What Are 2018’s Top Eight Legal Apps?

by Felicien | Sep 17, 2018 | Education

As software and digital applications (Apps) continue to be developed, Internet Technology (IT) is embraced by a variety of fields that have hitherto ignored it. In law firms across the country, the old ways have been honored as traditional, respectable, and perhaps even better than modern methods. Increasingly, IT has caught up.

Digital platforms make communication and collaboration easier than ever. Accounting and billing take less time. Calendars and documents are efficiently recorded and filed. They are also easily retrieved. Sometimes, choosing the right system for your law practice is the most difficult part. Presented alphabetically, not in order of rating, here are eight of the top legal apps available in 2018.
Actionstep
In addition to law firms, Actionstep is suitable for use in government and corporate legal teams, as well as investigations and compliance groups. It boasts features that assist firms in running every aspect of the business.
The built-in workflow engine, however, enables firms to automate documents, emails, and other processes. This creates a more efficient business. Although it is reputedly the most complicated element of the software, it is the one that makes the $60 dollar a month fee worthwhile. Fortunately, there is a free trial and a free demo that attorneys can enjoy before committing.
Bill4Time
Offering flexible integration with existing management products, Bill4Time accurately tracks time anywhere from any device. The billing and invoicing features include the following:

Billing portal
Contact database
Contingency billing
Customizable invoices
Hourly billing
Online invoicing and payments
Payment processing
Tax calculations

This app offers a free 14-day trial before committing. It is ideal for companies that prefer the versatility of both cloud and mobile access.
CASEPeer
CASEpeer is case-management software designed primarily for Personal Injury Attorneys. It features campaign tracking, customizable case plans, case organization, and task management. Additionally, it provides superior document management, intake management, an integrated calendar, letter generator, as well as litigation and settlement tools. It also keeps track of data points.
A little more expensive at $55 dollars per month, CASEPeer also offers a free demo and online support.
Clio
This software provides a variety of intuitive functions. Its billing features include account tracking, document management, and expenditure tracking. It offers case and client history and management, as well as conflict resolution. Clio also boasts document indexing, archiving, and retention.
Since it is cloud-based, attorneys are able to work on their cases anywhere. The monthly rate is $39 dollars, and Clio even offers a free seven-day trial or demonstration.
Law Ruler Software
Popular with law firms of all sizes, Law Ruler focuses on the case and client history and management. Some of its unique features include:

Automated phone dialer
Drip marketing
Easy-to-use reporting
One-click “send referral” feature
Order medical records
Send text E-signs
A drag-and-drop editor that helps firms build an unlimited amount of intake and case forms

Taking advantage of the free trial allows attorneys to test Law Ruler to see if it is a fit for their firm.
MyCase
Ideal for small law firms, MyCase offers easy-to-use management software. Among other things, this software features a secure client communication portal. It also provides assistance with billable and non-billable hours, mobile time tracking, case management, document management, task management, and court records searches.
It accounts for multiple billing rates and has a simple calendar management system, complete with programmable reminders. MyCase offers monthly and annually-billed rates.
Practice Panther Legal Software
For a low rate of $39 dollars per month, Practice Panther Legal Software manages the billing and invoicing. It handles the case and client management and history of solo practitioners, as well as small and medium-sized firms.
Other aspects Practice Panther manages include the following:

Calendar
Contacts
Contracts
Documents
Email messages
Records
Tasks
Time tracking

This software also provides a client portal. It offers online support and a free demo, as well.
Zola Suite
With an intuitive and fast interface, Zola integrates with LawPay, Quickbooks, and RPost. It is cloud-based, but is also accessible through native iOS and Android Apps. Although it offers most of the features that other products supply, this software boasts its built-in email and robust business and trust accounting aspects. These include accrual accounting, activity tracking, asset gain and loss reporting, check writing, cross ledger posting, and tax management.
Zola is a bit pricier at $49 dollars per month for attorneys and $58 dollars per month for support staff. It does, however offer a free trial.
In Conclusion
Choosing the right software for your law firm does not have to be complicated. Begin by determining what features would streamline your process the most. Decide on a reasonable budget. Select from the top legal apps that meet your criteria and price point. Then, take advantage of the free trials and demos of each product. This way, you can invest your time and money in the technology that will provide the most benefit for your firm.
 

Put Down Those Tablets! Special Considerations for Independent Schools’ EdTech Plans

by Felicien | Sep 14, 2018 | Education

Independent schools have a prime opportunity to increase enrollment right now. Trust in government agencies is mixed to low, and the importance of individualism is trending upwards past even science in some areas. While that trend might give all educators a tight feeling in pro-vaccination chests, the crisis of identity is leading more families to look for non-public school options.
You’re going to have to look for solutions, because you are independent and not as “lucrative” to edtech companies. You will also have to get creative because you may not get the big breaks that a large district can (discounts for larger orders, for example).
Competition
On the flip side, there are more options now, too. For the last two decades public schools have had to compete not only with private and parochial schools, but as the newcomer.
Moreover, there’s been a jump in homeschooling. Homeschooling was once the last resort of the fringe religious sect. It was also utilized for incapacitated students unable to thrive in a normal school setting. Today, homeschooling is quite popular with many parents.
In a recent study reported in nheri.org, the growth of homeschooling looks like a threatening storm:

Graph originally from “Homeschooling Growing: Multiple Data Points Show Increase 2012 to 2016 and Later”
April 20, 2018 by Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.
With the push and pull between individual rights to choose how a child is educated and the state’s need to have well-educated, prepared future citizens, Independent schools have an opportunity. To not see the great opportunity growing out of the public’s distrust of the public school system would be a mistake. When developing a technology plan, competitiveness must be of the highest priority, just after efficacy.
Money/tuition
Obviously one of the biggest roadblocks in the era of stagnant wages and uncertain fiscal futures is the tuition barrier. As the gap between the haves and have-nots widens, independent schools must find ways to reach good students whose families can’t afford to pay out the usual tuition.
The evidence of this mistrust is clear in the rise of homeschool and online school students. The barriers to private or religious education may well only be financial. Charters and schools of choice have been a bit of a stop-gap but still have not solved the issues that parents wish to see resolved. If parents have an opportunity to get their kids into a school that they have chosen, many more would do so.
At the same time, since there is that cost issue, there is stiff competition for independent schools, as well as a leeriness of parents to trust a school that is not being monitored closely – if at all – by the government. Since the standards set up for public schools do not automatically apply to independent schools, some parents can feel wary of them, thinking that the teachers may not be as well-prepared to teach.
Along with that is the old idea of the stuffy private school a la School Ties or Dead Poets Society. The idea is that parents are somehow disloyal to their neighborhoods by not having their kids in public school. Although parents enrolling their children in religious schools ostensibly get a pass, as it is a religious matter in this case, there are still negative connotations to getting your kids into private school. As such, there are a mountain of obstacles that private schools must overcome in order to be appealing to the middle and upper class in America.
You must make yourselves competitive. Educational Technology can help, but only if it is planned wisely and thoughtfully and remains within your mission.
Accessibility
Even if you don’t think that your students need accessible websites, their parents, guardians, and other people invested in their well-being may. Someone may want to check the basketball schedule. A potential new family may want to learn more about your school. There are lots of benefits to having a great website that can be read and understood regardless of sightedness, hearing levels, or mobility.
Moreover, to not do something simply because as an independent school you are not required by law to make certain adjustments is admitting that you are willing to do the bare minimum to get by. Why would parents wish to pay out of pocket for the bare minimum? Doing the right thing here will sharpen your competitive edge. Plus, there are lots of stakeholders who need accessibility adjustments in order to read your website. It’s just good business sense.
Look for edtech that will:

Streamline your accounting, assessment, reporting, marketing, communications, and other processes.
Are single sign-ons so that students and employees can access all of their digital tools with a single password and username combination.
Are relatively simple to use, learn, execute, update and (if necessary) install.
Lean towards web-based, cloud based stuff, like Microsoft Office 365 for Education (which as an added bonus is FREE!).
Look for free or low-cost stuff – there is so much of it.
Research to see what others are doing with this. Places like EdShelf can help.

Questions to Ask
What do your teachers and staff think they need? Survey the troops so you can understand what’s happening on the ground plus get an idea of the time commitment that new technology training might entail.
Where is digitization CRUCIAL?
Do you need more actual space in the building? Are the paper reports that you’re using inefficient?
Is this a want or a need?
Learn to know the difference. One way to prioritize is to imagine what would happen if you didn’t upgrade or replace the technology that you currently have, or if you invested in the iPads. What happens next? Do things fall apart if you don’t improve your school’s network capabilities? Does literacy automatically improve when you buy tablets? This thought experiment also shows you what needs to accompany the new technology in order for it to be beneficial.
How does this fit in with our school’s overall mission?
Your mission is the heart and soul of your school and everything that you plan should grow out from that central philosophy. Don’t lose your identity in the rush to be competitive.
Always Remember
Empower and support educators. Don’t pick something too complicated or time-consuming to use. Also, allow some leeway. Maybe budget a bit of discretionary funding and allow departments to choose a few software programs that will be especially helpful for their area. You must remain a competitive employer, too, if you are going to be able to compete against large public districts with contracts, unions, better benefits, and higher pay.
Teachers are what make a school work properly. The best thing to do is have continuity from year-to-year by having the familiar faces of competent, happy teachers. Educators already burn out pretty quickly, but they leave independent schools more readily than public schools. Remember to treat them well and reflect on how new technology will affect them.

What Should I Know About Hashcat?

by Felicien | Sep 14, 2018 | Education

What is Hashcat?
Hashcat is a type of hacking tool, and a password cracker specifically. It was created to be able to hack the most complex of passwords, targeting multiple aspects of coding simultaneously. Additionally, according to online sources including Infosec Institute, it is regarded as being highly versatile and fast in comparison to other password hacking tools, making it especially threatening.

Hashcat is capable of reverse engineering information and converting readable information into scrambled coding, which is used to crack password representations. The program can use ‘brute force’ in direct cracking, apply preconfigured dictionaries, or use rainbow tables in user attempts to gain access to sensitive information.
What’s Been Happening in Current Events?
Hashcat can currently be used to obtain passwords through multiple processes, and can be downloaded online, alongside reader access to user-friendly guides explaining step-by-step how to use the program to bypass security features. Unfortunately, this extent of general accessibility is not uncommon for modern hacking tools, and it is therefore regarded as an added vulnerability. The program can be used on Kali Linux, a version of Linux with hundreds of unique information security tools.
The current version of the program is regarded as advanced with potential for further development. It can be run across the range of common operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and OSX, and is multi-hashed, multi-threaded, and multi-algorithm (including MySQL, DCC, MD4-5, and NTLM) based. Specialized rules can be used to extend the attack mode features, hackers can limit or resume sessions created, and the program recognizes hashes recovered from its out-file upon its startup.
An external file stores a list that can be used in force attacks, and users can configure the number of threads before executing them according to their lowest priority. The program supports hex-salt in addition to hex-charset files, and over 90 algorithms can currently be implemented in an attempt to optimize performance.
Online sources such as Help Net Security provide users with steps in using the programs for attacks. For example, Hashcat can be used to hack a user’s password through a dictionary attack by first creating a dictionary with MBD5 hashes, followed by a frame capture and file dumping for targeted information storage and future access. Only a single frame may be necessary for a successful hack. Unlike other approaches, the success of Hashcat in acquiring a pre-shared key (PSK) on average may involve only a hacker’s application of its features over the course of minutes or days, thereby making it more dangerous. The versatility and options of the program provide hackers with substantial potential.
As with other recent developments in hacking and successes in hacking approaches, Hashcat increases the demand for formal and effective security protocol development as has been done through WPA3 network security protocol. WPA3 has only recently been released in its earliest form, and provides an improvement over fundamental weaknesses in WPA2 security that Hashcat is able to exploit. Online sources including Security Affairs report that experts expect WPA3 protocol to have a major role in safeguarding against Hashcat potentials in the near future.
The Robust Secure Network Information Element (RSN IE) will be considered fundamental and important in ongoing security improvements. Hashcat is currently able to target this directly, rather than using a previous hacker approach of establishing connectivity through network port authentication protocol, and exploiting vulnerabilities in the Pairwise Master Key Identifier (PMKID). These PMKID vulnerabilities are targeted in WPA3 developments and other attempts to improve network safety on a less fundamental level.
The RSN was initially created to secure 802.11 wireless networks, being an element of the 802.11i standard, but broadcasts an internal message during attempts to establish channel communications that have been exploited. Hackers can thereby access WPA PSKs from the PMKID under the current design with common protections. New WPA3 employs a Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) that is an improved protocol for modern key establishment, resulting in a system that is much harder to attack through current common processes.
What Has Been Happening in Research and Development?
In addition to WPA3, other attempts to improve security effectiveness and efficiency have targeted vulnerabilities exploited by Hashcat, although some efforts have involved benefits from its use.
The Fundamentals of Digital Forensics journal reported that forensic analysts have been able to make use of the program in recent data recovery efforts, as Hashcat has been used by forensics experts to decrypt certain files. Meanwhile, researchers at the Technical University of Denmark reported that the program’s foundational basis of a machine learning model serve as a reference point for both forensic decryption and improved security efforts.
What’s The Bottom Line?
Hashcat:

Is among the most effective hacking programs developed to date
Can be highly useful to digital forensic analysts and used for positive outcomes rather than hacking
Can exploit WPA2 vulnerabilities
Creates further demand for WPA3 implementation

What Can Healthcare Providers Do To Make Cloud Adoption Easier?

by Felicien | Sep 14, 2018 | Education

Microsoft’s Azure cloud service recently suffered a major disruption at one of its data centers in Texas. A truly epic lightning storm caused even the backup generators to go offline. Every time the center struggled back to a semblance of normal operations, another round of thunderbolts blew through and the center was offline again. It took about eight hours to fully restore service to the affected clients.

Cloud opponents will point to this and say that this proves the cloud is unreliable; no hospital can afford eight hours down. And Microsoft would rightly reply that, had those clients who were affected chosen to set up a redundant site in another region, their workload would have been seamlessly shifted over to a center out of harm’s way.
Microsoft would also note that eight hours a year of downtime is a miraculous figure compared to some hospitals that operate their own data centers. Virtually all of us have had the experience of having a health care provider tell us that they couldn’t do this or that because “the computers are down.”
What’s Coming in Cloud 2.0?
While some providers are waffling over whether to move anything to the cloud and if so, what, others are racing to get ahead of the coming tsunami of artificial intelligence (AI) products that are in the pipeline. Remember that Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are all working in collaboration to make medical records more uniform and permit rapid data exchange, where there is effectively “one patient, one chart,” no matter how many providers the patient sees.
This obvious step forward fills many providers with dread. Michael Robinson, the Vice President for healthcare at VMware, a Dell subsidiary, puts it like this: “A huge barrier to cloud adoption is that healthcare organizations want to run their own private environments and do not trust public cloud providers to secure their data.” (Robinson 2018.)
The consulting firm McKinsey sees a major divide coming between firms that adopt AI and those that don’t – to the great detriment of the latter (MIT Interview). The leaders will be so far ahead of the pack that the stragglers will never catch up.
What Is The Value Added?
AI will offer an enormous basket of goodies in the next five years. Virtual agents will enable replacing a lot of the legwork that providers’ employees do. But the big payoff for organizations in the near term will be in the realm of analysis. Data analysis becomes ever more important for all organizations.
Deep learning and similar techniques have been derided as “curve fitting,” but the point is that they are not only fitting lines to the curves, they are finding curves that no one suspected was there. And a lot of the patterns being discovered have to do with money. Hospitals often have no idea what they charge for a given procedure and why they are charging that amount. The prices are usually set in negotiations between payers and providers. AI can discover the real cost of procedures and show what is being overcharged and what is being undercharged. The latter, obviously, are revenue opportunities.
Of course, doing this kind of analytical work involves de-siloing financial and clinical data and making all of it available in one large data lake. Some level of data cleaning is a necessity. CMS, for example, spent over a billion dollars a year cleaning up Medicare and Medicaid data before doing analyses. You will not have to spend a billion, but you would be well-advised to spend something. It is also important to have good consultants to assist in the de-siloing and that data lake creation. Time spent on the front end will save a lot of frustration on the back end.
The value added will be understanding what’s going on in your organization at the deepest levels. Comprehension of this type enables rational actions towards critical business goals. Of course, if your organization has no goals that are stated in quantitative terms, then the analysis is of no use to you. If, on the other hand, you know what “good care” is in terms of costs, infection rates, lengths of stay, morbidity and mortality, and other operational parameters, you will be ahead of the game.
What Are The Risks Of Non-Adoption?
You can choose not to adopt the coming AI revolution. The risk you run there is being eclipsed by your competition, who will be enjoying the fruits of better, faster operations, and lowered personnel costs. You could find yourself in a negative business position from which you cannot recover.
For most healthcare organizations, the biggest worries are security, compliance, and privacy but the paradox here is that the security that cloud providers can give you is far better than you can provide for yourself. You may also fear the loss of control. Again, cloud providers will generally provide whatever level of security you ask for. You can ask for a private cloud and get utmost security there. If you take that direction, you lose the opportunity to reduce your IT staff, but that may be a price you are willing to pay.
In summary, the risks of not moving to cloud 2.0 are infinitesimal compared to the benefits. It’s a move you’ll eventually have to make so why not take the plunge now?

How Can I Optimize My Wi-Fi?

by Felicien | Sep 13, 2018 | Education

With a range of technology continuing to encompass upgrades and versions improving on previous ones, there are constantly new ways for people to improve their Wi-Fi speed. Considering the most recent developments, the below provides instructions for minimizing obstacles to your connection speed while optimizing it as much as possible.
Watch this great video from Steve Dotto below.
 
How Can I Use A Speed Test For Optimization?
Speed tests can be helpful to locate problems and potential in your Wi-Fi network. The two most fundamentally concerning or relevant aspects of your connection are the speeds by which it can upload or download data. This can affect aspects of your operations including:

How quickly you can send large files in your business
How quickly manual or automatic updates take to download
Media and a range of aspects of web browser speeds
Computer, internet of things (IoT) devices, and cloud file transfers
File attachments in emails
Sending live video streams
Uploading media such as images

Running a speed test allows you to view measurements of the ping, or the effective response time of the Wi-Fi connection, which is measured in milliseconds. Users naturally want to have a low number for their measurement. Many free speed tests are available online, such as Speedtest.net recommended by LinkSys, created and maintained by OOKLA, an online metrics business. The test offered through their organization has over eight billion tests of experience, and functions by using sample uploads and downloads analyzed through their program.
Before starting a test, users are recommended to ensure that their connection is maintained in a normal manner so that the reading is accurate. For example, if multiple family members are using hotspots, streaming, using online gaming, using downloads, etc., it is recommended that the user wait until the use of service ends so that ideal testing conditions are established. Additionally, users are recommended to ensure their router or routers are not obstructed in some way.
After testing, if you are not satisfied with the results, you can take some actions in an attempt to make improvements. You could also consider upgrading your router or changing Wi-Fi providers. Purchasing a superior router can also give you better security as you browse. Some users, especially those in large offices or homes use a range extender to improve performance.
Other options include resetting your router, then retesting to ensure that the low speed observed wasn’t simply random or a ‘fluke.’ Next, you can attempt to transfer your router or routers to a more open area of your building to be sure that electronics or building materials weren’t responsible for a reduced signal strength causing the speed drop.
Beyond this, check to see if your modem is outdated. If you have a dual-band router, you can enter into its settings to see if you can increase a common 2.4 GHz frequency set to a 5 GHz one, which will reduce signal congestion. Lastly, you can compare your ethernet to your Wi-Fi connection with an ethernet cable to determine the extent that your speeds are due to your internet service provider (ISP) or a device. Your ISP may not actually be providing the speeds that they advertise. If you determine that the ISP is the culprit here, contact them and explain that you’ve checked to make sure that your slow speeds are not due to any other thing and insist on them taking action on their end.
In addition to the link provided above, NetSpot recommends users consider their speed app or one of four others listed on their website: Wifiner, Network Speed Test, LAN Speed Test, or Google Speed Test. Click the link for details regarding these tests and other relevant information.
How Can I Begin To Take Steps To Increase Robustness And Reliability?
Beyond the basic steps listed here, you can begin to take more involved steps to optimize your connection. Firstly, you can update the firmware of your router. There may be a new version that has been created since your last install. Firmware updates are important because they involve better security or other speed related upgrades that can improve your service. The administration page of your router’s firmware generally has access to this.
In addition to building material interference and excessive use bogging, you may be experiencing interference from other devices you use. Home telephones, Bluetooth speakers, microwaves, baby monitors, and other devices, according to USA Today, can affect a Wi-Fi network. Creating a ‘heat’ map of potential issues using an application such as HeatMapper could assist you with finding them. You can also attempt to change the channel you established for your router, or use network settings and rules to limit the bandwidth or accessibility of other users to reduce their capacity to affect your speed.
The Quality of Service (QoS) feature available in some routers can also potentially help, as it allows users to prioritize their traffic in accordance to the nature of the information that is transferred in the process. Applications that are sensitive to latency, such as Skype, streamed media, and online games can have higher prioritization than other types of activity; this can be addressed for better results in practical use.
How Can I Further Optimize My Router?
Beyond changing the settings and updating the firmware, you can upgrade. If you navigate to the settings feature of your existing firmware, you should be able to enter into “Advanced Settings” and access channels. Changing the channel to a ‘clear’ one that no one else is using can help. LifeWire has more channel-related recommendations.
How Can I Use A Powerline Or Wi-Fi Signal Strength Increaser?
Wi-Fi extenders, which are devices made specifically for the purpose of improving your wireless power, can also be a worthwhile investment. According to TechRadar, such devices have been increasingly useful in helping people experience greater improvements to their network capacities. Relatively inexpensive, they significantly increase coverage without the extent of installation or restructuring required in implementing new network cables. The most effective use of them is their placement in areas where the signal in the network has been observed as weak. Specific devices that TechRadar recommends for this use include:

Netgear’s AC1200 EX6150 and EX6200 models
D-Link’s DAP-1520 Dual Band Range Extender model
TP-Link’s RE350 AC1200 model
Linksys’ RE6500 AC1200 and Velop models
D-Link’s DAP-1320 N300 and DAP-1650 AC1200 models
Trendnet’s 1200 AV2 model

How Can I Make The Most Of The Netgear Genie Program?
Netgear Genie is a desktop application program that can be configured to manage home routers for the purposes of:

Network speed tests
Live parent controls
SSID and password changes
Guest network controls
Viewing a connected device map

Most of these help users do what has already been discussed here more easily. The network map feature shows when connections are problematic.
What Should I Do?
Use these recommendations as a basic guideline. While you may not need to upgrade your hardware or even your software, it’s likely that you can take some action to increase your Wi-Fi performance.