|
Please visit the LangaList Home Page How To
Subscribe and Unsubscribe is at the end of this
note. Mailing List Trouble? See
http://www.langa.com/help.htm Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win a prize!) An easier-to read formatted
HTML version of this newsletter is available The
LangaList 2003-12-01 Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!
--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList S.E. Free! ) --- 30 Outlook add-ins that can make a difference! Find 30 Outlook add-ins that can
save you time and increase Find out more <a href=" http://www.SperrySoftware.com ">here!</a> --------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 1) Web-Host OutsourcingI've long been a proponent of outsourced web hosting: Instead of doing it all yourself, you contract with a reliable outside party to set up and maintain your web site's behind-the-scenes physical infrastructure. A web host often can provide this infrastructure to you for less cost than if you did it on your own because the host benefits from economies of scale in ganging many sites into one facility. In addition to saving you money, outsourcing also leaves you free to focus on the content and purpose of your sites, rather than on the bricks, mortar, hardware and software. And the outsourcing costs can be amazingly low: The least expensive options cost literally pocket change--- less than a dollar a day--- and gets you web space on a shared server. Or, for a few dollars a day, you can have your own separate, dedicated server. Either way, using a reputable web host gets you remote access to a professionally set up and maintained web server in a fireproof, secure, climate-controlled data center with a private emergency power supply. Higher-end web hosting plans--- still only a few dollars a day--- can provide for automatic daily backups of your data, automatic electronic relocation to another facility in the event of a local disaster, and more. Many plans include secure ecommerce options, and some even include basic tools to create a web site from scratch, for those who are totally new to web hosting. And virtually all web plans let you have your own domain, so your pages will appear on a site named something like www.[yourcompany name].com or www.[yourname].com (e.g. www.langa.com). Likewise, almost all web hosting plans include mail service for anywhere from a few to hundreds of users, and these accounts all will have email addresses in a form like [yourname]@[yourdomain].com (e.g. Fred@Langa.Com). An email address in that form seems far more professional and serious than an address from, say, AOL, Hotmail, or other ISPs. But sometimes, things go wrong. When I recently ran into trouble with one of my web hosts, I mentioned it in my newsletter http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-11-06.htm#2 , which prompted many, many of you to write in with positive recommendations for your preferred hosts. I collected a broad, representative sampling of those reader-recommendations, and then added lots of extra information, and put it all into a new article at http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=16400938 . There, you'll see--- step by step--- how to track down the web host that's perfect for your own specific needs, budget, and abilities. We'll start by helping you to define what you might need in a host, then show you how to find a range of likely candidates, and then add in the recommendations of your fellow readers, so you'll have some real-world, first-hand feedback on many individual hosts. Whether you currently have a web host or are just starting to think about maybe getting one for yourself or your business, the information at http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=16400938 can go a long way to making it easier to find the web host that's *perfect* for you. See you there! Click to email this item to a
friend --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList S.E. Free! ) --- "Thanks for the running
the ad for Mr InkMan.Net. I bought 3 cartridges for a very Quality Ink, Cheap! <a href=" http://www.langa.com/sponsors/mr_ink.htm ">Click here!</a> --------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 2) ZoneAlarm UpdateI'm getting mixed feedback from readers about the newest versions of ZoneAlarm. I must say I have mixed feelings about it myself:
Thanks Bill, Ed, and everyone else who wrote in. Indeed, the basic functions of ZA (and ZA Pro, which I have) seem to be as good as ever: Although some people have trouble getting ZA installed, once it's running, it's a very reliable, solid firewall. But the new version is more aggressive about updates, and also has some entirely new stuff of questionable value. For example, the free version comes with a kind of mini-wallet to assist in Ebay usage; the Pro version has a full fledged encrypted e-wallet called "MyVault" for storing passwords, credit card info, and such:
I'm not sure why this feature belongs in a firewall; perhaps it signifies an intention by ZoneLabs to become a supplier of general e-security tools, rather than just being focused on firewalls. But you still can ask: Why is this feature inside a firewall? I can't think of a good reason. A separate tool, like Roboform ( http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=roboform&sp-a=0008002a-sp00000000 ) does more than ZoneAlarms' MyVault does, not only storing information in secure, encrypted form, but also automatically filling out web forms. Plus, because Roboform isn't sitting right on the internet connection, it should be harder for a hacker to find, and get at. Or, to put it conversely, why on earth would you put all your most critical personal and financial data in the firewall--- in the very software that will be at the point of attack for any hack attempts? MyVault's encryption may be very good, but it seems to me to be an ill-conceived product design. It's there inside my copy of ZAP, but I won't use it. So, as before, I think ZoneAlarm is fine--- as a firewall. It's worth running on that basis alone. But I don't think the new mini-wallet for Ebay, or the full-fledged MyVault add any particular value to the mix. In fact, they may only muddy the waters and reflect a kind of creeping "kitchensink-itis" that rarely makes products better. If you have any problems installing or running ZA, or dislike its frequent update-checks, by all means try Sygate Personal Firewall, or any of the many other firewalls we've discussed in the past. ( http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=firewall&sp-a=0008002a-sp00000000 ) Click to email this item to a
friend 3) 1,000+ Freeware Links
Thanks, Allan. A lot of work went into that site. Nice! Click to email this item to a
friend 4) Microsoft's Free "TweakOmatic"Yes, that's really its name! It's a companion, or even alternative, to the ever-popular TweakUI, which is available via the same page referenced below:
Indeed, for a page that deals with a fairly geeky topic, it shows some welcome verve and humor. Nice find, Dave! Click to email this item to a
friend --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList S.E. Free! ) --- CyberGuys! --------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 5) Timely ReminderIn a few short weeks, many of you will get--- or give--- wireless networking devices as holiday gifts. Those devices often come with an enormous, gaping security hole that's so big, it can literally land you in jail:
Although an arrest is a splashy, attention-getting kind of problem, the far more common problem with wireless networking is theft of service (where your ISP can kill your account if unauthorized wireless poachers use it) or intrusion into your own system or network, possibly compromising your private files and data. If, or when, you start using wireless networking devices, check this out: Click to email this item to a
friend 6) Is This Newsletter Interesting? Useful?If you think the LangaList is a worthwhile read, maybe a friend would find it useful too! Just use the following link to recommend the LangaList---your friend may find a new source of useful information and you just may win one of three FREE ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTIONS to the LangaList Plus! edition given each month. (If your name is drawn and you're already a Plus! subscriber, your current subscription will be extended by a full year.) Check out the details at http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm . Thanks for recommending the LangaList--- and good luck! Click to email this item to a
friend 7) One Letter, Multiple Tips
Thanks, Tom! Click to email this item to a
friend 8) They Just Keep Coming And Coming...Well over 3,000 of your fellow readers have "loaded the code." Have you? Check out http://www.langa.com/code.htm for the details. Here's another eclectic sample of reader sites--- some professional, some very personal: View A Randomly-Chosen
Reader Site Manually Browse All
Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At Office Places Editor for Microsoft Office
(Free) Massachusetts Reserve Police Federation Blogspot Pod25Music Feama (UK) Low Cost ISP BLAINE ROWE Vacation Time Shares Home Security Monitoring MT. SINAI ALUMNI Click to email this item to a
friend --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList S.E. Free! ) --- 50-80% OFF RETAIL! --------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 9) For Beginner Programmers (Free!)In item #7, Tom mentioned a tool for users who already had some programming experience. But that's a tiny minority. What if you've never done any programming?
Thanks, Brandon! It's a great little teaching tool, and even can be used by experienced programmers as a quick way to produce small applets and front ends. Click to email this item to a
friend 10) Just For Grins?This would be funnier, if it were a spoof. But, alas, it's true:
Click to email this item to a
friend --- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList S.E. Free! ) --- "Mr. Langa, Your 'Plus' is
the ONLY newsletter that I have found to be Thank you, Michael! --------------( the above is an advertisement )-------------- 11) Plus! Edition Highlights:
The Plus! edition is only pennies per
issue, and comes with a MONEY BACK Click to email this item to a
friend AN EASY, INEXPENSIVE HOLIDAY
GIFT! See you next issue! Best, Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win a prize!) An easier-to read formatted HTML version is available in the "Current Issue" section of http://www.langa.com. (The HTML version of each issue normally is available by 9AM EST [UT-5] of the issue date.) All past LangaList issues are also available at the Langa.Com site. UNSUBSCRIBE (instant removal!):
http://www.langa.com/leave_langalist.htm This newsletter is SPAM PROOF and requires two levels of subscriber confirmation
before delivery begins: See
http://www.langa.com/info.htm |
|
Please visit the LangaList Home Page |