7 Things You Need To Know About The Digital Services Act (DSA)

The Digital Services Act will impact every social network, search engine, and online marketplace that does business in the EU. It aims to protect internet users by establishing an “unprecedented new standard” for online platforms that will see companies such as Google, Meta (Facebook), and Twitter held accountable for illegal and harmful content. What’s more, the DSA will force online platforms to share how their algorithms work, put processes in place to remove illegal goods and content quickly, and crack down on users who spread misinformation.

Just what is the Digital Services Act, when does it come into effect, and what does it mean for platforms and the people who use them – including digital marketers? Keep reading to find out:

  1. What Is The Digital Services Act?
  2. When Does The DSA Take Effect?
  3. Which Online Platforms Will Need To Comply?
  4. Okay, But What Does The DSA Actually Do?
  5. What Are Digital Services Companies Required To Do?
  6. So What’s This About Algorithms?

Clear and to the point Excel reference and learning resources

If you use Excel in your business setup as much as I do but have trouble remembering its many functions or formulas (yes, even if you use them often!), Exceljet is going to save you a lot of time. Each piece of reference comes with multiple examples and cross-reference that will get you exactly where you need to go.

There are also free blog articles, training videos, and premium training courses if you want to further your Excel knowledge. Dave and Lisa Bruns did a great job with this website!

WordPress 5.8.3 Security and Maintenance Release

WordPress 5.8.3 is now available!

Four security issues affect WordPress versions between 3.7 and 5.8. If you haven’t yet updated to 5.8, all WordPress versions since 3.7 have also been updated to fix the following security issue (except where noted otherwise):

  • an issue with stored XSS through post slugs
  • an issue with Object injection in some multisite installations
  • an SQL injection vulnerability in WP_Query.
  • an SQL injection vulnerability in WP_Meta_Query (only relevant to versions 4.1-5.8).

WordPress.org already started automatic background updates that do not require you to do anything, but it may take some time for them to get to your website. If it does not update automatically, either do it yourself (and don’t forget to make a full backup first!) or contact Dusk Owl for help.

WordPress 5.8.2 Security and Maintenance Release

WordPress 5.8.2 is now available!

This security and maintenance release features 2 bug fixes in addition to 1 security fix. Because this is a security release, it is recommended that you update your sites immediately. All versions since WordPress 5.2 have also been updated.

WordPress 5.8.2 is a small focus security and maintenance release. The next major release will be version 5.9.

WordPress.org already started automatic background updates that do not require you to do anything, but it may take some time for them to get to your website. If it does not update automatically, either do it yourself (and don’t forget to make a full backup first!) or contact Dusk Owl for help.

WordPress 5.8.1 Security and Maintenance Release

WordPress 5.8.1 is now available!

This security and maintenance release features 60 bug fixes in addition to 3 security fixes. Because this is a security release, it is recommended that you update your sites immediately. All versions since WordPress 5.4 have also been updated.

WordPress.org already started automatic background updates that do not require you to do anything, but it may take some time for them to get to your website. If it does not update automatically, either do it yourself (and don’t forget to make a full backup first!) or contact Dusk Owl for help.

What Are the Security Risks Associated with Face-Altering App Voilà AI Artist?

Are there data security risks associated with the face-altering app Voilà AI Artist that turns selfies into Pixar-style animated characters? Yes, but they do not appear to be as severe as the last wave of discussions on the internet claims them to be.

Security risks associated with data collection are inherent in many applications. Though the company that operates Voilà AI Artist Cartoon Photo collects data from individual users, it is not yet known to what extent these pose security risks that are unique from other data-collecting applications.

~ Madison Dapcevich

However, it is still important to follow best practices when it comes to online sharing: don’t share personal information that can lead to identity theft, like answers to questions often used to change passwords for bank accounts; always check privacy settings of your social media accounts, keep all your devices secure; and always take half a second to think whether what you are about to share could cause problems in the long run.

WordPress 5.7.2 Security Release

WordPress 5.7.2 is now available!

This security release features one security fix. Because this is a security release, it is recommended that you update your sites immediately. All versions since WordPress 3.7 have also been updated.

If you have sites that support automatic background updates, they’ve already started the update process. If not, you can update to WordPress 5.7.2 by downloading it from WordPress.org or by visiting your Dashboard >> Updates >> click Update Now.

As usual, feel free to contact Dusk Owl for help with this or any other issues with your WordPress website.

Clothing Photography 101: How to Take Beautiful Apparel Product Photos

High quality product photography is essential for apparel ecommerce. For many customers, you need more than just a great product description—your images will determine whether or not they buy your product.

If apparel is what you sell, follow Matthew Henry as he guides you through all necessary steps needed to showcase your items:

WordPress 5.7.1 Security and Maintenance Release

WordPress 5.7.1 is now available!

This security and maintenance release features 26 bug fixes in addition to two security fixes. Because this is a security release, it is recommended that you update your sites immediately. All versions since WordPress 4.7 have also been updated.

WordPress.org already started automatic background updates that do not require you to do anything, but it may take some time for them to get to your website. If it does not update automatically, either do it yourself (and don’t forget to make a full backup first!) or contact Dusk Owl for help.