Tag Archives: servers
Useful Methods for Circumventing Internet Censors (Page 1 of 2)
Circumventing internet blocks and avoiding censors has become an important part of web surfing for many users. Censors can range from a restrictive government regime to a company or schools IT department and web surfers are always looking for a way to get through tight controls. Users need to maintain a certain level of privacy and anonymity when circumventing censors, especially since many companies will fire an employee for surfing, or in extreme cases a government can fine or imprison a web surfer for browsing on sites they deem to be inappropriate. Many products and services can be found to help users break free of stringent internet censors, allowing netizens to surf freely without the fear of oppressive bodies controlling their every movement. These products offer users unique ways to maintain their internet privacy and connect to the World Wide Web without any restrictions.
One of the ways users can circumvent blocks is with the Java Anon Proxy, commonly referred to as JonDo. This method allows users to choose which network to surf through. These networks are run by independent organizations. After a user chooses their network, the data stream is scrambled and mixed with other users data. This allows users to remain anonymous since anyone attempting to spy on or restrict the data flow is confused by the cluttered connection. Unlike TOR, the operators are not anonymous, which allows a user to decide which operators they will or will not trust with their information. A major drawback of this service is that all the operators, also known as mix cascades, can record their logs and compare them to reveal users online activities.
A second way users can outsmart censors is by using Psiphon. Psiphon is a web proxy that was directly created to circumvent the tight Internet censorship of countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, and Cuba. The traffic between clients and servers is encrypted with “https” as the data is being transferred. Psiphon is offers users the advantage of turning their computers into servers that can display web pages from anywhere. This proxy works over trusted connections as opposed to an open proxy which travels over untrusted networks. Users in countries with tight censorship can log in and send a request to a server located in another country to gain access to blocked websites. Users do not have to download any software, meaning no traces of circumventors are found on the hard drive. While Psiphon can gain access to censored content it does not act as an anonymizer and all the clients activities are logged in Psiphons servers, leaving it vulnerable to cyber attacks and hackers/crackers looking for information.
One of the most popular methods to access censored content is by using anonymous proxy servers, either in website form or software-based. These proxies are very common and can be found through the various search engines. Web-based proxies are very easy to implement, which attests to their abundance. While anonymous proxy sites are easy to block, the ease of creating new ones makes it a common go-to for surfers. Many surfers prefer to use the software-based proxy since it will usually offer more security features, such as encrypting the connection and also hiding the port and origin website of the surfer. Anonymous surfing software and websites allow a user to surf anonymously by redirecting their connection through a server which masks the real IP with one generated by the server. Private proxy servers will also rotate IP addresses and randomly refresh so that a user is not constantly surfing with the same IP address. This allows users facing strict censorship to mask their IP address with one from a different country, which will allow the user free reign to surf the Internet.
Running a Dedicated Server – Part I
Running dedicated servers is never easy, and you will undoubtedly have quite a few settings to sift through if you want to give your users the best experience possible. That being said, how CAN you improve the overall user experience? The first thing you will need to do when setting up any dedicated servers is take a look at the control panel and set up the necessary items. For instance, if you are planning to use this server for public webmail then you may wish to configure the webmail server on the box.
You will need to look around of course and become familiar with the different aspects of your server, and once you do, you will be ready to configure some of the more complicated items. For instance you might move on to the FTP, and the great thing about renting dedicated servers is that the hard part is already done. All you will need to do is configure your FTP password and add users if necessary.
Nameservers should also be configured whether they are being hosted remotely or on the same box. Note that running your own nameservers can actually be quite beneficial to your company as a Whois’ will make it seem as if the company is larger than it is, especially if it is using its own name servers.
Configuring backups is another very important part of your dedicated server, and the option should be sitting in the control panel. These backups will in most cases be recorded to an outside location, but in some cases the backups will actually be stored on the dedicated server in a separate partition. Either will work, but no matter what, make sure your server is performing automatic backups at least once per day. This will ensure that the site stays up and running no matter what!
There are many more aspects in running your own dedicated server of course, and they will be addressed later on. What you need to know right now is that while you have accepted a huge responsibility, it is one that may very well help your company grow into a success. A dedicated server appears more professional, mostly because it is, and it will draw more customers to your website.
You may start with a simple shared hosting plan of course, but it is the eventual goal of any company to move toward the dedicated package. Yes, a dedicated package is going to be more expensive, but there are a few distinct differences. For example a dedicated server will provide you with root access whereas a shard package would give you no such thing. The logic behind this is that you can feel free to disrupt your own experience is one thing, but disrupting the experience of others is certainly unsound. This is decent logic, and it will undoubtedly save many different user experiences whether they are on the user end of your website or on the admin end.
If you’re ready to make a difference in your bui9sness then you’re undoubtedly ready to take advantage of the dedicated server options. Dedicated hosting will open up all kinds of new possibilities for you, some of which are still very much unseen. You never know what might around the corner!
Running a Dedicated Server – Part I
Running dedicated servers is never easy, and you will undoubtedly have quite a few settings to sift through if you want to give your users the best experience possible. That being said, how CAN you improve the overall user experience? The first thing you will need to do when setting up any dedicated servers is take a look at the control panel and set up the necessary items. For instance, if you are planning to use this server for public webmail then you may wish to configure the webmail server on the box.
You will need to look around of course and become familiar with the different aspects of your server, and once you do, you will be ready to configure some of the more complicated items. For instance you might move on to the FTP, and the great thing about renting dedicated servers is that the hard part is already done. All you will need to do is configure your FTP password and add users if necessary.
Nameservers should also be configured whether they are being hosted remotely or on the same box. Note that running your own nameservers can actually be quite beneficial to your company as a Whois’ will make it seem as if the company is larger than it is, especially if it is using its own name servers.
Configuring backups is another very important part of your dedicated server, and the option should be sitting in the control panel. These backups will in most cases be recorded to an outside location, but in some cases the backups will actually be stored on the dedicated server in a separate partition. Either will work, but no matter what, make sure your server is performing automatic backups at least once per day. This will ensure that the site stays up and running no matter what!
There are many more aspects in running your own dedicated server of course, and they will be addressed later on. What you need to know right now is that while you have accepted a huge responsibility, it is one that may very well help your company grow into a success. A dedicated server appears more professional, mostly because it is, and it will draw more customers to your website.
You may start with a simple shared hosting plan of course, but it is the eventual goal of any company to move toward the dedicated package. Yes, a dedicated package is going to be more expensive, but there are a few distinct differences. For example a dedicated server will provide you with root access whereas a shard package would give you no such thing. The logic behind this is that you can feel free to disrupt your own experience is one thing, but disrupting the experience of others is certainly unsound. This is decent logic, and it will undoubtedly save many different user experiences whether they are on the user end of your website or on the admin end.
If you’re ready to make a difference in your bui9sness then you’re undoubtedly ready to take advantage of the dedicated server options. Dedicated hosting will open up all kinds of new possibilities for you, some of which are still very much unseen. You never know what might around the corner!