Category: Security Page 34 of 79

Website security refers to the applications or actions taken to make sure that website data is not exposed to unauthorized access or other forms of exploitation. It is important to pay attention to website security in order to protect your business website from DDoS attacks, malware, blacklisting, vulnerability exploitation and defacement. Website security is also important to protect your website users from personal data theft, phishing schemes, session hijacking, malicious redirects, etc.

Since the need for website security is imperative, here are some necessary steps to help you protect your business website:

SSL Certificate: SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificates are small data files that digitally bind a cryptographic key to an organization’s details. An SSL Certificate binds together a domain name and server/host name with an organization’s identity and location. When you install an SSL Certificate on a webserver, it activates the padlock and https protocol to ensure secure connection between the server and a web browser. It helps businesses in encrypting credit card transactions and securing data transfers or process logins.
Install Security Plugins: Depending upon the fact that whether you are running a Content Management System (CMS)-managed website or HTML pages, you can choose plugins to enhance website security. Consult your website developers to choose suitable plugins for maximum benefit. Plugins help in addressing the security vulnerabilities that may be inherent in the website building platform.
Use Parametrized Queries: A hacker can launch an SQL injection attack by using a web form field or URL parameter to gain access to or manipulate your database. If you use standard transact SQL, it is possible to insert rogue codes in the query that may be easily used by hackers to modify tables, access information or delete data. Thus, it is advisable to explicitly parametrize your queries in order to prevent the modification of queries by the hackers.
Content Security Policy (CSP): XSS (Cross-Site Scripting attacks are another common type of cyber-attacks against business websites. Hackers inject malicious JavaScript in your webpages. When a user visits the website, this JavaScript runs in his browser. It is capable of changing the page content or stealing information from user’s device. This information is sent back to the attacker. In order to protect your business website from this type of attack, CSP acts as a powerful tool. CSP is a header that can be returned by the server to inform the browser about how and what JavaScript should be executed in the page. For example, it may have configuration commands to disable scripts that are not hosted on your domain.

Website security has many other aspects such as diligently choosing error messages to prevent users from viewing sensitive information, locking file permissions, etc. Thus, it is advisable to seek services from professional website security providers.

For more information on steps to ensure website security, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213 – 4740.

Understanding Eye Tracking Technology

By centexitguy

On November 18, 2019

In Security

Eye tracking defines the process of identifying where we look, in technical terms, it is referred as tracking the “point of gaze”. It also involves recording what do we ignore, when do we blink and how does our pupil react to different stimuli. The technology is being widely used in different sectors including healthcare, business marketing, website usability research, etc.

Concept Of Eye Tracking Technology

An “Eye Tracker” is used to collect the data related to movement of the eyes. It consists of two basic components; namely a light source and a camera. The light source is used to direct infrared light towards the eyes. This causes detectable reflections in the pupil and cornea of the eye. The reflection vector is tracked by the camera to record the eye movement.

Infrared light is used as it offers better accuracy as compared to visible light. Light falling in visible spectrum range tends to generate uncontrolled specular reflection. On the contrary, infrared light enters the pupil directly, while it bounces off the iris. This generates clear demarcation of the pupil adding to the accuracy of reflections. Also, the infrared light is not visible to the human eye and thus, it doesn’t generate any distraction to the user while his eye movement is being tracked.

Types Of Eye Trackers:

Screen-Based Eye Trackers: They are mounted either below or close to the screen. They allow the respondent to be seated comfortably in front of the monitor and record eye movement from a distance. Although the devices record eye movement within certain limits known as head box; they still allow freedom of movement to the respondent. The devices are used when observing results for a screen-based stimulus such as magazines, books, pictures, videos, websites, etc.
Head-Mounted Eye Trackers: These include mobile device trackers which are fitted near the eyes (commonly mounted in eyeglass frames). Thus, they allow greater degree of freedom of movement to the respondent. However, high degree of movement may result in shifting of the glasses while recording the eye movement. This type of eye tracker devices are used when observation has to be made for objects or tasks in real life or virtual environments such as usability studies, product testing, etc.

Business Applications Of Eye Tracking Technology:

Market Research: Eye tracking helps in measuring attention to brand or products. Thus, business owners use the technology to evaluate their products, designs or buying behavior to optimize overall customer experience.
Usability Research: The technology is being extensively used to measure user experience offered by a website. It helps the developers and business website owners in recognizing the areas that attract user attention or areas that need to be improved.
Packaging Research: Before a product is launched, thorough research is done to design a package that can get enough visual attention on store shelves. Eye tracking technology is usually used for designing the packages and understanding customers’ preferences.
Advertizing: Eye tracking is being used by business marketing professionals to measure the effectiveness of design concepts & placement of advertizement posts (print media and online).

For more information on latest trends in business technology, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213 – 4740.

Understanding Graphical User Authentication

By centexitguy

On October 24, 2019

In Security

With continuous growth in the number of cyber-attacks, user authentication has become one of the most important aspects in information security. User authentication is accomplished through passwords that should be entered by a user in order to prove his identity and gain access to a computer or communication system. Traditionally, text based passwords are used for authentication. However, text passwords are highly vulnerable and pose as an easy target for hackers. Thus, modern authentication techniques based on graphical methods are now being used to combat hacking practices.

Graphical user authentication is an attractive alternative to alphanumeric passwords. To setup a password, the users have to select an image at a series of subsequent screens. The images are presented specifically in a graphical user interface. As a large number of pictures are presented at every screen; the number of possible combination of images is extensive. This offers better resistance to dictionary attacks as compared to text-based password approach. Also, the graphical password approach is considered to be more user friendly than a text based password.

Due to the advantages that graphical passwords offer, there is a growing usage of these in workstations and web log-in applications. Graphical passwords are also being applied to ATM machines and mobile devices.

Categories of graphical password techniques are:

Recognition Based System: In this technique, the user is presented with a set of images and is challenged to identify a single or more images that were selected during the registration stage. The user has to identify the pre-selected images in order to be authenticated. Such recognition systems are also called search metric systems. To use graphical recognition schemes, the system is required to retain some information from user specific profile data. This helps the system to know which images belong to a user’s portfolio and display them at the time of login authentication.
Recall Based System: In recall based techniques, the user is required to create a drawing to set up the password. The recall based passwords are typically drawn on a blank canvas or a grid. At the time of login, the user has to reproduce the drawing that he created during the registration process. These graphical based systems are referred to as draw metric systems because user authentication is based on using the drawn image as a reference.

Following are some points that should be considered before implementing a graphical password:

The password contains image as a reference and encryption algorithm.
The login contains username, images, graphical password and related methods.
SSR shield for shoulder surfing.
The grids contain unique grid values and grid clicking related methods.

For more information on graphical user authentication, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213 – 4740.

Effects Of Computer Hacking On Organizations

By centexitguy

On September 28, 2019

In Security

Computer hacking is the term used for describing the act of gaining access to a computer without authorization and by unfair means. Hacking is generally performed for financial benefits; however, hackers may have variety of other motives as well. Some of these motives include stealing sensitive data, learning business secrets, defaming an organization, etc.

As computer hacking incidents have increased in the corporate world, it has given rise to an increased need for cyber security among organizations. But, before deciding a course of protection against cyberattacks or hacking, it is necessary to understand the effects of computer hacking on organizations or businesses.

Identity Theft: Organizations maintain a wide variety of information databases on their computers including financial information of customers, business credit card information, confidential accounts, etc. They may also store files with employee information such as home address, health information, Social Security Number and other personal details. If a computer hacker gains access to this sensitive information, he may impersonate an employee or customer leading to identity theft. This poses a threat to the employees, customers as well as reputation of the organization.
Stolen Trade Secrets: In addition to stolen customer information, hackers may also steal trade secrets of an organization. They may sell these trade secrets to a business competitor which may result in a serious blow to the market position of the victim organization.
Website Security: As internet marketing and E-commerce has taken over the businesses, websites play an important role in attracting new customers and offering internet feasibility to existing customers. However, if a computer hacker gains access to the website, he may destroy the website data, compromise customer transactions, alter the product information and steal financial information. Some hackers may use malicious viruses to permanently destroy the website data, which can cause huge financial loss.
Email: Email hacking is a well explored forte by the computer hackers. Once they gain access to the email accounts of an organization’s employees; they may exploit the accounts for eavesdropping on business communication, send illegitimate emails to clients and steal confidential documents or other sensitive data.
Defamation: Hackers may have a personal grudge against an organization or the ideologies that a business follows. Thus, they may hack the social media accounts of the organization to post obscenity, fake announcements, change the look of social media page, etc. These actions may lead to serious and widespread defamation of the organization.

Considering the impacts of computer hacking and the numerous roadblocks it can create in the success of an organization; it is important to make efforts to keep your business safe. Following are some ways to keep your organization protected:

Invest in cybersecurity
Keep the computer software updated
Regularly update the antivirus
Maintain a back-up of your data
Educate your employees about computer hacking and sources of attack

For more information on how to protect your organization’s data and ways to implement different computer security measures, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213 – 4740.