Web Hosting Blog

French law almost to be decided for cancellation of internet connections of relentless pirates of music, movies and online games.

The users who get caught for illegally sharing of any digital media will get warning e-mails before the disconnection of internet service.

The new law is pending with the French National Assembly for the final approval. The new law has been liked by the French Senate. This law is introduced to tackle the increasing piracy of digital media over the internet.

The law has been hovering since November 2007. The French expects a much more civilized internet usage in future.

The plan includes appointment of net firms as watchdogs who would constantly monitor the consumers and if found guilty will be reported to the respective authority. The users would get two warnings and if yet found sharing copyrighted digital media then the internet connection will be cancelled. The French Senate also plans to encourage companies to install firewalls which would block content sharing by employees within the organization.

Protect your computer system by applying the patch, released by Windows.

Microsoft has found evidence of a RPC (Remote Procedure Call) attack which can infect almost all versions of Windows machines across the Net. The bug is able to pass through the Firewalls installed on your machine.
Windows Server 2003, 2000, and XP (Service Pack 2 or 3 installed) are more vulnerable.

Below are the links to the patches for different versions of Windows :

1. Windows Server 2008 64-bit.
2. Windows Server 2008 32-bit
3. Windows Vista 64- bit edition
4. Windows Vista
5. Windows Server 64-bit edition
6. Windows Server 2003 (With service pack 1&2)
7. Windows XP 64- bit
8. Windows XP (With service pack 2 or 3) 
9. Windows 2000 (With Service Pack 4)

These patches have been released by Windows.

There is an estimated 2,00,000 nasty programs in existence today. And the majority of them are aimed at sabotaging Windows PC`s.

Such programs can reach the machine through e-mail, instant messenger, internet connection or the web browser if the user visits an incorrect website. Windows users feel under attack as the threats are abundant and emerge very fast.

Users need to take some simple steps to avoid the problem as day-by-day attacks on the users are becoming more and more sophisticated.

Companies such as Trend Micro, Kaspersky and Microsoft offer free computer scanning free computer scanning services for the users who want to scan their machines via web.

Organisations such as the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) which provides assistance on Setting up a safe net connection.

Here are some basic steps which will help the users stay safe online.

ANTIVIRUS

Every PC must have an Anti-Virus software it is the first thing that any user should have on their computer system. It must be updated on a regular basis.

Good anti-virus use programs use heuristic techniques to spot viruses which have not been identified but have all the signs of a virus.

Nowadays many personal computers come with anti-virus already installed but may be user needs to buy an annual package. It is always better to get annual subscription than letting your bank account details being hacked and emptied.

FIREWALL

A firewall too is one of the most important security software for PC users. New versions of Windows XP have an in-built firewall. Though I feel that its features are limited but enough protected.

Comodo and Zone Alarm firms have free firewalls available.

Using a Hub or a Router can be useful to connect to the web. It can block some of the lower intensity attacks.

SPYWARE

A simple browsing of web too can expose you to all kind of danger.

An Anti-Spyware software will help clean up your PC incase you get hit. There are add-ons available for the browsers which can warn you of potentially harmful sites. McAfee`s Site Advisor is among them. Google too warns about a potentially unsafe web-site.

Security experts recommend the use of web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox or Opera instead of the traditional ones.

UPDATE

With Windows user, one needs to keep the updating the software.

Never open an attachment in a mail that you haven’t expected.

Never reply to spam mails. Stay extra careful about a mail that asks your financial details no matter if it confirms your address. Learn to spot phishing e-mails.

SUMMARY

Use anti-spyware and anti-virus programs.

Anti-virus and spyware programs should be updated atleast one a week.

Install a firewall and don’t forget to check it is switched On.

Updates to the operating system should be assured to have Installed.

Monitoring of your system is very essential.

Family members who use the web should be educated about the threats.

Just follow these simple steps and sit back and enjoy your work with the PC.

Data protection or data security is important for everyone. Here are a few tips about keeping your data secure.

Whether it may be personal or official data files, securing them is important and essential for all of us. Antivirus softwares and firewalls can protect your PC or laptops from getting damaged or from various Internet threats. But not your personal confidential data. Encrypting the data can prove to be helpful in securing your valuable data.

Encrypting means converting the files in a format can be read only by you. Its just like a digital locker whose code is only known to you.

So how do you do the Encryption?

Here is the solution.

Go to Start —> All Programs —> Accessories —> Windows Explorer.

Then just Right click on the file you want to Encrypt. Click Properties —> General Tab —> Advanced

Check Encrypt contents to secure data box.

Now your file is encrypted.

NOTE : Compressed files or folders cannot be encrypted.

When you again need to make changes in the file or folder, you need to Decrypt it.

Go to Start —> All Programs —> Accessories —> Windows Explorer.

Then just Right click on the file you want to Encrypt. Click Properties —> General Tab —> Advanced

Select the Clear the Encrypt contents to secure data check box.

But there is one flaw in this too. If someone is able to access your computer, then the file you have encrypted, can be accessed. To avoid this you can set a password to your system or limit your access to others.

In any business a time comes when basic shared hosting does not serve your purpose. Most of the companies move to a service provider. This is called managed hosting. This type of hosting involves outsourcing critical functions to a company that serves your needs. This solution has proved to be more feasible to gain more business, hence many companies have been established for providing such services.

These service providers manage important aspects such as data backup, 24*7 monitoring and technical support. They might also help you manage customer’s web hosting account and also maintain their web-sites.

Today, day-by-day more and more companies are opting for such service providers. The service providers charge you a nominal fixed amount every month for the service they offer and the features of your account. These service providers have a heavily staffed in-house facility. Switching over to such service providers saves lot of your time and money too. They provide regular data back-ups and also take care of implementing reliable and efficient security. It becomes their headache of ensuring that your web-site is safe and is quickly recovered in case of any disaster.

Their Responsibilities Towards You : Quality, Service and Value

Any company to earn a name of a reliable hosting company, it should take security very seriously. Such web-hosting providers ensure protection against technical difficulties and any intrusions, they constantly monitor their servers for these reasons. Most of such providers provide 24*7 support may be via. Telephone, e-mails or live chats to tackle any web-hosting issues.

Web-hosting service providers offer their clients a large variety of services which results in a simplified way of running your business. Such service providers also do the task of managing remote access, monitoring the network at the same time managing it, scanning for vulnerability, implementation and management of firewall, incident tracking, server management etc. By choosing the option of such web-hosting provider, you tend to get rid of a huge burden of your business. This helps you direct your resources to other parts of your business.

What Do You Gain ?

Web-hosting proposes many different packages. It prevents you from utilizing your resources as well as human resources which is the backbone of any business. These service providers have highly trained staffs, professional support crew and technicians whose only aim is continuous and fault free working of your web-site.

One such service provider is Micfo Web-hosting company (Web: www.micfo.com).

Opting for such service providers is best suited, if a company wants to limit their resources, hence  saving  your money. It also relieves you from complex server administration and focus your attention on the operation of your business. Their services also cover major aspects such as marketing and assuring quality support to the clients. They primarily maintain their focus of keeping your business stay up and running. To give a gist of it is cutting down cost and increasing your convenience.

These type of services enable you to make a powerful web presence which helps you in the long run of business.

Now is the best time to switch to Windows Vista because of its all new better features, improved security and overall performance and experience.

Features

Windows Vista has many new and improved features as compared to Windows XP.

• Windows Aero : Vista’s interface has a completely different look. It is much cleaner, has an improved graphic quality, it has Live icons with new 3D Window Flip feature. But to enjoy this feature Windows Aero requires a higher version of video graphic card, if you do not have a higher version Vista is displayed using Windows Basic. To check for the compatibility, you can use Windows Vista Advisor to check if your video card meets Windows Aero`s requirements.

• Windows Sidebar : If you are using Windows Aero, then Vista offers a panel which would display your selection of Windows gadgets which performs useful function which include – a clock, a calendar, a Microsoft Office Inbox representation and also a currency exchange tab.

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  Windows Sidebar

• Microsoft Windows Media Player11 : Though it can also be downloaded for XP, this latest Media Player was designed for Windows Vista. Windows Media Player 11 with its new graphics oriented interface, has dumped the feature of text oriented look and field of previous versions.

• Windows Search : This is one if the most helpful feature in Vista. With this feature any file can be searched from anywhere. This feature cannot be found in Windows XP.

Security

Security is one of the important features these days. This feature has been taken seriously in Windows Vista.

• · Parental Control : By setting you as an administrator Vista sets highly specific boundaries for its other users. This includes separate standard user accounts for family members. You can restrict or allow access to web sites for the users as set by you. Same can be done by access to applications and folders.

• · User Account Control (UAC) : This is a new security feature introduced in Vista. It lets you operate this OS as a standard user than as a true administrator in which you have full access.

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• Firewall : New Vista features two different firewalls, it involves firewall which was available in Windows XP and Windows Firewall with added advanced features. Windows firewall includes a bidirectional filter which scans both incoming and outgoing data.

Better User Experience

• New Start Menu : The new Start menu displays everything in context of a single menu. You do not require to scroll through a list of all applications.

• Improved Folders : Various folders such as My Documents, My Music, My Videos etc. are very simplified and appear as simple Documents, Music etc.

• Live Icons : If you are using Windows Aero, you can hover the mouse over open windows in the task bar and view a live representation of anything running in them. The same feature is offered by Windows Flip 3D feature.

These reasons might attract you to Windows Vista. But these were a handful added features. There is a lot that can be explored in Vista.

Are you sure that your e-mail account is only accessible to you? Is there anyone else who has sneaked into your e-mail account and using your account against you?

You are sure about you taken every necessary precaution to safeguard your PC. You have the latest Anti-virus software, firewall, anti-spyware and anti-malware, e-mail spam filters etc. But you cannot relax, there can be a loop hole from which a hacker can sneak into your network.

At the home or anywhere, you have set up a WiFi network or your broadband provider has given you a shared Internet connection with customers in the same building, this invites trouble of attacks. You are very vulnerable to ARP cache poisoning attack. ARP poisoning happens when a hacker fools you machine. ARP means Address Resolution Protocol. An ARP is used by the network to associate an IP address with a devices MAC address, in short ARP connects devices on a network.

The connection works without any authentication, so a device can easily pretend to be another. Hackers can sneak into your network and link any device using any IP and Mac address. This way the hacker can make the router think that his computer is yours and vice versa. By this what happens is, when you access your account, your device will send all the data packets to the hackers device.

NOW THE SOLUTION TO THIS :

· Assign static IP address to network devices and static ARP entries.

· For Windows, run ipconfig /all in command line, it will tell you your computers IP and Mac addresses of each device on your network.

· Run arp –s command to add static entries to those devices.

One can also use Anti-ARPSpoof . This software tool would set up a static route entry which would prevent such attacks. This is an opensource tool called as ArpON. It identifies and blocks all ARP poisoning and spoofing attacks.