. Never buy ED medication without a prescription or a personalized consultation.

Wrapping Up.

With these tips in mind, you can safely and legally get ED medication online. Remember, ED is a common condition that affects millions of men. There’s no need to be ashamed or embarrassed. So if you’re struggling with ED, talk to your doctor.

You may also be able to get a prescription for ED medication online. For example, Rex MD is an online pharmacy that offers a free online consultation and discreet shipping options. Just be sure to do your research and only buy from reputable sources.

Have any other questions about ED medication? Feel free to leave them in the comments below. And if you found this article helpful, be sure to share it with your friends! Thanks for reading.

 

 

What is Online Identity Theft?

Identity theft may occur both in the real world and the virtual world. In both of these cases, it is a fact that identity theft can ruin lives by having a domino effect in many ways. In the case of the digital world, there is perhaps even more opportunity for cybercriminals and the online crook milieu in the form of quick profits to be had. These types of crimes can come in various forms and can spread onto multiple platforms, known as attack vectors and attack surfaces in IT lingo, respectively. What is important is that you know how online identity theft operates, and what you can do to effectively defend against it as much as possible.

As far as the statistics go, the year 2022 has been staggering in online identity theft cases. As the internet’s user base grows, naturally there is more opportunity for crooks to harvest information about us and then use that to their benefit. The online realm is especially favorable to thieves and scammers because they can hide and cover their tracks much more successfully than they would be able to in real life.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the most common complaints in 2021 were identity theft, the most prevalent in this niche being government documents or/and benefits fraud. About 400,000 people reported a case of identity theft like this in the USA alone. On a global scale, this figure is in the hundreds of millions. Particularly as we haven’t gotten out of the pandemic yet, and millions continue to work or study from home, online identity theft becomes easier and more favorable for cybercrooks. New forms of online identity theft are constantly being crafted by clever cybercriminals to evade the latest detection techniques as well as keep victims oblivious to the matter.

Meanwhile, in 2022, large corporations and high-value targets continue to have their documents and data stolen and forged either for sale or impersonation of some sort. Moreover, stealing people’s medical or financial information is a goldmine for crooks. For instance, Medicare and Medicaid identity scams are on the rise. With that, so are scams and fraudulent schemes involving stolen driver’s licenses and insurance data.

Continuing, with the current extreme popularity of social media, identity theft has spilled over into the social media realm and is also causing havoc there resulting in account takeovers (ATOs) and consequent scams. Instagram scams this year have resulted in people’s accounts being taken over and their followers being tricked, for example. With around 15 million victims each year in the USA alone, and resulting losses of billions of dollars, online identity theft continues to be a colossal problem everywhere. Children, heavy social media users, wealthy people, and the oblivious elderly are the most common targets of online identity theft.

On another note, sometimes identity theft can be thrust upon you not just by external actors like cyber crooks and hackers, but by your friends and even family, according to some studies.

What is Online Identity Theft?

There are several forms of online identity theft, such as;

  • Financial
  • Medical
  • Personal information (PII) related
  • Inheritance or estate
  • Insurance
  • Employment
  • Tax
  • Child identity
  • Social media

The more information there is about an individual online, the more ways there are to get access to an account or simply harvest account information and sell it on cybercriminal dark web forums, which the blackhat hacker community tends to prefer. Crooks even find ways to conduct synthetic identity theft which means combining real information about a user with made-up information to create an account or impersonate someone.

How to Prevent Online Identity Theft

Preventing online identity theft requires a bit of care and attention from everyone. This means being as pedantic as possible about things like bank statements and other transactions. First and foremost, remember that over 90% of identity theft cases occur due to human error where a user’s account was hacked due to a simple password or due to a phishing email that tricked the user into entering their credentials into a fraudulent form on a malicious website. In other cases, criminals can physically rummage through someone’s garbage to try and piece together information, spy on people’s devices over their shoulder in public, or even physically steal mail envelopes belonging to someone.

In other more likely cases of successful online identity crime, your internet traffic could be intercepted in Man in the Middle (MiTM) intercept attacks that compromise your router and home network. Furthermore, the use of public WiFi to conduct sensitive transfers and logins may result in you being monitored and exploited by cyber crooks.

To conclude, to avoid a large portion of these issues it is key to keep the following in mind;

  • Secure all online accounts with very long, randomized passwords. Do not repeat these passwords across multiple accounts. Store these passwords only on paper and do not forget them
  • Never share personal information or credentials with anyone, especially over social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram
  • Always check the sender address of an email, you may find a type or suspicious domain that indicates it is a well-crafted scam email trying to scam you
  • Protect yourself from network interception by; using a premium VPN (Virtual Private Network) 24/7 and employ a very powerful password on your home WiFi router as well

If you notice strange purchases on your bank statement, receive suspicious emails, receive suspicious notifications, or find that your online services are disrupted somehow, you should immediately check when you were last logged into your accounts and then switch up your passwords. Furthermore, if you are certain there was theft involved, you should report the theft to the FTC’s identity theft website or your local identity theft service. If you have been a victim of theft involving your bank account, medical service, or insurance you should immediately reach out to your relative institution. You could also think about signing up for an identity theft prevention program.

LED display: how is it work

This article is about displays composed of a matrix of LED devices that constitute the pixels of the image. For displays that use LEDs for backlighting, e.g. so-called LED TVs, see led backlighting.

An LED display is an electronic device made up of LEDs, which can display data, information, images, videos, etc. to viewers near it. It is characterized by being composed of light-emitting diodes or LEDs, derived from the acronym LED. This type of screens should not be confused with LCD or Plasma screens with LED backlighting, currently used in laptops, monitors and televisions. Where the latter mentioned, if they contain LEDs, only as backlight, to increase the brightness, sharpness, contrast, etc., of this equipment with this excellent technology.

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The electronic LED display is composed of pixels by means of modules or panels of LEDs (light-emitting diodes), either monochromatic (a single color of LED), Bicolor (two types of LED colors) or polychromatic: the latter are made up of RGB LEDs (red, green and blue, the primary colors of the additive color spectrum). These LEDs form pixels, making it possible to form characters, text, images and even video, depending on the complexity of the display and the control device. The most frequent adaptations for LED screens are: indicator, informative, advertising and high resolution full color video screens (displays) for concerts, advertising purposes, architectural projects, theaters, public events, etc. Due to its great resistance, maneuverability, simplicity to achieve the desired screen dimension, omission of separations between joints between modules or panels, very superior useful life, ease of maintenance, etc., it is easily adaptable to outdoor spaces or for indoor use.

In LED screens with RGB pixels, a palette of colors is obtained through the additive mixing of light, thus obtaining a display of several million colors that can reach any projector, TV or conventional monitor.

 

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