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eraepoch · 11 months ago

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[Full Text] Emerging Media Companies, Tracking Cookies, and Data Privacy -- An open letter to Critical Role, Dropout, and fellow audience members

Summary / TL;DR

Both Critical Role (CR) and Dropout have begun exclusively using links provided by third-party digital marketing solution companies in their email newsletters.

Every link in each of the newsletters (even the unsubscribe link) goes through a third-party domain which is flagged as a tracking server by the uBlock Origin browser extension.

Third-party tracking cookies are strictly unnecessary and come with a wide array of risks, including non-consensual targeted advertising, targeted misinformation, doxxing, and the potential for abuse by law enforcement.

You are potentially putting your privacy at risk every time you click on any of the links in either of these newsletters.

IMO these advertising companies (and perhaps CR/Dropout by proxy) are likely breaking the law in the EU and California by violating the GDPR and CCPA respectively.

Even if Critical Role and Dropout are not directly selling or exploiting your personal data, they are still profiting off of it by contracting with, and receiving services from, companies who almost certainly are. The value of your personal data is priced into the cost of these services.

They should stop, and can do so without any loss of web functionality.

1/7. What is happening?

Critical Role and Dropout have begun exclusively using links provided by third-party digital marketing solution companies in their email newsletters.

[ID: A screenshot of the Dropout newsletter alongside the page’s HTML source which shows that the target destination for an anchor element in the email leads to d2xR2K04.na1.hubspotlinks.com. End ID.]

[ID: A screenshot of the CR newsletter alongside the page’s HTML source which shows that the target destination for an anchor element in the email leads to trk.klclick.com. End ID.]

The domains attached to these links are flagged as advertising trackers by the uBlock Origin browser extension.

[ID: Screenshot of a Firefox web browser. The page displays a large warning icon and reads “uBlock Origin has prevented the following page from loading [...] because of the following filter: `||hubspotlinks.com` found in Peter Lowe’s Ad and tracking server list. End ID.]

[ID: Screenshot of a Firefox web browser. The page displays a large warning icon and reads “uBlock Origin has prevented the following page from loading [...] because of the following filter: `||klclick1.com` found in Peter Lowe’s Ad and tracking server list. End ID.]

In both cases, every link in the newsletter goes through the flagged third-party domain, and the intended endpoint (Twitter, their store page, etc.) is completely obscured and inaccessible from within the email itself. Even the unsubscribe links feed through the tracking service.

You can test this yourself in your own email client by hovering your cursor over a link in the email without clicking it and watching to see what URL pops up. You may have noticed this yourself if you use uBlock Origin as an ad-blocker.

I don’t know for certain when this first started. It’s possible that this has been going on for a year or more at this point, or it may have started just a few months ago. Either way: it ought to stop.

2/7. What is a tracking cookie?

A tracking cookie is a unique, universally identifiable value placed on your machine by somebody with the intention of checking for that value later to identify you (or at least to identify your machine).

Tracking cookies are used by companies to create advertising behaviour profiles. These profiles are supposedly anonymous, but even if the marketing companies creating them are not lying about that (a tough sell for me personally, but your mileage may vary when it comes to corporations with 9-figure annual incomes), the data can often be de-anonymized.

If this happens, the data can be used to identify the associated user, potentially including their full name, email address, phone number, and physical address—all of which may then be associated with things like their shopping habits, hobbies, preferences, the identities of their friends and family, gender, political opinions, job history, credit score, sexuality, and even when they ovulate.

Now, it is important to note that not all cookies are tracking cookies. A cookie is just some data from a web page that persists on your machine and gets sent back to the server that put it there. Cookies in general are not necessarily malicious or harmful, and are often essential to certain web features functioning correctly (e.g. keeping the user logged in on their web browser after they close the tab). But the thing to keep in mind is that a domain has absolute control over the information that has been stored on your computer by that domain, so allowing cookies is a matter of trusting the specific domain that wants to put them there. You can look at the outgoing information being sent from your machine, but its purpose cannot be determined without knowing what is being done with it on the other side, and these marketing companies ought not to have the benefit of your doubt when they have already been flagged by privacy watchdogs.

3/7. What’s the harm?

Most urgently, as I touched on above: The main source of harm is from corporations profiting off of your private data without your informed consent. However, targeted advertising is actually the least potentially harmful outcome of tracking cookies.

1/6. Data brokers

A data broker is an individual or company that specializes in collecting personal data (such as personal income, ethnicity, political beliefs, geolocation data, etc.) and selling or licensing such information to third parties for a variety of uses, such as background checks conducted by employers and landlords, two universally benevolent groups of people.

There are varying regulations around the world limiting the collection of information on individuals, and the State of California passed a law attempting to address this problem in 2018, following in the footsteps of the EU’s GDPR, but in the jurisdiction of the United States there is no federal regulation protecting consumers from data brokers. In fact, due to the rising interest in federal regulation, data broker firms lobbied to the tune of $29 million in the year 2020 alone.

2/6. De-anonymization techniques

Data re-identification or de-anonymization is the practice of combining datasets (such as advertising profiles) and publicly available information (such as scraped data from social media profiles) in order to discover patterns that may reveal the identities of some or all members of a dataset otherwise intended to be anonymous.

Using the 1990 census, Professor Latanya Sweeney of the Practice of Government and Technology at the Harvard Kennedy School found that up to 87% of the U.S. population can be identified using a combination of their 5-digit zip code, gender, and date of birth. [Link to the paper.]

Individuals whose datasets are re-identified are at risk of having their private information sold to organizations without their knowledge or consent. Once an individual’s privacy has been breached as a result of re-identification, future breaches become much easier: as soon as a link is made between one piece of data and a person’s real identity, that person is no longer anonymous and is at far greater risk of having their data from other sources similarly compromised.

3/6. Doxxing

Once your data has been de-anonymized, you are significantly more vulnerable to all manner of malicious activity: from scam calls and emails to identity theft to doxxing. This is of particular concern for members of minority groups who may be targeted by hate-motivated attacks.

4/6. Potential for abuse by government and law enforcement

Excerpt from “How period tracking apps and data privacy fit into a post-Roe v. Wade climate” by Rina Torchinsky for NPR:

Millions of people use apps to help track their menstrual cycles. Flo, which bills itself as the most popular period and cycle tracking app, has amassed 43 million active users. Another app, Clue, claims 12 million monthly active users. The personal health data stored in these apps is among the most intimate types of information a person can share. And it can also be telling. The apps can show when their period stops and starts and when a pregnancy stops and starts. That has privacy experts on edge because this data—whether subpoenaed or sold to a third party—could be used to suggest that someone has had or is considering an abortion. ‘We're very concerned in a lot of advocacy spaces about what happens when private corporations or the government can gain access to deeply sensitive data about people’s lives and activities,’ says Lydia X. Z. Brown, a policy counsel with the Privacy and Data Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology. ‘Especially when that data could put people in vulnerable and marginalized communities at risk for actual harm.’

Obviously Critical Role and Dropout are not collecting any sort of data related to their users’ menstrual cycles, but the thing to keep in mind is that any data that is exposed to third parties can be sold and distributed without your knowledge or consent and then be used by disinterested—or outright malicious—actors to de-anonymize your data from other sources, included potentially highly compromising data such as that collected by these period-tracking apps. Data privacy violations have compounding dangers, and should be proactively addressed wherever possible. The more of your personal data exists in the hands of third parties, the more it is to be de-anonymized.

5/6. Targeted misinformation

Data brokers are often incredibly unscrupulous actors, and will sell your data to whomever can afford to buy it, no questions asked. The most high-profile case of the consequences of this is the Facebook—Cambridge Analytica data scandal, wherein the personal data of Facebook users were acquired by Cambridge Analytica Ltd. and compiled alongside information collected from other data brokers. By giving this third-party app permission to acquire their data back in 2015, Meta (then Facebook) also gave the app access to information on their users’ friend networks: this resulted in the data of some 87 million users being collected and exploited.

The data collected by Cambridge Analytica was widely used by political strategists to influence elections and, by and large, undermine democracy around the world: While its parent company SCL had been influencing elections in developing countries for decades, Cambridge Analytica focused more on the United Kingdom and the United States. CEO Alexander Nix said the organization was involved in 44 American political races in 2014. In 2016, they worked for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign as well as for Leave.EU, one of the organisations campaigning for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.

6/6. The Crux: Right to Privacy Violations

Even if all of the above were not concerns, every internet user should object to being arbitrarily tracked on the basis of their right to privacy. Companies should not be entitled to create and profit from personality profiles about you just because you purchased unrelated products or services from them. This right to user privacy is the central motivation behind laws like the EU’s GDPR and California’s CCPA (see Section 6).

4/7. Refuting Common Responses

1/3. “Why are you so upset? This isn’t a big deal.”

Commenter: Oh, if you’re just talking about third party cookies, that’s not a big deal … Adding a cookie to store that ‘this user clicked on a marketing email from critical role’ is hardly [worth worrying about].

Me: I don’t think you understand what tracking cookies are. They are the digital equivalent of you going to a drive through and someone from the restaurant running out of the store and sticking a GPS monitor onto your car.

Commenter: Kind of. It’s more like slapping a bumper sticker on that says, in restaurant-ese, ‘Hi I’m [name] and I went to [restaurant] once!’

This is actually an accurate correction. My metaphor was admittedly overly simplistic, but the correction specifies only so far as is comfortable for the commenter. If we want to construct a metaphor that is as accurate as possible, it would go something like this:

You drive into the McDonald’s parking lot. As you are pulling in, unbeknownst to you, a Strange Man pops out of a nearby bush (that McDonald’s has allowed him to place here deliberately for this express purpose), and sticks an invisible bumper sticker onto the back of your car. The bumper sticker is a tracker that tells the Strange Man which road you took to drive to McDonald’s, what kind of car you drive, and what (if anything) you ordered from McDonald’s while you were inside. It might also tell him where you parked in the parking lot, what music you were listening to in your car on the way in, which items you looked at on the menu and for how long, if you went to the washroom, which washroom you went into, how long you were in the washroom, and the exact location of every step you took inside the building.

Now, as soon as you leave the McDonald’s, the bumper sticker goes silent and stops being able to report information. But, let’s say next week you decide to go to the Grocery Store, and (again, unbeknownst to you), the Strange Man also has a deal with the Grocery Store. So as you’re driving into the grocery store’s parking lot, he pops out of another bush and goes to put another bumper sticker onto your car. But as he’s doing so, he notices the bumper sticker he’s already placed there a week ago that only he can see (unless you’ve done the car-equivalent of clearing your browser cache), and goes “ah, it’s Consumer #1287499290! I’ll make sure to file all of this new data under my records for Consumer #1287499290!”

You get out of your car and start to walk into the Grocery Store, but before you open the door, the Strange Man whispers to the Grocery Store: “Hey, I know you’re really trying to push your cereal right now, want me to make it more likely that this person buys some cereal from you?” and of course the Grocery Store agrees—this was the whole reason they let him set up that weird parking lot bush in the first place.

So the Strange Man runs around the store rearranging shelves. He doesn’t know your name (all the data he collects is strictly anonymous after all!) but he does know that you chose the cutesy toy for your happy meal at McDonald’s, so he changes all of the cereal packaging labels in the store to be pastel-coloured and covered in fluffy bears and unicorns. And maybe you were already going to the Grocery Store to buy cereal, and maybe you’re actually very happy to buy some cereal in a package that seems to cater specifically to your interests, but wouldn’t you feel at least a little violated if you found out that this whole process occurred without your knowledge? Especially if you felt like you could trust the people who owned the Grocery Store? They’re not really your friend or anything, but maybe you thought that they were compassionate and responsible members of the community, and part of the reason that you shopped at their store was to support that kind of business.

2/3. “Everyone does it, get over it.”

Commenter: [The marketing company working with CR] is an industry standard at this point, particularly for small businesses. Major partner of Shopify, a fairly big player. If you don't have a software development team, using industry standard solutions like these is the easy, safe option.

This sounds reasonable, but it actually makes it worse, not better, that Critical Role and Dropout are doing this. All this excuse tells me is that most businesses using Shopify (or at least the majority of those that use its recommended newsletter service) have a bush for the Strange Man set up in their parking lot.

Contracting with these businesses is certainly the easy option, but it is decidedly not the safe one.

3/3. “They need to do it for marketing reasons.”

Commenter 1: Email marketing tools like [this] use tracking to measure open and click rates. I get why you don’t want to be tracked, but it’s very hard to run a sizeable email newsletter without any user data.

Commenter 2: I work in digital marketing … every single email you get from a company has something similar to this. Guaranteed. This looks totally standard.

I am a web programmer by trade. It is my full time job. Tracking the metrics that Critical Role and Dropout are most likely interested in does not require embedding third-party tracking cookies in their fans’ web browsers. If you feel comfortable taking my word on that, feel free to skip the next section. If you’re skeptical (or if you just want to learn a little bit about how the internet works) please read on.

5/7. Tracking cookies are never necessary

We live in a technocracy. We live in a world in which technology design dictates the rules we live by. We don’t know these people, we didn’t vote for them in office, there was no debate about their design. But yet, the rules that they determine by the design decisions they make—many of them somewhat arbitrary—end up dictating how we will live our lives. —Latanya Sweeney

1/3. Definitions

A website is a combination of 2 computer programs. One of the two programs runs on your computer (laptop/desktop/phone/etc.) and the other runs on another computer somewhere in the world. The program running on your computer is the client program. The program running on the other computer is the server program.

A message sent from the client to the server is a request. A message sent from the server to the client is a response.

Cookies are bits of data that the server sends to the client in a response that the client then sends back to the server as an attachment to its subsequent requests.

A session is a series of sequential interactions between a client and server. When either of the two programs stops running (e.g. when you close a browser tab), the session is ended and any future interactions will take place in a new session.

A URL is a Uniform Resource Locator. You may also sometimes see the initialism URI—in which the ‘I’ stands for Identifier—but they effectively refer to the same thing, which is the place to find a specific thing on the internet. For our purposes, a “link” and a URL mean the same thing.

2/3. What do Critical Role and Dropout want?

These media companies (in my best estimation) are contracting with the digital advertising companies in order to get one or more of the following things:

Customer identity verification (between sessions)

Marketing campaign analytics

Customer preference profiles

Customer behaviour profiles

3/3. How can they get these things without tracking cookies?

Accounts. Dropout has an account system already. As Beacon is a thing now I have to assume Critical Role does as well, therefore this is literally already something they can do without any additional parties getting involved.

URL Query Parameters. So you want to know which of your social media feeds is driving the most traffic to your storefront. You could contract a third-party advertising company to do this for you, but as we have seen this might not be the ideal option. Instead, when posting your links to said feeds, attach a little bit of extra text to the end of the URL link so: becomes or or even These extra bits of information at the end of a URL are query parameters, and act as a way for the client to specify some instructions for the server when sending a request. In effect, a URL with query parameters allows the client to say to the server “I want this thing under these conditions”. The benefit of this approach is, of course, that you actually know precisely what information is being collected (the stuff in the parameters) and precisely what is being done with it, and you’ve avoided exposing any of your user data to third parties.

Internal data collection. Optionally associate a user’s email address with their preferences on the site. Prompt them to do this whenever they purchase anything or do any action that might benefit from having some saved preference, informing them explicitly when you do so and giving them the opportunity to opt-out.

Internal data collection. The same as above, but let the user know you are also tracking their movements while on your site. You can directly track user behaviour down to every single mouse movement if you really want to—again, no need to get an outside party involved to snoop on your fans. But you shouldn’t do that because it’s a little creepy!

At the end of the day, it will of course be more work to set up and maintain these things, and thus it will inevitably be more expensive—but that discrepancy in expense represents profit that these companies are currently making on the basis of violating their fans’ right to privacy.

6/7. Breaking the Law

The data subject shall have the right to object, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, at any time to processing of personal data concerning him or her [...] The controller shall no longer process the personal data unless the controller demonstrates compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims. Where personal data are processed for direct marketing purposes, the data subject shall have the right to object at any time to processing of personal data concerning him or her for such marketing, which includes profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. Where the data subject objects to processing for direct marketing purposes, the personal data shall no longer be processed for such purposes. At the latest at the time of the first communication with the data subject, the right referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be explicitly brought to the attention of the data subject and shall be presented clearly and separately from any other information. — General Data Protection Regulation, Art. 21

Nobody wants to break the law and be caught. I am not accusing anyone of anything and this is just my personal speculation on publicly-available information. I am not a lawyer; I merely make computer go beep-boop. If you have any factual corrections for this or any other section in this document please leave a comment and I will update the text with a revision note. Before I try my hand at the legal-adjacent stuff, allow me to wade in with the tech stuff.

Cookies are sometimes good and sometimes bad. Cookies from someone you trust are usually good. Cookies from someone you don’t know are occasionally bad. But you can take proactive measures against bad cookies. You should always default to denying any cookies that go beyond the “essential” or “functional” categorizations on any website of which you are remotely suspicious. Deny as many cookies as possible. Pay attention to what the cookie pop-ups actually say and don’t just click on the highlighted button: it is usually “Accept All”, which means that tracking and advertising cookies are fair game from the moment you click that button onward. It is illegal for companies to arbitrarily provide you a worse service for opting out of being tracked (at least it is in the EU and California).

It is my opinion (and again, I am not a legal professional, just a web developer, so take this with a grain of salt) that the links included in the newsletter emails violate both of these laws. If a user of the email newsletter residing in California or the EU wishes to visit any of the links included in said email without being tracked, they have no way of doing so. None of the actual endpoints are available in the email, effectively forcing the user to go through the third-party domain and submit themselves to being tracked in order to utilize the service they have signed up for. Furthermore, it is impossible to unsubscribe directly from within the email without also submitting to the third-party tracking.

[ID: A screenshot of the unsubscribe button in the CR newsletter alongside the page HTML which shows that the target destination for the anchor element is a trk.klclick.com page. End ID.]

As a brief aside: Opening the links in a private/incognito window is a good idea, but will not completely prevent your actions from being tracked by the advertiser. My recommendation: install uBlock Origin to warn you of tracking domains (it is a completely free and open-source project available on most major web browsers), and do not click on any links in either of these newsletters until they change their practices.

Now, it may be the case that the newsletters are shipped differently to those residing in California or the EU (if you are from either of these regions please feel free to leave a comment on whether or not this is the case), but ask yourself: does that make this any better? Sure, maybe then Critical Role and Dropout (or rather, the advertising companies they contract with) aren’t technically breaking the law, but it shows that the only thing stopping them from exploiting your personal data is potential legal repercussions, rather than any sort of commitment to your right to privacy. But I expect that the emails are not, in fact, shipping any differently in jurisdictions with more advanced privacy legislation—it wouldn’t be the first time a major tech giant blatantly flaunted EU regulations.

Without an additional browser extension such as uBlock Origin, a user clicking on the links in these emails may not even be aware that they have interacted with the advertising agency at all, let alone what sort of information that agency now has pertaining to them, nor do they have any ability to opt out of this data collection.

For more information about your right to privacy—something that only those living in the EU or California currently have—you can read explanations of the legislations at the following links (take note that these links, and all of the links embedded in this paper, are anchored directly to the destinations they purport to be, and do not sneakily pass through an additional domain before redirecting you):

7/7. Conclusion

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by neglect, ignorance or incompetence. —Hanlon’s Razor

The important thing to make clear here is this: Even if Critical Role and Dropout are not directly selling or exploiting your personal data, they are still profiting off of it by contracting with, and receiving services from, companies whom I believe are. You may not believe me.

I do not believe that the management teams at Critical Role and Dropout are evil or malicious. Ignorance seems to be the most likely cause of this situation. Someone at some marketing company told them that this type of thing was helpful, necessary, and an industry standard, and they had no reason to doubt that person’s word. Maybe that person had no reason to doubt the word of the person who told them. Maybe there are a few people in that chain, maybe quite a few. I do not expect everyone running a company to be an expert in this stuff (hell, I’m nowhere close to being an expert in this stuff myself—I only happened to notice this at all because of a browser extension I just happened to have installed to block ads), but what I do expect is that they change their behaviour when the potential harms of their actions have been pointed out to them, which is why I have taken the time to write this.

PS. To the employees of Critical Role and Dropout

It is my understanding that these corporations were both founded with the intention of being socially responsible alongside turning a profit. By using services like the ones described above, you are, however unintentionally, profiting off of the personal datasets of your fans that are being compiled and exploited without their informed consent. You cannot say, implicitly or explicitly, “We’re not like those other evil companies! We care about more than just extracting as much money from our customers as possible!” while at the same time utilizing these services, and it is my hope that after reading this you will make the responsible choice and stop doing so.

Thank you for reading,

era

Originally Published: 23 May 2024

Last Updated: 28 May 2024

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darkmaga-returns · 3 months ago

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The Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) found that California is facing “double-digit operating deficits in the years to come” as a result of reckless government spending. For the 2025-26 period, the LOA believes the state may have a balanced budget but called Newsom’s spending and policies highly unpredictable. For now, the state has seen $11 billion in “spending-related solutions” and $15 billion in “other solutions,” which will ultimately become problems. Newsom already withdrew $7 billion from the rainy-day fund. The state is now banking on high-income citizens for tax revenue to accommodate its ever-increasing spending.

This report was compiled before the deadly wildfires caused uncalculated damage to EVERYONE, including the dreaded rich who the state expects to cover the spending gap. Newsom spent recklessly on everything but infrastructure.

Spending growth from 2025-26 to 2028-29 is 5.8%, above the average of 3.5%. Growth over the same period is just above 4%, “lower than its historical average largely due to policy choices that end during the forecast window. Taken together, we view it as unlikely that revenue growth will be fast enough to catch up to ongoing spending.”

The “good news” is that incomes are rapidly rising among high-income residents who the state will extort. The labor market remains soft but those at the top will be expected to fill the gaps. The rising stock market is contributing to growth in pay among high-income workers, with the report noting that those in California’s once booming tech field are seeing pay increases. As with all socialistic economies, the government sees your money as their money.

Tax collections are expected to beat expectations by $7 billion. “This is entirely due to improving income tax collections, which would, under our forecast, end the current year 20 percent higher than two years ago,” the report notes. Since no individual can predict future stock movement, the legislative office is uncertain how much they will ultimately be able to extort, but they believe revenues will be “above or below” $30 billion across the budget window.

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spookysaladchaos · 10 months ago

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Global top 13 companies accounted for 66% of Total Frozen Spring Roll market(qyresearch, 2021)

The table below details the Discrete Manufacturing ERP revenue and market share of major players, from 2016 to 2021. The data for 2021 is an estimate, based on the historical figures and the data we interviewed this year.

Major players in the market are identified through secondary research and their market revenues are determined through primary and secondary research. Secondary research includes the research of the annual financial reports of the top companies; while primary research includes extensive interviews of key opinion leaders and industry experts such as experienced front-line staffs, directors, CEOs and marketing executives. The percentage splits, market shares, growth rates and breakdowns of the product markets are determined through secondary sources and verified through the primary sources.

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Figure. Global Frozen Spring Roll Market Size (US$ Mn), 2018-2029

Figure. Global Frozen Spring Roll Top 13 Players Ranking and Market Share（Based on data of 2021, Continually updated）

The global key manufacturers of Discrete Manufacturing ERP include Visibility, Global Shop Solutions, SYSPRO, ECi Software Solutions, abas Software AG, IFS AB, QAD Inc, Infor, abas Software AG, ECi Software Solutions, etc. In 2021, the global top five players had a share approximately 66.0% in terms of revenue.

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#Frozen Spring Roll

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eraepoch · 11 months ago

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Emerging Media Companies, Tracking Cookies, and Data Privacy (An Open Letter to Dropout and Critical Role)

Read the open letter here.

TL;DR:

Both Critical Role (CR) and Dropout are exclusively using links provided by third-party digital marketing solution companies in their email newsletters.

Every link in each of the newsletters (even the unsubscribe link) goes through a third-party domain which is flagged as a tracking server by the uBlock Origin browser extension.

IMO these advertising companies (and perhaps CR/Dropout by proxy) might be breaking the law in the EU and California by violating the GDPR and CCPA respectively.

They should stop.

#critical role #dropout #dimension 20 #game changer #sam reich #data privacy #gdpr #ccpa #open letter

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overlysocial · 2 years ago

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Content Marketing Agency

Overly Social is a full-service marketing agency based in Westlake Village, California. We specialize in helping businesses succeed in today's digital world through cutting-edge marketing strategies. Our team of experienced marketing professionals is dedicated to providing innovative marketing solutions that drive results for our clients. From social media marketing to SEO and PPC, we offer a wide range of services to help businesses grow and thrive. Our team is committed to staying up to date with the latest marketing trends to ensure that we are providing our clients with the most effective marketing strategies possible. If you're a business in Westlake Village or beyond looking to boost your online presence and drive growth, look no further than Overly Social. Business Name: Overly Social Business Owner Name: David Valencia Business Email: [email protected] Phone: 805-290-8300 Address: 31133 Via Colinas Ste. 104, Westlake Village, CA 91362 Website: https://overly.social/ Youtube: https://youtu.be/Mv-9iq3qttA

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virtualease · 2 days ago

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What It’s Like Working with a Remote Virtual Assistant

Working with a remote virtual assistant is becoming the norm for many small business owners, solopreneurs, and even large enterprises. With the rise of digital transformation and a global workforce, delegating tasks to someone miles away is no longer an exception—it's a strategic advantage. But what does a day-to-day collaboration with a remote virtual assistant really look like? Is it just about sending tasks over email or sharing files on Google Drive? Not quite.

Whether you're a startup founder in Austin, a realtor in Miami, or a wellness coach in Los Angeles, hiring a remote virtual assistant can be a game changer. Let’s dive into the experience, benefits, challenges, and insider tips of working with one, especially in local contexts across the U.S.

The Evolving Role of a Virtual Assistant

In the early 2000s, virtual assistants were seen primarily as administrative aides. Fast forward to 2025, and their scope has expanded immensely. Today, they manage social media, handle customer support, conduct market research, and even offer bookkeeping and content creation services. The remote setup allows businesses from California to North Carolina to access skilled professionals without geographic limitations.

Why Local Businesses Are Turning to Remote Virtual Assistants

The Need for Cost-Efficiency

Local business owners in places like Dallas, Charlotte, and Chicago are often faced with rising labor costs and tight budgets. Hiring a remote virtual assistant offers a solution. You get professional-grade work without the overheads of office space, benefits, and taxes.

Access to a Broader Talent Pool

When you're not limited by location, you can hire the best. Need a bilingual assistant for your Miami-based travel agency? Or a tech-savvy VA for your Seattle-based startup? Remote hiring makes it possible.

Flexibility for the Modern Work Culture

Remote virtual assistants work across time zones, giving you extended business hours. Entrepreneurs in New York and San Francisco find this particularly helpful for customer service and round-the-clock operations.

Daily Workflow with a Remote Virtual Assistant

Initial Onboarding

The onboarding process is critical. You’ll typically begin by sharing your SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), login credentials, preferred communication channels, and project management tools. Tools like Slack, Trello, and Notion make collaboration seamless.

Task Delegation & Time Management

A common misconception is that you need to micromanage remote VAs. In reality, the best ones are self-starters. You assign a task, provide context, and set deadlines. Most use time-tracking tools like Toggl or Hubstaff for accountability.

Communication Flow

Regular check-ins are essential. Many business owners prefer a daily 10-minute call or end-of-day summaries via email. If you’re in Florida or Georgia, and your VA is overseas, you might even enjoy the benefit of waking up to completed tasks.

Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Time Zone Differences

While it can be an advantage, time zones can also be tricky. The solution? Set clear expectations for availability and use scheduling tools like Calendly.

Cultural Nuances

Understanding cultural differences is key, especially if your VA is based in a different country. A little empathy and open communication go a long way.

Data Security and Privacy

Always use password managers like LastPass and ensure NDAs are in place. Tools like 1Password and VPNs help secure sensitive data.

Unique Insights from U.S. Businesses

Real Estate in California

Many California-based realtors are now hiring remote virtual assistant to manage listings, respond to client emails, and schedule viewings. The impact? More time in the field and quicker deal closures.

E-commerce in Texas

Online sellers in Texas are leveraging VAs for inventory management, customer service, and even returns processing. This streamlined support boosts both customer satisfaction and repeat sales.

Health & Wellness Coaches in Florida

From booking appointments to managing social media content, virtual assistants are allowing coaches to focus more on clients and less on admin.

What Makes a Great Remote Virtual Assistant?

Skillset & Versatility

The best virtual assistants are multi-skilled. They may start as admin support and evolve into your CRM manager or content writer.

Reliability & Proactiveness

Great VAs don’t wait for instructions—they anticipate needs, offer solutions, and sometimes even create new systems to improve efficiency.

Tech-Savviness

Familiarity with tools like Asana, Canva, and G-Suite is no longer optional. A great remote virtual assistant is always eager to learn and adapt.

Building a Long-Term Relationship

Many business owners form years-long relationships with their virtual assistants. Loyalty grows when there’s mutual respect, trust, and consistent feedback. Bonuses, occasional gifts, or recognition go a long way in keeping your VA motivated.

How to Find the Right Remote Virtual Assistant

You can hire through platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, OnlineJobs.ph, or agencies specializing in VA placements. Start with a trial period. Look for reviews, request references, and always trust your gut.

Conclusion

Working with a remote virtual assistant isn’t just about outsourcing work—it’s about creating a partnership that adds real value to your business. As remote work becomes the new normal, integrating a VA into your team is no longer a luxury; it’s a smart, scalable solution. From local business tasks to global outreach, a reliable virtual assistant can be your secret weapon.

FAQs

What does a remote virtual assistant do?

A remote virtual assistant performs a range of tasks from administrative support, email management, calendar scheduling, to social media marketing and customer service.

How do I communicate with my remote virtual assistant?

Most people use tools like Slack, Zoom, or Google Meet. Daily or weekly check-ins help maintain clarity and accountability.

Can I hire a remote virtual assistant part-time?

Yes, many VAs work on an hourly or project basis. You can scale hours up or down based on your needs.

Are remote virtual assistants secure?

Yes, as long as you use security protocols like password managers, VPNs, and have NDAs in place.

How much does a remote virtual assistant cost?

Rates vary depending on experience and location, ranging from $5/hour (overseas) to $30/hour (U.S.-based).

Do remote virtual assistants work on weekends?

Some do, especially if they're in different time zones. You can negotiate availability during the hiring process.

Can a remote virtual assistant handle calls?

Yes, many are trained in handling calls using VoIP systems like Skype, Zoom, or Google Voice.

How do I track the work of my remote virtual assistant?

Use time-tracking and project management tools like Toggl, Trello, or ClickUp.

What are the signs of a good remote virtual assistant?

Proactiveness, reliability, strong communication skills, and adaptability to your tools and workflow.

Is it worth hiring a remote virtual assistant?

Absolutely. If you’re looking to save time, reduce stress, and grow your business efficiently, a VA can be one of the best investments.

#best virtual assistant #virtual assistance task #virtual assistant service #outsourcing #remote assistant

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punithraj · 4 days ago

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Accounting Services in California: Your Business Growth Partner

In the ever-evolving business environment of California, accurate accounting is more than just a compliance requirement—it's a strategic advantage. Whether you're an entrepreneur navigating your first tax season or a seasoned business owner managing rapid growth, having the right financial support is key. This is where accounting services in California shine, offering essential tools to streamline operations, ensure compliance, and unlock profitability.

One name leading the charge in this field is Accounting.Profitspear—a trusted partner helping California businesses transform their financial management into a growth engine.

Why California Businesses Need Professional Accounting Services

California is the fifth-largest economy in the world, home to innovative startups, sprawling agricultural operations, entertainment giants, and everything in between. But this opportunity-rich environment comes with its own set of financial challenges—state-specific tax codes, industry regulations, labor laws, and fluctuating markets.

Here's why expert accounting services in California are crucial:

Complex Tax Landscape: California businesses face unique taxation issues including sales tax, income tax, and local compliance. An expert accountant ensures nothing slips through the cracks.

Time-Saving Automation: Cloud-based platforms and automated solutions save countless hours for business owners.

Financial Planning and Strategy: Good accountants don’t just record numbers—they help forecast growth, manage expenses, and plan for the future.

Regulation Compliance: Staying on the right side of state and federal laws is critical to avoid penalties and audits.

Accounting.Profitspear specializes in addressing these California-specific needs, offering services that go beyond traditional number crunching.

Services That Make a Difference

Every business is different, and so are their accounting needs. What makes Accounting.Profitspear stand out is its flexible, scalable approach to financial services, including:

1. Full-Service Accounting

From preparing financial statements to budgeting and forecasting, full-service accounting allows businesses to see the big picture. Regular reporting helps spot cash flow issues early and identify new opportunities for growth.

2. Payroll Processing

California’s strict labor laws and ever-changing minimum wage rules make payroll a sensitive area. Accurate, timely payroll is not just a legal obligation—it keeps teams motivated and operations running smoothly.

3. Tax Planning & Filing

Tax season can be stressful, especially in California with its intricate regulations. Accounting.Profitspear handles all tax preparation, ensuring accuracy while identifying deductions and credits that keep more money in your pocket.

4. Small Business Bookkeeping Services in California

Bookkeeping is the foundation of any financial system. Especially for small businesses, precise recordkeeping is essential. With small business bookkeeping services in California, Accounting.Profitspear keeps your records up-to-date, your bank reconciliations accurate, and your financial insights actionable.

Tailored Solutions for California’s Diverse Industries

California’s economy spans a wide array of industries, and Accounting.Profitspear offers customized support for each:

Tech Startups: SaaS accounting, funding round tracking, R&D tax credits

Retail Businesses: Inventory management, point-of-sale integration, seasonal budgeting

Healthcare Practices: Insurance billing, medical accounting, HIPAA-compliant systems

Freelancers & Creatives: 1099 reporting, quarterly taxes, cash flow planning

Construction & Trades: Job costing, progress billing, subcontractor management

This industry-specific expertise ensures that you get more than just generic accounting—you get a true partner who understands your business inside and out.

The Role of Technology in Modern Accounting

Today’s accounting is digital, and staying competitive means using the right tools. Accounting.Profitspear harnesses cloud platforms like QuickBooks Online, Xero, and FreshBooks to provide real-time access to your financial data.

Here’s how technology makes your life easier:

Real-Time Dashboards: Know exactly where your money is going.

Automated Invoicing & Payments: Get paid faster with less effort.

Mobile Access: Manage your finances anytime, anywhere.

Data Security: Bank-level encryption keeps your records safe.

With these tools, business owners gain full visibility and control over their financial health without the stress of spreadsheets and manual data entry.

Why Small Businesses Trust Accounting.Profitspear

Managing a small business in California is no easy feat. High competition, rising operational costs, and tight profit margins mean every decision counts. That’s why so many turn to Accounting.Profitspear for reliable small business bookkeeping services in California.

Here’s what sets them apart:

✅ Personalized Service: One-on-one support with tailored advice

✅ Transparent Pricing: No hidden fees or surprise invoices

✅ Proactive Communication: Regular check-ins and reports so you’re never left guessing

✅ California Expertise: Deep knowledge of local regulations and market conditions

Clients consistently report improved financial clarity, fewer errors, and better decision-making after switching to Accounting.Profitspear.

Benefits of Outsourcing Your Accounting

Still on the fence about outsourcing your financial tasks? Consider the benefits:

1. Cost-Effective

Hiring in-house accountants is expensive. Outsourcing to a firm like Accounting.Profitspear gives you access to a full team of experts at a fraction of the cost.

2. Focus on What Matters

Free up your time to concentrate on growth, customer service, and operations instead of getting bogged down in books and receipts.

3. Minimize Risk

Avoid costly mistakes, IRS penalties, or missed deductions. Let professionals manage compliance so you stay audit-ready year-round.

4. Scalability

As your business grows, your financial needs will change. An outsourced service can easily scale up to handle more volume, complexity, or strategic planning.

Accounting.Profitspear: Your Financial Ally

When it comes to accounting services in California, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The right accounting partner understands your goals, supports your growth, and makes the complex feel simple. That’s exactly what Accounting.Profitspear delivers—customized, client-focused financial services that move your business forward.

Whether you need help with small business bookkeeping services in California, tax prep, or financial strategy, Accounting.Profitspear is ready to be the partner you can count on.

Ready to Take Control of Your Finances?

Don’t wait until tax time or a cash flow crisis to get help. The earlier you engage with a professional accounting team, the more value you unlock for your business. With the support of Accounting.Profitspear, you gain clarity, confidence, and a roadmap to success in California’s dynamic market.

📞 Contact Accounting.Profitspear today for a free consultation—and take the first step toward smarter financial management.

#accounting services in California

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kajalsawant434 · 4 days ago

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Cyber Insurance Market Overview: Trends and Growth Projections

Introduction

The cyber insurance market has become one of the most vital sectors in the modern insurance landscape as the frequency, complexity, and severity of cyber threats continue to rise. With businesses and organizations increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, cyber insurance has emerged as a critical tool to mitigate the financial risks associated with cyberattacks, data breaches, and other online vulnerabilities. As cybersecurity threats evolve, so does the cyber insurance market, with new trends and technologies shaping its growth and development.

Cyber Insurance Market Trends

1. Increased Demand for Coverage Due to Rising Cyber Threats

The growing frequency of data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cybercrimes is the primary driver behind the expanding cyber insurance market. High-profile incidents such as the SolarWinds attack and the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack have demonstrated the severe financial consequences of cyberattacks, prompting businesses of all sizes to seek insurance solutions that provide protection against such risks.

Key trends influencing the demand for cyber insurance include:

Rising Cybersecurity Threats: As cybercriminals develop more sophisticated techniques, businesses need comprehensive insurance coverage to safeguard against a wide range of cyber risks, including data theft, system disruptions, and financial losses.

Regulatory Pressures: With the increasing enforcement of data protection laws such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and the CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), organizations are required to implement strict security measures. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in hefty fines and reputational damage, pushing businesses to invest in cyber insurance.

Remote Work and Cloud Adoption: The rapid shift to remote work and the growing adoption of cloud services during the COVID-19 pandemic have created new vulnerabilities, making businesses more susceptible to cyberattacks. Cyber insurance policies help mitigate risks associated with remote work environments and cloud infrastructure.

2. Evolving Coverage Options and Customization

As businesses’ cyber risks become more complex, cyber insurance providers are increasingly offering customizable insurance products tailored to the specific needs of individual organizations. The cyber insurance market is shifting toward more flexible policies that cover a range of incidents, including:

Data Breaches: Coverage for data breaches, including the costs of notifying affected individuals, legal expenses, and penalties.

Ransomware Attacks: Ransomware coverage that includes ransom payments, legal fees, and costs related to system recovery.

Business Interruption: Coverage for revenue loss and operational downtime caused by cyberattacks, ensuring business continuity.

Cyber Extortion: Protection against extortion-related attacks, such as threats to release sensitive data or disrupt services.

Insurance providers are also incorporating cybersecurity measures, such as risk assessments and pre-emptive consultation, to help clients reduce their vulnerability to cyber threats. This trend towards more holistic cyber risk management is contributing to the growth of the cyber insurance market.

3. Rising Premiums and Underwriting Challenges

As the cyber risk landscape grows more complex, insurance premiums are also on the rise. This increase in premiums is driven by:

Increased Claims Frequency: As cyberattacks become more common, insurance companies are experiencing higher claims payouts, prompting them to raise premiums to cover the rising costs.

Difficulty in Risk Assessment: Cyber risk is inherently difficult to quantify, and with cyber threats constantly evolving, insurance companies face challenges in accurately assessing risks. As a result, underwriters are becoming more selective in offering coverage, leading to more stringent underwriting processes and higher premiums.

Despite these challenges, businesses are still seeking cyber insurance solutions to protect themselves against potential financial fallout from cyberattacks.

Growth Projections for the Cyber Insurance Market

The cyber insurance market has shown robust growth in recent years and is expected to continue expanding at a rapid pace. According to market research, the cyber insurance market size is projected to reach $35 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 25-30%. This growth is fueled by increasing awareness about cyber risks and the need for businesses to invest in cyber risk management solutions.

Key Growth Drivers

Digital Transformation: As more companies digitize their operations, the cyber insurance market will see increased demand for coverage to protect against cyberattacks targeting their digital infrastructure.

Emerging Cyber Threats: The growing sophistication of cyber threats, such as advanced persistent threats (APTs) and AI-driven cyberattacks, is creating new challenges that businesses can mitigate through cyber insurance.

Geographical Expansion: The adoption of cyber insurance is growing in regions such as Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East due to the increasing adoption of digital technologies and growing awareness of cyber risks.

Industry-Specific Solutions: As cyber risks vary across industries, the rise of industry-specific cyber insurance policies is expected to contribute to market growth. For instance, healthcare organizations and financial institutions are becoming more aware of the need for specialized coverage due to the sensitive nature of their data.

Regional Market Outlook

The cyber insurance market is expected to experience the highest growth in the following regions:

North America: The North American market is currently the largest market for cyber insurance, primarily due to the high adoption rate of digital technologies and the increasing number of cyberattacks targeting businesses in the region. The United States, in particular, accounts for a significant portion of the market share.

Europe: With the enforcement of stringent data protection regulations such as GDPR, businesses in Europe are increasingly investing in cyber insurance to mitigate the risks associated with data breaches and regulatory non-compliance.

Asia-Pacific: As cybersecurity awareness rises and businesses in countries like China, India, and Japan undergo digital transformation, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to see significant growth in the adoption of cyber insurance.

Challenges and Risks in the Cyber Insurance Market

Despite the promising growth projections, several challenges may hinder the expansion of the cyber insurance market:

Evolving Cyber Threats: The rapid evolution of cyber threats, such as ransomware and AI-driven attacks, makes it difficult for insurance providers to accurately assess and price coverage.

Cybersecurity Maturity: Many businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), still lack basic cybersecurity practices. This lack of maturity in cybersecurity could increase the likelihood of claims, leading to higher premiums.

Regulatory Uncertainty: The evolving nature of cybersecurity regulations across different regions makes it challenging for insurance companies to develop standardized policies that meet global requirements.

Lack of Standardization: The absence of universally accepted standards for cyber risk assessment can create discrepancies in the underwriting process, potentially leading to coverage gaps.

Conclusion

The cyber insurance market is poised for significant growth in the coming years, driven by the rising frequency and sophistication of cyber threats, increasing regulatory requirements, and the growing need for businesses to protect themselves from the financial impact of cyberattacks. As the market continues to evolve, businesses can expect more tailored and flexible insurance products that offer comprehensive coverage for a wide range of cyber risks.

However, challenges such as rising premiums, regulatory uncertainty, and the difficulty in assessing cyber risk must be addressed to ensure sustainable growth in the sector. As businesses continue to embrace digital technologies, the importance of cyber insurance will only increase, making it an essential tool in the risk management strategies of organizations worldwide.

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