Remember the last time you did a backup on your most treasured data? Digital information can disappear in a matter of seconds; hard drives fail, devices get damaged or stolen, information gets deleted accidentally, and online services get shut down. 

So what can you do to preserve your information when it can all go away so fast?

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Upgrade Your Storing Devices 

Saving digital data might be challenging since the formats used change rapidly. You have to make sure you move your information to the latest storage medium and format before the old one gets discontinued or becomes unreadable. 

From 8mm to floppy disks, we all have footage that’s virtually impossible to reproduce with modern technology. One solution is to digitize film, so you can access it whenever you want and store it in a longer-lasting way. 

Use an External Hard Drive

Don’t trust that keeping your archives on your smartphone or computer is enough, chances are at some point they will stop working, and you don’t want to lose all the photos, videos, songs, and documents you were storing there forever. 

The best option is to have an external backup hard drive you can keep in a safe place if anything happens to the first copy of the data. 

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Get a Backup of the Hard Drive

Although hard drives are exceptional when it comes to saving a lot of data, all of them are guaranteed to fail one day; be it tomorrow or in ten years, you might lose your information if you depend only on one hard drive. 

So the best way to prevent this from being a tragedy is to consider having more than one hard drive as a backup of your beloved memories. 

Use Cloud Storage Platforms

When it comes to cloud storage or online storage -which practically means to store your data in someone else’s hard drives- there are many options, from free storage providers that work great if you don’t have a lot of information to backup. 

On the other hand, if you have tons of data to save or you want to backup your hard drive entirely, there’s a variety of low-cost options that will do the job for you. Usually, they range from $1 to $10 a month, and most of them offer unlimited devices. 

Creating a Folder With Your Most Important Data

Creating a backup for every song, photo, video and document that comes into your life might sound exhausting and time-consuming; let me tell you, it probably is. Also, do you really want those blurry photos, screenshots, and memes taking up space you could utilize to save beloved memories? Yeah, I didn’t think so. 

The best option for this is to create a folder packed with only your most treasured data so you can focus on taking care of what’s really important to you. That way, you can create multiple backups of it and add the memories you collect along the way periodically. 

Burn CDs, DVDs or Blu-ray

Optical discs are another alternative for removable storage with many perks. It is an accessible, cheap and portable storage device. DVDs and Blu-rays usually offer enough space for an extensive collection of data. On the downside, CDs don’t have much capacity, so even if they work fantastic for text storage, it wouldn’t be a good choice if you’re trying to save a bunch of images. 

Thumb drives and SD cards are not a viable way to store data since they need to be replaced at least every four years to ensure the integrity of your information, but you can get Archival Grade Blu-ray discs that allegedly last up to 100+ years. 

Print Your Photos

Digital media is an incredible tool; you can store your information safely and access it whenever you want. But nothing compares -at least to us old-school folks- to holding a physical representation of those significant moments and places with your loved ones.

Print them, frame them and display them in a creative way all over the house so you can be constantly reminded of those memories. In this manner, you don’t risk your favorite pictures to a digital loss.

Digitize Your Printed Photos and Memories

Not only digital data is at risk of disappearing; every day, all kinds of accidents occur, and irreplaceable memories get lost forever. From floods to fires, anything could go down. 

And even if we hope this never happens, there’s no way to know if it ever will. So it’s always worth it to go through the trouble of scanning all of your pre-digital era photos and documents and adding them to your backup.

Wrapping Up

Diversify your storage drives as much as you can, don’t depend entirely on one medium to hold all your information. Creating a backup to everything might be very frustrating, but it cannot be compared to losing a lifetime of memories.

Gone are the days when players had to rely on debit and credit cards in order to enjoy online gambling activities. With the emergence of digital payment solutions, including PayPal, the world of online gambling has heaved a sigh of relief.

To put it into perspective, the PayPal mobile app alone processes billions of dollars in payments around the world on a daily basis. Since its inception circa two decades ago, PayPal has secured itself as a leading online payment method provider that has high-security features and is user-friendly.

It comes as no surprise then, that businesses and companies around the world are rushing to offer PayPal as a form of doing business. One such prominent sector is the online gambling market.  A PayPal casino offers a high degree of security and fast deposits and withdrawals.

So, why is it that PayPal is so much loved and sought after in the world of casinos?

Security like no other

Safety and security are some of the players’ main concerns when it comes to gambling online. With plenty of hacks and data breaches hitting the headlines globally on a regular basis, an increasing number of players are making sure to take all the necessary measures by opting for a safe method.

This is where PayPal comes in. When a player makes a PayPal deposit or withdrawal, they don’t need to supply their personal or financial information.

All they have to do is to simply input and log into their account using their email and password.

Ease of deposits and withdrawals

This ties in with the previous point. Customers no longer have to wait for days for the funds to hit their account or wait out on banking delays due to weekends. If a player wants to cash out from his or her casino account, the funds, once processed by the casino, will drop into their PayPal account immediately.

On the other hand, if you are cashing out via debit cards or bank transfers, you have to wait around for days. This is where doubts and stress arise for most players.

This is where PayPal transactive services give their competitors a run for their money.

Another level of anonymity

Online casino players often like to hide their activity and would not want their casino transactions showing up on their bank transactions. Also, many players don’t want to share their financial information with the casino, which can be accessed by rogue third parties.

PayPal casinos offer an advantage to this. Transactions made by PayPal, regardless of their size, will never be shown on your bank statements.

Online casinos only have access to a very limited amount of information. The only information they have can be accessed via a two-factor authentication service provided by PayPal itself.

Although they won’t have your financial information, please bear in mind that online casinos will still require relevant documentation in order for them to process your withdrawal.

Better known as the Know your Customer (KYC) process, all players will be requested to send in proof of identity, payment method as well as address.

If you are based in countries such as the United Kingdom, online casinos start running this process from the moment you register for an account.

In conclusion, PayPal has revolutionised the way we do online dealings to some extent. You can shop for a service and have full protection by PayPal, thanks to the resolution centre. In addition to this, PayPal has a customer support team that is readily available around the clock to assist you.

With such stellar support and features, there is very little that PayPal could do wrong in our eyes.

Gambling has been a big part of the human experience for centuries, so it comes as no surprise that this topic has seeped into the world of movies over the years.

Casino-related movies have spanned various epochs of times and places. Some take place in Las Vegas, while others take place in Monte Carlo or Atlantic City.

Movies usually take on a journey venturing into various topics, including comedies, drama and crime.

Let’s kick off our journey through some of the best cinematographic achievements related to gambling.

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

For watchers who are not quite familiar with the topic of gambling, Ocean’s Eleven gives you a good overview of what it entails albeit a little farfetched.

The movie is based around the character of Danny Ocean and his crew whose main aim is to rob three Las Vegas casinos. There definitely was no claim of an online casino bonus here. The movie is jam-packed with gambling scenes, from the very start till the very end, as you can expect.

The movie itself starts off with the main protagonists playing at a poker table and from there, things truly escalate.

Molly’s Game (2017)

Another movie based around the topic of poker and casinos is Molly’s Game. Based on a true story, the movie is based around former Olympic skier Molly Bloom, who chose to run high stakes poker games in a bid to become successful.

Molly, uses her beauty in a big way to capture men’s attention or do business. She starts running games for her boss, before splitting up with him and running the show solo.

The whole deal eventually spirals out of control, as the authorities get involved. Molly is ultimately prosecuted for organising an illegal gambling ring.

The Grand (2007)

The Grand, is a comedy movie directed by Zak Penn. It roped in some of the most renowned actors in the world, including Ray Romano, Dennis Farina and Chris Parnell amongst others.

What makes this movie interesting is the fact that the script was open-ended and the actors involved were given basic directions about their own characters. The game of poker on set was actually played out in real-time, without any predetermined winners.

The movie itself features a lot of poker, but it’s not really about poker hands or movies, but rather the concept of how one tournament can change one’s path in life.

High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story (2003)

Although some people might not be familiar with Stu “The Kid” Ungar, this persona has left an indelible mark in the poker world.

The film tells the story of the rise and fall of this character: from playing gin rummy in his early years, before transitioning to Texas Hold’em and ultimately dominating the game until his untimely death.

There are plenty of poker games played out in this movie. It tells the story of Stu Ungar in great detail, covering the span of his career as well as his demons which ended it.

Although plenty of critics of the movie were against the idea of glorifying his somewhat disturbing behaviour, it simply tells the account of this character. Without a doubt, he exhibited all symptoms of a self-destructive personality, but no one can doubt his love for the game of poker or his brilliant skills.

Of course, this is a non-exhaustive list that covers some of the best poker and casino movies of all time. There are plenty more movies worth checking out, including Casino Royale, The Cincinnati Kid and All In The Poker Movie.

If you’re a film and gambling aficionado, these movies are definitely worth a watch.

Cannabis contains CBD, which positively impacts the brain, allowing it to function more efficiently while also providing pain relief. Short path distillation can be used to extract and enhance both chemicals.

Benefits to your health:

1. Chronic pain relief

Cannabis includes hundreds of chemical ingredients, many of which are cannabinoids. Because of their synthetic nature, cannabinoids have been linked to giving relief from constant pain. As a result, cannabis by-products similar to medicinal cannabis are frequently utilized to treat chronic pain.

The Lazarus Naturals CBD products are very popular in the market as it delivers high quality products with effective results. It helps to get relief from chronic pain very easily so people prefer them over other supplements.

2. It enhances lung capacity.

Unlike cigarettes, vaporizing cannabis in the form of cannabis does not harm your lungs. Research determined that cannabis helps the lungs increase their ability rather than breaking them.

3. Assist with weight loss

If you take a look around, you’ll see that most cannabis users aren’t overweight. This is because cannabis has been linked to helping your body control insulin while also controlling caloric intake.

4. Keep diabetes under control and prevent it.

It’s only original that cannabis can help regulate and prevent diabetes because of its effect on insulin. Cannabis has been related to blood sugar stabilization, reduced blood pressure, and improved blood flowing, according to research undertaken by the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis (AAMC).

5. Defeat cancer

One of the most critical medical benefits of cannabis is its ability to help people fight cancer. Cannabinoids have a lot of proof that they can help struggle with cancer or at least some forms of cancer.

6. Aids in the treatment of depression

Depression is relatively common, and most individuals are unaware that they have it. Cannabis’ endocannabinoid components can assist in stabilizing moods, which can aid in alleviating depression.

7. Shows promise in the treatment of autism

Cannabis is believed to help people rest and keep power over their emotions. It can assist youngsters with autism who have frequent severe mood fluctuations in controlling their behavior.

8. Control seizures

CBD has been demonstrated to aid in the limitation of seizures in studies. There is an ongoing study to see how cannabis affects somebody who has epilepsy.

9. Mend broken bones

Cannabidiol has been related to racing up the healing of broken bones. According to the Tel Aviv-based Bone Research Laboratory, it also helps heal by increasing the bone. The bone will be more challenging to break in the future as a result of this.

10. Treatment for glaucoma

Glaucoma causes prolonged pressure on the eyeball, which is uncomfortable for those who are hurt by it. Individuals with glaucoma may find that cannabis can assist lessen the force applied to the eyeball, providing some brief relief.

Common issues include:

1. Tiredness

Drowsiness and sedation are two common adverse effects of CBD, and the effects may be too powerful if you’re simultaneously taking other sedating drugs.

2. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

When using CBD, some people may encounter diarrhea or liver problems. This depends on the individual and their medical history, so it’s crucial to keep an eye on them.

3. Mouth Dryness

CBD, often known as “cotton mouth,” can make your mouth and eyes feel extremely dry. However, CBD is more likely to cause this adverse effect.

4. Nausea

Those who take CBD supplements may feel nausea in some circumstances. This is reliant on the individual’s sensitivity to CBD as well as the quantity used.

Conclusion

 CBD may interact with other drugs, such as blood thinners, that you’re taking. The unpredictability of the purity and quantity of CBD in ideals is another source of concern.

Kratom is experiencing increasing popularity all over the world. The Kratom plant has its origin in the Southeast Asian region. The tropical climate permits the Kratom plants, scientifically known as Mitragyna speciosa, to survive and grow. South-eastern Asia offers moist and warm air and acidic and rich soil. Thus, you would find several Kratom trees in the deep forest of Southeast Asia and even on the river banks. The Kratom trees grow naturally and are used widely for their features to uplift overall wellness. 

If you are opting for some of the best Kratom strains, then by now, you surely have come across two of its renowned strains: Red Bali Kratom and Red Maeng Da Kratom. Apart from their strong potential and effects as an energy booster, mood enhancer, and pain reliever, these two unique strains have various unique features. However, it’s important to research on red maeng da kratom vs red bali and know what would be best for you before consuming it.

A Detailed Analysis of Red Bali Kratom 

The Red Bali Kratom can be typically identified by its origin and the colour of its vein. The name of this Kratom suggested the place from where it’s actually originated, i.e. Bali. These strains are also widely cultivated in Indonesia and Thailand. Moreover, these strains are produced by using the grafting technique. The Red Bali Kratom can be cultivated in almost every region of Asia because of the grafting procedure. The red vein offers unique and mature support and potency level. 

The Red Bali Kratom is one of the most productive strains of Kratom, and it is considered to be similar to opioids. Although a red vein category, the Red Bali Kratom offers the mildest effect; thus, it’s appropriate for beginners. Because of its recreational and medicinal features, Red Bali Kratom is hugely preferred by enthusiastic Kratom consumers, both abroad and local. 

The leaves of these Red Bali Kratoms have been extensively utilized to assist with the sense of discomfort and to boost your mental state. These leaves are carefully processed and cured for the maximization of alkaloid release that results in huge quantities of alkaloids like 7-hydroxy mitragynine, Speciogynine, Mitragynine, 9-hydroxycorynantheidine, and Mitraphylline. All these alkaloids contribute to the taste of natural bitterness that a great majority of Kratom consumers have.

The effects and advantages of Red Bali Kratom 

Even though the Red Bali Kratom is the mildest among all, still it is a very strong category of Kratom products that can offer instantaneous features. This Kratom is popular for its speedy performance in offering pain relief and also for its sedative effects. In addition, it has an extensive ability to evoke tranquility and calmness that make it the appropriate way to get relieved after a long tiring day.

Some of the major advantages of Red Bali Kratom are: 

• Anxiety reliever – Since the Red Bali Kratom is popular for its capability to soothe and calm, it is the perfect strain for people who are suffering from any sort of anxiety. Various users like this strain, especially because it helps them relax so that they can effectively manage stressful situations.

• Pain reliever – The Red Bali Kratom, just like various other Kratom strains, offer analgesic features that assist you in getting relief from pain. Although this strain is appropriate for anyone suffering from pain, it is an absolute game-changer for those suffering from chronic and severe pain as it is speedy and can offer relief almost instantly without the need of completely depending on various pain medications.

• Mood elevator or Antidepressant – The relaxing and soothing features of the Red Bali Kratom make it appropriate for those who are experiencing any sort of depression. The high amount of alkaloid content present in this category of Kratom makes this extremely effective in elevating the overall mood. The euphoric and mellow strain that it offers is the reason why numerous users opt for this strain. 

• Weight Management – For some consumers, the Red Bali Kratom can be utilized as an effective supplement for overall weight management. For example, in various portions of Southeast Asia, the labourers intake this Kratom to uplift their energy levels while working and avoid hunger. Therefore, Red Bali Kratom can be a good solution for those who are gaining weight because of inconsistency. However, it’s crucial to know that this Kratom may not be able to suppress the natural appetite in some of the consumers and can instead uplift their appetite. 

• Insomnia Management – Insomnia is a type of sleep disorder that may result because of extreme anxiety and stress. Because of the sedative properties of the Red Bali Kratom, it is appropriate for individuals who are suffering from Insomnia to assist in calming the mind. Moreover, in larger dosages, it can also improve the quality of sleep and helps the over-thinkers.

A Detailed Analysis of Red Maeng Da Kratom

The Red Maeng Da Kratom is the red-veined category of the Kratom tree. It has its origin in Thailand. However, now Kratom grows in both Thailand and Indonesia. The popularity of this superior Kratom strain has grown with time. 

Since Red Maeng Da Kratom is a strong strain; hence it’s not appropriate for beginners. But with increasing tolerance with consumption of other mild Kratom strains, you can start consuming this Kratom strain and enjoy its beneficial features. 

Some of the major advantages of Red Maeng Da Kratom are: 

• Mood alleviator – The energizing features of this Kratom product can improve your mood, eliminate all sorts of negative thoughts from your mind, and assist you in coping with anxiety.

• Sedating effects – Because of the euphoric features of the Red Maeng Da Kratom, it can make you feel happy. 

• Pain reliever – If you are suffering from chronic pain, this Kratom would be the best option for you. This is because the Red Maeng Da Kratom offers rich analgesic features that help to eliminate painful sensations and headaches on your muscles and joints. 

• Brainpower alleviator – The Red Maeng Da Kratom boosts your brain’s cognitive ability via concentration, creativity, memory, etc.

• Energy booster – If you are experiencing fatigue, then this Kratom would offer you the best natural remedy to uplift your energy. 

Therefore, from the above discussion, it’s quite evident that the Red Bali Kratom is a mild strain and the Red Maeng Da Kratom is a strong strain. However, the potency of both products depends on the way they are processed and cultivated. If you’re a beginner, then you should begin with a mild strain like the Red Bali, and then after you become increasingly tolerant to the mild effects, you can slowly start consuming the strong strains like Red Maeng Da Kratom. However, before consuming any product, make sure that the strain is pure and processed in appropriate conditions to enhance its benefits. 

Fun fashion is back in a big way as people are spending more on costume jewelry and accessories to add some whimsy to their look. According to recent industry statistics, the costume jewelry market grew by $2.6 billion in 2020 and is now worth more than $35 billion. Experts say that the main reason behind this sudden growth is mainly due to these accessories’ affordability and versatility, and they complement a wide range of fashion styles. Even celebrities are jumping on this jewelry trend, and stars like Justin Bieber, Vanessa Hudgens, and Gigi Hadid have been spotted wearing fun pieces to give their look a colorful and summery vibe. Take some inspiration from these trendsetters and amp up your style with these celebrity-approved jewelry trends. 

Colorful charm necklaces

Shopping for costume jewelry can be fun since you can get a variety of styles without breaking the bank. However, it’s still important to choose pieces that will complement your personal taste and will work with the majority of your outfits. Don’t be afraid to mix and match jewelry styles– you can go with a carefully curated look by wearing matching metals and gemstones, or go for a more fun mix by wearing inexpensive and precious jewelry together.

One person who has mastered the art of mixing jewelry styles is Justin Bieber. The pop star is known to have an amazing collection of expensive, diamond-encrusted watches from luxury brands such as Rolex, Patek Phillippe, and Audemars Piguet, but he won’t hesitate to don fun pieces, such as a colorful charm necklace. Recently, the “Stay” singer shared an Instagram picture that shows him wearing a charcoal grey Saint Laurent suit paired with a charm-filled necklace. The silver chain is embellished with mushroom and gummy bear charms, giving Bieber’s look a dash of kitsch. You can take a leaf out of the singer’s book and wear a charm necklace with a suit, or pair it with your favorite casual outfits.

Beaded necklaces

Summer camp style is definitely trendy among some of the hottest trendsetters this year, which is why models such as Gigi Hadid and Kaia Gerber have been spotted wearing beaded necklaces. The easygoing feel and handmade aesthetic of this type of necklace taps into memories of more carefree times, and it works with everything from athleisure to resort wear. Hadid and Gerber both chose customized necklaces that feature multicolored beads, pearls, and initial beads, and this piece can be worn alone or layered with other necklaces over a plain t-shirt or a bikini. Even actresses such as Vanessa Hudgens and Lucy Hale have been photographed wearing similar pieces. The best part? These trendy customized necklaces reportedly cost just a little over $30. 

Beaded earrings

Beaded earrings are also having a moment as single earrings with a single, multicolored bead are hot among Instagram influencers, as well as oversized hoops with colorful beads. Pair this jewelry with a summery dress or a colorful suit, and don’t be afraid to wear other beaded jewelry with it. Balance the look with a few gold or white gold rings and a statement watch to add some luxury to your outfit.

The best jewelry this season is fun, colorful, and inexpensive. Take a few cues from celebrities and level up your look with beaded pieces or charm necklaces for an upgraded style without breaking the bank. 

The esports space saw a colossal withdrawal in prize cash in 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, stopping the eye-popping handbag numbers that were beginning to get standard consideration.

After an almost 30% leap from 2018 to 2019 that left last year’s prize cash added up to at $211M USD, this year came in at a generally irrelevant $65.5M. That is a drop of about 69% in one year.

The discouraged payouts will probably proceed in 2021 on the grounds that the world isn’t relied upon to have returned to a feeling of business as usual till the center piece of the year, dispossessing numerous occasions that might have occurred in Q1 and Q2.

No. 1 – Android Casino: $9.6M

The approach of cell phones and cell phones has made internet gaming simpler and more advantageous for top android casinos. We currently have all our number one club games accessible readily available. No doubt, the Android OS overwhelms the worldwide cell phone market. Thus, there are more Android gamers on the planet presently. What’s more, this makes the Android gambling club market exceptionally huge and invigorating.

In case you’re an Android client searching for portable club to play with your gadget, you are on the right page. On this page, we have made a nitty gritty aide on the best gambling club online android destinations and applications. You will likewise find the accessible android club games and different advantages you can appreciate by playing with your gadget. There are an assortment of android club destinations and applications to play at. A considerable lot of them offer astounding gaming administrations and energizing promotions. We have made a rundown of the best accessible ones underneath.

No. 2 – Dota 2: $8.87M

With the pandemic constraining the deferral of the current year’s The International, Dota 2 saw a gigantic drop-off from last year true to form. Subsequent to giving out a huge take last year that almost arrived at $50M, this year came in at a generally insignificant $8.87M.

2021 uncovered exactly how dependent Dota’s esports importance is without that record-breaking TI prize pool every year. Without critical local area pressing factor and outsider coordinators moving forward, Dota would have fallen a lot further down the rundown.

The central issue confronting this title in 2021 is what will befall that over-enormous title handbag. Valve actually raised more than $40M for the 2020 TI prior to delaying to August 2021 and has not expressed what will occur with that cash. There could be a situation where that cash gets moved into the following year’s crowdfunding exertion and we see a solitary occasion prize pool outperform $80M.

No. 3 – League of Legends: $8.00M

The world’s most famous esport by viewership measurements had the option to a great extent persist through the pandemic – though through generally online-just matches – and League of Legends in this manner hopped from No. 6 last year to the third opening this year since it didn’t see a significant drop-off in prize cash. Subsequent to paying out $9M last year, League just saw a slight drop to $8M this year.

Group of Legends is one of a handful of the esports where, notwithstanding the huge sums disseminated, prize cash by and large takes a secondary lounge to the renown of contest. Gone are the times of the main prize granted at an occasion being the curiosity goliath check worth thousands. All things being equal, the exceptionally desired Summoner’s Cup prize becomes the overwhelming focus at the World Championship while its beneficiaries unobtrusively rake in more than $100K each after the confetti has completed the process of falling.

No. 4 – Fortnite: $7.87M

Epic Games’ well known fight royale title dropped from last year’s top space to No. 4 this year in enormous part since it had no Fortnite World Cup in 2020 because of the pandemic. The occasion in 2019 acquired, indeed, epic media consideration subsequent to giving $3 million to then 16-year-old champ Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf.

Yet, Epic has consistently had what’s apparent in the business to be a finnicky relationship with esports, and presently the organization is proceeding to ease off of its already overwhelming position. Epic has effectively reported there will be no disconnected competitions for Fortnite in 2021, which means no World Cup indeed. While the distributer has the assets to support Fortnite back to the top anytime, without a critical reinvestment in 2022 the game is probably going to keep tumbling out for the count of esports pertinence.

No. 5 – Call of Duty: $6.27M

With the presentation of the recently geo-found and diversified Call of Duty League in 2021, the game generally stood its ground in the current year’s positioning when contrasted with last, with a leap of three openings and just a slight downtick in prize payout. Not at all like the Overwatch League, the Call of Duty League submitted from the beginning to holding a competition style structure like its pre-establishment model.

This implied that every seven day stretch of contest expected to pay out its own prize pool notwithstanding the $4.6M Activision Blizzard given out for the debut CDL title. In another break from the OWL, Activision Blizzard additionally dedicated critical assets to an open semi-genius biological system for Call of Duty to run corresponding to the CDL. The biggest of these competitions paid out $250K.

No. 6 – Rainbow Six Siege: $5.02M

Rainbow Six Siege was one of only a handful of exceptional titles to pay out more in the pandemic-tormented year than it did last year, with $5.02M in 2020 versus $4.1M in 2019. This was to a great extent because of the game’s big showdown, the Six Invitational, being held toward the beginning of February before most of the world’s COVID lockdown. That occasion alone paid out $3M, up from $2M in the earlier year.

Rainbow Six was one of the solitary games in all of 2021 to have its greatest competition face to face, and hence partook in the consequences of its proceeded with year over year development more than most titles.

No. 7 – Overwatch: $4.36M

The Overwatch League needed to move to online-just play this year because of the pandemic, obliterating its host group model goals that should take off in full power this year. The game actually had a strong prize payout, yet the cash was not exactly 50% of last year’s take, which came in at $9.59M, and it has dropped from the position of No. 5 last year therefore.

While Activision Blizzard disseminated a comparative amount of more than $3M for its season-finishing competition, the vital shift to online play affected the games stage-based rivalry cycle, lessening the quantity of alliance wide contests which had recently finished in enormous payouts themselves.

No. 8 – PUBG: $4M

Some time ago PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS could possibly turn into a forerunner in the esports space. Notwithstanding, after numerous restructurings of its esports foundation and the flight of a few conspicuous esports groups from the space, the game seems to have subsided into a lower rung. 2021 was expected to be another chance for PUBG to zero in on global contest, yet the COVID-19 pandemic messed up that arrangement before it could make headway.

The game just paid out about a third in 2021 from what it did in 2019, dropping in the rankings four openings year over year from No. 4 out of 2019.

No. 9 – Hearthstone: $3.73M

Activision Blizzard’s computerized collectible game makes it onto the current year’s rundown following a prominent nonattendance last year. Hearthstone, which came in at $3.73M, is the lone game in the advanced collectible card classification to make it onto the rundown, however it has new contest to keep an eye out for from Riot Games’ Legends of Runeterra.

While Activision Blizzard keeps on centering the vast majority of its energy and assets on its diversified alliances, Riot Games is consistently and fastidiously increase esports interest in its fresher titles, including LoR. That combined with the ascent of other rivalry like Magic Arena (which made the rundown last year) implies that Hearthstone’s status as the undisputed lord of games is presently more being referred to than any time in recent memory.

No. 10 – Rocket League: $2.63M

Recently onto the rundown this year is Psyonix Studios title Rocket League, which given out $2.63M in prize cash throughout the year through its Rocket League Championship Series. The vehicle soccer match, which paid out $3.040M in prize cash last year, is viewed as a title with great development potential.

Psyonix submitted $4.5M to the latest RLCS season, which will close in 2021. With more prize cash than any time in recent memory streaming into a redid, open environment, Rocket League is ready to ascend the rankings one year from now.

That’s the million-dollar question. Or, rather, $138.4 billion dollars, which is the estimated value of the gaming industry right now.

You’ll find solid arguments from both sides. But with music, audio books, TV, film, and even groceries transitioning to subscription-based services, it only seems inevitable that video games would follow suit.

Right now the idea of a Netflix-style service still feels like an experiment to many people. So to answer this big question, let’s break the issue down into four topics that will — hopefully — point us to a clear answer. 

What Sort Of Gaming Subscriptions Exist? 

Basically every game publisher or hardware creator has some sort of paid, premium tier, so there are a half-dozen ways to answer this question. In the name of focus, let’s restrict the options to subscription services that provide access to games for a monthly fee, rather than the normal $60 purchase cost.

The heavy-hitter in this discussion is Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. But before we dive into the pros and cons of this particular gaming subscription service and how it’s changing the industry, we should at least mention the other competitors in the space.

Yes, Game Pass is the option everyone is talking (or debating) about. Ubisoft+ and EA Play are fairly direct competitors, giving players access to each publisher’s library of games for a monthly subscription fee. And PlayStation Now lets players stream old games without buying them a la cart.

We’ve also got some less successful alternatives to point out. Google tried to get into the gaming with Stadia, but after an underwhelming launch, Google already stopped developing games for the service. Meanwhile, Amazon quietly launched a game subscription called Luna, but things have been mostly silent ever since that initial beta release.

After Xbox Game Pass, perhaps the second most successful and influential service is Apple Arcade. This platform works on any iOS device, and has a pretty extensive catalog that covers games in every genre.

While a lot of “hardcore” gamers discount mobile gaming entirely, that is a colossal mistake. I’ll let the numbers do the talking here:

• Around 25% of all downloaded apps (on iOS and Android) are games.
• Over 2.2 billion people play mobile games.
• Players spent more than $100 billion on mobile games in 2020.

All of this to say that yes, the Netflix-style subscription service is here to stay. The sheer number of competitors proves that publishers are going to continue to implement this structure, hoping to incentivize players to shell out a few dollars every month to “save” themselves from the big $60 purchases.

What Is The Logic Behind A Gaming Subscription Service?

There’s more logic behind this sort of service than trying to save players money, of course. From the publisher side, the main goal was to increase engagement: Players who play more games spend more money. And how often have you signed up for a subscription and then forgotten to cancel it, leading to paying for something you rarely use?

But the biggest question in the current digital era is about product ownership. When you download a new song, a movie, or a game, you don’t actually  own that product. Access to digital media is dependent on the distributor, which means it’s almost like we — and consumers — are paying to use these items while they’re available.

If you have a physical copy of Super Mario, you could play it forever as long as your NES works. But any game you buy now is dependent on live services, which means you could lose access forever.

This is one reason why Netflix and Spotify rose to prominence while the sales numbers of physical media have plummeted. People would prefer access to a large catalog of content rather than paying for individual products that they could lose access to without warning.

We pay recurring subscriptions to watch movies, listen to ad-free music, and even order food without thinking about it because of the subscription. And so it was almost inevitable that video game publishers would dabble in the SaaS model as a way to keep players engaged (and, more importantly, paying money) for longer periods of time.

What Benefits Do Subscription Services Provide?

Oddly enough, video games were primed for the SaaS model more than any other industry. Many gamers were already used to massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) like World of Warcraft, which require a monthly subscription to play.

Similarly, PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live have been around for more than 15 years, giving players access to important quality-of-life features for a recurring fee. Both subscriptions also offer free games as a “perk” for joining the program, even if the services themselves are all but required to play and enjoy many of the most popular games each year.

But it’s worth noting that subscription services do bring a lot of value, whether you’re a gamer, a developer, or a publisher. (A lot of the data out there centers on Xbox Game Pass since it’s the biggest name in this particular content, so most of the research and statistics will highlight this subscription.)

Game Pass members spend 20% more money on games, which is great news for developers and publishers. And subscribers played 40% more games, which is obviously exciting for players looking to get the most out of their time and money.

Here’s a list of statistics about Game Pass activity:

• 90% of Game Pass users played a game they wouldn’t have tried outside of the subscription.
• Around 30% try games from genres they haven’t played before.
• Game Pass members spend 50% more on downloadable content for games.
• After joining Game Pass as an additional perk, EA Play (EA’s gaming subscription) saw a 200% increase in activity on that service.

Xbox Game Pass introduced Netflix-style gaming subscriptions in a way that just makes sense for many gamers. It’s a chance to try more games in more genres. People are buying more games, including titles that are “free” as part of Game Pass.

And as an added benefit, Xbox Game Pass is the first subscription service that makes sense for developers. Which means they’re able to make more games, get more people playing their games, and somehow still sell more copies of their games even within the Game Pass framework.

Subscription-based gaming makes sense for players to get access to more games than ever before. It helps developers get their games in front of people (and get some money from the subscription system). And it encourages the publisher to keep adding games to the service, which means more games for us to enjoy.

Gamers are throwing their support behind these platforms: EA play had around 13 million subscribers in 2020, and Xbox Game Pass is already up to well over 23 million active users (as of April 2021).

So when you’re wondering if gaming really needs a Netflix-style subscription service, the answer seems to be trending “yes.” It’s safe to say that this model is here to stay. And for once, it seems to be a system that benefits everyone involved.

Drew Gula is a copywriter at Soundstripe, a company that provides content creators with a range of background music like upbeat music for their videos. He’s also a lifelong gamer who is happy to talk about any subscription service that lets him play more games while spending less money.

Marketing is one of the most important factors in business. It refers to the strategies, techniques, and tools that are used by companies or organizations to promote and sell their products. Marketing is the first line of contact for a company’s or an organization’s potential customers. The ability to market effectively has become one of the most valued assets of organizations and companies. Therefore, it is important to develop a good marketing system to improve customer retention and build brand loyalty.

If you want to truly gain a competitive edge over your competitors, then your current strategy to buy Instagram followers for your business account may not be sufficient, and a marketing consultant is a much better option. A marketing system is any structured system allowing many participants to provide and demand the same product or service: helping buyers and sellers come together and make deals. In fact, marketing is more than just using marketing tactics to attract customers-a good marketing system encourages interaction among all parties. Marketers call this interactive marketing because it connects people at a fundamental level. When integrated with all other marketing activities, marketing creates value creation rather than just mere logistics or circulation of commodities. Therefore, small business owners should not ignore the importance of a solid marketing system and how it can enhance a company’s profitability.

Marketing and business development is the first step towards building sustainable competitive advantage. Business development is the first essential step towards improving organizational performance and implementing change. Marketing development is the cornerstone of business development, especially for small businesses. While marketing has long been considered as the weak link in business development, the reality is far from being true. Through an effective marketing system, businesses can achieve the following remarkable results:

At the heart of any marketing strategy is the system of gathering relevant marketing information. Without this system, there is no way to evaluate marketing effectiveness. Gathering and analyzing marketing information takes time, which is why many marketers make mistakes and do not measure progress. The use of a proven marketing information system allows marketers to easily measure, record, analyze, and interpret marketing data and activities. It also allows marketers to gather all important information in one place so that changes and improvements can be made right away.

Marketers should not rely solely on a single marketing system. Relying on a single marketing strategy means that a single marketing system will not be enough to realize maximum marketing success. In addition, a single system may fail to generate the desired marketing results. For a single marketing strategy to be successful, it must be complemented with other relevant strategies such as advertising and distribution strategies.

Marketers have to combine various techniques to create a strong marketing system. For instance, a single marketing information system may only be able to provide a glimpse into the whole picture. To maximize your marketing impact and generate profits, you have to combine several systems including advertising, sales promotion, and distribution. The process of combining different strategies will help you measure the direct and indirect effects of your marketing efforts. Tracking the results of your marketing campaigns will allow you to see which ones have greater positive effects on your business.

A marketing system allows small business owners to focus on their core strengths. Marketing consultants can teach you how to utilize your strengths to the fullest. As a small business owner, you can focus on the most important aspects of your business. As a result, you can make the necessary strategic decisions that will help you excel in your chosen field. A system allows you to make smart decisions that you know will yield results. Therefore, it is wise to consult a marketing consultant who has proven expertise in the area in which you need help.

Marketing systems not only help small business owners make wiser business decisions but also create a sense of competence in their field. Marketing consultants can provide small business owners with marketing information that they need to become more proficient in the field in which they are engaged. Marketing systems create a sense of professionalism and knowledge in your business. Marketing systems not only help you succeed in your own business but also allow you to help others do well in their own businesses.

In order to have a complete understanding of retail online channel definition, it is important to first understand what exactly is being defined. Simply put, this refers to the process by which customers purchase products from a store via the internet. For this reason, there are two related but separate channel components. The first component refers to the sales process, while the second component relates to the consumer interaction with the online retail channel.

Consumer interaction can be via a variety of different online methods, the most popular being social media (like Facebook) nowadays. Many businesses even try to buy Facebook page likes to boost their interaction with their consumers. The first component of a retail channel includes all sales and interactions with the online retail channel through standard operating procedures such as web analytics and e-commerce default customer data. The second component of the definition includes all the steps that would be necessary to actually initiate a sale transaction after entering the website’s domain of operation. This includes such things as registering an account, loading the shopping cart, billing for items purchased, and completing the transaction. All of these things are part of the commerce runtime.

The second component of the definition revolves around the identity provider. As we have stated previously, the identity provider is the entity, either an individual or a company, that creates and maintains the digital trail of every transaction that is performed on the online retail channel. The digital trail of every transaction consists of the IP address of the computer from which the transaction originated as well as the log files and other information accumulated during the course of the transaction. The identity provider’s job is to ensure that all these pieces of information are appropriately logged and correctly recorded during every retail, online transaction that occurs. Part of this responsibility involves monitoring all of the default customer data that is generated at every point in time.

The next step in the process involves establishing an authentic user in the chain of command. A user is any entity that can potentially perform retail business online. These entities include storefront operators, domain owners, and even customers themselves. All of these entities are authorized to transact on behalf of others. When an oauth 2.0 token is provided to a customer, the identity provider used a unique client reference number (CSR) to authenticate the token and ensure that only authorized entities are able to make a purchase or perform any other transaction with the particular website that the oauth 2.0 token was issued to.

This CSR, also known as the issuer identifier or IID, is not visible to the customer. However, it can be used to provide various other functions to the retail website. For instance, if a business owner wants to provide access to their storefront application to other businesses, they can configure the storefront using the “axle” concept. The area concept is used in conjunction with the standard OATH format and provides various different functionality and access permissions to the customer. This is the same method that most email services use when providing email access for their customers.

The “commerce Runtime Environment” or SERP is the application programming interface that is accessed by every retail website. This allows the web developer to easily define the behavior and features of the online retail channel and develop interfaces for managing and maintaining the workflow between the application server and the Retail Customer interaction. The SERP may contain various different database engines such as Oracle, SQL Server, and the Microsoft Retail Connection. The SERP stores all of the information and functionality necessary to support the shopping cart functionality and the back-end business logic necessary to support the Retail Online Channel.

The “retail channel interface”, or RISI, is responsible for the overall behavior and functionality of the retail website. The RISI acts as the communication gateway for the retail website and the web developer. The RISI allows the developer to define the store-level information that will be delivered to the consumer through the “retail portal” that is returned from the online channel. The retail website will then use this information to create and update the webpage and to update any other relevant screens and links.

The “retail portal” is responsible for presenting a user-friendly interface to the Retail Online Channel consumers. This interactive user experience is designed to capture the customers’ attention and help them make an informed decision about the products and services offered by the retail store. The portal can be developed using a number of different application vendors and technologies. Some of these technologies include Java, Perl, PHP, and more.

Achieving success as a musician can be measured in a variety of ways, but one thing that practically all musicians have in common is their desire for their music to be heard. While this may have been difficult in the past, the internet has certainly changed things. Many contemporary musicians we all know and love had their start on YouTube, and so can you. 

Using Livestreams In Lieu Of Concerts

One of the best ways to showcase your music is to hold live concerts. With YouTube, setting up an event is easier than it has ever been – just prep yourself and start live streaming through the app. You can use YouTubeStorm to help direct more traffic towards your livestream, which will give your music more exposure. By popularizing your music, you are achieving the first step towards success. After all, artists like Justin Bieber owe their humble beginnings to YouTube – you never know who is watching. 

Exclusive Content Through Subscriptions

You definitely don’t want to be a struggling musician for too long, so it’s best to find ways to earn money using your music. In addition to ad generated revenue through YouTube’s creator fund, you can prompt your fans to subscribe to premium content, where they will gain access to exclusive music that isn’t available on your main channel. Patreon is a popular choice for content creators who wish to use a subscription based offer.

Selling Merchandise For A Boost In Earning

Once you have a sufficiently large fanbase of subscribers, you may consider selling some merchandise to them. For musicians this is usually an exclusive hard or digital copy of some of their music or a recorded live stream. Keep in mind that merchandise selling isn’t meant to be your main income source but should be a booster.  

Using YouTube As A Segue For Spotify

The main income of major artists nowadays is no longer from the sale of hard or digital copies of their music but through music streaming platforms like Spotify (the world leader as of 2021).  Getting on Spotify is easy enough, but using YouTube as a way to promote your Spotify channel is a popular tactic that has proven to be highly effective. Simply adding a link in the description of your content on YouTube can be enough to direct listeners to your Spotify playlists, leading you towards success.  

Success as a musician nowadays has changed drastically, and with the widespread use of platforms like YouTube has simplified the road to success. If your music is halfway decent, then there is bound to be people who share your taste in music and enjoy your creativity. The internet has given you the opportunity to cast a wide net in search of fans all over the world, and it can even be used as a gateway towards more traditional measures of success such as radio and other ratings. Use the internet to your favor, and make the most of social media platforms to achieve fame and popularize your music.

Like most people, I always thought Twitch was a platform that is reserved for the gaming community. After all, that’s what the website is most famous for. However, I’ve recently found out that the platform is actually a hub for all things live streaming. Surprisingly, Twitch users are able to make a lot of money for what they do, here’s how. 

Twitch Bits

The basic type of viewer donation that is built into the platform is known as Twitch bits. Users viewing a stream can pay a small (or big) donation toward the livestreamer if they choose to, and Twitch takes a percentage of that amount. Of course, more viewers means more potential for such donations. So, many livestreamers will use StreamOZ to get Twitch followers organically and thus increase their potential revenue. While Twitch bits are available for all Twitch users, some may opt to add a patreon account to receive viewer donations in the form of a premium subscription. 

Affiliate Marketing

As with any platform on the internet, Twitch users make use of affiliate marketing programs to earn extra money. Of course, this again depends on a sizable fanbase, but it also adds the fact the the viewers would need to trust the livestreamer’s opinions enough to purchase something based on their recommendations.

Selling Merchandise

For Twitch users that have a substantial follower count, it is worth it to try selling any type of branded merchandise. However, this does not account for a major portion of their earning because merchandise is usually sold as exclusive and isn’t a permanent offer. 

Sponsorship Deals – Brand Marketing

Once Twitch users gain enough followers, they attract the attention of businesses that are looking to market their brands on Twitch. Many will strike a deal with sponsors, agreeing to promote their product or increase brand awareness for the products in exchange for monetary compensation. As with any type of social media platform, this type of deal is usually the most lucrative way to earn money through social media. The drawback is that the sponsors will control much of the creative process and the specific marketing messages that the users must use to promote their products. Nonetheless, it remains a goal for many Twitch users to be contacted by sponsors and be able to successfully negotiate a highly profitable sponsorship deal. 

Summary

Overall, Twitch users are able to earn a hefty paycheck at the end of the month by combining several of the aforementioned methods. It isn’t easy to be successful on Twitch, but once the ball gets rolling, the road to success seems to be simple enough. Twitch users are interested in a variety of topics, and not just sports or gaming, so don’t be discouraged from joining the platform as a livestreamer and trying to earn some money by focusing on the hobbies you are interested in. There is bound to be a community of people on Twitch that share your interests, so go ahead and start livestreaming with no hesitation.  

There are many tales and stories that can be gleaned from the true origin of cockfighting – or more popularly known as sabong in the Philippines.

Besides in the Asian countries, it’s also possible to find cockfights – legally or not – all over Europe, the Middle East, and also in Central and South America.

In order to get to know a little bit more about sabong, we’ve connected with sabong expert Evelyn Balyton, who did all the tough research to come up with a good part of the text you’re about to read. You can get to know more about our author here.

A brief summary of what you can expect to find throughout this article:

• Early Sabong Origins
• Countries Where It’s Famous
• Brief Description of How Things Work

Without further ado, let’s get to the text!

Early History

It is clear from history that Ferdinand Magellan and Figefetta, sailors from the Kingdom of Spain when they landed on the coast of Palawan were surprised to find that the natives of this island were already fighting the native chickens.

The foreigners could clearly see the enthusiasm and joy of the men as they witnessed what we know today as sabong.

Spaniard sailor Figefetta wrote in manuscripts some of his thoughts on the new experience he witnessed with his pal Magellan.

Some of those were crucial to spread sabong throughout Europe.

How Things Really Work

Later on, we know that every continent in the world has its own set of chickens they fight.

In Asia, chickens can weigh more than three kilos and they can both fight armed or unarmed.

By armed, we mean that they can literally be equipped with blades and special knives attached to some part of their bodies, so that damage can be done with ease.

The chicken will be declared winner if the opponent has run away and/or is no longer able to fight back. It is a battle of courage, endurance and wetness.

In Thailand, sabong is also part of their tourism where they feed with these huge chickens and there are jurors who give points to each other’s beat like boxing. We can notice that once in a fight, usually the chickens hardly fly and only their heads, wings and feet are used as defense against the opponent.

The cockfight lasts about an hour and the really good ones knock down their opponent by hitting the opponent’s head.

These chickens undergo intense training like a pro human boxer because they prolong and strengthen their fight.

In this battle, there are special challenges where the final goal is to only hit each other’s head, and there are also other challenges where cocks are supposed to dodge and evade the opponent’s blows.

Every place in the world has its own style of battle, weapon and different rules.

There’s no draw, as the winner of the battle will always be declared. You can even bet at some fights depending on where you’re based. You can get to know more on online sabong betting on the attached link.

Curious Facts

Some say that at tough war times Kings of the Middle East usually tried to gather up courage and inspiration by watching cockfighting.

A good example is that before the soldiers go to war, the King will fertilize them to entertain them and inspire the courage of the chicken in battle.

In this battle he gathers soldiers and fights the two chickens until one dies or surrenders in battle.

After this battle the King would speak on the lesson brought about by the courage and the ‘never die’ attitude of the broiler chickens.

This is the approach of every soldier whenever they fight in war and this is also what their King expects, fight to the last breath and to the last drop of their blood.

Conclusion

Newcomers, there are so many cockfighting stories that could touch our hearts. The lessons it brings and above all the happiness that cockfighting brings to the many who are obsessed with it.

Depending on your background, you’ll likely be in agony at any sign of violence, and there’s absolutely no problem with it.

It’s indeed a tough sport and there’s a bit of cruelty to it. And that’s exactly why Kings from the past used to take the brave roosters as examples of bravery, as the level of cruelty in a war is almost immeasurable.

That is only one of the reasons why sabong drives Filipinos and many others crazy. It’s kinda part of their culture, and we should always respect it.

It’s not uncommon to see a game with a huge focus on microtransactions, after all that is now what many games strive toward by offering a title for either a lower cost or free and padding the rest of the expense with cosmetic microtransactions that impact the way you look to other players, but some take it a little further than that. There are games you’d expect to come with consistent payment requirements like these casino options at the best casinos but expecting the same from a new game focussed on a younger audience is a different matter entirely.

The game is a multiplayer online battle arena styled game, much like popular esports titles League of Legends and DotA2, but with the style and theme it is certainly aimed towards a much younger player base. These genres typically do have a number of different monetisation strategies in place, but no more than two or three, and usually are either cosmetics, battle pass systems, gacha pulls (like a slot machine), character purchases (very standard), or gameplay boosting items. Rather than just having a combination of a couple, Unite features all of these options.

Currently the progression system to unlock characters is considered very slow taking months to unlock a single playable character, making it almost necessary to purchase with a real transaction instead, and will become particularly troublesome if the developers decide to release more characters at a later date. The gameplay boosting items are a problem too, pay-to-win is a method some games use to encourage what are known as whales to spend big, and with systems that encourage you to spend more for stat boosts it could lead to a younger more pliable audience making big deposits in order to gain stat boosts that give a very real advantage in game.

It isn’t so much a problem with this singular title however, as it has become a standard practice across all gaming and something that is growing in concern as there are often big paywalls that prevent certain players from reaching a certain level within the game – items or systems that are tied behind long gameplay is one thing, but with huge benefits only being available to those willing to spend a huge amount of money is another thing entirely. Over time these features will likely start to change and either become better or worse, but there are many warnings starting to appear for players particularly at risk to avoid the title until changes are made and made a little more sustainable, but more often than not money will talk and those who have already spent considerably on the game will continue to push the game forward, even with predatory monetisation techniques.

Is it really you? I mean, really, really you? If you shop online, download apps, do online banking or do pretty much anything on the Internet, you’re often asked to prove who you really are. And the way that you’re most often asked to prove that it’s “really you” is by entering a code sent to you via text or email. The sender knows that if you enter the code you were sent, your authentication is valid. And that it’s “really, really you.”

This additional authentication helps to prevent all types of cybercriminal activity. In fact, two-factor authentication can prevent 99.9% of automated attacks – hacking, data breaches and other types of security breaches. While strong passwords – those 12 characters long using letters, numbers and symbols – used to be the best way to secure your data, it is no longer enough. The standard nowadays is two-factor authentication, also known as two-step verification.

Take A Closer Look at 2-Factor Authentication

Think of 2-factor authentication (2FA) as getting an extra password that you can use to access your account. It’s a “one-time” password, or OTP, because the code is only valid for one-time use and often will expire in a short amount of time if not used within a designated time frame. The code can be sent to you via a text message or an email, but most experts agree that a text message is more secure. The reasoning is that if your email is hacked, a cybercriminal will get your access code and can then gain additional access to your secure accounts.

2FA is based on three distinct types of factors. First is something that you know. This is the knowledge that only you would have, such as a password or an answer to a security question you might have set up. The second factor is something that you have, which could include wireless tags, tokens or card readers, for example. The third factor is something you are, which could be facial recognition software, a fingerprint reader, voice recognition, retinal scanner or something similar. This is known as biometric authentication. It’s all done to prove that it’s really you trying to access your account.

If a hacker is able to gain access to your password and login credentials, and you’ve enabled 2FA, they will never be able to log into your account. That’s the beauty of 2FA – because hackers can work from just about anywhere in the world, and unless they happen to be standing next to you when your 2FA code comes in, they’ll be out of luck. That’s why 2FA is far more effective in preventing hacking than a simple password.

Limits with 2-Factor Authentication

As good as 2-factor authentication is, it does have some limits that could be problematic for a user. For example, if you use a smartphone and it’s lost, stolen or broken, you’re not going to be able to access your one-time password to get into your account until you have a new phone or other device. It is possible to recover your access codes, but it’s a difficult and time-consuming process.

Here’s another problem – if you choose to use email notification for your 2FA, and a hacker gains access to your password, your email could be compromised and the hacker could simply bypass your 2FA. Your secure and protected accounts using 2FA would be totally compromised. The other issue is that if a hacker gets hold of your 2FA, he or she could end up locking you out of your own accounts. So you should still be vigilant with all other best practices used to prevent hacking.

New Apps Can Help

While one-time passwords are traditionally delivered via text or email, there are new authentication apps available that can generate strong one-time codes to provide access to your accounts.  For example, Google has its own 2-step authentication app called Google Authenticator. As long as you have a Google account and you download the Google Authenticator app, you’ll be able to use any service or website that offers 2FA.

Not to be outdone, Microsoft has its own authenticator as well, called, not surprisingly, Microsoft Authenticator. Like Google Authenticator, this app is also free and works across all devices and operating systems. In addition, it offers passwordless entry, eliminating the need for a password and also uses push notifications.

Facebook has come out with its own version called Facebook 2FA. It lets you use third-party authenticators or will provide codes directly from Facebook. But unlike Google and Microsoft, you can only use Facebook’s 2FA to access Facebook, so just be aware that it’s not a full-fledged authenticator.

Amazon also has a 2FA authentication app, and you’re able to use it for third-party authenticator support or on its own two-step, single-purpose authentication. If you prefer to use codes then you can use Amazon’s SMS notification option. 

The good news is that as two-factor authorization gains in popularity, then more and more apps will be available. This will make everyone’s life easier, and remove any barriers that might be in place now with people who are hesitant to use 2FA.

The entire concept of 2FA is not foolproof, but it’s extremely hard to hack and nobody has found a way to bypass it once it’s in place on your smartphone or device. The bottom line is that 2FA gives you the second level of protection – above and beyond passwords, to secure your personal data from cybercrooks. It may take a little effort to use 2FA – but the peace-of-mind that comes with it is well worth the extra effort.