Category Archives: Announcements
Email Security | Trojan Horse Virus | Document.zip or IMG.zip
Hey all just a reminder to be vigilant with your email security. We’ve discovered that two local businesses on our mailing list have sent out an email with a zip file attachment that when opened triggers the virus to be sent to their entire email list..
These emails include:
First email:
Subject line: Fwd: Documents-323
Body message: Please look invoice attached.
Attachment: document.zip
Second Email:
Subject line: Quotation Sheet_Snowman
Body: Sent from my iPad
Attachment: IMG.zip
Both of these contain a trojan horse virus
AVG picked up both of these:
http://www.avgthreatlabs.com/au-en/virus-and-malware-information/info/trojan-horse-generic_s/?name=Trojan%20horse%20Generic_s.ELW&utm_source=TDPU&utm_medium=SCAN&PRTYPE=AVF
We highly recommend you upgrade your virus scanners to the latest version, scan your computer and make sure you’ve removed the files from your computer to avoid any contamination.
If you’ve by chance opened the email, you need to notify your contact list to avoid any further contamination and then address the issue accordingly.
As always, we recommend doing a regular back up of your computer to ensure if things like this happen that you are able to simply restore your computer to the previous state.
If we can be of any assistance please let us know.
Thanks in advance.
Hackers & Importance of Updating Your Website
IMPORTANCE OF UPDATING YOUR WEBSITE!
It’s been a busy last few days, we had a client come on board, whom had been held at the mercy of an international hacker, who utilised an outdated software or content management system behind their website to hack into their online database. The hacker had gone the step further and initiated taunting and demanding money. So it required further contact to the appropriate authorities…
Althought,The client acknowledges that given that the website system was built 7 years ago, that they were an easy target. It’s a big reminder to all website owners *You need to keep your systems updated and implement security measures* otherwise there are people out there who will attempt to do the wrong thing…
If you’re using a system that is open-source or that is free to use, it’s more important than ever to upgrade that system and keep your site up to date with the latest security, as that the source code is available to everyone and hacker use these type of systems in order to exploit people… Keeping in mind, there is always good and bad in every situation, as long as the appropriate security measures are taken, you can benefit greatly from content management systems such as WordPress, or Joomla etc, one these precautions have taken place..
Natalie Crowe Designs will be working closely with this client to get this website back on track, we’ve currently accumulated a whole day over the last 3-4 days, in addition to a midnight call out to address the emergency, all of this time has been spent trying to address the issue. And are now having to implement a clean version of the latest software and rebuilt the website system.
If you find yourself in the same position or you have not updated your website for some time, get in contact with us so we can help you get your site up to date and also make sure it’s secure! It’s a loss of revenue, loss of business and damage to your reputation when it comes to issues with your system security and we’re here to help.
7 Years Ago Today – Natalie Crowe Designs Registered
Hey all… 7 years ago today, I decided I’d make a major change
in my life… I decided I wanted to start my own business, I wanted be
able to financially support myself and at the time my unborn daughter. 7
years ago today, I registered my
business name and began the long journey down the road to build a
business that represented me and my desires to be independent, to be
able to make a contribution to grow and to evolve… 7 years on and I
look back on my journey, the only thing I regret is not making the
decision sooner. It’s been one heck of a roller coaster ride and
believe me when I say – that it truly is worth it once you come out of
the tunnel. My business didn’t start operating officially until April
2008 but today 7 years ago I made the decision that will forever alter
my life. and I am so grateful to be one of the ones who have made it
through!
NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR GOALS AND DREAMS – Trust your ability to see things through. It’s never too late to try!
Natalie Crowe Designs is back in the office!
Goooooooooooooooood MORNING!!!
I am so pumped to be back today guys! Availability details below!
For those who don’t know me, My name is Natalie Crowe, I’m a website designer and developer based in Hunter Valley, NSW. I help businesses get take their business to the next step by getting their business online. We setup websites from simple 5 page information websites through to custom developed sites and ecommerce websites. We design logos and do graphic work, as well as Search Engine Optimisation, Google Adwords, and setup up and management of social media accounts; facebook, pinterest and more.
We have been off for the last 6 weeks whilst we prepared for my daughter to get ready for kindergarten and now that we’ve got that under control it’s time to get back into the office and start supporting our clients.
Availability this far. I have a full week of appointments booked in between now and the 12th and placements filling up fast for the 13th and 14th.
I’ll be working some overtime over the next few weeks to make sure we are available for new clients and will be offering maintenance, SEO, and Social Media management services.
As I’ve mentioned in a previous post. We are available for Face to Face consultations between the hours of 10am and 2:30pm. Monday to Friday.
We also offer phone consultations and Skype consultations. Consultations are $66/hr for face to face and $60/hr for phone or Skype consultations. Here we can discuss your requirements and work out what’s going to be the best option for you.
For more information on our appointment dates please contact me via any of the following mediums.
Mobile: 0423285233
– We have a voicemail system, which you can leave a message should we not be able to take your call straight away.
Email: support@nataliecrowedesigns.com
– This is the better option, primarily as some of the locations we’ll be heading out to have limited service for mobiles, and we always have internet access on the road.
Skype: NatalieCroweDesigns
– For those who use skype please feel free to add us to discuss your requirements for website design, logo design and social media management.
Anyway lovelies I have to head to my first appointment! Excitement plus! I will see you later on today! 🙂
Have a fabulous day!
Only 4 places left in our 11th Month 11 business promotion
Who NEEDs a website?! ONLY 4 more places left in the 11th Month, 11 Businesses Promotion! I am so excited!!
We have 4 final places to fill before November 1st. AND one of those 4 places could be your business!!!!
The promo in a nut shell, for November we were looking to smash out a quantity of websites that we’ve never achieved before – It’s also a mindset to put yourself that little bit further to achieve and November 2013 is going to be a big one here at Natalie Crowe Designs! We have a tonne of clients on the board to have work completed in November – the ones you’re currently seeing featured here are some of the website clients we’re building websites
for!
The 11 businesses will be featured in our promotions through-out November. Via our Facebook Page, our Website, our Blog, Newsletter and local promotions!
This opportunity is a big one for business owners all over, with the opportunity to reach a large number of new clients, spread the word about your fabulous business and also help build solid foundations for your business. The promotions and advertising come FREE when your business is one of the 11 business who get their website developed by Natalie Crowe Designs in November.
We will be taking on more than 11 clients this month, but it’s first in best dressed! If you would like to get your website developed, if you would like to get a quote, I am more than happy to discuss your options. We have 5 full days left before the promotion starts. Don’t leave it until it’s to late to get your website up and running and receive that great business promotion with our Natalie Crowe Designs Facebook Fans and business community.
If you’d be interested in getting quote see the following comments for details on how. — Can’t wait to start developing some of these amazing websites!!!
Call Back Policy
Something that all small businesses need to do is put into place a policy or strategy as to what they’re going to do in relation to dealing with follow ups and “calling clients back”. How many hours a month are you wasting?
One of the biggest issues I’ve seen as a part of my own business is the extended time spent chasing up clients who show expressions of interest in your services but time and time again, one call, two calls, a few emails etc social media connections, later, you look back and see a massive time loss during chasing those clients and their business.
After analyzing how many hours in a given month, We recorded a minimum 5-10 hours a month of accumulated time, following up calls or chasing clients for information. Due to this, Natalie Crowe Designs has initiated a new policy in terms of Call Backs and follow ups. In the instance of a first consultation we contact the client twice, if we can’t get hold of them, they’ll receive an automatic email notifying them that we have tired to contact them however we have been unsuccessful, should they wish to organise a scheduled appointment to discuss how Natalie Crowe Designs can best help them, please feel free to contact us on – 0423285233 or reply.
Imagine what could be achieve with an extra 5-10 hours a month up your sleeve!
NCD Corkboard Intro
Good Morning Everyone!
After the realisation this morning we have exactly 3 months til Christmas, it was a little bit of a wake up call that 2012 is coming to an end rather quickly. 2012 has been a big year for us with plenty of changes happening, a new office, introduction of credit card payment facilities, plenty of sites, studies and training and a lot of movement in what services we offer you guys.
In all of this; the last 9 months, we’ve been pinning things on corkboards all year with ideas and developments, plans and endless to-do lists but we’ve decided it’s now time to take action NCD Corkboard is our means of tracking progress, sharing with you guys without updating facebook statuses every five minutes and also keeps an accountability for actions and improvements we want to make for Natalie Crowe Designs.
In saying all of this. This will be both personalised and down to earth approach to business blogging. Natalie Crowe Designs is run by a real person. working with real people. It’s one thing to offer a corporate image and portray yourself as a bigwig company, but 99% of our clientelle aren’t looking for that and we know that. We’re a home-based business, much like most of you. We have a family to support, life commitments and a passion for our work.
Stay tuned for plenty of tips, website launches, updates on trends, triumphs and learning curves that will take place whilst we’re on our journey to build a service for you. Natalie Crowe Designs – your one stop shop when it comes to getting a website.
Natalie Crowe
OWNER/OPERATOR of
Natalie Crowe Designs
______________________________________
http://www.nataliecrowedesigns.com
support@nataliecrowedesigns.com
Ph: 0423285233
www.facebook.com/nataliecrowedesigns
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