Reading Time: 10 minutes Ahoy, fellow Vancouverites! Well okay then, we’re not going to dive head first into the principles of website security without some preparation, so grab your virtual life jackets. Whether you are managing a café in Gastown nook or a Slalom startup from the North Shore, no one wishes to feel a chill online as in a careless suburban construction site. If you decide to go with an insecure web hosting company, your website can be easily hacked. It can delete important data and documents, as well as capture the virus in a mission to attack other computer, leading to lots of harm to your reputations. Antaraya reports from Google show web hosting to be the main reason why web site gets hacked is due to poor web hosting. Google reveals online hosting service as the most common cause of hacked websites. So let’s discuss what we believe should be one of the focal points about your Vancouver website hosting provider – security – in addition to some of the best poutine places to grab a bite in town – or online. Secure Hosting Vancouver: Your Digital Fortress Let’s start at the very beginning: secure hosting Vancouver isn’t just some PR hype phrase that insiders in the tech community bandy around – it is designed to protect you from the wild wild web. You can just image this as the walls of a log cabin protecting you against the gusts of ugly winds and, of course, nasty cyber threats. SSL Certificates Vancouver: The Magic of HTTPS If you ever spot the green padlock in the lower section of the browser, know that you are safe. That’s the sign of SSL certificates working of course. They work to encode messages between your users and your websites, and more significantly, it becomes difficult for the sneaky hackers to capture and maliciously dean your important details. Those sites that exchange delicate client information for example credit card information require SSL certificates. Most websites hosting services provide free SSL certificates for web hosting services being offered. Any respectable Vancouver website hosting provider should deliver SSL certificates as easily as a local barista delivers your morning...
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Reading Time: 11 minutes When artificial intelligence first started making its presence known we were all told that before long it would be incorporating itself into nearly everything, and of course that’s proven to be entirely true. Some people say that’s a cause for concern, and whether or not that’s true would need to be the subject of another discussion entirely. But it is indisputable that the analytical and evaluative capacities of AI have been hugely beneficial to the working world, and that does able to web hosting in Canada too. Whether we like it or not, at this point in the game it is true that synthetic smarts are outdistancing natural smarts in a big way. Even collectively human brainpower can’t match up with AI in certain aspects of the working world where decisions need to be made based on an understanding of the information available. That doesn’t apply to ever corner of it, but when it comes higher-level linear thinking it certainly does. It is also entirely true to say that AI is more adept and capable with making executive decisions about how machine learning should be directed. This part of it is key in how AI improves website security when it is utilized by your host. You will always be looking for an affordable hosting provider in Canada, but you’ll also want to have one that is known for having solid security against cyber threats. Especially if your website is an ecommerce one and you need to be receiving sensitive financial data from customers. Here at 4GoodHosting we are always keeping ourselves at the forefront of technologies and trends in web hosting, and as such we have been open to incorporating AI in web hosting right from the start. We’ve done just that, and nowhere is it more notable than with our virtual private servers (VPS) that are very popular with those types of bigger and more traffic-heavy ecommerce websites that we talked about earlier. So this is what we’re going to talk about with this blog entry, looking specifically at how AI can improve web hosting security. Impressively Scalable – And Secure Cloud-based virtual private servers (VPS) are tops for...
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Reading Time: 4 minutes Our Canadian Windows VPS, or virtual private server hosting, allows a company to upgrade from regular hosting options to more configurable resources that allows them to deploy full applications and eCommerce models without having to pay the high costs of a dedicated server or dedicated hosting arrangement. Windows VPS is a server virtualization software that uses Windows technology on high performance multi-cpu hardware. A VPS arrangement creates a virtual server inside a physical server. For many people, especially businesses, Windows VPS offers several advantages. Each windows virtual server is indistinguishable from a real standalone server. 4GoodHosting has the infrastructure and expertise to create many of these digital servers utilizing a single high-performance server machine. And we have many such server racks in our datacenters. This allows us to offer fairly inexpensive packages for other companies; which enables our server clients to create and run complex websites, control large amounts of data, and stream a variety of adaptable services. Windows VPS hosting also allows you to run as many websites on your server as you wish for/can manage. The primary advantages in addition to the cost savings are increased resources and scalability. VPS servers are created in a virtual state so VPSs can be quickly and easily scaled or “beefed-up” as, and when, needed. The working of 1 virtual server does not affect any neighboring digital servers. A VPS is are also ideal for customers that are not sure how much web traffic they need to plan for. You will receive your own dedicated IP; and extra IPs can be requested and configured as needed. Another advantage is RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol connectivity). Do you need to access your server almost as if it was sitting under your desk? Well, it is entirely possible to view and manage your server through your remote monitor. We supply the instructions and support for you on how to do that. We create Windows Server 2008 or 2012 Standard 32 or 64bit VPSs, depending on your preference. This is very much like the familiar windows interface you are comfortable with if you have used the windows on a desktop computer. These Windows operating systems uses...
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Reading Time: 6 minutes Things change quickly in the digital world, and what was barely even on the radar can become a front and center issue overnight in some cases. Go back 10 years and the issue of privacy in web browsing wasn’t something the vast majority of people paid even the slightest bit of attention to. Nowadays, however, it’s definitely a hot-button topic given all the news that’s come out about web browsing histories and the like being tracked, monitored, and then made available to whoever doesn’t mind paying for information about what people like YOU search for online. Some people don’t have a problem with that. Other people have quite a significant problem with that. If you’re part of the second group there then you may have already switched over to using a web browser like DuckDuckGo or something similar. It’s a fine privacy-promoting web browser in itself, but it’s a bit of a generalist in that it works suitably well across the board but not especially well for any one framework. And that’s where and why Epic coming onto the scene is as noteworthy as it is. It is a Chromium-based browser designed to ensure privacy without giving up anything i speed or functionality. It blocks ads as well as prevents user tracking, and also includes built-in protection against a wide range of surveillance methods cryptocurrency mining scripts among them. It promises to be just what the Doctor ordered for those who think these types of overwatch activities are unacceptable, and here at 4GoodHosting we’re like any other quality Canadian web hosting provider in that we agree with you wholeheartedly. Let’s take a look at what makes this new no-tracking web browser such a good fit and why it promises to be especially well received. Surfers 1 / Watchers 0 It’s fair to say that it’s really a shame that the innocence and carefreeness of using the world wide web to gain information is gone now, and that government agencies, corporations, and malicious hackers lurking in the shadows and taking notes is entirely unacceptable. Even those who aren’t overly incensed at having their privacy violated will almost certainly choose to stay...
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Reading Time: 4 minutes Today, websites mostly run either on a Linux or a Windows based web server. However, a large chunk of sites run using Linux hardware. If your site is a HTML-based static web site, the operating system of your hosting server won't make any difference but, it makes difference when your site uses dynamic scripting languages like ASP or PHP/Perl (Linux technologies). Yet there has been success when websites run on PHP and Perl on Windows OS for years together. But, the licensing and technology for running ASP and Microsoft databases is being ironed out. A Windows server runs an MS Windows IIS (Internet Information Server) and is important for websites based on ASP/.NET scripting languages whereas, a Linux server is used for running the remaining websites, which is more in usage because of its availability at no cost. How the hosting computer is compatible with your home computer? Some people are worried about the compatibility of their system with the web hosting system. They are unnecessarily worried whether their system is compatible with the web hosting system. In reality, you won't run any program from your system on host's web server. And, the host won't run anything on your system. So, it doesn't matter what type of system you use. The only thing that makes a big difference visible is a Windows server runs a Plesk control panel. On the other hand, Linux uses cPanel to manage the hosting accounts of the users. Does your website need Windows technologies ASP or .NET or MS SQL or MS Access? If you need Windows technologies for your website and your website or web applications are executing directly ASP or .NET code, or if it is using MS Access or MS SQL or possibly using advanced databases/interfaces that connect remotely to the required Microsoft-based web servers, it is essential to sign-up for a web hosting package that uses Windows. There are also other ways of using Windows applications on Linux systems. But if your site is depending on the Microsoft technologies, you may face a smaller number of challenges and concerns. If you are going to use a Windows server and if you...
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Reading Time: 6 minutes Shopping online is pretty much a ubiquitous activity for people all over the world these days, and - not surprisingly - so much so that it’s now the preferred means of shopping for many people. Especially for certain goods, and not only do these people want selection, good prices, and the like, but they also want to be able to enter their credit card information and not have to worry about it being exposed. Offering that peace of mind is absolutely essential if you’re in the e-commerce world, and nothing is more important in this regard as having your online transactions guarded by an SSL certificate. Even if you may not know exactly what these are, you’ve probably seen the ’##-Bit Encryption’ tag prominently on display once you get to the checkout when you’re shopping online. Here at 4GoodHosting, not only do we offer very competitive prices on highest-quality SSL Certificates but like any good Canadian web hosting provider we have plenty of customers who are trusting our web hosting to ensure they’re ‘open’ for business 24/7 and all day, everyday. Probably safe to say that there’s few if any of those folks who don’t already have their SSL Certs in place, but for those of you who are new to your business online then we thought we’d dedicate one post here to discussing SSL certificates and what you need to know to choose one for yourself. Overview There is a plethora of certificate types, and several categories and plenty of CAs. In advance of highlighting the different SSL certificates and how to choose the right one, we’ll first discuss why an SSL certificate is so important nowadays. The reach and strength of cyber crimes has grown rapidly over recent years. So much so in fact that cybersecurity has become the #1 concern issue for both web users and website admins. The truth of it all is that cybercriminals can cost online businesses millions. The worldwide economy loses unimaginable amounts of money every year due to cybercriminal activity. What SSL certificates do to protect agains this is that they enforce a secure connection between a server and its web users....
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Reading Time: 4 minutes Most people have claimed a reward of some type at some point in their lives. Return someone’s smartphone to them, for example, and they’ll probably think your honesty in returning it is worth $50 at least. Or maybe you return someone’s precious pet to them and get a whole lot more than that for your effort or, more likely, good fortune in having it cross your path or end up in your backyard. But what if there was up 30K in reward money to be had? Well, up to that amount is what software development mega-giant Microsoft is offering anyone who can find flaws in their newest Chromium-based Edge browser. Now the likelihood of most people – myself included – even having the ability to do that is pretty slim, but for those who are web development savvy it’s definitely something worth taking note of. Now to be sure, just as it would be for any Canadian web hosting provider we’ve got some talented people on staff who do have the wherewithal required for something like this. They’re aware, and now you are too so let’s get into discussing what exactly all this is about and whether or not this would be not just easy money, but a LOT of easy money. Beta Stage Bonuses Microsoft recently released the beta version of its Chromium-based Edge and then introduced the Insider Bounty Program along with it. As mentioned, there’s apparently up to $30,000 to be had for those who find out unique vulnerabilities in this beta version of their new browser. Yes, that’s what you can do when you have deep pockets to this extent. You’d have to find a thousand+ lost phones and pets to come even close! To clarify though, 30K is only available if you find a flaw that is a vulnerability that leads to escape from the WDAG container. The majority of would-be rewards included in the Microsoft Edge Insider Bounty Program are in the range of $1,000 to $3,000, depending upon the bug’s severity and – take note – the quality of the submission (see thoroughness – less work for them = more $ for you)....
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Reading Time: 4 minutes A while back we had discussed some of the particulars with of the latest revisions available to people running desktop and notebook running Windows 10. Needless to say that encompasses a great many of them purring away at any given time all around the world, and it’s for that reason that some frequent undesirable occurrences seen with the most recent Windows 10 update are sufficiently noteworthy to the point that it makes sense for us to write about them in this week’s blog. Here at 4GoodHosting, a part of what makes us a leading Canadian web hosting provider is the way in which we’re proactive in sharing information that’s easily identified as having value to our customer base. Given how ubiquitous the Windows OS is for personal computer users and the reality that’s unlikely to change, we’re going to discuss more than a few problematic issues that users are encountering quite frequently with the most recent Windows 10 update. Reason enough to have less faith in the OS? That’s for you to decide. The Issues Where there’s smoke there is fire. While there had been rumblings about shortcomings with the latest Windows 10 update for a while, the way it is in the biz is that you don’t really take heed of these sorts of things until these sort of expressions of dissatisfaction become a little more numerous than just a few people here and there. That’s the case now, and the consensus is that the latest update for Windows 10 is causing a string of issues for users. The update comes with patches against two critical vulnerabilities, but it seems they’re leading to problems. Among them are random reboots and inexplainable installation failures. The update was made available on Tuesday of last week, and was created as a defense against a pair of remote code execution vulnerabilities which were deemed ‘wormable,’ - which means they are able to jump from one infected computer to another. Microsoft owned up to these vulnerabilities and informed users about the patches in a blog post, with users being encouraged to update their operating systems without delay. Primary Problem 1, with Fix Some users,...
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Reading Time: 4 minutes The scope and extensiveness of malware risks for computing devices is more pronounced than ever before, and that’s pretty much the story from one month to the next these days. At a recent security conference in Las Vegas, the Eclypsium security research team announced they had dug up some serious security flaws in at least 40 device drivers from 20 different vendors. These vulnerabilities could increase the likelihood of devices being infected by malware. While this type of development in itself is nothing out of the ordinary, what makes it noteworthy is the sheer number of different drivers that may be affected. Here at 4GoodHosting, we’re like any other reputable Canadian web hosting provider in that we strive to make our customers aware of risks to their digital security when they arise. When one is as potentially far reaching as this one, we’re almost always going to make some sort of announcement regarding it. The Latest The research team’s report is stating that this malware targets system BIOS or system components for the purposes of updating firmware, running diagnostics, or customizing options on the component. By doing so what the attackers have done is take the same tools used to manage a system and then turn them into powerful threats that can escalate quickly on the host. Once the driver is infected it then provides the attacker with optimized access for means of launching malicious actions within all versions of Windows, and Windows Kernel most notably. Do note that all these affected drivers are ones certified by Microsoft: American Megatrends International (AMI) ASRock ASUSTeK Computer ATI Technologies (AMD) Biostar EVGA Getac GIGABYTE Huawei Insyde Intel Micro-Star International (MSI) NVIDIA Phoenix Technologies Realtek Semiconductor SuperMicro Toshiba The Why All of this is related to a specific design flaw in Windows device drivers. They have a functionality that can be taken advantage of to perform a read/write of sensitive resources without being restricted by Microsoft. Some are suggesting that bad coding practices are to blame for this, and while that can’t be substantiated it is true that there is a more pressing need for better ones these days and older work can...
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Reading Time: 6 minutes It seems Bitcoin and all the hubbub about cryptocurrency is ‘back on’ now, and there’s a renewed general interest in mining for digital currency. The one takeaway anyone who’s developing an interest in this should take is that this is not a way to get rich quick, and that bitcoin mining is much more labour-intensive than you think. Blockchain technology is integrally important to managing cryptocurrencies, so f you’re still not dissuaded and you’d like to start amassing cryptocurrency for yourself then you’re encouraged to read on. Here at 4GoodHosting, we join every other Canadian web hosting provider in understanding the way many of our customers have real interest in taking advantage of everything that’s there for discovery in the digital world. It’s likely more than a few are taking more than a passing interest in cryptocurrency mining, so today we’ll share some information these folks are going to find valuable. Smart contracts have the potential to be one of the most useful tools associated with blockchain, and it’s almost certain that they’re going to take off right along the cryptocurrencies they’re designed to manage. So what exactly are smart contracts then? No Administration Required Smart contracts are self-executing, business automation applications that run on a decentralized network, such as blockchain. The appeal of them is specifically in the way they're able to remove administrative overhead. Indeed, smart contracts are one of most attractive features associated with blockchain technology. Blockchain functions as a database, and confirms that transactions have taken place, while smart contracts execute pre-determined conditions at the same time. They’re not unlike a when a computer executes on "if/then," or conditional, in programming. The way all of this works is once certain conditions of a smart contract are met – and related to our discussion here that’ll be two parties agreeing to an exchange in cryptocurrency – they can automate the transfer of bitcoin, fiat money, or the receipt of a shipment of goods that makes it possible for them to continue on their journey. The workings of that will reveal a blockchain ledger that stores the state of the smart contract. Tokens and Smart Contracts The different...
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