According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Cybersecurity (or online security) is defined as the measures taken to protect a computer or a computer system against unauthorized access or attack. Those who gain unauthorized access to the data in the computer or the system are usually called as hackers.
Recently, I had been a victim of a Facebook malware attack. For those of you who are less tech savvy, a malware is any software used to collect sensitive information, harm computer operations, gain access to private devices or display undesired advertising. Needless to say, the experience was daunting and I had to take immediate actions. Firstly, I downloaded anti-malware softwares. Secondly, I changed all my passwords and added an extra layer of security. Lastly, I added other extensions that improved my privacy.
To avoid this scenario, here are some helpful ways to strengthen your virtual shield:
1. ADD THE PRIVACY BADGER
Remember the undesired advertising that I was talking about? You can block that as well as other third-party trackers by adding the browser extension called Privacy Badger for S$0. To the advertisers, it is as if you suddenly disappeared!
2. SCAN WITH MALWAREBYTES
As your information is golden, keep it safe with an internet security and anti-malware software called Malwarebytes. The free version will scan your entire computer, detect any malwares, and remove all the infections. Scans for the most dangerous and newest threats are done in the process.
3. FILTER YOUR EMAIL
Filter your email contents by not opening the spam mail. To avoid downloading virus or other malware, only open attachments that were given by your friends, family, partners, and clients. Delete the previous emails that are no longer needed so that no one can use them.
4. SECURE YOUR BROWSING
To make your browsing more secure, download the HTTPS Everywhere extension. It encrypts your communications to major websites on Firefox, Chrome, and Opera. Get it for free at eff.org/https-everywhere.
5. SEARCH WITH DUCKDUCKGO
Search engines, especially those with big names, track your search history and build personalized profiles to provide results based on your search history. To escape from this “filter bubble”, you must switch to a search engine that does not track your every move. Emphasizing on protecting the user’s privacy, DuckDuckGo is always my go-to safe search engine!
Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)
Yes! It is totally free with no sign-in requirements.
A recent study showed that 85,352 Singaporeans have unsecured debt and missed payments attached to their credit card bills. Whether it is due to untidiness or carelessness, these missed payments increase the charges and interest rates to further trap you into a vicious debt cycle.
These credit card mistakes are lethal as it causes great destruction to your finances.
SETTLING YOUR BILLS LATE
One of the most harmful credit card mishaps are late payments. Not only are you bound to pay the “late payment charges” but you also have to pay interest rates for some banks. Interest rates elevate your outstanding balance with each passing day.
For example, if the minimum payment is not received upon the due date, you will have to pay S$60 for your DBS Live Fresh Card and S$80 for your OCBC 365 Credit Card. If you pay your outstanding balance by the due date of your statement and there are no additional balances from the previous statements then you will pay no charges.
Solution: Stay organized to keep up with your bills. Set aside some time in the beginning of the month to make a list of the bills you are expecting to receive. Put it on your working desk or create a file for it. It is safer to pay the bills at least two days before the due date.
Alternatively, you can get your payments automated. Since you are prepared for the bills earlier on, you may have available money in the bank to pay it the same day as you received it. If you have automatic payment scheduled and you still received a billing statement, call your bank or creditor.
GETTING INFLUENCED BY THE PERKS
A number of Singaporeans are swayed by the credit card companies because of the free gifts and the attractive reward system they offer. While there is totally nothing wrong with desiring these things, it is a mistake to choose a card for its benefits alone. These “free gifts” you receive upon signing up usually come with several terms and conditions.
For example, credit card company A offers you a free luggage as a welcoming gift. However, you have to fulfill the minimum purchase of S$1,500 to claim this gift. If you cannot accomplish this within the given amount of time then your “gift” will no longer be received.
Solution: Before choosing a credit card, you must compare its entire features as well as its fine print. In the fine print, you will discover the different charges, limits to rebates and terms of the welcoming gift.
Image Credits: pixabay.com (CC0 Public Domain)
CLOSING OUT YOUR CARDS
Closing out your cards because they are underused or because you had finally paid off your entire balance may not be the best move for your credit score. Remember, two important elements of the credit score are the utilization rate and the average age of your credit accounts. The goal is to have a long credit history and a low utilization rate. Both of these elements are affected if you closed out your cards.
Solution: Keep your credit cards in a safe place and make a purchase every once in a while to demonstrate that you are a good steward of your card. Immediately pay off the balance too.
Singapore is considered to be one of the most expensive cities in the world. For outsiders, Singapore can come off as an exotic gateway to Asia. However, for all of us who live here, we feel crippled by the rising costs of daily lives, let alone spending on entertainment. We felt your pain, did some research and came up with the perfect list.
Here are twelve fun ways to blow off steam… all for under S$50.
Bring out Your Inner Hamilton at Kart World
For the price of $28, you can enjoy a 10 minute session around Kart World’s driving track behind the wheels of a furious Go-kart. Challenge your friends to a few rounds.
Hit the Sky at G-Max Reverse Bungy
For $45, you can hit the sky in heart-stopping seconds, with adrenaline gushing through your veins. Enjoy the breathtaking view of Singapore’s night lights over at Clarke Quay as you spin and whirl your way up.
Get the Ball Rolling at ZOVB
(Image: ZOVB Singapore)
Go zorbing at ZOVB Singapore and let your head spin wild as you roll down in your own zorba. For $50, you can roll down twice and for an additional $18, you can zorba your way down memory lane for another half hour.
Declare War with Crossfire Paintball
(Image: Crossfire Paintball Singapore)
Head down for a two hour paintball session at Crossfire Paintball for $40, with which you can buy yourself a whopping 250 pellet heavy ammunition. Don’t forget to take that friend along!
Pretend to Climb Everest at SAFRA Yishun Country Club
With 1,000 square meters of climbing and bouldering surface, SAFRA Yishun Country Club provides a wide range of rock climbing walls. The club is host to the first artificial ice-climbing wall in Southeast Asia.
If you get too bored, or tired, you can also get your adrenaline pumping with a parachute jump simulation from a height of 21 metres.
Get Your Observational Powers on at Tiger Sky Tower
Head over to Tiger Sky Tower in Sentosa, Asia’s tallest observatory tower, to get an unprecedented view of Singapore (S$18/Adult S$10/child).
Find Inner Peace at Gardens by the Bay
Reconnect with your natural self at the awe-inspiring and tranquil Gardens by the Bay. While all outdoor areas are free to wander, your credit card can buy an amazing $20 pass for it’s treasured conservatories.
Celebrate Independence with the SG50 Inter-Generational Package
Reconnect with your history by purchasing a treasured bundle of admission to Madame Tussauds Images of Singapore LIVE and an option of experiencing the Gogreen Segway Fun Ride (2 rounds) or Sentosa Merlion, all for $30.
Experience the Wildlife
For $28, you can buy yourself a 1 year unlimited entry pass to Jurong Bird Park. If birds aren’t your thing, then you can also choose to go for the exciting Night Safari for $42 or visit the local Singapore Zoo for $32. Go on, bring out your wild side!
Blow off Steam with Some Drinks
There’s nothing better than grabbing a few drinks on a friday evening in order to blow off some steam. Grab your friends and head over to the various bars and clubs which come alive as the sun sets to rest. Although a night out in Singapore is often expensive, there are still more than enough places that offer extremely attractive happy hour deals.
For example, For an approximate $30, men and women can buy themselves the right to drink all they can at Idle-bar/lounge/bistro. At Five Izakaya, you can get yourself a house pour or a snack for a measly $5++, while The Cider Pit provides you a pint of beer for $10, all day, everyday. Some other places with great deals consist of Loof at Odeon Towers, Lobby at 9, Wine Connection and Wine Bos on Stamford Road. So, take your pick!
Everywhere we go, all we see are malls and stores and malls and stores. Well, if you’re a shopper with a card, budget, and purpose, we recommend Far East Plaza. Located on Orchard Road, this mall has over 600 stores filled with affordable fashion.
We also recommend for you to go to the more manageable Editor’s Market. Also on Orchard Road, this is the only brick-and-mortar store which offers cheaper items with every extra purchase you make.That’s right, the more pieces you buy, the cheaper each piece gets! Now that’s a pie we’re willing to taste.
Eat Your Way through Singapore
There are so many ways to save money on dining in Singapore. If you would like a little bit of Paris on your plate, we recommend you head over to Saveur, a reasonably priced French restaurant with a simple ambiance and a beloved menu. The food is incredibly delicious and patrons swear by it.
If you’d like to head over to North America, then nothing spells Mexico like Piedra Negra, a charming little Mexican restaurant in the middle of Haji Lane.Much like Much like Saveur, the menu consists of dishes which mostly cost S$30 or less.
You can also cater to your oddly houred breakfast cravings at Club Street Social, where you can indulge in an all day breakfast menu, or your need for comfort Italian food at Prego and Pasta Brava. For under $40, Prego offers a festive four-course Italian set lunch at the Fairmont while Pasta Brava helps one indulge in fresh, handmade pastas.
(Image: brazilchurrasco.com)
We also recommend Brazil Churrascaria, a haven for meat lovers. For $40++, you are provided with delicious barbequed meat in unlimited quantities. Similarly, Shin Minori Japanese Restaurant provides one with an eat-all-you-can ala-carte Japanese buffet with an extensive selection of sake and shochu for the unbelievably reasonable price of $39++.
The best part about the list? It’s not exhaustive! That’s right, we’ve done our research and found an unimaginably large number of exciting things to do in Singapore, all for less than $50.
In the beginning of the year, the Monetary Authority of Singapore forewarned its citizens that the economy may go through a period of uncertainty as the likelihood for trading partners remain down in the dumps. This negative tone caused companies to be more cautious of hiring and even a bank as huge as Barclays axed about 100 Singaporean employees last January. Moreover, short-term contracts started to rise.
So if you are venturing off to a different field to maintain your career’s stability, please consider these things first:
1. DETERMINE YOUR VALUE
Before accepting any offers, you must determine your value earlier on. Your last salary does not only dictate what makes you valuable. Your skills and personality play a part too. How much is your potential employer willing to pay for those?
2. NEGOTIATE YOUR SALARY
You have the right to ask for better working conditions when negotiating for a new position. Negotiating a salary is a conversation that aims to reach an agreement with someone whose interests are not perfectly aligned with yours. Everyone with the right strategy and conversation tools can sway the opinion of another through a pleasant talk.
Start by conducting research on the company and their average salary offerings. Review the appropriate amount of wage on the online salary calculators such as Payscale.com and Hudson.sg. Then talk to the recruiters or the people on the same field as yours about the subject. The data collected will be your weapon throughout the negotiation.
3. KNOW THE WORK EXPENSES
Aside from the salary, know the expenses you might be spending in your “next” workplace. The transportation and food costs depend on the area you are eyeing on. If these benefits are included to your salary already, it will make a huge difference to how much you save.
4. WEIGH THE POSSIBILITY FOR RELOCATION
As you steer your career in a new direction, you may have applied for jobs outside the country. Before you land the overseas position, consider how it will affect your family and relationships. Furthermore, determine if the company willing to cover for your moving expenses.
As fresh graduates enter the workplace with little to no experience, some are forced to settle for entry-level jobs with minimum wages. Whether you are a secretary at a recruitment firm or a personal assistant at an advertising company, the relatively low salary you earn every month makes it difficult to save money.
2. RECURRENT RENT EXPENSE
Some young adults move out once they start earning a decent amount of money. The independence, freedom, privacy, and convenience can be attractive but the reality of the rent expenses can hit you hard.
In the city centre, it will cost you at least S$500/month to live in a single room and at least S$1,500 to live in a small apartment by yourself. It makes more economic sense to stay at your family home and set aside the hundreds of dollars per month to your savings or investments.
3. INDULGING ON DESIGNER LABELS
Most young working adults spend their fortune on designer labels such as Prada and Louis Vuitton as well as other artisan brands. You may think that you are standing out from the crowd by carrying your S$2,000 Prada tote bag and your S$300 artisanal fragrance but you are simply creating holes in your pocket.
4. CABBING EVERYWHERE
Heading to work late? Hail a taxi.
Coming home after a crazy night out? Hail a taxi.
Aside from designer and artisan goods, you are preventing your savings from growing by cabbing everywhere. Five late night taxi rides can cost you at least S$100 and that equates to about 10 lunches at the nearby food court. This is why you must set aside an “emergency taxi fund” with a maximum of S$60 per month. You must not ride a taxi beyond your intended budget.
5. TECHNOLOGY AS NECESSITY
Technology is so pervasive in a young adult’s life that its costs are virtually inescapable. Interacting through social media is not just a culture but also a necessity. But staying connected comes with costly price tags as having the latest gadgets and paying for the monthly broadband fees can affect how much you can save.
6. EASY ACCESS TO SAVINGS
Most of us struggle with keeping our hands off our savings accounts. With the easy access of Internet banking, credit cards and multiple ATM machines, it is more convenient to spend cash than to save it. For young adults with this dilemma, make spending a chore by converting some of your money to US dollars. The thought of having to go for and pay for the currency exchange will likely to dissuade you from spending!
Anna Agoncillo
MoneyDigest
