Blog
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Structured data for SEO
Adding structured data to a website is one of those steps that often gets overlooked, yet it can make a real difference to how a site performs in search engines.…
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Using WordPress as a static site generator
Static site generators have gained significant traction amongst developers, designers, and businesses seeking faster, more secure websites. Unlike traditional dynamic sites, which rely on a database to deliver content on…
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Simple steps to protect your privacy online
In today’s digital world, protecting your privacy online has become essential. With personal data constantly being shared, stored, and potentially accessed by unauthorised parties, safeguarding your privacy can help you…
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How to speed-up your Shopify Store
Website speed is one of the most critical factors in the success of any eCommerce business, and yet many Shopify store owners struggle with a slow-loading website. Page speed doesn’t…
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Moving a WordPress Website with ACF and Custom Post Types to Brightspot CMS
Migrating a website from WordPress to Brightspot CMS can seem daunting, particularly when the WordPress installation relies heavily on Advanced Custom Fields and Custom Post Types . Both ACF amd…
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Ensuring a smooth deployment of a PHP website application
Deploying a PHP website application requires meticulous planning, a solid understanding of the environment, and a thorough execution process. To ensure a smooth deployment, it is essential to follow best…
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Knack API Integration
Knack is a powerful low-code platform that allows you to build online databases and custom web applications. When integrating Knack with your own systems or custom front ends, you can…
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Better WordPress Performance
A slow-loading website can be frustrating, not only for your visitors, but for you as a business owner. If your WordPress site is taking too long to load, you’re not…
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Switching to Eleventy
When I first set up my personal website it was powered by WordPress. It did the job for a while, but I soon found myself frustrated by the overhead and…
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Simple Analytics: A privacy-focused alternative to Google Analytics
In an era where digital privacy concerns are at the forefront of online discourse, many organisations are reassessing their tools to ensure compliance with data protection laws and maintain user…
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Introduction to Bluesky
Making the most of Bluesky after coming from whatever Twitter (𝕏) has become involves exploring the platform's unique features, adapting to its smaller, community-driven culture, and taking advantage of its…
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Web application security testing
With the increasing dependency on web applications in daily operations, securing these applications is paramount to safeguarding data and protecting against breaches. This blog post covers the essentials of Web…
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Cookieless website tracking and analytics
Cookieless website tracking is a method of collecting analytics data and monitoring website behaviour without the need for traditional browser cookies. Traditionally, cookies have been a key component in tracking…
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What's going on between WordPress and WP Engine?
The disagreement between WordPress and WP Engine has sparked considerable debate within the WordPress community and could have important implications for users of the WordPress content management system (CMS). WP…
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Combining Laravel with WordPress
Combining Laravel with WordPress offers a unique and powerful approach to web development, blending the strengths of both platforms to create highly efficient, flexible, and scalable applications. Laravel, a modern…
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Switching from WordPress to ClassicPress
Switching a WordPress website over to ClassicPress can be done smoothly with minimal impact if approached carefully. The process involves a few key steps to ensure that the transition does…
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Guide to writing a good cookie policy (UK)
A cookie policy informs website visitors about the cookies your website uses, why they are used, and how users can control them. The information on this page is not intended…
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Bitnami WordPress on AWS Lightsail
The Bitnami package for WordPress provides a quick one-click install solution for WordPress. Once installed you'll most likely need to replace the default install with your pre-existing WordPress website. Here…
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Install XAMPP on Ubuntu using Terminal
To use XAMPP on Ubuntu, begin by downloading the XAMPP installer for Linux from the Apache Friends website. Once downloaded, open a terminal, navigate to the download directory, and make…
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Popular PHP frameworks
Here’s detailed look at some of the most popular PHP frameworks, each of which can help speed up development, improve code organisation, and enhance application performance. Laravel Laravel is one…
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Start/stop XAMPP on Ubuntu using Terminal
XAMPP is a free and open-source software package that provides an easy way to set up and run a local web server environment on various operating systems, including Ubuntu. The…
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ClassicPress vs. WordPress
ClassicPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that originated as a fork of WordPress in 2018. It was developed as a response to the introduction of the Gutenberg block…
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PHP Security in 2024: navigating the evolving landscape
As PHP continues to evolve, so do the threats that target its vulnerabilities. Ensuring robust PHP security practices is paramount to safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining user trust. PHP is…
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Shopify: Set sales prices
Setting sales prices in your Shopify store is a straightforward process that can help boost sales and attract customers. Follow these steps to effectively set sales prices for your products:…
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Animated SVGs (Scalable Vector Graphics)
Animated SVGs, Scalable Vector Graphics, are increasingly popular choices for adding dynamic elements to websites. Their scalability, lightweight nature, and flexibility make them attractive options for graphic elements and background…
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Using Scalable Vector Graphics (SVGs)
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVGs) have revolutionised website design, offering unparalleled flexibility, scalability, and interactivity. As versatile graphic elements, SVGs can enhance the visual appeal and functionality of websites when used…
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Creating a brand-promoting brochure website with WordPress
In today's digital age, establishing an online presence is crucial for businesses looking to promote their brand effectively. One powerful tool for achieving this is WordPress, a versatile content management…
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WordPress for charities and donation websites
In an era where digital presence is paramount, charities are increasingly turning to online platforms to raise awareness and funds for their causes. WordPress, with its user-friendly interface and robust…
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Magento database structure
The database structure of Magento is designed to store and manage various aspects of an e-commerce website, including products, orders, customers, and more. Understanding the Magento database structure is crucial…
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Designing websites for accessibility
In the ever-evolving landscape of web design, the balancing act between accessibility and aesthetic appeal remains a crucial consideration. As the digital realm becomes increasingly integral to daily life, ensuring…
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Accessibility in ecommerce websites
In the digital age, where online shopping has become an integral part of our lives, ecommerce websites hold the key to business success. Amidst the rush to create visually appealing…
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How to update your hosts file.
Every computer has a file on it which allows the owner to specify where a website is loaded from. A hosts file is a simple combination of domain names and…
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Using Magento to get small businesses online
For small businesses aiming to establish a formidable online presence and drive sales, Magento emerges as a powerful e-commerce platform offering a suite of features tailored to their needs. Scalability…
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How to secure WordPress in 2023?
Securing a WordPress website involves a combination of practices, including using secure hosting configurations, regularly updating WordPress and its plugins/themes, and implementing strong security measures. While plugins can be useful…
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How can I speed-up my Magento website?
Speed optimisation is crucial for a Magento website as it directly impacts user experience, conversions, and search engine rankings. You should prepare your server so it is set-up to use…
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.htaccess: Enable GZIP Compression for Magento
Enable Gzip compression on your server to compress your website's files before sending them to the visitor's browser. This significantly reduces the file size, resulting in faster page load times.…
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Email and newsletter deliverability best practice
Email deliverability refers to the ability of an email to successfully reach the recipient's inbox, rather than being marked as spam or bouncing back. High email deliverability ensures that emails…
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Project Management Methodologies
Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall are three of the most popular project management methodologies used in software development. Each of these methodologies has its own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice…
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Popular Payment Gateways
Ecommerce payment gateways are critical components of any online store, as they enable merchants to accept payments from customers securely and conveniently. There are many payment gateways available in the…
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Create a plain text file on Linux
Quick guide to creating simple plain text (.txt) files on Microsoft Windows, Apple MacOS and Linux. Text files are useful for sending code or short pieces of information that may…
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Create a plain text file on MacOS
Quick guide to creating simple plain text (.txt) files on Microsoft Windows, Apple MacOS and Linux. Text files are useful for sending code or short pieces of information that may…
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Create a plain text file on Windows
Quick guide to creating simple plain text (.txt) files on Microsoft Windows, Apple MacOS and Linux. Text files are useful for sending code or short pieces of information that may…
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Latest web image formats
There are a number of new image formats that have been developed in recent years to improve the performance and quality of images on websites. One of the most popular…
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Using OpenAI tools in ecommerce environments
OpenAI is a leading artificial intelligence (AI) research organisation that has the potential to revolutionise the ecommerce industry. By leveraging OpenAI's cutting-edge AI technologies, ecommerce businesses can enhance the customer…
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Why is WordPress still so popular?
WordPress WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world, and there are several reasons why it is so widely used. First and foremost, WordPress…
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Mobile-first Web Design
Mobile-first web design Mobile-first web design is a design approach that prioritises mobile devices when designing a website. Instead of designing a website for desktop devices first and then making…
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Quick start guide for Laravel on a PHP server
Laravel is a powerful and popular PHP framework designed to make web development easier and more efficient. This quick start guide will help you set up Laravel on your PHP…
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Web development in Northern Ireland
Web development in Northern Ireland is a thriving industry, with many talented and skilled individuals and companies offering a range of services. Northern Ireland is home to a number of…
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Getting started with Magento Open Source
Magento Northern Ireland Open Source allows you to build a unique online store from the ground up. Standard Features Magento Open Source includes everything you need to get your store…
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Redirects
Apache, Nginx, PHP, JavaScript and Meta redirects There are two main redirect options 301 for a permanent redirect. Use this when the redirect is pointing to the new version of…
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Magento - WebP image format conversion
An introduction to image optimisation in Magento Northern Ireland Image Optimisation is an increasingly important step improve page speed and search engine performance of your Magento store. Having a lot…
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WordPress - WebP and AVIF image formats
An introduction to image optimisation in WordPress Northern Ireland Image Optimisation is an increasingly important step improve page speed and search engine performance of your WordPress website. Having a lot…
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Lighthouse and Google Fonts
I recently had performance issues on Google Lighthouse due to the fonts used on the website. The Google Fonts I used were classified as a render-blocking resource. The best way…
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WordPress CLI commands
WP-CLI is the official command line tool for interacting with and managing your WordPress Northern Ireland installation in command line. WP-CLI is the command-line interface for WordPress. You can update…
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Why WordPress?
WordPress is currently used by over seventy-five million websites worldwide. This is primarily thanks to its flexible, customisable and user-centred admin panel making it the most popular content management systems…
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Cookie Script and GDPR
Quick guide to using Cookie Script for GDPR and cookie tracking. Cookie Script is a tool that helps website owners comply with cookie consent requirements and regulations, such as the…
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Set-up a Rackspace CDN service
Quick guide for setting-up a CDN on Rackspace. CDN Set-up Log into your Rackspace MyCloud account. Click into Storage > CDN then "Create Service". In the next pop-up set the…
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PHP Errors, Warnings and Notices
When working with PHP, errors fall into a few common categories, each with a different level of severity and impact on how a website behaves. Understanding these distinctions is important,…
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Web image formats
The image file formats that are most commonly used on the web are listed below. Classic image formats These are the classic image formats universally supported in all web browsers…
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Aheadworks switch to subscription model
Aheadworks will be removing Composer keys and download access for existing customers and switching entirely to a subscription model. From February 2022 Aheadworks announced it is switching to the subscription-based…
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ProtonMail secure email
ProtonMail is an encrypted email service that takes a radically different approach to email security. In 2014 the Swiss company ProtonMail became the first email service to protect data with…
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Magento store hierarchy
Before you start building-out your Magento website you must first plan your store hierarchy. Magento's hierarchy is referred to throughout your store's configuration. Each store can have a separate root…
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WordPress development Belfast, Northern Ireland
If you are a business in Belfast or Northern Ireland who is looking to expand your presence online, WordPress Northern Ireland is a great platform to take your business to…
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Shopify: Add breadcrumbs to Liquid templates
How to add breadcrumbs to your Shopify Northern Ireland liquid templates Breadcrumbs are a secondary navigation aid that helps users easily understand the relation between their location on a page…
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Optimising Magento 2 in easy steps
Some (fairly) simple step-by-step instructions to ensure your Magento Belfast 2 store is running the best it can. While most of these options should only require access to Admin panel,…
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What is Laravel?
Laravel is an open-source web application framework written in PHP, designed to make the development process faster, easier, and more streamlined. It follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern and offers…
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The future of Magento
The Mage Open Source Community Alliance have published an open letter to the Magento community to announce a new initiative designed to focus on ensuring the future of open source…
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Google Sheets to PHP array
This PHP function accepts a public Google Sheets URL and converts it into a PHP array. You can use the array to either display the sheet live, or save it…
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Apache VirtualHost with reverse proxy
This post documents the process of setting up a reverse proxy to load one (Origin) website in the subdirectory of another. During this process the reverse proxy directives will also…
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Magento 2 Blog Extensions
While Magento Belfast isn't the go-to platform for blogs it can be useful for store owners to have a quick and easy way to post updated content to their store…
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AOS: The Animate On Scroll Library
AOS is a simple CSS/JS based animation on scroll library by Michał Sajnóg. Easy to install and highly configurable. This is a basic introduction, there are more detailed instructions on…
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Upcoming changes to eBay's PayPal Payments
Over the course of 2021 eBay will be incrementally changing how it works with sellers. Changes include updates to the fee structure, how fees are collected and how money is…
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What does Shopify do?
Shopify Belfast is an ecommerce platform that hosts your website for selling products and services. It helps organize the layout of your store's appearance through different themes and layouts. To…
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Choose a better browser
A run down of the most popular web browsers including Firefox, Chrome, Edge and Opera as well some alternate options if you'd like something different. Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Opera…
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Notes: Magento 2 Directory Structure
Magento 1 A brief reminder of the Magento 1 folder structure: app/code followed by either /core for core files /community for third party extensions /local for custom development Modules in…
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Magento 2.4.2
The latest version of Magento Northern Ireland has been released - Magento version 2.4.2 is the usual mix of security updates, performance and some improvements to the software itself for…
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PHP cURL Requests with JSON or XML
The following post will explain how to use PHP/cURL to retrieve data in JSON or XML and process it for using in your PHP application cURL is a command line…
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Upgrading WordPress
Keeping your WordPress website updated is crucial for maintaining its performance, security, and functionality. Whether you’re managing a personal blog, a business site, or an online store, neglecting updates can…
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Global Payments: Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) and 3D Secure 2
The roll out of 3D Secure 2 has been a long drawn-out process not helped by the COVID–19 pandemic. Part of the update has included additional fields some new and…
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Shopify: Create a Discount Code
A quick guide to help set-up a discount code in a Shopify Belfast store. First login to your Shopify store admin area and click on Discounts in the left hand…
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Laravel tutorial: Rest API call
To build a Laravel application that pulls posts from a REST API and displays them on a WordPress website, the process involves a few main steps: creating the Laravel application,…
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What is Magento Open Source?
Previously known as Magento Community Edition, Magento Open Source is the ecommerce platform. Adobe which acquired Magento in 2018 has confirmed the open source edition will remain part of their…
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WordPress - Rename the posts section in admin
The PHP script below can be added to the WordPress Theme functions.php file. It will rename the standard "posts" section to "stories". Replace 'stories'/'story' with whatever the section needs to…
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Moving on from Magento: OpenMage and Mage One
While many companies have already upgraded to Magento 2 or moved on to alternative ecommerce platforms like Shopify, many smaller companies or larger companies with more custom developments have stuck…
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Notes on transferring a WordPress site to AWS
There's a newer version of this post: Bitnami WordPress: Reset file permissions on AWS Lightsail Some notes on transferring an existing WordPress site to Amazon Web Services and some common…
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Who should use WooCommerce?
In the dynamic realm of e-commerce, choosing the right platform is pivotal to the success of any online venture. For businesses seeking a reliable and scalable solution, WooCommerce emerges as…
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WooCommerce payment providers
Choosing the best payment gateways for WooCommerce depends on factors such as your location, target market, and specific business needs. Several payment gateways are widely regarded as reliable and popular…
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Coronavirus: Ecommerce in a Pandemic
Online sellers need to keep on top of the impact COVID—19 is and will continue to have on retailers. The links below are some thoughts on how your ecommerce store…
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Coronavirus: Managing your Magento ecommerce store in lockdown
The UK has now entered lockdown with everyone being told to stay at home. The spread of coronavirus (COVID—19) continues to increase day by day and now appears likely that…
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Magento 2: Show address fields on the user registration form
This post shows you how to add the customer address fields to the customer registration page. It uses the existing setShowAddressFields method for displaying the address fields on the customer…
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Security: DNS over HTTPS
Whenever you visit a website, even if you are using a site with SSL, the DNS query that converts the web address into an IP address will be sent unencrypted.…
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Website optimisation with Pingdom speed test
There are plenty of website speed tests out there, some are better than others. Pingdom is one of these tools, this post explains how to fix some of the common…
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Choose Magento ecommerce in Belfast, Northern Ireland
If you are a business in Belfast or Northern Ireland who is looking to expand your presence online, Magento is a great platform to take your business to the next…
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Best web browsers for security and privacy
A few alternative browser options for those looking to protect themselves against analytics, tracking, surveillance, and even censorship. Mozilla Firefox Iridium Ungoogled Chrome Tor Browser Mozilla Firefox Firefox is one…
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