Web Hosting Rating

Four Critical Web Hosting Security Features

Security is a vital aspect whether you are running a personal or business website.  Hackers are on the prowl and if your site and hosting environment is not secure, you could be hit with excessive downtime or worse, have all of your confidential information stolen.  It all sounds grim, but getting yourself a secure hosting solution doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.  The key is knowing what to look for and understanding which security elements should come as standard features.

SSL Support

If you plan to sell products and services from your website, SSL is a security feature you can’t be without.  Short for Secure Sockets Layer, SSL is an encryption protocol that creates a secure tunnel between you in the web server.  This means that instead of sensitive information, such as login and credit card details, traveling over the internet in plain text, data is scrambled in a way that ensures it will not be compromised, even if intercepted by an intruder.  Although most web hosting providers offer free shared SSL certificates, you may want to find a company that allows you to purchase and incorporate your own private certificate for enhanced security.

Intrusion Detection

While most web hosts protect their networks with firewalls, not all of them are properly managed, a factor that can result in a wide range of attacks on the server.  A company that is serious about security will maintain redundant firewall components and also allow you to directly or indirectly make adjustments to the rules.  For instance, if your site begins to experience a significant amount of malicious traffic, the web host should give you the ability to add the IP addresses of malicious visitors to the firewall ACL (access control list).  You can take security one step further by signing up with a host that offers an IDS or Intrusion Detection System.  Though similar to a firewall, IDS gives you tighter security as its method of packet filtering digs deeper to halt attacks before they reach the server.

DDoS Protection

Short for Distributed Denial of Service, DDoS is one of the most basic attacks yet also one of the most severe and difficult to prevent.  This type of exploit can slow down a web hosting provider’s entire network along with each website hosted on the same node.  So even if an attacker is only trying to bring down a single site, all customers can suffer if they are hosting on a shared server.  Anti-DDoS technology is now implemented into newer firewalls and routers, a feature neither you nor your web host can afford to sacrifice.

Spam Filtering

Most people don’t view spam as a threat but it is that type of thinking that can lead to disaster.  Aside from hogging system resources and slowing do the server, these messages often carry viruses, worms, Trojans and other types of malicious software.   If it isn’t a harmful program, it is a well crafted scam where someone purports as a legitimate company in attempt to steal your personal information and assets.  The spam filter has become a common web hosting feature and one you need in any type of solution.

Conclusion

Security features should standard with every web hosting plan but unfortunately, they don’t.  This is why it is so important to do your homework and find a company that puts the customer first by practicing sound security.

Web Hosting with PHP

Static web pages are easy to come by these days and simple to create.  In general, creating them doesn’t call for you to have any working knowledge of HTML, the most common web programming language of them all.  On the other hand, you may feel that your site requires a more dynamic construction that appeals to visitors with interactive features.  Programming languages are widely available but one of the most powerful of all is PHP.

What is PHP?

Short for Hypertext Preprocessor, PHP is an object orientated server-side scripting language used to build dynamic web pages and applications.  As an open-source language, PHP is actively supported by a large community of developers.  The mere open-source nature gives it numerous advantages over proprietary server-side scripting languages, mainly from a cost perspective.  Because there are no expensive licensing fees involved, PHP has now become the most popular server-side programming language in the world, offered by almost every web hosting provider on the market.

PHP in Action

A web host using PHP filters a document request at the server and then generates the output to a web browser in PHP.  Like other languages, these documents are typically written in the client-side HTML language with PHP tags inserted.  Despite being open-source, these tags are cross-platform, having the ability to run on both Windows and Linux platforms.  In regard to output, PHP can generate almost any format be it XHTML or XML.

The Advantages of PHP

PHP offers several benefits to developers.  It allows you to perform any CGI tasks including generating dynamic web applications and sending or receiving cookies.  You can also use PHP to output Flash videos, PDF files and instant graphics at lightning speed.  This is all made possible by the language’s ability save the necessary files in a built-in file system and run a server-side cache.  PHP delivers a number of advanced features that can be of great assistance to the seasoned developer.  The power of PHP isn’t limited to experienced users.  Beginners will be happy to know that this is one of the easiest server-side scripting languages to learn and code with.

A PHP-based solution generally comes included with a variety of programs scripted in the language, giving you applications that range from the WordPress blogging platform to the phpBB forum software.  You will also find that PHP is typically offered in more affordable web hosting solutions.  This is especially true when other open-source technologies are involved.  Some of the features you may find bundled together with PHP include Perl and Python programming languages as well as MySQL or Postgre SQL databases.  These technologies generally integrate seamlessly with one another and allow you to enjoy the best PHP has to offer.

PHP is one of the most efficient programming languages available, offering ease of use to the beginner and sophistication for the advanced user.  You can really get tremendous value from PHP when finding it in a web hosting package that offers the latest version on a reliable platform.

The Essentials of Windows Hosting

Although competitors have emerged, Microsoft is still the most widely used operating system available.  The platform has become the de facto standard in most homes as well as many corporate offices.  Though home and professional users benefit from Windows XP and Vista, Microsoft unleashes some of its more powerful products for the server environment.  The Windows operating system is gaining momentum in the web hosting industry thanks to the power and functionality it offers.  This article will introduce you to some of the most essential components behind the Windows platform.

The Web Server

The driving force behind Windows hosting is IIS (Internet Information Server), Microsoft’s dynamic server technology.  IIS is compromised of a group of servers which include an HTTP server and an FTP server.  This framework is specifically designed to support the capabilities of Microsoft products such as the Windows NT and Windows 2000 Server operating system.  The creation of IIS enabled Microsoft to compete in the server market with other solutions by Apache, Sun Microsystems and O’Reilly.  IIS has been integrated with sets of programs designed for creating websites, search engines and applications that access databases.  By integrating in such a seamless fashion with the Windows operating systems, IIS is able to ensure faster response times.

The Programming Technologies

Microsoft’s proprietary server-side programming language ASP, (Actives Server Pages), is specifically designed to run on IIS, which is the standard platform for utilizing it.  Windows got more advanced with the release of ASP.NET, a newer programming language based on the original ASP and the .NET Framework.  IIS also supports many other technologies, allowing you to effectively develop your site with tools such as CGI, PHP and Perl.

The Databases

To no surprise, Microsoft has developed its own database systems to function in the web hosting environment.  Its most widely used databases are Microsoft Access and the SQL Server, more commonly known as MS SQL.  MS SQL databases are of a relational nature, enabling highly optimized communication between the server and your website for the quick retrieval of data.  MS Access databases are merely database files created with the Access database system, providing the web server with read and write capabilities.  While these are the two prominent databases, Windows hosting also supports MySQL, a relational database system that is similar to the SQL Server.  Each of these databases offer all the power to play the backend for your website data and applications.

The Final Word

Because Windows is so rich in Microsoft products, this type of hosting solution is best when these technologies are desired or needed.  At the same time, more webmasters and developers are finding that Windows makes a good choice for web hosting.  The technologies grow more sophisticated every year, making the platform more functional, stable and secure.  Windows is increasingly gaining additional support from software developers, allowing you to incorporate various pre-scripted programs and technologies into your hosting environment.  Competitive in terms of price, features and power, it is not hard to understand why Windows has become a preferred choice for professional web hosting.

What Makes Shared Hosting So Popular?

Ready to create an image online?  You’re not the only one.  Everyday, more people are realizing all the benefits provided by the Internets world wide reach.  This is really understandable from a business aspect.  Making the investment, creating and building a website is much cheaper and easier than dealing with the traditional brick and mortar storefront.  When it comes to marketing yourself online, the possibilities are endless.  Whether it is for personal or business matters, shared hosting represents the easiest way to stake your claim in the one and only Information Highway.

Web hosting is the type of service you need to get a website and the wide variety of solutions can be very confusing.  There is free hosting, dedicated hosting and even more niche variations like green hosting and ASP hosting. When factoring in virtual private servers and colocation, you have a plethora of options that can really get your head to spinning.  Shared hosting is the most common form and perhaps the most straightforward as well.

Why Shared Hosting?

Shared hosting is named as such because you are actually sharing components with other users.  You share an operating system like Windows or Linux along with resources that include disk space, RAM and CPU among others.  Shared hosting also calls for you to share bandwidth, an internet connection and the actual server hardware.  This type of arrangement is ideal for a large group of people mainly because it is so affordable.  Shared hosting has become such a popular choice that you can easily find a plan for anywhere from $5 to $10 dollars a month.  While it makes a better option for someone with minimal needs, shared hosting doesn’t mean you have to be limited.  In fact, most web hosts offer plenty of disk space, bandwidth and all the features you can handle.

A Feature-rich Solution

Web hosting technology has evolved to the point where shared hosting providers can offer numerous features for a very low price.  You typically get multiple email accounts and webmail to stay in touch with contacts, a file manager and a building tool to create your website.  Shared hosting appeals to advanced users with scripting languages such as ASP, Perl and PHP for creating dynamic, interactive web pages.  With so many companies moving their businesses online, e-commerce features have become a common thing on the shared hosting market.  Free shopping cart software and PayPal integration allow you to set up a storefront quickly.

A Great First Choice

Shared hosting offers numerous benefits but is actually geared toward individuals and small businesses.  As your site grows, your demands will increase.  Over time you will require more resources, flexibility, control, better performance and tighter security.  When this is the case, a shared server may no longer be able to meet your needs.  This means that you are doing something right and need to consider renting a dedicated server.  Until that time comes however, a reliable company can make sure you enjoy affordable hosting while getting yourself established on the web.

Practicing Password Security

Many novice webmasters do not think much about security as it relates to usernames and passwords.  Some may believe that it is of little importance – that is until they find themselves the victim of a website attack.  When you don’t take the time to create strong passwords, you are essentially creating a major security flaw in your website.  This article will discuss the vulnerability of passwords and provide tips for making sure they are secure.

Password Basics

When trying to secure the sensitive areas of your site, it is important to make sure the username and password are of no relation.  Here is a simple example – if your username is Dallas, using Cowboys as the password would not be a smart move.  This is the ultimate no-no when it comes to website security.  Your password also should not consist of any words or phrases obviously associated with you.  This could be a child’s name, pet’s name or birthday.  Personal details represent the first type of information a hacker will attempt to break into your website.  Because hacking tools and techniques have become so advanced, even words and phrases not directly associated with you could also leave your site vulnerable.

Resisting Brute Force

One of the most effective hacking methods is called a dictionary attack.  This technique is a more advanced form of brute force where the attacker tries a large a number of possible password combinations.  Instead, they try every word in the dictionary to crack into your site.  These attacks make it inadvisable to use in any common word that can be found in an English dictionary for a password.

The most secure passwords consists of combinations of letters and numbers.  It helps to alternate randomly between upper case and lower case letters as “a” and “A” are not viewed the same in cryptography.  Symbols also play a vital role in strengthening the security of your passwords.  While these unusual combinations could possibly make it more difficult to remember your password, it also makes it harder for an intruder to figure it out.  By mixing up the characters, you have a much better chance of deterring a hacker to the point where they become frustrated and move onto the next potential victim.

Simple and Secure

To make your passwords secure and easy to remember, you could use something that is basic and then add mixed characters to it.  This could be something as simple as “Mypass**561″.  The meaning is obvious to you but will likely take a hacker days, weeks, months or possibly years to crack.  Regardless of how powerful their hacking tools are, the most determined intruder doesn’t have the time to spend on a single website.

Additional Tip

To be on the safe side, we recommend using different usernames and passwords for each active account you have.  If you don’t and someone gets a hold of your login credentials, they can easily access all the details pertaining to your digital life.  If you are one of millions of consumers who do their banking online, this is definitely something that needs to be taken very seriously.