Tag Archives: may
Is your website hackable? Why you need to worry (Page 1 of 3)
Apocalypse Now
Just because you think your data is safe does not mean your database of sensitive organization information has not already been cloned and is resident elsewhere ready to be sold to the highest bidder. To make matters worse, only recently, it has been discovered that hackers are not simply selling your; theyre also selling the fact that you have vulnerabilities to others be they hackers, industrial spies or terrorists.
It all sounds apocalyptic, doesnt it? Well, rather than being an angel of doom, Ill let the stats speak for themselves.
TJX Companies Inc.,
TJX Companies, owners of T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Winners, HomeGoods, A.J. Wright, and Bobs stores, on the 17th January this year, disclosed that 40 million of their customers credit and debit card details were stolen. In parallel, federal credit union SEFCU published a similar warning that the personal details of 10,000 of its customers were compromised in the hack attack.
Another 60 banks including Citizen Union Savings Bank and Bank of America seem to have customers whose credit and debit cards have been breached in this attack.
Ben Cammarata, Chairman and Acting Chief Executive Officer of TJX Companies, stated that the nature of the hack is not known and two computer security experts are at hand examining the problem. The warning issued by SEFCU sheds greater light and states A fraudster may have gained access to
card information through one of those entities in the payment network, including the merchant.
SC Magazine reports that hackers used data from the breach to purchase goods in a number of states in the US, in Hong Kong and in Sweden.
A digest of the latest developments follows:
* According to 3WCAX-TV Website, the attack is expected to cost consumers one-point-five (M) million dollars. This article was published before law suits started sprouting. * Brian Fraga, Standard-Times, reports that a class action lawsuit filed this week in U.S. District Court (Boston) against TJX. The amount of damages sought is undisclosed. According to SC Magazine, yesterday a West Virginia resident slapped another lawsuit and is suing TJX for $5 million. * U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, has called for the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the hacking, according to a eport today in the Boston Globe. * Today, the Government of Canada, stated that it is launching an investigation into TJX and the data breach. * Of note is that the hacking may have started in May 2006 and the breach was discovered only in December 2006 (and publicized in January 2007).
Universities
University systems are usually highly decentralized which makes it hard to ensure tight security. To the extent that one department may have deployed a hardened security infrastructure while others loll in lax measures making the whole system weak.
Tips to Ensure a Smooth Migration to IP Telephony
There are a number of reasons which make VoIP telephony an appealing addition to any modern business, and those who have switched from a traditional telephone system will have done so with clear objectives in mind. If youre considering migrating to a VoIP service provider, consider the following questions to ensure a stress-free migration.
What do you want to achieve through switching to a VoIP service provider?
When making decisions on behalf of your business, its important to set some clear objectives. You must first understand the reasons driving the switch – perhaps you need to cut costs on lengthy international calls, modernise old equipment or improve your communications as a whole. Be clear on your goals, and always keep them in mind when reviewing service providers.
What VoIP package best suits the business?
When you have an understanding on the reasoning behind the switchover, seek out a provider that can help you to achieve those specific needs or requirements. Every business is unique, so shop around for a service that suits you.
While every business is unique, so is every VoIP provider, and many providers will be flexible with the services they offer and should be able to accommodate your specific needs. It pays to speak with prospective providers about your specific requirements to help inform your decision.
Does the provider understand the business?
If a VoIP provider understands your business, they can detect possible issues before they arise, saving both parties time and money. For instance, in a seasonal business, a high call volume around Christmas may cause time lag and call-quality issues. A reliable VoIP provider will preempt this situation, and prepare for it before it becomes an issue.
Are staff able to use the new systems?
As with any new software/hardware, staff will need to receive some training in the functional aspects of VoIP before it is implemented throughout the business. While some deployments are more complex than others, a typical VoIP system should be simple to grasp and designed to be user friendly, so the transition should be a smooth one.
Can you trust the provider?
Typically, when you make the transition to a hosted VoIP system, the only thing hosted on site are the handsets. On occasion you may wish to see whats happening behind the scenes, and a trustworthy supplier should allow you to so. If a supplier has made considerable investments in technology, they will be proud of their facilities.
Its also important to ensure that the provider isnt just a reseller of other providers services and that they have technical knowledge and resources to manage any eventuality, no matter how complex.
And finally…
A business should learn from any mistakes or successes made in the deployment process. If there are some obvious areas for improvement, then revise the plans for any work going forward. If youre deploying a a multi-site roll out then any refinements now will save time and money later. Also be sure to understand any implications of adding additional handsets or functionality further down the line.
Tips to Ensure a Smooth Migration to IP Telephony
There are a number of reasons which make VoIP telephony an appealing addition to any modern business, and those who have switched from a traditional telephone system will have done so with clear objectives in mind. If youre considering migrating to a VoIP service provider, consider the following questions to ensure a stress-free migration.
What do you want to achieve through switching to a VoIP service provider?
When making decisions on behalf of your business, its important to set some clear objectives. You must first understand the reasons driving the switch – perhaps you need to cut costs on lengthy international calls, modernise old equipment or improve your communications as a whole. Be clear on your goals, and always keep them in mind when reviewing service providers.
What VoIP package best suits the business?
When you have an understanding on the reasoning behind the switchover, seek out a provider that can help you to achieve those specific needs or requirements. Every business is unique, so shop around for a service that suits you.
While every business is unique, so is every VoIP provider, and many providers will be flexible with the services they offer and should be able to accommodate your specific needs. It pays to speak with prospective providers about your specific requirements to help inform your decision.
Does the provider understand the business?
If a VoIP provider understands your business, they can detect possible issues before they arise, saving both parties time and money. For instance, in a seasonal business, a high call volume around Christmas may cause time lag and call-quality issues. A reliable VoIP provider will preempt this situation, and prepare for it before it becomes an issue.
Are staff able to use the new systems?
As with any new software/hardware, staff will need to receive some training in the functional aspects of VoIP before it is implemented throughout the business. While some deployments are more complex than others, a typical VoIP system should be simple to grasp and designed to be user friendly, so the transition should be a smooth one.
Can you trust the provider?
Typically, when you make the transition to a hosted VoIP system, the only thing hosted on site are the handsets. On occasion you may wish to see whats happening behind the scenes, and a trustworthy supplier should allow you to so. If a supplier has made considerable investments in technology, they will be proud of their facilities.
Its also important to ensure that the provider isnt just a reseller of other providers services and that they have technical knowledge and resources to manage any eventuality, no matter how complex.
And finally…
A business should learn from any mistakes or successes made in the deployment process. If there are some obvious areas for improvement, then revise the plans for any work going forward. If youre deploying a a multi-site roll out then any refinements now will save time and money later. Also be sure to understand any implications of adding additional handsets or functionality further down the line.