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Amazon Receives Cease and Desist Notice From eBay

Amazon has received a legal letter from eBay as a cease and desist notice. The notice stated that Amazon’s staff had contacted eBay merchants with the intention of getting them to defect. It’s alleged that Amazon’s staff has communicated with eBay sellers through eBay’s My Messages internal system.

Based on the Wall Street Journal, eBay accused Amazon of poaching sellers in a letter requiring them to stop the recruitment through eBay’s system. Apparently, about 50 Amazon sales representatives around the world have sent about 1,000 messages to eBay’s merchants, requesting them to join Amazon.

If this turns out to become an accurate accusation, then it seems to be an illegal attempt to gain sellers. This is because eBay merchants have their business information publicized on eBay. This makes it easy for Amazon representatives to make a compile list with that information instead of going through messages.

This is surprising that Amazon needs to recruit sellers since they are a company with over 575,000 employees. Perhaps the eBay merchants were in specific niches where Amazon is planning to expand their merchandise offer to shoppers.

Things to Avoid When Appealing Your Amazon Suspension

If you’ve been recently suspended through Amazon, don’t panic. With a successful plan, you can appeal to their Amazon suspension service. Here are some tips on things to avoid if you want your appeal process to become successful.

Don’t resort to legal action

Amazon’s Seller Performance likes to see their merchants take accountability for their actions, and they’d rather directly deal with the seller throughout the appeal process. Most sellers seek an attorney for legal assistance, and the attorney begins to contact Amazon Seller Performance to speak on their clients’ behalf.

Even when an attorney is involved, the amazon suspension process is delayed. On some occasions, Amazon becomes unresponsive until the seller personally contacts them about their suspension.

In these situations of infringement suspension, attorneys can contact a complimentary party to seek a solution and can request that the complaint is removed. Once it’s withdrawn, the seller must contact Amazon Seller Performance for the results.

Don’t open a new account

Once your seller account is suspended, sellers can think that they can create a new account, and try again. However, creating a new account after suspension will delay reinstatement and damage your appeal process.

Amazon has multiple ways of linking seller accounts, and your second account is more likely to be discovered. Once they spot your second account, it’s virtually impossible to have their account reinstated. At this point, the seller has spent too much time trying to open a new account and reduced the chances of reinstating their original account.

Focus on creating the best appeal for the current account. Creating a second account is a waste of time and reduces their chance of reinstatement after the issue.

Conclusion

Mainly, we believe that the amazon suspension service is great for getting your account reinstated. By taking a formal and direct process, you’ll find it easier to appeal the suspension. In conclusion, contact Amazon immediately to ensure that your account is reinstated so you can sell your company’s products again.

November 20, 2018
Predictions For the Server Network Monitoring Industry

The server network monitoring industry has gained a lot of popularity due to its utility and usage. In fact, the industry is expected to reach $1.82 billion USD by the end of 2018. And by 2023, the industry is supposed to reach up to $2.93 billion.

Due to the increasing demand from online enterprises to follow reliability requirements, there has been an increase in the use of specific monitoring equipment. As the network architecture grows, the application delivery becomes more time sensitivity.

As a result, this calls for a dire need for specific and scalable software as well. This need for a better network capability for better emergency network operation and reduces the downtime issues within modern company networks.

What is Server Network Monitoring?

Server Network Monitoring is a real-time testing system that works with software agents or hardware sensors. It’s used against network infrastructure and applications to verify that the network is available and is readily performing.

These active tests use real-time data such as HTTP response time, bandwidth, end-to-end reachability, and jitter. One of the common tests that is the ping command. It works by verifying a round trip time for the packet loss and the host.

Alternatively, there’s no other network software that uses a monitoring system. This allows the user to monitor the entire business or the enterprise network. Through this method, you have full control over how your IT team works through their daily operations.

Why Use Server Network Monitoring?

Running on a large network means that there is a large amount of data that can be processed. Sometimes the data can contain confidential information (i.e., meeting information, product information, etc.), which can lead to hefty fines if they’re leaked.

One benefit of server network monitoring software is that it reports important information on your network’s availability and performance. Server network monitoring helps with solving network and application problems, which helps your IT teams solve the issue faster.

Some examples of server network monitoring software are VoIP monitoring, video stream monitoring, and others.

Demand for using higher network speeds

During the forecasting period, it’s expected that the demand for a higher network bandwidth will increase. This could be due to the company’s need to create a high throughput, high-performance connectivity, and constant uptime.

To address the user’s requirements, the network monitoring is made for enterprise software. Large enterprises through other industries have begun to use digitization methods to help with their digitization process.

Using server network monitoring software helps with getting your business on track. By having more control over your data, you can have your team suited to handle their daily operations. Use it to make your business more streamlined and make it more efficient in the future.

Conclusion

Overall, monitoring your server is the best way to utilize your IT team and network. By doing this, you create a shield for your company once it’s approached by hackers and outside threats. As a successful company, server network monitoring software is an added component you and your IT can’t go without. So try to make use of it today!

Do you have any questions about server network monitoring?

Tell us in the comments below.

November 19, 2018
What Kind of OS does Network Inventory Software Work With?

If you run a business, then you likely know the importance of making sure that everything runs as efficiently as possible, and technology plays a crucial role in that. Where fifty years ago, a company would have paid several employees to keep things running smoothly, they can now do so with software.

One of the most crucial programs for IT-focused companies is network inventory management software, which works to keep track of all of the hardware on a particular network. This makes it far simpler to keep track of the devices in a company’s inventory, but there are a few key questions that we often get which pertain to this kind of software.

A widespread inquiry concerns the kind of operating systems on which network inventory software can run. In this short article, we’re going to look at the three main operating systems that network inventory management software works on, so bear with us.

Microsoft Windows

As you would expect, network inventory software will most commonly work with Windows computers due to how widespread they are. This degree of compatibility means that even the most affordable network inventory programs will work with Windows computers, allowing you to save money on the program itself.

You’ll find that most businesses use Windows, so it makes sense for software developers to support this operating system first and foremost. However, the number of competitors in the field of Windows inventory management software also means that newcomers in the domain will have to create a product that stands out.

Mac OSX

Mac has seen massive growth as an operating system over the past few decades, and it is also being used more in business than ever before. This leads to more developers creating network inventory programs for use with the OS, and you’ll find that OSX is commonly supported by most of them.

Keep in mind that working with OSX is a little more restrictive, so some budget programs may not be compatible with it. If your office uses OSX primarily, then it will help to double check that an application is compatible with it before making a purchase, instead of assuming that is the case, as with Windows.

Linux

The third most common OS for network inventory management software is Linux, which is a highly modifiable open-source operating system that is more versatile than the other two options. However, Linux’s relative lack of popularity is its downfall, and many programs won’t work with it.

On the other hand, the open-source nature of Linux means that most programs that work with it will be more varied and capable than comparable options for the other two operating systems. You’ll also want to keep in mind that the software won’t necessarily be open source just because the OS is open source.

Conclusion

These are the three main operating systems for which you’ll find network inventory management software available. The most common choice of OS for businesses that use network inventory management software is Windows, followed by OSX and finally Linux.

November 18, 2018
The 3 Most Popular Uses for the Internet of Things

While technology has gradually changed the way we do things over the course of the past 100 years, the quickest and most sudden shifts have taken place recently. The Internet of Things is one of the most drastic shifts towards fully implementing digital technology in our everyday lives, so let’s take a look at it.

Internet of Things development services have seen a surge in their use recently as every company tries to get in on the IoT wave, but what exactly is it? Put simply, the Internet of Things consists of adding internet functionality to devices that didn’t already have it, allowing them to collect data and make use of it.

We understand that this sounds a little abstract, which is why we’ve put this article together to make things seem a bit more approachable. Over the course of this guide, we’re going to discuss the three most prevalent applications for the Internet of Things, and you may find that you already have an IoT device.

1. Smart home

The most common use of the Internet of Things is in smart home devices, and it makes sense when you consider that things like Alexa will always have to be connected to your home network. If your light switches turn on at the command of your voice, they will likely be connected to the IoT.

A smart home can make your daily life more convenient by combining your daily chores into a single framework from which they can all be managed. If you can check the status of everything in your home over a single app, then that makes things easier for you.

2. Wearables

Smart devices which can be worn are another example of a widespread internet of things product. While most of us will look at the Apple Watch as a smart device in its own right; in its most basic form, the Apple Watch is a wristwatch that is connected to the Internet of Things for expanded functionality.

The market for wearables is expanding at an ever-increasing pace, as more companies devote serious R&D to bring new products to the market and get a share of the revenue. Beyond watches, smart glasses and other accessories are also being developed.

3. Smart infrastructure

While this may not be as noticeable in our daily lives, smart infrastructure is another common use of the Internet of Things, and it can end up saving quite a bit of tax money. For example, roads and highways can have sensors installed in them to monitor their rate of degradation and improve their maintenance procedures.

On the other hand, something like a malfunctioning stoplight could be diagnosed and fixed far quicker when it is equipped with IoT sensors.

Conclusion

The Internet of Things will continue to expand over time, and we’re only seeing the beginnings of a massive, worldwide network. These three applications are just a few of the many domains in which the Internet of Things can be put to good use.

November 17, 2018
How to Build a Matching Algorithm for a Dating App?
The days when looking for a partner at a bar has been a common situation are far gone. Modern dating apps can do unbelievable things! Could you ever imagine that your smartphone would be able to choose people that match your interests and preferences among millions of other users? Now it’s a usual thing!

Therefore, the main challenge in the dating app development is to “teach” your application to define what users have higher chances to start a conversation and, as a result, fall in a long-lasting relationship.

But how to create a matching algorithm for your dating app? Let’s find it out!

How Does the Algorithm for the Dating App Looks in Tinder?

First and foremost, nobody knows (except for some developers at Tinder) how exactly the dating algorithms in this application work. Of course, there were a lot of theories and assumptions from experienced developers and just insightful Internet users, and maybe one day the magic behind the Tinder app will be revealed, but as of now, we can just guess.

So what are the more or less agreed ideas regarding the matching algorithm for the Tinder dating app?

Machine learning is the king

Obviously, Tinder uses machine learning algorithms. They help dynamically rank users based on different traits and provide the most fitting profiles to choose from.

In other words, it can be visualized as a scale of 10/100/1000/whatever on which you can get points that determine what users you’ll be shown to as well as what users will be shown to you.

Thus, we can assume that the Tinder’s algorithm for dating app looks like this:
- All users receive a score, let’s say from 1 to 10.
- The score doesn’t represent your overall attractiveness. This means that by being ranked as a 9 you don’t have more chances to be right-swapped than a 3.
- Users with similar or alike ranks will be shown to each other. So, for example, if your rank is 6, you are likely to meet users with a 5-7 score but at the same time have almost no chances to stumble upon 8’s or 4’s.
- The idea behind this matching algorithm for the dating app is to connect users who have higher chances to swipe each other and start a conversation.
- You can take specific actions (for example, upload new photos or be more active) to move to a higher “league”.
As you can see, the whole system is quite understandable so far. Moreover, the one that you’re going to build for your own application will probably look similar.

However, the main challenge that you will face as you create a matching algorithm for a dating app is to define how exactly you’re going to rank users and what things to consider.

How does Tinder rank users?

The most known assumptions are based on the idea that Tinder doesn’t try to analyse your personality but rather how you’re interacting with other users within the app.

Therefore, Tinder’s algorithm for the dating app pays attention to the following features:
1. A share (%) of people who right-swapped you and their own rating (if you’re popular among users with a higher rank, your own rank is going to increase, too; the opposite situation is possible if you’re mostly preferred by people with a lower rating).
2. A percentage of people who liked you back and their rating (to check whether you’re an interesting match for members of your current league).
3. User’s activity within the app. If you either swap everyone or no one, you rank is going to decrease. To stay inside the “safe area” users should swipe right about 30-70% of people they meet in the application.
4. Moreover, it’s believed that Tinder’s matching algorithm for dating app also considers interactions that take place after you’ve matched with someone: for example, do you start and support a conversation by sending and receiving messages.
However, implementing machine learning algorithms that will dynamically change user’s rank can cost a pretty penny for a start-up, especially if you don’t have a relative specialist. What can be your solution to create the best matching algorithm for ? dating app then?

How to Create a Matching Algorithm for a Dating App without Using Machine Learning?

You can also try to build a dating app without machine learning algorithms despite it will be a challenging task, according to the Stormotion team. Your main goal here is to create an appropriate system that will somehow filter users and match only the ones who have the biggest chances for a mutual interest.

The most obvious option is to implement the filtering feature that will allow users to set specific conditions when looking for a partner. However, it kills all the romance; the whole process starts looking like you’re choosing a car for rent.

Another option to consider is to create a matching algorithm for a dating app based on your own ranking system that will match users according to their points. The main difficulty is to calculate this points.

What factors to consider? Should some characteristics weight more than others? How to connect users’ preferences with this score?

Moreover, this may make some sense only during the early stages because as you will attract more users the complexity of interactions will only increase.

Takeaways

If you want to design the best matching algorithm for your dating app, you should definitely use machine learning to make the matching system really dynamic.

The main idea behind this algorithm is to connect users who have the highest chances to get a mutual interest in each other. The trickiest tasks here are:
1. To define the parameters of this interest (what personality traits you should take into account).
2. To teach your application to react to users behaviour and preferences — more specifically, how they interact with other users.
November 16, 2018
Credential Stuffing is a Serious Issue Made More Popular by the Dark Web

Account takeover is one form of identity theft. Data breaches allow threat actors to steal credentials and then take over accounts for monetary gain. This creates a problem for businesses as well as consumers.

SpyCloud offers protection by preventing account takeovers. They essentially do this through monitoring login credentials and alerting account holders when their credentials are breached.

How security breaches occur

First, a hacker will hack into a site and steal login credentials of account holders. This generally includes email addresses, usernames, and passwords.

The Linkedin security breach of 2012 is one example of this. Over 160 million accounts had their login credentials stolen. An even larger breach involved the company Exactis, in which 340 million records were breached. Information included email addresses, physical addresses, and phone numbers.

Data for sale

Once the hacker has obtained these login credentials and potentially other personal information, they sell it online. The Dark Web offers much more anonymity, allowing lots of illegal activities to take place.

The Dark Web is part of the World Wide Web. However, you won’t find these sites by doing a Google search. Instead, the Dark Web uses a Tor browser. Everything is anonymous and encrypted, with most transactions occurring through bitcoin to maintain anonymity.

It’s easy to see why the Dark Web is seen as the place to sell information obtained from data breaches. Login credentials are compiled into lists, known as combo lists. These lists are then sold either through the dark web or the internet.

Credential stuffing

Given the number of accounts and passwords that people are expected to remember today, it’s not surprising that many people use the same login information for multiple sites.

Credential stuffing was once something that had to be performed manually. If you wanted to find out if someone’s Paypal login credentials were the same as Linked In, for example, you would have to go to Paypal and enter the information in.

However, now there are tools that essentially perform the attempts for you. You import the combo list file, and the program will test all the login credentials on many other sites.

About 2% of credential stuffing attempts are successful. However, the sheer amount of data that can be obtained and the relative ease of credential stuffing with these programs makes it very lucrative.

Account takeovers

Once the criminal has found an account that can be logged into with the login credentials they purchased, they have access to the account. They can then use the account for a few purposes.

First, they can use the account to gain even more personal information. This could include physical addresses, phone numbers, birth dates, or driver’s license numbers.

Second, and more commonly, they can use the account for some type of financial gain. They may be able to make purchases on the site or transfer funds to their account.

Other types of accounts are targeted as well. Services like Netflix and companies that offer loyalty programs and points are sometimes targeted.

Cost to businesses

Its estimated that credential stuffing costs businesses $6 million dollars each year. Unfortunately, only 30% of companies have taken steps to prevent account takeovers due to credential stuffing.

This is likely because most people believe that the steps needed to prevent these types of attacks inconvenience legitimate users. In fact, 70% of people within organizations believe that taking steps to stop these attacks negatively affect the experience of legitimate users.

Preventing account takeovers

Spycloud uses a relatively simple system to prevent account takeovers. It essentially monitors login credentials. If these login credentials have been compromised in a breach, it will notify the account holder when they attempt to login.

Instead of simply requiring them to change their password, it sends a reset password link to their email address. This is done in case the person attempting to login is the criminal instead of the account holder.

Account takeovers are a big problem for consumers and businesses. Considering the ease and potential financial gain for criminals, it is also a problem that is going to be around for the foreseeable future. However, preventative measures can prevent account takeovers, keeping businesses and consumers safe.

November 12, 2018
What to Look for in the Best Open Source Search Engine

Open source software promises a brighter future where everyone can use their creative talent together to improve the things that they use. Even though open source programs may not have the same immense popularity as some closed source applications, you’ll find many open source projects being worked on worldwide.

One of the most promising domains for open source software is in search engines, and that’s what we’re going to be discussing in this short guide. Search engines are integral to making the internet a place that is easy to browse, and one that uses open source code has many potential benefits.

We’ll be taking a look at three aspects which are essential to any open source search engine, and when you’re acquainted with them, it will be far easier for you to choose the right one for your needs.

User-Friendliness

The first thing that you’ll want to account for is the interface of the search engine, as it will need to be simple enough for you to understand it. Of course, the degree of user-friendliness that’s required will vary from person to person, but an open source search engine should often be as easy as possible to use without compromising functionality.

A search engine that is simpler to use will have more users and will be more likely to thrive, but more importantly, it will be less likely to frustrate you when you try to use it. What’s the point of an open source search engine if you dread using it because it is unnecessarily clunky?

Development Style

You’ll also want to consider how an open source search engine is developed, as various platforms will have different design philosophies. For example, some search engines may feature a more controlled form of development in which all of the changes (no matter how small) have to be overlooked first, similar to a giant group project.

On the other hand, you can also go your own way in developing an open source search engine by finding some source code and seeing how far you can take it. The beauty of open source software lies in its versatility and the wide range of possible development techniques.

Speed

Finally, you’ll also have to account for the speed with which a search engine can index the results. Nobody wants to sit around for 15 minutes while they search the web, so the best open source search engine will be able to provide you with accurate results within moments of searching.

Conclusion

All three of these aspects are essential to a quality search engine. For example, user friendliness and speed will determine whether the search engine is worth using in the first place, and the style in which it is being developed will give you an idea of where it is headed. We hope that this guide has been both informative and helpful.

November 7, 2018
How Does Agile Software Help My Organization?
The Waterfall process has been replaced with the Agile system for projects. Agile software development teams can complete their projects in shorter sprints. And it has allowed for development teams to thoroughly test and work simultaneously on each app iteration. Because of this, there has been a significant increase in app deployments and finished projects.

Businesses have started to use DevOps and agile for the majority of the automation project. Here are some reasons why Agile has helped businesses grow.

Reduced deployment failures

In the traditional software development method, its difficult for users to fix their issues. This is because they’ll find the issues after their app was deployed. Since agile software development check progress regularly, you won’t run into app issues as often.

Teams discuss every possible scenario before deploying an app. Thus, making it the better option when you’re trying to make your first app.

Client satisfaction

Agile development teams discuss with their clients after each sprint. This helps the clients monitor the process and show required changes if necessary. As a result, the client is more likely to be satisfied with the results from this method.

Why Agile?

Agile methods rely on trusting teams and employees to work directly with customers to provide solutions and understand their goals in an incremental and fast way.
- Smaller, faster. Traditional software development methods rely on tactics such as planning, outlining requirements, design, delivery, building, and test. On the other hand, agile software development tools aim to create the first increment within a few weeks then fully deploy the app after months of creation.
- Communication. Agile project teams work together directly and communicate throughout the duration of the project via face-to-face meetings. Through communication and collaboration, the team can stay on track even as project conditions change.
- Feedback. Instead of waiting for the delivery phase to measure success, agile teams track the speed and development process regularly. The project velocity is measured after each app increment.
Agile tips

When making an app using the agile method, here are five things you should keep in mind:
- Create a network of teams that are empowered to complete project tasks.
- When starting a project, make a process that focuses on learning, continuous change, and iteration because it’s difficult to know what the future holds.
- Look for team members who are responsible and take ownership of their project roles.
- The work strategy needs to be a “North Star” throughout the organization, and it focuses on co-creating value instead of zero-sum games.
- Make sure your team sees technology as a fundamental aspect to each part of your organization.
Conclusion

Overall, using Agile is a great way for your IT team to finish the project efficiently. To get the most of it, ensure that everyone is communicating actively. By doing this, you increase the chances of project success, reduces employee fatigue, and create products that please the client.

Do you have any questions about utilizing Agile for projects?

Tell us in the comments below!
November 6, 2018