Corporate blogging: A new marketing communication tool for companies.

The blogging phenomenon has started to make companies view the potential benefits of corporate blogging. They all agree that blogs achieve a mass media effect through the high level of networking in the blogosphere where in news disseminates very rapidly. The blogosphere (online community of blogs and their writings) has heralded a new communication tool that can influence public opinion of a company.

Corporate Blog Marketing is the science of using standard online communications tools to allow marketers, sales representatives and even C-level executives a medium through which they can connect with their customers. The benefits are highly impactful, vary greatly across campaigns and hinge upon the quality of the blog marketing effort. Nevertheless, each campaign uses a similar list of media sites and tools to generate an open line of communication between company and consumer

Corporate blog makes it easy for readers, be they customers or prospects, to find the latest and most accurate information about its new products and services. It can help achieve customer familiarity with the company products or services. Through the corporate blog, a company can converse directly with customers and prospects. Two-way communication creates trust and builds customer relationships. A corporate blog is the perfect choice for interacting with existing and potential clients. Corporate blogging serves as a channel for a company and its customers to meet on common ground and to know each other more. A corporate blog allows a company to closely track where and under what condition its products or services are being discussed online. Through the corporate blog, a company can keep an ear to the ground to hear what is being said about the company and speaking up when the situation calls for it. A more personal or understated benefit of a corporate blog is that it gives a human face to a perceived faceless and detached business entity. A corporate blog conjures images of people who are passionate about their products or services and are eager to engage customers and prospects.

Here are some benefits of the corporate blog marketing:

Customer relationships and feedback
In every instance, the point of a business blog marketing campaign is to establish a two-way channel for communication between a business and its customers. In doing so, businesses can get feedback on new products and services and also stay in touch with pertinent industry “buzz” and trends.

SEO Benefits
Search engines often index business blog entries and customer forums. If this content is, in turn, keyword-optimized for appropriate industry terms and phrases, it can rank even higher and drive relevant, potential customers to a website.

Coprate Imaging/Branding
Corporate blogs, both through their content and potential visibility in search engines, improve overall brand awareness amongst a companies targeted customer base.

Online Reputation Building
By communication to a potential customer base the finer points of a business’s model, services and strategy, a company can establish itself as an authority in its field. The same blog marketing efforts can also be used in online reputation management as well.

New Product and Service Testing
Such a two-way channel of communication allows for immediate feedback from your customer base on new market ideas and products/services in their fledgling phases.

http://www.selfseo.com/story-19130.php

Things To Take Note To Prevent E-auction Fraud When A Consumer Participating In An E-auction

Electronic auctions(e-auctions) is auction which is conducted online, and it have been in existance for several years. individual consumers and corporations alike can participate in this rapidly growing and very convinient form of e-commerce.

Even e-auction undoubtedly brings a lot of advantages to both buyers and sellers, but e-auction fraud is exist and it is a growing epidemic worldwide, as online shopping has grown significantly every year that online shopping has been available.

When you bid on something that's thousands of miles away, you can't easily inspect it. Alternatively, sellers don't know their buyers, and could be swindled. How can you protect yourself?

In fact, auction sites will never be able to offer complete protection against fraud. Ultimately, you have to learn to PROTECT YOURSELF.

xFollowing are the tips to prevent e-aution fraud: x

aBecome familiar with the auction website. Look into the websites protection policies. Neverassume you are protected from auction fraud.

aBefore placing a bid, learn as much as you can about the seller. If you can’t find anything out about the seller, than avoid doing business with them. Never fall for promises of better deals by moving away from the original auction website.

aUser identity verification such in IC number, driver’s license number or date of birth. For example,verified eBay user, the voluntary program, encourages users to supply eBay with information for online verification.

aInsurance policy. For example, eBay offers insurance underwritten, users are covered up to $200, will with a $25 deductible. The program is provided at no cost to eBay user.

aEscrow services. Both buyers and sellers in a deal are protected with an independent third party. Buyer mails the payment to escrow services which verifies the payment and alerts the seller when everything checks out. An example of a provider of online escrow services s i-Escrow.

aAppraisal services which use a variety of methods to appraise items. It includes expert assessment of authenticity and condition, and reviewing what comparable items have sold for in the marketplace.

aBe aware of phishing Verify that you are receiving emails from the correct source and that you are logging in at the correct website. Do not simply disclose your personal data – if you see e-mail messages from someone you do not know that ask you for personal data for examples, credit card number, account number, or password, do not just send the data without knowing more about who is asking.

aWhen making payment, prefer using your credit card over online transfer. Using a credit card give you the opportunity of a chargeback in case the transaction turns out a fraud. Use debit card, wire transfer, or money order only when you completely trust the seller.

aCheck if the product you are purchasing has appropriate warranty and documentation with it. If not, make sure that you intend to purchase it without that protection. Check if shipping and delivery is covered

aCheck that you are not purchasing a product that you are not allowed to possess lawfully.

aBe wary of products that offer revolutionary results. In most cases, they are fraudulent claims.

related link:

http://www.crimcheck.com/background-check-news/whats-internet-auction-fraud-and-how-do-i-prevent-it

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/2002/05/07/yaukey.htm

http://leapingcat.wordpress.com/2008/05/10/a-warning-to-auction-sites-pareto-is-dead/

E-Government in Malaysia: Its implementation so far and citizen's adoption strategies

E-Government implemantation

E-government is a system of public administration and services rendered by government authorities to citizens and business structures based on electronic means of information processing, transferring and dissemination.
The following components are defined within the system of e-government:

- Focused on citizens – (Government – Citizen) G2C: defines rendering the whole complex of public services to citizens through Internet by creating single government portal with incorporated governmental database. By using this portal citizens can easily receive available information and services.

- Focused on private sector – (Government – Business) G2B: establishes effective interrelations between public administration bodies and business, thus providing opportunity to reduce necessity for paper documents, optimize accountability, apply interactive mechanisms of interrelation between the state and business, etc.

- Focused on raising efficiency of interaction within the system of public administration bodies - (Government – Government) G2G: establishes interrelation among public administration bodies through application of advanced technologies thus providing opportunity to redesign their activity and ensure integrated, not uncoordinated, service provision, introduce electronic document circulation, etc.


E-government projects are:


1. Project Monitoring System (PMS)

2. Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS)

3. Generic Office Environment (GOE)

4. Electronic Procurement (EP)

5. Electronic Services (E-Services)

6. Electronic Labor Exchange (ELX)

7. E-Syariah


5 consecutive stages of e-government development:

1) initial presence — on-line presence of government authorities in Internet;

2) extended presence — the number of governmental web-sites increases constantly, representing available information more dynamically;

3) interactive interrelation — users have an opportunity to download typical forms of various official documents by e-mail or by interaction through web-site;

4) transactions — users can make various on-line transactions with government institutions;

5) “weldless” interaction — full-scale integration of e-services within administrative frameworks.

Citizen Adoption Strategies

1. Quality

Usually citizen will concern about the quality of content based on the website, as well as the speed of respond and the approach of solving problem. The higher of quality services can reflect the better customers satisfaction of the services providers.

2. User Characteristic

Experience influences a citizen’s trust of e-Government, citizen who cant perceived the risk on the internet will discourage of using online transaction. Therefore, citizen might very concern about the security of the website in order to prevent their privacy being stolen. Services provider might need to increase the security of their internet transaction in order improve the quality of e-commerce.

3. Customer Satisfaction

By increasing the satisfaction of online users with the services providers, there will be helps to increase the rates of e-government’s adoption. Thus, customer satisfaction is very important in the citizen adoption strategies.

4. Website design

In order to increase the adoption of the citizens, the attractiveness of the website design is very important. It can help to increase customer’s satisfaction. Besides, the customization of product offering can also be the key feature of building relationship with the users and enhance their surfing experience.

Review a local e-commerce site : Lelong.com

One of the Malaysia e-commerce website which I visited often is Lelong.com.my. It is an auction platform that provides people to buying and selling thing online.You may choose buy the thing you like by the way complete bid with other, or may directly contact with auctioneer and negotiate the price with him/her, buy directly. lelong.com.my provide three types of main language in the website (Malay, Chinese and English) which enables different races in Malaysia able to view and use this site and enhance their range of business.

There have a lot of functions to make you use their website more convenient, like Categories Search Engine- which provides you searching by category like Beauty and health, book and comic, phone and communication, it is an easy search engine and the searching speed is quite fast, very useful.Second is Auctioneer Profile and Ratting, this function allows you to check the auctioneer trade history and record, it help us to have more confident and reassurance trade with him/her. Normally we will find one trusted auctioneer better have high success trade percentage, therefore can reduce the opportunity of fraud auction.

Other than that if you find that this auctioneer is very trustful and you hope to have more trade with him/her, you also can visit his/her store and check other item. The design of the website take easy and comfort way, do not have too much complex background.If you bid successful, you must make payment by follow the auctioneer instructions. For example, bank in the money to him first. If you never try bid auction online you should try, you will find that is very excited, and you can learn a lot from the whole process. But before you bid or sell your item you must register account with your real identity first. It require your IC number for avoid you making e-auction fraud.

Besides logo it has many banners on this site, as part of their income to advertise for people. It may look a little mess with massive banners around the products that is being displayed. This site’s main page includes few tabs or links to other sections such as Homepage, Buying, Selling, Ladies, Pay, Forum and Help section which makes user easier to navigate through the site.

Credit Card Debts: Causes and Prevention

Credit card debt results when a client of a credit card company purchases an item or service through the card system. Debt accumulates and increases via interest and penalties when the consumer does not pay the company for the money he or she has spent.

The causes of credit card debts are as follows:

1. Reduced or lost of income. A divorce or unemployment may cause a serious debt. If there is a huge gap between income and expenses, the easiest way to fill in the gap is with credit card debt.

2.Lack of financial planning. People did not make a financial planning for their expenses and income. They usually spent too much, purchase a thing they may not really need it.

3.Poor money management skills. Most of the people cannot well manage equilibrium between expenses and income. They did not plan an income and spending budget, so they will spend over their income.

4.Irresponsibility. People who suffer debt are due to their irresponsibility, they are not concern about their future. They did not carry responsible for their future, using credit card to spent the future money.

Although there are many causes of Credit card debts, there are also have some preventions and safety tips.

1. Make a choice.

Imagine flotsam and jetsam being tossed around in the ocean, drifting aimlessly, destined to land on some unknown sea shore, anywhere, any time. Now imagine a sleek, brand new, high powered, ocean going motor yacht, cutting its way smoothly through the flotsam and jetsam; on board it has all the latest navigational aids, and the owner knows exactly where it is heading and when it is likely to get there.

Which do you choose? Which would you truly prefer? If you chose flotsam and jetsam, then read no more. Make the most of your journey, and you never know, you may end up on a beautiful tropical island somewhere, sometime. But don't count on it; the tides will "decide". If you chose the sleek yacht, then read on.

2. Learn to Relax and Meditate

To be able to establish clear contact with your own mind, you really do need to be able to relax, control your breathing and meditate. These are vital. Do not think of them as some New Age fads. These aids have been around for thousands of years, and have just been suppressed by modern society. Master them, and you have taken a big step towards creating not only a better life, but a life of your choosing. Master them, and not only will you eliminate your credit card debt problems, but go on to apply the same techniques to develop a career or business that you once thought was way beyond you. Who needs to borrow money then?

3. Examine What Caused Your Credit Card Debt Problems

In periods of silent relaxation, focus on what you see as the reasons you have got into debt problems. Be open and receptive, and totally honest. You are accepting reality, what actually happened, not looking for excuses. Do this regularly for a few days, until you feel relaxed about the causes of the debt problem. Remember, you are communicating with your own mind, something which is as natural as can be. This is private, you, your world; nobody else is there. You are establishing control.

Once you have done that, focus on each reason in more depth and for longer. If you think it was because there were so many credit card ads on tv; just think about them, let them roll through your mind. Accept them for what they are; do not cast judgement, feel resentment or anything. This stage is about facts. You need the facts, so you will know what you have to deal with if you are going to eliminate your credit card debt problem. If you thought the cause may have been because your best friend was always buying things you couldn't afford, then focus in just the same way. Again, no judgement, and, importantly, no resentment and no envy. This is about you, not your friend.

4. Address Each Of The Causes

Now that you know, and accept with ease, what your credit card debt problems were caused by, it is time to use your periods of silence, relaxation and meditation to address each of those causes, and eliminate them. It is like preparing to fend off an attack; you are preparing yourself to reject those same influences in the future. The influences that caused your credit card debt will no longer be able to penetrate you.

How you decide to build your defences is up to you. You are training your mind to resist outside influences, to respond in a different way to how you responded previously. The important thing is you will, in future, resist them. For example, credit card advertisements on tv may have pushed you over the edge into credit card debt. Now, you can visualise those same advertisements, and see yourself reacting differently; you may now respond by laughing dismissively at them and saying "anyone who pays those interest rates is crazy" or "they're just like a drug, you need to keep off them". Any little mental tactic that will help you is legitimate. You know yourself; you decide what will work best.

By doing the above you are conditioning yourself to accepting reasons for your debt problem and preparing yourself never to follow the same route again.

5. Tackling The Debt Problem Head On

During your silent relaxation, you can now come to terms with what is necessary to sort out the existing problems. You can train your mind, by repetitive instruction, to, for example:

1. Write down all the debts.
2. Prepare a budget.
3. Seek credit counselling.
4. Keep up all payments on time.
5. Make a plan and stick to it,

until such time as you have been able to eliminate your credit card debt altogether.




http://www.eliminate-credit-card-debt-now.com/Eliminate_Credit_Card_Debt.htm

The Application of Pre-paid Cash Card for Consumers

d Prepaid cash cards are plastic cards. It works almost looks like a credit or debit card, and gives users the ability to purchase products and services with a card but with a critical difference - you can only spend the balance that has been preloaded onto the card. This means there is no risk of running into debt as it has no credit or overdraft facility. Prepaid cash cards can be used to make payment for goods and services as well.

Money can be loaded on to a prepaid cash card before any purchase transaction. That will be your spending limit.

Application of Prepaid Cash Cards :

You can use your prepaid cash card in several ways such as
'Pay the bills like rent, utilities, insurance, car payment, and cell phone bills;
'To shop online, you'll find the item you want to buy and click on to the website's "checkout" page before filling in your details and those of your prepaid card. As long as you have enough cash loaded on your card;
'Pay for toll by using Touch n Go card, it can be used at all highways in Malaysia. Touch n Go also can be used in KTM and LRT and that can be used in car park of any shopping mall.

There are several examples of prepaid cash card:

aMasterCard Gift- Travel and General Purpose Prepaid cards are quick and easy to use, safer than cash, more flexible than gift certificates or single merchant gift cards or travelers cheques,

are often reloadable, and deliver the peace of mind of Zero Liability.

aKing Grant Money- You preload with an amount of money in that country's currency, then you can use the card at any store, or airport or anywhere, were Master card or a Visa card van be used. It lowers your transaction costs. When you are traveling with your Credit card, you are making debt as you go, and then they charge a lot for that transaction.

aPre-paid Vista Cash Card- It is issued by Four Oaks Bank & Trust Company, is a stored value card designed for those who may have difficulty in obtaining a standard unsecured credit card and do not need to build or establish their credit. The card does require a banking account to be opened when applying online or a security deposit to be made through the mail. It also requires payments in advance, which is then used to offset future purchases made with the card.

Mobile payment systems in Malaysia: Its potentials and consumers’ adoption strategies

For the adoption from Wikipedia website, Mobile payment (also referred to as mobile web payment or WAP billing) is the collection of money from a consumer via a mobile device such as their mobile phone, SmartPhone, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or other such device.The mobile payment can be used to purchase any number of digital goods and physical goods. For example digital goods are ring tones, games, wallpaper for mobile phone and the booking cinema ticket and air ticket. Usually purchase digital good are through by SMS based transaction payments or mobile web payment (WAP).

Mobile web payments (WAP)
This is where the consumer uses web pages displayed or additional application s/he downloaded and installed on his/her mobile phone to make a payment. It uses WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) as underlying technology, thus inherits all the advantages and disadvantages of WAP. However, using a familiar web payment model gives a number of a few proven benefits:

1)Follow-on sales where the mobile web payment can lead back to a store or to other goods the consumer may like. These pages have a URL and can be bookmarked making it easy to re-visit or share with friends.

2)customer satisfaction from quick and predictable payments

3)Ease of use from a familiar set of online payment pages

However, unless mobile account is directly charged through mobile network operator, use of credit/debit card or pre-registration at online payment solution such as PayPal is still required just as in desktop environment.

Mobile web payment methods are now being mandated by a number of mobile network operators.

A number of different actual payment mechanisms can be used behind a consistent set of web pages.

Direct operator billing
A direct connection to the operator billing platform requires integration with the operator, but provides a number of benefits:
1)Simplicity - the operators already have a billing relationship with the consumers
Instantaneous payments giving the highest customer satisfaction
2)Accurate responses showing success and reasons for failure (no money for example)
3)Security to protect payment details and consumer identity
4)Best conversion rates from a single click-to-buy and no need to enter any further payment details.
5)Reliability that builds confidence
6)Reduced customer support costs for merchants and operators
7)Higher payout rates with operators such as Vodafone in the UK delivering up to 86% in some cases

Credit Card
A simple mobile web payment system can also include a credit card payment flow allowing a consumer to enter their card details to make purchases. This process is familiar but any entry of details on a mobile phone is known to reduce the success rate (conversion) of payments.
In addition, if the payment vendor can automatically and securely identify customers then card details can be recalled for future purchases turning credit card payments into simple single click-to-buy giving higher conversion rates for additional purchases.

Online (such as PayPal)
Online companies like PayPal, Amazon Payments and Google Checkout also have mobile options. These require customer to register with a personal pin before making payments. Subsequent payments also require a pin code to be used. This is known to lower the success rate (conversion) for payments.
Companies like PayPal, Amazon Payments and Google Checkout can be integrated with directly or can be combined with operator and credit card payments through a unified mobile web payment platform.

Mobile Web Payment Providers
Mobile web payment providers include Billing Revolution, PayPal, Google, Amazon Payments, Luup, Javien, Valista, etc

In Malaysia, mobile payment is recently services developing fast. This service is effective providing customers with admission or money off vouchers which can be unique coded or designed to allow viral spread. The mobile channel can be effectively used as a self-funding and revenue generating medium. This service covers all mobile operators on Malaysia; it’s for prepaid and postpaid service billings.

Mobile payments services indeed have a great potential and advantage. Consumers are more comfortable with low-value transactions over such non-traditional means. Common applications will include payment for transportation, parking, restaurants, convenience stores, retail outlets, e-tickets to name a few - typically for low-value items. This helps especially when consumers are in need of cash but doesn’t have any in hand, therefore with mobile payments they do not need to even search for an ATM machine to withdraw the needed money for the payment.


For consumers’ adoption strategies, in Malaysia, most of the company will reward the consumer by giving gift at certain level of purchasing or giving redemption of reward. Beside that, some of the company will give extra credit to customers which are Hotlink user. With certain call and receive will accumulated the points to redeem air time or sms.

The application of 3rd party certification programme in Malaysia

The application of 3rd party certification programme in Malaysia

The most famous application of 3rd party certification program in Malaysia is provided by the MSC Trustgate.com Sdn Bhd. MSC Trustgate.com Sdn Bhd was incorporated in 1999 and is a licensed Certification Authority (CA) under the operation of the Multimedia Super Corridor. Certification Authority is the body given the license to operate as a trusted third party in the issuance of digital certificates.

The objective of MSC Trustgate is to secure the open network communications from both locally and across the ASEAN region. Trustgate provide digital certification services such as digital certificates, cryptographic products and software development. The products and services of Trustgate are SSL Certificate, Managed PKI, Personal ID, MyTRUST, MyKAD ID, SSL VPN, Managed Security Services, VeriSign Certified Training and Application Development. The vision of Trustgate is to enable organizations to conduct their business securely over the internet, as much as what they have been enjoying in the physical world.

Trustgate offer the following SSL certificate for our service security:

i)Global Server IDGlobal Server ID adopts today's strongest encryption commercially available for secure communications via Server Gated Cryptography (SGC) technology. GSID authenticates your web sites and enables 128- or 256-bit encryption to secure communications and transactions between the site and its visitors. Every purchase of GSID comes with a VeriSign Secured Seal that you can display on your web site. The seal is an instant proof that your web site is genuine because you have been verified by the World Leader of SSL Provider, and your customers can conduct business with you free of worry.

ii)Secure Server IDSecure Site SSL Certificates protect the transfer of sensitive data on Web sites, intranets, and extranets using a minimum of 40-bit and up to 256-bit encryption. It includes VeriSign Secured Seal.

Related link : http://www.msctrustgate.com/

Electronic Currency

Electronic Currency



Electronic Currency also known as e-money, electronic cash, electronic money, digital money, digital cash or digital currency. Actually, electronic currency is refers to money or scrip which is exchanged only electronically. It is involves use of computer networks, the internet and digital stored value systems. For examples: Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) , direct deposit and etc. It is also a collective term for financial cryptography and technologies enabling it.


Electronic Currency Trading System (ECTS)

ECTS is an electronic currency trading investment platform that offers its clients an efficient way to trade foreign currencies against the strength and weakness of the US dollar. Utilizing its database of historical price patterns and technical indicators, the complex algorithms interwoven into the system allow for the recognition of entry positions with maximum profit potential.
In order to maintain prudent money management, 24-hour stops are put in place to lock in gains as well as prevent heavy losses. There has never been a better time to invest in currency trading than right now.

ECTS Trades the 6 Major Currencies

1. Euro,
2. Yen,
3. Australian $,
4. Canadian $,
5. Swiss Franc
6. British Pound.

It attempts to capture longer term moves, and is not a day-trading system. All currencies are traded on the regulated markets of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Generally all Exchange fees are public. Spreads are consistently tight.
As opposed to many mechanical trading systems, which always seem to lack an “ingredient” such as a stop-loss, or a trailing stop, this system has all the elements that a trader might seek in a mechanical trading system.
ECTS is not a mystery system; anyone who purchases the system has full access to the inputs and logic.

Digital currency exchangers (DCE)

Digital currency exchangers (DCEs, independent exchange providers or e-currency exchangers) are market makers which exchange fiat currency for electronic money, such as digital gold currency (DGC), and/or convert one type of digital currency (DC) into another, such as WebMoney into e-gold. Exchangers apply either a commission or bid/offer spread to transactions.

The Threat Of Online Security:How safe is our data...

Nowadays, the technology at internet is continue grow rapidly, so that everyone also can easily to access to the internet. People rely on computers to create, store and manage critical information. Consequently, it is important for users to aware that computer security plays a major role in protecting their data from loss, damage, and misuse.

There are some websites are not so safety for the users to use this is because some people are created some malicious program such as computer viruses, worms, trojan horses and spyware. So, let us to discuss the threat of online security:

(i) Computer Viruses
Computer viruses is a piece of software code that inserts itself into a host which including the operating systems to spread over and harm the users computer. In the internet world, there have around 80,000 viruses and everyday will have 25 new viruses be created. The examples of computer viruses are I Love You virus, AutoRun and etc.

How Does A Virus Or Worm Infection Affect Us?
Unfortunately, the effects of an infection are pretty unpleasant. The virus or worm, can,

• Disable the computer
• Add, modify or delete files or reformat the hard disk
• Steal addresses held in our computer to send on virus-infected emails to our friends, colleagues, clients or customers
• Send unsolicited bulk email (spam) to those in our mail address books and other users

(ii) Trojan Horses

Trojan horses are a program that appears to be useful but actually is the mask destructive program. The example of Trojan horse is Trojan Xombe which is the mask as email from Microsoft. The hackers will access to the computer and steal the passwords.

How Does A Trojan Infection Affect Us?

A Trojan installed on a computer allows that PC to be entered via a 'backdoor' by any remote user that has the access code to the Trojan.

The remote attacker can enter the computer undetected, when the user is online, to access or destroy any information stored. Alternatively, the Trojan can be programmed to automatically send any information on our PCs back to the attacker. This could include,

• Client or customer information or other business data
• Credit card details
• Passwords for access to your online bank, ISP or web services
• Information you would rather remain hidden
• Email addresses, which may be used for spamming
• Children's names, photographs, ages or other personal details held on the computer
• Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attack on other computers via the victim's computer

(iii) Spyware

Spyware is the software that gathers user information through the user’s Internet connection without the user knowledge.

How Does Spyware Affect Us?

Surveillance or monitoring spyware can scan our hard drive and search programs for sensitive information like credit card, bank information and personal details.

It can change our browser's home page, scan browser history for web sites visited and monitor various aspects of our computer and Internet activity! The information is then transmitted to the attacker.

More and more companies are installing spyware to watch us at work to check that we are not using the company network to surf prohibited sites or spending too much time dealing with personal email.

How To Safeguard Our Pesonal And Financial Data

I believed all of you are know what is internet ,right? Nowadays, internet is commonly in use. A lot of transaction will be done via internet, and so there always has a risk of theft of our personal and financial data. Most of the website has provided the privacy and security to user, such as: Secure Socket Layer (SSL), require password customization, monitor industry standards and etc. Although, data stolen cases are still increasing in our society nowadays. Therefore,we need to protect and safeguard our personal and financial data against misuse or theft by others. Below will be some suggestion ways to share with you to safeguard your data:
1)Password protect: use a strong password or pass-phrase to protect your access data.
2)Secure your computer. If you manage your accounts online, make sure that your computer has up-to-date spyware, antivirus protection, and firewall software—and that you use it.
3)Protect your Social Security number. Store your card in a safe place and avoid giving the number to others.
4) Install a firewall: a firewall is a software program designed to allow good people in and keep bad people out. Most new computers come with firewalls integrated into their operating systems. If you have an older computer or using dial-up, you may need to buy a firewall separately and install it yourself.
5)Pay attention when using an ATM and keep your eyes peeled for anyone who seems a little too interested in your transactions. Use your free hand to shield the keypad when entering your PIN. Besides that, banker can add on fingerprint scanning on ATM machine.
6)Never give out your personal information like Social Security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, credit card number over the telephone unless you initiated the call to a trusted organization.
7)Don't reply to requests for personal information. Never reply to, or click a link in, an unsolicited e-mail. Nor should you give out personal information over the phone if you didn't initiate the call.
Even thought the internet is very convenient to us but it is really a need to protect our personal and financial data against any losses.

related link:

http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST06-008.htmlus-cert.gov/cas/tips/ST06-008.html

https://onlineservices.ubs.com/olsauth/public/SE/OLS/customerPrivacy37.jsp

http://gigaom.com/2007/12/26/how-to-safeguard-your-privacy-online/

Phishing: Examples and its prevention methods

What is phishing?

Phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Phishing is carried out by e-mail or instant messaging, and it often directs users to enter details at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one. Phishing is an example of social engineering techniques used to fool users , and exploits the poor usability of current web security technologies. Attempts to deal with the growing number of reported phishing incidents include legislation, user training, public awareness, and technical security measures.


Examples of phishing email

Ex1:

From: Chase Online

Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 10:14 AM

Subject: WaMu & Chase. Safe & Secure - Message id XLKLTRZBGW

WaMu customers: we're proud to welcome you to one of the nation's largest banks; as of September 25, 2008, all WaMu customer deposits are now deposits of JPMorgan Chase, one of the most stable banks in America.
What will change;
Some aspects of the ONLINE SERVICES: Chase Online and WaMu Online
DEADLINE: December, 30, 2008
What you need to do:
Update your information by visiting Chase Online or WaMu Online. Log on to your account and you will be re-directed to the client information update screen.

If you have not signed up for online access, you can enroll easily by clicking "Enroll" at the bottom of the Login page.

Please do not reply to this message. For questions, please call Customer Service. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sincerely,
Carter Franke
Chief Marketing Officer
Member Services

This site is directed at persons in the United States only. Persons outside the United States may visit International Banking.

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©2008 JPMorgan Chase & Co


Ex2:

From: survey@survey.chase.com
To: Recipient
Sent: 11/21/2008 8:17:54 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subject: Customer Satisfaction Survey

Dear Chase client,

Due to the rumors of financial crisis, Chase has decided to make a nationwide survey. The information collected will be used to improve our services and your banking experience with us. For the completion of this survey, we will credit your account with $100.

To take part, please click here.

Note - The information we gather from this survey will not be handed down to any third party.

© 2008 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Ex3:

To: Recipient

Subject: Add 50$ to your account in 2 minutes!

Dear Customer,

You are invited to take part in our nation-wide 5 question survey. Your time is very important to us so $50 will be credited to your account upon the completion of this survey.

Please note that no sensitive information will be required, collected or stored. The information will be used to further improve our services.

To take part please click here.

© 2008 JPMorgan Chase & Co.



Methods to prevent phishing

Keep Your Email and Instant Message Addresses Private

Better prevent them from landing in your email box in the first place. You may find it useful to have a separate email address for financial institutions, one for trusted friends and family, and one for general or public use. Many email providers will allow you to redirect emails from each of these different addresses to one account to minimize the inconvenience of checking each account. Do everything possible to keep the address you use for financial transactions as private as possible.

Immediately Report Suspected Phishing Contacts

If receive a message that are suspect , call the customer service phone number right away to confirm whether you've received an actual message or not. In addition, almost every bank and credit card lender has a website where you can report suspicious emails and instant messages.

Limit Your Dialogue

The phishing perpetrators might encourage you to communicate with them and attempt to play mind games with him or her. So, the best thing you can do is simply report their activities and move on with your life.

In many cases, almost all of these messages are automated - so attempting to play mind games only leads to more frustration on your part. Just keep reporting them to your bank and the FBI, if necessary. While you may be tempted to send along a nasty letter to the perpetrator, it is better to simply set up a spam blocker and try to ignore them.

When you are threatened with the loss of access to a bank account, it may be very easy to justify giving up sensitive information. The best thing you can do is report anything you suspect as phishing and let the bank and the authorities manage it from there.

How E-commerce can reduce cycle time, improve emplyees' empowerment and facilitate customer..

Cycle Time

Cycle time is the total time from the beginning to the end of your process, as defined by you and your customer. Cycle time includes process time, during which a unit is acted upon to bring it closer to an output, and delay time, during which a unit of work is spent waiting to take the next action.

In a nutshell - Cycle Time is the total elapsed time to move a unit of work from the beginning to the end of a physical process.
E-commerce can reduce cycle time by making the sales process across the internet between dealers and customers. Dealers can create their own web page to display their goods and services accordingly for customer to surf and refer. So, if the customers want to buy it can just take the order through internet easily. Then, the dealers can just delivery the goods or provide the services to the customers in a short time. So, dealers and customers can save cost and time through e-commerce.

Employee empowerment is a term used to express the ways in which non-managerial staff can make autonomous decisions without consulting a boss. These self-willed decisions can be small or large depending upon the degree of power with which the company wishes to invest employees. Employee empowerment can begin with training and converting a whole company to an empowerment model.

To begin employee empowerment in the workplace is to install a suggestion box, where workers can make suggestions without fear of punishment or retribution. Managers must then be willing to read and consider suggestions. They might provide a forum where questions or suggestions. In addition, managers can hold a once monthly meeting open to employees where all suggestions are addressed. In another hand, if employees gain the authority to make decision can help increase customers confident. Besides that, employee empowerment can also help to unlock the employee potential and create employee loyalty.

Customer Support

Customer service (also known as Client Service) is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. On the others side, Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer expectation. Its importance varies by product, industry and customer. As an example, an expert customer might require less pre-purchase service (i.e., advice) than a novice. In many cases, customer service is more important if the purchase relates to a “service” as opposed to a “product". Customer service may be provided by a person, or by automated means called self-service. Examples of self service are Internet sites.

Internet provides 7/24/365 day to connect with the customer as well as provide the customers services. It is easily for customers to gain the related information in anytime and at anywhere that customers want. Besides that, Computer can help to store the information of customer and therefore help the company to better understand of the customer need.

The history and evolution of E-commerce

Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce .It consists of the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks.
In the early development, the meaning of electronic commerce has changed over the last 30 years. Originally, electronic commerce meant the facilitation of commercial documents like purchase order or invoices electronically. The growth and acceptance of credit cards, automated teller machines (ATM) and telephone banking in the 1980s were also forms of electronic commerce. From the 1990s onwards, electronic commerce would additionally include enterprise resource planning systems (ERP), data mining and data warehousing.
Although the Internet became popular worldwide in 1994, it took about five years to introduce security protocols allowing continual connection to the Internet. And by the end of 2000, a lot of European and American business companies offered their services through the World Wide Web.
E-Commerce was birth out of the World-Wide-Web (WWW). Although many people use the terms WWW and Internet interchangeably, the WWW is just one of the many services available on the Internet. While the Internet was developed in the late 1960s, the WWW came into existence more than a decade ago. Since then, however, it has grown phenomenally to become the most widely used service on the Internet.Although the Web has made online shopping possible for many businesses and individuals, in a broader sense, e-commerce has existed for many years. For decades, banks have been using electronic funds transfer (EFT),which are electronic transmissions of account exchange information over private communication networks. Businesses also have been engaging in a form of electronic commerce, known as electronic data interchange (EDI), for many years.
Indeed, e-commerce has evolved from online billboards to a fully functional, personalized shopping experience over the past decade. While there were admittedly a few bumps along the road, the path from 1994 through the 2004 holiday shopping season is full of crucial milestones of Internet pioneers and technology innovators.

E-commerce failure and its causes

Pets.com (1998-2000)

Why did it fail?

1. An underfunded land-grab strategy:. Like many other dot-coms, Pets.com saw an opportunity and rushed to claim its share of the pet supplies Internet real-estate. According to this "land grab" strategy a business entering a new category should focus on increasing its market share. Once the sales are there they'll find ways to make a profit. Accordingly, many spent millions of dollars trying to get a share of the minds and wallets of the Internet community and some may have succeeded in grabbing the real-estate they were after. But Pets.com's problem is that they seem to have overestimated the real number of active Internet surfers. Many people have "access" to the Internet yet very rarely use it. And among those who do, a little less than half purchase goods on-line.
The "land grab" strategy presupposes that your market is large enough or will grow fast enough so that revenue allows a profit before seed money runs out. Pets.com , as well as many other Internet ventures, did not have a large enough market nor did it have the seed money to wait for its growth.


2. Poor consumer positioning: Pets.com failed to give its prospective customers a reason for its existence. Its tongue in cheek advertising claim ("Because pets don't drive") seemed like an admission of its lack of a reason for being. And, after all, why should one shop for pet supplies (namely cat, dog or bird supplies) in a venue other than that the place where one usually purchases groceries? I am not dismissing the fact that Pets.com offered a lot of information about pet health, grooming, behavior, etc. But these services would not justify another shopping trip, even a virtual one. Of course, supplies for unusual pets with special needs would be the exception, but not a market large enough to make a business.


3. An unsustainable business model: many Internet ventures seem to think they can sell merchandise at unbeatable prices because of their low overhead and superior efficiency. Profits will come from incidentals, such as inflated shipping charges, renting out their customer list and advertising on their website. Yet respect for the customer's intelligence should negate these ploys. Many customers, when they uncover the shipping charges, simply abandon their virtual shopping cart and do not complete the transaction. As to the use of one's customer list to generate profit... it may be a short term palliative: the deluge of junk mail and direct mail will make the consumer wiser and withhold information. Furthermore it is very likely that our legislators will further curtail the practice as they have in several European countries. Lastly there is the issue of "advertising" as a source of profit. There is some revenue potential in banner ads but it is limited in great part by the fact that they aren't really advertising, i.e., communication of a sales message with a lingering branding effect, but promotional tools akin to store coupons which aren't usually distributed for their advertising communication value.


As a conclusion, Pets.com was never able to give pet owners a compelling reason to buy supplies online. After they ordered kitty litter, a customer had to wait a few days to actually get it. And let's face it, when you need kitty litter, you need kitty litter. Moreover, because the company had to undercharge for shipping costs to attract customers, it actually lost money on most of the items it sold. Amazon.com-backed Pets.com raised $82.5 million in an IPO in February 2000 before collapsing nine months later.

E-commerce success and its causes

Ebay is an online phenomenon. We can buy or sell anything imaginable, from designer handbags to cars to some wacky knick knack we found at a garage sale. And ebay is also the one of the success e-commerce that we can seem nowadays. In 1995, that was a man name Pierre Omidyar who starts engage online garage sale at home. The first name eBay used was Echo Bay Technology. But, unfortunately, when the company tried to register the domain name echobay.com, they found that it was already in use. So, they shortened the name to eBay.com and then it becomes the name of the website that you have seen today.

EBay allow people to bargain and bid for the item they want and make them really enjoy the competition of the bidding process. Ebay has provided many things for user to buy such as clothing, accessories, electronics, household goods, toys and sporting goods. It can attrack different kind of people to use ebay. It is very convenient and save our time because even we do not go out for shopping , we also can buy our favorites things through ebay. It is a security online transaction because ebay is using credit card payment, so that it would not lost money .Besides that, having an eBay store can help us generate more income than just running auctions.It is also a benefit for the user who want earn money through the ebay.

related link:

http://www.cs.brandeis.edu/~magnus/ief248a/eBay/history.html

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/2127.html?welcome=1213184390

Hi, is me, Seow Cheng!!!

I am Tiong Seow Cheng.I come from group5 and I am a year 3 sem 1 accounting student. My hobby is play badminton. That is because play badminton not only can help me to keep the strong and healthy body but also can train my brain how to bear down the other player.
The top 5 website that I visited the most are:
1. http://www.yahoo.com/
I can find out all the information that I need from this website such as healthy information, fashion, game and so on.
2. http://www.youtube.com/
This website have provide many kind of movies. For example,English movies, chiness movies and others language movies. I can also watch MTV and entertainment programme throughout this website.
3. http://www.msn.com/
I like to use this website because this is very convenient nowadays.We no need use phone or directly go to find our friends,use this website we able to chat with our friend all the time. The most important is it is free of charge. It can help us save money and save the time.
4. http://www.friendster.com/
Using this website, I can find out all my primary school and secondary school’s friend. Besides that, we can share our picture with each other. So,even though we have not seen for a long time, but I still can see their recent look.
5. http://www.haoting.com/
This website provided us many kind of music whatever it is latest song or oldest song and chiness song or English song. We can find out from this website. At the time, it also provide lyric ,so we can singing while we are listening to the music.

Swee Wen Here.....

My name is Swee Wen, I come from Seremban, a town in Negeri Sembilan. Now study in Utar Campus and taking accounting course Year 3 Sem 1. I am staying in Cypress Condo now with other housemates as well as my classmate. My family consists of my parents, brother, three sisters and me. They are also the people that I most caring.
I like listening music and surfing net when I am free. Besides that, I will go ktv or cinema and play badminton with my friends during idle times. These are the most of my outdoor activities in Sg. Long.
The top 5 websites that I visited the most are:
1. http://www.yahoo.com/ - I like to visit this website because I can search a variety of information from here. It also helps us a lot during our assignments.
2. http://www.tom365.com/ - This website allow me download some favorite drama. I more prefer download the TVB drama. I enjoy watching the drama while it is downloading.
3. http://www.hotmail.com/ - I will check my email every day. I also will forward some meaningful messages to my friends and also send private message or sharing picture with others. If anyone have the same interest, can add me also. My email address is sweewen88@hotmail.com.
4. http://www.friendster.com/ - This website allow me to get more friends around the world. Besides that, it can also let us chatting and share some photos each other.http://www.ownskin.com/ - I like visit this website because here can download many hand phone’s theme. There have much kind of themes and hand phone models that let visitors to choose based on our favorite.

Catherine

I feel proud that I was named as Catherine Chew Kit Yeng, it is because the name had represented me as a nice and happy girl. My hobby is watch HK drama and some TV show, I like to watch them because I can feel relax and comfortable while enjoying my leisure time, it also help me escapes from stress that create in our study life. During this year 3 of my UTAR life, I will try to do my best on every subject I take and enjoy this study.

5 website that I always visit:

www.facebook.com The reason is I can surf the latest life photo of my good friends.

www.hotmail.com This website help me to store the e-mail that my friends or others people sent to me.

www.wikipedia.org This site help me discover some special knowledge that I can’t get from book. Besides, whenever I meet some strange and weird info, I can use this website to discover the meaning and learn from it.

www.google.com.my This is the best search that I need anytime. Whatever I need I can go through this website and sure it can satisfy me.
www.baidu.com This website allows me to know the latest celebrity news and allows me to download the MP3 from the internet. Sometimes I also can search some information through this website

Hi, i am Wei Xun

Hi everyone, I am Wei Xun , 21 years old, live in KL , Wangsa Maju. Now study in Utar, accounting course Year 3 Sam 1. This is the 1st time I write blog. I hope u all will like it. My hobbies are playing computer games, watching horror movie and comedy, eating and others. Me just a simple guy, come from a moderate well off family, have 1 father, 1 mother, 1 brother and 1 younger sister.



The top 5 websites that I visited the most are:
1. http://www.yahoo.com/ : this is because it is my internet explorer homepage, and I like to search assignment information on this website.
2. http://www.haoting.com/ : this is the main website for me listen songs when I am boring. It has many updated new and old songs, include Chinese and English songs.
3. http://www.friendster.com/ : this is the website that me use to see friends recently news and made more friends with same hobbies.
4. http://www.youtube.com/ : this website provides many variety types of video clips for us to see, some clips are funny and u can also upload your video on it.
5. http://www.garena.com/ : this is my online game website which allows players to play dota game with each others. It is a strategy games, it is fun if u know how to play.