The WeWillFixIT Blog spotlight
We hope that you will find this blog of some benefit, it does not just contain technology related posts but will also benefit those looking for information on running a small business.
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IT Security Glossary – Part 10
Last modified on 2010-09-02 16:56:36 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Welcome to the tenth instalment of our IT Security Glossary.
If there are any terms which we have not yet covered, please feel free to get in touch with us and we will be happy to help.
This week, we are continuing with:
Logic bomb
A logic bomb is a type of Trojan horse, code which is intentionally inserted into software, which executes a malicious function when specific conditions occur. Such conditions can include a change in a file, a particular series of keystrokes, or a specific time or date.
Macro
A macro is a series of commands and actions that help to automate and simplify some tasks within a program such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or Access. Such programs allow Macros to be embedded in documents, so that the programs may be run automatically when the document is opened. Whilst making the task less tedious and open to errors, Macros are in mini-programs and can be infected by viruses.
Macro virus
A macro virus is a malicious macro, written in a macro programming language. When a document or template containing the macro virus is opened in the target application, the virus runs, does its damage, and copies itself into other documents. Continual use of the program results in the spread of the virus. This is why it may be dangerous to open unexpected attachments in emails. Modern antivirus software detects macro viruses as well as other forms of viruses.
Mail bomb
A mail bomb is an excessively large email or numerous duplicate emails sent to a user’s email account. This is done to crash the system and prevent genuine messages from being received.
Malware
Malware is a generic term used to describe malicious software such as viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, and malicious active content. Mail bombs are simple to design but their extreme simplicity means they can be easily detected by spam filters.
Mutating virus
A mutating virus changes, or intentionally mutates, as it progresses through its host files making disinfection more difficult.
The Glossary will continue next week. In the meantime, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!
Droppers and Loggers, what’s it all about?
Last modified on 2010-08-04 13:15:02 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Droppers and Loggers, read on to see what it’s all about!
If there are any terms which we have not yet covered, please feel free to get in touch with us and we will be happy to help.
This week, we are continuing with:
Injector
This is the same as a Dropper
JavaScript
JavaScript is a scripting language that can run wherever there is a suitable script interpreter such as Web Browsers or Web Servers.
A web page with JavaScript runs within a web browser in much the same way as Java applets and does not have access to host machine resources.
An Active Server Page (ASP) or a Windows Scripting Host (WSH) script containing JavaScript is potentially hazardous since these environments allow scripts unrestricted access to machine resources (file system, registry, etc.) and application objects.
Key
The Windows Registry uses keys to store computer configuration settings. When a user installs a new program or the configuration settings are otherwise altered, the values of these keys change. If viruses modify these keys, they can do damage.
Key Logger
Key loggers are malicious programs that record the key strokes a user types on the PC. They will log every single keystroke in the hope that the user types in bank account details or credit card numbers, anything that could be used to defraud.
There are many different methods to capture the data typed on the keyboard, below are a few of the more popular methods:
Software Based Key Loggers
Software developed to work on the target computer and capture the keys typed on the keyboard, different types of Software Key Loggers range from malware type loggers to loggers sitting waiting in the system Bios.
Remote Based Key Loggers
These are Software Key Loggers residing on the user PC and transmit the data to a remote location.
The recorded strokes are recorded and sent to the remote location either by email, LAN connection, FTP or SMS.
Hardware Based Key Loggers
As it suggests, this is a piece of hardware attached to the PC to log all key strokes. This is simpler than the Software Key Loggers as it will not slow the PC down, but can be easily identified as a piece of hardware not installed by the user.
The Glossary will continue next week. In the meantime, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!
Hacked and Hijacked
Last modified on 2010-07-23 12:37:46 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Do you know the difference between Hacking and Hijacking?
If there are any terms which we have not yet covered, please feel free to get in touch with us and we will be happy to help.
This week, we are continuing with:
Hacker/Hacking
A Hacker is someone who gains access to the computer or computer network for either good or bad reasons. Sometimes a Hacker could be working for Legal Agencies to obtain data from a suspect computer/computer network.
Illegal computer hacking is usually committed with reasons to obtain financial benefit, cause disruption or just for fun!
Good Hackers can bypass computer security, they can write programs to perform tasks on the target computer.
Hackers also write Malware programs to target computers and computer networks to gain access to the computer/network to obtain information.
Heuristic
Heuristic analysis is behavior-based analysis of a computer program by anti-virus software to identify a potential virus. Often heuristic scanning produces false alarms when a clean program behaves as a virus might.
Most real-time, and even some on-demand, Antivirus scanner use heuristic signatures to look for specific attributes and characteristics for detecting viruses and other forms of malware.
Hijack
Hijacking is the term used for attack whereby an active, established session is intercepted and used by the attacker. Hijacking can occur locally if, for example, a legitimate user leaves a computer unprotected. Remote hijacking can occur via the Internet and also via unprotected Wi-Fi connections.
Hole
A hole is a security vulnerability in the design of software and/or hardware that allows circumvention of security measures. Software companies such as Microsoft regularly send out updates/patches to “Patch” holes that have been found in the software.
The Glossary will continue next week. In the meantime, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!
Is your AntiVirus software really working?
Last modified on 2010-07-14 13:16:57 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Is your AntiVirus software really showing True or False results?
If there are any terms which we have not yet covered, please feel free to get in touch with us and we will be happy to help.
This week, we are continuing with:
False Negative
A False Negative occurs when the Anti Virus software fails to detect an infected file. False Negatives are quite common with Anti Virus software because the software can miss a new or modified virus infection.
False Positive
A False Positive occurs when the Anti Virus software mistakenly claims that a clean file is being infected with a virus, this can happen when the string for a virus signature is the same used in another application running on the PC.
Fast Infector
Fast Infector viruses are designed to infect as many files on the PC as quickly as possible. The aim is to infect every single application and file that is open at that moment in time, this can pose serious problems, if the Anti Virus scanner does not pick this virus up when doing a full system scan, it could actually attach itself to the Anti Virus scanner and infect each and every file that the scanner is scanning, leading to a system wide infection which would be incredibly difficult to remove.
Detection of a Fast Infector is actually likely, because the virus spreads so quickly it can cause the system to slow down and act very strangely, this would be the sign that you have been infected.
Firewall
A Firewall is used to block unauthorised access to a computer or computer network. Firewalls come in either hardware or software format. Most Anti Virus programs contain a software version of a Firewall and all versions of Windows from XP upwards come with a software firewall.
Firewalls are frequently used to prevent unauthorised Internet users from accessing private networks connected to the Internet, especially Intranets. All messages entering or leaving the Intranet pass through the Firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do not meet the specified security criteria.
The Firewall is normally placed between a protected network and an unprotected network and acts like a gate to protect assets to ensure that nothing private goes out and nothing malicious comes in.
Most modern ADSL/Cable Routers contain a firewall which is set to analyse all inbound requests as default.
Software Firewalls like those found on the desktop and Anti Virus programs are ok for home or SOHO users, but SME’s with a larger network containing various servers and functions, segments and tele-workers requiring inbound access via VPN (Virtual Private Network) will usually require a more sophisticated Firewall to protect their assets.
It’s worth noting that the older USB ADSL Modems (usually Alcatel and connected directly to the PC via a USB cable) that the ISP’s used to send out free with a new ADSL package did not have any Firewall software included. If you are still using one of these, it is definitely worth considering replacing it for a ADSL Modem Router which a) has a Firewall built and b) will allow you to network your devices such as PC, Notebook, Printer, Network Hard Disks, Games consoles etc.
The Glossary will continue next week. In the meantime, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!
Are you Encrypting?
Last modified on 2010-07-07 12:50:01 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Are you Encrypting your data? No, then get in touch to find out whay you should be.
Welcome to this week’s instalment of our IT Security Glossary.
If there are any terms which we have not yet covered, please feel free to get in touch with us and we will be happy to help.
This week, we are continuing with:
Encrypted Virus
This is a very clever Virus, it actually encrypts itself enabling it to be masked from detection by Virus scanners. It will then decrypt itself once it has bypassed the Virus scanner and spreads itself throughout the infected system.
This type of Virus is incredibly difficult to detect as it will constantly change the decryption pattern every time it infects a file.
To keep your system as secure as possible it is important to make sure that your Anti Virus Software is 100% up to date, make sure it is set to scan ALL FILES and ENCRYPTED FILES.
Encryption
This is a most common method to secure data whilst it is being transferred via email, wireless communications, Bluetooth, networks, external hard disks etc.
Encrypting data is a method by where you make a file completely unreadable by scrambling the data; to unlock it you would require an encryption key.
We also protect our Wireless Networks using encryption, this is the same method and we only allow access with an encryption key.
Remember - If your data is sensitive then consider encrypting your files and folders to stop it from ending up in the wrong hands.
EXE
An EXE file is an Executable file. To access an EXE file you would double click its icon. EXE files can also be executed via batch files and scripts, thus they can become infected very quickly.
Some Viruses can be transferred in EXE files via email, but thankfully, today’s email applications will usually block EXE files attachments.
Always use caution, NEVER open an attachment which contains an EXE file, especially if you do not know the sender.
The Glossary will continue next week. In the meantime, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!
IT Security Terms Part 5
Last modified on 2010-07-01 11:10:50 GMT. 1 comment. Top.
MODEM USERS READ ON
This week, we are continuing with:
DoS/DDoS (Denial of Service or Distributed Denial of Service)
This is an act intended to force a computer or computer network to stop functioning on the Internet. Common attacks involved sending a huge amount of traffic in the form of web requests to one or multiple PCs or Servers, this traffic can come from PCs across the Internet being infected with malware. A PC or Server could also be infected with a Trojan which once executed could turn the PC or Server into a Web server. The Attacker could then flood that PC or Server with huge amounts of requests and/or data, too many for the system to handle and taking up huge amounts of bandwidth and/or Hard Disk space, thus causing the system to fall over (stop responding) and becoming unresponsive to Network or Web requests, Websites becoming unavailable, email becoming unavailable, forcing the Router(s) to keep rebooting etc.
As an example of how a huge amount of traffic can bring a service down; in June 2009 when it was announced that Michael Jackson had passed away, the traffic going through Google from users searching for information on him, the Google News service became crippled and went down temporarily displaying an error message for a short amount of time. This was a genuine Load issue, though also in 2009 a huge Denial of Service attack was experienced by Facebook users when an attack was aimed at a Georgian Blogger, thousands of infected systems were without their knowledge sending huge amounts of traffic to the Bloggers page overloading the Facebook servers, this left the service un-usable for around two hours.
Dialler
A Dialler is a program used to connect to the Internet or a computer network (such as a VPN or Virtual Private Network), they connect over an analogue or ISDN telephone line. Diallers are used when an ADSL connection is not available, so the computer’s modem is used to connect to the Internet or Network instead.
Rogue diallers secretly install code on a user’s system causing modems to connect to the Internet via a premium-rate number, whose profits are siphoned off to the scammers. Only computers using a telephone or ISDN line can be affected as ADSL modem/routers cannot be used to dial out.
The age of Dial Up Internet seems such a distant memory, but those still using it are at an extremely high risk of becoming infected and most common infections with Dial Up users are Dialler infections. These will either ask you to press ok to connect to a specific site which could turn out to be a specific type of content, or the user would have no idea that the modem is dialling out until their phone bill comes in.
Dial Up Internet opens up many ports in the computers operating system allowing a flood of inbound connections which if you are not 100% protected, will inevitably lead to your PC becoming so badly infected rendering the PC unusable, and even worse, facing a HUGE phone bill caused by Dialler infections.
If you do still use a Dial Up Connection, either because you live in a rural part of the UK which unfortunately still cannot receive Broadband or Cable, or use Dial Up for when you are out and about and have not looked into 3G USB devices, then here are some ways to protect yourself:
- Make sure you install adequate Anti Virus software, although free Antivirus software can be good, some do not offer real time scanning or regular updates, some do not come with a Firewall. It is worth investing in a good Anti Virus package offering the real time scanning, regular automatic updates and a good Firewall.
- If you use a laptop to connect to the Internet when out and about, invest in a 3G USB dongle, they don’t dial a number to get an internet connection.
- If you must use a modem to dial an Internet connection, make sure you unplug the modem cable when you are not using it, this will stop any diallers making calls when you are not using the modem.
- Make sure you keep your Operating System updated with the latest security patches.
DNS (Domain Name Service or Domain Name Server)
A Domain Name Server assists Internet users navigate their way around the internet by translating IP addresses to Domain Names. Every PC has its own unique IP address which is a string of numbers e.g. 81.0.111.222 could translate to www.exampledomain.com
Dropper
A Dropper is a program which is used to install Malware or a virus on to a PC. The Dropper is designed in such a way that it can be undetected by Anti Virus programs.
The Glossary will continue next week. In the meantime, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!
IT Security Terms Part 4
Last modified on 2010-06-24 12:01:56 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Welcome to the fourth instalment of our Glossary.
If there are any terms which we have not yet covered, please feel free to get in touch with us and we will be happy to help.
This week, we are continuing with:
Checksum
This is a function used to check the true validity of transmitted data. The idea of Checksum is to determine if data has been corrupted in some way or modified. Any slight change to the file will change its checksum.
Cold Boot
A Cold Boot is when the power to the PC is turned off without going through the proper shut down channels. This can be either through a power cut, accidentally or if the PC has crashed or become infected. The only way to shut the PC down is to turn off the power at the mains or by pressing the power button on the PC until it shuts down.
Compromised
This is when the PC has been accessed without permission.
Cookie
Cookies are small strings of text stored by Web Browsers to allow websites to see who is revisiting their websites. The Web Browser can store information such as login information. Web Browsers allow us to change the way that Cookies are handled so to allow us to control our own privacy. Cookies are not viruses but can be used to initiate Spyware which can be detected by good Anti Virus software.
Cyber Criminal
A Cyber Criminal is one who uses a PC connected to the Internet to commit crimes such as hacking, phishing, spamming, and ID theft etc. To protect against becoming a victim of a Cyber Criminal, you should take note of the following:
- Always use mainstream Anti Virus software and keep it up to date
- Follow advice on Web Browser security settings
- Never open email attachments unless you are 100% happy with the source of the email
- Always be cautious when clicking on links to Websites that you are not sure of
- Always keep your Windows Operating system up to day via Microsoft Windows Update
Cyber Gangs
Cyber Gangs are groups of Cyber Criminals who set out to commit Cyber Crime.
Cyber Warfare
This is a form of hacking which is politically motivated to conduct sabotage or espionage. Such attacks of Cyber Warfare could be used to hack a website and change the content with a political message, another form of attack could be a Denial Of Service attack to bring down an entire website or network, or in more extreme cases it could be used to effect a entire city by bringing down the networks controlling supplies such as electricity or water.
The Glossary will continue next week. In the meantime, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!
IT Security Terms Part 3
Last modified on 2010-06-24 12:04:06 GMT. 1 comment. Top.
Welcome to the third instalment of our Glossary, this new feature is proving to be extremely popular. We have been inundated with requests for a General IT Glossary so we have decided to include a Glossary area on the Website and this will be ready very soon.
This week, we are continuing with:
Batch file
These are small text files which run under MS-DOS. Each file contains MS-DOS commands on each line. Batch files have a .BAT extension.
System administrators use Batch files to run automated tasks but these files can also be used to harbour virus installation files.
Bayesian filter
This is a small program used to scan the header and content of an inbound email, it will decide whether it goes to the spam folder or the inbox. At its simplest, Bayesian filtering examines both spam and legitimate email’s and learns from the content which is spam and which is legitimate.
Bot
A Bot is a form of malware which gives the Bot writer access to your system and take full control. Your system would then become a member of the Botnet which is explained below.
Botnet
Botnet’s are a network of infected PC’s or Servers which have been taken over and used to flood the internet with Spam, Spyware or Viruses.
A Botnet can be made up of anything from one hundred to over a hundred thousand infected machines. You may not even be aware of your PC being infected, or the signs could range from your PC slowing down to strange messages appearing on the screen or even the PC starting to crash regularly.
To protect against becoming a victim to Botnet, you should take note of the following:
- Always use mainstream Anti Virus software and keep it up to date
- Follow advice on Web Browser security settings
- Never open email attachments unless you are 100% happy with the source of the email
- Always keep your Windows Operating system up to day via Microsoft Windows Update
The Glossary will continue next week. In the meantime, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, details are on the Contact Page.
IT Security Terms Part 2
Last modified on 2010-06-24 12:04:32 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Glossary of IT Security Terms
Welcome to the second instalment of our Glossary, we had some good feedback from last week’s instalment and we look forward to your feedback this week too.
This week, we are continuing with:
Back Door
A Back Door is an area within an application, normally developed to allow the developers access to install updates and fix problems with the application. The Back Door must be kept secure and hidden at all times otherwise a hacker could find it.
Background Scanning
This is a feature in many Anti Virus applications, it allows the Anti Virus software to scan all new files created or downloaded in real-time.
Backup
A Backup is a copy of your important data, this is probably one of the most, if not, THE most important computing task on the list. In business terms, a complete Data Backup can potentially save your company from failure. Read about Data Backup in one of our earlier blogs here.
The Glossary will continue next week.
In the meantime, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Glossary of IT Security Terms
Last modified on 2010-06-09 09:37:13 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
I am often asked questions like “I thought Spyware was a virus, what is the difference?” and “I have Anti Virus, am I not protected against Spyware”. If we all knew the meaning of the general technology terms, then we would all have a much clearer understanding and could have that added knowledge that we could better protect our data, and our identities.
We have been working on a General IT Security Terms Glossary and will be updating our blog on a weekly basis with the terms and their meanings. This in turn will help you understand the general IT terms and phrases and will give you a better understanding of what those other IT Pro’s mean when they talk IT Jargon!
This week, we are going to start with:
ActiveX
You may have come across a message in Internet Explorer telling you that a web page wants to load an ActiveX controller? Well, an ActiveX controller is a small software component that will help a website application work to its full potential. Whilst this is a genuine piece of software, ActiveX controls can sometimes help cyber criminals access your PC, or help viruses penetrate your PC. So whilst ActiveX controls are mainly genuine, unfortunately they can sometimes be used to cause damage.
Adware
Adware is usually distributed through the use of free software, 99% of the time it is a way for the software developer to re-coup the costs of the development of the software by analysing the internet usage of the user and then displaying relevant advertisements to them. There are occasions when Adware can be reclassified as Spyware or Malware.
Applet
An applet is small application delivered over the Internet, usually as an addition to a web page. Usually these are referred to as Java Applets which can be picked up as a security alert in Internet Explorer, 99% of the time these are safe to run.
The Glossary will continue next week.
In the meantime, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, details are on the Contact Page.
Small Rural Village 1 – BT 0
Last modified on 2010-06-02 13:38:24 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Rural Village gets high speed Broadband without the help of BT
Villagers in Lyddington in the Midlands are now enjoying Broadband with speeds of up to 40MB. This comes after BT and other Telecoms suppliers said they could not provide Broadband as it was “not economical” so the villagers raised £37,000 and setup their own network (Rutland Telecom) which now offers the service to the homes in the village.
Villagers and a Local IT Company setup their own Telecoms company, went through the official procedures with Ofcom and two years later they are a Telecoms Company who have taken over a portion of the BT Network, they now have their own fibre network supplying residents in the village.
Rutland Telecom has been approached by other rural villages in the same situation, to see if it is possible for them to use the same approach.
This has to be one of the best stories I have read in a long time, and shows others that the impossible is always possible.
For the full BBC News story, click here
Super Fast Broadband for all
Last modified on 2010-06-02 13:38:52 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Another political pledge for Broadband for all
Yet another pledge for Broadband for every home in the UK, only this time the pledge is for “Super Fast Broadband for every UK home by 2020”
Gordon Brown promised “Super-Fast broadband will be available to every home in the UK by 2020”
This sounds very familiar, in 2009 Conservative leader David Cameron promised Super Fast Broadband to all consumers in the UK within the next 10 years.
Either way, this is very exciting news for all homes in the UK, and especially for those in more rural locations that have never been able to have access to Broadband and are still relying on dial up connections or the more expensive SDSL.
With Government involvement I think we could finally see every UK home connected, MP Jim Knight said “the government had to intervene to ensure Super-Fast broadband reached remote areas of the country”
He told BBC Radio 5 live: “You offer incentives to the market to get to those areas that otherwise they’re not going to be able to make a profit out of going to.”
“By having universal access to this very high bandwidth which allows more streaming video, allows people to watch TV and listen to radio online, it means that we can also release the business and employment potential of this”
“If you just leave it up to the market it’ll only go to into the cities, it won’t get out into rural Cornwall for example without some form of public subsidy.”
The Labour Government is planning to add a monthly 50 pence levy to all landline bills to help subsidise the network upgrade ensuring that rural homes will not be left out.
The Conservatives have answered this saying “we will force BT to open up its network to competition, and if necessary use cash from the BBC licence fee to fill in gaps in the fast broadband network”
The Tories have promised that if they come into power, the UK will have the fasted Broadband in Europe!
Either way, we love the idea of Super Fast Broadband For All
Happy 25th Birthday .COM
Last modified on 2010-06-02 13:39:05 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Believe it or not but it was 25 years today that the first company added .COM
Back in March 1985 there were only 6 registered .com domains!
Today there are over 86 MILLION .com domains!!
With 100,000 .com domains being registered every day.
Just in case you were interested, the first every .com was registered on the 15th March 1985 by a computer manufacturer named Symbolics.
Sadly Symbolics is no longer around, but the domain name symbolic.com is, the company was sold to a company that buys and sells domain names.
Microsoft playing by the EC book
Last modified on 2010-06-02 13:40:02 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
A new Windows update has recently been release and some of you may have only just noticed it now.
You can’t get away from noticing it really, it makes its presence felt as soon as you restart Windows.
There is no warning of it and it can give you quite a shock when it pops up on the screen and you could be mistaken for thinking that your PC has been infected with a Virus or a piece of Malware, and if you ignore it, it will not go away either.
Back In December 2009, the European Commission and Microsoft agreed on a number of ongoing competition law issues. Microsoft resided to agreeing to allow PC Manufacturers and PC users to continue installing any Web browser of their choice and to have the option to turn Internet Explorer on or off. Let’s face it, IE has not been the most secure or the most reliable browser lately has it, so users do not want to be left with no choice but to use it!
Microsoft and the EC agreed that the best way to resolve this resolved was to add the Browser Choices software to Windows Update. The Browser Choice screen allows the user to choose to install any of the alternative browsers listed, there is also a MORE INFORMATION button so that you can read a little more on the Browser and decide whether you would like to install it or not. You can of course just stick with Internet Explorer.
This Windows Update is currently in a test phase and will be released across the rest of Europe on the 1st March.
Maybe Microsoft could have branded the box a little better, so that users do not automatically think that they have been infected with a Virus or Malware. Apart from that, it is a useful update.
How would you cope if disaster struck!
Last modified on 2010-06-02 13:40:03 GMT. 3 comments. Top.
Have you ever thought about how you would cope if a disaster struck?
A disaster such as:
- Fire
- Flood
- Theft
- Failed hard drive
- Lost USB Key
- Electrical Damage
Can destroy your data in seconds, leaving you with one question……do I have an up to date backup of my data?
If the answer is “yes”, then well done, you are on your way to rebuilding your business and getting back to work.
If on the other hand the answer was “no”, then unless you have a record of every single piece of data that was stored on your Hard Drive, the chances are that you will not be on your way back to rebuilding your business, you may well be out of business completely.
As horrible as that may sound, it is a fact.
The easiest way of preventing this from happening is to introduce a reliable backup method into your business day.
This could be in the form of a simple file copy to a USB key, but just remember USB keys are small and can be easily lost, so try not to rely on this method.
Some reliable methods are:
USB Hard Disk:
Connected in the morning and run a simple backup within the last 15 minutes of the day, then disconnect the drive and take it with you.
NAS:
Network Attached Storage devices are becoming increasingly popular, not just in the work place but also in our daily lives.
With the advent of digital media, new operating systems such as Windows 7 now allow us to actively share and stream our music, videos and photos throughout the home. This leads to incredibly large amounts of precious data sitting on laptops.
NAS units allow you to have a single storage device connected to your home or office network, with the option of several hard disks to store the data on, not only do you have the option to backup your laptops or pc’s to one of the hard disks, but the NAS units can replicate the same data onto a second available hard disk so should the Primary Hard Disk become faulty, don’t worry, you can just swap it with the second Hard Disk in the unit. There are also some NAS units that can stream your ITunes libraries with some home Music Centre’s.
NAS units come in many different forms for home and business use, depending on your business these can range from small 2 bay units to 4 bay units or even rack mounted NAS units.
Online backups:
Together with an onsite backup (NAS for example) this is the most reliable way of backing up your data.
Choosing the right host is imperative, especially if you are a business that stores customer data, as you could find yourself breaking the Data Protection Laws set by your country.
Once you have chosen your online backup host, you simply select what you will be backing up and how often you will be backing up. Then you leave it to backup. The first backup will take a long time depending on how much data you are backing up, once the first backup is complete, from then on it will be incremental, so only new or amended files.
It is worth noting that if your only means of Internet Connection is a Dial up connection or a 3G connection then this method will not be of any use to you.
Would you like some more information?
Whether you are a business looking to discuss your current Backup methods or a home user looking for some further advice, please feel free to contact us.
Microsoft confirm second security flaw in IE this year
Last modified on 2010-06-02 13:40:03 GMT. 1 comment. Top.
Microsoft have today confirmed a vulnerability in Internet Explorer, the second this year alone.
This new security vulnerability could allow a hacker or cyber criminals to access data stored on the infected computer, This can easily be done by redirecting the user to a Website posing as an authentic site but which is infected with malicious code. As soon as the user clicks on to the web page, the malicious code is automatically downloaded to their PC, giving the hacker access to the computer and all files and documents.
Back in January, Microsoft hadto release an emergency patch to plug a vulnerability in Internet Explorer 6 that allowed criminals to hack in to the Gmail accounts of human rights activists and Chinese dissidents, and attack Google.
Only computer users running Windows XP, the operating system launched in 2001, are at risk from the vulnerability, said Microsoft. It recommended that users enable a feature within XP known as the “network protocol lockdown”
Users running Internet Explorer 7 and Internet Explorer 8 in Protected Mode are not at risk, said Microsoft, and nor are those users running Windows Vista and the most recent Microsoft operating system, Windows 7.
