Web Hosting Geeks' Blog » keylogger http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog Web Hosting Industry News, Latest Trends, and Analyses. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:48:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The Overlooked Connection Between Computer Viruses and Site Securityhttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/12/24/the-overlooked-connection-between-computer-viruses-and-site-security/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/12/24/the-overlooked-connection-between-computer-viruses-and-site-security/#comments Fri, 24 Dec 2010 19:58:54 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=1318 Most site owners are very paranoid about the possibility of their site being stolen or hacked, and are therefore insistent on using a web host that utilizes top notch encryption technology and other security measures. For  a web host, a single lapse in security can result in the loss of entire networks for days at a time, so the level of security upheld is very high. In fact, there are governmental organization that regulate the security measures used by web hosts and mandate certain levels of security be maintained at all times. All of this makes the web hosting industry pretty safe in regards to fending off hackers. However, most people don’t realize that the security of their own computers hard drive plays an incredibly important role in the security of their web sites and hosting account.

The following information discusses the connection between computer and web site security, while also providing tips on how to ensure the safety of both your computer and your hosting account.

How Hackers Get Passwords

Contrary to popular misconception, hackers do not spend their time trying to compromise the integrity of massive web hosting networks in order to take control of entire servers,. Instead, they use thousands of individuals ‘drone’ computers to complete tasks like this for them. These computers belong to people that have installed the hacker’s malware on their computer. The malware consumes the computers resources for nefarious purposes, essentially creating a networked super computer out of a bunch of hacked computers. Of course, this in turn makes the computer slow in many cases, but not always.

Sometimes the hacker does not want to use your computer for hacking – they actually want your passwords. They obtain them by hiding a keylogger on your computer, which records every keystroke you make, in conjunction with your browser history. This allows the hacker to access your web hosting account, change the account’s email address and completely steal all of your domains overnight.

How to Avoid a Security Breech

The only way to keep the above scenario from happening to you is to keep powerful and proven antivirus software running ion your computer at all times. Since hackers find new ‘exploits’ and develop new malicious software on a daily basis, it is important to make sure your anti-virus software is updated on a routine basis. Fortunately most anti-virus software will perform automatic updates and handle the security of your computer on autopilot. It is also important to note that all anti-virus software are not the same, and most free anti-virus software are not adequate to provide complete protection.

What to Do After You’ve Been Hacked

Luckily, most people recover their domains and web hosting account by calling the hosting company and providing the necessary information, After recovering your information or domain it is imperative to change all of your passwords, potentially reformat your computer, and install an anti-virus software with active protection. Choose a new password that contains plenty of symbols, letter and numbers in order to make it harder for hackers to steal. Change your email addresses and any other basic online communication methods so that the hacker cannot track you down and begin harassing you again out of spite.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/12/24/the-overlooked-connection-between-computer-viruses-and-site-security/feed/ 0 Healthy Website Security Practiceshttp://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/05/05/healthy-website-security-practices/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/05/05/healthy-website-security-practices/#comments Wed, 05 May 2010 16:35:14 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=883 Perhaps the most important aspect of operating an online business is keeping your investments secure at all times. The internet is a very dangerous place, especially for business that conduct hundreds or thousands of dollars in eCommerce each and every day. Having a secure website not only prevents the loss of profits, but it also boosts sales as your customers will be more confident when shopping with you if they know that your site is safe.

Considering that most hackers spend hours every day trying to find new exploits, hacking into sites and looking for opportunities to steal cash form hard working business owners, you need to put forth the same effort to protect your website. Since most do not have the time to work around the clock in keeping their website secure, you need a web hosting company that offers state-of-the-art server security. There are however some things that you can do to protect your website from  hacking attacks.

Firewalls

Many people overlook the importance of securing their operating system when dealing with their website’s security. Having a strong firewall is very important to the security of your operating system, and your website. When you upload information from your hard drive to your website, it can be intercepted if you do not have a solid firewall protecting you from the outside world. There are many firewalls available, and your web host will often have one setup on your server by default. However, it is best to have a high quality firewall set up on your server and your operating system for maximum security.

Securing Your Login Credentials

When security experts talk about keeping your website protected, they are actually referring to securing the control interface of your website, as this is the area that can be used to hijack or destroy your website if accessed. When a hacker gains access to your administrative interface they are capable of executing any task that you as an administrator could do. This means they can upload content, delete content, and even steal your entire domain by transferring it another host! Thus, the first line of defense is having a strong password. Make sure your password is at least 8 characters long, with two special symbols and two upper case letters. The best way to create a secure password is to use a password generating software. You can find these online for free, and they generate highly secure passwords at the click of a button.

Strong Antivirus Software

Having a solid password and firewall will do you no good if your system is vulnerable to viruses. Viruses like keyloggers can infiltrate your system and collect personal information, such as your passwords Even if your password is 20 characters long, it can still be hacked if your computer is infected with spyware and keyloggers. Keyloggers actually log everything that you type into your computer, which means that every time you enter your passwords, the info is sent to the hacker. To prevent something like this from happening, you’ll need a strong antivirus working to protect your computer at all times. Some antivirus suites come with a firewall and a password generator, so it is possible to handle all of the above precautions with a single powerful antivirus suite.

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]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2010/05/05/healthy-website-security-practices/feed/ 0 Web Hosting Security at Risk: Are you?http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/05/26/web-hosting-security-at-risk-are-you/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/05/26/web-hosting-security-at-risk-are-you/#comments Tue, 26 May 2009 15:50:01 +0000 Art http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=348 It seems as if new web hosting companies are emerging on the scene everyday and almost all of them are trying to ease the rising fears of security breaches.  The efforts and reassurance are warranted when considering that any website is vulnerable to an attack.  Intruders are constantly on the prowl in search of sensitive information such as account numbers, invoice records, personally identifiable details and other confidential data.  The best way to ensure the protection of this information is a combination of proven security mechanisms and routine security practices employed by both the hosting provider and end-user.

Why Web Hosting?

You may wonder why the web hosting industry is such a big target of hackers?  The simple answer is that the market is tremendous, consisting of thousands of companies that power millions of websites throughout the world.  There are billions of dollars tied up in the business and hackers are willing to use every trick in the book to get a share of it.  If your site runs mission-critical operations, acts as the central source of information for your niche or enables you to make a living, it is imperative that you make security a priority.  Because your web host is in a better position to ensure reliable protection than yourself, you need to put security on the top of your list when sizing up potential hosting providers.

The Expanding Threat Model

A hacker’s arsenal is made up of numerous tools and techniques.  They typically combine various methods to compromise websites and turn the unsuspecting into victims.  Some blend into social networking sites, playing nice in hopes of enticing community users to visit an infected site and unknowingly execute malicious code on their system.  They trick users into downloading items that appear to be something desirable like a multimedia application or game but is only a deceptive Trojan horse in disguise.  Some utilize more destructive weapons that could result in the theft of one’s assets and identity.  The malicious keylogger is a prime example, a menacing program with the ability to capture every single character you type into your keyboard.  These threats and more, are the very reasons why web hosting providers across the world are increasing their efforts to deliver better security to their customers.

Put Security First

You don’t have to be a security expert in the IT field to keep yourself protected from hacking exploits.  However, your web host should be.  After all, if they are taking money from you and making a commitment to serve your pages over the internet, shouldn’t they also be on top of the security mechanisms and procedures needed to ensure the safety of your website and personal information?   Security is a must in the web hosting arena so you should take no excuses and never settle for less.  With that said, if you feel that your current hosting provider isn’t taking the necessary measures to keep you protected, don’t stand for it – move your files to a responsible server.

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