Latest news with #Schwalbe
Buzz Feed
4 days ago
- Business
- Buzz Feed
Experts Reveal How To Avoid This Rude Email Habit
To get ahead in your career, you need a strong network. And part of that means learning how to email people for their time and connections. One of the simple yet critical requests you'll encounter in your life is being asked to introduce someone else over email, or needing an introduction yourself. Introducing two people over email is a social and professional skill everyone needs to learn, but so many of us get it wrong. It takes emotional intelligence and delicate phrasing to make it as easy as possible for everyone to get the outcome they want. If you do not want to confuse and irritate your connections, you need to be thoughtful about how you broker an introduction between two people over email ― and how you reply. We asked email and etiquette experts exactly where we go wrong and tips for how to be as courteous and as clear as possible in these requests. Here's their advice: The rudest thing you can do? Assume everyone is OK with being contacted for help. If you are the connection 'broker' who is writing the email, you are the one who needs to be mindful of everyone's time and capacity. 'The first thing is, you have to ask yourself, 'Who wants what from whom?'' said William Schwalbe, co-author of Send: Why People Email So Badly And How To Do It Better. If you know both people equally well, and this is a casual request to make new friends or a professional connection, you don't have to be as formal, because the stakes are lower. 'Delighted to make this introduction, I thought you would enjoy getting to know each other. I'll leave it to the two of you to take it from here' is how Schwalbe said you can phrase these requests. But often an introduction email is about asking one party to do something on behalf of another. If the email is to help someone else's career with an informational interview, for example, you need to confirm if the person who will be fulfilling this request is OK with being contacted for help. 'The biggest mistake I see when making an email introduction is not getting the consent of the person being introduced and giving them an opportunity to decline,' said Pattie Ehsaei, a senior vice president of mergers and acquisitions lending at a major bank who also runs the TikTok account Duchess of Decorum, where she teaches workplace etiquette. 'Ask both parties in a private email if they welcome an introduction to the other party, and if both consent, then and only then do you proceed with the introduction,' Ehsaei suggested. People are busy or unavailable for many reasons you may not know. In this preliminary email, you should explain the favor and give the person who is going to be asked to do something in return an easy way to decline. 'The last sentence should be 'I totally understand if you can't do it at this time,' or, 'I'll take no reply as indication that this isn't a good time for the introduction,' ''I'll assume that you can't unless I hear otherwise,'' Schwalbe said. No one likes being surprised with a task they did not agree to do. In this way, you preserve your relationship with your connection by letting them know that their time is important to you. And it can be polite to ask upfront about their preferred method of communication ― especially if this person's contact information is usually private. You can end this email with a line like: 'P.S. If you are willing to talk to them, do you prefer your home email, your work, email, or a text?' Schwalbe suggested. Even if you explained the request in a previous email or text, you should still summarize who everyone is in your official email to the two people being connected. 'Don't presume that the person you asked is going to remember, even if only a couple of days have gone by,' Schwalbe said. Here is a basic fictional template of how this could go: Subject line: Mark <> Julia Hey Mark and Julia, As I mentioned earlier, I'm delighted to make this introduction. Mark is a recent college grad who is hoping to learn more about breaking into marine biology research. He's a sharp writer who just did an internship at X. Julia is my dear friend who is a leader in X. I will let Mark take it from here to set up a time to chat. A good broker makes it easy for everyone to understand what the next steps are. To avoid being included in reply-all emails, Schwalbe said you should make it clear that you want to be dropped from the email thread. Schwalbe said you can phrase this request as 'You can drop me from correspondence going forward, but I look forward to hearing how it all goes.' If you're the person seeking the introduction, don't dilly-dally on a reply. If you ask your connection with help brokering an introduction, you need to follow through on your request right away. It shows your enthusiasm, interest and that you don't take this opportunity for granted, Schwalbe said. In our fictional example, this reply could look like: Hey Julia, I would love to talk to you about how to get into marine biology research. I really admire your career and would be happy to learn more about your journey over coffee or a phone call. That said, I completely understand if time doesn't allow for this kind of conversation. If you are available, please let me know what times would be best in your schedule. Schwalbe said as the person requesting help, it is courteous to give the person helping you an additional opportunity to decline if they are busy. If the request is job-related, you could include a sentence like: 'I would love to send you my resume, if you'd be willing to receive a copy,' Schwalbe said. Don't send attachments or PDFs of your portfolio until you hear back because it can come off as presumptuous in a first email, Schwalbe said. If you don't hear back, do not immediately follow up. Wait two weeks before bumping the email thread again and circling back with your connection broker after another two weeks of silence, as a general rule, Schwalbe said. This way, you give people enough time to respond if they are on vacation or busy. It's polite to keep your broker posted, regardless of the outcome. 'If something comes of it, the asker really should loop back,' Schwalbe said. 'If somebody wants me to speak to somebody, and I speak to them, and I never hear back, it is slightly irritating.' And even if you hear radio silence from your email recipient, you should tell your connector that you're still thankful for the time they took to help you. You can say something like, 'As it happened I didn't hear back but I know how busy they are, and wanted you to know that even though nothing came of it, I really appreciate your desire to help me,' Schwalbe said. When you're seeking help, be sensitive to how often you ask your broker for help. Unless they have given you permission to see their contact list as yours, 'I think of it as kind of one-and-done,' Schwalbe said. In other words, you cannot ask your connector for help with an introduction and ask for their help again with a different contact two weeks later. Emails are great for coordinating schedules and making introductions, but they are ultimately words in an inbox. Showing sincere appreciation for someone's help means going one step further. 'An email thank-you, no matter how extravagantly phrased, is still just an email,' Schwalbe said. Schwalbe gave the example of someone's connection being the reason you land a job. Whether you are the asker, helper or broker, if somebody 'really helps out somebody else in the chain, it's really nice to send a handwritten note, flowers, chocolate,' he said. That's why, in Schwalbe's view, the biggest mistake we make with these kinds of emails is not understanding the value of someone giving you their undivided time and attention. 'It is a big favor to ask someone to take the time, and it's a favor a lot of people are genuinely delighted to do, but it's still a big favor,' Schwalbe said. HuffPost.
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Forbes
Delete These Texts—Just 24 Hours To Hack Your Phone
Delete all these texts now The dangerous email and text threat campaigns making headlines this year are designed to trick you into clicking a link that will steal your credentials or install malware on your device. Some of those links are in an email or text or social media post and some are in an attachment. Others may be disguised behind an image or QR code. The demand for devious domains to successfully trick users has never been higher. DomainTools has just warned that "the sheer volume of newly observed domains in 2024 was over 106 million — approximately 289,000 daily creating a significant challenge for security teams." The report shares many 'worldwide publicly reported malicious domains and the global scale of all newly observed domains of that year.' But even more alarming than the scale of this attack industry is the rapidity with which it moves. DomainTools CISO Daniel Schwalbe tells me 'the common cradle-to-grave life cycle of a malicious domain is 24 hours.' That means it all has to happen in a single day before the link stops working. Below are typical keywords for links to malware that have just that day to hack your phone or phishing sites to steal your credentials. Common Malware Delivery Domain Name Keywords No sooner have users hit the scam button or reported the malicious message link, than the scammers are unwrapping another new domain that won't yet be on any filter list. This is yet another reason Apple and Google and telco networks are under fire for a seeming inability to cut off these text scams that helped drive U.S. losses from such frauds up 33% to more than $16 billion last year. The FBI warns users to delete all so-called smishing texts from your phone. These are texts containing the malicious domains that lead to malware, credential harvesting, even identity theft. It's fueled by Chinese organized criminal gangs that operate on an industrial scale. And it will soon evolve from undelivered packages and unpaid tools to sophisticated financial campaigns mimicking your bank or credit card provider. Common Credential Harvesting Domain Name Keywords 'The fact there are almost 1,500 top level domains active on the internet right now,' Schwalbe warns 'is both a blessing and a curse. Threat actors are certainly capitalizing on the opportunity to either get very cheap domains, or register domain names that impersonate legitimate businesses and organizations under lesser known TLDs.' Not only are these unlimited domains cleverly crafted, but new tricks are coming into play as well. This week, Group-IB warned that it has 'uncovered an ongoing phishing campaign impersonating toll road services, using Google AMP links and browser fingerprinting to evade detection.' In these new attacks, 'scammers leverage trusted platforms like Google AMP to mask phishing URLs, redirecting victims through legitimate domains to evade detection and abuse user trust.' DomainTools says it compared 106 million newly observed domains from 2024 against a reference set of 395,000 known malicious domains… utilized by both nation-state sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups and cybercrime operations." 'This report is not just about identifying bad actors in 2024,' Schwalbe says. 'We want the community to look at this like a blueprint. We are providing analysis on Domain intelligence to enhance our fellow defenders' ability to identify risky Domains and proactively mitigate threats to help make the Internet a safer place for everyone.' The advice is clear. Do not engage with any text that contains a lure from a well-known brand or organization and a link. Do not click any links or open any attachments. Delete all such texts from your phone immediately. You cannot beat these scammers. You need to go back to basics and adopt a zero tolerance, absolutist approach to staying safe.
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Tern Orox Review: A Rugged Electric Bike That Could Replace Your Car
Electric cargo bikes have dramatically changed the way people get around. They make it easier to ditch the car for school drop-offs, errand-running and even working out. As part of our ongoing electric bike testing, I spent time on the Tern Orox and came away convinced it's one of the most capable options out there. It takes every cargo bike metric and amplifies it, from cargo capacity to range to all-terrain tires. That level of performance comes at a high cost, but if you're in a two-car household, it just might be enough to replace one of them. To test this beast of an e-bike, I took it all over town to grab groceries, drop off donations, meet up with friends and stay active. Along the way, I sought out paved roads, gravel trails, patches of snow and the occasional construction zone. I strapped stuff to the bike's racks, packed it with supplies and even found a willing adult to sit on the back and hang on for dear life. Results revealed the Orox can do almost anything, but, like any e-bike, it has its limitations. Read on for more of my thoughts, and decide if it meets your needs. Class: 1/3 | Weight: 81.8 pounds (462-pound max load) | Range: 100 miles (single battery); 200 miles (dual battery) | Motor: Bosch Performance CX 725 watts hub | Shifter: 12 speeds | Tires: Schwalbe 27.5 x 4-inch Johnny Watts | Warranty: 5 years (frame, handlebars, fork) Best for: Skip if: At its core, a cargo bike is designed to haul cargo, but some bikes can carry more than others. For its part, the Orox has a weight capacity of 462 pounds on the road and almost 400 pounds on the trail, which makes it one of the most capable e-bikes in its class. To manage the load, Tern outfits the bike with a long rear rack that measures nearly 26 inches in length—more than enough real estate to carry an assortment of goods. With a few bungee cords, I had no problem strapping down a loaded duffel, a small basket and other miscellaneous gear. Of course, a rack has its limitations—you can't really use it to secure groceries or smaller goods unless you get creative. But that's where Tern's vast library of accessories comes into play. Equip the rack with a set of 72-liter panniers, and suddenly you can carry almost anything (including those groceries). I paired the panniers with a set of stow decks that support the bags from underneath to keep them in place, and they double as footrests for rear passengers. Though these attachments add to the total cost, they're essential for a bike like this—I wouldn't find it nearly as useful without them. With that said, the weight adds up quickly, and it takes a toll on performance. Fully loaded, the bike often weighs more than 100 pounds, which meant I had to work pretty hard to climb steep grades around town even when the battery was topped out in 'Turbo' mode. For the ultimate load test, I asked a small adult (just over 100 pounds) to sit on the back as I gained speed toward a hill, and the bike couldn't make it to the top. To be sure, this is testing the motor's true limits, but I would hesitate to pedal deep into the backcountry, where hills and obstacles abound, fully loaded with gear. But for most around-town scenarios and light trail work, the bike can and will haul a lot without breaking a sweat. Electric bikes are only as reliable as the batteries that propel them, and the Orox comes out swinging with an estimated range of 100 miles on a single battery. But much like a car company reports fuel economy figures based on ideal driving conditions, it's unlikely that you'll see these same numbers. Realistically, I was getting around 60 to 75 miles on a charge, and that was only if I stuck to flat terrain in 'Eco' mode. As soon as I loaded the bike with gear, climbed hills and shifted between battery modes, the range took a hit, though it never really dipped below 50 miles. Plus, the Kiox display made it really easy to sort through stats, so it was never a mystery as to when I'd run out of battery. If you need additional range, the Orox does have room for a secondary battery in the frame bag. According to Tern, two batteries should boost the total range to a whopping 200 miles, but again, consider the riding conditions. The S12 model I rode didn't come with a secondary battery, but it's nice to have if you head into the backcountry for a big adventure or take the bike away for a long weekend. Attaching a battery to a bike turns it into a computer, and to control it, Tern outfits the Orox with a Bosch Kiox head unit and the Bosch Flow app. This was my first time using the Kiox interface, and I picked it up quickly. A set of left-right toggles on the handlebar allow you to breeze through metrics and settings, while up-down toggles change the battery mode. The LED display is colorful, crisp and easy to read in direct sunlight. From there, I downloaded the Bosch Flow app and registered my bike for additional features. I didn't spend much time in the app, but I did use it to deactivate the motor and 'lock' the bike when it was parked in a public place (though the wheels still move, so you'll want to invest in a true bike lock for added security). I also used the app to load turn-by-turn directions onto the display, though if I missed a turn, directions couldn't update to redirect me, and the map interface just felt clunky. If you want to make the most of the app and its navigation features, I recommend using a reliable phone mount. Beyond the Kiox display and phone integration, you'll find a button for the 700-lumen headlight (which also turns on the G-sensed brake light) and an additional button for high beams. I had no issue seeing (and being seen) on night rides. This bike is truly massive in every measurable proportion, so you'll need to consider how much space you have. I couldn't turn it around in my small garage, which forced me to awkwardly back it out for every ride. It's possible to store the bike upright on its rear rack, but no matter how you park it, the front wheel always turns to one side and takes up more space. Beyond at-home storage, the Orox didn't fit in my SUV, and it's too heavy for most bike racks. If you want to take it somewhere, you'll need either a truck (the Orox measures nearly 8 feet long) or a hitch rack rated for e-bikes. Speaking of parking, this bike uses a center kickstand that slaps against the frame over any moderate bump. It took me a few rides to get used to the sound, but from what I can gather, it's a common problem with these types of stands. They're loose enough to easily deploy, but that also means they can rattle. E-bikes are illegal on singletrack where I live (Central Oregon), and the state of Oregon only allows them on trails open to off-road motor vehicle use. Laws vary from state to state and town to town, but e-bikes are typically banned from using singletrack. Something to consider if you need trail access or live in a town with trail networks. The Orox is one of those e-bikes that blurs the lines between a car and a bike, in a good way. It's capable, thanks to a generous weight capacity, storage options and strong range, and the interface is easy to use for day-to-day riding. I found myself breaking out the bike for any trip around town and didn't really rely on my car. In fact, I kind of forgot about my car altogether. Granted, this bike is big. You'll need space to store it, and even then, it's not easy to maneuver. It's also not cheap, especially when you factor in the accessories that unlock its full potential, like the front rack, panniers and stow decks. But if you're ready to invest in a car alternative—and maybe even ditch your second vehicle altogether—this is one of the few bikes that can actually make that happen. It's for a certain kind of rider, but if that rider is you, it's worth it.
