Apple and FBI Team Up to Bring Down One of the Largest Torrent Sites in the World

Well-known for its superfine technology and exceptionally sophisticated handsets, Apple Inc. is one of the largest computer technology and electronics manufacturing companies in the world. It has provided users with some of the best gadgets we see today, and has grown in the past two decades at a neck break speed. In recent news, it has helped the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to carry out a crack-down on the owner of one of the largest torrent sites of the world, Artem Vaulin of Kick Ass Torrents, and arrest him in Poland. However, the question which is popping-up, in the minds of many thinkers sitting at the back panel is – why did Apple Inc. help FBI in this case, but not in the one of the San Bernardino shooting? Here is a brief look into why Apple Inc. backed out on the San Bernardino case, even after being ordered by the Law of California.
The Kick Ass Torrent Case:
Artem Vaulin, the alleged owner of one of the largest torrent directories in the world called Kick Ass Torrents, was arrested in Poland, earlier this week. The person was charged with money laundering and copyright infringement. It turns out that Apple Inc. and Facebook provided IP addresses of Vaulin during the investigation. Sources said that Vaulin had an Apple account, which he used to make purchases to two different IP addresses. Almost a week ago, the final location of Vaulin was traced and after a crack-down by FBI and he was arrested in Poland.
The San Bernardino Case:
In 2015, a shooter named Farooq killed 14 people and was on the run. The FBI was tracing the killer for a long period of time, and after finding out that the killer owned an iPhone, the department approached Apple Inc. for help. However, opposing the decision of the Law of California, Apple Inc. refused to help and cited a privacy breach. The CEO said that it would be a backdoor to every iPhone out there and Apple Inc. would never help in creating something which was this dangerous.
What is The Difference? In the San Bernardino Shooting case, Apple Inc. was asked by the Government of the US to hack Farooq’s phone and let FBI know about his whereabouts and his recent activities. However, as there was no financial gain included in the case, Apple Inc. refused to use its resource, and cited privacy breach against a serial killer.
Whereas, if we take a look at the arrest of Kickass Torrent’s owner, it is clearly shown that with the removal of websites which provided pirated movies to the users, Apple Inc. could make a lot of money by selling their products on iTunes and the App Store. Moreover, it was an indirect way of reducing competition, which was being faced by Apple Inc. for a long period of time.
The Bottom Line:
Without any financial gains in the process, the multinational Apple Inc. backed off from the San Bernardino’s shooting case, and denied to help FBI in hacking the iPhone of the shooter. The facts and the figures prove that in order to cut the competition, achieve a greater position in the market and remove pirated movies, so people pay-per-view of each movie, Apple Inc. helped the FBI in catching Artem Vaulin.

Maintaining an Organized Work Space

Whether you work in an office or at home, keeping an organized workspace is essential in helping you work more efficiently. When your desk is clear and everything is tidy, it helps you stay focused and gives an air of organization. It also helps you find things when you need them.

When a workspace is cluttered with notes, letters, files, empty drink cups, and general stuff, you cannot find what you need. If you are one of these people who proudly states “I know where everything is” as your boss, looks at your desk with disdain, then you really need to have a clear up.

Having a clear work space clears your mind. You may think you know where everything is on your desk, but you are wasting brain energy keeping record of your ungainly filling system. This in turn makes you less efficient, because not only can you not find the things you need quickly, your brain is trying to recall when you had it last and what has been put on top of it.

Some companies have now introduced a clear desk policy. This means that anything other than your necessary tools, like your computer and telephone should not be on show when you leave your desk at the end of the day. All files must be kept filed away especially at the end of the day and anything you are working on should be covered if you leave your desk.

This is as much a security issue for companies as anything. We may work with very sensitive information like people’s finances or legal information; even personal details on a computer are subject to the data protection laws. Therefore it is good practice to close your screen and put files in your drawer whenever you leave your desk. This kind of organization can only be achieved if your workspace is clear of all unnecessary items.

It may seem that an office is a safe environment and it can be felt that papers and on screen information is all part of the job and all the workers are okay, but this cannot be taken for granted. If you think about the way computer systems are structured in business then you will know that not everyone in the building has access to all computer files. You have access to folders and files that are relevant to your work, but nothing outside that area.

Large companies are particularly aware of this kind of security. If you have worked in this type of environment you will be aware that it takes a while to be set up with authority to areas when you first start a job. This is the company protecting itself by the organization of its own security.

When you are working from home it can seem irrelevant as no one ever goes into your office but good organization of your work place is still essential as it can help make you work more efficiently. A clear desk and space to work, without moving piles of files means that you are able to focus on the work in hand.

Keeping High Morale in the Workplace: Great Tips for a Great Sales Manager

Everyone has their bad days at work; we all have our own personal problems to deal with. Whether it be relationship issues, family domestic issues, or whatever the case, in order to harmonize your call center success you will need to keep in mind that people are only human. Some people struggle with addictions not necessarily to drugs, but even something simple like their favorite champion on league of legends (online based strategy game). Some of these things that you may consider a distraction as a manager, may truly be motivators, moral boosters, and even add to problem solving skills and team building.

Start the day right, with high energy, and pumping up
Times have changed. Office environments are so much more different than they were 20 years ago, especially depending on how successful the company is you work for. Look at Google for example, as you can see from the movie "Interns" that they really care about their employees, and know how to do fun team building exercises that keep your brain sharp. Running a tight ship is one thing, but sometimes, loosening the sails a bit more, and listening to what makes your team happy might be the ultimate breakthrough to the success of your call center. 

Get to know your employees, who is the top seller, I love good conversation 
This could be a bit difficult but sometimes it just takes a little eaves dropping to see what they are really interested in. Don't worry if you hear them talking about a souped up Honda, and you know nothing about cars do research periodically and strike up conversation with them. Find a common denominator. By that I mean, find something in the office everyone enjoys as a team, so that you can work together to solve a common problem. Encourage the sharing of sales tactics, and giving credit where credit is due. Maybe you can have a day where you surprise everyone and play Pandemic the board game. Everyone loves a fun boss, and everyone loves opportunities to make money, let your employees talk it out, you would be surprised what problems get solved with good conversation.

Take notice in a caring way when you see a fellow employee struggling
I know especially as a manager that this could be very frustrating. Employees seem to be complacent texting on their phone not getting work done, and all you want to do is yell at them. Another approach may be to sit back, relax and have a chat with them (in your office as to not to draw attention) and ask them if they are problems before screaming about their cell phone usage at work. Sometimes just showing you care, might be all the difference. Remember you want people to want to work for you, not feel like they can't do it, or it's too hard. All brains work different. Try to accommodate and work with what you have. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.

What makes a manager great? Do you have any other tips, for managers out there that strive to succeed? Feel free to leave it in the comments along with the office you manage.

Track your ad buying campaigns using the best call tracking service in the industry. Not only will it help make you a better manager, but it will also help you get more sales!

Is Running Your Own Remote Call Center a Good Solution for You?

There’s nothing more irritating than feeling tethered to your desk while dealing with the uncertainty of not knowing where your career is going. We all dream of being our own bosses or achieving autonomy within our professional lives, but we ultimately discard those notions and regard them as only wishful thinking.

But, with virtual call center software, it is now possible for everyone to be their own boss.

Starting your own virtual call center requires very little in terms of start up: if you have a computer and a headset you’re ready to go.

The next step is creating a business plan. Try to get as organized as you can. This is obviously going to vary depending on what you want to use your virtual call center to achieve, but giving yourself an idea of what it is you want to achieve through is a good way of starting off

After you have any idea of what you want to ask yourself what tools you’ll need.

You’ll most likely want to find virtual call center software to try and navigate through some of the more technical and legal nuances in this process. Good call center software will integrate your current Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, and integrate it. It will also scrub that list for numbers that are registered on the “Do Not Call List” which should help you avoid any sticky interactions with the FCC.

I would recommend CallTools.com which is now offering free trials. They are on top of predictive dialing, automatic dialing, and even offer a great CRM platform.

I also recommend visiting this and this website to get some ideas on crafting a good script.

Good luck and happy calling!

3 Tips for Being More Effective at Work

1.Plug in
Wearing headphones and putting some music on is a fantastic way to detach yourself from the distractions of your office. With noise and coworkers coming in and out of your cubicle it can be difficult to abstain from distractions.

2. Check your emails a little less often
Checking your emails while you’re trying to work makes you less productive. Stopping what you’re doing to review something else and then attempting to pick up where you left off takes a considerable amount of time.

3. Learn how to prioritize
Your time is valuable and when you’re organized you can make the most out of it. When receiving a new project take a quick moment to skim through and ask any questions you have upfront. Ask more questions! Find out all you can about deadlines, sensitive information. From there just decide what needs to get done now and what can get done later.

Do you have any more tips for how to be more effective? Feel free to comment below.

Attitude is Everything

Certain events that occur are beyond our control; that may be one of our least favorite parts of life. These events, while unpleasant, ultimately help shape us into the people that we are. They have the opportunity to allow us to show our true character and to become better people. While it  may be hard to see this in the moment, it's important to never lose hope. Hope is the one thing in life that can always motivate us to be more.

These trying times are when your support system and the people that care about you are the most important. It can be difficult to let other people know that you need help, but no person is an island.

Many people are afraid to share their feelings with their loved ones for fear of feeling like a burden, but more often than not those we care about are happy to extend comfort to someone in their time of need.

During difficult periods in your life it's also important to keep pushing yourself to be present. Take the time to enjoy the things you've always enjoyed. Don't let who you are fundamentally be changed by negative experiences. Learning how to take a little time to care for yourself is something will benefit you endlessly during difficult times.

More Employees Are Voluntarily Quitting

There has been a recent trend in suggesting that employees begin to plan for “unexpected career changes”, meaning they need to start planning ahead just in case they decide to quit. Why is it that we have to begin cultivating the mentality of always being prepared for a better job?
There is a prevalent notion that job security is a thing of the past. Employees no longer feel as though a job can translate over to a career.

Trends would suggest that the quit rate is the highest it has been in several years, with the job market finally beginning to stabilize itself the question still remains: why?

Employers still aren’t giving their employees enough incentive to stay. With the cost of living constantly, rising employees can’t afford to have job loyalty anymore. Sure, they offer you “job security”, but what that ends up translating to is a low paying job for the next five years.

Rather than addressing that issue employers have been quick to offer quick solutions to attempt and create worker happiness. They’ve stocked up the break room and offer quick (cheap) solutions to attempt and help.

It’s time for employers to realize that job seekers are now feeling more empowered than ever and less likely to settle for low pay and office politics.