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| by Rozey
Gean at Marketing-Seek |
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As an active online shopper, I am always concerned
with security issues regarding the treatment and safety
of my personal credit card number or online check transactions.
As the owner of a web site, I also concern myself with
these same issues to help protect any current or future
clients.
If you're managing a web site, it's a good idea to know
what risks are involved and how to minimize them. A
breach of security provides the criminal with an ability
to gain access into your system.
Why should you safeguard
your data?
- You might have a communal site that is for members
only; or
- You charge an admission fee to access your web site
content; or
- You're conducting business and collect valuable
data from your customers; or
- You have a directory with contents that no one else
should be able to view.
An Easy Target
I find some very interesting information through my online
travels. Some of which, I am certain, the web master did
not intend for me to see. While an intentional hack-attack
may be common, it's important you realize that an assault
need not be malicious to be destructive. Certain information
in the wrong hands can become a major disaster!
As a rule, a criminal generally prefers an easy target,
and computer criminals are no exception. Believe it or
not, hackers actually patrol the Internet looking for
systems they can breach. For some, they make it their
mission in life.
Prevention Methods
A strong preventative measure can be as simple as making
your web site harder to penetrate; or you may choose to
remove important information altogether and store it off-line.
Working on the web without some sort of security is a
disaster waiting to happen. Oftentimes, it is neglect
on the part of the web site owner that provides the hacker
with the capability of infiltrating the system. Don't
become another online statistic when you can take the
necessary steps to secure your web site now. Whether you
have programming experience or not, these methods are
relatively easy and can be done by anyone. For example,
you can:
1. USE PASSWORD PROTECTION
Depending on your needs, it is possible to password protect
one or more directories on your web site. Visitors would
then need the chosen password in order to access the content
of your web pages. If you have access to your own cgi-bin,
you can install Perl scripts. If you don't have access
to your own cgi-bin directory, you may want to consider
changing your host.
2. IMPLEMENT DEFAULT PAGES
By placing a default home page, (index.htm or index.html)
inside each of your web site directories, you are using
a simple technique to prevent directory listings from
showing in a browser window. This works well for an image
directory or an area that holds any client information.
By adding some Meta Tag redirection code to your default
HTML pages, you can steer would-be-hackers away from important
information and lead them to a new destination.
3. USE A RELIABLE HOST SERVER
If you take online orders, make certain your Host provider
offers key cryptography techniques for Internet security
through the SSL (Secure Socket Layer) protocol. If orders
are sent to you by e-mail, find out what type of encryption
method is used for passing this vital information to your
e-mail box.
Frequently asked questions for the SSL Protocol can be
found at: <a href="http://www.faqs.org/faqs/computer-security/ssl-talk-faq/">http://www.faqs.org/faqs/computer-security/ssl-talk-faq/</a>
4. SAFEGUARD YOUR PASSWORDS
I feel silly telling you this but, by keeping your valuable
information to yourself, you are protecting yourself in
the most basic sense. Never share your passwords or login
information with friends or associates. This information
in the wrong hands can lead to your downfall in a matter
of minutes.
Make no mistake...you ARE vulnerable online. One of the
most important factors in achieving a safe and secure
web site is the proper prevention of disaster. By taking
the necessary steps to prevent an attack BEFORE it happens,
you are creating a safe and secure environment for building
client relationships and conducting business. |
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Copyright 2000, Rozey Gean, All Rights Reserved Worldwide
Rozey Gean is the founder of the Marketing-Seek.com
web site where writers, publishers, and online entrepreneurs
are brought together in an easy-to-use, friendly interface.
Your #1 Resource for Content and e-Promotion www.marketing-seek.com
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