WEST PALM BEACH, FL – This morning I received an email notification that information or data which is presumed to be connected to my identity has been found on “The Dark Web” after the domain name and hosting company, Epik.com was hacked last year. The service is part of LifeLock by Norton. The following message arrived: Logging into my account a more detailed explanation explains that my personal information associated with the epik.com leak was located on the Dark … [Read more...]
The AdSense ‘Rule’ I’ll Never Understand; ‘Formatting Content That Mimics Ads’
PALM BEACH, FL – I used to think I was pretty good at figuring things out, but one rule of the road when it comes to the Google AdSense program has got me stumped, and to this day I still can't seem to figure it out. I’ve about given up on it as I don’t think I will ever truly understand it. While it seems incredibly simple, I still seem to be confused. Maybe it's just that it is OK when Google does it; but if you try, you''ll get a policy violation notification … [Read more...]
12 Years Ago CNET Networks, Acquired 10 Million Articles for Just $20 Million in Cash
PALM BEACH, FL – The day was Wednesday, November 7, 2007, when LookSmart, Ltd, had announced via Yahoo Finance and Business Wire, that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell the web site, domain and content associated with “FindArticles.com” to CNET Networks, Inc. in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $20.5 million. What a difference twelve years in technology can make. What was once seen as incredible opportunity by owning such vast amounts … [Read more...]
Wild West Domains Must Still Be on List of Registrars Which Facilitate Email Spam
PALM BEACH, FL – Way, way, way back in 2009, Brian Krebs from Krebs on Security, a popular security website came up with a list of the top ten domain registrars (highlighted in a Washington Post article) which facilitate the majority of spam via email, and Wild West Domains, owned by GoDaddy held a spot on that list. Out of roughly 900 accredited domain name registrars at the time, spammers registered Web sites advertised in junk e-mail mostly through the following top … [Read more...]
Google Has Begun It’s “Mobile First” Indexing Endeavours; Email Notification
NEW YORK, NY - There has been a great deal of chatter on the Internet about Google's Mobile First indexing endeavours since March 2018 when it was announced. I was just explaining this to a client yesterday who happens to not yet have a mobile friendly website. Rather than giving a long explanation of what it is and why it is important, I could probably have simply forwarded this message I received from Google this morning letting me know that one of my sites will be used in … [Read more...]
RegistrarStats.com to Shut Down Due to Dwindling Interest? What Say You?
NEW YORK, NY – I received an email the other day about RegistrarStats.com being shut down next month in February (the 19th) and I took special interest in that email notification as I had just used the site the day before to point out some gTLD stats. I never realized that the site was owned by Donuts Inc., but seeing the email notification, it’s pretty obvious. Donuts is a company that has applied for hundreds of new gTLDs and is somehow affording to pay-for and renew at … [Read more...]