Category: IT Support Page 3 of 6

How To Avoid Buying A Bad Domain Name Used By Spammers

On April 30, 2014

In Internet marketing, IT Support, SEO Marketing, Tech Buzz

April 30, 2014

Buying a new domain can be a challenging task for anyone who is looking to have credible presence in the virtual world through a website. As there is no way of determining whether the domain was previously in the bad books of search engine giant Google, many people are wary when it comes to buying domains. Many of the domain names are such that they have already been destroyed by spammers.

In this context, Google’s head of web spam, Matt Cutts has offered some tips that will make the task of buying a new domain simpler. Read on to know more.

The first step Cutts recommends is doing a site-colon search with the domain name that you are looking to buy. It would look something like this- site: domain_name. In case no results show up for that domain, it is an indicator that you should avoid buying it. Even if that domain has content, it is still advisable to avoid buying it.

An added step to the site-colon search would be applying the same on Bing. If results show up there and not on Google, it is a very obvious sign that the domain name in question is a bad one. So it is in your best interest to avoid a domain name that shows up in Bing but not on Google.

A simple search with the domain name, sans dot com or any other extension can also be pretty helpful. This will help the prospective buyer of that domain name to have a fair idea about the site’s reputation.

Another resource that could be pretty useful to those who are looking to buy domain names is Archive.org, wherein previous versions for a particular domain can be seen. Going through these versions will show whether the domain contained spammy or auto-generated content before. This again will help in making a decision whether to buy the domain or not.

Next recommendation offered by Matt is for those looking to buy a domain name from a current website owner. In such a situation, going through the site’s traffic analytics can provide useful insights into unusual trends, if any. In case something different or out of context is observed, you can forego that domain name and look for another one.

Buying domain names that are clean can be tricky. ‘Buyer’s beware’ is the watchword here. Trying some of the methods recommended by Matt Cutts as mentioned above, could simplify your task; you will be aware of what you are up against.

We at Centex Technologies provide Web Development, SEO and Internet Marketing Services to our clients. For more information, call us at (855) 375-9654

Different Types Of Networking Cables

By centexitguy

On March 25, 2014

In IT Support, Networking

March 25, 2014

Though wireless network technology has evolved many folds, still people use wired networks at home and offices. They use cables as a medium to transfer information and communicate through networked devices. These cables do look similar to a naive; however, they are quite different. You must know what kind of cable you need for your LAN and for this; you must understand different types of cable available in the market.

Coaxial Cables
The Coaxed cables or coax are copper cables, which are a standard for 10Mbps Ethernet cables. Cable companies used these cables to connect TV sets with antennas. Even the telephone companies use these cables. Two major types of coax cable, which were used in 1980s and 1990s, were thinnet (10BASE2 standard) or thicknet (10BASE5 standard). These cables are widely used in office Ethernet and LANs. The cable has an inner copper wire of varied thicknesses, which is surrounded by insulation and other shielding.

Twisted Pair Cables
Twisted pair cables are made of two copper wires, which are twisted together to reduce electromagnetic field. These wires are often wound together in pairs. Ethernet twisted pair cables have up to 8 wires wound together in pairs. These wires were introduced during 1990s, starting with 10Mbps (Category 3 or Cat-3), which later on evolved as 100Mbps (Category 5 or Cat-5) and soon became high-speed 10Gbps wires. Twisted pair cables are of two types, Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) and Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP). Higher grade twisted pair is used in LANs as it is far cheaper than coaxial cable.

Fiber Optics
Fiber optic cables have made the dream of long distance calls, internet, and cable TV a reality. These cables transmit information through strands of glass and pulses of light. These cables can easily bend, as they are made of glass and are used in Wide Area Networks (WANs) where the communication traffic is high. Single mode and multimode are two types of fiber optics. Single mode fiber optics has higher bandwidth capacity; therefore, it is used in long-distance telecommunications networks. The local networks use multimode because they are cheaper.

USB Cables
USB cables have twisted pair wiring and are used to connect computer with peripheral devices such as mouse, keyboard, etc. They are not used for connecting a computer with another for networking. By using Dongles, an Ethernet cable can be easily connected to a USB port indirectly.

Crossover Cables
Crossover cables such as Null modem cables connect two similar devices, for example two PCs. It is constructed by crossing over the order of the wires so that it can connect two computers directly. It looks similar to regular Ethernet cable, so one needs to buy carefully.

We at Centex Technologies provide complete office computer networking solutions to our clients. For more information, call us at (855) 375-9654

IT Outsourcing – Benefits, Risks and Rewards

By centexitguy

On February 12, 2014

In IT Support

February 12, 2014

Outsourcing certain aspects of your business is a choice that almost all business owners are faced with the most obvious benefit being the cost-cutting that this option offers. With outsourcing being available for nearly every IT function, right from computer networking to online marketing, and everything in between, it is possible to significantly cut down on your workforce by choosing to outsource. Here is a look at the benefits, risks, and rewards offered by IT outsourcing:

The Benefits:

Outsourcing helps to eliminate the costs associated with hiring, managing, and training an employee force, as well as providing employees with benefits like health insurance, employment taxes, retirement plans, etc.

Another benefit offered by outsourcing is that it enables business owners to focus on core business aspects.

By choosing to outsource, you can opt for companies that specialize in the area you need, giving you the benefit of collective skills from experienced IT professionals.

Outsourcing also helps to save time, by allowing employees to focus on what they were hired for, instead of having to manage tasks that an outsourced employee can perform much more efficiently.

The Risks:

Outsourcing is accompanied with data confidentiality and disaster recovery concerns.

Laying off employees due to an outsourced workforce might result in reduced employee morale at the workplace, as employees begin to worry about their job being at risk as well.

Many outsourced companies might require you to sign a multi-year contract or download their software, which could result in reduced flexibility.

The Rewards:

With software and hardware in the IT industry becoming obsolete by the minute, outsourcing is a good way to allow business functions to be handled by a company that can offer you access to the latest technology.

Outsourced companies (for example company providing outsourced computer networking) have core competencies to focus on, which makes it possible for them to hire a workforce that is well-qualified, trained and experienced in performing a particular function.

The financial rewards offered by IT outsourcing range from lower overhead expenses and bulk purchasing to leasing options for software and hardware, resulting in a significant amount of cost-cutting for businesses.

With the benefits, risks and rewards associated with outsourcing being evident, it is important to ensure that you have the framework essential to effectively manage an outsourced workforce, before opting for IT outsourcing.

We at Centex Technologies provide complete solutions for computer network management, litigation support coding, medical billing, web development and SEO. For more information, call us at – (855) 375-9654

How Computer Firewall Works

By centexitguy

On January 30, 2014

In IT Support

January 30, 2014

Put simply, a firewall is a wall that surrounds your computer, protecting it from online threats like hacking attempts. This robust protection is essential, when you consider the high security risk that the present-day internet poses. Firewalls can be used to protect computers in an office network, as well as to protect one’s home network and family from malicious websites. The mechanism of how a firewall works is relatively simple, with a firewall basically being a hardware device or program which works as a filter, barring suspicious packets of information from entering into a network.

Companies typically place firewalls at every internet connection in their network, making it impossible for any unauthorized user to gain access to the network. In addition to this, firewalls also make it possible for companies to control the websites that their employees can visit, and which files can leave the network. The three methods used by firewalls to control inbound and outbound data to the network are packet filtering, proxy service, and stateful inspection.

In packet filters, packets of data are subjected to a set of filters, through which they are either accepted or rejected. Proxy service makes use of a requesting system for data traveling in either direction. Stateful inspection is the latest firewall technology, in which packets of data are compared to a database of trusted information on the basis of certain attributes, based on which it is either rejected or accepted.
Users can customize firewalls on the basis of various conditions such as IP addresses, domain names, ports, and specific words/ phrases.

Here is a look at some of the key benefits offered by a computer firewall:

A major benefit of firewalls is that their protection is not limited to a single computer, but can be used to protect multiple systems in a single network as well.

A firewall can be configured to provide a high amount of security from a wide range of internet bots, hence protecting the data on a local PC or network. These include remote login, backdoors, OS bugs, service denial, email bombs, macros, viruses, spam, source routing, and redirect bombs.

A firewall can keep a log of multiple attempts of invasion from a single source, establishing alarms to alert you when such attempts are made in the future.

Certain firewalls are also capable of maintaining a log of all outbound data traffic from your computer, and restricting access to suspicious networks.

Centex Technologies provide IT support and office computer networking solutions to corporates. For more information, call us at – (855) 375-9654

Tips on Computer Networking For Small Office

By centexitguy

On January 10, 2014

In IT Support, Networking

December 10, 2013

Small office computing differs from enterprise networks, in having modest computing and networking requirements. A typical small office network consists of about a dozen computers and a few printers or scanners. The key requirement of such a network is that it should allow the users to share information and peripherals. A small office network usually requires a single LAN with one or two servers, which can be managed by a single person with technical expertise.

Enlisted below are some basic tips for networking for a small office:

The most important step to establish a small office network is to ensure as strong foundation for the network. This includes investing in business-grade switches and routers for the network.

You will also need to ensure scalability for the network. This will make it possible to easily add or remove computers from the network, as per the changing needs of your company, as well as additional features and functionality as required.

It is a good idea to have built-in redundancy for your network, to ensure a good backup system for your network.

Opting for wireless access could enable a great deal of freedom for your small office network, through the use of devices like Wireless Laptops, P.D.A’s, printers, and cameras. It could also be useful in the event of having to set up a temporary office, where network access was not originally planned. The decreased use of cables also makes the office environment safer. However, wired networks offer the advantages of being more reliable, having a lower cost and offering faster connection speeds.

Some essential features that you should opt for include Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), video surveillance, integrated messaging, and wireless applications.

It is advisable to use switches with inlet power, which will make them easier to install, use, and manage. While choosing features for your network, you should take into account their reliability and redundancy.

You can ensure prime security for your small office network by keeping the server room under lock and key, and ensuring that the VPN is administered internally. All the equipment and network gear should be password protected.

It is also advisable to use VLANs, which are LANs connected with a router. Public websites can be on a separate LAN secured by a firewall, and the servers can be on an individual LAN.