Image: Shutterstock/Rawpixel.com

By Stan Schroeder2017-09-18 14:42:15 UTC

CCleaner, a popular Windows app for system optimization and maintenance, has at some point been hijacked by hackers, potentially tricking millions of people into installing malware on their personal computers. 

The threat was discovered by security researchers at Cisco Talos, who noticed that CCleaner was triggering their malware protection systems on Sept. 13. After looking into the problem, they realized that CCleaner version 5.33 came together with dangerous malware. 

To make matters worse, we're not talking about downloading the app on some shady third-party site. Users who downloaded CCleaner directly from the official site, as recently as Sept. 11, were in fact downloading the infected version of the software. 

According to Cisco Talos, only version 5.33 of the software is affected, and the more recent 5.34 version of CCleaner is malware-free. The malware doesn't do much damage by itself, but opens up the possibility for hackers to remotely install other malware, with potentially devastating consequences. 

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Illustration: Sam Woolley/Gizmodo

Last year, two data scientists from security firm ZeroFOX conducted an experiment to see who was better at getting Twitter users to click on malicious links, humans or an artificial intelligence. The researchers taught an AI to study the behavior of social network users, and then design and implement its own phishing bait. In tests, the artificial hacker was substantially better than its human competitors, composing and distributing more phishing tweets than humans, and with a substantially better conversion rate.

The AI, named SNAP_R, sent simulated spear-phishing tweets to over 800 users at a rate of 6.75 tweets per minute, luring 275 victims. By contrast, Forbes staff writer Thomas Fox-Brewster, who participated in the experiment, was only able to pump out 1.075 tweets a minute, making just 129 attempts and luring in just 49 users.

Human or bot? AI makes it tough to tell. (Image: ZeroFOX)

Thankfully this was just an experiment, but the exercise showed that hackers are already in a position to use AI for their nefarious ends. And in fact, they’re probably already using it, though it’s hard to prove. In July, at Black Hat USA 2017, hundreds of leading cybersecurity experts gathered in Las Vegas to discuss this issue and other looming threats posed by emerging technologies. In a Cylance poll held during the confab, attendees were asked if criminal hackers will use AI for offensive purposes in the coming year, to which 62 percent answered in the affirmative.

The era of artificial intelligence is upon us, yet if this informal Cylance poll is to be believed, a surprising number of infosec professionals are refusing to acknowledge the potential for AI to be weaponized by hackers in the immediate future. It’s a perplexing stance given that many of the cybersecurity experts we spoke to said machine intelligence is already being used by hackers, and that criminals are more sophisticated in their use of this emerging technology than many people realize.

Jessica Rosenberg / September 7, 2017

As a blogger, nothing beats the feeling of seeing your post shared by readers who were moved by what you wrote. But social shares have more significance than just making your heart do a little jig. They can engage more readers, influence your blog performance, and even impact your site’s SEO rankings.

With ShareThis, creator of free share buttons and tools for your blog, it’s easy to add a Flipboard button to your posts, making it a cinch for your readers to add your posts to Flipboard Magazines and share your work with their friends and followers. Let’s take a look at why social share buttons should be an important part of your blog marketing toolkit.

1. The Power of Social Proof

When someone comes to your blog via a link they saw on someone’s site or via a search, and they see that 134 people have shared your story on Facebook and 230 have added it to a Flipboard Magazine, human nature makes them significantly more likely to read through the whole post rather than clicking away after a quick glance. We often follow examples set by our peers, so if others have found the post worth their time, there’s a good chance they’ll read through the whole post, too, if only to try to discern why people found it worth sharing.

2. Free Marketing

The people most apt to promote your posts are your fans or regular readers. That said, if you rely on your those fans to find the URL to your posts, copy it and then share it, odds are high that even if your post is mindblowing, it’ll get read (and maybe discussed over coffee the next day), but it won’t get shared widely. When you make share buttons available on your site, you give the people who most want to help spread your posts the ability to share with just one click, greatly increasing the chances that your site will get sent to readers across multiple platforms.

3. Improves SEO

At first glance, it might not seem like share buttons would have any impact on your SEO, but actually, they do. The more your posts are shared across a wide range of social sites, the more authority they gain and, in turn, the more importance search engines give them. Think of it this way: Google and other search engines are designed to serve up results that seem important and relevant to the person conducting the search, so if peers are sharing a post far and wide, the posts will be considered valuable and attention worthy and will be served up higher in the rankings than other posts on the same topic.

The end of the year is quickly approaching -- the holiday season is right around the corner and 2018 is just a few months away. Social media gives your brand an incredible opportunity to attract attention to your brand, provided you do it right. You either take full advantage of the opportunity or your competitors will.

It's a constantly changing landscape, and it's time to start laying out your social media marketing strategy for the approaching year. In order to be successful, you need to know what the latest trends are. Staying ahead of the curve will put you in a much better position to capitalize as we head into 2018. Here are four social media trends you need to start focusing on immediately.

Related: 5 Social Media Rules Every Entrepreneur Should Know

1. Chatbots have arrived. You need to master them.

If you aren't familiar with chatbots, you need to learn how this technology can greatly benefit your social media marketing. Customer service has transitioned to phone calls and emails to social media. Consumers demand instant replies to their questions and concerns, and they now turn to social media any time they want something.

The sooner you can reply, the better, as you satisfy the desire for instant gratification. Chatbots allow you to interact instantly, which is why Facebook Messenger bots especially are becoming so popular. Setting one up is fairly simple and you can do it for free.

Image: pixabay

By Team CommerceMashable Shopping2017-09-04 12:00:00 UTC

In today's digitally driven world, it's no longer a surprise to any business that in order to remain viable and competitive, it's essential to have a strong online presence. When it comes down to search, Google is king: there are more than 2.3 million Google searches per minute — that's absolutely massive.

Your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategy is key to not only landing on the first page of Google search — usually the starting and stopping ground for most users when they query — it's also essential when it comes down to increasing your overall traffic. For example, if you have an eco-friendly dry cleaning business you're building downtown, you want that to pop up first when locals search for "green dry cleaning service."

Knowing that SEO isn't such an easy thing to pull off, using a tool that helps assist with automation could help: check out this Serpstat: Lifetime Subscription, a cloud-based all-in-one multi platform for SEO/PPC professionals and site owners. 

Fancy showing other people how to play big name games on YouTube? Would you like to make demos to show off your apps, or to teach others how to use specific software? Then you need a screen recorder, and there are some excellent options available completely free.

The simplest screen recorders simply capture what's on your screen and save it in AVI format, but the more advanced free tools also offer editing, picture-in-picture, live streaming, and gameplay optimization.

However, you have to be careful – many free recorders will add unsightly watermarks to your clips or let you record only a handful of videos before demanding payment, so it's essential to pick the right software first to avoid disappointing results.

Here's our pick of the best free screen recorders that will help you record or stream professional-quality video from your desktop or webcam.

Here are the best Divi child themes voted on by webmasters like you. These are pre-made templates specially created for the Divi WordPress theme by ElegantThemes. We’ve grouped them all in one place for your convenience and our community as voted on what they believe to be the best template allowing you to quickly choose one that is right for you.If you are new to the WordPress child theme concept then read our guide on How to Create a WordPress Child Theme Tutorial.In the case you were just looking for a blank Divi child theme to build upon, then click here to download our blank template.Otherwise here is what the SoftwareFindr community deem to be the best child theme for the Divi theme: 1 Anima Pro is a fully featured Divi child theme that can be used to develop personal, professional, or portfolio websites. It comes with a fixed header and several eye-catching animations for the modul .... Read full review 2 The multi-purpose Josefin theme offers several home page variations. The great typography and stunning images make it possible to use this template to develop different types of websites. There are mu .... Read full review 3 This is a specially developed Divi child theme for creating fully featured restaurant websites. Its home page starts with a full-screen hero image, which is followed by the welcome message, menu, rese .... Read full review 4 If you are looking for a unique design for your next business or corporate site, Fashion could be an excellent choice for you. The one-page child theme comes with separate sections to promote your pro .... Read full review 5 As the name indicates, this is a special theme for creating startup, small business, or corporate websites. Its exclusive off-canvas menu will deliver a unique experience to both the desktop and mobil .... Read full review 6 This carefully crafted Divi child theme is perfect for displaying photography, sculptures, or any other artistic item. Its integrated floral elements and strategic use of white space will deliver an u .... Read full review 7 The simple but beautiful design of Freshness makes it an excellent choice for developing small business, corporate, or portfolio sites. The Divi child theme features a one-page design so that the visi .... Read full review 8 The premium McMinnville theme could be an excellent choice for developing professional websites. Its customizable header enables you to display two different menus with an overlapping logo. The unique .... Read full review 9 Clarity is a feminine child theme with a special focus on creating websites for providing virtual assistant and other relevant services. It features a sticky header to make sure that the visitors alwa .... Read full review 10 The professionally designed Wave Dark theme is perfectly suitable for promoting your brand new app or any other digital product. Its clean, simple layout is tailored to help you get the maximum amount .... Read full review Final WordsOnly a few WordPress themes have managed to become as popular as Divi. Due to its incredible popularity, several developers have released specialized Divi child themes. These themes offer all the original Divi features along with professionally styled modules and layouts for different types of websites.Divi child themes could be an excellent solution for those who don’t have the time to customize the original settings or personalize the style. Now that you know which the best Divi child themes are, you can easily choose the most suitable one for you.By the way, did I miss your favorite Divi child theme in this post? If yes, let me know about the theme by leaving a comment below.  Original link

One of many illustrations from Iris Compiet’s Faeries of the Faultlines project

With over two billion active users worldwide, social media offers a powerful channel for artists to connect with audiences, build awareness and increase sales. But the choices are legion: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, GooglePlus, LinkedIn... and that’s before you consider creative communities such as Behance, ArtStation, Tumblr and so on.

Which options are best for getting your work out there, and how can you optimise your social media presence? To help you, we’ve put together the ultimate social media guide for artists.

First, some basics. Successful social media strategy is built on brilliant artwork, so creating the best possible work should be your main focus. 

It’s every digital marketer’s desire to make the most of Facebook, but there are several barriers that stand in the way. While some marketers can’t figure out what their content is lacking, others struggle know what they want to create but lack the resources to do it. The great news is that there are several Facebook marketing tools out there that can help.

The following is a list of 7 free Facebook marketing tools that you can use to accelerate your Facebook marketing efforts. What’s even better is that they are all free!

1. Canva for cover, post and ad design

You probably create many custom images for your Facebook marketing. That process can be simplified by using Canva. Canva is a graphic design tool that stocks several life-saving, wonderful templates.

What these templates do is create the basic design for your page covers, posts and ads. The only that’s left is to insert your text, after which you’re good to go. Optionally, you could tweak the basic design to suit your needs by using filters, different colors or drag-and-drop objects. What I like most about Canva is its intuitiveness, which makes using the app an effortless experience.

2. DrumUp for social media management and content

Sure there are tons of apps that let you schedule Facebook posts in advance, but this is one of the few that also helps with content. DrumUp is a social media management tool that also helps you curate keyword based content suggestions, save and reuse posts within the app and attach RSS feeds for content updates.

In every industry, there are at least a handful of experts considered authorities on the subject. Most have a blog or website, making them the premier trusted resources industry-wide. Likewise, you’ll usually find a community or two where all the professionals immersed in the field turn to when they need to converse with like-minded professionals.The same holds for  the developers. Here are the Top 10 websites where every programmer should visit at least once.

 

GitHub                                                      

Git is an open-source version control system that was started by Linus Trovalds – the same person who created Linux. GitHub is a web-based Git or version control repository and Internet hosting service. It is mostly used for code. It offers all of the distributed version control and source code management functionality of Git as well as adding its own features.

 

Stack Overflow

Stack Overflow is a question and answer site for professional and enthusiast programmers. It’s built and run by users as part of the Stack Exchange network of Q&A sites. With users help, working together to build a library of detailed answers to every question about programming.

Skip all

Welcome home!

This timeline is where you’ll spend most of your time, getting instant updates about what matters to you.

Tweets not working for you?

Hover over the profile pic and click the Following button to unfollow any account.

Say a lot with a little

When you see a Tweet you love, tap the heart — it lets the person who wrote it know you shared the love.

Spread the word

The fastest way to share someone else’s Tweet with your followers is with a Retweet. Tap the icon to send it instantly.

There is a debate in the marketing world about whether or not email marketing is on it’s way out. With the rise of social media, chat bots and and text marketing, some make the argument that email is obsolete.

In my group coaching program, one student asked if email marketing is still effective. She has a fear of coming off a sleazy. She also worries about people’s inboxes being inundated and getting lost as a result.

I’m here to tell you email marketing isn’t going anywhere. Here’s why.

You don’t control social media.

As much as I love and use social media, I don’t control it. I woke up one morning and couldn’t post in my own Facebook group because Facebook was making changes. At the time of writing this, Instagram has been buggy for days. Not only that, but social media can change their terms and algorithms whenever they want.

So what does that mean for a small business owner? It means you need to focus on building your email list. Use social media, but use it to build your list. Simply put, you can control an email list. Your whole website could go down and you would still have your list.

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Ÿ You know you’ve got to keep learning.Ÿ You know you’ve got to stay current.Ÿ You know all of this is difficult while continuing to perform at a high level, and     having a life outside of code.

We started our mailing list to help developers like you stay current. ƒ

Each week you get a tip, trick, or a new project that will help you stay up to date as a PHP developer.

Once a month, we send out our newsletter. This is a much more in-depth email with 20-30 links pointing out things that you need to know about.

We want you to be smart, we can help you get smarter. Fill out the form below and subscribe to our newsletter. Join The World Wide Herd today.

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Share: In this article we share a few quick win tips on how to improve the interface of your web application, portal or intranet and highlight the business benefits of upgrading your app to be more intuitive.  Whether it’s a customer database, an online portal, an internal scheduling system, a maintenance programme or a staff intranet, the purpose of having software is to make operations more efficient and often improve communications. But if your system is dated and difficult to use, you will find that it frustrates your users, slows down workflows and people will avoid using it. By simply reviewing and improving the design of the screens that people need to interact with (i.e. the User Interface), you will find that information can be accessed more quickly, input more accurately and so users will be more willing to use it.As people interact with different websites and software platforms their expectations evolve, users then come to expect all systems to be intuitive and easy to use, without any unnecessary distractions.So why do businesses continue to provide old and non-user friendly systems for their staff and customers?Here are some of the reasons we hear why companies are reluctant to change…"It’s too expensive to change the entire system!"Depending on the system you are looking to improve, you may only need to redesign the part that users interact with. Replacing a whole entire system can be expensive, but focusing on the user facing front-end can have maximum impact with more manageable costs.Malcolm Maycock, Managing Director of Licence Bureau saw game-changing results after changing the interface of the company’s online driving licence checking portal.

"But people are familiar with the existing system."

The purpose of redesigning the interface is to make it easier to use. Just because people are familiar with the system doesn’t mean that they like using it or it works how they need it too. As well as knowing the system, they will also know what needs to be improved.

"How do I know what changes to make?"

Having experienced users of your system is a valuable asset. They will be experts on what aspects of the system work well and what changes can have significant impact on efficiency. Your management will be clear on the KPIs they need, and the operational team will be able to make suggestions on improving data input and access.

"There are different system users"

Scene generators are highly-editable graphic templates that enable you to add customized content into predefined spaces. These graphics can depict scenes ranging from elaborate (like a high-tech office space) to simple (a lone product against a background). The result is a custom image that appears to have come from a professional photoshoot, complete with your personal touches added in. They provide an easy way to add some compelling flair to your website, even on the tightest of budgets. All they require is a compatible graphics program such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign or Sketch.

50 Hip Logo Overlay Mock-Ups

What’s really neat is that there are scenes and mockups available for all sorts of different use cases. So no matter what type of website you have, there is most likely something out there to match your needs.

Let’s explore some ways that you can use a scene generator to great effect on your website. Along the way, we’ll show you some examples of the 2,000+ scene generator and product mockup templates available with a subscription to Envato Elements.

1. Show Off Your Responsive Design Skills

Web designers often need to communicate that their creations work across multiple devices and screen sizes. This is an essential selling-point and should be emphasized prominently on your website. Using the right scene generator template can help you get that message across to potential clients.

Desktop Mockup Creator

Placing screenshots of your work into a scene that includes mobile devices is an effective way to demonstrate your ability to create responsive websites. It gives off a professional vibe without the added cost and efforts of photographing your own workspace. Plus, it’s quite easy to swap out screenshots as needed.

Understanding what your client wants is absolutely crucial as a freelancer. Bad communication can threaten your livelihood as a freelancer, putting you at risk of not only not getting clients, but of developing a bad reputation on sites like Upwork or Freelancer, which means you’ll hardly stand to make it as a freelancer.

You need to effectively hone your communication skills by developing a standard way of talking to clients and asking them questions before you even start. It’ll save you lots of time (and since time is money, it’ll save you money, too!) in regards to completing a project, and it’ll ensure that you deliver a quality product without having to visit the drawing board over and over again.

1: What is the timeline for the project?

This is an easy one. Know how long the client expects you to take so you can then cut the project up into smaller pieces and help you stay on task.

Additionally, if you find out upfront that the client’s expectations are unrealistic, you can communicate that with them and find a timeline that works for the both of you. Don’t let a client try and get you to develop a website in two days if you don’t think you can handle it.

2: Who is your intended audience?

Get them to establish the end users that will be utilizing the product you develop. It can be risky to jump into a project without fully understanding who it’s for.

In the state of communication, there is a pretty visible change, a cultural shift.

Attention spans are getting shorter, and that 140-character tweet is now getting ahead of the long-form. The 10-second Snapchat is getting popular. Sure, all of these things have a downside, but their impact is hard not to be noticed.

In terms of web design, this is all about the landing page. Shorter attention spans mean that when today’s visitor gets to your website, you have just a couple of seconds before they already have an impression, and that impression may not always be good.

What’s actually a landing page?

A landing page is the page which encourages your visitor to do whatever your website wants him to do. It is a landing page design which only has one goal.

For example, you may want to display a product for sale, or to get him through some specific sales funnel.

With a new year upon us and the 10 year anniversary of Joomla behind us we’re all looking to the future. This is the beginning of a new era in the Joomla community and what we do this year will shape our future. As individuals we have the power to change the community for the better and there is no better time than now to make positive changes. Here are some ways we can make a positive difference in our community this year.

Be JPositive. Stay JPositive.

What we contribute is every bit as important as what we say and how we act. The words we put online create a perception of our community to the outside world. The way we interact inside our community affects our contributions and our attitude. The way we welcome new people into our community and encourage participation will impact their involvement and contributions. Everything makes a difference and we should resolve to make it a positive difference.

Realize Your Influence

When people begin using Joomla they begin looking online for resources. To someone with no Joomla experience community members are more than just a resource, to them - we are Joomla. What they see us doing online is their perception of what Joomla is and it may be only experience they ever have within our community. Keep this in mind. Your influence goes farther than you may realize and it impacts our entire community. Make a resolution to use it responsibly.

Deal With Conflicts Appropriately

We want to stay positive but it’s not realistic to believe everyone will agree on everything all of the time. We need to speak our minds but it should be done so appropriately. Some conversations are appropriate on public platforms, some are not - particularly those that involve personal differences or heated emotions. How we handle our differences and resolve conflicts has a significant impact on our community and it affects how we are perceived outside of our community. 

Before you start or participate in a public conversation take a second to consider the following questions:

Time is Money

Released in 2011, the Justin Timberlake film, In Time, was mediocre at best. Set in 2169, it painted a grim future, where the rich are virtually immortal, as time became money, literally. In the best tradition of science fiction, this film exaggerated an idea that will likely turn into mundane reality of tomorrow and made it seem suspenseful and apocalyptic.

Yet In Time’s premise is both simple and radical: the future unit of exchange is not a dollar or Bitcoin. It is a minute of human life. Before we laugh off this idea, let us first acknowledge how ridiculous gold coins might have appeared to Stone Age tribe or our trust in pieces of paper, the banknotes, to a medieval merchant?

All prior currencies could be amassed, but human time – at least right now – is roughly bounded and equally distributed. Sure, some variation exists, but there is no order of magnitude disparity.   

With the life expectancy of 72, every person born today is endowed with roughly 38 million minutes, which we expend as we please – living our lives.  What we don’t yet do is trade our time for goods and services – say, showing up at an ice-cream shop and offering 175 minutes for a sundae.  That is to say, we couldn’t do it until June 1st this year, when a new social network, called Nimses, was launched. 

A number of vendors in Kyiv, Ukraine – Nimses’ home base – will happily sell a cup of coffee or a slice of pizza for your Nims – the currency of the Social Network.  “Each minute of the person’s life turns into a single nim, a unique indestructible digital recording unit.” Nimses website explains.