Round Tale

(The Hosting News) – HostingArmor.com, a Florida based Internet security company, announced the launch of its website security scanner. Supported by the Nessus scanning engine, HostingArmor provides site owners with a simple and cost effective way to understand their server’s security vulnerabilities.

“I’ve seen, time and time again, situations when website owners will assume that their hosting company or their webmaster keeps their server patched and up to date and secure against web application vulnerabilities. All too often this is not the case. The problem is, most site owners know and understand how to run their business, but know very little about maintaining secure servers”, says Sean Faircloth, Co-Director of Technical Operations.

HostingArmor is designed to be easy enough for even novice website owners to use, while providing the technical data necessary to ferret out any security holes in a web server. Traditional server scanning has, in the past, involved very technical installations and required that business owners either become security experts or fork over thousands of dollars to maintain their own security. HostingArmor was designed from the ground up to bring the same level of technical detail to a broader audience by making server security scanning easy to use and affordable. Unlike traditional scanners, HostingArmor’s service requires no installation. Site owners simply add their “scan targets”, or sites they wish to scan, to their account and can begin scanning for upwards of 30,000 different web server vulnerabilities.

Faircloth continues, “hackers aren’t always interested in compromising a web server for the information in it or to simply destroy the server. Many servers are compromised and used by the hacker for other nefarious purposes like DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks or even just for the use of the web server. Often, site owners don’t know until it is too late and many end up responsible for the ‘hangover’ from such incidents – high bandwidth bills, abuse complaints, and so forth”.

HostingArmor is offering a 30 day free trial to the vulnerability scanner, to help site owners assess their own security risks. The trial offer allows users to scan their own domains up to 35 times during the first month and provides full access to every feature available. More information about the company and the HostingArmor scanner is available at the Company’s website.

About HostingArmor

Source: HostingArmor.com Keeps Site Owners One Step Ahead in Website Security

(The Hosting News) – HostingArmor.com, a Florida based Internet security company, announced the launch of its website security scanner. Supported by the Nessus scanning engine, HostingArmor provides site owners with a simple and cost effective way to understand their server’s security vulnerabilities.

“I’ve seen, time and time again, situations when website owners will assume that their hosting company or their webmaster keeps their server patched and up to date and secure against web application vulnerabilities. All too often this is not the case. The problem is, most site owners know and understand how to run their business, but know very little about maintaining secure servers”, says Sean Faircloth, Co-Director of Technical Operations.

HostingArmor is designed to be easy enough for even novice website owners to use, while providing the technical data necessary to ferret out any security holes in a web server. Traditional server scanning has, in the past, involved very technical installations and required that business owners either become security experts or fork over thousands of dollars to maintain their own security. HostingArmor was designed from the ground up to bring the same level of technical detail to a broader audience by making server security scanning easy to use and affordable. Unlike traditional scanners, HostingArmor’s service requires no installation. Site owners simply add their “scan targets”, or sites they wish to scan, to their account and can begin scanning for upwards of 30,000 different web server vulnerabilities.

Faircloth continues, “hackers aren’t always interested in compromising a web server for the information in it or to simply destroy the server. Many servers are compromised and used by the hacker for other nefarious purposes like DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks or even just for the use of the web server. Often, site owners don’t know until it is too late and many end up responsible for the ‘hangover’ from such incidents – high bandwidth bills, abuse complaints, and so forth”.

HostingArmor is offering a 30 day free trial to the vulnerability scanner, to help site owners assess their own security risks. The trial offer allows users to scan their own domains up to 35 times during the first month and provides full access to every feature available. More information about the company and the HostingArmor scanner is available at the Company’s website.

About HostingArmor

HostingArmor.com Keeps Site Owners One Step Ahead in Website Security

(The Hosting News) – Tektronix Communications recently announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Arbor Networks. The acquisition is expected to close in September. The terms of the acquisition are not disclosed.

Arbor Networks, headquartered in Chelmsford, Mass., provides mobile and fixed-line operators, cable and DSL providers, ISPs and other cloud-based infrastructure and service providers with industry leading solutions for the detection and mitigation of network security threats. The company’s products include Arbor Peakflow®, the industry’s first carrier-class Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) prevention platform, which is the de facto standard for IP flow-based network security and analysis, and the Arbor eSeries platforms for broadband service optimization.

“Arbor Networks is ideally positioned to continue on its growth path by protecting the availability of networks and services around the world as the size, complexity and frequency of network security threats continues to grow,” said Rich McBee, Danaher Group Executive. “Arbor Networks expands our portfolio of leading companies in the communications and enterprise markets. The addition of their superior solutions allows us to offer our fixed-line, mobile, converged/IP and enterprise customers solutions to deploy, measure, monitor and secure their networks.”

Network security threats are evolving, moving from volumetric-based attacks to more sophisticated application attacks targeted at specific services, including Domain Name System (DNS) and cloud-based infrastructure. Arbor Networks’ solutions address these challenges with a best-in-class offering for the detection and mitigation of network security threats that impact networks worldwide, causing significant lost revenue and associated collateral damage.

“This is a great fit for Arbor Networks employees and our customers. Tektronix Communications has significant presence in the global carrier market, a worldwide support infrastructure and a strong financial position. This should help Arbor accelerate the delivery of infrastructure security solutions that are critical to the success of converged carrier network operators and next-generation data centers,” said Colin Doherty, chief executive officer, Arbor Networks. “Arbor further strengthens Tektronix Communications with the ability to offer their customers best-in-class network IP software security and management solutions, along with differentiated, revenue-generating managed security services.”

Source: Tektronix Signs Agreement to Acquire Arbor Networks

(The Hosting News) – Tektronix Communications recently announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Arbor Networks. The acquisition is expected to close in September. The terms of the acquisition are not disclosed.

Arbor Networks, headquartered in Chelmsford, Mass., provides mobile and fixed-line operators, cable and DSL providers, ISPs and other cloud-based infrastructure and service providers with industry leading solutions for the detection and mitigation of network security threats. The company’s products include Arbor Peakflow®, the industry’s first carrier-class Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) prevention platform, which is the de facto standard for IP flow-based network security and analysis, and the Arbor eSeries platforms for broadband service optimization.

“Arbor Networks is ideally positioned to continue on its growth path by protecting the availability of networks and services around the world as the size, complexity and frequency of network security threats continues to grow,” said Rich McBee, Danaher Group Executive. “Arbor Networks expands our portfolio of leading companies in the communications and enterprise markets. The addition of their superior solutions allows us to offer our fixed-line, mobile, converged/IP and enterprise customers solutions to deploy, measure, monitor and secure their networks.”

Network security threats are evolving, moving from volumetric-based attacks to more sophisticated application attacks targeted at specific services, including Domain Name System (DNS) and cloud-based infrastructure. Arbor Networks’ solutions address these challenges with a best-in-class offering for the detection and mitigation of network security threats that impact networks worldwide, causing significant lost revenue and associated collateral damage.

“This is a great fit for Arbor Networks employees and our customers. Tektronix Communications has significant presence in the global carrier market, a worldwide support infrastructure and a strong financial position. This should help Arbor accelerate the delivery of infrastructure security solutions that are critical to the success of converged carrier network operators and next-generation data centers,” said Colin Doherty, chief executive officer, Arbor Networks. “Arbor further strengthens Tektronix Communications with the ability to offer their customers best-in-class network IP software security and management solutions, along with differentiated, revenue-generating managed security services.”

Tektronix Signs Agreement to Acquire Arbor Networks

http://www.gawkwire.com/web_hosting/black_lotus_announces_platinum_sponsorship_at_hostingcon_2010.html

(The Hosting News) – Black Lotus, a leading distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection services company, announced today its new Stopping DDoS Attacks: Cost Management Analysis white paper. The white paper describes the extent of potential DDoS devastation and the most important considerations for preventing DDoS attacks. Additionally, the white paper provides a cost management analysis on preventing DDoS attacks versus stopping DDoS attacks after they are already in progress.

“A DDoS attack and website unavailability can cost a company significant damage in expenses, reputation, and revenue,” says Jeffrey Lyon, President and CEO at Black Lotus. “Our new cost analysis white paper will help customers understand what a DDoS attack is and the types of DDoS protection services they can utilize to protect their business investment. By using our DDoS protection services, our customers can stop and prevent attacks before it is too late.”

In a DDoS attack, an attacker simultaneously uses multiple computers to bring down a server, completely stopping a website from being available to its visitors and users. A successful DDoS attack dramatically increases traffic to the site resulting in slowed network response and servers refusing new connections. Eventually the server crashes and services stop completely, causing the website to lose visitors, traffic, revenue and even reputation. Black Lotus provides DDoS protection services at every level, from DDoS protected dedicated servers to colocation and web hosting with DDoS protection, to prevent DDoS attacks.

“A company’s reputation is priceless and customer care is a major factor in building and maintaining a reputation, especially among enterprise businesses,” says Lyon. “The Black Lotus mission is to give you customized protection to secure your business from all attacks so you can remain available at maximum capacity to serve your customers and maintain your position as an industry leader.”

Monetary loss as a result of DDoS attack can vary per hour when services are down depending on the purpose of the website. Losses can include advertisement costs, investing in network infrastructure or web hosting, website development and promotion, loss of revenue from existing customers and loss of potential customers. These losses do not include the costs for service repair and incident response. Black Lotus DDoS protection hosting provides robust and cost-effective DDoS protection solutions to prevent monetary loss.

“Businesses whose online presence is critical, such as online stores, forums, game servers, social networks, and ecommerce companies should act before an attack causes a website to slow down or stop completely,” says Lyon. “Black Lotus DDoS protection solutions are customizable for the scale of your business and the type of IT infrastructure you have giving your business a future free of malicious DDoS threats and attacks.”

Businesses with high traffic websites interested in DDoS protection services are encouraged to download the Black Lotus white paper Stopping DDoS Attacks: Cost Management Analysis at http://www.blacklotus.net/protection/. Learn how to secure your business with DDoS protection from the DDoS prevention experts at Black Lotus.

Black Lotus Announces DDoS Protection Cost Management White Paper

(The Hosting News) – Black Lotus, a leading distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection services company, announced today its new Stopping DDoS Attacks: Cost Management Analysis white paper. The white paper describes the extent of potential DDoS devastation and the most important considerations for preventing DDoS attacks. Additionally, the white paper provides a cost management analysis on preventing DDoS attacks versus stopping DDoS attacks after they are already in progress.

“A DDoS attack and website unavailability can cost a company significant damage in expenses, reputation, and revenue,” says Jeffrey Lyon, President and CEO at Black Lotus. “Our new cost analysis white paper will help customers understand what a DDoS attack is and the types of DDoS protection services they can utilize to protect their business investment. By using our DDoS protection services, our customers can stop and prevent attacks before it is too late.”

In a DDoS attack, an attacker simultaneously uses multiple computers to bring down a server, completely stopping a website from being available to its visitors and users. A successful DDoS attack dramatically increases traffic to the site resulting in slowed network response and servers refusing new connections. Eventually the server crashes and services stop completely, causing the website to lose visitors, traffic, revenue and even reputation. Black Lotus provides DDoS protection services at every level, from DDoS protected dedicated servers to colocation and web hosting with DDoS protection, to prevent DDoS attacks.

“A company’s reputation is priceless and customer care is a major factor in building and maintaining a reputation, especially among enterprise businesses,” says Lyon. “The Black Lotus mission is to give you customized protection to secure your business from all attacks so you can remain available at maximum capacity to serve your customers and maintain your position as an industry leader.”

Monetary loss as a result of DDoS attack can vary per hour when services are down depending on the purpose of the website. Losses can include advertisement costs, investing in network infrastructure or web hosting, website development and promotion, loss of revenue from existing customers and loss of potential customers. These losses do not include the costs for service repair and incident response. Black Lotus DDoS protection hosting provides robust and cost-effective DDoS protection solutions to prevent monetary loss.

“Businesses whose online presence is critical, such as online stores, forums, game servers, social networks, and ecommerce companies should act before an attack causes a website to slow down or stop completely,” says Lyon. “Black Lotus DDoS protection solutions are customizable for the scale of your business and the type of IT infrastructure you have giving your business a future free of malicious DDoS threats and attacks.”

Businesses with high traffic websites interested in DDoS protection services are encouraged to download the Black Lotus white paper Stopping DDoS Attacks: Cost Management Analysis at http://www.blacklotus.net/protection/. Learn how to secure your business with DDoS protection from the DDoS prevention experts at Black Lotus.

Black Lotus Announces DDoS Protection Cost Management White Paper

Web hosting security is an extremely complex technical field, as it is constantly evolving. Every time someone finds an exploit or a security loophole, the web hosting company has to counteract that action with a security measure. Thus, what is true this year for web hosting security may not be true next year.

Hackers employ tools that are just as complex, if not more complex than the web hosting companies themselves, so it can be almost impossible to be completely immune from a highly skilled hacker. Nonetheless, the risks that are posed by security breeches are extremely serious, especially in the world of eCommerce. A compromised website could mean the loss of thousands of dollars, and several unnecessary lawsuits against the site owner. In fact, some people have even lost their online businesses due to hackers! When it comes to hacking exploits, there is one that does not appear to be going away any time soon.

What is a DDoS Attack?

A DDoS attack is a Distributed Denial of Service attack. These attacks have been known to take down entire corporations, and even entire web hosting companies in some instances. They work because they mimic realistic traffic habits to a certain extent, so there is no way to spot them until it is too late. When a hacker employs a DDoS attack they send a massive influx of artificial traffic to a site or to a web server, so rapidly that the server simply cannot handle the load and shuts itself down. The result is near instant downtime, and the loss of revenue for anyone that is hosting their site on that server. The reason why it is called Distributed Denial of Service is because the hacker is distributing a server load that causes automatic denial of services on behalf of the web server.

Who Gets Hit With DDoS Attacks?

The sad fact is, anyone can get hit with a DDoS attack, and even more alarming is that this attack is usually the direct result of the nefarious actions of a competitor. In other words, if you have a powerful competitor, then you are already at risk for a DDoS attack. Perhaps even more startling is the fact that these attacks happen all the time on sites that are not even business oriented. Hackers use smaller sites with less security to practice their skills, and send out DDoS attacks to these sites in an attempt to perfect their DDoS skills. If you are not properly protected, then you are at risk for a DDoS attack.

How to Protect Yourself form a DDoS Attack

Perhaps the best way to protect yourself from a DDoS attack is to use a web hosting company that emphasizes their ability to counteract such attacks. Some web hosting companies will offer a good price, however their security is lax. In the web hosting industry there is no room for error, especially if you own and operate a thriving online business. One mistake could result in the loss of thousands of dollars, so it is important that you seek out the most qualified web hosting companies.

Apache or Apache HTTP Web Server is one of the most popular servers due to robust software, strong security, exceptional performance and its economical value. Also it supports several popular programming languages including Python, Perl, MySQL and PHP. Additionally, all Unix, Linux, Windows and OS operating systems support Apache.

What is a DDoS Attack?

A Denial of Service or DDoS attack is an attempt by a malicious user to make system resources unavailable. This is accomplished by sending a mass number of packets to the server causing it to overload and lock up. Hackers generally target sites like banks, root name servers and credit card payment gateways.

A frequent attack method occurs when the perpetrator externally attacks the server so that regular traffic is left with little or no response making it unavailable. This results in the computer or server being reset or the communication between users and the equipment fails.

Preventative Measures

Luckily there are a few methods to stop these attacks. Many web hosting providers utilize a Proxy Shield that can handle a DDoS attack up to 4GB per second. This is one of the most effective security measures available to date. It is also one of the most expensive so only large corporations can afford them.

To handle smaller DDoS incidents, hardware and software firewalls will generally do the trick. These stop the DDoS attack in the initial stage so little information is lost and the equipment can function normally.

Preventative Measures for an Apache Web Server

There is a specific method to stopping a DDoS attack on an Apache Web Server called mod-evasive. This is a module configured specifically for the Apache web server that can stop even the hardest hitting DDoS attacks, can be used for traffic detection, work with firewalls and send abuse reports.

This measure creates an internal table of IP addresses that will deny any single IP that’s blacklisted, that’s attempting to access a page numerous times or that’s launching more than 50 simultaneous connections per second from the same line. This technique eliminates attacks from a single-server attacker to a highly distributed attacker.

Mod_evasion has a built-in scaling capability with a cleanup procedure. Due to the design, only scripted attacks are recognized and blocked so that legitimate requests remain in tact and functional. A user can even click the reload button numerous times in a row and the system will identify that it isn’t a threat.

Security has been an issue in the computing industry for years. With hackers becoming more insightful with workarounds, combating their methods is proving to be more difficult. This security measure adds an extra level of protection to those utilizing an Apache server.

Apache or Apache HTTP Web Server is one of the most popular servers due to robust software, strong security, exceptional performance and its economical value. Also it supports several popular programming languages including Python, Perl, MySQL and PHP. Additionally, all Unix, Linux, Windows and OS operating systems support Apache.

What is a DDoS Attack?

A Denial of Service or DDoS attack is an attempt by a malicious user to make system resources unavailable. This is accomplished by sending a mass number of packets to the server causing it to overload and lock up. Hackers generally target sites like banks, root name servers and credit card payment gateways.

A frequent attack method occurs when the perpetrator externally attacks the server so that regular traffic is left with little or no response making it unavailable. This results in the computer or server being reset or the communication between users and the equipment fails.

Preventative Measures

Luckily there are a few methods to stop these attacks. Many web hosting providers utilize a Proxy Shield that can handle a DDoS attack up to 4GB per second. This is one of the most effective security measures available to date. It is also one of the most expensive so only large corporations can afford them.

To handle smaller DDoS incidents, hardware and software firewalls will generally do the trick. These stop the DDoS attack in the initial stage so little information is lost and the equipment can function normally.

Preventative Measures for an Apache Web Server

There is a specific method to stopping a DDoS attack on an Apache Web Server called mod-evasive. This is a module configured specifically for the Apache web server that can stop even the hardest hitting DDoS attacks, can be used for traffic detection, work with firewalls and send abuse reports.

This measure creates an internal table of IP addresses that will deny any single IP that’s blacklisted, that’s attempting to access a page numerous times or that’s launching more than 50 simultaneous connections per second from the same line. This technique eliminates attacks from a single-server attacker to a highly distributed attacker.

Mod_evasion has a built-in scaling capability with a cleanup procedure. Due to the design, only scripted attacks are recognized and blocked so that legitimate requests remain in tact and functional. A user can even click the reload button numerous times in a row and the system will identify that it isn’t a threat.

Security has been an issue in the computing industry for years. With hackers becoming more insightful with workarounds, combating their methods is proving to be more difficult. This security measure adds an extra level of protection to those utilizing an Apache server.