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Over the past decade, we've seen a shift in the payment model for software. For a long time, software was commonly offered for a one-time fee. But now, led by the rise of mobile applications, more software uses a subscription-based model.

While you might not initially think this is such a great idea, it has a lot of benefits to consider.

Digital security is paramount for both businesses and individuals. Today we have more personal information online than ever, with increasingly dangerous digital threats popping up all the time.

If you want to fortify your digital security, we have several tips to help you.

Is your company's cyber security strong enough to shield you from today's sophisticated attacks? Could you be at risk for a disaster in your business or personal life? Learn how to protect yourself and your company from digital threats.

On Saturday October 13, 2018, Houk Consulting President Don Houk will speak at the District 13 Toastmasters Communication and Leadership Symposium event in Erie, PA on the topic of cyber security.

You're probably aware of credit card skimming, when attackers modify a physical card scanner to steal the details of anyone who uses it. But did you know that online card skimming is a threat too?

Recently, a particular type of this attack, titled Magecart, has become much more prevalent.

The Start menu has been an important staple of Windows for decades. After Microsoft changed it in Windows 8, the Start menu is back and improved in Windows 10.

You might not have checked out everything the Start menu can do, or knew that you can customize it.

We've written before about how important security is in today's online world, like how password security is not optional and some browser dangers to know about.

But there are a lot of potentially confusing terms that float around. Let's define some of the most common and important security terms everyone should be familiar with.

Starting with Windows 8, Microsoft added a new kind of program to Windows. Originally named "Modern Apps" (known as Store apps now), these share similarities with smartphone apps.

Not only are they touch-friendly for users with those devices, but they're often decidedly more simple than standard desktop programs.

Of all the traits we value in the modern world, simplicity might be one of the most important. It's a common idea that "less is more", but how much does simplicity really affect the products we use and the services we rely on?

As Leonardo da Vinci noted, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Thanks to the prevalence of smartphones and around-the-clock work hours for many, we're looking at screens more than ever. While smartphones and laptops let us accomplish a lot, looking at a bright screen at night isn't good for you.

The blue light that screens emit mimics the sun, which is fine during the day.

Do you find that your computer is too distracting? The barrage of notifications we receive on every device makes it hard to focus on one task.

This is why Windows 10 has a feature called Focus Assist (formerly Quiet Hours). We'll show you what it can do and other ways to take control of notifications on your PC.
What Is Focus Assist?
All sorts of apps can send you notifications in Windows 10. This includes your email client, apps you've installed, update prompts, and even notifications from websites.