Category Archives: Miscellaneous
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.
More than just Website Design in the Hunter Valley
Did you know Natalie Crowe Designs offers:
* Website Design and Development
* Logo and Graphic Design
* Business Mentoring
* Branding and Print Media
– Business Cards, Flyers , DL Brochures and more
* Website Hosting & Domain Registration
* Computer Training and Tutorials
* Social Media & Marketing
* Search Engine Optimisation
* Website upgrades and revamps
Contact us today to discuss your requirements and see how we can help you get from where you are now to where you want to be!
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few days, we had a client come on board, whom had been held at the mercy of an international hacker, who utilised an outdated software or content management system behind their website to hack into their online database.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!
January 2015 Summary
Already the first of February, and 2015 is progressing at a steaming pace. January has now passed and what a busy few weeks that was for us here at Natalie Crowe Designs.
With the New Years celebrations, School Holidays in full swing in January, we took some much needed downtime to recoup, reground, and recenter for the fantastic year ahead of us.
My daughter and I spent plenty of the holidays enjoying the sun, playing and exploring our creative sides in the world of craft.. Finally breaking open the “craft cupboard” doors after collecting for months before in order to have plenty to do over the 6 week break. To say the leave we had a ball. I gave needle felting a go, which was at times like acupuncture (if you’re familiar with needle felting you’ll find the humorous side) and experimented with oil pastels, all forms of paper, foam, and created forts from cardboard boxes, chairs and sheets. We expanded our vegie garden and ventured to Sydney for a few days of discovery. It was great to spend so much quality time as a family, it was only in the last week of January that we started slowing down, and on Wednesday 28th Little Miss started Year 1. An exciting time for both of us to say the least! She’s growing up so fast! So now that, that is all water under the bridge and we’ve established our regular routine again, it’s now time to kick things into gear and initiate our 2015 goal plan!
First port of call, follow up all the calls, emails and enquiries via Facebook. We switched our business phone off for majority of the school holiday period, so on returning to the “office,” I was greeted with a large number of calls, emails and messages via our Facebook. I have just about returned all of the calls, emails and enquiries and booked each of those clients who have requested consultations or completion of further work into our schedule.
2015 is looking to be the biggest and brightest year yet, with extension of our existing services, client road maps, supporting some really awesome local events and working directly with our community. We plan on making this year, the year of achievement, the year of contribution and the year of growth for Natalie Crowe Designs and our supporters.
We look forward to hearing about your journey!
Stop by our facebook page http://www.facebook.com/nataliecrowedesigns for more frequent updates!
Have a great day!
Gratitude – Reminder of Triumph
Hi Guys.
It’s been a ridiculously busy November, with jobs exceeding my expectations on how well they could go!. I was so very thrilled to see how much I achieved in such a small time frame… but also to see some really radical changes in the mindsets of a lot of our clients, how much further they’ve been able to travel in such a small span of time.. Congratulations to all of our clients who jumped on board for our 11 Websites in the 11th Month.
As a business owner, it can sometimes be challenging to find that drive or know when exactly the right time is to take action… when is the right time to launch a website.. when is the right time to introduce yourself to someone else… when is the right time to stop and appreciate how amazing you are… how far YOU have come… how much you have achieved and how much more brilliant you are in the present moment than you were in the past…
I am so very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in the last 12 months.. even through adversity.. it’s helped build my resilience and helped me revive myself and my business..
As a little reminder to all of you to make your successes rewarding… yes it’s amazing to have achieve so much and in the grand scheme of things you’ve achieved great lengths… but without making an active acknowledgement to store that feeling we often forget….
This time round, I have rewarded myself with a gift for achieving my immediate goals.. I’ve been eying off some beautiful Lisa Pollock Monk canvases… with messages of gratitude, family and one with the concept of the tree of dreams.. I picked them up yesterday afternoon, and have only just begun hanging them in my office as a totem of my achievements.. although I am not one for material objects, having beautiful things around me that I feel I have truly earnt, not only beautifies my space, but also reminds me of my triumph.
(note.. the photos aren’t great but they look fantastic!)
Completion of November 2014 11 websites in the 11 Month
We’ve managed to come through to the end of the month with great progression! We’ve completed more of the promotion that we expected, however it’s with great joy I share with you the gallery of our achievements for November 2014.
Thanks to all of the businesses who came on board and congratulations on a job well done!
11 websites in the 11th month in full swing
Hey guys!!
I am so thrilled to have so many sites on the cards, I am working as quickly as I can to get as many up and out to the world! We have 20 days left of the challenge and I am confident I will have all 11 finish and complete!
I’ll be finalising quotes and contracts with local business owners through-out the hunter valley, Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Loxford, Singleton & Greta
We’ve got a few new sites that have been launched an work we’ve completed.
Success! – Stage 1 Web Design Office Organised
Success!
– For those of you who saw our earlier post regarding sorting client
files. I’m feeling a lot more organised after setting up the client
summary folders. We have a summary file for each of our active clients
and our filing cabinet contains all of the past files and notes.
The goal will be to have 60 of those by the end of this year.
Currently at 47 with the number rising. As a business owner I want to
offer the very best service to my clients and will we working through
each of those clients files on a regular basis to work out ways that we
can further improve our services.
For all of my fellow stationary-aholic fans out there I had fun on this one.
