Author: Henry R. Lares

Henry Lares is still early into his career as tech reporter but has already had his work published in many major publications including Tech Crunch and the Huffington Post.  In regards to academics, Henry earned an engineering degree from Apex Technical School. Henry has a passion for emerging technology and covers upcoming products and breakthroughs in science and tech.

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Crypto News

Reaping The Rewards: Best Crypto-Friendly Bank Cards

Source: Unsplash
Source: Unsplash

Once perceived as a passing trend, cryptocurrency is now going mainstream, with hundreds of recognised brands such as Tesla, Microsoft, and Paypal adapting to these alternative payment methods. While buying and selling cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly mainstream, the opportunities to spend this digital currency are somewhat limited in comparison.

However, recently emerging crypto-friendly credit/debit cards make spending cryptocurrency easier and introduce the ability to earn spending rewards. Cryptocurrency bank cards let individuals make online or in-person purchases or withdraw cash from ATMs using crypto, even if the vendors and ATMs don’t accept it. Keep reading on to discover our top recommendations for the best crypto-friendly bank cards.

Nexo Card

Launched in 2017, Nexo provides a crypto-powered debit card in partnership with Mastercard and is the only card that allows you to spend without selling your cryptocurrency holdings. It eliminates most of your standard credit card fees — no monthly payments, no annual fees, and no FX fees – also recognised by over 40 million merchants globally. Nexo boasts 2% cashback each time you use your card to make a purchase. You can choose whether to receive the rewards in NEXO tokens or Bitcoin currency, and you can also switch between options before making a transaction. Their platform provides ‘High-yield’ interest rates that range from 6% to 12%, interest is calculated daily in your Nexo account.

Revolut

Revolut is a crypto credit card service but offers much more in the way of money management. While using Revolut, the app uses spending analytics to help you track and manage your money better. With no minimum amount requirements, you can set budgets, receive instant spending alerts and see weekly insights to help track you’re spending. You can also exchange money without any hidden fees and get daily discounts and rewards to redeem on retail, travel, restaurants, and more. You can also use your crypto-friendly bank card alongside a reliable crypto price predictions tool. This will further help you manage your cryptocurrency affairs and keep an eye on the ever-changing market.

Swipe Visa Card

The Swipe Visa card allows you to access your wallet balance at millions of worldwide locations without worrying about foreign transaction fees. Card perks are also in plenty, including 8% cashback and top-brand rebates. You have the feature to link Swipe with other applications such as Google, Apple, or Samsung Pay, and there is access to more than fifty cryptocurrencies, stable coins, and fiat currencies.

Cryptopay

If you’re planning to use your crypto-friendly bank card daily, a provider such as Cryptopay might be the best solution for you. Cryptopay has both virtual and plastic card options for those looking to maximize daily usage as you can spend up to ₤30,000 in a single online transaction. Cryptopay supplies you with a plastic card for use at Visa-accepted locations for ATM withdrawals and to spend your cryptocurrency, and the virtual card is meant for online use and big purchases. Overdraft protection also comes included with the Cryptopay card, so you don’t have to worry about any unseen fees.

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News Tech

The Complete Guide to Application Security

When it comes to developing software applications, many people assume that it’s as simple as plug-in and go, but as developers know, there is more to applications than that. The security of your applications is vital in order to provide a safe and user-friendly experience, and this complete guide will cover some of the best practices for how you can achieve this for your application.

Software Patches And Updates

The first step to ensuring your application is secure is by providing regular software patches and updates. As technology grows and changes each year, it is imperative that you are using the latest tools and code, which will make sure you don’t have any gaps that can be exploited by malicious users or hackers looking to steal the data from your application. Many of the components in your application may be subject to licensing agreements, and it is essential that you keep on top of any updates those companies have for the aspects you are using, which will not only increase your application’s security but enhance the user experience.

Train End-Users And Developers

Security should be part of the company culture, and to produce this, you will need to provide thorough training to both the end-users of an application and the developers creating it. Awareness of security will help end-users spot problems with their processes which could lead to data breaches even with a well-maintained application. Furthermore, security training benefits developers as they will be able to establish secure coding practices and implement them into their work; this will create fewer errors in the code and reduce the number of vulnerabilities that need to be fixed at a later date.

Utilize Automation

Automation is the ideal solution for a developer as it helps to reduce the risk of human error in performing long, manual tasks. Daily security checks are among the functions that can be automated, such as configurations or firewall analytics, to provide more coverage than can be achieved when done manually, which also frees up your team so they can focus on other areas of their work. Furthermore, you could also benefit from implementing application security testing to periodically check for vulnerabilities that may have occurred due to updates or any gaps in the code that could lead to data breaches; if you’re interested in which tests you need in order to improve application security, head over to ForAllSecure for more information on application security testing.

Reduce User Permissions

A common problem in many organizations is end-users having too many permissions and access to data not relevant for their job roles. In order to remove the risk of too many people with access to aspects of the business they shouldn’t have, which could lead to accidental data leaks or leave the company open to cyber-attacks, it is imperative that you reduce the user permission. Provide end-users with only the permissions they need to perform their roles, and in the event they need access to more, it can be altered for that specific user even on a temporary basis when they are working on a unique project. This will reduce the gaps and vulnerability in your application and ensure that there are no breaches further down the line.

Create An Incident Response Plan

No matter how perfect your code or security practices are, there is always a risk of a cyber-attack or data breach, which means you need to ensure an incident response plan has been created to assist you in the event something goes wrong. An incident response plan will provide you with the perfect way to respond to any issues that occur and how to limit the damage to not only your application but the business as a whole.

Develop Detailed Security Policies

As well as having an incident response plan, you should also develop detailed security policies. Additionally, once these policies have been developed, it is good practice to create a knowledge base when they can be used by your team whenever they need to refresh their memories on specific policies or train new staff. These policies will provide the foundation for your security strategies that will allow you to create more secure applications as well as maintain security following the release to end-users.

Limit Movement With Segmentation

Creating segmentation and using it to limit movement within the network is the ideal way to reduce the damage that can be done in the event of a cyber attack. In order to do this, you will need to identify where the data is stored and create segments with limited traffic that only specific users can access, which will reduce how the likelihood of a cyber-attack being successful. End-users won’t need access to these areas of the network, which means if a weak password allows an attacker in, your application’s network is protected as the hacker’s movements will be restricted to what that user can access.

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News Personal Finance

Thinking Of Investing? A Guide To Stocks, Dividends, And Mutual Funds

Getting started with investing in stocks, dividends, and mutual funds can be daunting and you may not be sure how to begin. We have put together the following guide to share with you some information on these various forms of investment and the benefits that they can bring. We’ll also cover why investing in stocks may work better for you than other forms of investment. If you want to learn more about how you can get into stock investment, then keep reading.

Why Is Stock Investment So Popular?

Stock investment has increased in popularity hugely over the last 10 years as more people realize the potential for future benefits it can bring. One of the reasons for this could be due to the ability to now invest online, and keep track of your investments on the go. Many people are seeking to earn an extra income on top of their day jobs, but don’t always have the time or energy for another time-consuming form of work. Investing is a fantastic way to grow some of the money you have sitting around in a savings account, and can earn you a passive income that requires very little work on your behalf. There is also increasingly more education around stock investment available to a wider audience with the access to online resources. So more people can teach themselves how to invest than ever before.

What Are The Benefits Of Investing In Dividends?

Investing in dividends is a great way to invest your money in order for it to grow over time. When a company makes an excess profit, they can either choose to invest it back into the company or payout to you as a shareholder in the form of dividends. Dividends are not taxed as heavily as other forms of investment income, so it’s a great option for being tax efficient. There is less volatility involved in dividends than compared to other stocks, so it’s potentially a more secure option for placing your hard-earned money into. You can either invest monthly or quarterly. However, it’s important to note that investing quarterly can have a higher level of risk as it requires higher investments. Investing in dividends requires patience and the willingness to see through long-term investment, but it can be a great way to earn money in the background alongside your career. Before investing in dividends you should take time to do your research about the best dividends stocks in Canada and learn more about the economy, and why they might fluctuate.

Different Types Of Dividends

There are a range of different types of dividends you can choose from when investing. So it’s worth taking time to consider which one would work best for you.

Cash Dividends

Cash dividends are given out to shareholders upon a company making an excess profit that they choose to distribute in the form of dividends so investors see a return on their investment. If you wish to do so you can choose to reinvest the dividends back into the company again, and receive a potentially higher return in the future. Dividends can be arranged to be paid out regularly on a set date, so it’s easy to keep track of your investments and returns.

Stock Dividends

Some companies choose to give out dividends in the form of stock rather than cash. The benefits of this option is that you can use any investments that see a return to then make further investment, which will play into making you more money through compound interest. Companies may do this if they would rather invest the excess cash profits they make into another area of the business rather than out in dividends to shareholders. Stock dividends can benefit you in terms of lower tax payments as until the cash in the stocks is released, the tax isn’t relevant.

Property Dividends

Property dividends are another form of dividend that can be used as a replacement of a cash dividend. It shares out the value of a property amongst shareholders. This could be done if a company is struggling to pay out dividends in the form of cash, or if they just happen to be selling off property and would rather use excess cash profits elsewhere in the business.

Liquidating Dividends

As the name suggests, a liquidation dividend is when a company pays out a sum of cash or other asset to shareholders upon liquidation. In this process, the company may be selling parts of the business or the business as a whole with its assets.

What Are The Benefits Of Investing In Mutual Funds?

As mutual funds are managed by a company, they don’t require much work on your behalf. You will still be investing your money, but the process of monitoring stocks and investments isn’t as hands-on as you don’t have to conduct constant market research and monitoring yourself. Money is pooled together along with the money of other investors in the mutual fund. Mutual funds can include cash, property or other assets in a portfolio– so they are great for diversification of investments. Mutual funds are offered by online brokers, mutual fund companies themselves, and even insurance companies, so they are very easy for you to access. You can begin investing in mutual funds with a relatively low investment, so they aren’t as intimidating as some other forms of investment. You can choose to invest in many different forms of funds or just one.

Different Kinds Of Mutual Funds

There are a wide range of mutual funds you can choose from, and each of them have their own individual subsections too. Below we have listed the most popular forms of mutual funds.

Fixed Income Funds

As the name suggests, fixed income funds provide a regular, fixed rate of return and building interest from investments.

Equity Funds

Equity funds involve investing in a wide range of stocks, and in mostly concerned with the size of the companies being invested in.

Balanced Funds

Balanced funds are a combination of equity investments and fixed income investments. The benefit of this type of fund is that it balances the risk of higher return with the reliability of fixed income funds.

Index Funds

Index funds follow the trends and changes of the financial market in a country, and change accordingly. These funds can come with a lower fee due to them being lower maintenance and requiring little research from your mutual funds manager.

Global Funds

Global funds allow you to invest in stocks around the world rather than just your own country. One important aspect to take into account when thinking of investing in global funds is that they require far more research than investments in your own country. It is much more difficult to be aware and up to date with current affairs and economical occurrences in a country you’re not familiar with. So holding investments in global funds can come with far more risk and potential volatility.

What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Investing In Stocks Over Other Forms Of Investment?

If you’ve got savings that you want to invest, it’s likely that you may have looked into other forms of investment. So what benefits can stock investments bring you that other investments can’t? Well firstly consider the modern way of investing in stocks. You can now track your stock investments and the financial market from your mobile phone, taking literally seconds to keep on track with all the information you need. Because the money you make from investing in stock requires such little work, it’s largely passive- which can’t be said for all types of investments. Think about another form of investing, real estate for example. Not only do you need a large sum of money to begin investing in properties, but you will also likely have to put in a lot more physical work. This is especially true if you choose to flip properties for profit.

The Power Of Compounding Interest

Compound interest whilst the enemy of those in debt, is the best friend for those making long term, good investments. Part of the reason that stock investment is so popular is because of compound interest. As you hold on to an investment for a long period of time and it’s interest grows, the more the compound interest grows. Basically, it’s interest on your interest. Compound interest works for you even if you only invest small amounts of money, as you’ll still be earning interest. The real key to it is holding investments for as long as possible. This type of interest over simple interest gives you the opportunity to earn greater returns on your investments.

Now that you understand the basics of investing in stocks, dividends and mutual funds, and the benefits they can each offer, you can begin your stock investment journey. But remember that education and research are key to being a successful investor, so you should never stop educating yourself and monitoring the financial market.

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News Personal Finance

Top 7 Ideas to Become More Productive at Your Work

Some people have no problem breezing through their work despite tough tasks and long hours because they have great productivity habits. For some, though, the situation is different.

It seems like the day drags on for too long, and there is no end to everything. And if there is a lack of motivation to produce results, it is natural that the problem snowballs and leaves you in a situation where you struggle to meet deadlines.

If the situation sounds familiar and you would like to improve your work productivity, then take advantage of these seven tips you can find below.

Utilize Available Tools

Utilizing available tools should be one of the first things you want to focus on as a struggling worker. We live in a digital world where many processes are becoming obsolete or automated, meaning that you do not have to waste time on them.

In addition, even simple tasks can be improved. For example, if you use screenshots to communicate with clients and workers, do not take a shot of the entire screen and go to an editing tool to cut a piece from the screenshot. Instead, check https://setapp.com and learn about snipping tools.

If it is too difficult to keep track of time and you find yourself spending too long on certain tasks, why not get time-tracking software so that you can keep tabs on time and get notifications and reminders.

As a rule of thumb, you should remember that if there is a problem, you can likely find a solution in the form of computer software, which should make things easier.

Stick to a Schedule

A common problem among workers right now is that they need to do the job from home, and it is no secret that flexible schedules can hinder one’s performance significantly. It is one thing to have an established schedule and another to have no supervision and do your work when it suits you.

Proper schedules should be a thing regardless of your work arrangement. You need to establish a routine to wake up, do your work, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Do not lose control of your life because it can happen if you lack a work schedule.

Avoid Procrastinating

Procrastinations are another common problem that many workers face, particularly these days when it is so easy to get distracted. A smartphone is a prime example of how you are tempted to avoid work by browsing social media or texting.

Of course, there are other forms of distractions and procrastination. Another example could be your colleagues passing you by and starting to chat. Unless you end the conversation quickly, it can escalate, and you will lose track of time.

The bottom line is that distractions should be eliminated when possible. Focus on your work, first and foremost, and leave the fun for after you are finished with your job.

Prioritize Tasks

One trick that you could use to your advantage is to prioritize certain tasks. If there is a lot on your checklist and you have no idea where to start because you are feeling overwhelmed, why not take the approach of starting with simple things that are easy and do not require a lot of time?

Crossing one item after another off the checklist should help you find motivation because you will see progress.

Set Up Your Workspace

Do not end up in a situation where your workspace is a mess. It is difficult to find motivation and finish work on time if there are too many distractions or you are surrounded by junk.

Not only should you clean your workstation regularly, but you should also take a minimalistic approach and get rid of potential distractions.

Try to imagine a workspace that suits you and work on creating it. Once you have an idea in mind, do what you can to turn it into reality. And when you finish, you should find that working in a comfortable environment does wonders for your productivity.

Take Breaks When Necessary

Regular breaks should also be part of your work. Overworking and constantly multitasking just to finish things sooner is not great long-term, and not just for your health. You will feel burnt out after a while, and a long weekend or a few days off might not be enough to restore yourself.

Optimize Your Computer

The last bit of advice is pretty straightforward. If your computer is not performing properly and is causing you problems, take some time and fix it. Clean the dust inside, free up drive space, declutter the desktop, and do other maintenance work to optimize it so that these problems do not get in the way of your work.

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News Personal Finance

How To Set Up the Workspace and To Be More Productive

One of the primary reasons for creating a workspace is to enhance productivity, and productivity is the heart and soul of business. There is no doubt that your environment is one of the biggest influencers of your productivity. So, setting up your workplace is a real deal.

Are you getting bored of your workplace? Do you wish to enhance your productivity by resetting your workplace? Below are easy tips to help you reset your workplace to improve your productivity. Read on to find out!

Create Free Movement

Regardless of the size of your workplace, creating a free flow of movement is vital. Free movement makes it easy for you to carry out mobile tasks. Besides, it allows you to take quick breaks, change positions, and stretch your legs without feeling choked.

Use Create Décor

The decoration is vital in any workplace. Aside from setting you in the mood for work, it also makes your space visually appealing. It will aid your mental health, reduce stress, and make it welcoming for visitors and guests. Some creative elements for decorating your workspace include colors, wall arts, decorative plants, and fabrics. You can get basic wall art ideas for the workplace at ElephantStock.

Get Comfortable Furniture

You spend most work time in your workspace sitting. Productivity only comes with comfort. You cannot deliver your best when you are cranked up in an uncomfortable table or chair. So, it is best to get comfy office chairs and tables to enhance the setup in your workplace.

Get Suitable Lighting

Lighting is essential in any workspace because it enhances productivity. Two types of lights should be in your workplace; Natural and Artificial light sources. These lights help you to retain focus and keep you energized all through your work time.

Give Your Gadgets A Home

Gadgets like PC, printers, and photocopiers are almost inevitable in the workplace. Sadly, these gadgets might cause massive disorganization without proper setup. So, it is best to create a permanent home for every device in your workplace. Ensure that the spaces for the gadgets do not cause any hindrance. Consider investing in a laptop to enjoy more flexibility and use less desk space. Laptops are compact and hassle-free to set up. Plus, you can use it with wireless peripherals for a neater and more organized work area.

Final Thoughts

The first step to getting a perfect layout in your workspace is by getting personal. Do things and arrangements that fit your style and work type. Also, consider regularly cleaning all surfaces in your workspace and keeping all materials at a designated site.

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