WEST PALM BEACH, FL - In a recent announcement Google revealed that it will discontinue the call and chat history features in Google Business Profiles by July 31, 2024. This move appears to be part of a broader effort to streamline Google's services and shift its focus elsewhere. While these changes will affect how businesses interact with their leads, it also presents an opportunity to enhance marketing efforts with proper planning and the right tools. What’s Changing in … [Read more...]
FIASCO: Multiple Squarespace Domains Hijacked After Security Loophole Exploited
NEW YORK, NY - Last week, multiple organizations with domains registered with Squarespace had their websites hijacked by hackers, with most of the instances primarily targeting cryptocurrency-based businesses, such as Celer Network, Compound Finance, Pendle Finance, and Unstoppable Domains. The hijacks took place between July 9 and July 12, and involved Google Domains assets; Squarespace had purchased the Google Domains service in June 2023 – along with approximately 10 … [Read more...]
Site Building Gets Crazy Easy as Newfold Digital Adds GenAI to Its Website Builders
JACKSONVILLE, FL - In an effort to streamline the process of creating websites for its users, domain registrar and hosting provider Crazy Domains announced this week that the company will be adding generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to its website building toolkit. Dubbed the AI Website Builder, the tool is being touted as a way to assist small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that are not experienced with web development into their first foray of … [Read more...]
Over 20,000 Short Premium Domains to Be Released at NamesCon Global 2024
BELLEVUE, WA - Domain name registrar and registry services provider Identity Digital has announced they will be releasing – for first-time availability – over 20,000 short premium domains at NamesCon Global 2024, including hundreds of .vote domains just in time for election season, as well as more than 1,000 one and two-character .info domains. Identity Digital noted that the launch of the Early Access Phase (EAP) for these premium domains is slated to take place … [Read more...]
Investigation Uncovers 40,000 Phishing Domains Linked To LabHost Scam Operation
UNITED KINGDOM - The LabHost phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) platform, which had tens of thousands of phishing domains linked to it and thousands of users worldwide, has had its infrastructure completely disrupted and 37 suspects have been arrested – including the original developer – following a year-long global law enforcement operation. Originally launched in 2021, LabHost was a resource for cybercriminals that – for a monthly subscription fee – provided them … [Read more...]
Omni Hotels & Resorts Suffers Breach, Potentially Impacting Millions
DALLAS, TX - Last month, Omni Hotels & Resorts, a prominent hotel chain, experienced a cybersecurity breach that resulted in the theft of customer information. In an update on their website, Omni confirmed that the stolen data includes customer names, email addresses, postal addresses, and guest loyalty program information. However, financial information and Social Security numbers were not compromised. The breach was detected on March 29, prompting Omni to shut down … [Read more...]
Following Early-Access, Five New gTLDs Now Available for General Availability
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Late last week, five new top-level domains (TLDs) were made available for early access registration, spanning a variety of different uses and covering topics that are designed to appeal to very specific audiences. The five TLDs in question are .diy, .food, .living, .lifestyle, and .vana, all of which were acquired late last year by Internet Naming Co. from Lifestyle Domain Holdings, which was the previous owner but had not yet launched the … [Read more...]
Maximizing Marketing Potential With Google Ads (Formally Google AdWords)
FLORIDA - Online visibility is paramount for businesses striving to reach their target audience and drive conversions. Google Ads, now known as Google Ads, stands as a powerful advertising platform that enables businesses to promote their products and services across the vast landscape of the internet. However, navigating the complexities of Google Ads requires expertise, strategic insight, and ongoing optimization. In this article, we delve into the fundamentals of Google … [Read more...]
The Bing Advertising Network: A Strategic Companion to Google Ads for Businesses
FLORIDA - In digital advertising, diversification is key to maximizing reach, engaging diverse audiences, and driving conversions. While Google Ads reigns as a dominant force in online advertising, businesses stand to benefit from complementing their marketing efforts with alternative platforms such as the Bing Advertising Network. In this article, we delve into the fundamentals of the Bing Advertising Network and explore how businesses can harness its unique features to … [Read more...]
What Is Geofencing And How Does It Work?
FLORIDA - Geofencing is a location-based technology that creates virtual boundaries around a specific geographic area. These boundaries are defined by GPS, RFID, Wi-Fi, or cellular data. When a device, typically a smartphone or GPS-enabled device, enters or exits the predefined geographic area, it triggers a response or action. Here's how geofencing typically works: Imagine a virtual fence you can draw around any area, like your competitor's dealership or even … [Read more...]
Explainer: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Verses Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, two acronyms reign supreme: SEO and SEM. While they share the common goal of enhancing online visibility and driving traffic to websites, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and SEM (Search Engine Marketing) represent distinct approaches with unique strategies, techniques, and outcomes. In this article, we'll dissect the differences between SEO and SEM, shedding light on their respective roles in the realm of digital … [Read more...]
10 Billion Connections to Malicious Domains Blocked by NSA in 2023 via “PDNS”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Security Agency (NSA) noted that 10 billion user connections to known malicious or suspicious domains were blocked over the course of the past year as part of the agency’s efforts, according to its 2023 Cybersecurity Year in Review report released on Tuesday. The NSA‘s annual report is a public account of the agency’s work with government partners, defense industrial base (DIB) entities, and foreign partners to help keep the nation secure, … [Read more...]
FEDs Seize 17 Domains Suspected of Being Used for Fraud in U.S. by North Korea
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Wednesday, the United States Justice Department announced it has seized 17 website domains utilized by North Korean information technology (IT) workers to purportedly evade government sanctions, conduct cyberattacks and defraud U.S. businesses, with the millions of dollars in illicit proceeds generated from such activities being used to fund North Korea's weapon development program. The Justice Department confirmed in a statement that the … [Read more...]