Most of us may be a  little squeamish and leery about Internet security – especially now that it has been in the news. Every time we send our credit card numbers via the Internet, we’re at risk.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO, recently phoned President Obama to declare his frustration over the “damage” the government has done to Internet security.

Zuckerberg posted on Facebook that he’s been “confused and frustrated” by repeated reports of government intrusions into private online communications. “When our engineers work tirelessly to improve security, we imagine we’re protecting you against criminals, not our own government,” he wrote.

For months, Target has been explaining how it is dealing with their stores’ massive data breach that affected over 70 million consumers. One section of its website is dedicated to the issue.

When the company announced that Chief Information Officer Beth Jacob had resigned, Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel explained how the company would move forward:

“While we are still in the process of an ongoing investigation, we recognize that the information security environment is evolving rapidly. To ensure that Target is well positioned following the data breach we suffered last year, we are undertaking an overhaul of our information security and compliance structure and practices at Target. As a first step in this effort, Target will be conducting an external search for an interim CIO who can help guide Target through this transformation.

We will also be elevating the role of the Chief Information Security Officer and hiring externally for this position. Additionally, we will be initiating an external search for a Chief Compliance Officer. We are also working with an external advisor, Promontory Financial Group, to help us evaluate our technology, structure, processes and talent as a part of this transformation.”

With this statement, Target is informing its customers that it’s changing the ways it handles information security. It has run full-page newspaper ads with the statement. Ironically, Jacob’s departure wasn’t mentioned on Facebook or Twitter, or in Target’s press website.

Target has taken a hit from the breach, with 2013 fourth-quarter profits down 46 percent. This is an indication that people are wary anytime they feel their privacy  is in jeopardy.

This move by Target should set the precedence for other companies, be they large or small. With accessibility of customer’s information – data of all types – comes the necessity to keep it all secure.

I’m a loyal person, to my friends and to my things. I keep my car until it dies. I still have my first interview suit out of college (and can still wear it). So when my six-year-old computer went on the blink last month, I didn’t want to change the operating system. Good thing I did.

The Windows XP operating system is twelve years old. Although it is the second most-used after Windows 7, Microsoft is discontinuing updates and tech support.

Although the OS has been popular, it hasn’t been good for Microsoft. Its popularity made consumers stay away from new releases. Windows XP was good enough for most users as it did away with the traditional MS-DOS prompt commands and followed Apple’s visual interface. It also improved support for USB devices, enhanced security and simplified multimedia setup. It could also run most software. Consumers saw no need to upgrade.

However, change was needed as Windows XP was also used in other machines, not just laptops or desktops. Ninety-five percent of U.S. ATMs still use it. But last year, hackers in Europe exploited a security vulnerability in XP with an infected flash drive. Banks’ ATMs must be upgraded by April, 2014 or risk new attacks. Even the U.S. Department of Health uses it, and is negotiating with Microsoft for an extension beyond the April deadline. These upgrades will help Microsoft’s bottom line.

But consumers may still have a slow rate of adoption of Windows 8, considered a clumsy mash-up of desktop and tablet interfaces. If you do stick with XP, don’t expect any help from Microsoft if you have problems.

However, Windows 7 is still available. I decided to stick to what I know. Most of the time I like to stick to what I know, and learning to navigate the new OS 8 was too cumbersome.

Remember that look you got when you asked your teenager why she didn’t accept your friend request? It seems that she would rather move on than to share her friends and social life with you.

While  Facebook has over 1.2 billion users worldwide, it’s losing favor with teenagers (age 13-17)—by three million in the past three years. That’s a loss of 25.3 percent. Now, Instagram, Snapchat, FourSquare and many other sharing platforms are gaining users from the teen demographic as they abandon Facebook. Why?

Teens see Facebook as their parents’ platform. While they’re friends with their family, they want to do their sharing with friends in places that don’t include their parents. Instagram is owned by Facebook – a smart move. But the social media world is as fickle as the teens it courts. Marketing on social media requires an awareness of what is new, passé, and what demographic each one serves.

As Facebook loses teens, it has gained in the 55 and over demographic, an 80 percent increase. Savvy marketing will take this into account and can concentrate social media efforts into the one that best represents who they’re trying to reach.

I’m sure you’ve noticed that companies have geared up their marketing efforts on Facebook. I remember one person remarking that since she bought shoes from a certain retailer, she’s been courted on Facebook since.

That teens have found new places to socialize is not a bad thing. Now their parents can enjoy socializing, shopping and sharing without their kids around.

I remember my mother saying, “Planning at the beginning will save you stress and headache at the end.”

Thinking about my years in publications, we planned our issues at least four months in advance. We’re still early in the new year, so planning for your content marketing will yield high dividends as the year progresses.

First, make sure you include your events on your calendar. Are there seasonal events or sales you need to promote? Don’t just post once, plan key dates for several posts leading up to the event or sale. WordPress has an editorial calendar plugin that gives an overview of each relevant post which can help you create a content schedule. Google Docs has many editorial calendar templates that can be updated and shared by team members.