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NGINX Reveals Commercial Support for Open Source Web Server

suhailajmal — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:03:22 +0000

A screenshot of NGINX's commercial support page

NGINX, the open source web server, revealed on Tuesday that they are now capable of offering commercial support services for organizations. These include a wide range of technical support along with consultations to solve any problem clients may have. This marks the first time the open source server has opted for such offers.

Incidentally, the technical support is for those entities who think they require more aid than what is normally dispensed by the staff. NGINX is currently providing three of such packages namely Essential, Advanced and Premium. All of these are designed to provide optimum support for installation, configuration, performance enhancement, software management along with full optimization aid.

Additionally, NGINX will also provide custom consultation services to aid clients who require personalized solutions for their problems. They might need flexible settings or additional applications for instance. NGINX promises to provide solutions for them and more. In fact, the company also enjoys SLA-based support as it is considered one out of the top 5 open source applications.

“These options were designed with NGINX business users in mind,” said Andrey Alexeev, of NGINX. “Whether you are using a single NGINX instance or thousands of NGINX based web servers for commercial applications, we now have direct vendor support to suit all levels of demand. We listen very carefully to our customers, and the commercial technical support packages are designed to address their most common needs. Several enterprises have already subscribed, and in the future we will be offering more services based on customer feedback.”

Besides these services, NGINX also provides solutions for technical glitches and places development first. Members are also kept notified regarding major adjustments, security problems, newly released software along with frequent updates.

Individuals interested in the package will be privy to a 3 or 12 month contract with an expected price range from $1,100 to $12,000 on a yearly basis. Additionally, Advanced and Premium options are also on offer for those who require installation services and optimized aid.

Original: NGINX Reveals Commercial Support for Open Source Web Server

Your Guide to SSL Certificates

DN — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:42:20 +0000

(From Website Hosting)

Secure Socket Layers (SSL) are protocols that permit the secure communication across points on the Internet. This allows web browsers to connect to websites and the servers they are hosted on. All trusted eCommerce hosting sites will utilize this technology to ensure their consumers are protected from phishing, hacking and other forms of data stealing. Therefore, for those attempting to establish an online business, it is critical to learn about SSL certificates.

Domain Validation

There are a variety of options available in the eCommerce hosting marketplace that can be purchased with a monthly package. The type selected depends on the type of business. One type known as domain validation is the most inexpensive options and is only a small monthly charge with your primary plan. Domain validation only requires you to submit validation other than domain ownership which is an easy task to accomplish.

These can be easily acquired within a few minutes following the placement of a hosting order. This type of certificate is available in 128 and 256 bit encryption. Unfortunately because this takes minimal effort, this certificate may not completely persuade your customer that your site is 100 percent safe and reliable.

Organization Validation

This type of SSL certificate is the one of the most secure. It is offered only in 256-bit encryption and typically purchased by large organizations concerned with developing a strong, trusting relationship with their customers. To purchase this certificate, organizational documents must be submitted and reviewed. This type can cost hundreds of dollars per year but offers the ultimate trust factor for consumers.

Extended Validation

Extended validation provides the highest level of security and protection of customers amongst all SSL certificates. As a result it is the most expensive but worth every penny. For sensitive information such as medical records and banking information, this is the only options that should be selected. Also, if you have a hosted shopping cart, your customers will know you went the extra mile to protect their information.

For those entering the eCommerce industry, now that you are aware of the available options, it is best to select a certificate that best fits your needs. For those that believe an SSL certificate is not necessary to properly run an online business; think again. If a hacker penetrates the system and acquires access to all customer information, it could be the end of your online empire.

Original: Your Guide to SSL Certificates

Information Security Measures for Website Hosting

DN — Sun, 29 May 2011 12:55:47 +0000

(From Website Hosting)

Internet security is major concern for all type of businesses. Website host companies can achieve the clients’ confidence by securing their site’s critical information against all type of threats and especially the attacks from hackers. Even the online shoppers only shop when they have a feel of having secure and reliable financial transactions. The big companies manage this challenge by establishing a demilitarized zone (DMZ) area for checking and verifying all the requests. An effective measure against the hackers is to have strong passwords (alpha, numeric & 10 characters) exclusive for each user.

Additional security measures include firewall, antivirus and antispyware applications to safeguard against vulnerabilities of hacking and other threats. It is essential to have these applications updated to ensure safety against newly developed viruses. The firewalls are available in two categories:

Software Firewalls – These can be installed in your PC and provide reasonable safety features while the PC is online.
Hardware Firewalls – These are feature rich and better than Software Firewalls.

The ultimate arrangement would be to use the combination of both hardware and software firewalls for effective safety results. These must be applied to each Internet connection and server being used for the IT services.

You need to use an exclusive and dedicated server for safe hosting purposes. The Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is considered as an essential part of many web applications. An important indication to look for the safe websites is to have a look at the start of their URL. If the URL starts with https:// instead of http:// then the exchange of information is in encrypted mode. The SSL protocol ensures that the financial transactions, through online credit card payments, are routed to actual and genuine sites and not to the fake sites. The generation of certificate signing request (CSR) is also possible for submission to the certificate authority (CA) which can validate, through telephonic call and issuance of digital signature, for subsequent use by the web browser. These services are charged by the CAs and there are many discount offers available from different companies.

Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) are universal specifications designed and developed for implementation by such companies that carry out processing, storing and transmitting of credit card parameters. As per the PCI Security Standards Council, there are twelve requirements, for PCI compliance, which are governed by following six objectives:

Installing and maintaining a firewall
Protecting cardholder information
Maintaining management program for vulnerabilities
Implementing strong access-control actions
Regularly monitoring and testing networks
Maintaining policy to address IT security

The stated objectives can be achieved by having strategies like keeping as required, using third party arrangement for online payments, using PA-DSS for payments, securing PINs and secured record keeping of paper receipts.

By taking all these security measures you can feel comfortable for having secured your site from the hackers and other attacks with a reasonable security level. However, you will need to be on the watch for upgrades of these applications to earn status of trustworthy site and be a reference model for others.

Original: Information Security Measures for Website Hosting

Version 4.3.2 of iOS Software Issued by Apple

DN — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:29:59 +0000

(From Website Hosting)

Apple has reportedly issued version 4.3.2 of the iOS software, going by reports issued on Friday. The update includes a patch which is meant to tackle the Comodo SSL breach that occurred last month.

Two Comodo resellers were subject to a hacking attack which led to the issuance of many rogue SSL certifications for some well-known communications services. The major browser developers had been quick to issue updates to mark the fake certificates as invalid.

Users downloading the update were warned in a note that the fake SSL certificates issued by Comodo’s affiliate registration authority may allow hackers to steal the user’s private and sensitive information. The update is necessary for the Safari browser in iOS while a patch has been issued for MAC OS X users.

Two updates have been issued to the rendering engine, Webkit, for Safari. They are aimed to prevent hackers from using codes if a user visits a malicious website. The libxslt library patch was fixed and Quicklook was updated – to prevent Microsoft Office files from running malicious codes.

Coupled with the security patches, many bug fixes for 3G connectivity were included. Other fixes were for Facetime video chat tool and applications operating on iOS devices.

Original: Version 4.3.2 of iOS Software Issued by Apple

Maximizing E-Commerce Conversions by Optimizing Website Design

DN — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:40:16 +0000

(From Website Hosting)

Every online business owner and entrepreneur knows that you can have as much web traffic as you’d like, but it doesn’t amount to anything without a high conversion rate. Converting web traffic into customers is a difficult process that requires several stages – pre-selling, establishing professionalism, and providing a detailed overview of your product or services. To do this effectively you will need a properly designed website that is both easy to navigate and robust with features and functionality. To maximize e-commerce conversions you’ll want to utilize a combination of on page keyword related content, off page search engine optimization, and targeted traffic sources. The following information teaches you how to maximize e-commerce conversions by optimizing website design.

Optimizing Landing Pages

Since landing pages are the first web pages that your visitors will see when they arrive at your website, it is imperative to ensure that these pages are designed most efficient. Every landing page should contain what is known as “sticky” content, which is basically content that gives the visitor incentive to remain on the page for more than 30 seconds. Many marketers decide to use videos for such purposes, as the majority of web surfers will stop and watch a video if one is loaded on the page. Another way to grab the interest of a site visitor is to utilize flash animations, on page interactive games, music, and even integration with social networking websites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

Establishing Professionalism

Once you’ve captured the attention of your visitor with landing page, they may be sent directly to a checkout page, or they may decide to browse around the rest of your website before purchasing your product or service. You need to ensure that, when they arrive on the other page on your site it appears to be just as professional and is just as captivating as your previously designed landing page. Ideally, you want the theme of the rest of your website to match the landing page, in order to provide a visually enjoyable experience for your visitors. Be sure to use many categories, tags, and submenus to simplify user navigation for your website visitors. You can also use stamps from organizations such as the Better Business Bureau, and other website certificates like SSL certificates (which are security certificates issued by web hosting providers).

Maximizing Potential through Advertising

Once your website is professionally designed and you have a landing page that is bringing decent conversion rates, you want to maximize your income potential by placing contextual advertising on all of your webpages. Not only will this boost your residual monthly income, it will also add further professionalism to your site, as many novice web surfers will hold the perspective that you are somehow affiliated with many of the large name brands that are advertised through pay per click advertising networks such as Google AdSense. In fact, placing advertises on your webpage can actually bring you a significant full-time income if if the proper keywords are targeted effectively.

Original: Maximizing E-Commerce Conversions by Optimizing Website Design

Ecommerce Stores with a Social Networking Platform

DN — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:11:48 +0000

(From Website Hosting)

On Friday, February 25^th, computing security firm Symantec announced it has partnered with Adgregate Markets, a social commerce organization, to offer SSL certificates and the VeriSign Trust Seal to customers of ShopFans which is a Facebook application for creating ecommerce stores. ShopFans was programmed as a native Facebook platform application that ties brands directly into the infrastructure of Facebook. This includes:

New feeds
Wish lists
Gift registries
Likes
Shares
Flash sales
Loyalty rewards
Social badging

A recent study showed that over 92 percent of executives from leading retailers are focusing their marketing efforts on Facebook and subsequent applications. Furthermore, over 71 percent of users have confirmed they are more likely to make a purchase after “liking” a brand they find online.

Therefore, by combining shopping within Facebook, fans will receive the most secure solution available, which is exactly what Symantec and Adgregate provide as the leaders in social commerce security. Adgregate has found that ShopFans has combined total annual sales of over $8.5 billion.

Facebook as a platform for internet commerce is irresistible for online shoppers and social media enthusiasts. Therefore, online retailers must realize the importance of their Facebook presence as it establishes a necessary level of trust required to convert fans into customers. Symantec representatives are excited about working with Adgregate who is taking the Facebook experience into a whole new direction.

By adding the recognizable VeriSign Trust Seal from Symantec, Facebook stores developed using ShopFans will convert more browsers into buyers. The seal allows potential buyers to feel much more secure with all transactions they make across Facebook. Since Facebook is already a highly trusted organization, this added security will be a huge boost to consumers and stores alike. Its win-win for all parties involved.

The VeriSign Trust Seal independently authenticates the identity of the site operator through the Symantec system. All sites with the seal are automatically scanned each day for malware by Symantec. Therefore, search engines will display the seal next to the name of the site in the search results for better visibility. This, in turn, greatly improves traffic to a website while building relationships with customers.

The collaboration will prove to be highly profitable for the three business entities involved. Since Facebook is such a popular communication medium and Symantec is the most reputable online security system in the world, customers can now feel completely at ease when shopping in the Facebook marketplace.

Original: Ecommerce Stores with a Social Networking Platform

Comodo And HostDime Offer SSL Certificate Promotion As Partners

DN — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 11:32:46 +0000

(From Website Hosting)

Comodo and HostDime have come up with a strategic alliance recently where they will present special promotions at discount prices. The partnership will offer Comodo’s Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificates when a customer will purchase any yearly SSL Certificate for limited period.

“We are pleased to partner with HostDime by providing their customers with an extraordinary value for SSL Certificates that has never before been available to consumers in order to create trust online and make Internet security affordable to all,”

said the vice president of business development, Comodo CA Ltd, James Langman.

The combined reputation of these 2 prominent I T companies has seen success and evolution over the past years as they strove together to build up trust in online dealings with customers and businesses.

“We are joining Comodo in this endeavor because we have come to admire and respect the ongoing work that Comodo has achieved in the security space and know that by combining forces we will be able to achieve our common goal while providing exceptional customer value in the process,”

said Usman Arshad, director business development at HostDime.com, Inc.

The discounted promotional offer makes available the latest Essential SSL Certs at $20.00 per year, which used to be $50.00 earlier. Plus all new customers who want to register for shared hosting plan also receive a SSL Certificate with any plan that they choose.

Original: Comodo And HostDime Offer SSL Certificate Promotion As Partners

Crucial Security Attributes of E-Commerce Hosting Plans

DN — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:59:39 +0000

(From Website Hosting)

The e-commerce industry has been a significant contributor to the global economy within the past decade. Nearly every industry is becoming heavily competitive online, with businesses being established and competing for the sale of almost every type of product and service imaginable. The Internet provides a unique opportunity for business owners that want to diversify their revenue streams and build a residual income from the comfort of their own homes, and is undoubtedly the largest marketplace ever seen. However aside from being full of prospective clients and customers, the Internet is also home to some of the most intelligent and devious technological criminals. The following paragraphs describe some of the crucial security attributes of e-commerce hosting plans that are designed to keep business websites and their customers safe at all times.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Encryption

SSL is an encryption method used by web hosting providers to secure e-commerce websites. SSL encryption is especially important for checkout pages and web pages that will require the visitor to input sensitive financial information such as credit card numbers, addresses, names, and phone numbers. SSL technology encrypts all of this data before it is sent to the web server, and then decodes it after it reaches the other side. Thus, SSL encryption is a crucial security attribute of an e-commerce hosting plan that keeps hackers and online criminals from intercepting information that can be used for nefarious purposes. In fact, many online shoppers will choose not to shop on a site that does not utilize SSL encryption (or does not have a visible SSL certificate posted).

E-Mail and Text Notifications

As an added precaution, web hosting providers usually give you the option to enable notifications within your control panel. These notifications can be sent via e-mail or text to your cell phone at any time of day or night, and are usually issued when suspicious activity occurs within the account. If someone attempts to change the default e-mail address on your web hosting account, or any other important details related to account management and administration, a notification will be sent to your e-mail address or cell phone immediately. This gives you the opportunity to monitor account activity and effectively prevent a hacker from stealing your web hosting account without you knowing about it.

Secure Payment Processing Pages

Checkout pages do not only utilize the aforementioned SSL encryption technology for protection, they also accept payments through third party payment processors, which provide further protection. Ideally, it is best to combine a reputable payment processor with on page SSL encryption to ensure that payments are handled in a secure and stable fashion. Payment processors are essentially third-party financial institutions that accept payments on behalf of your company, mediating the sale and making it so that customer never has to provide credit card details online through your website. Instead, they would log into their account with the appropriate payment processor (for example PayPal) and then submit payment using one of their verified credit/debit cards or bank accounts that is already associated with their payment processor account.

Original: Crucial Security Attributes of E-Commerce Hosting Plans

Three Important Web Hosting Security Attributes

DN — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:05:53 +0000

(From Website Hosting)

Securing your web hosting account is an essential part of being a webmaster and owning a successful online business. There are a number of ways that hackers and nefarious individuals can gain access to your web hosting plan, including through the use of viruses such as key loggers and Trojans. Once security has been compromised a variety of mishaps may occur, which may include but are not limited to domain theft, website defacing, theft of personal customer details, and even credit card fraud. Fortunately, most web hosting providers focus intensely on providing secure web hosting plans that are protected by a plethora of precautions and advanced technologies. The following are the three most important web hosting security attributes that should be included with every plan.

State-Of-The-Art Encryption

Perhaps the single most important aspect of web hosting security is encryption, which is responsible for keeping data from being intercepted by third parties as it is transmitted from a visitor’s computer to your Web server. The majority of e-commerce websites utilize SSL encryption technology for the checkout process, as is evident by the beginning of the checkout page URL, which contains the letters ‘HTTPS’, with the S standing for secure. Another encryption technology used to secure a web hosting plan and information transmitted through it is SFTP, which thoroughly encrypts data that is uploaded and downloaded to the web server via FTP. Without proper encryption, all of your online transactions will be open to interception and criminal activity.

Automatic Data Backups

Since mistakes do happen, and from time to time security may be compromised or web hosting hardware may fail, it is extremely important to have automatic data backups scheduled on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, depending on how often you update your websites. Fortunately, most web hosting providers offer automatic data backups through an integrated utility within the administrative control panel, which can be adjusted to create and export backups via FTP onto a disk or a location on your computer’s hard drive. If you own a network of websites, many professionals recommend creating a data backup every day, or after every major update. Using one of these backups you can automatically restore every piece of data on your web server if for some reason it is lost, damaged, or stolen.

Responsive and Reliable Support

The most important security attribute of a web hosting plan is responsive and reliable support, as this will ultimately make the difference between waiting hours for a website to be restored to optimal performance, or waiting just a couple of minutes for a comprehensive answer from a friendly support staff. As an online business owner, you probably know all too well that just a couple of minutes of server downtime can result in hundreds or even thousands of dollars in sales lost. When you contact your web hosting support staff you should be greeted with a friendly and timely response, not just in words but in actions as well. The web hosting provider should have the resources and sense of urgency necessary to correct all problems expeditiously.

Original: Three Important Web Hosting Security Attributes

Protecting Personal Information When Using Unreliable Connections

DN — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:00:48 +0000

(From Website Hosting)

With the advancements in technology, the way in which online users utilize the Internet has dramatically changed in recent years. Individuals wanting to surf the web in years past were once required to provide their own personal internet connection. More tech savvy individuals are turning to laptops and other various mobile devices which make it possible to connect to the internet from virtually any location.

With more people turning to laptops and other mobile devices, however, wireless Internet connections are available virtually anywhere.

Along with this convenience, also come additional security risks. Hackers and other cyber criminals now can access the Internet from anywhere as well. Hackers now have easier access and more time to wreck havoc on unsuspecting victims. Therefore, it’s extremely important to take proactive steps to protect your personal information as well as that of your clients.

Ensuring Your Customers’ Safety

Customers’ safety is always a huge concern of any business, especially those with e-commerce ventures offering products or services to their clients. It’s essential to maintain the customer’s trust and handle their private information with the utmost protection.

One of the most important things that a business owner can do to prevent any sort of fraudulent activity is to secure a web host that offers a guarantee committed to security. Sites should always have an active SSL certificate. SSL, which is short for Secure Sockets Layer, helps protect customers by using a two key system to encrypt data. One key is the public key system, which is overall common knowledge. The second is a key system known only to the recipient of the message or the site administrator. Simply by putting the certificate seal on your website, hackers are often quickly deterred. Additionally, customers are also more trusting of a site that displays a SSL seal.

Web Hosting Security Measures

Data encryption adds greater security. All web hosting providers automatically include some sort of data encryption services with their plans; however, it’s always a good idea to exceed basic encryption services. Ask the web hosting provider what additional options they may have available, and always choose the plan with the best security features for the ultimate protection again hackers.

Web hosting plans also come with the availability of integrated application installation processes from third party providers. It’s very important to keep any third party installations to as much of a minimum as possible. The more of these third party applications are installed, the more vulnerable a site becomes to potential hackers.

Another way to reduce vulnerability to hackers is to ensure that your site is protected with a strong password and to ensure customers are well-aware of any signs of fraudulent activities and suspicious e-mails from third parties. Remember, by protecting your clients is also protecting your company’s reputation and potential profits!

Original: Protecting Personal Information When Using Unreliable Connections