Tag Archives: cell phone tracking software

Gossip Ruining Your Business/Life – The Accelerated Velocity of Terminal Inexactitude

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We all know that dull news travels like a snail mail and gossip faster than warp drive.  One of our favorite examples comes from the all-too-true movie Easy A starring Emma Stone.  Three times in the movie, the director shows us the speed of gossip which Emma calls The Accelerated Velocity of Terminal Inexactitude.   In this two part series we explore the “hit like a tornado” impact of bad gossip and next time we will explore how to create “buzz” to warp drive your message for maximum impact for the better.  Photo Courtesy Sony – click on image for movie.

Denise Lones, founder and owner of the successful real estate marketing group The Lones Group, was in the midst of building a successful business when she noticed a competitor was using a trademark that looked suspiciously similar to her zebra-themed trade dress. When she confronted the competing business about it, she found herself blindsided by the reaction. False accusations, a lawsuit and personal threats occurred in rapid fire succession, causing great personal stress and damage to her business’s reputation.

A successful business results from hard work and effective business-building techniques. One of the most important business-building techniques is a solid reputation. As you’ve worked on the growth of your business, no doubt, you’ve worked equally hard to establish a positive and solid reputation, too. A good reputation in the business community and with your customers requires effort, a focus on customer satisfaction and effective marketing campaigns.

When a disgruntled/dishonest former employee, an unhappy customer or a person who wants to sabotage your success starts spreading gossip and negativity about your business, it can quickly damage the reputation you’ve worked so hard to earn. According to Entrepreneur Magazine Online, technology can cause this type of damage to quickly increase as false information begins to dominate computer search engine results pertaining to your business. The sooner you put an end to gossip and begin working on repairing the damage caused by it, the more quickly you can regain your excellent reputation. Include these considerations in your plans as you clean up the damage and prevent it from progressing.

  • Actions Speak Louder Than Words. The Shady Maple Smorgasbord, a Mennonite-owned restaurant in Pennsylvania, was threatened by boycotts and loss of business when they were falsely accused of denying military members service in their restaurant. Even though Mennonites are known for their stance against military action, the Shady Maple was always happy to serve those fighting for our country. To counteract the damaging rumor, the owners offered a 25 percent Veteran’s Day discount to active military members as well as veterans. Their positive action worked. More than 17,000 customers dined at the restaurant over a two-day period, showing that actions have incredible power to dispel falsehoods.
  • Counteract With Positivity. Use your business’s blog, email newsletters and social media venues to spread positive reviews and feedback from customers, vendors and employees. The more you can do to build your positive image, the sooner gossip will fade to the background.  Next week we try to get our arms around that concept, though often good buzz gossip is just luck that someone notices all the good you do.
  • Consult Professional Damage Control. Companies such as Profile Defenders, Reputation.com and your business legal counsel and others that offer businesses the service of conducting damage control and helping to rebuild a positive reputation. By optimizing search engine keywords and terms, and producing effective business-building blog posts and social media content, companies of this nature can help your business regain previous status by generating content that sheds a more positive light on your business.

Recovering from the damage caused by gossip and false accusations can be difficult at best and traumatic at worst. Doing your best to repair your business reputation is not just a matter of necessity; it’s often a matter of principle, too. There’s no reason why someone else’s malicious behavior should ruin years of hard work.

In addition to being proactive, these steps can help you clean up the mess created by gossip and restore the reputation you worked so hard to build.

Cheating and Getting Caught Via Cellphones – You Will Get Caught !

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Years ago, if you suspected your partner of cheating, a private investigator was your best option for gathering evidence. Although private investigators are still an effective option, many people are taking advantage of technological advancements to catch and prove their partners’ infidelities. That handy smartphone used to store your pertinent information and keep in contact with friends and family has another use that’s gaining in popularity– provider of proof that you’ve been cheating.

Smartphones are making an increasing number of appearances in family law courtrooms during divorce proceedings and are being introduced as evidence, relays The Bend Bulletin, an Oregon newspaper.  In the past three years, it’s become more commonplace for call and search histories, text messages and emails from smartphones to be used against the smartphone’s owner. According to a survey conducted by online dating website Sugardaddie.com, more than 58% of people caught cheating on their spouses stated that pictures and other information on their cellphones led to them being found out. Anyone foolish enough to cheat can be found out with the following cellphone components, apps or software:

  • Text Messaging. A survey of more than 800 attorneys from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers revealed that 92 percent have seen a rise in evidence being gleaned from smartphones. Text messaging is the top source of incriminating evidence that points to cheating and other issues relevant in divorce court. Sent, received and saved text messages can all be used to prove cheating.
  • Email Storage. Backing up your cellphone data to iCloud or another smartphone storage program is a good idea. But if emails or other incriminating documents are included in the storage they can make their way into the courtroom as evidence.
  • GPS Locater Apps. This smartphone app is often used by parents who want to keep track of their kids and it’s handy when you’re trying to locate a lost or stolen cellphone. But GPS locator apps can also let your spouse or partner know where you’re at, leading to big trouble if you’re somewhere you shouldn’t be.
  • Call and Search Histories. A smart cellphone user will erase his or her call history to remove potential evidence, but might not think to do the same with their search history. Search histories can reveal anything, ranging from information on the person you’re cheating with, places you’ve taken them and even more obvious searches such as “how to cheat on your spouse”.
  • Cellphone Spy Software. In addition to GPS locator apps, there are many types of spy software programs for cellphones that allow you to listen in on your partner’s conversations, track them through GPS and read emails or texts. Software programs such as Cell Phone Spy and MobiStealth provide you with information regarding your partner’s activities without him or her even knowing the program has been installed on their cellphone.

There’s an old adage that says “cheaters never prosper” and today’s technology makes this statement truer than ever. No matter how careful a cheater might try to be, it’s likely there’s evidence to be found somewhere within his or her cellphone. While it’s smart to make sure you don’t keep incriminating evidence on your cellphone, the smartest choice is not to cheat at all as you will indeed, be caught!

Cell Phone Safety—Preparing For and Avoiding Cell Phone Theft

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As cell phone capabilities increase, so does smart phone theft. Pickpocketers are finding it increasingly easy and beneficial to steal smart phones, often choosing them over wallets. In addition to the wealth of information that can be found on smart phones, they’re also easy to resell, resulting in quick cash for the thief.  Cell phone thieves have it easy when it comes to stealing because they take advantage of potential victims by capitalizing on the distraction caused by talking on the phone. Cell phone distraction occurs as users focus on the call rather than on their surroundings. According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, two teens used a BB gun to rob a Chicago woman of her iPhone at gunpoint. A quick response on the part of police and thorough description from the victim resulted in the iPhone being recovered, but most victims of cell phone theft are not as fortunate.

Cell phone theft has risen between 80 and 200 percent, depending upon what part of the world you live in, states Time Magazine. In the United States, several cities face a higher risk of cell phone theft, including Miami.  More than 50 percent of those living in Miami have been victims of cell phone theft, but anyone carrying a cell phone, and especially a smart phone, is at-risk of theft. The safety measures you take in advance can help you avoid theft and protect your identity and information in the event one occurs.

  • Password Protection. More than 54 percent of smart phone users do not protect their phones with a password. This means that thieves need only to press or slide the unlock button to gain access to all the information stored on the phone. It takes less than 30 seconds to enter your password, but can take days or weeks to recover from information theft. Which is more inconvenient?
  • Keep SIM (subscriber identification module) Card Information in a Separate Place. Write down all the identifying numbers on your cell phone’s SIM card, along with your operating network’s contact information, and keep it in a separate location. In the event of cell phone theft you can call your network, provide them with the SIM card information and have it disabled so personal and financial information cannot be accessed. There are also applications that help you protect your SIM card and other cell phone components. mAdvLock is an iPhone app that keeps your SIM card password protected if you use the full version, which costs $14.99.
  • Backup Your Smart Phone Information. Backup your contact list and any other vital information weekly. Whether you use an online storage program, such as the iCloud backup system, or physically write phone numbers down, this is an important step to take on a regular basis.
  • Install Tracking Software. Tracking apps are an effective way to help recover a lost or stolen smart phone. They can also be used to remotely get rid of personal information on your cell phone. Plan B is an excellent tracking app for Android users because it can be loaded onto your smart phone after it’s been lost or stolen. The free application is loaded via your Google gmail account, which most Android users must have anyway, and causes your phone to ring loudly whether the phone is silenced, on the vibration setting or not. Apple offers a similar application, which is now a standard app offered on all devices with IOS 5. The app, Find My iPhone, can be loaded to all other iPhones and iPads remotely and allows the user to lock down a stolen cell phone or wipe it clean of all data. Find My iPhone also emits a loud ringing sound and the app functions even if a sophisticated cell phone thief has already removed the SIM card.
  • Notify the Police. You might be inclined not to call the police because you feel they have bigger thieves to catch than the one who swiped your smart phone. But police departments rely on this type of information to help them establish crime patterns, which can lead them to catching individuals and groups involved in cell phone theft.

As we become more reliant on cell phones to hold vital pieces of financial and personal information for us like a mobile filing cabinet, it’s increasingly important to be proactive instead of reactive. Keep your phone and your information as secure as possible, and protect yourself in case of theft with the steps outlined above. Doing so can make the difference between dealing with major inconvenience and full-blown identity theft.