#r. j. davies

[rjdavies]

Top 10 Cybersecurity Mistakes and How to Avoid them!

Cyberattacks are on the rise. The majority of these breaches are preventable. Some common mistakes that leave you and your company vulnerable that are avoidable.

Mistake #1: Falling for Phishing Scams

These are showing up in emails and messages on our phones. Don’t click on a link or download attachments that are suspicious.

How to avoid it:

Be wary of unsolicited emails or text messages that ask for personal information

Use spam filters and anti-phishing tools

Verify the sender’s email address

Hover over links to check their legitimacy

Mistake #2: Ignoring Software and System Updates

Failing to regularly update software, apps or operating systems. This leaves your system vulnerable to know exploits.

How to avoid it:

Enable automatic updates

Check for updates

Check for critical software updates like browsers, email, and antivirus software

Mistake #3: Using Weak or Reused Passwords

Using simple, easy to guess passwords like “Password” or “123456” or reusing passwords across multiple accounts. It’s a dangerous game to play.

How to avoid it:

Use unique and strong passwords

Passwords shouldn’t have common words in them

Passwords should be a combination of letters, numbers and a special character such as ! or $ or @

They should be at least 8 to 10 characters in length if permitting

Implement two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever it’s possible

Mistake #4: Using Public Wi-Fi Without Protection

Free wi-fi is everywhere and being able to log into it rather than using your data is always a bonus. But at what cost? Do you access your email or personal banking on these free wi-fi servers?

How to avoid it:

Always use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when connecting to public Wi-Fi

Avoid conducting sensitive transactions like online banking or shopping online on public networks

Mistake #5: Not using Antivirus Software

Relying only on the built-in security features of an operating system or skipping downloading antivirus software

How to avoid it:

Install reputable antivirus software and keep it updated

Fun regular scans to detect potential threats

Mistake #6: Overlooking Privacy Settings

Not controlling your privacy settings on social media or other online accounts. Don’t ignore these settings. You’re leaving your personal data exposed.

How to avoid it:

Limit the amount of personal information that you share publicly

Be aware that when friends click on a post, everyone on their friends’ lists can see that post

Review and adjust your privacy settings on all social media and online accounts

Mistake #7: Not Backing Up Your Data

Not regularly backing up important files, risking permanent loss in case of an attack. Attacks as having your information hacked, ransomware, or even hardware failure.

How to avoid it:

We live in a world where data is a commodity, and we need to protect it

Set up automatic backups to cloud services and external drives

Check and test your backup system to ensure it works

Mistake #8: Disabling Firewall Protection

Turning off your device’s firewall or failing to configure it properly.

How to avoid it:

Enable the firewall on your personal devices

Enable the firewall on your router

Check your firewall settings to ensure they are not overly lenient

Mistake #9: Not Educating Yourself or Employees on Cybersecurity

Ignoring the need for ongoing education about emerging threats or best practices.

How to avoid it:

With information available at your fingertips there is no excuse

Staying informed about the latest cybersecurity threats

Staying informed about the latest cybersecurity trends

Participating in training programs or webinars on cybersecurity basics

Mistake #10: Not Having a Response Plan for a Cybersecurity Breach

Failing to prepare of the possibility of a breach, leading to chaos or delayed action during an incident.

How to avoid it:

Develop and practice a cybersecurity incident response plan

72% of Canadian small-to-medium sized business experience a cyber-attack in 2024

Small businesses are particularly vulnerable with 46% of all cyber breaches impacting those with fewer than 1,000 employees

66% of small-to-medium sized have experienced at least one cyber incident in the past two years

Have contact information for cybersecurity professionals or a breach response team readily available

Some simple things to keep you, your family, your company safer.

Practice safety first!

R. J. Davies

A Riveting Jacked-In Dreamy Mind-Bender

RJ Davies - Science Fiction Author, Maddox Files, Novels

[wassupmygays]

okay so i Love Milena's friend sm. not to condone having your phone out in the goddamn front row but.......thank you for "accidentally" getting these shots of her final show

📷@/jessejkaplan ig

[the-ianbohen-blog]

Comic-Con International 2016 - "Teen Wolf" Panel

Ian Bohen, writer/executive producer Jeff Davis, and J. R. Bourne

Besties Ian Bohen and JR Bourne

(L-R) Ian Bohen, J. R. Bourne, Cody Christian, Holland Roden, writer/executive producer Jeff Davis, Tyler Posey, Dylan Sprayberry, and Khylin Rhambo attend the "Teen Wolf" panel during Comic-Con International 2016 at San Diego Convention Center on July 21, 2016 in San Diego, California. 

L-R) Ian Bohen, J. R. Bourne, Cody Christian, and Holland Roden.

(L-R) Actors Ian Bohen, JR Bourne, Holland Roden,Tyler Posey, writer/executive producer Jeff Davis, Dylan Sprayberry, Khylin Rhambo, and Cody Christian.

[loonyloopylupin96]

David Thewlis was in a band when he was younger and one of their songs was called "Mrs Mooney's House" and I'm not saying it was meant to be

[itsmyfriendisaac]

♉️ May 5th: Son of Glóin, John Rhys-Davies.

[politicaldilfs]

Vermont Governor DILFs

Peter Shumlin, Jim Douglas, Phil Scott, Howard Dean, Deane C. Davis, George Aiken, F. Ray Keyser Jr., Franklin S. Billings, Charles Manley Smith, Richard A. Snelling, Harold J. Arthur, Horace F. Graham, John A. Mead, Joseph B. Johnson, Lee E. Emerson, Thomas P. Salmon, William Henry Wills, Mortimer R. Proctor, Ernest W. Gibson Jr., Robert Stafford, Philip H. Hoff, Allen M. Fletcher

[adamwatchesmovies]

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is the definition of “epic”. The climax is on a scale so massive it’s legendary. You see it and cannot imagine how the series could top itself in the final chapter. It also contains great, quieter character moments, just enough comedy to give you the emotional breaks you need before the action kicks up again and some romance too. The special effects were spectacular for the time and hold up today. Yes, the extended edition is long - you basically have to dedicate an entire evening to it – but it never feels long. As soon as it's over, you'll debate whether you have time to sit down and watch the next chapter.

As Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) make their way toward Mordor to destroy the Ring of Power, they discover that its previous owner, the creature called Gollum (Andy Serkis) is following them. Though treacherous, Gollum may be the key to fulfilling their quest. Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) arrive in the kingdom of Rohan to find its King, Théoden (Bernard Hill), corrupted by the wizard Saruman (Christopher Lee). In the forest near Saruman’s tower, Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) try to convince Treebeard (voiced by Rhys-Davies) to join the fight against him and his army of Uruk-Hai.

Before we dig in, let me clarify that we’re talking about the Extended Edition of the film, which is 45 minutes longer than the already lengthy 179-minute theatrical version. Yes, that’s a lot of time spent in Middle-Earth. No, it doesn’t feel like too much. The pacing is the key. We begin with one story, see how dire the situation is, get to a turning point and are then whisked away to the next plot, where the cycle repeats itself. As the middle chapter in a trilogy, this film is not contained, but it feels complete. There are character arcs, clear stakes, and a beginning, middle and end within each of the three stories and for the picture as a whole. Even more than before, the action feels like it’s happening in a real place. You can see the history of the fortress of Helm’s Deep, of the people of Rohan, the realms in faraway lands that are choosing to either ally themselves with the great, never-blinking eye of Sauron, or against him and his forces. In the sets, costumes and weapons, you notice details that show how much love and dedication was poured into this project. When there is comedy, it’s not the kind that undercuts the action, it’s the kind that makes what comes next feel even more dramatic, exciting or tragic.

Director Peter Jackson has a knack for raising the stakes. You know it’s only a matter of time before Gollum betrays Sam and Frodo. You think that’s all the hobbits have to worry about but then they meet the late Boromir’s brother, Faramir (David Wenham). You figure the journey Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli will make to the fortress at Helm’s Deep will be perilous, but then we see what’s brewing in Saruman's lair. The journey there is the least of their problems. There’s a glimmer of hope in the form of Merry, Pippin and Treebeard but the more we learn about tree-like Ents, the less you have faith in them. Those are all part of the big picture but within the individual characters, we have engaging stories too. In the kingdom of the elves, Arwen (Liv Tyler) is told by her father, Elrond (Hugo Weaving), that the elves are abandoning Middle-Earth, and that she would be foolish to stay, particularly for love. Frodo and Sam are at odds when it comes to Gollum, with Frodo sympathizing with the creature and Sam believing they’d be better off without him. In Gollum himself, there is conflict, as the creature’s twisted mind cannot decide whether it should act as a loyal guide to the hobbits or kill them in their sleep.

Whether swords are drawn or sheathed, you’ll be gripped by the picture but what you’ll probably remember best about “The Two Towers” are the big, special-effects-heavy scenes. Most memorable is Gollum, a character created entirely by motion capture. It’s common nowadays, but this is a rare example of a pioneered technique that still holds up. As soon as Gollum enters the frame, you just think of him as a character, never as a trick of the camera. You might even forget there was a person, not a creature on set. Equally capable of knocking you off your feet is the big battle at the end of the film. This gigantic siege, set at night, in the rain, is so well-lit and well-directed that you’re never lost or disoriented. It feels like everything's been building up to this and in some ways it is, but in others, it hasn't. There's still more to come in The Return of the King.

Like its predecessor, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is a significant achievement in filmmaking. The performances are excellent, the production on a scale we seldom see, the story and plot make you forget there’s a world outside of the movie itself. The only flaw in is that you can't sit down and watch this movie on its own, but it was never meant to be seen that way. (Extended Edition on Blu-ray, April 27, 2023)

[hlfmoonshine]

new muse alert nevis clarke as portrayed by kirby howell baptiste | fashion designer, 38, she/her morgan forbes as portrayed by natalia dyer | receptionist, 29, she/her jordan alexander as portrayed by emma d'arcy | video game writer, 32, they/them kitsilano riley as portrayed by elliot page | bartender, 37, he/him ruby gilbert as portrayed by elizabeth lail | sculpture artist, 32, she/her keyla davis as portrayed by fka twigs | preschool teacher, 35, she/they haddie lake as portrayed by madelyn cline | waitress, 26, she/her mickey talbot as portrayed by luke kirby | small business owner, 46, he/him

hello! a small reminder than if you'd like a starter from any new muse, you can like or reply to this post and i'll whip you something up.

[holmesoldfellow]

"Gaslight Grimoire" series, including the works of many authors, edited by J. R. Campbell and Charles Prepolec

"Gaslight Grimoire: Fantastic Tales of Sherlock Holmes," "Gaslight Grotesque: Nightmare Tales of Sherlock Holmes," "Gaslight Arcanum: Uncanny Tales of Sherlock Holmes," and "Gaslight Gothic: Strange Tales of Sherlock Holmes."

[rjdavies]

Learn to Code!

Learning a new language can be daunting however it can open a lot of doors for you as well.

Reasons to learn how to code:

Increases/enhance problem solving skills

Opens up career opportunities

Increases creativity

Improves understanding of technology

Improves job security or more opportunities

Increases analytical thinking/keeps your brain sharp

Easy to learn:

There are many free sites/videos online

Join a new community of like-minded people

Just committing to 20 minutes a day, it will add up

Different Languages:

Python – it’s an excellent choice for beginners – widely used in data science, machine learning, AI, web development, automation, etc. (popular frameworks/libraries include: Django (web development), TensorFlow and PyTorch (machine learning), Pandas (data analysis)

JavaScript – another great choice for beginners – it’s the backbone of web development, enabling interactivity and dynamic content on websites and web applications (popular frameworks/libraries include: React, Angular, Vue.js, Node.js)

Java – another great choice – this language is known for its stability and scalability, used for enterprise-level applications, Android development and large-scale systems (popular frameworks/libraries: Spring, Hibernate, JavaFX)

C++ - another great choice – used for developing performance-critical applications like games, operating systems, real-time systems, and embedded systems (popular frameworks/libraries: Qt (GUI development), Boost)

C# - another great choice – used for Windows Applications, games (using Unity), and enterprise software (Popular frameworks/libraries: .NET, ASP.NET, Unity)

Come on, come code with me!

R. J. Davies

A Riveting Jacked-In Dreamy Mind-Bender

RJ Davies - Science Fiction Author, Maddox Files, Novels

[singeratlarge]

MONDAY MATINEE MUSIC VIDEO (a new one!)—“Funky Heaven” by Chris Andrews featuring Vikki. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHbgLg_XfWA  This track brings it on with cosmic funk, synthpop juice, and strapping guitars, catching us up with Bruno Mars and updates everything to love about the music in SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER. “Funky Heaven” was composed, performed, and produced by Chris Andrews with guest vocalist Vikki. If this is your introduction to Chris’s music, he’s a British singer-songwriter and recording artist whose songs have been covered by Roger Daltrey, David Essex, and Davy Jones (Monkees). Chris (under the name Tim Andrews) was also a champion of late 60s psychedelic pop and (in the 80s), as Kris Ryder, he released New Wave synthpop sides. Chris was also part of the seminal freakbeat band Fleur de Lys, and he keeps cranking out new music for the centuries: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHbgLg_XfWA

#funk #disco #heaven #dance #rnb #soul #Britpop #singersongwriter #beegees #donnasummer #chrisandrews #synthpop #saturdaynightfever #brunomars #uptownfunk #rogerdaltrey #davidessex #davyjones #monkees #fleurdelys #krisryder #johnnyjblair

[ladyinbl00d]

benvolio and sampson the idiots ever😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[the-ianbohen-blog]

MTV Fandom Awards San Diego - July 21st, 2016

[veryslowreader]

Science in Modern Life by J. R. Ainsworth Davis

Petticoat Pirates

[ltwilliammowett]

Hello! I adore your page. Can I ask just where you've learned so much about the age of sail and in such fine detail? I dream of reaching a similar level of expertise, but have struggled to pin down a really good book/site/archive for such references. Thank you!

Hi, thanks for the compliment. There really isn't much of a secret, apart from reading and going to the relevant museums. Museums often have archives where you can get lots of books to read. But many people don't know exactly where to start. So I've put together a little list here to make it easier.

 B. Lavery, Nelson’s Navy. The Ships, Men and Organisation. 1793-1815 New Edition    (London 2012)    B. Ireland, Naval Warfare in the Age of Sail. War at Sea 1756-1815 ( London 2000)    N. Tracy, Nelson’s Battles. The Art of Victory in the Age of Sail (London 1996)    D.Davies, A brief history of Figthing Ships (London 1996)    A. Lambert, War at Sea in the Age of Sail 1650- 1850 (London 2000)    G. Wells, Naval Customs and traditions (London 1930)    P. Goodwin, HMS Victory, Pocket Manuel 1805 (London 2015)    J. Eastland a. I. Ballantyne, HMS Victory. First Rate 1765 (London 2011)    J. Bennett, Sailing into the Past. Learning from replica Ships (London 2009)    M. P. Smith, Terror at Sea. True Tales of shipwrecks, cannibalism, pirates, fire at sea & otherdire disasters in the 18th& 19th centuries (Maine, 1995)    J. Lowry, Fiddlers and whores. the candid memoirs of a surgeon in Nelson’s fleet, James Lowry, 1798 (London 2006)    B. Lavery, Royal Tars. The lower deck of the royal navy, 875-1850 (London 2010)    R. and L. Adkins, Jack Tar. Life in Nelson’s Navy (London 2008)   A. Bruce, Encyclopedia of Naval History (London 1998)   J. Black, Naval Power: A History of Warfare and the Sea from 1500 (London 2009)   N.A. M Rodger, The Safeguard of the Sea: A Naval History of Britain 660-1649 (London 1997) C. L. Symonds, The U.S. Navy: A Concise History (New York 2015)

https://naval-encyclopedia.com/ C. G. Davis, American Sailing Ships: Their Plans and History (University of Michigan 1984) B. Greenhill, The Evolution of the Wooden Ship (1988) R. Woodman, The History of the Ship: The Comprehensive Story of Seafaring from the Earliest Times to the Present Day (1998)

Admiral W. E. Smith, The Sailor's Word-Book: An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms (England 1867)

And believe me, the more you read, the more little things you notice and the deeper you dig and compile lists and other notes that will help you a lot later on.

[todaysdocument]

Card of Thanks from Confederate Prisoners of War Thanking Residents for Christmas Gifts

Record Group 393: Records of U.S. Army Continental CommandsSeries: Letters Received

[handwritten]

Card of Thanks

In consequence of a Donation given unto us

prisoners confined in [illegible] prison by the citizens

of St. Louis Dec. 25, 1864, we the prisoners of said

prison Do this 26th Dec 1864, Think that it is

our duty as a grateful people to hold a meeting

for the purpose of showing our gratitude unto the

Donors, and all those that have used their efforts

in distributing the same. On motion of J. C. Couzins

Mr. T. M. Northcutt was called to the chair. The

chairman was requested to state the object of the

meeting which was made known by a few

brief remarks. On motion of Mr. T. H. Beckett,

Mr. John C. F[illegible] was appointed Secretary, on motion

of J. E. E[illegible] a committee of 20 was appointed

to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the

[illegible]ing. Thereupon the Chair appointed the following

named persons: J. C. Couzins, D Howe, T. H.

Beckett, Dr. John Hart, John Moffitt, J. Hoggs, David

Hampton, R. E. Wild, John Lowry, O. R. Horn, [Y?]. J.

Wright, [S. J.?] McLain, John Hall, J. M. L[illegible],

M. M. Harrington, George [Bobhill?], John Brewer,

R. G. [Mercer?], W. H. L[illeible]berry, Frank Dodd.

The Committee made following Report:

Whereas we the Committee in behalf of the Prisoners

of Gratiot would Respectfully Report as follows.

That having been the recipient of a most magnificent

Christmas Dinner, Donated to us by the citizens

of St. Louis. Therefore Be it Resolved 1st That we tender

our thanks unto the Donors of this Christmas

repast of which we the prisoners of Gratiot have

been the Recipients.

2nd Resolved! That we also tender Our sincere

thanks unto Maj Genl Dodge Commanding

the Dept of the Mo. Col W. C. Davis Provost Mar

Genl of the same and Lieut Col Hendricks

Inspector Genl and Superintendent of Military

prisons for permitting us to be the recipient

of this most magnificent repast.

3rd Resolved! That we return respectfully our kindest

regards unto Capt Allen and all of his

subordinate officers for the amble facilites which

were afforded us in enjoying this with luxury.

4th Resolved! That we return our most sincere and

heartfelt thanks to the Sisters of Charity and

Mercy for their uniform kindness and generosity

toward the prisoners of Gratiot, And more especially

for their liberal exertions in distributing

the same unto us on the day above named.

5th Resolved! That the City papers be requested

to publish the forgoing preamble and resolutions.

On motion the meeting adjourned.

S. M. Northcutt

Chairman

John C. F[illegible]

Sec