Every few years it seems like a massively virulent worm makes its way around the internet, and certainly this year is no exception.  The worm that everyone has been talking about the last few weeks is the Conficker Worm (Conficker.C to be precise, as this is the third variant of this worm).  This little piece of code does a lot to hide itself and takes advantage of a flaw in unpatched Windows systems.  It has the potential to be very nasty and can quickly spread around a network (and beyond) if left unchecked. 

Over 15 million PCs have reportedly been infected, and all of these suspected infections are supposed to kick in and “phone home’” on April 1st.  What happens when all these machines start phoning home?  No one knows for sure since it hasn’t happened yet, but the general consensus is that one goal may be to create a giant distributed computing environment that can be used for many different purposes; from spamming to snooping, collecting data, logins and passwords, sensitive information and so forth.  Another potential use would be a large-scale Distributed Denial of Service attack (DDOS attack).

Most of the Anti-Virus companies out there have been talking about conficker for weeks or more, and offer ways to keep your systems updated.  Make sure whatever anti-virus package you use, you keep updated.  Also install all the latest patches and/or service packs for your operating system (Mac users don’t have to worry about conficker unless you’re running Windows in a virtual machine or dual booting (i.e. bootcamp)).

Another great weapon against worms like conficker is the free DNS service called OpenDNS (www.opendns.com).  We’ve talked about OpenDNS before and how it can keep your browsing safer and more secure.  They’re an excellent service that enables you to fine tune your DNS and control what your users (or children) can and can’t get to.

OpenDNS has been actively updating their blocklist to include all the domains conficker may try to contact.  Worms like conficker, once activated, contact sites on the internet to get further instructions on what do to, where to go, etc.  Conficker.C supposedly generates some 50,000 domain names a day so trying to keep up with your own blocklist by hand would be a daunting, if not impossible task.

That’s one of the beautiful things about OpenDNS, is that they keep those blocklists updated for you.  By blocking access to those domains at the DNS level, you can effectively shut out any possibility (or most possibilities) of the worm actually being able to do anything.

So to protect yourself, some things to consider:

1. Update your anti-virus programs as soon as possible
2. Ensure real-time scanning is enabled on your Anti-Virus programs
3. Install all hotfixes, patches and updates
4. Turn on firewalls if appropriate (at the router or perimeter as well as individual machines – Again, do so where appropriate and make sure doing so doesn’t break any critical applications or connectivity)
5. Utilize a service like OpenDNS that blocks the vast majority of threats like the Conficker worm at the DNS level

Following these steps can go a long way to preventing the spread of worms, viruses and other general nuisances.

If you have a method or tool you use to keep your networks safe, please feel free to share!

Internet Safety is an important part of the digital age for anyone that has children old enough to be surfing the internet.  This doesn’t just mean connecting to the internet through the family computer.

There are a multitude of ways to connect to the internet these days, from internet-enabled cell phones, online games, gaming consoles (xbox, xbox360, Wii, PS3, etc).  Additionally, it doesn’t necessarily protect you simply because you have strict rules in your house or you monitor what your children do. 

For example, you might have strict internet usage polices at home, but that doesn’t mean the neighbor’s do as well.  That doesn’t mean your child wont be able to access the internet unrestricted at a friend’s house.  With WiFi hotspots practically everywhere, a child with a laptop can connect virtually anywhere if they exhibit a little persistence.

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Google just released their entry into the browser space, and it certainly has the makings of a champion. 

Called Chrome, Google’s browser is sleek, very fast, and takes a new approach at browsing the web (from the ground up).

There are a number of technical advancements under the hood, which Google describes in typical Google fashion.

This browser has a number of features that really differentiate it from the other major players (Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari), including the ability to run each tab independent of one another.

What this means basically is that if one tab hangs it doesn’t hang the whole browser.  This, coupled with a new java virtual machine, V8, combine to make the whole browsing experience very pleasant.

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When it comes to marketing on the Internet, and leveraging tools, technologies and trends there are a few major players out there. 

Several that we follow, and have learned a lot from over the last few years are Aaron Wall, Neil Patel and Jeremy Shoemaker, aka “ShoeMoney”

The ShoeMoney group has recently released a set of SEO tools that is sure to boost your business and make you more money if used correctly.

They have assembled a tool set that simplifies many SEO tasks and provides a way to really dig deep into areas only professional SEOs had access to before.  Their tools focus on three main areas, including SEO Tools, PPC Tools and Link Building Tools.

If you’re serious about driving your business to the next level, finding new ways to develop traffic, build backlinks and ultimately get ahead of your competition, you need these tools.

One of the most interesting tools is their expired domain checking tool, which allows you to see a real-time list of all the domains that have recently expired and are available to be registered.  Even more importantly, their tool shows you how many backlinks currently exist for the domain. 

In other words, you’re able to see how many backlinks from high authority domains like .edu, .gov and .mil currently exist for each expired domains.

This is pure gold for people looking to pick up domains that already have rank and authority in the search engines and either develop a site or business around it, or use it to drive traffic to an existing website.  This tool alone is worth the price, please check it out if your at all serious about building an online business.

ShoeMoney Tools is a definite “recommend” from us; and something everyone who runs a business online, or is thinking about developing an online business should take a serious look at.

If you run a business online, the number one most important aspect of developing a successful business is attracting customers.  You can have the best product in the world, but if no one knows about it your business will never reach its full potential.

Running a business online requires the obvious:

1. Dedication to developing a great product or service
2. Researching what your customers need (and even more importantly what they want)
3. Finding ways to differentiate yourself from your competitors

As a business owner what you might not realize is that you need equal dedication to ensuring your website can be found when potential customers are searching for what you sell.

The days of “build it and they will come” are over.  Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a continuous process that is a requirement for online success. 

In an ideal situation, hiring a professional SEO consultant is your best bet.  If you don’t have the budget for professional SEO services (or even if you do but want to gain a better understanding of what SEO is all about), here is our list of 10 SEO sites you need to follow:

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When I teach class, especially to beginners or when I’m talking with parents about Internet Safety, a question I’m often asked is “How does the Internet actually work?” Well, in reality it’s obviously a complex topic, but we can certainly break it down into familiar terms.

When you type in a web address, like http://www.palaestratraining.com, your computer actually does some work behind the scenes to translate that human readable name into an IP address. Just like if you wanted to call your friend Suzy’s house, you would translate that (in your head probably) from her name into her telephone number, and you would contact her by picking up the phone and calling her telephone number.

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