LinkedIn have rolled out a new line of advertisements in which their customers’ faces are used to advertise their sponsors’ products. Helpfully, LinkedIn have decided to opt all their users into this. Here’s a guide to keeping yourself from being an unpaid shill by opting out again.

1. 1. Click on your name on your LinkedIn homepage (upper right corner). On the drop-down menu, select “Settings”.
2. From the “Settings” page, select “Account”.
3. In the column next to “Account”, click “Manage Social Advertising” .
4. De-select the box next to “LinkedIn may use my name, photo in social advertising” .

Some other helpful boxes you may want to uncheck:

• Settings > Account > Turn on/off enhanced advertising
• Settings > Email Preferences > Turn on/off partner InMail
• Settings > Email Preferences > Turn on/off invitations to participate in research
• Settings > Email Preferences > Turn on/off LinkedIn announcements
• Settings > Groups, Companies & Applications > Turn on/off data sharing with 3rd party applications

Lastly, there is a feedback link at the bottom of the right column where you can tell LinkedIn what you think of their helpfulness.

Watch out Google and Amazon, we’re coming for your spot.

1. Server Administrator Username & Password – This can not be hacked or reset.  If they have it and you don’t, your only option is to rebuild your server from the ground up.
2. Network Router, Firewall, & Switch Usernames & Passwords – This hardware controls the traffic on your network.  A few minor changes and all network traffic stops.  That means no email, no internet, no access to shared company data.    
3. Domain Name: (yourcompany.com) – Make sure that your web page address is under your companies name and that you have the Username & Password to the registrar.  (i.e. Network Solutions, Go Daddy, etc. 
4. 3rd Party Applications – Usernames and Passwords for any 3rd Party Applications used on the network.  Accounting programs like QuickBooks or Mas90; CRM programs like Act!, SalesLogix, or Salesforce.  
5. Remote Access – Who has remote access? Why? What do they have access to?  How are they accessing it?  VPN, RWW, Log-me-in, GoToMyPC, other?  
6. Network Map – Basic Map of Network if Possible. This can be created from scratch, but any maps help to learn the ins and outs of the network very quickly.
7. Software Licence Keys – Do you own your software licence keys or did you rely on your IT vendor to procure them for you? Are you sure they are legal or are you using the same MicroSoft Office Product Key on all your computers. 
8. Usernames and Passwords – Almost everything in your office has a username and password, hardware and software.  Just because you have a username and password does not mean it is the master administrator username and pasword.  
9. Warranty Information  - What happens if your server hardware fails?  Is it still under warranty?  Do you have that warranty information?  If not this will be a long and costly process. 
10. 10.  Website – Username and Password for Hosting Account for your Website.  Your website is most likely hosted/stored somewhere out on the internet and not on your local servers.  Do you know where it is and the passwords to access it?