The Security Of A Website And Its Data Is An Important Consideration

November 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

There is no doubt that website security is one of the most important elements of any online business and needs to be encompassed into a respective web design. Most would agree that the internet offers countless opportunities however it can also cause issues regarding facets such as website security which in itself can cause numerous problems for all concerned. The web is an evolving medium which means in real terms that the security of data in all its forms is something which needs to be constantly reviewed.

Recently it is a fact that in relation to web application there have been a growing number of attacks, which means that the pressure on businesses to ensure the prevention of data loss is at an all time high. The standard style of silo’d website security is the traditional option but is becoming increasingly archaic and in reality causes numerous problems because it only takes one vulnerability throughout any of the various sites to cause a potential vulnerability which can then put all of companies data in danger of being compromised.

As most businesses have realised the most efficient approach is to identify the respective elements of the infrastructure which requires securing, this will incorporate data, online resource as well as the relevant data involved. The aim of this exercise is to produce what is termed a risk profile, which by virtue of the information provides the relevant level of security associated with the process and therefore dictates the relevant solution to provide the respective website security features required.

The solutions available incorporate a variety of types of software which can be tailored to the individual requirements of the company in terms of its website security requirements as well as file transfer alternatives, all of which can be effectively ascertained from the information derived from the analysis of the company’s requirements.

Filed Under: Web Security

Chines Authorities Continue To Block Web Access

November 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When the Chinese authorities last month blocked users within their territory from accessing either the English language or Mandarin versions of the New York Times ( NYT) site, it was simply the latest in a long line of such interventions. The government’s action was in response to an article in the NYT which examined the wealth and status recently accumulated by relatives of the country’s Prime Minister.

Not content with preventing access to the Times the authorities also attempted to restrict users of Sina Weibo, a much-used blogging platform not unlike Twitter, from mentioning either the NYT’s report or the Prime Minster himself.

China boasts the largest and most effective procedures for censoring use of the internet, one which requires the services of many thousands of staff who are tasked with constantly monitoring who is saying what about whom on the web, as well as removing posts or entries which are deemed to be in contravention of the nation’s comprehensive, but secretive, rules as to what is appropriate and permissible. They have even been known to remove critical posts or articles which are deemed to be critical of the government, often going to the extent of replacing them with ones they have created themselves which are, naturally, supportive of the authorities.

It is not the first time that the NYT’s site has been subject to blocking by the authorities. In 2001 access to the site was reinstated after a high profile meeting with senior Chinese politicians and leading journalists. Since that time the site, along with the majority of sites belonging to foreign media operations, have been able to operate largely unfettered, with the exception of a few short-term instances.

 

 

Filed Under: Web Accessibility

Tips for Total PC Backup Strategy

November 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

Many people today are highly dependent on their computers since all their important information and data are contained in the hard drives of their devices. It is no wonder that it sometimes seems like the end of the world when a device crashes and the data stored in it becomes inaccessible. Sometimes, attempts to restore these files are futile. There are also times when computer files are accidentally deleted for some reason. You do not want this to happen to you. There are things that you can do to prevent this from happening. Here are some tips along with the benefits associated with the various backup options you can consider.

Purchase storage devices

Storage devices are external tools with various memory capacities expressed in bytes. You can store your files in these devices temporarily or permanently.

CD or DVD: There are two common types of discs: rewritable and write-once. Rewritable discs are ideal for temporary backup files and they are cheaper. Write-once discs are used for archiving purposes. The write-once feature assures you that any stored information cannot be replaced.

 Pros: Discs are cheap, they are everywhere, and you can carry them around.

 Cons: When exposed to heat or sunlight, it may be damaged. In addition, its low capacity means you need to make sure that all information you want to backup gets captured.

External hard drive: External hard drives are the same as the internal hard drive in your computer. They are just created as a separate product on their own and needs to be connected to a USB port.

 Pros: it is highly transportable and can be used in online or offline storage. Since it comes with various memory capacities, you can back up large quantities of files.

 Cons: With the amount of memory you need, external hard drives can be expensive. It can also be damaged when it falls or when it is subjected to shock. It has the tendency to overheat with extended use.

USB Drive: USB drives are ideal for mobile and file transfers as well.

 Pros: USB drives are removable, transportable, and fast. It can be used for both online and offline storage.

 Cons: USB memory is specific and you are limited in the amount of data that you can store. But, you can choose the device with memory size that you need.

 

Go online

Unlike its physical counterparts, online backup storage software and services are offered for business. A fee is associated in using these services.

 Pros: Online backup software offers security on files that are stored. The files can also be easily retrieved online. Some services are simple enough that it streamlines the backup process. Some backup software also offer file sharing capabilities.

 Cons: It may be costly for you to use an online backup service if you only meant want to do it for personal purposes. For business, the rates may be tiered. In addition, the backup process may be slow if your internet connection is not reliable.

Additional Notes about Online Backups

Since online backup storage is becoming more popular, you might as well know the things you need to consider before you consider signing up.

Your needs: Do you need practically all of your files to have a backup? Do you only intend to backup documents or do you want to include correspondence like email messages as well? This is important because the type of online backup service you select depends on how often you are going to use it.

Features: If you need to backup all types of files for some reason, you may find the term “unlimited” appealing. However, know that this feature is relative. Some backup service companies will allow a storage limit but will offer you the ability to store files from different computers. Some offer you unlimited storage space but restricts you to a single computer. In view of the latter, your use of the unlimited feature can be subject to Fair Use Policy and the speed at which you will complete the backup session is set to a certain amount of memory (i.e. bursting speeds up to 200GB).

Price: Your choice between the amounts of memory you need, the length of time you will need the service, and the number of computers you will use drives pricing, so you need to choose wisely.

John Lowery writes for http://www.shoppingpreview.com/laptops, sharing his insights about the latest technology in the consumer market. This website contains reviews of most modern electronic gadgets.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Screen Readers

November 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

This post is just a very brief introduction to Screen Reader. The video below explains and shows how a blind person using a screen reader can use a computer and surf the Web. We find more and more people who simply don’t appreciate just how challenging it can be for those with diabilities to access the net, something they take for granted.

Similar applications are available for use with a tablet and also via your smartphone. For more information visit screenreader.net.

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

How To Reduce Page Loading Times

November 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When a web user has to wait for any length of time to load a requested page, there is inevitably a tendency to lose interest in the content. If you do not receive an immediate response  or you need to submit the same request over and over again, the chances are you will abandon your search and look elsewhere.

This post explains some simple techniques to develop pages that load faster, regardless of the connection speed available.

Do not abuse tables: it is very common to use tables for the layout of a page and to create complex presentations.  If a page consists of many such tables, the user’s browser will take time to recalculate all widths and heights to suit. This can be avoided to some extent. In the case of content, simply divide the text with line breaks and paragraphs. In the case of design, changing tables within tables by more cells or columns of a single table should produce faster load times.

Do not overdo the use of decorative graphic effects: this is important not just because graphics can be slow to download  and be displayed on the page.  They can also be  disabled in your browser. In these cases, the page usually lose clarity and become less appealing than a page without graphics.

Where you must use images, and pages are more appealing to visitors generally when they contain suitable images, use the HEIGHT and WIDTH attributes when inserting an image into the page. In this way the browser knows the size of the image before you start downloading. It is also advisable to take advantage of the browser cache, so, for example, an image used to decorate a corner of a table can be used as many times as you like, because the browser will download it only once.

Likewise, do not do not abuse other applications such as Flash animations, videos or music , not only because of their weight, but also because of the added problems of compatibility between browsers and plugins they can produce.

The above post was kindly contributed by Graeme Young, a freelance blogger, who writes on a wide variety of topics, from the internet and technology to financial subjects like online payday loans and many more subjects as well.

Filed Under: Web Design
« Older Posts