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Search Engine Optimization

Having a presence on the web is not enough. Your customers and potential visitors have to be able to find you online. We design your website with usability in mind, and even offer custom search engine optimization services for our clients who want to increase their position in the search engine rankings.

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Microsoft Releases Critical Internet Explorer Patch

The out-of-band security update fixes a JavaScript-related vulnerability that's being actively exploited through hacked Web sites.

By Thomas Claburn,  InformationWeek
Dec. 17, 2008
URL: http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=212501006

Microsoft has released an out-of-band security update, MS08-078, to fix a vulnerability in its Internet Explorer Web browser that's being actively exploited.

"At this time, we are aware only of attacks that attempt to use this vulnerability against Windows Internet Explorer 7," said Christopher Budd, Microsoft security response communications lead, in an e-mailed statement. "Our investigation of these attacks so far has verified that they are not successful against customers who have applied the security update. MS08-078 has a maximum severity rating of Critical for all versions of Internet Explorer."

Nonetheless, Microsoft lists Internet Explorer 5.01, 6, and 7 as affected software in its Security Bulletin. It also says separately, in the FAQ section, that Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 is affected.

The vulnerability can be exploited through JavaScript code posted on malicious Web sites. Internet Explorer users may be redirected to these sites through hacked legitimate sites. If the malicious code is successful, it silently downloads malware onto the victim's computer.

Microsoft typically releases software patches, referred to as Security Bulletins, on the second Tuesday of every month. When critical vulnerabilities emerge and are actively exploited, Microsoft often issues a patch as soon as it's ready.

The last such out-of-band patch, Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-067, was released on Oct. 23. It addressed a vulnerability in Windows Server service that affected all currently supported versions of Windows. That vulnerability allowed an attacker to take over affected computers remotely.

When Microsoft issued its out-of-band patch in October, it cited the vulnerability's potential "wormability" -- meaning the hole could be exploited on a massive scale using self-copying malware -- as a reason for its action.

But MS08-078 isn't wormable. "[That] shows that the wormability of a vulnerability is no longer a good indicator of the seriousness of a threat and that these Web-based threats are now much more dangerous than network worms," said Roel Schouwenberg, senior antivirus researcher for Kaspersky Lab, Americas, in an e-mailed statement.

Indeed, Microsoft security researchers estimated that as many as 1 in 500 users of Internet Explorer could have been exposed to malware attempting to exploit the flaw.

"The browser flaw had been disclosed roughly one week ago as a zero-day vulnerability, and active exploits have been around the Internet for that timeframe as well," Qualys CTO Wolfgang Kandek said in an e-mailed statement. "The workarounds provided by Microsoft were very technical and quite cumbersome to implement, making it imperative for Microsoft to release a fix as quickly as possible."

Kandek suggests that Microsoft is at a disadvantage in updating Internet Explorer because its browser doesn't have a built-in update mechanism like other browser makers. Mozilla, for instance, just released Firefox 3.05 to Firefox users through its auto-update system.

Microsoft is urging users of IE to test and deploy this update as soon as possible.
 
12 Benefits Of Having A Website Print E-mail

Some of the goals that can be achieved by launching a website include the following:

1. Far Cheaper and Much More Flexible Than Print Advertising

The Internet is extremely different from print advertising in that space is cheap, your advertisement is accessible for a longer period of time, the content can be changed without having to ask someone to do it for you (if you use a content management system) and you can potentially reach a wider audience.

This is not to say that you should not use other forms of advertising at all.  For example, you can use print advertising to entice people to visit your website and find out about your company and potentially open two-way communication between the potential customer and a sales person.

2. Market Expansion

The Internet has allowed businesses to break through the geographical barriers and become accessible, virtually, from any country in the world by a potential customer that has Internet access.

3. Diversify Revenue Streams

A website is not just a medium for representation of your company, it is a form of media from which everybody can acquire information. You can use this media to sell advertising space to other businesses.

A recent trend has risen where businesses feature their very own directory of complimentary services, where the visitor can search for information on a business that will enhance the use of your service. The business sells complimentary businesses a listing in their directory. 

A good example is a catering company featuring a directory with businesses such as event co-coordinators, electronic equipment rental companies, etc.

4. 24 x 7 x 365

No more turning customers away when its time to close shop, putting up a note saying "closed for public holiday", or leaving an irritating message on your answering service specifying your trading hours.... Tell them to visit your website for information they are looking for. 

5. Offer Convenience

It is far more convenient for a person to research a product on the Internet than it is to get in a car, drive somewhere and look for or ask someone for information on a product. Also, a potential customer won't have to judge a call center agent to determine whether he/she has their best interests in mind, or just wants to make a sale.

The potential customer can visit your website whenever they like in their own privacy and comfort, without the stresses and distractions that exist in the "real world".  Your website is a self-service medium.  For example, instead of having to wait in a long queue to pay your TV License, you can now do it electronically through the TV License website.

6. Add Value and Satisfaction

By offering convenience, a point of reference and that touch of individualized customer service, you ultimately add value to your offering and your customers experience a higher level of satisfaction.

Your website can add value in other ways too, by featuring tips, advice and general interest content that will entertain your customers. This will also help them remember you better.

7. Standardize Sales Performance

By looking at which approaches / pitches have worked in the past and those which have not, you can produce the ultimate pitch and use it with your website, so that you use it on every customer. No more training of sales people and waiting for them to get a feel for your line of trade.

8. Improve credibility

A website gives you the opportunity to tell potential customers what you are about and why you deserve their trust and confidence. In fact, many people use the internet for pre-purchase research so that they can determine for themselves whether a particular supplier or brand is worthy of their patronage, and won't take them for a ride.

The Internet also allows for Viral Marketing, where your website visitors spread positive word-of-mouth about your business.  Your customers do your marketing!

9. Promote your "Brick 'n' Mortar" Presence

Getting lost trying to find a place can be frustrating for a potential customer. You can publish what they call a "dummy map" on your website, which shows directions and landmarks graphically, and the potential customer can print it out when looking for your Brick 'n' Mortar premises.

You might advertise a promotion on your website encouraging the visitor to visit your Brick 'n' Mortar premises (e.g.:  At a branch near you!).
Also, if you had recently moved to a new location, you would have to wait for the next phone directory to come out before people figure out where you currently are. Because a website is flexible--you can change the content as you like--you can change your contact details instantly and lower the risk of losing customers when moving to a new location.

10. Growth Opportunity

A website serves as a great place to refer potential investors, show them what your company is about, what it has achieved and what it can achieve in the future.

11. Two-Way Communicative Marketing

Customers can quickly and easily give feedback on your product and/or marketing approach. 

12. Cheap Market Research

You can use features on your website such as visitor polls, online surveys, and your website statistics to find out what your customers like more and how they feel about certain aspects of your business, in order to determine how you can improve your product and the way you do business.

Website statistics show you how much traffic your website receives, how the visitor got to your website, and where, geographically, the visitor is from.