News
As 2024 draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on everything we’ve shared on the O’Brien Media blog this year. It has been a remarkable twelve months filled with new insights, creative tutorials, success stories, and thought leadership pieces to help businesses of all sizes thrive online. Below, you’ll find a quick overview of the topics we covered, complete with links to some...
Read More Why Upgrading PHP in 2024 is Essential for Your WordPress Website
If you manage a WordPress website, you’ve probably heard of PHP. It’s the programming language that powers WordPress, and having an up-to-date version of PHP is critical for keeping your website secure, fast, and functioning properly. At O’Brien Media, we want to ensure your website is running as smoothly as possible, so let’s explore why updating PHP is so important and how we can help...
Read More Protecting the Backbone of the Internet: Lessons from Recent Cable Incidents
Two undersea internet cables connecting Finland and Sweden to mainland Europe have been severed, raising serious concerns about the resilience of global internet infrastructure. These incidents, believed by EU leaders to be acts of sabotage, highlight the vulnerabilities in the networks that underpin international connectivity. Read more about the incidents on Tom's Hardware. What Happened? The...
Read More Handling unwanted text message marketing – advice for recipients and senders
Unsubscribing from marketing text messages is a simple process. If you're tired of receiving unwanted SMS, follow these straightforward steps to regain control of your inbox. General Guidance for Consumers Common Commands: To unsubscribe, reply to the text message with "STOP" or "UNSUBSCRIBE." Other commands that often work include "END," "QUIT," or "CANCEL." Confirmation: Once you send the...
Read More PTSD Awareness Day 2024 – Chris’ Story
Living with PTSD: A Personal Journey My name is Chris, and I am the Senior Developer at O’Brien Media. Despite my professional achievements, I live with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), which has also led to anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, along with epilepsy. These conditions make daily life challenging, but with the right support and treatments, I lead a fulfilling life....
Read More Google Business Profile Chat Feature Discontinuation
We have received an important update from Google regarding the Google Business Profile chat feature. This feature will be discontinued on 31 July 2024. This post provides all the details you need to know about this change and how it might impact your business. /*! elementor-pro - v3.21.0 - 30-04-2024 */ .elementor-widget-table-of-contents...
Read More The Internet is Disappearing: What It Means for Web Design
Table of Contents Introduction The Internet is Disappearing Impacts on Users and Businesses Web Design Strategies to Combat Content Disappearance Conclusion Introduction The internet, once thought to be a permanent repository of information, is undergoing a significant transformation. Recent studies suggest that a considerable portion of online content is disappearing, leaving gaps in the web's...
Read More Strengthening Cybersecurity: UK’s New Mandate on Device Passwords
The UK government has announced a pivotal update to its cybersecurity regulations, aiming to banish weak default passwords in smart devices, a common vulnerability exploited in cyber attacks. From now on, manufacturers will be required to equip all new internet-connected devices with unique passwords. This legislative move forms part of a broader effort to safeguard digital ecosystems against...
Read More Understanding the Scope of Your Investment in Web Design Services
At O'Brien Media, we strive to provide transparent, effective, and comprehensive web design services. Our approach is tailored to ensure your website not only looks great but also performs excellently in a competitive digital landscape. It's important for our clients to understand that the costs associated with creating and maintaining a robust website extend beyond just development work. Here,...
Read More A minor change to how we handle emails to our general addresses
We have made a small change to the way we handle emails coming into our helpdesk via our general email addresses (for sales, support, billing, and general enquiries). From 11th April 2024, we will no longer accept emails generated using marketing systems into our helpdesk when we can identify that these emails have an "unsubscribe" process. This is to combat an increased amount of spam coming...
Read More