If you’re going to outsource your IT services, here are all the reasons your outsourced services should also come with access to a live IT technician.

Hardware problems can’t be fixed remotely

No matter how much you love your outsourced IT services, a remote technician can’t replace a fried hard drive or swap out a broken networking switch. They might offer to walk you through replacing your own equipment, but if you’re not an IT specialist, that’s usually a bad idea.

Remote IT support is good for solving smaller, common problems like:

• Error messages
• Software launching improperly
• Resetting passwords
• Slow computer performance
• VPN connection issues
• Shared network drive issues
• Adding and removing user accounts

Remote IT support also manages the following tasks for you:

• Server setup
• Network monitoring
• Scaling resources on-demand
• Generating automatic backups 
• Deploying backups during a disaster
• Managing data security with anti-virus software and encryption tools

The following can only be done by a live technician:

• Fixing a failed motherboard
• Fixing a fried hard drive
• Fixing a faulty modem or router
• Fixing display problems
• Repairing digital signage
• Phone system troubleshooting
• Printer problems
• Hardware maintenance
• Hardware upgrades
• Equipment installation
• Emergency situations that you don’t have time to troubleshoot over the phone

You need both kinds of IT services – remote and on-site

Every company will experience a variety of problems; it’s the nature of technology. Some of those problems can be fixed by a remote support technician while others will require some elbow grease.

If you’re going to outsource your IT needs, search for a remote IT support company local to your area. A local company is more likely to provide on-site IT services in addition to remote support. Cover all your bases with one company. The first time you experience a physical problem your remote team can’t solve, you’ll end up frantically searching for a local IT tech on Craigslist. When you find someone local, they may not be immediately available and your company will have to suffer through some downtime.

On-site IT services help you maintain contact with the real world

Too many businesses get lost in the online world and fail to create and maintain real-world relationships with other businesses. For many, it’s just the nature of doing business in a digital world; everything is virtual, digital, and remote. However, not making personal contact with other businesses fails to strengthen business relationships the way in-person connections do.

Communication is easier in person

Remote work gets tasks completed faster, but outsourcing your entire business comes at a price. Internet-based communication is harder, although video chat puts remote communication somewhat on par with in-person communication. However, video chat doesn’t replace creating in-person connections that build strong rapport and trust. 

While video meetings can give glimpses of body language, it’s not complete. People tend to sit still at a desk when they’re on a video call, and that eliminates the natural movement that would occur during an in-person meeting. It’s also more difficult to sense changing emotions through video chat since even the best video technology creates delays and distorted audio.

Face-to-face interactions are preferred

The people you do business with remotely might enjoy working from home in their pajamas, but research has shown that people prefer face-to-face meetings. For instance, data from an Embassy Suites survey published by Business Wire revealed that 97% of business travelers said face-to-face interaction is “the most important part of developing and maintaining strong client relationships.” 

There’s nothing wrong with outsourcing your IT support needs. Outsourcing can be your greatest asset for saving time, money, and stress. However, when it comes to IT services, you need the best of both worlds; make sure your remote services also come with on-site support.

Automation is understandable in some industries, but not in others. The court system, for example, doesn’t seem to be a good fit for automation. At least not inside the courtroom. While there are programs that pay people to become online jurors in mock trials, it’s unlikely that we’ll see a real trial with a remote jury. 

The court system requires the physical presence of all players in order to function optimally. The human element is critical in the courtroom, especially when it comes to documenting court proceedings. However, some people are concerned that digital court reporting will replace traditional stenographers. From an inside perspective, that’s probably not going to happen.

Accurate court reporting is best done manually

Court reporters exist to provide accurate transcripts of what is said and done in the courtroom and other legal proceedings. Traditionally, court reporters have always used a stenograph machine to document proceedings manually. However, courts have recently been experimenting with digital stenography and it hasn’t been going well.

Courts that move to digital reporting learn the hard way, and many switch back to traditional stenography after experiencing devastating consequences with digital tools. For example, a Hawaii court lost nearly 100 grand jury indictments due to a tape recorder malfunction. Other common problems include inaudible sections, long gaps, and sometimes court personnel forget to turn on the digital recorder. There’s also a possibility someone might intentionally ‘forget’ to record court proceedings. When a digital tape is the only record, these mistakes can’t be fixed.

The potential for devastating errors when using digital tools makes manual court reporting indispensable.

When digital recordings fail, there’s no recovery

Using a digital recorder in a courtroom might save the courts money, but sometimes those recordings fail. When a digital recording fails, recovery isn’t possible. For instance, James Nichols – the brother of Oklahoma City bombing suspect Terry Nichols – had a private hearing that was tape recorded. In 1995, the Detroit Free Press won an order to unseal that record but the tape was blank. 

Manual stenography maintains flow in the courtroom

There’s one critical reason manual stenography won’t be entirely replaced by digital tools. During court proceedings, many judges have a tablet computer that streams the content recorded by the stenographer in real-time. Judges frequently reference this information to remind witnesses of previous statement and review comments being disputed. Without a stenographer, nobody can verify what was actually stated, which makes it harder to call out inconsistencies and outright lies.

The only way a digital recording can stream data in real-time is through speech-to-text conversion. Speech-to-text technology is far from accurate. Even if speech-to-text technology were perfect, its accuracy would depend on everyone in the courtroom speaking loud and clear and being fitted with a high-quality microphone.

Digital court reporting costs more to the public

Courts might save thousands of dollars by using digital recorders, but there’s one major flaw: it passes the cost onto the public. It doesn’t cost much to get a copy of a tape, but it will cost money to have that tape transcribed. The cost of transcription can be more expensive than getting a copy of a report from a court reporter. 

Court reporters are in high demand

People thought stenographers would be replaced by technology, so there haven’t been many new students entering the field over the last decade. Now there’s a shortage and it’s time for a change. 

Karen Santucci, Vice President of the New York State Court Reporters Association told The Chief, “we are working hard to get people to know this is a wonderful profession and we need people desperately. This is a career that just takes two years – you don’t need to go away to college for four years.”

Digital court reporting won’t put traditional stenographers out of business anytime soon. Even as more lower courts move to digital recording, there will always be a demand in the higher courts for professional stenographers. Courts hearing high profile cases can’t afford to risk blank or inaudible recordings.

In any case, outsourcing your website development would help you save lots of money. It’s also worth mentioning that outsourcing is way better than hiring freelancers because it’s, at least, safer. That’s why it has shown much better results than freelancing. In this article, you will learn what are the main benefits of outsourcing services and how to take advantage of them.

1. Professional Website Design and Development

The first thing visitors see is the design of your site. Web design is also the first step in the web development process. If you don’t put some time and resources into design, it might really harm you eventually. Aside from a simple and intuitive user interface that results in good user experience, a good web designer knows how to make everything work well. It starts with the right layout and colors and ends with proper looks of your push notifications or CTAs. Web design trends should also be taken into account. All these features make a huge impact on user experience which is critically important for a successful website. If you choose to outsource web design, you would get a highly skilled and experienced professional taking care of these things.

2. Reduce Development Costs

Building a team in your own office to create a website makes no sense. You would spend lots of money and time to find and onboard the right tech talent. The team would need office space, hardware, software and more and that’s not cheap. In case you choose to outsource web development instead, you would not only save your budget but get a team that is already set up and well-organized. This is the main reason why companies choose to outsource work. If you are to compare web developer salary or web designer salary in different countries, you would clearly see why it’s better to outsource web design and development to companies with let’s say Ukrainian developers.

3. Global Tech Talent

Sometimes it’s almost impossible to onboard highly skilled professionals for the right price. Meanwhile, there are countries with relatively low salary rates and lots of talented IT specialists. By choosing outsourcing services, you get access to the tech talent pipeline of your service provider. It means you can get professional web developers for a lower price. Even if you are looking for a rare specialist with a special set of skills, you would have better chances to find one with the help of an outsourcing company. They might have a whole team ready to work on your project but even if they don’t, their tech recruiters are ready to find them for you in short time frames.

The Popularity of Outsourcing

Even the most technologically advanced countries and biggest companies out there often use outsourcing services. It can become the best solution no matter if it’s a small company or a big enterprise. Taking into account the most successful outsourcing examples, this solution is totally worth your consideration. Especially if you don’t have your own tech recruiters and you don’t really know how to hire programmers. IT services are one of the main global outsourcing directions. This model is so efficient that businesses outsource accounting, human resources, customer support, and many other processes for decades now. Maybe, it’s the right time for you to consider this solution for your business?

Warranties Expire
Similar to the aforementioned, the auto manufacturers help new car owners protect themselves against unforeseen liabilities by offering various types of warranties. The most common one is the so-called bumper-to-bumper warranty that tends to last for 36,000 miles or three years, whichever comes first.

Well, given how most of us want to possess our new car for more than just three years, this protection option is only good for a small percentage of total time of ownership. Consequently, it will still not provide a permanent solution to the problem. So, is there anything that will be a permanent solution? Absolutely. Vehicle service contracts can easily be the answer that you are looking for to overcome your uncertainties and completely rational fears.

Vehicle Service Contract – Basics
A vehicle service contract is a solution that helps replace expired warranties by providing drivers with lower deductibles on repairs, access to dependable service centers, and peace of mind. These contracts are based on your needs and wants, which means that there is a high degree of customizability. Nonetheless, as explained by Vehicle Protection Specialist, a Vehicle Service Center in Irvine, the entire process is quite simple since it works very similarly to an insurance policy based on a few signatures and a couple of hours of research. 

Unparalleled Peace of Mind
The most obvious reason why car owners should consider service contracts is the fact that they provide peace of mind. By operating in the same way as more comprehensive warranties, they protect people from unexpected mechanical issues as well as repairs related to normal wear and tear. In translation, the aforementioned fear of breaking down on the side of the road will be undermined by your preparedness to face such situations through a reliable service contract. 

Numerous Coverage Options
As mentioned, all contracts can be altered based on your coverage needs. So, those who may be looking for a basic plan that will allow you to side-step costs related to major breakdowns can find simple, low-cost options. Individuals who want comprehensive coverage that includes everything from major repairs to frequent oil changes, however, can find proper solutions just as effortlessly. In fact, most companies that operate in this area place the decision-making process on the customer. That way, buyers have unlimited freedom to be as protected as they would like. 

Large Network of Repair Providers
Finally, as we saw with the example of the vehicle service center in Irvine, these forms of contracts can help drivers locate reputable service centers. This is because companies who offer them do hefty background checks on all auto repair shops that they partner with. So, someone who has to take their car to a local mechanic but lacks familiarity with the market will be able to find reliable shops by glancing through the service contract. Although this may seem like a minor benefit, it can save a ton of time that would otherwise be spent looking for the best rates and reviews from prior customers.

Based on the aforementioned list of advantages that come with service contracts, it seems imperative that all drivers at least look into this type of extended coverage. Additionally, all plans can be covered through long-term financing over one-time charges. That means that companies will seldom ask for the entire price of the agreement to be paid off immediately, which can help mitigate the financial impact of the transaction.

This is a question that is often asked in the context of enforcing international safety and security obligations as set forth in the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the ‘Chicago Convention’ of 1944). The Convention provides for the creation of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and sets forth in 19 Annexes more than 12,000 international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) to provide uniformity and harmonization in international air transport (see Catherine Zuzak, ICAO Journal, v 58, No7).

Under the International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Program, the Federal Aviation Administration determines whether another country’s oversight of its air carriers comply with ICAO SARPs, particularly with respect to Annex 1 (Personnel Licensing), Annex 6 (Operation of Aircraft) and Annex 8 (Airworthiness of Aircraft). Airlines assessed are those which have filed an application with the US Transportation Department for a foreign air carrier permit. If the Civil Aviation Authority meets ICAO Standards, the FAA grants that authority a Category 1 rating which means the carriers from the assessed State may initiate or continue service to the United States. (See Anthony Broderick and James Loos, Government Aviation Safety Oversight – Trust but Verify, 67 J. Air L. & Com).

A Category 2 IASA rating means the air carriers from the assessed State cannot initiate new service to the United States and are restricted to current levels of any existing service while corrective actions are underway (see FAA.gov/International Travel). The FAA also does not support reciprocal code-share arrangements between air carriers for the assessed State and US carriers when the CAA has been rated Category 2. During this time, the foreign air carrier serving the United States may be subject to additional inspections at US airports.

As the UN specialized agency responsible for ensuring safe and secure air transport, ICAO has audit programs that oversee State’s compliance with safety and security Standards and Recommended Practices: the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program and the Universal Security Audit Program (see Catherine Zuzak, ICAO Journal, v 58).  Unlike the FAA IASA program, the audit programs do not pass or fail States, but rather make recommendations designed to improve the oversight capabilities of the State. Depending upon the nature of the deficiencies identified in an audited State, the ICAO technical assistance and cooperation programs are also available to assist States to meet compliance with the international norms (see ICAO Assembly working paper A39-WP/28 Ex/16, Report on the ICAO Technical Assistance Programme).

If governments act in a manner inconsistent with the goals and aims of the Chicago Convention, the most extreme measure would be for ICAO to suspend or expel the country from membership. However, ICAO would more commonly try to use a positive compliance strategy by working closely with countries in a spirit of cooperation to resolve safety and security concerns (see George N. Tomkins, Enforcement of Aviation Safety Standards, 20 Annals of Air & Space Law 319; and Han Li, Perdue University Press).

Under Article 38 of the Chicago Convention, any State which finds it impracticable to comply in all respects with the international standards or which deems it necessary to adopt regulations or practices differing in any particular respect from the international standard is required to give immediate notification to ICAO of the difference (see Catherine Zuzak, ICAO Journal v 58, No 7). To this end, ICAO has developed compliance checklists to allow for the electronic filing of differences. States provide information through an online framework, showing the level of compliance with ICAO Standards including when the State requirement exceeds the ICAO Standard; is different in character or has other means of compliance; or is less protective, partially implemented or not implemented.  

Enforcement tools of international law are not perfect but reciprocity and collective action can represent effective ‘soft law’ alternatives to sanctions and enforcement action. Most countries dislike negative publicity and will endeavor in good will to comply with the norms of the international community. Often, the reason for a member State’s noncompliance is not a wilful breach, but rather a lack of technical capacity to comply. In such cases, the breach can be remedied through technical assistance and advice and the cooperation of States working together in the international community.

An estimated four out of 10 people in the UK have transitioned to using mobile banking apps to manage their finances, for example, whilst around 55.4 million Millennials in the States aged 23 to 38 are now using digital banking on a regular basis.

However, there’s more to these figures than initially meets the eye, and it would be wrong to assume that bricks-and-mortar banks are failing. But just how popular is digital-only banking, and will it ever supersede traditional channels?

Why is Digital Banking so Popular?

Given the rising popularity of digital and mobile banking, it’s little wonder that some customers have begun to eschew traditional consumer outlets and branch visits.

By being able to manage their finances through an accessible and real-time interface, customers retain far greater control of their finances on a daily basis.

Not only this, but digital channels provide live notifications and up-to-the-minute spending updates, whilst also offering features such as instant PIN changes, superior customer support and the ability to trade cryptocurrency.

With digital and mobile banking, it’s also far easier to manage multiple current and savings accounts from a single platform, which in turn lends itself to more efficient money managing techniques.

So, are Branch Visits Becoming a Thing of the Past?

Whilst it may be true that digital banking is becoming increasingly popular (especially amongst the influential and powerful Millennial demographic), this consumer group is not currently ready to eschew branch visits entirely.

In fact, it’s estimated that less than half of Millennial respondents aged between 18 and 34 would consider transitioning to a digital-only account, as they continue to enjoy the personalised service and support provided during branch visits.

This may have something to do with the fact that Millennials are known to prioritise experiences over material wealth and savings, and this has a clear influence on the type of customer journey that they want to pursue with banks.

So, although digital providers can offer everything from a basic bank account to more advanced options with a number of real-time features, today’s customers remain largely wedded to the idea of branch visits and corporeal outlets.

Will Digital-only Banks ever Grow to Dominate the Market?

Whilst traditional consumer banks remain relevant for now, it cannot be argued that digital and mobile banking technologies have gradually changed the way in which we accumulate, save and manage our finances.

This is likely to continue in the future, as those in the Millennial demographic mature and members of the iGen group also come of age.

This evolution will undoubtedly diminish the popularity of consumer banks and branch visits, to the point where this type of institution becomes largely moribund over time.

Heating Water Quickly

When it comes to heating water fast, a gas hot water system is the best option. They can be twice as fast as an electric model is. The reason for this is because gas water heaters have a higher recovery rate when compared to an electric water heater. If you are in a large family where everyone is rushing for showers at the same time of day, that might make a gas system the right option for you.

Easy to Use

If ease of use is important to you in a water heater, the best option is an electric hot water system. The entire heater and its equipment works only from electrical power, which means there’s no need to turn on gas or fiddle with controls to get the heating process started. It isn’t a huge difference in terms of ease of use, but it is still there.

Lower Cost to Operate

In many places, gas is cheaper to use for water heating than electricity is. That means that choosing a gas hot water system is often going to cost less to operate than a unit that requires electricity to get your water nice and warm. You still must realize that the initial cost of installing a gas water heater can be high. However, it will cost less to operate over the long run.

Costs Less to Install

While gas water heaters are cheaper to run over time, an electric hot water system is often cheaper to install in general. There is no venting required, so the installation is easier and more straightforward, which means savings are passed on to you. With a gas water heater, there may be a need to install a new ventilation system which ramps up the price.

Operates Even Without Power

Despite all the positives of an electric hot water system, one of the problems is that if your power goes out, you can’t get hot water. Only gas hot water systems are able to operate when there is no electricity. If this is something that concerns you, it’s definitely a point to the gas water heater rather than the alternative.

Power Source Availability

On the other hand, electric water heaters can be used at any home that is connected to the power grid since only electricity is required. However, gas-powered heaters require a connection to the local gas service.

There are pros and cons to either type of water heater and in the end, the decision to choose one over the other is your own. However, if you have questions and want insight into the best option, your local plumber can assist.

Be honest. You can admit it. Almost all of us have, at one point or another, received the bad news: our email, or bank account, or credit card, or personal website have been compromised, and there’s nothing we can do about it.

Not all hacks cause immediate, acute harm. Many have no apparent impact at all. Your payment card information has probably been compromised a half-dozen times or more, thanks to blockbuster hacks like the Target and Home Depot compromises earlier this decade, but that doesn’t mean you’ve lost money as a result — or even that someone downstream of the attackers tried to use your card number. For all we know, it’s sitting on a thumb drive somewhere, forgotten.

On the other hand, some hacks are downright devastating. Without first-rate data recovery software and a well-tuned bounceback plan in place, a serious hack could cripple your organization for days or weeks. Should such an attack result in the irreversible loss of mission-critical data, your organization might never fully recover — at the very least, not its reputation.

Not convinced? Then it’s time for a walk down memory lane.

These malware attacks were all absolutely devastating for their victims, many of whom lacked proper backup and recovery protocols. Here’s how they went down (and, in some cases, continue to go down) — and what you can do to avoid their victims’ fate.

1. WannaCry

The devastating WannaCry ransomware is fresh on the minds of many a digital security professional.

What made the 2017 attack so unusual at the time was its speed — to date, most ransomware attacks were measured by the standards of other forms of malware. WannaCry was not; it spread across the world, infecting such illustrious targets as Britain’s National Health Service.

Most infected machines ran Windows 7, one of Microsoft’s most popular operating systems at the time, and millions remained unpatched months after the initial spread. Attribution remains uncertain; some security researchers believe a nation-state actor was behind this devious malware.

2. SQL Slammer

This one’s an oldie but a goodie (or baddie, as the case may be). Worms rarely spread as rapidly as SQL Slammer; at its height, in early 2003, its infection footprint doubled every 8.5 seconds, per We Live Security. Collateral damage included some 13,000 Bank of America ATMs and South Korea’s entire phone and Internet network. Shockingly, SQL Slammer comprised just 376 bytes of code — barely a rounding error, even at the time.

3. CryptoLocker

First discovered in mid-2013, CryptoLocker was a pioneer of sorts — one of the first true file-encrypting ransomware programs. A trojan, it concealed itself inside apparently legitimate software downloaded or installed by unsuspecting victims. Those victims were made to pay $300 each or say goodbye to their encrypted files.

CryptoLocker took nearly a year, and painstaking cooperation among a multinational coalition of law enforcement agencies and private companies, to get under control. As we’ll see, it also spawned generations of imitators.

4. MyDoom

Known variously as MyDoom, Mydoom, My Doom, and Novarg (don’t ask), this was among the most successful computer viruses of the aughts. The virus’s apparent purpose was to launch Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks on victim systems; during a 12-day span, the virus commandeered many thousands of infected machines to do its dastardly bidding. Vulnerabilities remained even after the virus inexplicably stopped replicating, prompting U.S. lawmakers to propose the creation of a new national digital threat response center.

5. TeslaCrypt

TeslaCrypt is a (thankfully) defunct ransomware that, at its peak, targeted players of more than 40 popular computer games, including World of Warcraft, Minecraft, and Call of Duty. Later variants of TeslaCrypt targeted non-gamers. In all cases, victims were made to pay as much as $500 in cryptocurrency ransoms — an unusually high premium for broad-based ransomware attacks.

Unlike many malware developers, the parties responsible for TeslaCrypt eventually released its master code, providing digital security professionals valuable insight into its inner workings (and, perhaps more importantly, future derivatives).

6. SimpleLocker

SimpleLocker (or Simplelocker) was, well, simple. An Android trojan, it masquerades as a seemingly legitimate file, then locks users out of their mobile devices until a ransom is paid. Early versions featured a distinctive Cyrillic lockout screen; later versions cleverly commandeered victim devices’ cameras for added effect. Few experienced are creepier than learning your phone’s turned against you by way of an unauthorized candid photo.

7. Zeus

Zeus, or Zbot, is a still-active trojan that manifests in a variety of sometimes-threatening, sometimes-whimsical forms. Its two most common (and potentially devastating) functions are logging keystrokes (including sensitive personal data) and serving as a vector for CryptoLocker ransomware, providing originators with a crucial source of income to fund their activities.

Zeus has been operative for at least a decade and remains one of the most difficult-to-detect known malware threats. It’s a perennial reminder of the importance of digital security basis — that it’s not just the novel threats that deserve your attention.

8. NotPetya

NotPetya is immodestly — but accurately — described by WIRED Magazine as “the most devastating cyberattack in history.”

Before it metastasized and infected systems associated with some of the world’s largest and most logistically crucial organizations, notably the Moller-Maersk shipping conglomerate, NotPetya arose out of what WIRED calls Ukraine’s “grinding, undeclared war with Russia that has killed more than 10,000 Ukrainians and displaced millions more,” a war that has doubled as “a scorched-earth testing ground for Russian cyberwar tactics.”

More confusingly — and alarmingly — the spread of NotPetya would not have been possible without EternalBlue, a sophisticated software exploit developed by the U.S. National Security Agency, one of the world’s most advanced digital intelligence agencies. As-yet-unknown hackers compromised and released EternalBlue in the months leading up to the NotPetya attack — laying the groundwork, in retrospect, for a devastating cyberwar volley.

9. Mirai

Mirai is a clever little malware that co-opts Linux devices into vast botnets — zombie computer armies that do their operators’ bidding. Some of the world’s most disruptive DDoS attacks used Mirai malware as the vectors; others, such as the attack that brought journalist Brian Krebs’ website to its knees, were remarkably well-targeted.

Mirai, in short, is a prime example of the (potential) versatility of well-executed malware. If you have enemies — and what organization of any size doesn’t — then you’d do well to be on the lookout for such threats.

10. Guardians of Peace (2014 Sony Pictures Hack)

Like NotPetya, the infamous Guardians of Peace hack — better known as the Sony Pictures hack of 2014 — almost certainly originated with a nation-state actor. In this case, the culprit is widely thought to be the North Korean regime, though the specific individuals or entities behind the act remain mysterious (and will likely never see the inside of an American courtroom).

The conventional wisdom has it that the Guardians of Peace — whoever they are, and however closely directed by the North Korean regime — attacked Sony Pictures to prevent or disrupt the release of The Interview, a James Franco-Seth Rogen vehicle lampooning strongman Kim Jong-Un.

Although the gambit didn’t work, Sony Pictures was thoroughly embarrassed by the ordeal. The attack remains a cautionary tale for Western companies that, wittingly or not, find themselves on the wrong side of authoritarian regimes.

11. CryptoWall

CryptoWall is a ransomware trojan whose claim to fame is perhaps best described as “dependability.” It’s not the first ransomware trojan, nor is it particularly original (it’s basically a CryptoLocker clone), but it does what it’s written to do: infect and encrypt victims’ files, then demand a hefty ransom. Further proof that, in the wide world of malware, first mover status isn’t all it’s chalked up to be.

12. Locky

Locky earns precisely zero points for creativity. Unlike most ransomware trojans, its name dispenses with the prefix and cuts straight to the chase: “Yes, I’m here to lock you out of your system unless you cough up my ransom.”

That ransom is pricier than your run-of-the-mill malware’s: up to 1BTC, which at Bitcoin’s wildly variable exchange rates might mean anything from $3,000 to well north of $10,000. For that price, you might as well ditch your system and start from scratch — which, with a cost-effective data recovery system, isn’t all that hard to do.

13. KeRanger

Notable mainly because it affects Mac OS X variants — a relative rarity in the wide world of ransomware, and a source of wounded pride for Mac enthusiasts who see anti-malware as “something the PC crowd needs to worry about” — KeRanger emerged with a vengeance in 2016. Within 36 hours of first detection, it had infected more than 6,000 machines, many belonging to high-value targets (or targets within high-value organizations).

14. Stuxnet (2010 Iran Nuclear Centrifuge Hack)

This is another state or quasi-state actor hack — plausible deniability reigns, of course — that did just a little bit more than its originators perhaps intended.

Stuxnet was a malicious worm that operated in three stages, per Stanford University researcher Michael Holloway:

• Targeting and burrowing into Windows systems, then replicating itself within those systems
• Infiltrating Siemens Step7 software, a platform popular with industrial users
• Gaining access to key logic controllers within Step7, enabling the worm’s originators to take over systems and machinery operated by those controllers

Stuxnet’s effects were most acutely felt at nuclear enrichment facilities operated by the Iranian government. At the time of the attack, in 2010, Western intelligence agencies assessed that Iran’s nuclear program was just months from achieving “breakout” capability, at which point it would be all but impossible to prevent the regime from acquiring a nuclear weapon without military action. Stuxnet commandeered thousands of uranium-enriching centrifuge machines and ordered them to spin out of control until, essentially, they self-destructed.

Stuxnet apparently worked as intended; to date, Iran hasn’t produced a nuclear weapon, and its nuclear program appears to be on far weaker footing than at the beginning of the decade. But that’s not to minimize Stuxnet’s collateral damage: thousands of civilian systems running Siemens Step7 software were infected too, with firms in India and Ukraine particularly hard-hit. Although Stuxnet wasn’t particularly harmful for these civilian operators, the mere fact that the worm got into so many innocent systems should give us all pause.

Still, as malware goes, Stuxnet was pretty surgical. No one doubts that it achieved its primary objective: crippling the Iranian government’s uranium enrichment capabilities and choking off what Stuxnet’s originators perceived as a clear and present danger to world peace.

Don’t Be Like Those Guys

We’ll say it again: there’s absolutely no way to completely reduce your risk of being hacked, malware-attacked, or otherwise victimized in cyberspace. None. If some magic bullet existed, you can bet you’d know about it by now.

That’s not to say you’re completely powerless to mitigate digital threats and reinforce your security posture. Organizations large and small implement a host of best practices to protect themselves from an ever-amorphous, ever-expanding litany of cyber-risks. So can you.

Deploying a first-rate data recovery system, as we mentioned up top, is a good start. What else can you do? Well, for starters:

• Use a secure messaging app to manage sensitive intra-organizational communications (and implement strict non-retention policies and/or remote wiping capabilities)
• Practice strong password hygiene (and definitely don’t reuse passwords for different accounts)
• Use two-factor authentication for all organizational accounts
• Monitor all system and network usage, all the time — and watch the watchers, too
• Never open emails from unknown senders (and run all external emails through a filter)
• Use a virtual private network to encrypt device traffic and thwart hackers
• Train employees to spot common cyber-threats, such as spearphishing attempts

There’s much more you can do to reduce your risk of victimization online and recover quickly from whatever ills might befall your organization, but that’s beyond the scope of this article. For now, you know enough to count yourself among the well-prepared decision-makers who can anticipate and respond to digital threats.

In short, you’re well on your way to not being like the unfortunate souls caught up in these 15 massive hacks and attacks. Good for you.

Performance and speed are what automotive technology is all about. Starting on the assembly line, precision die and stamping provide the components that enable great cars to excel in both performance and speed.

Precision die and stamping have brought substantial progress in the automobile manufacturing sector. It is widely used in various verticals and most importantly, in the automotive industry, due to its manufacturing capabilities. The Automotive industry uses precision dies and stamping to manipulate metals used to construct vehicles to the exact desired specifications. Before stressing on the advantages of using precision stamping die, it is insightful to go over the various core materials used in automobiles.

For aesthetic and practical reasons, manufacturers use a wide variety of metals and other materials in building vehicles. Metals such as iron, steel, titanium, aluminum, and carbon fiber are primarily used in areas of the vehicle that needs stability, like the hood, roof, doors, chassis, and so on. These are also used in individual mechanical parts such as the axles, engine, suspension, brakes, and wheels.

Keeping up with the changes in the automobile industry

The increasing demand for automotive tooling has caused a shift in the precision die and stamping methods. A few years back, precision metal stamping companies could manufacture one tool that could run a few thousand parts for one model. Now, as technology began to advance, the automotive industry is manufacturing more customized models of cars. Therefore, manufacturing one tool was not enough to support market demands. at present, automobile manufacturers are building the same vehicle with many variations. Although it creates a great increase in revenue for car manufacturers, it also requires a change in the way precision metal stamping companies delivers the tools needed to create these various versions of the same part.

Process

Engineers assess different processes of creating the precision die and stamping tools needed to create automobile designs. Then they find a system that allows precision stamping manufacturers to flow through the entire tooling process quickly. This helps to cut production time in half and creates a cost-effective way to cater to the needs of the automotive industry without overlooking tool efficiency. With new advances in technology, they are able to deliver the best-optimized precision metal stamping tool designs for an efficient stamping process.

Advantages of using precision stamping die in automobile manufacturing

Durability – certain metals such as aluminum works well with precision die and stamping process because it can be made into detailed molds. When using precision metal stamping process it is very easy to work with these metals to obtain the desired outputs.

Cost of Manufacturing – The designing of a precision die and stamping itself is material efficient. In other words, less wastage means less cost of manufacturing.

Best out of scrap– Precision metal stamping can create the same level output with recyclable materials as with new raw material.

Speed-to-manufacturing – Precision metal stamping dies are built to work sequentially so as to have continuous production with minimum interruptions.

Accuracy – Precision metal Stamping dies and tools are designed with such sophistication that it allows the metals to be cut to the exact specifications of the customer. Therefore, Automobile manufacturers are able to integrate precision finished parts into their automobiles, both inside and outside.