Posts Tagged ‘data’
Friday, December 3rd, 2010
In the recent weeks Wi-Fi users have encountered yet another threat that has them concerned about their Internet security. Session hijacker Firesheep is the latest security threat that has Internet users wondering how to defend themselves while on the web.
What is Firesheep?
Firesheep is an extension for the web browser Firefox that lets people sharing your Wi-Fi network sniff out your login information to a number of sites, including most social networking sites, and log in as you. They can then make alterations to those accounts and perhaps discover sensitive data.
Firesheep was originally released as a way to encourage websites to take better measures to protect their users. Many websites don’t encrypt their users’ sessions from start to finish, making those sessions prone to hackers. This extension shows just how easy it is for people to hijack sessions on these websites and is making Internet users mindful of just how susceptible they are.
How is Firesheep a threat to me?
Since the introduction of Firesheep many people have taken advantage of the add-on in order to acquire access to other people’s accounts. Because of its fairly easy-to-use interface, hacking can now be done by just about anyone.
What Firesheep does is open a sidebar in the Firefox web browser that shows the hacker who else on that Wi-Fi network is logging into the vulnerable sites and lets him or her immediately start using their accounts. Because most social networking sites are not entirely encrypted, users of practically any of those sites are vulnerable to session hijacking.
How can I protect myself?
Programmers have worked quickly in response to Firesheep. In the weeks following the launch of Firesheep a number of applications have been built that are specifically designed to protect users from session hijacking.
- Force-TLS lets you identify sites on which you would like to force the use of the HTTPS protocol, making your cookies invisible to Firesheep http://bit.ly/9yf8Mr
- HTTPS Everywhere, like Force-TLS lets your browser change to HTTPS on any site you specify in the Firefox Add On Preferences menu http://bit.ly/cDMQIW
- VPN clients authenticate and encrypt anything sent while using the client. You can use your corporate VPN if you have one, or you can employ a pay VPN service such as AlwaysVPN http://bit.ly/ateKFK
These programs offer protection from session hijackers as well as
other hackers. It’s essential to keep in mind, however, that
Firesheep is just the latest in a continuous series of threats.
Protecting your information from Firesheep is essential but remember
to be conscious of other security threats and to be extra cautious
when using unsecured Wi-Fi.
Tags: data, firefox web browser, hacker, hackers, HR, internet, internet security, IT, latest security, network, security, security session, security threat, sensitive data, session hijacking, Social network, social networking, wi fi
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Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Today, companies involve huge IT departments that are dedicated to storing and sharing extensive data. This means huge amounts of data and data servers being handled by companies who are at best minimally familiar with the ins and outs of computing. Presently there are more than 15 million computer servers operating globally. Every organization has to build its network for its peak demand leaving 80% of the running servers idle every day, which as you may imagine leads to huge waste of time and money for these companies.
There is an expansion of networks, computer storage and servers, and the growth has left companies wanting a new solution to their computing needs. “Data Utilities” will allow companies to discard their data storage infrastructure and hand off all their data storage and maintenance needs to third parties able to efficiently and responsibly manage them. These data utilities will allow sharing of servers to meet the peak needs of companies without requiring the company to pay for and maintain the server during its times of lower demand.
The concept of data utilities isn’t all that new, and we all use them everyday. For example, every time you share photos through services such as Facebook, snapfish, Shutterfly, Kodak, or Flicker, you are operating in the cloud and using a data utility. Similarly, the online software suite from Google Apps allows users to generate and access information and spreadsheets exclusively online. Users can create, edit, and share all sorts of files from any computer with Internet access.
Basically any kind of storage can be met by a data utility. It is estimated that the internet contains 5 million terabytes of data. That is just an initiating point since constant improvement will only increase storage demands. Data utilities will allow the collaboration of computing power, data storage, software applications, and other IT needs through a global network. It will permit businesses to concentrate on what to offer rather than technical know-how of how to offer the service.
At the time of great economic concern where cost efficiency is gold, the data utility trend has only hastened. IT decisions are being made based on economic reasoning as well as a technical viewpoint. Data utilities enable companies to utilize resources on demand and pay for them when needed.
Tags: Business, Company, Computer, computer servers, computer software, computer storage, computing power, data, data servers, data storage, Facebook, global network, google, HR, infrastructure, internet, IT, network, new solution, peak demand, server, snapfish, Software, software applications, software suite, storage demands, storage infrastructure, storage software, time and money
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Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Image via Wikipedia
Cloud computing is a new technology which essentially utilizes the power of a cluster of servers to power a website by dynamically scaling resources such as processing power, memory and storage among others. Each server in the cluster can be thought of as hosting the website. If this is ambiguous to comprehend, then think of it as if your website resides on a super high powered server which never breaks down because this super high powered server actually is a combination of several servers working together.
It is a fact that maintaining a huge IT department is costly and a lot of corporations have no idea what networking and computer software involves. Cloud computing introduces strategies in which companies can send their files to people that can manage and handle them more effectively. With this facility, companies will be able to cloud into any kind of IT that they need including hardware, software, web hosting, networking, and etc. As a result, companies can focus on what to offer rather than technical details on how to offer their services.
Some of Technology’s biggest names are leading the cloud computing system. Google’s internet based word processor and spreadsheet program are fighting to replace the desktop version of Microsoft’s Word and Excel. But perhaps, even a better way to jump in the present is through the more vague service providers. These businesses provide the physical servers, hosting space, and means to communicate with them. Well-known names include Equinix (EQIX), Rackspace (RAX), and Terremark Worldwide (TMRK).
I believe there will be a vast amount of consolidation in the production over the next decade. The largest tech names will gulp up the less relevant players as a cheap way to gain admittance to the most recent breakthroughs. The new IT attitude of outsourcing will provide companies with more effective support and will further allow them to focus on what they do best, instead of struggling with computer issues and constantly breaking servers and networks.
Tags: Business, Computer, computer software, data, google, Hardware, internet, IT, microsoft, network, new technology, outsourcing, physical servers, processing power, rackspace, RAM, relevant players, server, service providers, Software, software web, Support, Technology, terremark worldwide
Posted in Business | 2 Comments »
Monday, February 15th, 2010
Google claims it’s new, experimental ultra high-speed broadband network will serve as a playground for developers, giving them the bandwidth they need to dream up next generation, data hungry online apps. But, Google may have other motives for its speedy network as well.
The whole transition from dial up to broadband has brought so much innovation to the internet, and now Google plans to make the delivery process for new applications even more intriguing and deliverable.
There are already concerns with the limitations on Bandwidth as businesses and consumer become more internet dependent. Internet applications such as video conferencing and telephoning are becoming so popular and accordingly so is the demand for bandwidth . As more businesses adopt internet related practices, traffic jams may take place and could affect the net. Google’s new super network may address these bandwidth concerns. As of now, the super network is in an experimental phase as Google looks to see how smaller businesses, consumers and institutions as well as the local government will utilize this high speed access. While Google promises new enhanced applications to increase the technology system on the net, the super network may also be the answer to the bandwidth troubles that currently face already existing applications.
But Google may also have ulterior motives for its super network. Google has been a frontier in providing internet services to consumers and stealing away consumer from other carriers. The new internet based technology, some say, may allow Google the opportunity to take control of internet services in the market as well. This may be a bit skeptical, but there is no question that a faster-speed super network will displace other carriers, and cause a shift in internet service carriers.
As the idea is still at its inception, Google has not yet completely figured out how it will deal with information ownership and privacy issues. Additionally, Google may have to figure out a way to work through the conflicts its new idea may cause with other carriers and providers that form the backbone of internet services and data communication. Such issues might be determining factors on the success of the super network.
So while the new super highway might provide the promise of new applications, and added support for existing applications, it’s still unclear how Google will address certain issues, and how the new super highway will effect other competitors in the market. We all know that faster is better, but what will the cost be to the market and consumers is yet to be determined.
Tags: bandwidth, Business, data, google, high speed access, information ownership, internet, internet applications, internet service, internet services, IT, network, next generation, privacy issues, speed broadband, StoneHill's Website, Support, Technology, Video, video conferencing
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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
After living through the tragedy of my friend Kristen’s computer crashing last week, the internal conversations at StoneHill ignited a list of questions. My brain is dominated by the right side and does not operate even a little bit in a logical let alone technical sense. I have worked with computers my whole life, but in the last two months I have learned more than I ever imagined being around my brilliant co-workers.
Unfortunately, I not only had to report back to Kristen that due to her lack of knowledge about cleaning her computer had led to the death of her hard drive, but also had to tell her that because she failed to back-up her data there is a very good chance that all of her research, work, and personal items may be lost forever. It seems backing up data is not only one of the most important components of maintaining your computer’s health, but also the most neglected. In the midst of this conversation that not only intrigued, but inspired me to write this, another one of my co-workers Zach Hart made the statement “If there is not a backup system in place it can costs 10’s of thousands of dollars with no guarantee that all the data will be recovered.”
It’s amazing to me how much we think we know, but don’t. Therefore I wanted to share with you some tips and resources to prevent any suffering to you personally or professionally from data loss. This information caused me to inquire about how to effectively back-up data from the individual station to your businesses network.
- Purchase a Zip Drive and back-up daily. Although this is the cheapest method it can be very time consuming and has limited memory.
- Purchase and external hard drive that you can back up to regularly. Christos recommends: Western Digital.
- Back-up online. This has become a very popular option where you rent virtual space to upload your data on.
StoneHill offers an affordable service to our clients called BDR; this system is recommended for small to medium sized businesses. BDR is very affordable and has many great functions including, but not limited to the following:
- Very frequent backups
- Optional off-site data storage
- Multiple restore points
- Standby server capabilities
- Advanced restoration options
With StoneHill’s BDR backups are performed as frequently as every 15 minutes, providing clients with numerous restoration points compared to traditional tape backups.
Tags: affordable service, back-up, backing up data, backup, backup system, Backups, Computer, data, data loss, maintaining your computer, StoneHill's Website, Tips
Posted in Business, Tips | No Comments »
