The Dark Web

What is the Dark Web?

October is a cybersecurity month. When deciding what to write about, I recalled a surprising fact: Most people have not heard of the “dark web.” It is out there, though, and it’s essential to know where it resides and why it is considered “dark” in nature. Once you grasp an understanding of the dark web, there are things you can do to prevent becoming a victim of cybercrime. 3 Layers Down To understand what the dark web is, the first thing to know is there are mostly three layers to the world wide web (www): Surface Web Deep Web...

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Bulletproof Backpacks are NOT the Answer

When it comes to protecting our kids, most parents are up for just about anything nowadays. I know the thought of putting your child on the bus and never seeing them again because there was an active shooter in the building that day, is every American parents’ nightmare. It’s a sad state of mind parents, grandparents and guardians must face with violence in our schools occurring again and again, but we need to be on guard and not be suckered into expensive, ineffective solutions. One such “solution” being hyped in the media right now is bulletproof backpacks. I for...

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Timothy Dimoff Kindness Matters

Kindness is the Cornerstone for Personal and Business Success

One of the most important things I have realized throughout my life has been kindness matters. It seems like such a simple, straightforward concept to grasp, but sadly, it is routinely forgotten in everyday interactions. Without kindness, you can have significant personal and professional problems. As the saying goes, “What comes around goes around.” The Bingo Theory My mother had a theory I coined “The Bingo Theory” (The YOU in Business, pg.25). It reinforces the Law of Attraction, which states, “what you think about you bring about.” My mother took this concept and applied it to winning at bingo....

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Sexual Assault Awareness

How to Handle the Issue of Sexual Assault

April is sexual assault awareness month. Anyone, regardless of age, racial or cultural background, gender identity/ expression, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status are potential victims. Make no mistake, sexual violence happens when consent is not freely given. A Matter of Consent According to the CDC: More than 1 in 3 women and nearly 1 in 4 men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact at some point in their lives. Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 38 men have experienced completed or attempted rape in their lifetimes. Why are the numbers so high? Because our society has...

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Beware of Tax Refund Fraud

Do You Know How to Protect Against Tax Refund Fraud?

It’s that time of year again, tax season. While citizens and corporations dread gathering up W2s, 1099s and various financial statements for filing, guess who is looking forward to it – tax scammers. They prey on our fear of an audit and the natural weight of “authority” any correspondence from the IRS instills in the American or corporate taxpayer. Don’t be fooled. Learn what to watch out for to detect a scam and protect your identity and/or the identity of your employees/clients. Types of Tax Fraud Aside from intentional fraud done by a corporation or individual, there are multiple...

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Employment Civil Lawsuits

How to be Mindful of Protected Classes in the Workplace

Today, employment related civil lawsuits account for a quarter of all civil lawsuits. According to HR Specialist: Employment Law, employers lose 60% of these types of cases. With the typical award around $500,000, the company’s bottom line is hit. However, another crucial area that is negatively impacted is the company culture. Who wants to work for or do business with an organization that practices discrimination? Eventually, no one. The solution: Minimize employment related civil lawsuits by being mindful of protected classes in the workplace. Protected Classes Lawsuits filed against businesses by employees are usually based on allegations of wrongful...

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Watch Our for Signs of Gas Station Pump Skimming

How to Protect Yourself from ATM and Gas Station Pump Skimming   

The holidays are a busy time of year where a lot of money changes hands and consumers become unwitting targets of all types of fraud. How about when you are getting cash out of the ATM or filling up your car on the way to Grandma’s house? These are perfect opportunities for thieves to remotely steal your hard-earned cash, often without your knowledge until way after the fact. In this blog, we will discuss what point of sale “skimming” is and how to protect yourself from it this season. What is Skimming? Ever heard of “skimming off the top”?...

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Organized Retail Crime

What to Do About the Rise of Organized Retail Crime

We’ve all heard of shoplifting. This is a well-known retail crime that most brick and mortar stores have practices in place to prevent or watch out for daily. The items stolen are usually for personal consumption. However, there is a growing type of retail crime that has victimized 92% of companies surveyed by the National Retail Federation – called organized retail crime. Impacts All Organized retail crime (ORC) is defined as when items are stolen by groups of two or more people with the intent to resell it.  It can happen anywhere, no matter if the business resides in...

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Maintain and Attain Happiness

A Master Plan to Attain and Maintain Happiness

The holidays are upon us and the stress level is going up, up, and up! If you aren’t careful, “the happiest season of all” can become the unhappiest season of all. The key is to not let the negative aspects of the season dominate your life. This is a good idea to focus on all year long. The trick is to develop a master plan to attain and maintain happiness. Finding the Silver Lining As humans, we are wired to dwell on the negative. As discussed in a previous blog, this is called the negativity bias. The negativity bias...

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Home Security Tips and Tricks

Home Security Tips and Tricks to Discourage Burglars

It’s the holiday season — time for delicious food, presents, and get-togethers. It’s also the time for home burglaries. If you plan to leave to visit family and/or friends during the holidays, here are some home security tips and tricks to keep your belongings safe while you are away from home. Appear to be Home Returning home after a trip to find someone has invaded your personal space and stolen valuables is not only disturbing to your wallet but also your peace of mind. Just knowing that a stranger has broken into your home, rummaged through and taken off...

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