Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Apple has done a lot over the last couple of years to make the iPad more attractive as a laptop replacement, and many of those improvements center on multitasking. Thats great, but the problem is figuring outhow to use all these multitasking tricks.

Were here to help. Below, well show you all the multitasking features that work with most current iPads as of iPadOS 13.4, ranging from relatively familiar concepts like Split View and Slide Over to trickier features like Picture in Picture. Once you learn them all, Apples tablet can feel like a vastly different device.

Keep in mind that not every app supports all these features (although plenty do). In other words, if youre having trouble, say, getting an app to work in Split View, that may simply be because the app doesnt support it.

Split View multitaskingor split-screen, as youll often hear it calledis probably the most common means of multitasking on the iPad, as it allows you to view two apps side-by-side. It doesnt work with every app, and you can only use it with apps you have in the Dock: either in the permanent library on the left side or in the recently opened section on the right. Fortunately, you can add many apps to the Dock now by dragging down their icons from the home screen and the following pages of apps.

In some cases, you can even open two windows from the same app with Split View. Unfortunately, you generally wont know if this works without experimenting. Heres how Split View works.

First, open any app. This app doesnt have to be on the Dock to begin with, although if its already open, its going to end up appearing on the right side of the Dock anyway.

Make your iPads Dock appear by slowly swiping up from the bottom of the screen.

Once the Dock appears, press down on the apps icon and hold your finger there for a fraction of a second. Then drag the little preview window that appears over to either the far right or left side of the screen. If youve done this properly, the existing app will scootch over to make room for the new one.

Drop the new app in place. You should then see the two apps side by side.

In this screenshotwhich corresponds with Step 3Im about to open Ulysses in Split View to the right of Pages. I know it will work because of the blurred interface and the way that Pages has moved over to the left.

To adjust the sizes of the windows in Split View, press your finger on the vertical thin gray line between the windows and move it to the right or left as desired.

To replace one of the apps in Split View with another app, simply repeat the steps above, but remember to drag the new app into the middle of the window for the app you want to replace.

In the middle of the Split View interface, youll see a divider that lets you adjust the sizes of the app windows. Put your finger on the thin gray line in the middle of the divider and push it toward the app you want to closeand keep pushing it off the screen until the app vanishes.

In this screenshot, I want to close Safari in Split View, so Im about to pull the divider all the way to the right.

Slide Over lets you open some apps in a narrow sliver of a window that floats on the left or right side of your screen. Its a little tricky to use, and it frequently ends up covering up key parts of whatever youre watching or reading in the app behind it. Still, its a nice option to have, especially for apps like Music that you might just want to glance at quickly. Heres how to use it.

First, make sure you already have at least one app open. For the screenshots below, Ive used Pages.

Make the iPad dock appear by slowly swiping up from the bottom of the screen. Dont do this too quickly, or you might accidentally go to the Home screen.

Find the app you want to use with Slide Over on your dock. Press and hold the apps icon for a fraction of a second, and then gently pull it up to generalmiddle of your iPads display. Dont go too far to the right or left, or youll activate Split View. (Also, dont press it for too long, or youll make the apps Extra Actions menu pop up.)

In this shot, which corresponds to Step 3, Im opening the Music app in Slide Over while looking at Apples site in Safari. I want the Slide Over window to appear on the right, so Ive pulled it over there without going too far.

The app should immediately appear in a Slide Over window, either to the left or right of the screen, depending on which direction you trended toward as you pulled it from the dock.

To move a Slide Over window to a different side of the screen, place your finger on the thin gray horizontal line at the top of a Slide Over window and pull the window to the left or right.

To make a Slide Over window disappear, hold your finger on the thin gray line and swipe it toward the nearest edge of the screen. You can make the same Slide Over window reappear by swiping away from the edge toward the middle of the screen roughly in the same spot where the thin gray line was before you removed it.

You can also convert a Slide Over window into a Split View window by pressing down on the thin gray line and then dragging the window to either lower corner of the screen. To make a Split View window go back to being a Slide Over panel, press the thin gray line and then drag the app window to the middle of the app thats on the other side of the screen.

You can also use Slide Over to multitask with three apps at once by opening two apps in Split View and then opening the third app with Slide Over. This is especially useful for apps like Music, which dont have to be on the screen the whole time for reference.

To do this, first open two apps at once with Split View. Then drag the new app directly over the thin gray line in the middle of the divider for the two apps. Release your finger, and the third app will appear in a Slide Over window.

Youll know the third app is going to make a Slide Over window if the preview before you release your finger looks like this. If its wider, its just going to replace one of the Split View windows.

Features like Split View and Slide Over arent just useful for comparing notes and the like: You can also use them to share information between two apps. This works with text, images files, and all kinds of other options, and in many cases it saves a little bit of time compared to copying and pasting. For the purposes of this how-to, Ill use text as an example.

Open two apps side by side in Split View or Slide Over. For this how-to, Ive used two word processing apps: Pages and Google Docs.

Select a snippet of text from one app.

Hold your finger on that selection and then drag it over to the app on the other side.

Release your finger. The text should then appear in the other app.

This screenshot is essentially Step 3 in action.

The App Switcher allows you to easily switch between all other open apps, roughly like Expos on the Mac. To use it, swipe up from the bottom of the screen, butwhile still holding your finger downstop somewhere around the middle of the screen. Then lift your finger. You should then see previews of all the apps you have open, and you can sift through them by swiping to the left or right. Press the preview of the app you want, and the app should open.

If youre on an iPad that still has a Home button, you can also just press the Home button twice to make the App Switcher appear. Also, its tricky, but you can also make the App Switcher appear by putting four or five fingertips on the iPads screen and beginning to pinch them together. Release them when the App Switcher appears. Dont pinch all the way, though, as youll just make the Home screen appear.

Note that the App Switcher will also show you which apps are currently paired with other apps through Split View. This allows the App Switcher to be a handy way of working with other apps without losing your Split View pairing.

In this preview, you can see that Ulysses and Safari are paired in Split View.

You can also just swipe through every open app while each app is in full-screen mode by placing four fingertips on the screen and then swiping left or right. As we saw above, you can also change to the App Switcher proper by pinching those four fingers together.

Picture-in-Picture mode lets you keep watching a video or a FaceTime call in a small window even when youre using another multitasking feature like Split View. Unfortunately, it doesnt work with every app, and that includes popular ones like YouTube. Its relatively simple to use, but the features existence isnt terribly obvious. Heres how to use it.

When watching a video or FaceTime call, you should see an icon that looks like two rectangles of different sizes. Press this icon.

The video should immediately shrink down to a corner of the screen.

You can move the Picture-in-Picture display to another part of the screen simply by dragging it aroundand you can also swipe it off the screen, if necessary. You can also make a Picture-in-Picture window go back to full screen by pressing the icon with the two rectangles again.

Picture-in-Picture mode on an iPad.

Apple enhanced the iPad multitasking experience by introducing support for its Magic Trackpad. I recommend looking at our full how-to for more information, as many of the gestures are the sameyoure just making them on the trackpad instead of the screen.

There are some differences, though. For example, if you want to swipe through all the open apps without using the App Switcher, you need to use three fingers on the trackpad and swipe left or right. To perform the same action on the iPad screen itself, as weve seen, you need to use four fingers.

Im not sure why anyone would want to do this, as its hard enough to turn on the above features even intentionally, much less accidentally. But Apple gives you the option, anyway.

To do so, go to the Settings app, press Home Screen & Dock in the panel on the left, and then press Multitasking. From there, you can toggle off Allow Multiple Apps (i.e., Split View and Slide Over), Picture-in-Picture, and gestures.

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How to multitask on the iPad: Split View, Slide Over, and more - Macworld

Deborah M. Marko, Vineland Daily Journal Published 9:15 p.m. ET March 30, 2020

A South Jersey Glass & Door crew replaces the Vineland Soup Kitchen office window, damaged by a rock-hurling vandal, at no cost to the ministry. Vineland Daily Journal

VINELAND An act of violence targeting the Vineland Soup Kitchen is bringing the community together to put it right.

So many people came forward, it turned something negative into a positive, soup kitchen volunteer Tony Centeno told The Daily Journal on Monday.

Over the weekend, someone hurled a rock that shattered the front window of the nonprofits East Landis Avenue office, which also serves as a storage facility.

The ministry, with no extra money to fund the repair, appealed for financial assistance. After volunteers installed plywood over the damage and swept up glass shards, offers of help came in from as far away as California.

Its amazing, the generosity of people that weve experienced, said Darlene Fielder, the soup kitchen director. My cell phone has been blowing up all weekend, people calling out of nowhere, people calling anonymously wanting to donate money to pay for the window.

A few soup kitchen supporters, including Lori Pepper King of Vineland, reached out to South Jersey Glass & Door.

I felt a tugging on my heart this morning from God and felt very strongly that I needed to do something,"she said.I contacted South Jersey Glass this morning.

But the South West Boulevard company was already on it and let King know that they were installing the glass at no charge to the soup kitchen.

It brought me to tears; our wonderful local community supporting each other, Kingsaid. God works wondrous deeds.

A South Jersey Glass & Door crew replace a window at the Vineland Soup Kitchen office on East Landis Avenue that was damaged by a vandal over the weekend. The glass and labor were donated by the Vineland company.(Photo: Deborah M. Marko)

By Monday evening, the shattered 5-by-8-foot window was replaced.

The South Jersey Glass and Doormanagement and employees shunned any accolades, saying helping the soup kitchen during a tough time was just the right thing to do.

To help protect the office in the future, another donor is providinga security system, Fielder said.

Many others are making donations to support the soup kitchen, hosted by Spirit and Truth Ministries, said Matt Milam, the organization's board of trustees president, thanking the community for its show of support.

Meanwhile on social media, many wondered who could do the soup kitchen harm. Soup kitchen officialssaid they weren't notified of an arrest of asuspect, who reportedly wore a mask.

The vandalism did not impact themission to feedthose in need. Food is prepared in the kitchen locatedin the First United Methodist Church basementat Seventh Street and Landis Avenue.

On Monday, they nudged their output up to 175 meals, nearly double their pre-COVID-19 numbers. The pork chops, broccoli and fried cabbage takeouts quickly disappeared into the hands of those who showed up.

We were just discussing tomorrow, Im going to make 200 meals, Fielder said.

Withincreasing demand for hot meals, there areno worries just yet about bare cupboards.

The supply chain is currently stable through the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, based in Egg Harbor Township, and the Gateway Community Action Partnership of Bridgeton.

Were going to be fine;we know how to stretch food out, Fiedler said.

Its the unforeseen expenses that they need to hurdle.

The main expense is takeout containers and utensils. With coronavirus-related regulations closing their dining room, the soup kitchen must package meals to grab and go.

To arrange a donation, please call Spirit and Truth Ministries at 856-692-2603.

Contributions may be mailedto Spirit & Truth Ministries, P.O. Box 89, Vineland, N.J. 08362.

Deborah M. Marko is a senior reporterwith The Daily Journal. Currently focused on breaking news and education issues, she also oversees community outreach programs that promote literacyand public safety.Got a story idea? Call 856-563-5256. Followon Twitter: @dmarko_dj Instagram: deb.marko.dj Help support local journalism with a The Daily Journal subscription.

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Community rallies to help Vineland Soup Kitchen recover after act of vandalism - The Daily Journal

Microsoft on Monday teased a few future features of its Edge web browser and Teams slack-killer. It also announced the rebranding of its cloud productivity suite Office 365 as Microsoft 365 a subscription offering that already included Office 365, alongside Windows 10 Enterprise services and security features.

The Windows-and-cloud biz halted Edge stable channel updates ten days ago when Google's Chromium team did the same. This latest Edge revision, 80.0.361.69, for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, was released on March 19 and Microsoft is only now getting around to shining a spotlight on its work.

The Edge update incorporates several previously trumpeted features. There's Collections, a form of rich media bookmarking; InPrivate mode, which gets rid of history, cookies, and site data when a session is closed; and Immersive Reader, a clutter suppression tool to make web pages more readable and accessible.

While the Stable update channel is on hiatus, Microsoft is promising features that haven't yet been fully baked. At some point in the not so distant future, we're assured, InPrivate mode will hide Bing searches, users will be able to display browser tabs vertically, Smart Copy will allow copying and pasting content in a way that retains rich web formatting, and there will be a Password Monitor service (similar to Chrome's and Firefox's) to notify users when credentials auto-saved in Edge show up on the internet.

In a blog post, Liat Ben-Zur, corporate VP of Microsoft Edge, said these features can be expected to appear in Edge Insider builds "in the next few months."

Like the Paul Masson Mountain Winery, which long ago via spokesperson Orson Welles proclaimed, "We will sell no wine before its time," Ben-Zur offered reassurance that Microsoft will ship Edge code only when it's ready.

"We will continue to be quality driven as we release new features," said Ben-Zur. "That means that all features will be tested in the Insider channels, starting in Canary and progressing to Stable only when we are satisfied with the level of stability and quality. If you downloaded the new Edge, all you have to do is wait."

Those who can't wait can try Edge 83.0.461.1, which debuted on Friday, via Microsoft's Edge Dev channel.

Microsoft however did have more present-focused news, by which we mean taking place only three weeks hence: On April 21, Office 365 will become Microsoft 365.

That means Office 365 Personal and Office 365 Home subscriptions will be replaced by Microsoft 365 Personal and Microsoft 365 Family subscriptions, $7 and $10 respectively per month. These represent the first consumer-focused Microsoft 365 subscriptions.

The company also announced two Microsoft 365 additions: the Microsoft Family Safety app and Microsoft Teams for consumers, which should show up in preview "in the coming months." Hopefully then coronavirus lockdowns will have abated, which means Redmond has missed another opportunity to expand.

The reason for the name change has something to do with AI: "An evolution of Office 365, Microsoft 365 builds on the foundation of Office infusing new artificial intelligence (AI), rich content and templates, and cloud-powered experiences to empower you to become a better writer, presenter, designer, manager of your finances, and deepen your connection to the people in your life," explained Yusuf Mehdi, corporate VP for modern life, search, and devices at Microsoft, in a blog post.

In practical terms, that means those crafting documents or other media in Microsoft 365 can get help from AI tools like an expanded version of Microsoft Editor. Accessible via Word and Outlook.com, and as a separate browser extension for Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome, Microsoft Editor does algorithmically-assisted spelling and grammar checking, as well as plagiarism detection. It can also offer Rewrite suggestions for those who can't come up with a suitable way to rephrase a particular passage.

The Family Safety app, for Android or iOS users with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, can manage screen time on Windows PCs, Android and Xbox, location sharing, and notifications. It will also provide parents with driving reports on inexperienced drivers without Microsoft promises ratting out careless kids to insurance companies and potentially inflating premium payments.

Alongside the consumer-oriented rebranding, some of Microsoft's small business-oriented offerings will get new names: Office 365 Business Essentials will become Microsoft 365 Business Basic; Office 365 Business Premium will become Microsoft 365 Business Standard; Microsoft 365 Business will become Microsoft 365 Business Premium; and Office 365 Business and Office 365 ProPlus will both become Microsoft 365 Apps.

But not all of them: Office 365 for Enterprise, Office 365 for Firstline Workers, Office 365 for Education, and Office 365 for Government will continue to be known by their birth names.

"Were always looking for ways to simplify," explained Jared Spataro, corporate VP for Microsoft 365 in a separate blog post. "This new approach to naming our products is designed to help you quickly find the plan you need and get back to your business."

Sponsored: Webcast: Why you need managed detection and response

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Official: Office 365 Personal, Home axed next month... and replaced by Microsoft 365 cloud subscriptions - The Register

The following building permits have been issued by the City of Elkins:

Mark Harless applied for a building permit at 102 Fifteenth St. This permit was issued to install stone around the foundation and is valued at $6,000.

Rosetta Thompson applied for a building permit at 211 1/2 Whiteman Ave. This permit was issued to build an accessible ramp and is valued at $2,350.

Marian Pyles applied for a building permit at 3 Lincoln Ave. This permit was issued to replace 18 windows and is valued at $3,384.

WMC Enterprises Inc. applied for a building permit at 19 Main St. This permit was issued for an interior remodel and is valued at $8,000.

Marilynn Cuonzo applied for a building permit at 160 Guy St. This permit was issued to install a metal roof on the garage and is valued at $5,000.

Andrew Hutson applied for a building permit at 100 Findley St. This permit was issued to repair a leak and the ceiling and is valued at $3,200.

Nancy Thompson applied for a building permit at 313 Scott Ford Rd. This permit was issued to build a new ramp and is valued at $800.

Dawn Kittle applied for a building permit at 229 Evergreen Dr. This permit was issued for new exterior doors and trim and is valued at $2,000.

Lisa Armstrong applied for a building permit at 258 Terrace Ave. This permit was issued to replace the roof shingles and is valued at $6,978.

Bryan Lambert applied for a building permit at 203 Wilton Ave. This permit was issued to replace the roof shingles and is valued at $2,300.

Walter Ice applied for a building permit at 209 Washington Ave. This permit was issued for an electrical service inspection and is valued at $500.

Robert Winans applied for a building permit at 1402 Lavalette Ave. This permit was issued to repair the porch and is valued at $500.

Joy Lou Teter applied for a building permit at 201 Whiteman Ave. This permit was issued to build a 4 by 4 deck and is valued at $650.

Kroger #730 applied for a building permit at 450 Eleventh St. This permit was issued to replace the roof and is valued at $365,021.

Joann Cooper applied for a building permit at 636 Robert E. Lee Ave. This permit was issued to add 4 by 16 to an existing deck and is valued at $2,400.

Robert Louk applied for a building permit at 622 Central St. This permit was issued for a 200 amp electric service upgrade and is valued at $1,599.

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City of Elkins Building Permits | News, Sports, Jobs - The Inter-Mountain

Its difficult to focus on anything other than the novel coronavirus outbreak right now, and thats certainly understandable. Its the most important thing happening in the world and it will continue to be for months and months to come. The United States now has more confirmed COVID-19 cases than any other country in the world and thats in spite of the fact that only a fraction of people exhibiting symptoms can get tested since theres still such a shortage on coronavirus tests. Its bad and getting worse, but we also have to remember that life goes on and we have more than just the coronavirus to protect ourselves and our families from.

Amazon has two great deals right now on home security cameras that are just as good as a $200 Nest Cam for a tiny fraction of the price. The first is the Wyze Cam, which has all main features you might want as well as 14 days of free cloud storage for just $24 and change per camera. The second one is on the Yi Home Camera 3, which costs about the same amount but has some more advanced features as well as a 6-month free trial of YIs cloud service. On top of that, you can get the first Yi camera for just $19.50 by using the coupon code GAXSJC8C at checkout.

So why would anyone choose the Wyze Cam over YIs rival? The answer is simple: Amazon is shipping Wyze Cams right away, while new YI Home Camera 3 deliveries are now delayed until mid-April.

If you can wait that long, you should definitely go for the YI model. On top of all the main features youd get with the Wyze Cam, the YI Home Camera 3 also includes advanced AI features like person detection and even sound analytics. The downside is that you only get free 7-day cloud storage for 6 months, and after that youll have to subscribe to YIs cloud service if you want to keep using the cloud. $24.29 for all those features is still a crazy price though, and its great that you can get one for under $20 with the coupon.

As for the Wyze Cam 1080p HD smart home camera, its always a great value and it comes with 14 days of free cloud storage for free. Thats not a limited-time trial, mind you youll enjoy free cloud storage for as long as you own your cameras. As we also mentioned, Wyze cameras are still shipping out right away on Amazon despite the retailers shift in focus away from nonessentials. Youll pay $25.98 for one camera or $24.46 if you by them in 2-packs, and theyll be on your doorstep in just a few days.

Follow @BGRDeals on Twitter to keep up with the latest and greatest deals we find around the web. Prices subject to change without notice and any coupons mentioned above may be available in limited supply. BGR may receive a commission on orders placed through this article, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

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Youll be shocked at how good these $24 home security cameras are on Amazon - BGR

See, hear, watch and speak with this award winning, connected, smart home security solution.

Imou has announced the availability of its award winning, world first Artificial Internet of Things (AIoT) home security camera, Ranger IQ. It combines the latest AI and motion tracking technology with a hypermobile camera system and easy-to-use app, delivering premium security at an affordable price.

Looking sharp, day or night

Its sleek, spherical design allows the Ranger IQ to rotate 355 degrees and tilt 90 degrees, ensuring every corner of the room is covered, leaving zero blind spots. Android and iOS-compatibility means users can watch, store, and re-watch footage in Full HD, 1080p resolution using Imous Cloud service, wherever they have internet access.

The Ranger IQ also offers clear images in low light conditions thanks to the embedded Sony Starlight sensor. This advanced imaging technology offers vivid full-colour streaming even in low-light conditions, without sacrificing image quality when the sun goes down.

Follows and recognises

The Ranger IQs advanced AI human detection software automatically focuses on and quickly identifies and recognises human targets. Additionally, the Ranger IQ can track a target while live streaming and recording simultaneously - logging their movement around your home. It can even distinguish between humans and animals, saving pet owners in particular from false alarms or unnecessary worry.

Using Airfly technology, the Ranger IQ can be connected to Imous range of motion detectors, sirens and door sensors. This means it can get to know your home habits, alerting you when it detects unusual activity. It can even be set to deter unwelcome strangers with a built in siren, and the Two-Way Talk feature is perfect for interacting with pets or visitors who unexpectedly drop by.

In addition to being packed with convenient features, the Ranger IQ also detects abnormal sounds via its built-in siren. This sends users an alert to their smartphone if it hears anything out of the ordinary within the home, such as a baby crying or breaking glass, keeping you aware of whats going on, even if youre not there.

Alexa, show me my camera

Compatible with smart home assistants including Amazons Alexa and Google Assistant, the Ranger IQ allows users to operate the camera without having to lift a finger.

But if a homeowner wants some privacy for themselves and their guests, Ranger IQs convenient Privacy Mode means one tap automatically lowers the cameras lens, protecting personal privacy while youre at home.

Available to buy on Amazon for the affordable price of 85.99 RRP, the Ranger IQ sets to revolutionise affordable security, offering homeowners customisable and connected peace of mind, protecting whats inside your home, wherever you are: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Imou-Security-Surveillance-Detection-Starlight/dp/B081VB77QW/

About Imou

Imou, whose parent company is Dahua Technology, is a world-leading video-centric smart IoT solution and service provider. With 19 years of expertise in the industry, the company serves global IoT users with a 3-in-1 business system encompassing Imou Cloud, smart devices and intelligent technologies.

Designed for home and small and medium-sized business (SMB) users, Imou provides comprehensive smart IoT solutions for different scenarios. The open cloud platform that allows third-party integration makes Imou perfect for building smart IoT ecosystems, creating greater value for partners and users.

Dahua Technology also has been ranked 2nd for five years in a row in the global CCTV & video surveillance equipment market - https://cdn.ihs.com/www/pdf/1218/IHSMarkit-Security-Technologies-Trends-2019.pdf

Originally posted here:
Ranger IQ is the world's first AIoT home security camera - HEXUS

With COVID-19 concerns canceling face-to-face meetings, be aware of the security risks of videoconferencing and how to easily overcome them

At the time of writing one-third of the worlds population is enduring restricted movement to stem the spread of COVID-19. The lockdown has driven huge swaths of the working population to become remote workers, many for the first time. The sudden surge in employees, students, teachers, and many other professionals working from home is driving a huge increase in demand for videoconferencing, online collaboration tools and chat systems.

On March 11th, Kentik (a network operator based in San Francisco) reported a 200% increase in video traffic during working hours in North America and Asia, and this was before the official lockdown in California or other locations took effect.

Last week UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson shared a picture of himself chairing a cabinet meeting via the Zoom app, demonstrating social distancing even in the highest levels of Government.

The decision was a wise one as he has since tested positive for the coronavirus. However, a meeting at this level over a public conferencing system raised questions about security and the UKs National Cyber Security Centre confirmed there was no security reason why conversations below a certain classification could not take place this way.

If a UK Government meeting is authorized to be held online using a freely available videoconferencing tool, then companies forced to quickly adapt to employees working from home can probably do so with some confidence. However, that does not alleviate the need to understand the built-in security and the need to control how videoconferencing is conducted by using the features available.

Below we outline some key considerations.

Check your environment to ensure that the video stream you are sharing does not contain sensitive information. A whiteboard behind you may have the remnants of a previous meeting, make sure all confidential or sensitive material is removed from the cameras scrutiny. And while weve probably all laughed at cute viral videos of pets or toddlers entering a streaming video interview or meeting, consider the effects such interruptions could have on your meetings and ensure suitable mitigations are in place before starting your meeting.

Most videoconferencing platforms allow for the creation of groups of users or the ability to restrict access by internet domain so only users with an email address from your company would be able to join the call. Alternatively, only allow attendees that are invited by adding their email addresses to the invite when scheduling the call.

Set a meeting password, typically an option when creating the meeting, which adds a randomly generated password that invitees will need to input. A numerical password can be used to authenticate users who connect by phone. Do not embed the password in the meeting link.

Holding participants in a waiting room and approving the connection of each one gives the host ultimate control over who is in the meeting. To handle this for larger meetings you may be able to promote other trusted attendees to an organizer or moderator role.

Enforce encrypted traffic. Do not take it for granted that systems have this option enabled by default for video communications. Some services encrypt chat by default but not video unless specifically requested.

If third-party endpoint client software is permitted, then ensure it complies with the requirements for end-to-end encryption.

If file transfers are needed, then consider limiting the types of files that can be sent; for example, dont allow executable files (such as .exe files).

Its easy to get distracted on conference calls, email and other notification pop-ups and migrate your attention to the content rather than the call in-hand. The host, depending on the platform, may have the ability to request notification when the conferencing client is not the primary (active) window. If youre a teacher, then this feature may be extremely useful if you want to ensure the attention of all your students.

Monitor who joined the call, either by enforcing a registration process to connect or by downloading an attendee list after the call. This is also likely to include the connect and disconnect time, showing whether the user was engaged for the whole call.

Limit the ability for screen sharing to the host, or to a person the host selects. This removes the possibility of someone sharing content by mistake.

When screen sharing, only share the application needed, as opposed to the whole desktop. Even an icon or name of a file on a desktop can give away sensitive company information.

Apples iOS takes screen snapshots used when task switching between apps. To protect against this inadvertently including the capture of sensitive information, check to see if the conference system can blur this image.

Take the time to step through all the options in the settings of the videoconferencing system you may already have or are thinking of using. As you can see from the snapshot of considerations above, there are many settings and finding the right configuration for your environment is an important task to undertake to ensure company communications remain secure.

Lastly, check the privacy policy of the service you are using. The adage that if its free, youre probably the product should be enough motivation for you to check whether the company is collecting, selling or sharing your data to fund the provision of its free service.

If you want to learn more about the increased cybersecurity risks associated with teleworking, as well as about ways to counter them, you may want to read these articles:

COVID-19 and the shift to remote workWork from home: How to set up a VPNWork from home: Improve your security with MFA

Read more here:
Work from home: Videoconferencing with security in mind - We Live Security

Image: Epic Games

Houseparty, a video conferencing desktop and mobile application, said it would pay a $1 million bounty to anyone who could unmask the entity behind what the company described as "a paid commercial smear campaign."

The company's apparent anger comes after Houseparty has been at the center of media reports published yesterday by three British tabloids.

The Sun, the Express, and Mirror Online reported on Monday on a large number of Houseparty users claiming they had social media accounts hacked and taken over after installing the video conferencing app on their smartphones.

Users reported having Netflix, eBay, Instagram, Snapchat, and Spotify accounts taken over; however, very few were able to provide details about what really happened.

Houseparty denied any hacking rumors right from the get-go via a firm statement posted on its Twitter account, claiming that the app "doesn't collect passwords for other sites," and, hence, wouldn't be able to allow anyone to extract this data and pivot to other online services.

However, despite the explanation, the app is now at the center of a public relations disaster. Many of its users appear to believe the reports and are encouraging others to uninstall and delete the app from their devices.

Houseparty officials feel they're now being defamed unjustly in a game of dirty politics.

"We are investigating indications that the recent hacking rumors were spread by a paid commercial smear campaign to harm Houseparty," the app maker said in a tweet today.

"We are offering a $1,000,000 bounty for the first individual to provide proof of such a campaign to bounty@houseparty.com."

A Houseparty spokesperson could not be reached for additional details.

The app rose in popularity during the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak when social distancing and quarantine measures were imposed around the globe.

Just like employees are using Zoom and Google Hangouts Meet to have video conferences with their work colleagues, Houseparty has emerged as the video conference app of choice for teens stuck in their homes.

The Houseparty app was launched in 2016 and has been acquired by Fortnite game maker Epic Games in June 2019 for an undisclosed sum.

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Houseparty app offers $1m reward to unmask entity behind hacking smear campaign - ZDNet

The novel coronavirus pandemic and the actions taken by governments around the world to slow the spread of the virus are taking a huge toll on a wide variety of businesses. Few companies will escape completely unscathed. The U.S. economy will likely suffer a historically large contraction during the second quarter, with some analysts calling for a 25% decline in gross domestic product.

Some stocks have surged throughout this crisis as an increasing number of people are forced to work from home. Zoom Video Communications (NASDAQ:ZM) is a popular one, with investors getting behind the stock due to rising demand for video conferencing software.

The problem with Zoom, though, is that the valuation is about as nonsensical as they come. The company is now valued at nearly $44 billion, despite the entire video conferencing market being worth just a small fraction of that total. Shares trade for more than 60 times sales, an eye-watering ratio.

Whether soaring demand for various work-from-home products like video conferencing software sticks around after the pandemic is over remains to be seen. A pricey stock like Zoom could very well collapse if newer customers turn out to be transient, even if the company itself continues to perform well. Zoom is a classic case of a good company, but a bad stock.

How can you invest in the work-from-home trend without taking huge risks? Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) is your best bet.

Image source: Getty Images.

Like Zoom, Cisco provides video conferencing technology through its WebEx business. WebEx isn't a household name, while Zoom appears to be becoming one, but Cisco is seeing a surge in demand, nonetheless.

Earlier this month, Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins disclosed in an interview that WebEx had powered 5.5 billion meeting minutes in the first 11 business days of March. Robbins also said that the platform is doing four to five times the volume it was built for a month ago. At peak times, volume is 24 times higher than normal.

Cisco is also a big name in cybersecurity. While spending on cybersecurity hardware, software, and services has been growing steadily in recent years, the sudden explosion in remote workers raises new security challenges for companies and organizations.

Cisco expanded some of its free security offerings in March, a move that could lead to more business down the road as the company converts users to paying customers. In the first 24 hours after launching its free security offers and its free WebEx offers, around 240,000 new users had signed up for at least one of them.

Beyond video conferencing and security, Cisco is the market leader in enterprise networking hardware. The company's switches and routers are key Internet infrastructure, and Internet usage is rising in places subject to stay-at-home orders. Increased demand for streaming, online gaming, video conferencing, and other applications could eventually lead service providers to increase capacity, boosting hardware sales in the process.

Cisco is well positioned, in multiple ways, for an increase in people working from home. However, a global recession will almost certainty hurt the company's results as some customers delay or pull back on orders where they can. Cisco is sensitive to global economic uncertainty, and its core business is prone to cycles.

It's impossible to say how Cisco will perform this year, given the high level of uncertainty. The best-case scenario: Increased demand related to work-from-home is enough to offset any other sources of weakness. The worst-case scenario: It's not enough, and revenue slumps, possibly by a lot.

Cisco stock is down more than 30% from its 52-week high. It trades for less than 13 times fiscal 2019 adjusted earnings per share. Earnings could take a hit this year, depending on how things go. But for long-term investors, paying such a low price for a rock-solid tech company is unlikely to turn out badly if your time horizon is measured in years.

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The Top Work-From-Home Stock to Buy Now - Motley Fool

As IT professionals work diligently to provide remote workers with communications and collaboration tools during the coronavirus crisis, one issue has come into full focus security. This topic was touched on in a Zoom webinar last week, during which a panel of company executives and customer CIOs from different industries and Zoom representatives discussed the challenges of enabling remote working.

Getting the Gear, VPN Connections to Employees

"One of the things that companies have always had a problem with is sending people home to work remotely full time," said Gary Sorrentino, a consultant for Zoom, kicking off the conversation on security. When it comes to remote working, many security concerns come from the reliance on a virtual private network (VPN), which might not have enough capacity to support the users, Sorrentino went on to explain.

Another part of the security puzzle is the devices themselves. Ideally, remote workers will be using corporate-owned devices installed with appropriate security software. Thats key, Phanda said. However, unless your company already had outfitted employees with laptops for working at home, getting everybody situated with corporate devices could be logistically challenging, he added. One possible solution comes in the form of recommissioning devices that would have been normally phased out with a refresh program, Phanda recommended.

Executing, Adjusting Security Strategies

While the volume of remote workers might be unprecedented, leveraging an existing security strategy will help alleviate many issues that might arise, said Bryan Ackerman, managing partner and former CIO with the management consulting firm Korn Ferry. "If this is the first time you're exploring a defense in depth strategy.... you've got a different problem to solve," he noted.

By this point in time, for example, every enterprise should have a strategy in place for preventing email phishing, Ackerman said. But, as Sorrentino noted, email filters are having a hard time identifying legitimate and scam emails related to coronavirus. In this case, Ackerman suggested a two-pronged attack: preventing these emails from reaching employees and, when that fails, reminding employees about and retraining them on phishing and security.

The need for vigilance is high, with more security challenges undoubtedly on the way, panelists agreed. As Ackerman said: We're two weeks, three weeks in, in some cases, and we're going to learn as we go. There will undoubtedly be new and different attack patterns that emerge.

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WFH Watchpoints: Remote Working in Times of Crisis - No Jitter