Category: information

Good Reviews for Lousy Products

Which? has warned that user review ratings of products often do not match their own professional reviews.

15 products on the Which? Do Not Buy list have user ratings of at least 4.2 out of 5.

That seems too much of a mismatch.

Now, with reviews of very subjective things such as movies it’s very common for professional critics to have different views to those of the public.

But with everyday products such as hair driers or head phones you wouldn’t expect such a gap unless something a little odd is going on.

In a small number of cases, it has been shown that unscrupulous sellers create fake reviews to promote their products and there have been Facebook groups where people are paid to “review”  products. The reviews are supposed to be impartial but the reviewers know that continuing access to payments is contingent on positive reviews.

However, there are other factors to consider.

Have you ever bought a product and got the email asking for a review before it was delivered or a day or two after delivery. This may be too soon to have even opened the package let alone formed a reliable opinion on it. The easiest answer can be to just say 3 or 4 out of 5 without thinking.

Also, it may be that people are responding positively to a product because it was delivered quickly or good customer service etc. rather than rating the actual quality of the product and its capabilities.

Plus it is the case that many products will take months of usage to really determine their value and many products seem designed to impress but not to last.

The moral is don’t always take user reviews at face value – do read the details and if there aren’t sufficient details to impress you, then consider buying a different product.

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Improving the Quality of Consumer Reviews

Research shows that it is generally the people with strong opinions who leave product reviews and the majority without strong opinions tend not to leave so many reviews.

So that leaves most people with no voice, by their own choice.

Bigger companies, usually have more customers, which can mean a higher likelihood of more reviews, which can mean more potential customers reading the reviews which can lead to more sales.

This can be a virtuous circle for big brands.

Research by Sinan Aral for MIT suggests that some reviews can be systematically biased.

“Social proof”, a psychological and social phenomenon where people assume the actions of others in an attempt to reflect correct behaviour in a given situation may be the basis for this.

Improving the Quality of Consumer Reviews

Reviews are shown to have a significant effect on consumer decision-making and it is important for people responsible for getting reviews (Marketing agencies and businesses) to do what they can to ensure the quality of their customers’ reviews.

  • Request feedback. The higher the percentage of customers that leave reviews, the better for the accuracy or the reviews overall. This can also reduce review bias and balance review sentiment. Requests can be through feedback surveys or simple questions post purchase.
  • Remind customers that their opinion helps others. When asking for feedback, social reinforcement goes a long way and can also lead to a better balance of reviews.
  • Provide incentives. These can be money rewards, but freebies, discounts, access to special offers etc. can also work.
  • Leave an appropriate length of time after purchase before asking for the review. E.g. PC World wait 28 days after purchase before asking for reviews.

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Are You Prepared for Security Incidents

  1. How well prepared are you to respond to a cyber security incident?
  • Do you have plans in place to respond to, and recover from, the most likely scenarios?
  • Have you practised your response to such incidents, including at senior management level?
  • Do you have the relevant expertise within the business or access to external sources with that expertise?
  • Do you have experts on call and ready to respond to a cyber incident?
  • Will the company be able to keep running in the aftermath of a serious cyber attack?

Cyber attacks are increasingly common and it’s not just large companies at risk, but businesses of all sizes.

Large businesses may have all the requisite controls necessary to deal with a cyber disruption, yet businesses of all sizes are at risk.  Get the protection and planning you need.

Average Investment in Cyber Security 2017/2018

  Micro/Small Businesses Medium Businesses Large Businesses
Mean Spend per year £2,220 £41,600 £149,000
Median Spend Per Year £152 £5,190 £24,700

You can see the difference in average spending on cyber security and this is reflected in the level of preparedness for cyber incidents by these various sized businesses. Charities spent significantly less than commercial business in all three size categories.

Whatever size your business and whatever it’s business, make sure you spend enough to ensure you are able to deal with cyber attacks and recover from them as too many businesses fold within months of such an attack.

The nature of your business may determine the dangers involved with online data and services and also the level of protection needed.

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Ransomware Targets

Ransomware is where software is downloaded (against your wishes) to your computer and blocks you from using the computer until you pay a ransom, usually in Bitcoins to unlock the device or decrypt the files.

You may think that Ransomware would be targeted at rich businesses, but that’s not generally the case. Ransomware scammers sometimes target home users, because they probably have little cyber security, don’t keep regular backups and wouldn’t know what to do if hit by ransomware.

Plus, there’s a lot more people than there are businesses.

Ransomware scammers may target businesses because:

  • That’s where the money is
  • Attackers know that a successful infection can cause major business disruptions, which will increase their chances of getting paid
  • Computer systems in companies are often complex and prone to vulnerabilities that can be exploited through technical means
  • Ransomware can affect not only computers but also servers and cloud-based file-sharing systems, going deep into a business’s core systems and data
  • Cyber criminals know that business would rather not report an infection for fear or legal consequences and brand damage.

Ransomware scammers may target public institutions because:

  • Public institutions, such as government agencies, manage huge databases of personal and confidential information that cyber criminals can sell
  • Budget cuts and mismanagement frequently impact the cybersecurity departments
  • Public institutions often use outdated software and equipment, which means that their computer systems are packed with security holes that can be exploited
  • A successful infection can cause huge disruption

The following blog post tells you how to stay safe from ransomware. https://fightback.ninja/test/how-to-stay-safe-from-ransomware/

If you have any experiences with ransomware do let me know, by email.

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Automated Competition Entries

Many people like entering competitions – they are a challenge and you might win a worthwhile prize. Some people even make this a full time job – entering as many high value competitions as possible.

A small number make a significant amount of money on a regular basis but for most it’s an occasional win for fun and to supplement their income.

There are automated services online that once you’ve handed over payment and your details will enter you into dozens or even hundreds of online competitions each month.

Are These Services a Good Idea?

Yes and no.

They will get you into large numbers of competitions with little effort and cost.

But there are disadvantages, including:-

  • You may be entered into competitions that you wouldn’t want to enter
  • You may win prizes that are of little or no use to you
  • They can only enter you into competitions that don’t require any skill and that is very limiting
  • Many competitions do what they can to disallow automated entries
  • Most competitions are intended to bring people to a website and the use of an automated service denies that so the competition provider loses out

There is nothing illegal about the automated competition entry services but maybe it’s better to manually enter competitions of your choice.

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Online Scams and How to Protect Yourself

A guest post by John Adams

Scams are very common, whether you are running an online business or not. Scams surround us in various forms. Unfortunately, small businesses are more prone to these scams mainly because many do not give sufficient focus to the online security of their business. Moreover, they don’t generally have the same access to cyber experts as do the larger companies.  Here are some common online scams that target small businesses:

  • Phishing or Smishing
  • SEO scams
  • Payment scams
  • Malware
  • Vanity scams
  • Fake invoices

Scammers target everyone around them, whether in business or the public. The scammers create believable stories to convince you to give them your money and if you’re not wary you may fall victim to their practised ploys.

However, the most important thing is that you should know how to protect yourself, as follows:-

  • Accept that fraud and scams do exist. Be alert when you deal with any uninvited person or business.
  • If you are not sure about the legitimacy of a business or person you have met only once, search on the internet for those who may have had a similar experience.
  • Avoid opening/answering any suspicious email, message or pop-up window
  • Do not give out your personal details unless you are very sure who you’re dealing with
  • Make sure your computer and mobile are secured and have updated security software installed.
  • Pick strong passwords and consider changing them periodically
  • Keep your social media privacy settings high
  • Ignore requests for your details or money
  • Watch out for anyone using unusual payment methods e.g. Western Union
  • Shop online only on trusted websites and brands

Protect yourself now to avoid any damage. And if you have fallen prey to an online scam then report it to law enforcement.

James A. Abate provides highly professional criminal defense representation and personal attention during troubled times.

www.jabatelaw.com

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