How to Keep Your PDF Files Secure

October 7, 2021

The PDF file is so commonly used today that it can be easy to overlook just how much the invention revolutionized documents and file sharing.

The PDF file format was developed by Adobe in 1992 in order to present documents that include things like text and images in the same way regardless of the application software, hardware, or operating system being used to open and view the PDF file. You can also convert word to pdf.

Today, PDF files can be customized in many ways. That includes customizing them to ensure they are protected. If you use PDF files that contain sensitive information, it is imperative those documents cannot be accessed or copied by unauthorized users.

So, check out the following ways of making your PDF files secure.

Use Passwords and Permissions

PDFs are often preferred by individuals, businesses, and organizations because the files cannot generally be edited.

That means it is easy to share the documents because they can be opened by anyone but cannot be edited by anyone. However, while the non-editable nature of PDFs goes some way to protecting them, there will be occasions when users need to edit PDF files

Thankfully, making a PDF editable is easy when you use a platform like PDFSimpli. Using simple tools, you can edit your PDF file online quickly for free.

Whether you want your PDF files to be editable or not, there will be times when you want to ensure the documents are secure. Protecting PDF files with passwords is one of the easiest ways of ensuring your files are not copied, changed, or printed by unauthorized users.

When you encrypt a PDF file with a password and apply permissions, you limit who can access that file. You have various options as to the level of restriction you place on an encrypted PDF file.

The exact permissions and restrictions you add to a particular PDF will depend on what you want the users to do with it. So, you could require a user to enter a password to access the file or restrict the user’s ability to copy or print the document.

You also have the option to designate some elements of the PDF file as protected and others as unprotected, depending on your needs. You can control security measures like passwords and permissions through the Document Properties option when you first create a PDF file.

Use Certificate Protection

Password protection is ideal for internal documents, but if your PDF files contain sensitive information and you intend to share those files with users outside of your organization, you will want to take additional security precautions.

After all, passwords can potentially be stolen. So, use certificate security to protect your PDF files. The method involves using public-key encryption, which guarantees the document is by the original creator and only specific recipients can access the document. You can get third-party security certificates from trusted sources like Verisign or create your own certificate.

How to Secure Your PDF File with Acrobat DC

With Acrobat DC, it is easy to add the above security measures to your PDF files. First, open your PDF file with Acrobat and go to “Tools” and then “Protect.” Next, choose whether you want to restrict editing with a password or encrypt the document with a certificate or password. Once you have chosen your desired method, click “OK” and then “Save.”

In addition to preventing unauthorized users from accessing your PDF files by encrypting them with passwords or certificates, Acrobat DC enables you to restrict editing of a PDF in Office applications like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. There are also various customizations you can implement to the PDF’s security. For instance, you can create customized security policies to help everyone apply passwords and permissions the same way every time.

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Covid-19: Could Surface Contamination Become a thing of the Past?

October 7, 2021

Even during a viral pandemic, contaminated surfaces need not be scary. A host of companies now offer innovative solutions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on everyday objects.

As the health experts have made clear, the predominant infection pathway for coronavirus is through person-to-person contact. This occurs mainly via aerosol droplets released when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. Social distancing, wearing face masks, and the ventilation of indoor spaces are vital mitigation policies.

But the next most prevalent route for infection is through surface contamination. And here technology companies have made some solid advances.

The first step is to touch surfaces less

The Indian technology company Techmax Solution has developed a touchless, plug-and-play control panel for elevators.

High-touch surfaces are of particular concern, but this novel solution uses motion sensors to interact with the elevator’s original controls, completely removing any need to make physical contact. The device can be installed in virtually any model of elevator, and comes in a range of sizes, depending on the number of controls needed.

The company says that its “Sparshless” panel means that not only are people at reduced risk of spreading or contracting the virus, but there is also less need to disinfect elevators. For large hotels, apartment buildings, and office complexes, this greatly reduces the amount of work that cleaning staff are required to do.

Bioguard, the durable virucidal and anti-bacterial treatment fending off coronavirus

There are certain kinds of objects, however, with which contact cannot be avoided. Banknotes are one example.

Despite the often-heard digital payments narrative, cash is still readily used around the world. In fact, cash demand has risen during the pandemic. Of course, so too did concern about cash as a transmitter of coronavirus.

Scientists have subsequently refuted claims that cash was a strong contamination risk, encouraging the public to think more about other everyday surfaces. And yet, confidence in cash was temporarily shaken as a result of the unfounded concerns.

Fortunately, an answer to this problem has existed since well before the less-than-novel coronavirus emerged. Bioguard is a virucide developed 15 years ago by French security printer Oberthur Fiduciaire that is now updated jointly with its subsidiary Bioguard & Co.

“Well before the H5N1 crisis [bird flu], our teams developed a treatment that was constantly tested and improved in order to make the surface of banknotes ‘hostile’ to bacteria, viruses and other microscopic fungi – without having any negative impact on humans,” explains the company’s general manager, Etienne Couëlle.

An independent laboratory tested Bioguard treatment when the pandemic emerged and found that it was particularly effective against coronaviruses. The tested samples showed that the concentration of the human coronavirus OC43 was reduced by a factor 100 via Bioguard.

The solution is applied to banknotes during printing or afterwards as a post-print varnish.

Most promisingly of all, Bioguard is versatile enough that it can be applied to many other everyday objects and surfaces, rendering them durably inhospitable to coronavirus too.

In public transport, Bioguard could soon be protecting handrails and seating, reducing the available space for viruses to survive on trains and buses. There are also possibilities for applications in offices, restaurants and bars, protecting printer paper, menus, tables, and bar tops. Even in schools, habitable surfaces for coronavirus could be reduced if Bioguard were applied to classrooms, to teaching tools, and to playground equipment.

As it is already in use as a verified and safe product, the shift of this ready-to-use solution towards other applications could happen quickly. This gives Bioguard genuine potential to protect people from surface contamination globally.

Virus-killing robots

Another proven tool in the fight against coronavirus is the autonomous LightStrike6 sanitation robot. The company responsible for the Germ-Zapping Robot is Xenex. It has been operating for more than a decade, but during the pandemic these patented ultra-violet emitting disinfection machines proved their strength.

“Being able to help healthcare facilities and other organizations safely and effectively destroy viruses and bacteria that can lurk in their facilities is important and not something we take lightly,” says Irene Hahn, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Xenex.

LightStrike robots were used in hundreds of healthcare facilities prior to the health crisis, but as a result of the robot’s speed and efficacy against coronavirus, they are now deployed in office buildings, airports, schools, hotels, sports facilities, events spaces, and other places where contamination and transmission are a concern.

Decontaminating face masks with heat

The pandemic has also created opportunities for companies to develop previously unimaginable products. In Israel, researchers have developed reusable face masks that not only sanitise themselves, they do so with heat generated by connecting a simple USB port to a phone charger.

The power source heats an inner layer of carbon fibres to 70°C. It then takes about 30 minutes for the disinfection process to take place. The researchers hope the invention can alleviate the mask shortage during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

While innovation might not always offer a silver bullet to humanity’s problems, clearly it has massive capacity to remove roadblocks. With solutions available to solve the conundrum of surface contamination, the path is now cleared for tackling other Covid-19 challenges.

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A Zero-Trust Future for Hybrid Working World

October 7, 2021

By Michele Mabilia

Why a holistic approach to security is the best way forward

As employees return to offices, what was a largely successful period of remote working for many businesses is now giving way to a hybrid working future. Flexibility for employees is now the norm rather than the exception, which promises to make for happier workforces in the long term. That said, there are still challenges to address. One of these is the need to protect company data and devices from the impact of ransomware attacks, which have become the modus operandi for millions of hackers in the last couple of years.

As businesses plan for hybrid working, connected devices such as mobile phones, laptops, desktop computers and printers are often earmarked for close scrutiny in the bid to shore up cybersecurity capabilities. To achieve this, organisations need to take a cautious approach to security, and ensure this is replicated across the entire IT estate. This is where a holistic zero-trust approach has merit.

The Challenge

The hybrid working model brings several key challenges for employers, including the need to properly manage BYOD policies and staff using the same devices for work and personal activities, as well as encouraging responsible cyber practices without regular face-to-face interaction. Alongside all of this is the responsibility to ensure that all endpoints – whether remote or office-based – have the right security software in place to prevent attacks. Finally, this has to be done while minimising the impact on productivity.

Mobile phones, laptops and printers are often among the first devices mentioned when discussing security risks. There are legitimate reasons for this: these are highly recognisable pieces of home or office equipment, so it is easy to consider these devices as a likely route through which opportunistic hackers could try to gain access to sensitive data. Alongside these, the ubiquity of software such as email or cloud storage means cybercriminals have a huge attack surface to conduct their operations.

With so many areas to keep an eye on, a zero-trust approach to IT security makes sense.

The Risk

To highlight the current cybersecurity state of play, recent research has found that 92 per cent of UK businesses suffered a cyberattack in the last 12 months, and 78% feel unprepared to deal with current threats. Despite the upsurge in cyberattacks, more than a quarter of UK companies do not consider IT to be ranked within their top three priorities as they plan for the next 12 months. This is concerning when considering the finding that cyberattacks cost nearly one in ten (8%) UK businesses over £1 million.

Plenty of work needs to be done across the entire IT estate, as not enough is being done to actively address these issues. Organisations need tools to cover all the bases, including multi-factor authentication to govern access to sensitive data, secure document management systems to ensure information is shared in a safe and compliant manner, and encryption capabilities that reduce the chances of stored data – whether on-premise or in the cloud – being compromised.

The Reward

Adopting a zero-trust framework and applying it across all elements of the IT estate offers a variety of security benefits. Zero-trust presumes all applications and services are malicious and are denied access from connecting until they can be positively verified by their identity attributes. Therefore, this model reduces risk because it closely scrutinises what is on the network and how those assets are communicating. Further, as baselines are created, a zero-trust model reduces risk by eliminating overprovisioned software and services and continuously checking the “credentials” of all devices – whether they are printers, laptops, desktop computers, mobile phones or any other internet-enabled technology.

The Future

Functioning efficiently and safely in a hybrid work environment all boils down to risk management. This means getting better visibility and understanding of the way people work, and by association, the way they interact with business systems and sensitive data. Zero-trust doesn’t have to be a complete change in the business working model or mean that existing security architectures need to be replaced. It simply provides a solution to gain more control within the network, creating an even stronger shield and barrier. It is the way forward for organisations that want to be confident that they have the necessary tools and support to combat evolving threats.

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About the Author

Michele Mabilia is the Head of Product Marketing at Kyocera Document Solutions UK

From Zero to Hero: Illinois Local Builds His Own Tech Marketing Empire

October 7, 2021

Picture this: it’s early 2015, you just graduated fresh off of high school, and you are now in charge of steering the direction of your life how you want it. Most youngsters at this age opt for going the traditional route: applying for college, putting the hours in, and getting that diploma after four years. There are those who would say that completing your education is one of the foundations of adulthood, and is a milestone everyone should be privy to if resources and socioeconomic factors allow them to.

But that’s not the case for a certain Chicago-born individual.

Meet Malik Kurdi, who, safe to say deviated from the norm in terms of traditional career paths. When the then 24-year-old Tinley Park local graduated from Andrew High School, he instinctively knew that college wasn’t going to be for him. Kurdi reasons that his initial dreams were much more grounded in nature, as in being of service to the country through law enforcement.

“I tested to become a cop,” Kurdi explains. “I wanted to be a policeman in Chicago so bad, I applied 10 or 12 times. I got turned down every single time. I guess God had a better route for me.”

Following his graduation and the innate path of ‘finding himself’ while working for a riding service company, it is then Kurdi reveals he had an epiphany of some sort.

“My first two years, I had zero sales. I was driving Uber, then one day, I finally got a large sale, and said ‘OK, this is legit,'” Kurdi says.

It’s that premature foresight into what he wanted his life to look like that led him to enrol on a two-year software development program and completing it after the time period ended. He wanted to become his own boss and took great lengths to achieve it. When it came to trying to make something out of what he learned in life, Kurdi argued that “he was absolutely not a computer geek” and “never even liked tech”. But what he did believe in was himself, against all odds. He reasoned that his “vision and personality” was all he was going to need to make it in the world if he honed in on it.

“Being an entrepreneur you want to find a niche,” Kurdi says. “What’s going to be growing in the future? I know that technology is. So I got into it. I knew were going to need coders like crazy in the future. So I said ‘let me start an app development company.’ It’s exploding. It’s going through the roof.”

Kurdi emphasises that his strength relies heavily on being a people person.

“I know how to manage really well, and I know how to talk to people,” he explains. “I love talking. I’m a social guy and a likeable guy. People want to talk to me right away.”

He’s also said that the end game was never really about the money, contrary to what most people say of businessmen and entrepreneurs and the ‘suits’.

“That’s what it’s all about, memories,” he said. “Not the materialistic things.”

It was this singular moment of epiphany, where he took that grand leap of faith and gambled on his future by investing in himself, that led him to become the founder of an award-winning tech marketing company today.

About Exemplary Marketing LLC Company

Founded in 2015, Exemplary Marketing is Malik Kurdi’s then passion project that grew into becoming one of the most credible tech marketing brands on the market. The company is a social media marketing agency that delivers not only worldwide outstanding marketing solution, but also outstanding Application Designs & Development services. They specialize in social media marketing, application design, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, chatbots and blockchain, to name a few.

The company has a wide variety of comprehensive solutions to cater to the various needs of businesses around the globe, no matter their proprietary marketing concerns. They have skilled technical experts that provide their knowledge on solutions security, reliability, and efficiency. They act as an all-around troubleshooting agent for just about every tech problem under the sun.

Since its foundation, Exemplary Marketing houses 75 employees and is juggling roughly 100 projects. There are also offices in the United Kingdom, Pakistan and India.

What they offer

Exemplary Marketing LLC provides world-class solutions aimed at business growth. Their staff work tirelessly to assure the execution of these innovative ideas are handled with care and precision to turn them into reality. They value work quality, scalability, and security, along with proactive management.

In terms of creating value for businesses, the company takes pride in their expansive team composed of only the best-skilled software developers, UX architects, designers and QA engineers. These highly talented people don’t fail to deliver thousands of creative and innovative solutions for your brand that’s not limited to social media strategies.

They are also fluent in the inner workings of just about every digital space there is. They have custom solutions in place to optimise performances on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Aside from the social channels, they also believe in the power of a well-crafted website to really drive growth in the business.

Through their talented website development team, help entrepreneurs navigate this new yet increasingly vital area of business and save them time and effort by doing all the work, from day-to-day social media management to advertising campaigns and even all development processes of a website.

Conclusion

The road to success can look like many different things to many different people. It’s not always finishing that degree and standing on that podium while the audience applauses. That may be true for a majority of the world, but it doesn’t have to mean that’s the standard of success we should all aim towards.

Sometimes it’s taking yourself out of your comfort zone and believing in your own skills to get you through life that can be someone else’s measure of success. Who would have thought that a simple boy from a simple town in Cook County, who once bought thousands of yard lights and placed them near the red lights in Orland Park, would grow to become a successful businessman who would have his own billboard off the road of Interstate 294?

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5 Best Forex Brokers in Africa

October 6, 2021

Forex has been an extremely fast-growing market for more than the last 20 years. Trading Forex offers great flexibility to both: people that want to use it as a part-time source of income and those who seek to be self-employed full-time traders. Due to the absence of market opening or market closing hours Forex traders all around the world have the opportunity to trade 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday. Forex trading in Africa is no different in this regard. The scope of trading naturally may vary substantially with regards the number simultaneous overlapping sessions, and, as such, is often subject to fluctuations during bank holidays tied to major market players such as Wall Street. 2016 Triennial Central Bank Survey of FX and over-the-counter (OTC) Derivatives Markets research has revealed that Forex markets had an average turnover of $5.1 trillion a day as of April 2016. And it has been increasing since then. Such high volume of trading naturally increases the liquidity of the market, which in turn makes it easy and quick for a potential trader to enter the market as well as lowers the risks involved, particularly the risk of price manipulation by the third parties. Forex market also has a notion of leverage which has a potential to multiply your profits (but do bear in mind that it can multiply your losses as well) in an incredibly short span of time. Leverage lets you “operate” more money than you possess in your trading account at the moment giving you a chance of getting higher profits. One of the most important decisions you will have to make at the start is choosing a broker. In order to help you out we’ve put together a list of the best forex brokers in Africa.

Is Forex the Same as Gambling?

Forex trading and gambling are often compared because of their risk-based nature and potential for significant rewards.

However, the distinction lies in strategy. While the latter is largely based on chance, the former involves careful analysis, economic forecasting, and calculated decision-making. It’s simple, unlike most games of chance, traders can leverage tools and data to inform their moves.

However, both options appeal to individuals with a high-risk appetite. In fact, many traders often engage with gambling platforms and are likely to look for the best online casinos with high return options as alternative avenues for entertainment and risk-based play. A gambling industry expert Miloš Marković claims such casino sites have plenty to offer, including generous bonuses, a huge variety of games, and a large selection of payment options, making them a popular choice among regular players and forex enthusiasts.

All in all, they both require discipline, knowledge, and a clear understanding of limits to be approached responsibly.

1. JustForex.com

Accepts MY residents – Yes

Average Spread EUR/USD Standard – 0.3

Minimum Deposit – $1

Overall rating – 9.7/10

JustForex has been around since the early 2000-s. It is licensed with and authorized by the FSA of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. JustForex is an international broker and as such it realizes the importance of approach while dealing with clients from all around the world and understands the necessity of various tools and services needed for those people to achieve success on the trading market. JustForex has a number of trading account types to offer with a considerable variety of trading instruments among which anyone can find something that suits their personal needs and preferences. Multiple servers support unfailing work of the system and low latency around the globe. Data backup protocols eliminate the possibility of the clients’ information, such as personal data or history of commercial transactions.

JustForex hosts a team of professionals with a relevant financial background and lots of experience in trading various assets. The support team available to help customers and provide the best working experience possible. Data transfer through an SSL security connection with encryption of information ensures prevention of the user data interception by unauthorized entities.

JustForex works with the biggest banks in the world. All of the clients’ personal and financial data is safe from the third parties. The broker also has a negative account balance protection system in place. JustForex offers various bonuses and compensations in case the losses exceed the funds on their trading account. In practical terms this means that when an account reaches a negative balance due to a sharp and unforeseen movement of the market, the balance will be set to zero to protect the client from possible losses.

2. TD Markets

Accepts MY residents – Yes

Average Spread EUR/USD Standard – 0.00004

Minimum Deposit – $50

Overall rating – 9.5/10

One of the most trusted Forex brokers in Africa, TD Markets’ approach is to offer its clients custom-made solutions catering to traders not only in Africa but also all around the world. They work with small retail and large corporate businesses and put great emphasis on smooth execution and experience. The site also offers dedicated customer support around the clock. The company prides itself on constant innovation and rapid adapting to the ever changing circumstances of the Forex market often resulting into life long partnerships with clients deciding to side with the broker.

TD Markets work with the Metatrader 4, an industry standard platform. It is accessible from mobile devices and PCs and offers a variety of tools, such as different indicators, experts’ advice alongside with custom algorithmic trading scripts.

This trusted Forex broker is licensed through Authorised Financial Services Provider with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority FSP49128. Clients’ funds are kept separately from the company funds in order to assure transparency and safety. TD Markets also protects their clients from the market volatility by providing a negative balance safety for trading accounts. Because of it, in the event of the market’s rapid volatile movement the customer’s negative balance will not be required to be paid back in full immediately. Also this broker employs an anti money laundering programme through working with major reputable banks. TD Markets offers great spreads for all instruments, fast command execution, a large number of trading types, supports a great number of locations you can trade from and devices you can use to do so,generally low server latency and white label functionality.

3. SaxoBank

Accepts MY residents – Yes

Minimum Deposit – $10,000.00

Average Spread EUR/USD Standard – 0.6

Overall rating – 9.3/10

All you might need for conducting trade on the global markets is at your disposal with the Saxo platforms. This licensed forex broker in Africa offers a wide variety of financial products and numerous ways of trading and investing.
SaxoBank sources only the best products currently present on the market. Being an independent provider of said services the platform offers constant support with issues you might encounter during your trading experience. SaxoBank understands that you require the right and timely information in order to make the right choice when it matters. Specifically for this it offers curated investment themes, market commentary from the experts, smart alerts, different charting tools, and, last but not least, in-depth webinars.

If you choose SaxoBank you can be sure that you are trusting your money to a company that takes safety seriously.Saxo Bank is a licensed European bank under the supervision of the Danish FSA working in numerous locations including various African countries. It complies with strict requirements on reporting and EU client management regulations so you can be assured that you are working with a secure broker. Saxo Bank’s company registration number is 15731249 and is and also runs a bank and is regulated by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) – Finanstilsynet, Århusgade 110, 2100, København Ø.

The broker sports a proprietary platform – SaxoTraderGO. It has such features as enhanced trade tickets, charting package, fundamental and technical analysis tools, performance analysis tools and a comprehensive account overview option. Saxo Bank works with stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, options, futures and many other trading options. The platform is accessible from both mobile devices and desktop and supports one-screen setup with the option to drag charts to a second screen.

4. Interactive Brokers

Accepts MY residents – Yes

Minimum Deposit – $0

Average Spread EUR/USD Standard – N/A

Overall rating – 9.2/10

Interactive Brokers was founded in 1977 and it has been providing its services to traders and investors for more than 40 years. In all those years it has proven to be one of the most reliable brokers in the field. Interactive Brokers is considered to be a low-risk broker. Company’s assets are publicly traded and it is authorised by six tier-1 regulators: , Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Securities Futures Commission (SFC), Japanese Financial Services Authority (JFSA).

Despite Interactive Brokers’ long history in the business it is no stranger to innovation. The company provides a proprietary Trader Workstation (TWS) desktop platform. This platform offers a number of tools that can and will make your trading experience easier. However, the aforementioned utility may pose difficulties for beginners and is clearly targeted at somewhat experienced traders that are sure to appreciate due to its numerous quality of life improvements and tools. The company also provides the IBKR Mobile application that comes with lots of useful features. We have to mention the fact that it is also somewhat complex and is not really beginner friendly. This broker does not support MetaTrader that is widely regarded as an industry standard at the moment. Interactive Brokers also has a rather unusual monthly minimum activity fee so keep in mind that you will be charged if you are not trading constantly, even though the intervals for its activation are rather generous. If you believe you know what you are doing be sure to check this Forex broker in Africa.

5. eToro

Accepts MY residents – Yes

Average Spread EUR/USD Standard – 1.0

Minimum Deposit – $50

Overall rating – 9/10

eToro concludes our list of the best trading platforms in Africa. The company, just like our previous entry, is considered to be a low-risk broker. However, it is not traded publicly and doesn’t operate its own bank if that might concern you. eToro is authorised by the Australian Securities & Exchange Commission (ASIC) alongside the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It offers services in more than 2000 tradable articles. Due to such a wide range of tradable items, the platform creators make sure to provide its clients with the best possible experience. To give an example of this attention to detail: CFDs and underlying asset trading can be toggled directly in the trade-ticket window. Such quality of life improvements are barely noticeable after getting used to them. However they are invaluable in a while and you wish more brokers adopted them. Cryptocurrency trading is only allowed via CFDs and underlying assets. eToro, being a major player in the field, offers a spread of 1 pip on the EUR/USD. The company provides a proprietary social copy-trading platform as well combining self-directed trading and copy trading. There are various account types available on the platform, including VIP accounts. These accounts fall in brackets of $5000 – $250000. Higher tier accounts bring such benefits as a dedicated account manager and discounts on deposits and withdrawal.

The decision whether to trade or not on the Forex market is yours to make alone, but it is worth knowing that even being in the category of the smallest players on the market, you still can make significant profit. It is wise to take your time deciding why and how you want to trade. If you put your heart and mind into it you are more than likely to succeed. Another thing you might want to consider is that if you want to dip your toe into Forex trading, it might be a worthwhile idea to start a demo account before you put your real money savings on the line. And also remember that there is a slim chance of you making a lot of money if you don’t stick with a reliable broker to see your deals through.

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For Low-Carbon Economy, Market Needs More Companies Like Three Valley Copper (TVC)

October 6, 2021

Investors have been taking a long look at the copper market lately — and some are starting to worry.

If all of the planned copper projects for the next 30 years come online as planned, they would amount to only half of the likely demand. Copper is an integral part of products from constructing homes to smartphones and critical to the electrification of the world.

As a result, it’s likely that the marketplace will see a significant increase in copper demand, according to a study conducted by the Copper Development Association, which examined the US energy storage market and the impact of copper.

That leaves plenty of room for explorers, developers, and producers to capitalize. One of those companies is Three Valley Copper (TVC.V), a copper mining company that’s already producing 99.99% pure copper cathodes.

The company still has more than 46,000 hectares to explore and has also identified 70 artisanal exploitation points having geological characteristics similar to those of its identified orebodies. It has also mapped locations of hundreds of artisanal pits with clusters of pits outlining clear exploration targets.

The market is going to need a lot more companies like Three Valley Copper to keep up with demand; but in the meantime, those companies that continue producing copper cathodes will have an advantage in a market that is always in need of greater supply.

That’s because copper is a key component in electric vehicles and in many vehicle parts, including batteries and working rotors. Since copper plays a crucial role in various components of energy production and storage, it will be equally important for energy storage applications, although the prominence of that role will vary depending on the technology.

That demand will come from a shift in consumer tastes, the need for more electric infrastructure with a growing population in the developing world, and the decarbonization of the economy in developed nations.

Canadian mining companies, including Three Valley Copper, are in a unique position to take advantage of the growing demand, according to Pierre Lassonde, chairman emeritus of Franco-Nevada.

“The greening of the world is going to be a renaissance of copper mining, and I don’t think it has clued in with the governments and the environmental groups, but the intensity of copper use going forward will essentially triple,” Lassonde told Kitco News. “Over the next 40 years, we’re going to have to triple the production of copper and when you look at where we are today, and the number of deposits we have, a lot of them are on their last legs.”

The mining industry is increasingly under pressure to produce vital minerals to support major global structural trends such as population growth, urbanization, and decarbonization.

However, for metals like copper, production constraints and a lack of quality projects have resulted in some bottlenecks in supply.

The global quality of copper ore, for example, has decreased over time, which means that copper mining needs to extract twice as much ore every 10 years to extract the same amount of copper. However, research shows that migrating to other available technologies and more efficient processes can contribute to addressing these impacts.

Many of the world’s largest mining companies need to rebalance their undiversified mineral portfolios. In order to meet expected demand by 2050, critical mineral mining must increase to five times the current production rates, the World Bank said in a recent report.

Market analysts estimate that by 2030, if no new mines are built, the annual copper shortage could reach 10 million tonnes. Known deposits of high-grade ore in the world amount to over 1 billion tonnes of copper.

That means there’s still plenty of demand for copper out there — and plenty of opportunities for mining companies to grow and flourish in the new economy.

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How To Navigate A Late Career Change Effectively

October 6, 2021

A late career change may seem like an unwise decision at first. If you’re unprepared for the shift, then it can be a hugely disrupting presence in your life and risk everything you have worked hard for thus far.

Your strategy makes a big difference here. Success is possible. Remember, many workers have been forced into new careers due to the pandemic and its devastating impact on industries. If some professionals can stick the landing during such a chaotic period, then your chances may be better while things are a bit calmer on the coronavirus front.

There are many things to keep in mind as you embark on a late career change. You must take stock of your positive qualities and perhaps improve other aspects of your skillset. A personal evolution is required alongside the professional one, so keeping yourself open to your own critique is key when jumping from one career to the next.

If you would like more insights on navigating a late career change effectively, read on after the jump for some tips and suggestions.

Question Your Current Career

Before embarking on a career change, it is worth evaluating your current career more closely. When you get to the bottom of your reasoning, you may be able to orchestrate a productive career switch.

The questions to ask yourself should be:

Are you inclined to be productive? Does the work no longer interest you? Do you arrive at the workplace eager to get started, or are you mindlessly going through the motions? How much time do you spend procrastinating?
How do others treat you? Is the workplace culture toxic? Does office politics precede everything else? Could your industry be too cutthroat? Have you found making friends challenging?
Is there potential for progression? Is your hard work sufficiently rewarded? Are you interested in climbing the career ladder? Is promotion all that matters to you? If you are apathetic now, how discontent might you be in the next ten years?
Are you proud of your work? Does your job cross any moral lines for you? Are your customers and clients given value for their money? Is the firm ran with the best of intentions?

These are just some of the lines of enquiry you could introspectively explore on your own. The stronger your feelings in favor of a career change, the better. Keep pushing for answers, and your direction in life may become more evident.

Look for Inspiration

The career you switch to must be something that genuinely excites you. Your effort cannot be aimless.

Some people seek to escape their existing careers out of desperation. Subsequently, they may leap into a new industry or job role that is not quite for them. They can always change again, but the costs associated with each career change and potential move can be extortionate. Ultimately, if you are going to switch, you need to succeed the first time, and inspiration can put you on the right path.

Try to do some research around what careers appeal to you most. Be patient and weigh the pros and cons of each potential change honestly. Remember that there are resources out there to help you secure well-paid work in growing industries, so consult those if necessary. Spend a few months sourcing inspiration and collating different ideas if you do not have one already.

Use Your Experience

If possible, you should bring much of your existing self to your new role. After years of accumulating experience, it is important that it all does not go to total waste.

Keep your transferable skills in mind as you push forward. Think about your aptitude for problem-solving, analysis, leadership or communication. Perhaps you have effective writing skills that could be put to good use? Remember that no matter where you work, some skills are universally applicable.

You could also pass on what you know. A career switch to coaching could be viable. You should explore opportunities around NLP life coaching certification to boost your chances of success here, giving you all the tools and knowledge you need to become a successful life coach. Flexibly work on your coursework on their online platform, and immerse yourself in their weekly training sessions to enhance your skillset.

It can be tempting to reset everything during a career change, giving you the sense of a fresh start. However, by building on what you know already, you can give your prospects a head start of sorts as you push forward.

Seek out a Life Coach

If you do not wish to become a life coach yourself, these roles can still be useful to you. Why not be a paying client yourself?

Life coaches are not therapists. Typically, they are entrepreneurs who specialize in a particular area of life, whether personal or professional. Do some research and see if a life coach can mentor you through your career change. The knowledge that they pass on to you could be invaluable.

Make sure the life coaches you work with have all the necessary credentials, such as coaching certifications. Set a high standard for the types of professionals you want to work with. Ask around your personal or professional network for recommendations, and be sure to field the reviews of past clients. After all of that, you should have additional assurances around the person you are working with.

A career change can be a sensitive and uncertain time for you, and you should not walk into it blindly. The wisdom of others can give you consensus and direction, so be open to feedback. A life coach will keep you firmly focused on the future and shape you into a formidable presence on your new career path.

Counter Ageism

When tailoring your job applications, try not to focus on the past too much. Unfortunately, many older people embarking on a career change may face elements of ageism in the hiring process, so minimizing that wherever possible could be helpful.

Staying current could help your employment chances a great deal. This can involve:

Staying healthy and active – Some people can look younger than their years through good exercise and eating well. The more physically able you appear, the better.
Use technology well – Some stereotypes involve older people being less competent with technology. A basic understanding of computers and mobile devices is not hard to achieve, so spend some time brushing up on all the latest devices, software, and social media platforms.
Choose an age–friendly industry – Some industries may be more ageist than others. Do some research to see where your years may work in your favor, such as teaching or any number of leadership positions.

It may seem unfair or uncouth to try and win ageists over rather than change the system outrightly. However, in defying stereotypes and working hard, your point should be made well enough during your job search. After changing careers, you may be able to change things far more impactfully from the inside.

Establish Boundaries with Yourself

Many people closely intertwine their personal and professional personalities together. Some people do not know who they are without their career.

However, it is crucial to have distinctly separate personal and professional identities, both for your career prospects and your sense of sanity. The switch can be much easier when you do not feel like sacrificing all you are to make the change. Your job may define you are to some degree, but it should not be the sole reason for which you live your life.

Having a broad range of hobbies and friendships can be enough to keep you grounded. Be strict with your working hours, and have downtime where your work machines are powered down. Sign out of your email accounts too. Create separate social media accounts for personal and professional endeavors, and consider buying a new phone that features contact information for friends and family only. Seek out therapy should you need it.

When you have established boundaries between your professional and personal lives, your mind may be much less crowded. You will be less susceptible to stress, self-doubt, and tunnel vision. Things should become clearer, enabling you to act on your career change in a more timely and decisive fashion.

Consult Your Spouse or Partner

Part of knowing yourself means listening to those who know you best. If you have a spouse or partner, they likely fall into this category.

Pay a healthy amount of focus to your personal relationships. Loved ones can be highly supportive during a time of such crucial change. They may be able to calm you when you are stressed or encourage you when self-doubt inevitably creeps in at some stage. Your spouse or partner can help you stay motivated, and their insights could be valuable as well.

Of course, the extent to which you listen to your spouse or partner is up to you. If they are indecisive or frequently disparaging of your career choices, it may be a good idea to phase them out of the decision if appropriate. However, they may provide valuable insights around budgeting for the career change or otherwise making ends meet during the beginning of your new career. Keep them in the loop where possible.

Your decisions here could even embolden your relationship. After all, nobody likes having the rug pulled out from under their feet, and some people find that their partner’s work stress becomes their own in time. Additionally, your choices may affect them to some degree, so it is vital to include them in the decision-making. Being transparent in your important decisions is a mark of respect, and all healthy relationships are built on that foundation.

Network Efficiently

Your professional connections matter just as much as your personal ones. Certain individuals should be notified that you are changing careers.

By switching careers, you should use all the resources you have available to you. Your existing network and your aptitude for further networking opportunities can hugely influence how much success you may experience. You can network efficiently by:

Start early – If your career switch seems to ‘make sense’, connections may be more inclined to reach out to you. Like or create social media posts that highlight your interest in your preferred industry long before announcing any definite change. Browse your LinkedIn page to see if any of your connections work in the industry you wish to switch to.
Practice discretion – Notify trusted contacts of your impending career change, and make sure they keep your confidence. Do not announce your plans far and wide too early, as it may anger your employer. If you are self-employed, you could make your intentions known sooner.
Attend industry-specific events – Mix with the professionals in your desired industry. Attend their talks and make any notes of key speakers that intrigue you. Remember that the UK is a relatively small place, so set your sights beyond local events.
Keep networking – Once your switch is underway, you must keep nurturing your networking relationships. Touch base with contacts who have helped you already, as you may be able to rely on their support in future.
Display gratitude – Try not to phrase things publicly as you abandoning one failing career for a more promising one. Focus on the idea of a ‘new challenge’, and you will not make any enemies.

Your ability to network is instrumental to your success. Sensitivity and tact are required here, so consider the feelings of others and how your departure may be interpreted. Behave with respect and reverence for your old and new industries, and many doors may open for you.

Conclusion

A late career change can be a mad scramble for stability. However, with a well-reasoned approach, you can lend more structure and strategy to your efforts. Try to open channels of communication with those in your personal and professional lives. Use your seasoned veteran status to your advantage, and let your past successes and skills fuel your confidence. Be honest with yourself, and be certain of what you want from your life. After all of this, your career change will be a natural advancement in your journey.

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How to Buy Bitcoin With Credit Card and No Verification

October 6, 2021

Currently, at $30,000 per Bitcoin, the crypto market is more active than ever. Bitcoin’s price forecasted to reach $66,000 towards the end of 2021. This means we can expect more and more rush towards the crypto industry, and consequently, people searching for ways to purchase BTC with credit cards anonymously.

To acquire BTC via card or bank transfer, at least over a specified limit, the most trustworthy online sites now demand KYC. Your name, residence, photo ID, and proof of address are usually required. The platform may need you to authenticate the source of your funds for significant transactions.

There are two types of services through which the subject process is possible:

Centralized service: In this type, you would directly purchase Cryptocurrencies from a company.
Decentralized Finance/ P2P (Peer–to–Peer) service: In this type, purchases are made from unaffiliated suppliers, with the platform acting as an intermediary.

Centralized Services

Centralized services offering purchase of Bitcoin with credit card anonymously include:

Exchanges: Binance, a popular crypto trading platform, is an example of this type. When buying bitcoins using a bank transfer, there are no costs, and credit card fees are typically affordable. However, you must be willing to go through the process of verifying fiat inputs and withdrawals. In fiat currency, the exchanges only accept credit card transactions from approved processors and do not allow anonymous credit card transactions.
Exchangers: Popular examples include Coinbase, Paxful, https://www.coinspot.com.au/buy/btc and more. Complete Know Your Customer (KYC) is also needed. Credit card fees can be quite high (10% or more) and are not disclosed on the website.
Unofficial Exchangers: The unauthorized exchange service is your only choice if you want to know how to purchase bitcoins immediately from the comfort of your own home without KYC. Since the majority of them are unlicensed, the risk is great. Your name or reference name, contact number, and email must be included. Even though the websites state you may purchase BTC with a debit card right now, the procedure isn’t fast because exchange requests are generally handled manually.
Wallets: Several reputable cryptocurrencies allow you to purchase bitcoins without ever leaving your wallet. When sending and receiving cryptocurrencies using a wallet, KYC is usually not necessary. However, when purchasing cryptocurrency with a card, verification is required.
ATMs: This is the only anonymous and “official” centralized method, although more and more machines require KYC nowadays. If you are living in Florida, try out this Bitcoin ATM in Florida.

The procedure for purchasing and selling bitcoins at an ATM varies by machine, but in general, it goes like this:

To purchase a Bitcoin ATM, enter your crypto wallet address. You will receive the code after depositing cash at the ATM.
ATM deposit addresses are available while selling at Bitcoin ATMs. A QR code that may be scanned is generally included. To this address, send the code. You will receive the cash.

Even though Bitcoin ATMs are becoming increasingly prevalent, this approach can be utilized if one is nearby. It is not as convenient as buying BTC online since you must purchase or sell at an ATM. Another issue is the high cost of Bitcoin ATMs.

Decentralized/P2P (Peer-to-Peer) Services

For peer-to-peer transactions, decentralized exchanges link buyers and sellers. No intermediary enables exchange.

A decentralized exchange allows both buyers and sellers to submit orders. You have two alternatives if you want to acquire bitcoins. You may say how much you want to spend, how much you’re willing to pay, and how you’d want to pay. Bitcoin circuit helps you with that.

Alternatively, you might look for an offer from a seller. This contains the selling price, amount offered, and payment methods accepted. You send money to the vendor when you accept the offer. Your wallet will receive the crypto sent by the seller. To avoid fraud, decentralized exchanges contain security measures such as escrow, deposit, and arbitration services.

Important Points to Remember

When buying bitcoins with a credit card, always observe the following vital points:

If you tell someone your wallet address, never expose your private key or seed phrase.
Double-check the charges for buying BTC with your credit card to ensure no hidden or high costs are present.
Verify the exchange before using it.
Double-check the Bitcoin address you have entered.
Track your transaction status with a Bitcoin explorer service.

Is Buying Bitcoin a Good Idea in the First Place?

It’s critical to realize that using an anonymous service will have both drawbacks and benefits. The benefits are as follows:

Without losing time on KYC, you may purchase bitcoins quickly with your credit card.
There is no danger of your personal information being exposed.
The tax officers have no way of knowing if you possess the cryptocurrency (but tax avoidance is never a good idea).

The drawbacks include:

Banks have the authority to deny transactions or suspend your account or card.
In situations of anonymity, the prices are high.
Checking the status of your transactions while at an ATM is a difficult task.
The promise to purchase bitcoins quickly with a debit card without KYC is unofficial, and there is no method to get your money back or refund.

We have gone over the advantages and disadvantages, and now you know how to buy Bitcoin with a credit card anonymously. If you’re looking for more tips, bitalpha ai official site can provide you more information.

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The Top 4 Online Tools for Money Management

October 5, 2021

With the increase in inflation across the world, money management has become of paramount importance for most businesses. Whether businesses wish to scale their radius or prepare themselves for the inevitable market crashes that result in currency devaluation, finance management should always be a company’s priority.

For this reason, we have organized a list of tools that can help small-scale businesses in managing their finances and ensuring that their financial strategies include room for rainy days.

Common Money Management Mistakes

Large-scale businesses have dedicated financial teams that are responsible for managing financial transactions, however, small-scale businesses are forced to handle matters on their own. These are some of the most common mistakes business owners make when managing their funds.

Overestimate Future Sales

Overestimating future sales can often result in miscalculation of the company’s month-end revenue closing. This unsettles the plans for the succeeding month and creates a chaotic situation for management.

Spend Too Much Too Soon

Many business owners often think that they need to continue increasing the amount of investment to multiplicate their returns. However, that’s not always applicable. Spending too much too soon can result in a disturbed ROI ratio and might push the company into financial hot waters.

Tools for Money Management

While money management might seem quite difficult, the following tools can make the process easy for you:

1. Mint

In any discussion on money management, the importance of Mint’s role cannot be understated. With its variety of available options, you can track cash flow and manage your budgeting with great ease.

2. Pay Stubs Maker

Businesses often face difficulties at the end of the month in managing their expenses and keeping track of different payments. While large-scale companies have dedicated finance departments to handle these issues, small-scale businesses encounter great complications. For this reason, it is often recommended that you get your hands on a paystub maker to produce pay stubs for all your transactions. Since paystubs contain detailed information about the transactions, they can work as proof of income for employees and proof of expenses for the employers.

3. SmartyPig

If you wish to save some of your money from your monthly profits but don’t know how much, SmartyPig should help you out of your misery. It offers you a variety of options for setting up a savings account, from which you can effectively track your account’s growth.

4. Yodlee

If you wish to manage your accounts and keep a track of your investments, Yodlee will prove to be a one-stop-shop for all your management needs. You can create a budget, manage your funds, and make payments right from the site. You wouldn’t have to look anywhere else.

Benefits of Money Management

Money management holds great advantages for any business’s existence. Let’s have a look at some of the most common benefits to fully understand its value.

Financial Understanding

When business owners utilize a proper channel of financial management, they understand the nitty-gritty details of the financial side. This increases the value of their hard-earned revenue and forces them to utilize it with greater caution.

Future Security

Businesses need to think ahead of their time to have a financially secure future. Their fund management strategies need to be on-point to ensure the company’s financial status remains on par.

With the use of effective money management strategies on both individual and organizational levels, business owners can ensure financial security. This helps them track their growth and implement the company’s plans of expansion with ease.

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How to Look After Your Assets

October 5, 2021

Assets come in two primary forms: hard and intangible assets. Hard assets are investments that are tangible and have intrinsic value through good times and bad. Examples are houses, buildings, land, or cards. Intangible assets are non-physical assets that have value and are used over the long-term such as stocks, bonds, and other financial assets. There is one thing that all assets have in common, however; they are very valuable.

Asset protection aims to ensure a person’s assets are safe from different third-party claims without resorting to perjury or other illegal activities. It’s really crucial to have asset protection from bogus lawsuits, taxes, & creditors in place so you can focus on other areas! That’s why it’s important to look after your assets, no matter how small or what kind they are. If you don’t take proper care of your assets, you could lose money. To find out more about doing this, keep reading.

Get insurance

All assets can get damaged or lost in some way, but that risk is much higher for physical assets such as houses and cars. So, you need insurance to protect these assets.

Anything can happen – your car could be stolen, your house could get lit on fire . . . If these things happen while your assets are uninsured, you will lose your assets as well as the money you use to replace them.

Insurance is a great way of looking after your assets because you know that they will be safe even if something horrible does happen. If you have no idea where to start, have a look at the best insurance for cars.

Create a trust fund

Your money is probably your most valuable asset. This includes all the money you currently have in your bank account, as well as future money that you may get in from investments in stocks or similar income streams. If your money is in your bank account, it has a higher risk of being stolen. On top of that, you may be tempted to use that money.

If you have extra money lying around, it is, therefore, a good idea to use it to create a trust fund. This way, your money will be tied up and thus safer, while at the same time still being an asset. Click here to learn more about setting up a trust fund.

Maintenance

Once again, this refers more to your physical assets, especially your house. A house is a great investment and asset because you can generally sell it at a higher price than what you bought it for, meaning it will earn you a profit. That being said, that will only happen if your house is looked after and well-maintained. Try implementing some of these home maintenance tips to make sure that your house’s value doesn’t decrease.

Make sure everything is legal

It’s very easy to fall for a scam. People may convince you that it’s a good idea to hide your money in places where it can’t be tracked. On paper, this may seem smart. However, it’s never a good idea to do anything outside the law – you may end up losing your money.

If you’re looking for places to put your savings, there are many ways that you can keep them safe and secure without breaking the law. If you are ever worried about protecting your financial assets, talk to a financial advisor to see if they have any advice.

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