WordPress websites are currently being targetted in an attack by hackers using botnets. Zdnet says “This botnet channels some bandwidth from individual computers infected with malware, which in mass and collectively can cause the overloading of servers. Typically, this kind of attack is either used by willing participants to cause a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack against websites to force them offline, or by “slave” computers that can be used to carry out hacking attempts”

The vulnerability they are after is the use of the word Admin as your main administrator login – this is the default setting when you install WordPress on a server and the reason why I advise everyone who attends my classes against using Admin as a username. If you use this then a hacker is 50% of the way in to your site and only has to guess the password and then they have complete control of your website.

But all is not lost! If you’ve got Admin set as a user there are security plugins that can help you change it as well as change all of the normal login links like /wp-login and /wp-admin so that the login boxes are harder to find on your site.

They can also rewrite your database details and secure files against attack.

One I’ve used today is Better WP Security a plugin thats been used nearly 600,000 times. This was easy to install and guided me through making my site my secure.

If you need some help get in touch.

The post Use WordPress and have Admin set as your username? appeared first on Audiomint.

If you’re looking to learn new skills in 2013 or just get to grips with your own WordPress based website I can help.

WordPress is a free tool that will help you build and maintain your own website. It can be as simple as you want but has the power to grow with you as your needs develop, from a simple blog through to a fully functioning online store WordPress can do it for you.

My one day WordPress Training course takes you through WordPress step by step, giving you a great introduction to this excellent website design platform and you’ll leave at the end of the day with a fully working live website you can continue to learn on long after the end of the course. from setting up the site so it works with Search Engines to creating posts and pages and ending with installing new themes, I’ll show you how it all works.

Find out more about the Manchester WordPress Course and dates for 2013.

The post Build Your Own website in 2013 with WordPress appeared first on Audiomint.

Old AudioMint Website

I’ve just launched the new Audiomint website and it’s based on WordPress as you’d expect!

The original website was great, it was the first one I designed and its been very good and its done it’s job well these last couple of years but after designing a few clients sites using Woothemes great sites I began to get a little site envy!

So I’ve updated the site to a completely new theme, updated some of the pages and put some new imagery around the place.

I’ve also changed some of the plugin I use but I’ll tell you about that in the next newsletter, sign up at the bottom of the page.

As its built on WordPress it didn’t take long as all of the content and media was still in place!

I used one of Woothemes great WordPress themes, they come with many easy to use options and whilst there are free WordPress themes I wholeheartedly recommend purchasing on of their themes as amongst other things you get great support from them.

If you’d like to chat to me about this and WordPress training and implementation I’d be more than happy to. Get me via the contact page.

Have a look round and let me know what you think, and if I’ve got any broken links!

Cheers!

The post New WordPress Website now up and running! appeared first on Audiomint.

iPhone 5 has been announced and its got 4G, but if you live in the UK does that make any difference to you? Will you get it even though it’ll never work on most of the 4G that’s coming out in Britain?

According to a BBC report  this is the position on superfast 4G for the next couple of years:

• Everything Everywhere (Parent of Orange and T-Mobile) – Launching 4G in 16 UK Cities by Xmas – iPhone 5 will work on their 1800MHz band
• O2 and Vodafone – will probably launch in mid to late 2013 – iPhone 5 will not work on 4G on their proposed 800MHz and 2.6GHz bands – Apple don’t think it’s been developed enough apparently.
• Three – Will be able to launch iPhone 5 compatible 4G in September 2013 as they’ve bought some space from Everything Everywhere.

Or will you be buying it regardless of 4G because its lighter, taller, faster, slimmer, new and an iPhone?

Waiting for the iPhone 6 then? Roll on Autumn 2013

The post Will your Mobile Network be iPhone 5 4G compatible? appeared first on Audiomint.

The boys at Xwires recently sent me their new plug and wire tidy to try out and I have to say I really like it. It’s designed to hold any kind of cable – USB, Headphones, chargers etc and can even hold the plug securely in place with it as well. I’m out and about most days and I’ve found it brilliant for stopping my headphones and iPhone cable neat and tidy and easy to locate in my bag.

Tim Milner, inventor of Wrapwire and managing director of Xwires Limited said:

“We set out to solve the problem of tangled and knotted cables and wires with a simple, cost effective solution. The key features of Wrapwire are that companies can add their own branding to use it as a giveaway promotional item and the design has total global appeal due to the variety of worldwide mains chargers that Wrapwire can be used with.  All designing, testing, research and development and intellectual property has been finalised and we are now in a position to take Wrapwire to a global market. Look out for Wrapwire on your next in-flight amenity pack or with your next gadget purchase.”

pop over to their website to find out more!

The post Great for anyone with lots of wires – Wrapwire appeared first on Audiomint.

Our next one day course to learn how to use WordPress is on 29th March 2012 in Manchester City Centre.

This one day course 10-4pm will give you the tools to set up and maintain your own site and we’ll teach you a few little tricks along the way!

Find Out More

Find Out More

The post Manchester 1 Day WordPress Course appeared first on Audiomint.

I’ve submitted an idea for funding to Enterprise Nation who help people business startups.

I’ve asked for £300 to get some advertising flyers and online marketing paid for to promote my Gadget Parties to people.

If i get 300 votes I’ll automatically get the money paid in to my Paypal account.

Please take a second to vote by clicking here:

http://www.enterprisenation.com/funding-applications/audiomint/

If you’re interested in your own party, please contact me!

The post Enterprise Nation Grants, Please Vote appeared first on Audiomint.

You’re on all the social media sites and you’ve got space on your website for a blog and you know it’s something you should be doing to be ‘with it’ and up to date, but actually you’re too busy running your business to put the time in to ‘mindless drivel’ and catching up with Stephen Fry and Justin Bieber?

With over 700 million people on Facebook, 250 million tweets sent every day and over 135 million people using Linkedin it’s important to get a consistent message sent at the right time  to the right people.

Talk to us about managing your Social Media Presence so you can concentrate on what you do best… your business.

Read More

The post Use twitter but avoid the Bieber! Let us do it for you! appeared first on Audiomint.

I’ve escaped from the “office” today and am working at a Regus Business Lounge as St Peters House in Manchester City Centre.

I’m in a little think pod which is great as you can hide away from the world and ear wig on the conversations going on around you, if that’s your bag, that’s not mine of course but i have learnt about Chinese immigration rules and how to beat them.

There’s loads of these business lounges around the world apparently and my little Gold Card gets me in to all of them. some tho are just lounge type chairs with a table attached to the right arm and are a bit small.

And how much is this service? something like £25 a month if you join with Regus BUT FREE if you join the Federation of Small Business at £130 a year. Cant complain at that!

oh and there’s free tea and coffee and wifi!

The post Escaped from the office to a Regus Business Lounge appeared first on Audiomint.

We’ve just confirmed our first twitter one day course in Sheffield. We’ll be at The Circle an excellent space owned by Voluntary Action Sheffield in the City Centre on Tuesday 6th March from 10-4pm. Join us to find how to improve your Twitter experience and automate those boring tasks.

Find out more here

or call 0161 408 5221 or hello@audiomint.co.uk

The post One Day Twitter Training Course in Sheffield – Learn how to use it better! appeared first on Audiomint.