Web Standards. Should my Business Site be Compliant?
Web standards is the new buzz phrase on the web. What are web standards? Web standards are basically the use of correct web coding standards as laid out by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The web standards which are of most concern to modern business are XHTML and CSS coding practices. In the words of the W3C, "The XHTML family is the next step in the evolution of the internet."
In order to achieve appealing presentation it used to be the case that various HTML hacks would have to be utilised by web designers to make a page look appealing. The most commonly know 'hack' (which is still in use today) is the use of tables to layout page structure. Thankfully these days are coming to an end, as web browsers have evolved and XHTML and CSS are now commonly supported standards. It is now possible to make sites which not only look great but are also constructed to the correct web standards.
This is all well and good, but should your business switch to a web standards based design? What are the business benefits of getting standards based re-designs?
One of the disadvantages of getting a web standards based design is that it can be difficult to find a designer who will make an attractive site which is also web standards compliant. A lot of very talented web designers do not create sites which are web standards compliant due to the time involved and the lack of appreciation received from the client for doing so.
The slow conversion to standards based designs is in part due to the ease in which a non-standards based site can be created.
With the boom in 'what you see is what you get' (WYSIWYG) site creation tools like Dreamweaver it is now relatively straightforward for talented graphic artists to create professional looking sites with little code knowledge. Although the sites look great, the construction can leave a lot to be desired. Poor page coding, although not always visually apparent, can result in your business losing money as well as make your site inaccessible to a large audience, difficult to navigate and difficult to maintain.
A quality web standards based web site separates the look of your web pages from the written content of your site. This addresses the negative points about a non-standards based site mentioned above. By separating style from content, standards based sites allow people using screen readers, mobiles, PDA's and other web browsing methods to be able to navigate your site.
These devices have trouble displaying table based layouts and big images so non-standards based sites are largely unusable. In the second generation of the web there is a wider range of platforms than ever before. Using web standards is the only way to ensure a high degree of uniformity across multiple platforms with your site. If your site isn't accessible then your message is restricted to certain customers, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that this isn't good in business.
A potential downside to a standards compliant website is some site add-ins such as certain bulletin boards, calendars and other dynamic content may not be written in a standards compliant manner. This becomes a problem when the add-in content is the only one that exactly fits your functional requirements.
Sometimes in this scenario it may be necessary to forgo full standards compliance on pages where your non-standards compliant dynamic content is needed and migrate the page once the developers adopt standards.
A plus side of web-standards based sites is that maintenance is made easier, meaning your site can be more easily altered. As style is handled by an external (CSS) Style Sheet it is possible to change a sites whole colour scheme by changing a few key values. Also, as no styling information is in the HTML it is much tidier and greatly reduced in size making it easier to read and alter. Smaller file sizes mean that pages load quickly (providing a better experience for customers on slow connections), consume less bandwidth (reducing hosting costs to your business).
The final benefit of well constructed standards based websites is that as well as being accessible to your customers, often it will also be more accessible to search engines. Poorly structured inaccessible websites can often mean that some of the relevance of your text is misinterpreted by search engines. This means you could be losing out in search engine listings. By having a cleanly structured web standards website you are helping to ensure that your site (and its keywords) are correctly represented in search engines and is considered more relevant than non-standards based sites in your industry. The obvious conclusion to this article is that web standards bring real tangible benefits to business. Although finding a design company that will construct a standards compliant site is more difficult than just finding a web designer, the benefits speak for themselves. By moving to a standards based web site businesses can ensure they have accessible sites which are maintainable and future proofed. Increased customer exposure and search engine prominence can all improve the level of business that comes to you via your website. Web standards are the future of the internet and to ignore it could leave your business trailing behind the online competition.
About the author:
Thomas Ashworth is a developer for NuBlue Web Solutions based in Lancashire, UK. www.nublue.co.uk
In order to achieve appealing presentation it used to be the case that various HTML hacks would have to be utilised by web designers to make a page look appealing. The most commonly know 'hack' (which is still in use today) is the use of tables to layout page structure. Thankfully these days are coming to an end, as web browsers have evolved and XHTML and CSS are now commonly supported standards. It is now possible to make sites which not only look great but are also constructed to the correct web standards.
This is all well and good, but should your business switch to a web standards based design? What are the business benefits of getting standards based re-designs?
One of the disadvantages of getting a web standards based design is that it can be difficult to find a designer who will make an attractive site which is also web standards compliant. A lot of very talented web designers do not create sites which are web standards compliant due to the time involved and the lack of appreciation received from the client for doing so.
The slow conversion to standards based designs is in part due to the ease in which a non-standards based site can be created.
With the boom in 'what you see is what you get' (WYSIWYG) site creation tools like Dreamweaver it is now relatively straightforward for talented graphic artists to create professional looking sites with little code knowledge. Although the sites look great, the construction can leave a lot to be desired. Poor page coding, although not always visually apparent, can result in your business losing money as well as make your site inaccessible to a large audience, difficult to navigate and difficult to maintain.
A quality web standards based web site separates the look of your web pages from the written content of your site. This addresses the negative points about a non-standards based site mentioned above. By separating style from content, standards based sites allow people using screen readers, mobiles, PDA's and other web browsing methods to be able to navigate your site.
These devices have trouble displaying table based layouts and big images so non-standards based sites are largely unusable. In the second generation of the web there is a wider range of platforms than ever before. Using web standards is the only way to ensure a high degree of uniformity across multiple platforms with your site. If your site isn't accessible then your message is restricted to certain customers, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that this isn't good in business.
A potential downside to a standards compliant website is some site add-ins such as certain bulletin boards, calendars and other dynamic content may not be written in a standards compliant manner. This becomes a problem when the add-in content is the only one that exactly fits your functional requirements.
Sometimes in this scenario it may be necessary to forgo full standards compliance on pages where your non-standards compliant dynamic content is needed and migrate the page once the developers adopt standards.
A plus side of web-standards based sites is that maintenance is made easier, meaning your site can be more easily altered. As style is handled by an external (CSS) Style Sheet it is possible to change a sites whole colour scheme by changing a few key values. Also, as no styling information is in the HTML it is much tidier and greatly reduced in size making it easier to read and alter. Smaller file sizes mean that pages load quickly (providing a better experience for customers on slow connections), consume less bandwidth (reducing hosting costs to your business).
The final benefit of well constructed standards based websites is that as well as being accessible to your customers, often it will also be more accessible to search engines. Poorly structured inaccessible websites can often mean that some of the relevance of your text is misinterpreted by search engines. This means you could be losing out in search engine listings. By having a cleanly structured web standards website you are helping to ensure that your site (and its keywords) are correctly represented in search engines and is considered more relevant than non-standards based sites in your industry. The obvious conclusion to this article is that web standards bring real tangible benefits to business. Although finding a design company that will construct a standards compliant site is more difficult than just finding a web designer, the benefits speak for themselves. By moving to a standards based web site businesses can ensure they have accessible sites which are maintainable and future proofed. Increased customer exposure and search engine prominence can all improve the level of business that comes to you via your website. Web standards are the future of the internet and to ignore it could leave your business trailing behind the online competition.
About the author:
Thomas Ashworth is a developer for NuBlue Web Solutions based in Lancashire, UK. www.nublue.co.uk
Website Colors That Turn Off Your Customers
Using too many colors or the wrong combination of colors on your website could alienate or turn off customers completely. Out of any form of non-verbal communication, color is the quickest way to communicate a message and meaning. And, marketers spend oodles of time and money determining the colors to best market their product: the colors that will prove the highest amount of return on investment.
The right colors can mean bigger profits for your website. You may even want to hire a professional web designer to help you.
Make sure the web designer you hire is not just a programmer, but also a graphic designer and/or marketer. After all, the reason why 99% of all websites fail is because it was created by a technician, rather than a marketing expert.
That is hard to say. Again, you may want to hire a professional to help you. However, the following tips will help you understand the underlying meaning behind color so you may be guided to make the right choice. Keep in mind that depending on its value or intensity, one color can give very different emotions.
Red - Stimulating. Exciting. Energizing. Appetizing. When you eye sees red, chemical responses in your body cause your blood pressure, pulse rate, and adrenaline to increase. Fire engine red is more energetic than a more traditional burgundy.
Pink - Happy. Romantic. Spirited. Youthful. Best used for less expensive and trendy products. Vibrant pinks are common in the cosmetic industry. Bubble gum pink can be considered immature, but fuchsia or magenta are considered more sophisticated.
Orange - Friendly. Adventurous. Energizing. Inviting. Of all the colors, orange is the hottest. Similar to red's arousing effect, orange is often associated with bright sunsets or fall foliage.
Orange contains the drama of red with the cheeriness of yellow.
Neon orange tends to be load and is the most disliked color, but a more tempered vivid orange is highly effective for point-of-purchase graphics and specials.
Yellow - Warm. Sunny. Cheerful. Vibrant. Yellow is equivalent to enlightenment and imagination. This color is especially effective for food service industries because of the association to bananas, custards and lemons. Pale yellow is an excellent choice for point-of-purchase materials (materials at the cash register or reception area) because the eye sees the highly reflective yellow before it notices any other color.
Brown - Rich. Sheltering. Durable. Sensible. Brown is an earth tone and is related to the earth's nurturing qualities and stability. Generally speaking, brown provokes a positive response, but the wrong shade could lead to customers relating it to dirty, which could be detrimental for a product in the fashion industry, for example. Brown works well with food products since customers also relate it to root beer, coffee and chocolate.
Blue - Cool. Trusting. Serene. Consistent. Similar to the earthy color brown, blue is related to the sky and water, both dependable constants in our lives. Blue is an ideal color for websites, especially e-commerce websites. Many banks and financial institutions use blue in their marketing because it makes customers feel more trusting. Blue also can generate a cold, distant, corporate feeling, the opposite of generating a personal relationship with the customer.
Green - Refreshing. Healing. Fresh. Soothing. Green offers the most variety of choices out of all the colors of the rainbow. Green works well for personal hygiene or beauty products because of its soothing and flattering tones. Most people link green to nature; they think of foliage or grass. Mint green is seen as fresh while bright greens are associated with grass. Emerald greens are elegant and deep greens are linked to money and prestige. Green is also combined nicely with many other colors and can also work as a neutral.
Purple - Elegant. Sensual. Regal. Mysterious. Purple is seen as sensual and spiritual as it combines the sexuality of red and the sereneness of blue. It is best used with creative products, new products, or cutting edge products. Deep purple is associated with regal sophistication and lavender has a more subtle nostalgic appeal.
Neutrals - Classic. Quality. Natural. Timeless. The neutral tones of beige, gray and taupe emulate the psychological message of dependability and timelessness. They are regarded as safe and non-offensive and will not go out-of-date as they are always in style.
White - Pure. Bright. Pristine. Simple. While white can signify clean elegance, it can also be considered generic and stark, unless you have stylish graphics to compliment the white.
Black - Strong. Classic. Mysterious. Powerful. Black is most closely associated with the night. Black is seen as powerful, dramatic, elegant and expensive. In food packaging, a customer will actually pay more for a gourmet image. Although black is associated with mourning, its positive associations far outweigh its negative. Warning: too much black can be overkill.
About the author:
Christie Turley is a web marketing expert and author of the Not-So-Dumb Blond Internet Guides.
RATE YOUR WEBSITE with her complimentary online Web Site Diagnostic tool and BOOST your Web Profits today at: http://ww
w.NotSoDumbBlond.com/web-diagnostic.htm
Choose Colors with Care
The right colors can mean bigger profits for your website. You may even want to hire a professional web designer to help you.
Make sure the web designer you hire is not just a programmer, but also a graphic designer and/or marketer. After all, the reason why 99% of all websites fail is because it was created by a technician, rather than a marketing expert.
So, What Colors are Best for Your Website?
That is hard to say. Again, you may want to hire a professional to help you. However, the following tips will help you understand the underlying meaning behind color so you may be guided to make the right choice. Keep in mind that depending on its value or intensity, one color can give very different emotions.
Red - Stimulating. Exciting. Energizing. Appetizing. When you eye sees red, chemical responses in your body cause your blood pressure, pulse rate, and adrenaline to increase. Fire engine red is more energetic than a more traditional burgundy.
Pink - Happy. Romantic. Spirited. Youthful. Best used for less expensive and trendy products. Vibrant pinks are common in the cosmetic industry. Bubble gum pink can be considered immature, but fuchsia or magenta are considered more sophisticated.
Orange - Friendly. Adventurous. Energizing. Inviting. Of all the colors, orange is the hottest. Similar to red's arousing effect, orange is often associated with bright sunsets or fall foliage.
Orange contains the drama of red with the cheeriness of yellow.
Neon orange tends to be load and is the most disliked color, but a more tempered vivid orange is highly effective for point-of-purchase graphics and specials.
Yellow - Warm. Sunny. Cheerful. Vibrant. Yellow is equivalent to enlightenment and imagination. This color is especially effective for food service industries because of the association to bananas, custards and lemons. Pale yellow is an excellent choice for point-of-purchase materials (materials at the cash register or reception area) because the eye sees the highly reflective yellow before it notices any other color.
Brown - Rich. Sheltering. Durable. Sensible. Brown is an earth tone and is related to the earth's nurturing qualities and stability. Generally speaking, brown provokes a positive response, but the wrong shade could lead to customers relating it to dirty, which could be detrimental for a product in the fashion industry, for example. Brown works well with food products since customers also relate it to root beer, coffee and chocolate.
Blue - Cool. Trusting. Serene. Consistent. Similar to the earthy color brown, blue is related to the sky and water, both dependable constants in our lives. Blue is an ideal color for websites, especially e-commerce websites. Many banks and financial institutions use blue in their marketing because it makes customers feel more trusting. Blue also can generate a cold, distant, corporate feeling, the opposite of generating a personal relationship with the customer.
Green - Refreshing. Healing. Fresh. Soothing. Green offers the most variety of choices out of all the colors of the rainbow. Green works well for personal hygiene or beauty products because of its soothing and flattering tones. Most people link green to nature; they think of foliage or grass. Mint green is seen as fresh while bright greens are associated with grass. Emerald greens are elegant and deep greens are linked to money and prestige. Green is also combined nicely with many other colors and can also work as a neutral.
Purple - Elegant. Sensual. Regal. Mysterious. Purple is seen as sensual and spiritual as it combines the sexuality of red and the sereneness of blue. It is best used with creative products, new products, or cutting edge products. Deep purple is associated with regal sophistication and lavender has a more subtle nostalgic appeal.
Neutrals - Classic. Quality. Natural. Timeless. The neutral tones of beige, gray and taupe emulate the psychological message of dependability and timelessness. They are regarded as safe and non-offensive and will not go out-of-date as they are always in style.
White - Pure. Bright. Pristine. Simple. While white can signify clean elegance, it can also be considered generic and stark, unless you have stylish graphics to compliment the white.
Black - Strong. Classic. Mysterious. Powerful. Black is most closely associated with the night. Black is seen as powerful, dramatic, elegant and expensive. In food packaging, a customer will actually pay more for a gourmet image. Although black is associated with mourning, its positive associations far outweigh its negative. Warning: too much black can be overkill.
About the author:
Christie Turley is a web marketing expert and author of the Not-So-Dumb Blond Internet Guides.
RATE YOUR WEBSITE with her complimentary online Web Site Diagnostic tool and BOOST your Web Profits today at: http://ww
w.NotSoDumbBlond.com/web-diagnostic.htm
What You See Isn't Always What You Get
When you use a visual HTML editor like FrontPage or Dreamweaver, they tell you that WYSIWYG: what you see is what you get. This means that, in theory, what you see while you're editing the page should look just like what you get when you're done. While word processors have pretty much got the concept working now when it comes to printing (it didn't used to be as reliable), there are still problems when it comes to HTML editors and web browsers - of course, if you've spent more than five minutes using visual HTML editors, then you'll know that.
WYSIWYG is quite uncontroversial at this point - its advantages are clear, in that it lets you make your page look exactly the way you want it to while you're writing it, with no surprises.
In the early days, it was sometimes referred to as being like a kind of 'interactive print preview'. Professional typesetters were at first opposed to its use in publishing, but it's easy and quick enough that it has come to dominate. The alternative now, though, is to go back to the days of layout commands, which isn't something most users want to do.
On the web, WYSIWYG it can be far more problematic, because what comes out of the other end of the program isn't a static, printed page - it's computer code, HTML, that has to be interpreted by a web browser before it becomes anything viewable.
The first problem with what you see in an editor being what you get in a browser is that all the different browsers available don't always make the same page look the same way. How are HTML editors supposed to account for bugs in Internet Explorer? They can't, really.
Each piece of HTML editing software is forced to either write its own HTML rendering engine (the engine that decides how the code is translated to a visible page), or use one from an existing program. Recently, for example, Dreamweaver moved over to Opera's engine, which means that it shows pages the way Opera does. FrontPage has always been closest to Internet Explorer.
Because Mozilla is open source, there are a lot of HTML editors based on its engine, the most usable of which is Nvu.
That doesn't exactly help, though, when it comes to things looking the same in every browser - if you use Dreamweaver, for example, what you see will be what you get in Opera, but not necessarily in Internet Explorer. This is a problem that can be partially solved by testing everything in every browser, but doing that doesn't let you see what your page is going to look like as you're going along.
While users demand WYSIWYG software, it's somewhat misguided when it comes to the web, for the simple reason that it expects everyone to be using your site the same way, and designs towards that expected use. In reality, the web was designed to be a document format that was interpreted by the program receiving it, meaning that if a browser wants to leave out all the graphics, or ignore all your tables, then it's perfectly justified in doing so. This is especially significant when it comes to mobile browsers - they simply don't have large enough screens to display normal designs, and it's silly to force them to try.
Realising this is one of the most important differences between being a good designer and being a bad one. Bad designers will be constantly nudging at their designs, doing everything they can think of to get them to look exactly the way they intended in every browser possible, even if it doubles the size and complexity of the code. A good designer will write good code that displays in all browsers, but doesn't necessarily have to be pixel-perfect.
About the author:
Information supplied and written by Lee Asher of Eclipse Domain Services
Domain Names, Hosting, Traffic and Email Solutions.
The Advantages of WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG is quite uncontroversial at this point - its advantages are clear, in that it lets you make your page look exactly the way you want it to while you're writing it, with no surprises.
In the early days, it was sometimes referred to as being like a kind of 'interactive print preview'. Professional typesetters were at first opposed to its use in publishing, but it's easy and quick enough that it has come to dominate. The alternative now, though, is to go back to the days of layout commands, which isn't something most users want to do.
On the web, WYSIWYG it can be far more problematic, because what comes out of the other end of the program isn't a static, printed page - it's computer code, HTML, that has to be interpreted by a web browser before it becomes anything viewable.
Not Even All Browsers are the Same
The first problem with what you see in an editor being what you get in a browser is that all the different browsers available don't always make the same page look the same way. How are HTML editors supposed to account for bugs in Internet Explorer? They can't, really.
Each piece of HTML editing software is forced to either write its own HTML rendering engine (the engine that decides how the code is translated to a visible page), or use one from an existing program. Recently, for example, Dreamweaver moved over to Opera's engine, which means that it shows pages the way Opera does. FrontPage has always been closest to Internet Explorer.
Because Mozilla is open source, there are a lot of HTML editors based on its engine, the most usable of which is Nvu.
That doesn't exactly help, though, when it comes to things looking the same in every browser - if you use Dreamweaver, for example, what you see will be what you get in Opera, but not necessarily in Internet Explorer. This is a problem that can be partially solved by testing everything in every browser, but doing that doesn't let you see what your page is going to look like as you're going along.
Maybe What You See Shouldn't Be What You Get
While users demand WYSIWYG software, it's somewhat misguided when it comes to the web, for the simple reason that it expects everyone to be using your site the same way, and designs towards that expected use. In reality, the web was designed to be a document format that was interpreted by the program receiving it, meaning that if a browser wants to leave out all the graphics, or ignore all your tables, then it's perfectly justified in doing so. This is especially significant when it comes to mobile browsers - they simply don't have large enough screens to display normal designs, and it's silly to force them to try.
Realising this is one of the most important differences between being a good designer and being a bad one. Bad designers will be constantly nudging at their designs, doing everything they can think of to get them to look exactly the way they intended in every browser possible, even if it doubles the size and complexity of the code. A good designer will write good code that displays in all browsers, but doesn't necessarily have to be pixel-perfect.
About the author:
Information supplied and written by Lee Asher of Eclipse Domain Services
Domain Names, Hosting, Traffic and Email Solutions.
7 Reasons Your Small Business Needs a Website
Still not convinced a web site would benefit your small business? Here are 7 reasons to start building your internet presence.
1. Plenty of space
It can be hard to choose what to say in your limited-space print ads. One benefit of having a web site is that you have enough space to market all your services, announce events, display product photos, show maps and directions, list staff education and credentials, post client testimonials and industry awards--anything you feel will help potential customers make an informed decision.
2. Available 24/7
Another web site advantage is that it's available even when your business is closed or no one is available to answer your phone.
You can encourage callers who've missed you to visit your web site for more information while they wait for your return call.
3. Easy to update
Printed material, while still very necessary, can be expensive and troublesome to keep updated. With a web site you can easily let the public know of changes to your hours of operation, product or service offerings, business address or phone number, staff, etc.
4. Adds credibility
One of the best benefits of a having a web site: a well-thought-out, professionally designed web site can add credibility to your small business--no matter how young or small your business is. A web site can also convey a sense of stability--especially important if your small business operates without a storefront; potential customers will feel reassured that they could contact you if they lost your information.
5. Great word-of-mouth marketing
Another great reason for a web site (that is often overlooked!) is that's it's easy for someone to share your web site address with a friend in an email, a phone conversation or a meeting where none of your brochures or business cards are available.
6. Adds value
Your web site can become a valuable resource to potential and current customers. Post information on how to care for products you sell, referrals to related services, interesting facts, how-to's, tips, trends, mistakes to avoid or a glossary of industry terms.
7. Stay ahead of or keep up with competition
People use the internet to research everything from furniture to limousine service to preschools. If your competitor has a web site listed in their print ad and you don't, those online savvy people may check out your competitor's offerings first. That's especially true if you advertise in online "Yellow-Page"-style directories and don't have a web site. Hello! Your target customer is already online! If your competitor is just a click away, who do you think will get the first opportunity to serve that customer?
About the author:
Keita Del Valle is the owner of Crafty Pixel, a Southern California web design company located in Corona, CA. For more web site design news, articles and the Hollaback blog, visit www.craftypixel.com.
Internet Security Software - Are you Up to Date?
First of all, I must take this opportunity to wish a Happy New Year to all my loyal readers.
My first article of 2006 coincides with my bad experience of a potential individual or group of individuals who were intent on bringing down my website during the Christmas holidays. I had to work during the holidays so on the morning of 28th December, I was surprised to learn that those types determined to create chaos work crazier hours than me.
I found no less than 38 emails in my Junk folder, all with the title Mail undelivered - Returned to Sender mails. The fact that I hadn't sent any emails since the 23rd December made this influx of undelivered emails seem a little impossible.
Then my saviour, in the form of my Internet Security Software kindly told me what had happened in my absence: Basically I had received XX number of emails all infected with the worm mytob.ac. As a result of the latest variation of this particular worm, it had rendered the message undeliverable and removed the attachment.
As I was hiding behind my Internet Security Software, I couldn't resist taking a look at the email addresses they were trying to send this worm to. Basically in a desperate attempt to get in, they were randomly guessing employee names, david@, ken@ Britney@(?!?). It was almost like kids trying to gatecrash a party (Hi, I'm really friendly with David, no what his name? Kevin).
After I started working again, I then got a message every 5 minutes from my security software saying yet another had been sent and another and another, etc. Final count of the same messages on 28th was 68.
Still the show is well and truly over now because this morning all I got was standard spam mail. Nothing malicious whatsoever. So whether it was a deliberate attempt by someone I know intent on bringing down my website as a new year present or someone the other side of the world wanting to make some money to cover their Christmas debts, I do not know. Although looking back, I sure prefer to be slightly inconvenienced by my security software telling me every 5 minutes that its removed yet another email worm, cleaned or removed the offending bug than for the little blighter to get in and cause massive chaos, emptying my bank account and annoying everyone unfortunate enough to be in my online Address book.
Whether you own an e-business, have a small website or use the PC now and then, it is far to say that without adequate internet security software, you are committing cyber-suicide. It is annoying when your viral software creates pop-ups that demand payment or slows down considerably when yet another update is being actioned. But consider this as an investment. There are many reputable softwares out there. McAfee Internet Security Suite and PC Cillin Internet Security 14 to name but a few, but it is also worth checking out your local ISP as they may offer a discount with a particular security package or may even offer their own.
One final note to the people (term used loosely) who opted to attempt to bring down my email system over Christmas: Nice Try, Losers.
My first article of 2006 coincides with my bad experience of a potential individual or group of individuals who were intent on bringing down my website during the Christmas holidays. I had to work during the holidays so on the morning of 28th December, I was surprised to learn that those types determined to create chaos work crazier hours than me.
I found no less than 38 emails in my Junk folder, all with the title Mail undelivered - Returned to Sender mails. The fact that I hadn't sent any emails since the 23rd December made this influx of undelivered emails seem a little impossible.
Then my saviour, in the form of my Internet Security Software kindly told me what had happened in my absence: Basically I had received XX number of emails all infected with the worm mytob.ac. As a result of the latest variation of this particular worm, it had rendered the message undeliverable and removed the attachment.
As I was hiding behind my Internet Security Software, I couldn't resist taking a look at the email addresses they were trying to send this worm to. Basically in a desperate attempt to get in, they were randomly guessing employee names, david@, ken@ Britney@(?!?). It was almost like kids trying to gatecrash a party (Hi, I'm really friendly with David, no what his name? Kevin).
After I started working again, I then got a message every 5 minutes from my security software saying yet another had been sent and another and another, etc. Final count of the same messages on 28th was 68.
Still the show is well and truly over now because this morning all I got was standard spam mail. Nothing malicious whatsoever. So whether it was a deliberate attempt by someone I know intent on bringing down my website as a new year present or someone the other side of the world wanting to make some money to cover their Christmas debts, I do not know. Although looking back, I sure prefer to be slightly inconvenienced by my security software telling me every 5 minutes that its removed yet another email worm, cleaned or removed the offending bug than for the little blighter to get in and cause massive chaos, emptying my bank account and annoying everyone unfortunate enough to be in my online Address book.
Whether you own an e-business, have a small website or use the PC now and then, it is far to say that without adequate internet security software, you are committing cyber-suicide. It is annoying when your viral software creates pop-ups that demand payment or slows down considerably when yet another update is being actioned. But consider this as an investment. There are many reputable softwares out there. McAfee Internet Security Suite and PC Cillin Internet Security 14 to name but a few, but it is also worth checking out your local ISP as they may offer a discount with a particular security package or may even offer their own.
One final note to the people (term used loosely) who opted to attempt to bring down my email system over Christmas: Nice Try, Losers.
