Posts Tagged ‘network’
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
Posted in Business | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
Twitter is a social networking website that shares what is happening with you, and what you are doing on a daily basis that others may find interesting and some can relate to. You can also follow others that you find interesting, for example: your favorite DJ, Singer, and Actress. It is a great way to see what is going on with your Friends /Family members without feeling the need to contact them if you are short on time for conversation.
With technology improving Twitter has announced that it will be introducing “@anywhere” which is a new podium that will allow partner websites such as Amazon, Bing, Citysearch, Digg and eBay to link to Twitter. This service will give the access to twitter users to send and receive messages while they are browsing through these websites. This means that users will be able to follow related tweets without leaving the site and basically this will allow partners to communicate in a more efficient manner in their conversations and their product positioning with Twitter. @ anywhere can be employed with a few lines of JavaScript code.
@anywhere is going to decrease communication obstacles across different social media websites and portals. It will allow conversations to flow rather than having to manage so many different characteristics to engage around content. Right now people can make different comments on each site but they have to repost on twitter. @ anywhere will make it simple for people to share contents and dialogues.
I think this is a fantastic idea. This service will also help marketers in building their brand reputation and promoting their products. It is a tactic for people to involve themselves in conversations that will make them talk about a product or service that they might not even be aware of. A fact is that consumers tend to purchase products that they find out through word of mouth or that are recommended by others. Reading tweets about a product review that links to the actual page, such as Amazon would enable sales of the product.
Tags: bing, bing.com, brand reputation, communication obstacles, daily basis, digg, ebay, HR, IT, marketers, marketing, network, networking website, partner websites, product positioning, promoting their products, Social media, Social network, social networking, Technology, Twitter, word of mouth
Posted in Gadgets | No Comments »
Sunday, March 7th, 2010
Hewlett Packard is one of the world’s most flourishing manufacturers of desktop computers, printers, servers, and laptops. With a strong and reputable consumer brand, the company has managed to grow its services and expand to provide services to a large number of businesses. During the first quarter of the company’s development, HP managed to establish a sales growth of 8%. On the other hand, HP has surprised analysts with their declining market performance with their hand-held products including the iPaq Smart Phone. Their sales have dropped $25 million in the first quarter while Apple had a $5.6 billion market growth with their iPhone.
HP has realized that because of the iPhone, Apple has managed to build more intensive relationships with customers. They have accomplished more than three billion software applications through the store which is directed to the iPhone. Now, Apple is looking to repeat this with their latest invention which is the iPad, a tablet computer which was recently launched. Researchers at HP are using this as a motivation key for building the reputation of their hand-held products and have talked about developing software’s and services that will let people print easily from their phones as well as manage and communicate their photos and communications more efficiently with each other through mobile versions of social networks.
It is expected that HP is to offer a smart phone in the coming year that will utilize the latest mobile version of Windows. Already, there is a lot of competition in the cell phone industry and it is a good idea that HP has announced to dedicate more of their focus on other products on the side of the Smartphone category.
Tags: Business, Cell Phone, cell phone industry, Company, Computer, declining market, desktop computers, developing software, google, hand held products, hewlett packard, iphone, IT, laptop, laptops, latest invention, market performance, microsoft, mobile, mobile phone, mobile version, mobile versions, motivation key, network, server, smart phone, smart phones, Social network, social networks, Software, software applications, tablet computer, Windows
Posted in Business, Information Technology | No Comments »
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
Posted in Business | No Comments »
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
Posted in Business | No Comments »
Monday, June 22nd, 2009
It happens weekly that I visit a company for the first time to review their network or help with an emergency and find that they have NO documentation. This problem is often just the laziness of a previous computer support provider but I have also experienced clients who call to retrieve this information and begin getting interrogated about why they want the information. It’s your network shouldn’t you hold the keys?
You may love your current computer support professional and think they will be with you for years but what if something happens to them and you never hear from them again? What if you have a sudden falling out? What if there is an emergency and you can’t reach them? You should not have to pay for another computer support company to have to reconfigure everything or spend hours guessing network information.
Make sure that you are being provided up-to-date information regularly. At minimum this documentation should include the user name and password for server(s), domain, firewall, hosting accounts, DNS host & antivirus system. It is also going to save you time and money if the documentation includes critical vendor information, printer IP’s and server rolls.
Keeping this kind of documentation is easy, takes very little time and will be worth its weight in gold if you are ever in a bind and need to bring another company in. Don’t let your current computer support company hold you ransom.
Tags: Computer Support, computer support ransom, credentials, documentation, network, password, user name
Posted in Computer Support | No Comments »
