Using “I AM” for Unconditional Truths

The Power of "I Am"

Using “I AM” for unconditional truths is a powerful way to affirm who you are and what you believe. It can help you to connect with your deepest essence and to live a more authentic and fulfilling life.

When you use “I AM” for unconditional truths, you are stating something that is true for you, regardless of what anyone else thinks or believes. You are not saying that you are perfect or that you never make mistakes. You are simply stating your core identity and your core values.

Here are some examples of how to use “I AM” for unconditional truths:

    • I AM a kind and compassionate person.
    • I AM a strong and resilient person.
    • I AM a creative and intelligent person.
    • I AM worthy of love and respect.
    • I AM capable of achieving my goals.
    • I AM grateful for all that I have.
    • I AM committed to making the world a better place.

You can use “I AM” statements to affirm your positive qualities, to overcome negative beliefs, and to set intentions for your life. For example, if you are struggling with self-confidence, you could say to yourself, “I AM worthy of love and respect.” Or, if you are setting a goal for yourself, you could say to yourself, “I AM committed to achieving my goals.”

Here are some tips for using “I AM” statements effectively:

    • Be specific. Instead of saying, “I AM a good person,” say something like, “I AM a kind and compassionate person.” The more specific you are, the more powerful your statement will be.
    • Believe it. In order for your “I AM” statements to be effective, you need to believe them. If you don’t believe your own statements, no one else will either.
    • Repeat it. The more you repeat your “I AM” statements, the more they will become ingrained in your subconscious mind. Repeat them to yourself throughout the day, and especially when you are feeling down or unmotivated.

You can also use “I AM” statements in affirmations and visualization exercises. For example, you could create a vision board with images and words that represent the things you want to achieve in life. You could also write affirmations that start with “I AM” and repeat them to yourself regularly.

Using “I AM” for unconditional truths is a powerful tool for personal transformation. It can help you to create a more positive and fulfilling life for yourself.

By: Michele C. Foster ~ Image: Canva pro

The Power of “I Am”

THE POWER OF I AM

Throughout life, you’ve been through a conditioning process that’s created a mindset overflowing with I am not. As a schoolchild with a less than satisfactory grade on your report card, you thought to yourself, I am not smart. You place anywhere other than number one and say, I am not talented. You feel criticized and believe that I am not good. You look in the mirror and compare yourself to a glamorous movie idol or homecoming queen and tell yourself, I am not attractive. Your relationship fractures and you think, I am unloved or I am unworthy. These, and many more like them, are repeated throughout your developmental years and into adulthood, and become your core defining self-concept.

Overcoming this I am not mentality begins with trusting your inner world of spirit. There are no boundaries restricting your inner world. But your worldview and your self-concept in the outer world are defined by your five senses. The outer world is always changing, which, by our definition, means it is not real. This awareness that what remains unchanging is the only reality could lead you to experience a majestic wake-up call right here, right now.

Run through as large an inventory as you can of the things that you would like to define your life. Then make the shift in your imagination from an I am not or I am hoping to become to I am. You want what follows I am to be congruent with your highest self, which is God. Beginning with your inner dialogue, simply change the words that define your concept of yourself. Redefine your self-concept by choosing the words that you opt to place into your imagination. Try this rewording of your inner world as a beginning step to accessing the assistance of your higher self and fulfilling your desires.

Instead of I am incapable of getting a job, shift to I am capable. Similarly, replace proclamations of I am not able to live in peace with I am peace. I am unlucky in love is replaced by I am love. I am unworthy of happiness because I am happy. The words I am, which you consistently use to define who you are and what you are capable of, are holy expressions for the name of God—the highest aspect of yourself. Break lifelong habits of unwittingly besmirching this holy name. Discontinue using pejorative labels to cast aspersions on your holy self. Always make your very first consideration the honoring of your Divine spirit. This will allow you to rise to previously unimagined heights. Teach your outer self to accept the unlimited power of your inner spirit and the things you place in your imagination can become true for you.

Source: drwaynedyer.com ~ image: Canva Pro

What To Do if Your Phone Has Been Hacked

If you’re not in control of your iPhone or Android, here’s what to do.

    • Phones can be hacked through malware, phishing, and malicious code, just to name a few methods.
    • Jailbroken iPhones or rooted Android phones are easier to hack, as it removes most built-in safety guards.
    • Read our TotalAV antivirus review to learn how it can protect your phone from being hacked. It’s way more than just an antivirus.

The mere thought of someone else gaining access to our smartphone can be downright terrifying. In movies, we’re shown hackers as these mysterious figures in hoodies, capable of wreaking havoc with just a few keystrokes. But in reality, a hacked phone doesn’t have to be the end of the world. There are effective ways to regain control of your device and ensure your data stays secure.

So, what should you do if your phone has been hacked? Even better, how can you prevent hackers from gaining control of your devices in the first place? In this guide, we’ll answer these questions and more as we give you practical tips and insights to help you stay protected in the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Top Prevention and Solution for a Hacked Phone

Using antivirus software is one of the best ways to not only kick a hacker out of your phone but also to prevent hacking in the first place. We’ve spent thousands of hours testing dozens of antivirus software, and from detecting trojans and backdoor programs to cleaning up trackers, these are the best options for the job:

10 Tips to Stay Safe Online While Working From Home

Cyber Security

Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and more expensive to manage. According to an IBM and Ponemon Institute report, the average cost of a data breach reached a record high of $4.35 million in 2022. In 2020, there were 1.4 million cases of identity theft, double the number from the previous year.

From phishing and ransomware to malware and social engineering, adversaries are constantly trying to gain access to your personal information, credit card numbers, login information, and more—and we’re even seeing an uptick in attacks targeting remote workers—so how can you fight back?

Whether you’re interested in launching a career in cybersecurity or just want to avoid a cyberattack, these 10 tips will help you stay safe online while you’re working from home.

1. Treat Business Information Like Personal Information

Just as you know to keep your personal banking information, passwords, and data private, it’s also important to keep business information like trade secrets, employee information, and company credit accounts secure.

In addition, make sure the software you’re using for work is up-to-date and only save what’s completely necessary to do your job. If you’re the boss, keep track of what customer data you collect and where it is stored. Learn more about keeping your customer info safe.

2. Change Passwords Frequently

Once you set a strong password for an account or device (we recommend using a password manager like LastPass), it’s easy to forget about it.

Change your passwords every 30, 60, or 90 days depending on your industry—especially if you’ve recently logged onto a public or shared computer, if you’ve received a notification that your account has been compromised, or if you’ve shared your password with someone who no longer needs access.

3. Set Up Two-Factor Authentication

Using two-factor authentication when logging into all your accounts, including email, Slack, and other productivity apps, is especially important when working remotely and adds an extra level of security to access sensitive information.

The idea is that it protects your accounts if your passwords become compromised because you need an additional one-time code to log in successfully.

Apps like Google AuthenticatorLastPass AuthenticatorMicrosoft Authenticator, and Okta make it easier to incorporate two-factor authentication into your security strategy. If you don’t have two-factor authentication at your company, talk to your head of IT or CTO to get it set up.

4. Lock Your Home Screen and Set Up Your Screensaver

It might seem basic, but locking the home screen on your phone and setting up the screensaver on your computer are two easy ways to stay safe online (not to mention it saves battery life).

Another tip? Increase the passcode length on your phone to the maximum available and make sure the password for your computer is complex and challenging to guess. These simple steps make it harder for others to access your personal information and for hackers to break into your devices.

5. Disable Desktop Notifications + Minimize Tabs While Sharing Your Screen

When you’re sharing your screen in a meeting, there are a couple of extra steps you can take to make sure you don’t accidentally share sensitive information.

First, disable your desktop notifications while presenting. This way, no one will be able to see your private Slack messages, emails, or upcoming meetings and events (it’s also just more professional and less distracting!). This goes for text messages too if you have them synced to your computer.

Second, keep the tabs you want to present in a separate window and minimize the rest—again it’s more professional, but it also keeps your information secure.

6. Take Advantage of Free Cybersecurity Tools

Many companies that build cybersecurity software offer free scans so you can check your devices for known viruses and spyware and see if your device is vulnerable to cyberattacks.

Some options include McAfee’s Security ScanMicrosoft’s Safety Scanner, and Webroot’s Secure Anywhere Antivirus.

Beyond conducting regular scans, make sure to keep your cybersecurity software up-to-date—it’s worth investing in and is bound to save you money down the line if you or your business gets hacked (not to mention maintaining your brand reputation and client trust).

When choosing cybersecurity software or providers, consider what your core risks are. Once you’ve determined what information needs to be protected, where it is stored, and who has access to it, you can find the right service for your needs.

7. Be Skeptical of Your Inbox

Phishing accounts for more than 80% of reported security instances, so how can you evaluate whether an email is safe or suspicious?

If you receive an email that looks like it’s from a company or person you trust and it asks you to click on a link or open an attachment because they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or login attempts, there’s a problem with your account or payment information, or you need to confirm personal information, those are cues that something’s not right.

Obvious signs of phishing are misspellings, generic greetings, excessive punctuation, and an email address that doesn’t match up. If you receive an email you think looks suspicious, it’s always good to confirm it with your head of IT or CTO. If it’s from a person you trust, like your manager, reach out to them directly to make sure it was from them.

If you want to put your skills to the test, try this free quiz to see if you can identify a real email versus a phishing email.

8. Secure Your Social Media Accounts

Whether you’re in charge of running your business accounts or just want to keep your personal accounts secure, keeping your social media accounts safe is more challenging than it might seem.

First, make sure to be selective about which third-party apps you allow sign-in access. It might seem easier to use Facebook to create an account, but it makes your information more vulnerable, so it’s better to have a standalone login for each additional account.

Second, if you’re going to enable third-party access, read the fine print and ensure you understand what permission you’re giving them. Can they post on your behalf? Can they view your personal information and share it? Be wary of giving any third-party app too much leeway with your data.

Third, make sure to use a unique password for each account, so if one is compromised, it won’t impact the security of your other accounts.

9. Use a VPN to Securely Connect, Browse, and Access Data

You might not think you need a VPN when you’re working from home, but there are many scenarios in which having one would come in handy.

When you use a VPN or a virtual private network, it creates an encrypted tunnel between you and a remote server operated by a VPN service. All your internet traffic is routed through this tunnel, which means your data is secure.

If you’re conducting business from a coffee shop or airport and using a public WIFI connection, a VPN can certainly give you peace of mind, but it’s also worth using while you work from home, too, so your internet service provider can’t access or sell your data and so you can keep your company information secure.

Popular VPNs include those offered by ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN—and most cost less than $10 a month to use, making VPNs an affordable and accessible way to stay safe online. Oh, and we recommend avoiding using a free VPN. It might be tempting to save money, but in the long run, it’s more secure to use a paid option.

10. Avoid Using a Personal Computer for Work

At first glance, your personal computer might seem as safe as your work computer, but experts warn that it’s unlikely that your home computer has sufficient antivirus software, customized firewalls, and automatic backup tools running compared to devices deployed by your employer.

If you have to use your personal computer for work, make sure to use encrypted communication for all sensitive information, continue to use strong passwords for your accounts, use two-factor authentication, and ensure firewalls are set up.

Bonus Tip: Learn More About Cybersecurity

The online Fullstack Academy Cybersecurity Bootcamp can take you from beginner to knowledgeable cybersecurity professional. There is no previous cybersecurity experience needed to apply.

The more you know about staying safe online, the more prepared you are to deal with a cyberattack while you’re working from home.

Source: fullstackacademy.com  ~ Image: Canva Pro

Top 10 Internet Safety Rules & What Not to Do Online

Online Safety Tips

A 19-year-old running for public office in New Hampshire found out about the importance of following Internet safety rules the hard way. As Seacoast Online reports, his opponents found images in his social media posts that were sexually suggestive and referenced past drug use. Just like that, his political career crashed and burned upon takeoff. But, unfortunately, he isn’t the only one, as careless Internet habits have left others exposed to scams, identity theft, and physical harm at the hands of people they met online. With more users accessing the Internet through mobile devices, these risks are changing and growing quickly.

Even though apps loom larger in most people’s daily online interactions than traditional websites do, that does not mean that the basic Internet safety rules have changed. Hackers are still on the lookout for personal information they can use to access your credit card and bank information.

Unsafe surfing can also lead to other threats—from embarrassing personal comments or images that, once online, are nearly impossible to erase, to getting mixed up with people you’d rather have had nothing to do with.

Here are the Top 10 Internet safety rules to follow to help you avoid getting into trouble online (and offline)

1. Keep Personal Information Professional and Limited

Potential employers or customers don’t need to know your personal relationship status or your home address. They do need to know about your expertise and professional background, and how to get in touch with you. You wouldn’t hand purely personal information out to strangers individually—don’t hand it out to millions of people online.

2. Keep Your Privacy Settings On

Marketers love to know all about you, and so do hackers. Both can learn a lot from your browsing and social media usage. But you can take charge of your information. As noted by Lifehacker, both web browsers and mobile operating systems have settings available to protect your privacy online. Major websites like Facebook also have privacy-enhancing settings available. These settings are sometimes (deliberately) hard to find because companies want your personal information for its marketing value. Make sure you have enabled these privacy safeguards, and keep them enabled.

3. Practice Safe Browsing

You wouldn’t choose to walk through a dangerous neighborhood—don’t visit dangerous neighborhoods online. Cybercriminals use lurid content as bait. They know people are sometimes tempted by dubious content and may let their guard down when searching for it. The Internet’s demimonde is filled with hard-to-see pitfalls, where one careless click could expose personal data or infect your device with malware. By resisting the urge, you don’t even give the hackers a chance.

4. Make Sure Your Internet Connection is Secure. Use a Secure VPN Connection

When you go online in a public place, for example by using a public Wi-Fi connection, PCMag notes you have no direct control over its security. Corporate cybersecurity experts worry about “endpoints”—the places where a private network connects to the outside world. Your vulnerable endpoint is your local Internet connection. Make sure your device is secure, and when in doubt, wait for a better time (i.e., until you’re able to connect to a secure Wi-Fi network) before providing information such as your bank account number.

To further improve your Internet browsing safety, use secure VPN connection (virtual private network ). VPN enables you to have a secure connection between your device and an Internet server that no one can monitor or access the data that you’re exchanging. Read more about What is VPN

5. Be Careful What You Download

A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather. As PCWorld advises, don’t download apps that look suspicious or come from a site you don’t trust.

6. Choose Strong Passwords

Passwords are one of the biggest weak spots in the whole Internet security structure, but there’s currently no way around them. And the problem with passwords is that people tend to choose easy ones to remember (such as “password” and “123456”), which are also easy for cyber thieves to guess. Select strong passwords that are harder for cybercriminals to demystify. Password manager software can help you to manage multiple passwords so that you don’t forget them. A strong password is one that is unique and complex—at least 15 characters long, mixing letters, numbers and special characters.

7. Make Online Purchases From Secure Sites

Any time you make a purchase online, you need to provide credit card or bank account information—just what cybercriminals are most eager to get their hands on. Only supply this information to sites that provide secure, encrypted connections. As Boston University notes, you can identify secure sites by looking for an address that starts with https: (the S stands for secure) rather than simply http: They may also be marked by a padlock icon next to the address bar.

8. Be Careful What You Post

The Internet does not have a delete key, as that young candidate in New Hampshire found out. Any comment or image you post online may stay online forever because removing the original (say, from Twitter) does not remove any copies that other people made. There is no way for you to “take back” a remark you wish you hadn’t made, or get rid of that embarrassing selfie you took at a party. Don’t put anything online that you wouldn’t want your mom or a prospective employer to see.

9. Be Careful Who You Meet Online

People you meet online are not always who they claim to be. Indeed, they may not even be real. As InfoWorld reports, fake social media profiles are a popular way for hackers to cozy up to unwary Web users and pick their cyber pockets. Be as cautious and sensible in your online social life as you are in your in-person social life.

10. Keep Your Antivirus Program Up To Date

Internet security software cannot protect against every threat, but it will detect and remove most malware—though you should make sure it’s up-to-date. Be sure to stay current with your operating system’s updates and updates to the applications you use. They provide a vital layer of security.

Source: usa.kaspersky.com ~ Image: usa.kaspersky.com

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