8 WAYSTO FREE UP SPACE ON YOUR SMARTPHONE

Your phone is full of junk you don't need.

Did you know that even if you buy a 16 GB phone, you can't actually use all 16 GB of storage? That's a make or break deal for a lot of youngsters! Here are simple ways you can manage and clear space on your phone: 

CHECK YOUR USAGE 

First thing first. Find out what's taking up the most space on your phone. You may have some unexpected storage hogs. Open the phone settings and navigate to `storage'.You'll see how much space you've used and how much you have available there. There will also be a list of all the apps that's downloaded to the phone and how much space it's using. 

BEWARE OF APPS' INTERNAL DOWNLOADS 

The numbers you see in `storage' include how much the app itself takes up, combined with the data inside it. Some apps are small by themselves but can store a lot of files. For example, the Spotify app is only a little over 56 MB, and the Soundcloud is just about 18 MB. But if you have a lot of music downloaded to your phone, the app takes up a ridiculous amount of space, and can even go up to 2 GB. You can tap any app icon to see the app size versus the downloads within it. 

within it.DELETE THOSE UNUSED GAMES 

Many gaming apps are small, but there are some that can take up more than 1 GB of space because of graphics. You may have some old games hidden on your phone that you've either finished or don't play anymore. Angry Birds?

Candy Crush? Go ahead and delete them. If you ever want to play them again, you can always redownload them. And if you want your previous score, then sync the game with an email account. 

USE CLOUD FOR STORING PHOTOS 

You might not want to take all your photos off your phone, and you don't have to. But you can save space by having your photo library back up automatically to a cloud storage system. You can link the pictures to your email ID; they don't even charge you for the service! All you have to do is download the app and select ` Auto Back-Up' in the app's `Settings'. Be sure to select to have it back up `Over Wi-Fi Only' so you aren't charged for data use. 

ONLY SAVE HDR PHOTOS 

If you have your photos automatically backed up and are deleting them, that should no longer be your space hog. But you may have noticed that your phone can store two images of the same photo -that's your phone using HDR (High Dynamic Range). This will happen if you have HDR on Auto or selected as always On. The camera setting is best for capturing images in low light or with shadows. If you choose to shoot in HDR, then you don't need to keep the normal photo as well. 

SET YOUR MESSAGES TO AUTOMATICALLY EXPIRE 

Almost all phone have this cool option where you can now automatically delete older messages. If you like going back through old messages, of course, ignore this hack. But do you really need those conversations after a year? This option is much easier than manually deleting old threads. Go to `Settings' in `Messages' and choose the `Delete old messages' option. 

REMOVE OLD SONGS AND VIDEOS 

All those old songs... are you really going to listen to them again? And those videos that you received on chats and downloaded from social media... they just occupy space. If you're insistent on saving your audios and videos, just buy a utility pendrive that can be connected to your phone! 

SIGN UP FOR A STREAMING MUSIC SERVICE 

The days of storing all your songs on your device are over. Download the albums you love, and stream the rest. 

Source | Times of India | 1 August 2015

10 TOP QUALITIES OF AN EFFECTIVE LEADER

There is definitely some truth in the proverb `Great leaders are born, not made'. The capability to lead is innate to an extent, but learning how to grow as an effective leader is a matter of grasping the fundamentals of leadership. Every organisation has a different vision, which comes with its own benchmarks for selection of the best leader(s). However, the qualities required by different organisations are not very different from each other on a broader level. An effective leader understands the different factors that a leadership position brings with it. Here's an allinclusive picture of the characteristics that a leader must absorb and develop. 

1. INTEGRITY 

This is key . Without your team's trust, you can't hope to achieve much.

2. A CLEAR VISION 

The vision for your business must be clear in your mind. It is also just as important that you communicate this vision effectively and convincingly to everyone else.

3. THE ABILITY TO DEVELOP THE NEXT STRING OF LEADERS 

Achieving the company's objectives requires people who will pick up work streams and run with them. Their success, in turn, depends on how effective they are as lead ers. Recognise your lieutenants' strengths and weaknesses, and grow them as leaders.

4. POSITIVITY 

A good leader brings positivity to work. No matter what, you need to keep your team motivated towards continued success, and keep their energy levels up.Appreciation for their effort, advice when they are in need, or consolation when they fail, are key ingredients in this context.

5. LISTENING SKILLS 

Communication is a twoway street. An open mind leads to richer ideas and solutions. As a leader, you take your game to another level when you take some time out to listen to the ideas of your team. You are never too experienced to learn.

6. AN UNDERSTANDING OF COMPROMISE 

Choosing a side is not as important as making an effort to understand both sides and finding common ground. As a leader, help your team to cross boundaries and not make more divisions.

7. INTERPERSONAL SKILLS 

Get personal. When you converse, think dialogue and not monologue. As you adopt a personal tone, the conversation with your team and peers will be more effective and engaging. This is the first step to develop trustworthy and transparent business relationships. People will always be more interested in how much you care than how much you know.

8. THE GUTS TO STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE 

Leadership begins the moment you make a conscious decision to step out of your comfort zone. As a leader, you might be expected to take on certain responsibilities. However, as an effective leader, you also need to take on the responsibility to inspire and motivate others to challenge institutional thinking and conventional practices. In this manner, you also end up creating opportunities for your team to learn and grow.

9. SELFASSESSMENT 

As a leader who is not afraid to grow, you will take stock of not only your personal strengths but also your shortcomings.The position of leadership is not the best you can achieve. The more you assess yourself, the more you grow. Effective lead ers bring such people onboard who complement rather than supplement their skill set. Paying attention to your areas of weakness will improve your leadership ability.

10. THE GRIT TO FUNCTION DESPITE ODDS 

As a leader, you would be required to function in an orderly manner in situations of uncertainty, without losing your sense of purpose.Your team looks to you during times of uncertainty for reassurance. When you deal with the situation with confidence, it rubs off on others as well.

Source | Times of India | 3 August 2015

Become a Cyber Warrior

There is a severe shortage of skilled cyber security professionals at a time when demand is booming.

     In this digital era, when the use of Internet has become indispensable, the threat of losing important data or personal facts to the hackers keeps hovering over the leading organisations. Recently, Sony Entertainment was a victim of a similar incident that cost the company millions of dollars. The hackers had leaked personal information such as salary details, emails, residential addresses and personal contacts of top Sony executives and actors. It was claimed that the hackers had illegally taken 100 terabytes of data from Sony. The company incurred a loss of $200 million because of the cyber-attack.

Such threats or risks have escalated the demand of cyber security professionals, to protect critical infrastructure in an organisation. Mostly, organisations, small or big, lack awareness about data security risks and fall victims to malware and other electronic threats like viruses, bugs, etc. Recent cyber-attacks have indicated that the annual cost of global crimes is around $100 billion, and by 2017, it will escalate up to $120.1 billion. As per a survey conducted by KPMG, out of total cyber-crimes, 58 per cent take place in financial sectors, followed by 11 per cent in infrastructure and communication and entertainment sector. Cyber-attacks in pharmaceuticals (3 per cent), government (8 per cent), Industrial market (3 per cent) and companies in other fields (5 per cent), make up 19 per cent of the figure. Notably, almost 50 per cent of all companies experience cyber-crime at least once a year, if not more. The need to strengthen security measures is even more important as there is an acute shortage of skilled professionals in the field of cyber security.

Growing demand

     Without skilled professionals, it is arduous to protect and manage data security. Today, cyber security professionals are the need of the hour. Moreover, there is a skill gap among many professionals who are in this field. According to a survey conducted by Information Systems Audit and Control Association’s (ISACA) global cyber-security status report and RSA Conference, it takes more than three months to recruit a skilled cyber-security professional in more than 50 per cent of organisations, and 10 per cent organisations are unable to fill this position at all. Therefore, this reflects a major concern — at a time when there is a tremendous increase in cyber-attacks globally, organisations are struggling to find skilled labour.

Shortage of skilled personnel is primarily due to the lack of appropriate academic programmes in the field of cyber-security. Courses are available, but the curriculum does not respond to the emerging trends and challenges. Besides, aspirants of the field must have general awareness about cyber threats and should be actively involved in cyber-communications to know the emerging challenges in the field.

Various courses

     The courses in cyber-security are diverse in nature as they cover all aspects of cyber-security including network security, computer security and information security. The most prominent subject areas include risk management, intrusion detection, penetration testing, access control, digital forensics, encryption, security governance and network security/computer security. A programme that a student opts for must focus on the business context with industry interface and learning so that he or she is hands-on with the work environment. For admission to a cyber security programme, reputed institutions prefer students with an information technology course-related background.

The cyber-world, which covers various dynamics of technology, ranges from fields such as telecommunications to computer forensics and provides opportunities for students with varied interests. Options are available to choose from the best and most suitable courses. There is no denying that courses in this field are of great use to the students as the graduates learn not only about protection of vital information but also ethics of the field.

Professional certifications are needed for entry or promotion in the field. Many reputed academic institutions across the globe are offering competitive graduate courses in cyber security, certified or supported by renowned IT companies, with a curriculum heavily focused on experiential learning. Hence, an aspirant must be astute enough to look for the right course in the right institution.

Role and prospects

     A cyber-security professional is responsible for safeguarding a corporation’s most priceless information assets. The foremost attribute that a cyber security professional must possess is ‘integrity,’ for any organisation of repute seeks professionals whom they can completely rely upon, for securing their database.

An aspirant can have a technical managerial role in IT firms because data breaches at large corporations have become very common. As a cyber-security analyst, he can help prevent attacks with his expertise and sound knowledge of networks, firewalls and encryption. Such professionals are typically accountable for identifying security weaknesses and devising solutions for security of hardware and software. Government and military organisations such as intelligence agency communications are always in need of skilled cyber-security professionals. There is a big demand for such professionals in E-Commerce technology firms too, which are frequently plagued by cyber-attacks, apart from demand in retail/wholesale and healthcare industries. Also, cyber-security professionals are known to be the most sought-after professionals in the technology sector, today.

The writer is Assistant Vice President, International Programmes, Missouri State University, U.S.

Keep Your Documents Safe, Digitally

After Private Providers, The Government Too Is Offering Digital Locker Services

 

     Storing hard copies and keeping records of all your financial docu ments is not only cumbersome but also unsafe. There is always a risk of loss or physical damage. It is thus safer to dematerialise. However, just going paperless is also not enough. It is important that you organise all your important papers at one place. In emergencies, it becomes easier for your family to access all documents quickly . With e-vaults and free cloud storage, this task has become easier. The government too recently launched a free digital vault service, DigiLocker, which lets you store such sensitive data safely .

     Still in its beta phase, DigiLockers can help you consolidate all your important papers at one place. You need to have an Aadhaar card that is linked to your cell number to open an account. Around 1.52 lakh people have already registered for this.Madhya Pradesh leads the count with 28,317 registrations, followed by Uttar Pradesh (20,771) and Maharashtra (17,601). In Delhi, so far, 5,894 have registered for the facility .

How it works 

     To open an account you'll have to enter your UID number. The system will send a onetime password (OTP) to your registered mobile number and email ID to validate your identity . Once registered, you can start uploading documents under the `My certificates' section (see box).

You can upload scanned copies, which, if required, can be digitally signed. The locker is also a repository of all your government issued e-documents. These e-documents are uploaded by issuers, government departments or agencies such as CBSE, registrar's office, income tax department, etc., in a standard XML format that is compliant with digital locker technical specifications. Right now, you'll only get 10MB of space, which will be later increased to 1GB.

     While the documents you upload can be shared via email, the e-documents from governments agencies can be viewed by an authorised list of requestors such as a bank, university , the passport office or the transport department. You can also digitally sign these documents using the eSign option. 

Many options

     Private e-locker services have been around for some time now. ICICI Bank has an elocker service which allows customers to log in through their internet banking or ICICI Direct account. Then there are private businesses like Kleeto.in that provide secure online storage for a fee ranging from `200 to `2,000. For a basic yearly subscription package of `200, Kleeto will securely store 15 documents of five pages each and an online storage capacity of up to 50MB. They will pick up, scan, upload and keep the papers safe. In case you need the originals, it will be sent to you within two or three days.A drawback of DigiLocker is it doesn't let you compartmentalise documents. The private services lets you create folders and categorise to make browsing easy . However, cyber laws and jurisdiction remain areas of concern.

Data security

     The government has ensured that your documents are safe from hackers. The OTP that unlocks your DigiLocker account gets erased immediately after use. “The government's locker is more secure primarily because the data gets stored within India and you are protected under the Information Technology Act, 2000. If you store anything in DropBox or Google Drive, you are governed by US regulations,“ says Sivarama Krishnan, Director, Risk Advisory, PwC India. The account and related data being linked to the Aadhaar card gives it additional protection. “There is an ability to uniquely identify who is accessing the account and what is being accessed,“ adds Krishnan.

Uploading Documents to your Digital Locker (Info graphic)

 

Source | Times of India | 29 June 2015

Google Drive Tips and Tricks

Not just another cloud storage service, it also offers a host of other functions 

Have you ever taken Google Drive for a spin? Other than being part file-syncing and cloud storage service and part office productivity suite, it also offers some neat collaborative editing functions. The office suite primarily comprises Docs (word processing), Sheets (spreadsheets), and Slides (presentations). Then, besides Drawings, Forms and Google My Maps, you can connect scores of third party apps to Drive as well. (You’ll find these under New > More > Connect more apps.) Drive offers 15GB of free cloud storage, compatibility with popular file formats (including Microsoft Office), and built-in OCR (optical character recognition) technology. If you’re well versed with this, use these tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your Drive.

Across devices and offline too

You can use Google Drive on your PC/Mac, tablet, or smartphone (or all three) and keep your files synced and accessible on each device. You’ll find the appropriate versions at http://bit.ly/gogdrive. You don’t need to be connected to the Internet to use Drive. However, to activate offline use you need to be online to download files initially.

 

On a desktop, launch Chrome (the browser is a prerequisite), click on the Gear icon, open “Settings” and check the box next to “Offline”. Since smartphones and tablets have limited storage, you need to download the files you need individually. While the device is connected to the Internet, go to the file you need accessible offline and press the grey “i” next to it. In the resultant panel go to “keep on device” and switch “off” to “on” to download the file. Now while this will make the files viewable on mobile devices, to edit them you need the Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps separately from Android and iOS app stores. 

Save directly from Web to Google drive

Maybe you know this or maybe you don’t, but extensions are bits of code that add unifunctional superpowers to web browsers beefing up their feature set. Easy to install, extensions let you to personalise and customise a browser as per your needs. An extension called "Save to Google Drive" for Chrome allows you add documents, images, links, and HTML5 audio and video files to directly to Google Drive--thereby saving a lot of back-and-forth effort. To install it, click on “Settings” in Chrome and select “Extensions”. Scroll to the bottom of the webpage and and click on “Get more extensions”. In the Search box on the top left, type “Save to Google Drive” to locate the extension and then click on “+ Add to Chrome” to install it. Next time you want to save some web content to Drive, right-click on the item and select "Save to Google Drive." 

Converting images to text

Google Drive has OCR prowess built right into it. If you want to convert text on an image (JPG, GIF or PNG) or in a PDF into editable document text, it will do it for you. All you need to do is upload the relevant files and let Drive’s algorithms do their job. Obviously, higher resolution, sharper images with a good contrast will fetch better results. And remember to keep the images oriented correctly, not at right angles or upside down. Caveats? The files should not be more than 2MB and only the first 10 pages of a PDF are culled for text conversion. So, a 100-page PDF will have to be broken up and fed piecemeal.

Track previous file versions

Google Drive saves 30 days worth of versions of a document, presentation, slideshow, or drawing so you can go back to previous edits. This is very useful if you are working on a file collaboratively with other people. All you need to do is, click on “file” and then “see revisions history”. Here, select the timestamp of version you want to go to it. In case of a collaborative edit, you’ll find the names of the persons who’ve worked on it along with an assigned colour code .

Keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are great timesavers. And Google Drive packs loads of these. Click on the Gear icon on Drive’s main screen and select “Keyboard shortcuts” from the dropdown while you’re online to behold ‘em. You can also pop up this list by hitting “Ctrl” and “/” in Windows and “⌘” and “/” on Macs. The prime shortcuts to remember are:

/ = Search Drive

Shift + t = Create new document

Shift + s = Create new spreadsheet

 

Shift + p = Create new presentation

Shift + f = Create new folder

n = Rename selected item

. (dot) = Share selected items

z = Move selected items to new folder

Shift + z = Add selected items to existing folder zz

 

Source | http://www.mydigitalfc.com/

5 WAYS TO - Build a Job Search Plan

If you're on sabbatical and looking to get back to work, having a plan of action is essential.

Brinda Dasgupta helps you go about charting an optimal search plan.

1 Introspect 

Take a good look at your skills and knowledge. Think about what place you would like to join, and how your talents can be best used, said SV Nathan, senior director and chief talent officer, Deloitte in India.

2 Allocate Time

Setting aside a fixed number of hours in a day to actively search for work opportunities is important. “Use a specific time of day, preferably in the first half, to scout for leads, think of corporate contacts and head hunters, and follow up relentlessly,“ said Rajiv Burman, managing partner at Lighthouse Partners.

3 Set A Deadline

Deciding by when you want to be employed is crucial. “A time line of roughly 100 days should suffice in most cases. Use the first 20 days for research and sending out applications. Allow companies to get back in the remaining time,“ said Nathan.

4 Use Resources

With recruiters actively using social media, you should not be left behind. “Use professional networks effectively, and register on job sites for regular updates. Attend networking events,“ said Nilay Khandelwal, regional director, Michael Page India.

5 Update Skills

Being out of a job doesn't mean you can afford to let your work skills go stale. “Identify a new skill even a new language which you would like to develop, and work on it,“ said Burman.

 

Source | Economic TImes | 3 July 2015

Five key leadership lessons I learnt early : Prabir Jha, Presidents and CHRO, Reliance Industries By Prabir Jha

I was then a freshly-minted civil services probationer, years before I studied theories of leadership and organisational behaviourat a top business school. But in those very early years, I discovered wonderful human resource insights that are simple but powerful lessons in leadership. They shaped a lot of me in my journey through a variety of industries and operating contexts. Maybe these five lessons - key elements in anyone's leadership evolution - will help us to at least pause and reflect. 

Stay close to your team, not your high office

All of 23, I remember going on my brand new red cycle to a subordinate office every morning. A round of hellos and personal enquiries with my staff, many of them decades older, brought firm handshakes and smiles. They were not used to a senior officer coming to them, clearing files at their tables, with them. My bosses were amused and perplexed. I knew my team better, understood what was happening in their lives and learnt from their wisdom. It was quicker, more inclusive, and built my early reputation as a leader of men and women. They delivered for me in full, even when I rarely had a typical reward carrot of the corporate kind with me. 

Look to compliment at least one person every day

This was something my boss noticed in me and pointed out. I was thrilled no doubt but also became conscious in what I now call, 'positive psychology'. I see so many leaders yell at and rebuke their teams. And I know that raising voices is not needed. What a few kind words can do, no fear can secure. You always will have many things that will go wrong. We must correct them. But let us look for that one thing that went well and not assume praise will build complacency.

You are there to take a decision. Take it

I hated seeing files in my 'in' tray and would ensure all were settled before I left for the day. One day someone asked me why I always make my decision or recommendation so quickly. My belief was nothing is dramatically going to change by the next morning. And a bad decision can always be reversed. But what do you do with a stuck decision? I also realised that you must delegate well, trust the right people and not micro-manage. Otherwise, there will be no time to do what you are supposed to focus on.

Be high on candour and honesty

As a young officer, I did see a lot of my senior officers not disagreeing with their bosses. I, however, also saw they were not necessarily respected by the larger team for that. They were holding back more for political expediency than a better administrative decision. One could be polite but not feel shy of airing a point of view.

I did have a few difficult experiences too but overall learnt that an honest speak-up is a better career builder than being a pure survivor. I have had senior bosses call me weeks later to say they valued my input, even if then they found it contrarian then. The same has largely played out true in the many years since.

Build your people

I had no formal input on HR then. But intuitively I knew one must give credit to whoever has done the work. I recall taking some outstanding staff to give them visibility to senior officers. Some may have even found me not confident. But to me it was building greater significance and exposure for people who otherwise would have thought they were mere file pushers. 

A lot of good work is done by people down the hierarchy. If only we could build them better, we could all have high-performing organisations. Life has moved on. Contexts have changed. The challenges of leadership have multiplied. Every leader is under greater pressure. But my early lessons have remained relevant. As one of my civil service bosses had told me years back, "Remember you finally have to earn your right to be a leader of men (and women) beyond your success at the UPSC (public service) examinations". 

(The writer is president and CHRO, Reliance Industries)

Source | Economic Times | 3 March 2015