What Are The Top 5 DDoS Protection Techniques?

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Experts in the cyber world agree on one thing and that is the alarming simplicity and massive dangers of distributed denial of service attacks. These attacks, also known as DDoS attacks, come in many forms and have taken down websites of large organizations including banks. This is extremely dangerous not just for the organization that is under attack but also the different users and clients that access the websites or online services of such an organization. Therefore it is imperative to take adequate steps to protect a websiteto withstand and deflect such DDoS attacks. There is a vast range as far as techniques of DDoS protection go but here is a list of the best of these techniques. 

1. Going with geographical blocking. This may seem like a rather big and extreme step to take but has had its benefits for quite a few websites. Essentially, geo-blocking works when a network identifies a particular region or country that is sending most of the “bad” or dangerous traffic to their site. This network or website will then take steps to block off the entire region or country. This eliminates all traffic that originates from these countries and therefore needs a lot of thought before being implemented.


2. Using SYN Proxy - whenusing a SYN attack mode, DDoS attacks use multiple computers to transmit SYN packets by replicating otherwise genuine IP addresses. The receiving server adds these packets to a central data structure of its own but since these are false packets or false commands, the network is unable to respond to these data packets and therefore cascades into failure. By making use of SYN proxy protection, a network can deploy a kind of gateway appliance that resides in front of the actual server. This mechanism waits until the false IP address responds with the right kind of acknowledgement and only then forwards connection requests to the actual server.


3. Investing in robust IT infrastructure - one of the ways in which DDoS can be mitigated is to invest in extremely superior IT infrastructure. If an organization has enough bandwidth that can help it sustain and deflect DDoS attacks then it can survive rather easily. Basically this means that an organization has more muscle power by way of processing power and network bandwidth that will prove mightier than any level of DDoS attacks.


4. Limiting connections - one of the ways in which DDoS attacks work is by causing a server to crash because they can overloaded it with requests for connections. One of the ways in which such an attack can be countered is by limiting the requests for new connections and giving the server time to digest and process pending requests before moving on to new ones.


5. Dynamic filtering - considering the fact that the landscape of DDoS attacks is constantly changing and attackers are evolving to newer and more lethal methods, DDOS prevention services should also go through this kind of dynamic growth. Dynamic filter helps in deflecting such bad traffic by creating a short span filtering rule. This rule can be eliminated once a specific time duration has lapsed.

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James is a writer and blogger with 5 years experience.

A Quick Guide to Choosing an Internet Browser

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Choosing your Internet browser is an important decision, because it will directly affect your web-surfing experience. Browsers make an impact on how fast websites are downloaded and how you view them on the screen. Your browser keeps your bookmarks for you, and it can store personal data like passwords. Each type of browser has thousands of extensions you can download that offer helpful tools to make your life easier. With broadband internet providing so many options online you want to choose a browser that’s high quality, and everyone will have a different preference depending on their needs. Here are some considerations to help you decide.

Internet Explorer

Windows computers come standard with the Internet Explorer browser, and it is the browser the most people use (often because they do not bother to try or download another). Internet Explorer isn’t the best browser to use, however, because it is prone to catching viruses, and it often runs slowly. There are a lot of customization options to play with, but they are not very intuitive. On the plus side, Internet Explorer does usually work well with Windows. There aren’t as many extensions available as with other browsers, but that is changing as more are developed every day.

Safari

Mac computers come standard with the Safari browser. Most Mac users enjoy the Safari browser, because it works well enough on their computers. Safari is not extremely popular for Windows users, however, because it isn’t as fast or as customizable as others. If you use the Internet for very simple browsing and simple tasks, Safari is a fine choice. If you do a lot on the Internet at once, Safari is often slower than other browsers. There are fewer extensions available for Safari, so it may not be the best choice if you’re looking for a lot of add-ons or extra security features.

Firefox

The Mozilla Firefox browser is increasing in popularity, especially within the web design community. Firefox is also open-source, so there are plenty of extensions, and many add-ons offer extremely helpful tools for web designers and developers. You can customize a lot, and it has the most memory of any browser, meaning it’s very quick and ideal for performing complicated web tasks. Firefox is also very secure, with many security extensions available.

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Chrome

Google’s browser Chrome is very fast and user-friendly. It’s a popular choice, especially for people who use Gmail, Google Docs, and other Google products, because it is easy to integrate everything. It has a very streamlined appearance, and there are many extensions available. Because Google Chrome is open-source, there is a high number of user-generated add-ons to choose from. Google Chrome also gets high marks in security. You generally cannot go wrong with this browser.

All of these broadband internet browsers have fantastic options and many people use multiple browsers for different tasks. Each one has different uses depending on your needs so pick one that's perfect for your most common internet uses. 

Sam Jones, the author, finds broadband incredibly useful but thinks that it could be easier to use many websites and browser features.

A Brief History of the Modem

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What do you think of when you think of a modem? If you’re an ‘80s baby, chances are you were brought up with the weird noise of a connecting modem echoing around your home every time you wanted to go on the web, but while the recent history of the modem is one full of speed-increases and improved technology, the beginning was actually a lot slower – and expensive.

Back in 1988, an IBM ISA 2400bps modem – which, by today’s standards, is slower than anything you could ever imagine – would have cost you $1,000. Thankfully, as the internet grew and demand increased, the price of modems came down and we’ve now entered a new-era with the 4G network.

It’s said that the iPhone 5 will probably boast 4G networking capabilities, which would prove to be a huge step forward for browsing and downloading on-the-go.

So soak up the information and read about the intriguing history of the modem.

by Broadband Choices

On Demand IT and the Mobile Device Issues

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Look around your living room, chances are that there are an eclectic mix of internet connected devices including computers, tablets, smart phones, even games consoles, cable boxes and televisions.

Devices like these provide on demand access to data and there's only one major downside: the consistently high quality of technology in our homes is making a lot of enterprise IT systems look very old hat..

Just ten years ago, staff would love the opportunity to leave the screechy dial-up modem at home and use the T1 high speed link to online services that was in the office. However, while this may have been accurate a decade ago, the pace of development in home technology has been very fast indeed.

The pace with which we want the latest iPad or smart phone has meant that over the last few years, we have access to more up to date technology in our pockets than we do on our desks and our internet connections can conceivably be nearly 100 times faster at home. While in house IT departments have had their spending cut by the tough economic conditions, consumers have been able to take advantage of retailers desperate to make sales to fulfill their technology dreams.

Cloud computing is an ever more important reason for change as well. Mobile consumers are starting to us on demand IT to have immediate access to data, no matter where they are.

The joining of the consumerisation and technology on-demand is creating a major issue for IT leaders. Should tech leaders create a strategy that allows authorized staff to plug their own mobile devices into the company network?

There are obvious security issues from staff connecting their own devices to gain access to their business systems and these would definitely have to be addressed. But the consumer drive for the latest internet connected devices and a smart company will use the cloud to help the company use this to their advantage.

To start with, on-demain is not inherently insecure. Using the right kind of cloud based system will allow business to make company data security a major priority and make sure that only authorized devices are able to access the company network.

new on demand services such as Office 365 from Microsoft will allow users to access their business systems over a secure network connection, wherever and whenever they need it. Integrated systems such as Citrix's virtual desktop or even online portal systems like Microsoft SharePoint will deliver software via a safe and secure controlled environment.

IT Outsourcing helps the company to address the ever growing tide and need for mobile device connectivity. Once secure processes have been put in place, users can plug pretty much any device in without affecting the security of the enterprise network and they won't feel like they're stepping technologically back in time every time they go into the office either.

Advanced 365 offer managed services, on demand cloud based IT systems and IT Outsouring.

Infographics: A Day In the Internet

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a network of networks that consists of millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks, of local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies. The Internet carries an extensive range of information resources and services, such as the inter-linked hypertext documents of the World Wide Web  and the infrastructure to support email.

The Internet allows greater flexibility in working hours and location, especially with the spread of unmetered high-speed connections. The Internet can be accessed almost anywhere by numerous means, including through mobile Internet devices. mobile phones, datacards, handheld game consoles and cellular routers allow users to connect to the Internet wirelessly. Within the limitations imposed by small screens and other limited facilities of such pocket-sized devices, the services of the Internet, including email and the web, may be available. Service providers may restrict the services offered and mobile data charges may be significantly higher than other access methods.

Educational material at all levels from pre-school to post-doctoral is available from websites. Examples range from CBeebies, through school and high-school revision guides, virtual universities, to access to top-end scholarly literature through the likes of Google Scholar. For distance education, help with homework and other assignments, self-guided learning, whiling away spare time, or just looking up more detail on an interesting fact, it has never been easier for people to access educational information at any level from anywhere. The Internet in general and the World Wide Web in particular are important enablers of both formal and informal education.

The infographics below shows a typical day in the Internet.

Created by: MBA Online

The Computer Evolution: Desktop, Laptop, notebook, Tablet and Smart phone. Part 1

Ever since the computer came into our life in has evolve and still evolving or should I say spawning new type or bread of computer devices that adapt to our daily needs. Since the early 1970 and 80 where the full pledge desktop computer came into be it has become the center stage of all work, play and family activity of almost all person. I mean we love how the computers have helped each and every one of us in doing our daily task in work, school and at home. During the 90’s a new medium of communication was developed and since then the computer has become more than useful it has become a necessity for almost everybody. That form of communication was the internet as we know it today. Back then only a few person could it, the scientist, the military and some privilege institution. But as more and more institution and organization realize the value of the medium of connection and communication which can only be accessed via the personal computer as IBM would market it. Back then only the personal computer was the means on how to access the internet. Then people who are highly mobile want something more, they want to take the computer with them, but hey who want to carry a large four piece electronic equipment consisting of the screen, system unit, keyboard and the pointing device. Also how do we power them if ever we could take these devices?

 

Enter the Laptop small mobile computer although less powerful than its big desktop cousin. It has become the epitome of mobile computing. It can carry in one single piece. The screen is attached to the monitor plus more importantly it has a battery which can be recharged and once the battery is full of charged the laptop can be placed in a bag and strap on your shoulder. A person can work while one the move. In buses, airplane, ship even in restaurant. No more waiting to go to the office or at home before one could access those important document. The laptop become the new star of the computing world because this computer is mobile, one can work where ever they are located. Since then everybody has now own a laptop the mobile computer. In the office or school we could easily connect the internet, the network as there. How about the laptop how can we connect it to the internet also? Our needs also evolve since the internet was a major point in computer development. How can a mobile device like the laptop connect on the internet while on the move?

Enter another spawn of the internet the Wireless fidelity or WI-FI. In its early development it was deem to slow, but at he network technology develop faster so does the WI-FI technology develop also. A lot was invested to harness it for commercial purposes. As the wireless platform keeps developing, its importance become very obvious, at first only big company would setup a wireless access point and every employee or guest who has a laptop can be access to that even if you in the toilet you could be connected to the internet. Then many more realize the value of having a WI-FI access point, every one was setting up WI-FI access point. As the WI-FI developed a parallel development was also taking place in the other places like the phone. People wanted to talk with each other even if they are part apart. There is desire to communicate even in long distance. The telephone was a very useful device for this it was every where even on the side street. But our needs evolve again, we need something mobile, something we cam also carry just like the laptop.

Enter the cell phone, as wireless technology become feasible more telecom companies setup there own network of cell site and as the cell site increase so did the cell phone. Now every one can communicate even when they are on the move, the cell phone became a must have a need not just for corporate people but for everyone as long as there are signal to connect you to the network it was wonderful. Together with the laptop we now have a complete tool for work on the move, the laptop and the cell phone. It was complete or so we taught. To be continued…………

Computer 101: Different Function of a Personal Computer.

The most common type of computer nowadays is the PC or Personal Computer. This type of computer can found in almost all places that we do our daily activity like in school, at work, home, and some other commercial area. This computer can do a lot of things for us like typing a report, surfing the internet, playing games or watching movies to name a few. But the real benefits of having the computer wherever you are is doing all those mention above simultaneously. In computer term we call this as MULTITASKING. It simply means doing different function or work at the same time. We can do our report while at the same time we listen to music we download items from the internet. More time can be saving by doing work at same time.

Another aspect of a personal computer is that it can also be programmed to do just one specific task over and over again. An example of this an ATM machine where we get to withdraw our money even if the bank is close or during weekends and holiday. Also we would no longer go directly to the bank teller and give our passbook to withdraw our money. We just need to input a few items, like the PIN number for security purposes, the type of account that we have and the amount that we need to withdraw from our account. Most people think there are some super computers inside those front panels that we used to access our money. But the truth is it is only a PC the same computer that we used in our home. If it where a super computer then it would be truly pensive for bank companies to have almost everywhere even in places where there is no bank branches. Like Malls where a lot of people go everyday. The function of these PC or computer is just to allow people to have access to there account instantly without going to the bank itself.

Another customizes work for the Personal computer is the Cash register of a supermarket. These computers have software in them that allow various prices stored in another computer to be displayed into the cashier computer whenever a product is read via the bar code. It also computes for the individual amount of the same item and computes for the total amount purchase by the costumer and when costumer pays the total amount the cashier enter the amount tendered and the software in the computer computes for the change and will also print a result of the transaction. This process is repeated over and over again for each costumer all day long. This PC functions as a cash register year long.

Nowadays we have the gaming platform like XBOX, PS3 or Nintendo to name a few. But back on the all day’s personal computer were use as gaming PC. Again the specialize software is programmed into the computer and computer is house in an arcade type housing with its own key pad not unlike the keyboard of the personal computer. The people just simple drop a token and select the game and input a few more information and press the start button to begin the game they have chosen to play.

The Personal Computer has really come along way from a multitasking computer to specialize computer that has been programmed to do specific task over and over again. It has spawned all sort of computer types, from the super computer, to mobile computers like the laptop and its cousin to small computer that has evolve to become more sophisticated because of the tons of function it can do.