Don’t Let Bad Hosting Sink Your Website: The Hidden Dangers of a Poor Provider

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In today’s digital age, your website is often the first impression your business makes. But what if that impression is slow, insecure, or constantly unavailable? The culprit might be your website hosting provider. Choosing the wrong host can lead to a myriad of frustrating and costly issues that directly impact your online success.

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Here are the critical ills of selecting a subpar website hosting provider:

The Real Costs of Bad Hosting

  • Frequent Downtime and Unreliability: Imagine a physical store that’s constantly closing its doors without warning. That’s what frequent website downtime feels like to your visitors. It frustrates potential customers, leads to lost sales, and severely damages your brand’s reputation. Search engines also penalise sites with poor uptime, hurting your visibility.
  • Snail-Paced Loading Speeds: In a world of instant gratification, a slow-loading website is a death knell. Studies show that a delay of even one second can lead to a significant drop in conversions and a high bounce rate. Visitors simply won’t wait for a sluggish site to load, leading them straight to your competitors. Beyond user experience, Google prioritises fast-loading websites in its search rankings.
  • Security Vulnerabilities and Data Breaches: Cyberattacks are a constant threat. A weak hosting provider leaves your website exposed to malware, DDoS attacks, and data breaches. This can result in stolen customer information, compromised website integrity, and a shattered reputation. Recovering from a security incident is not only expensive but can also erode customer trust permanently.
  • Inadequate Customer Support: When something goes wrong with your website, you need help, and fast. Poor customer support from your host can leave you stranded, struggling to resolve critical issues, and losing valuable time and money.
  • Limited Scalability: As your business grows, so should your website’s capacity. A hosting provider that offers limited scalability will hinder your growth, causing performance issues and potential crashes when traffic spikes.
  • Hidden Costs and Unclear Limitations: What seems like a cheap deal upfront can quickly turn into a financial nightmare with hidden fees for essential features or exceeding undisclosed limits. Transparent pricing and clear resource allocation are crucial.
  • Negative SEO Impact: All of the above ills—downtime, slow speeds, and security issues—directly impact your search engine optimisation (SEO). Google prioritises reliable, fast, and secure websites. A bad host can derail your efforts to rank high in search results.

Hostinger: Our Go-To for Secure, Reliable Hosting

As an organisation that relies on robust and secure hosting for our own online presence, we’ve seen firsthand the critical role a good provider plays. That’s why I personally use and recommend Hostinger. Their services consistently counter every single ill listed above, providing a fantastic foundation for online success.

Here’s how Hostinger stands out as a highly secure provider in our experience:

  • Guaranteed 99.9% Uptime: I’ve found their commitment to keeping websites online and accessible around the clock to be exceptional. Their robust infrastructure ensures minimal downtime, which is crucial for reputation and revenue.
  • Lightning-Fast Performance with LiteSpeed Technology: Slow loading times are a thing of the past with Hostinger. They leverage cutting-edge LiteSpeed servers, delivering blazing-fast website speeds that keep visitors engaged and happy. This not only improves user experience but also significantly boosts SEO.
  • Ironclad Security Measures: Hostinger prioritises website security, which is incredibly important to me. They provide:
    • Free SSL Certificates: Essential for encrypting data, building trust, and improving SEO.
    • Advanced DDoS Protection: Protecting against malicious traffic surges.
    • Automatic Daily Backups: Ensuring data is safe and easily restorable.
      Proactive Malware Scanning and Removal: Detecting and eliminating threats before they cause damage.
    • Web Application Firewall (WAF): Filtering out suspicious traffic and blocking attacks.
    • 24/7 Expert Customer Support: Whenever I’ve needed assistance, their dedicated team of hosting specialists has been available around the clock via live chat, providing prompt, knowledgeable, and friendly support.
    • Scalable Hosting Solutions: As our needs evolve, Hostinger offers a range of flexible hosting plans (Shared, Cloud, VPS) that easily scale. This ensures our websites can handle increasing traffic seamlessly.
    • Transparent and Affordable Pricing: I appreciate their clear, upfront pricing with no hidden surprises. It makes budgeting straightforward and predictable.
      Don’t compromise your online presence with a subpar hosting provider. I chose Hostinger for peace of mind, thanks to their industry-leading performance, unwavering security, and exceptional support.

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Beware the Bengal Cat: A Sinister Search Term

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A seemingly innocent Google search could land you in hot water.

Cybersecurity experts are warning internet users about a dangerous new hacking technique that exploits a seemingly harmless search term: “Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?”

By simply typing this phrase into a search engine, unsuspecting victims could be exposed to malicious software that can steal personal information, lock devices, and more.

How does it work?

Cybercriminals are employing a tactic known as “SEO poisoning” to manipulate search engine results. This involves strategically placing malicious links at the top of search results pages, often disguised as legitimate websites. When a user clicks on one of these links, they may be redirected to a site that downloads harmful software onto their device.

Stay Safe Online

To protect yourself from this and other online threats, follow these tips:

  • Be cautious of unexpected search results: If you encounter unusual or suspicious links, avoid clicking on them.
  • Keep your software up-to-date: Regularly update your operating system and security software to patch vulnerabilities.
  • Use a reputable antivirus program: A strong antivirus solution can help detect and block malicious software.
  • Be mindful of phishing attempts: Be wary of unsolicited emails, messages, or phone calls that ask for personal information.
  • Use strong, unique passwords: A strong, complex password can make it harder for hackers to gain access to your accounts.

By staying informed and practising safe online habits, you can minimize your risk of falling victim to cyberattacks.

Key Aspects of Code Obfuscation

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Code obfuscation is a process used to modify source code in a way that makes it harder to understand or reverse engineer, while still maintaining its functionality. Developers employ code obfuscation techniques to protect their software from unauthorized access, tampering, and reverse engineering. Let’s explore some key aspects of code obfuscation:

Remove Superfluous Data

The first step in code hardening is to eliminate unnecessary elements from your code. This includes removing redundant functions, debugging information, and metadata. By streamlining your codebase, you reduce the attack surface and make it more challenging for attackers to find vulnerabilities.

String Encryption

Encrypting strings within your code can make it difficult for attackers to extract sensitive information. By converting strings into an encoded format, you enhance security without altering the program’s behaviour.

Process Order Obfuscation

Rearrange the order of instructions or functions in your code. This can confuse reverse engineers and disrupt their understanding of the program’s logic.

Memory Randomization

Randomize memory addresses or data structures used by your program. This prevents attackers from predicting memory layouts and exploiting vulnerabilities.

Naming Obfuscation

Rename variables, functions, and classes in a way that doesn’t reveal their purpose. Meaningless or deceptive names make it harder for attackers to decipher the code.

Control Flow Obfuscation

Alter the control flow of your program by introducing conditional jumps, loops, or other constructs. This confuses static analysis tools and makes it challenging to follow the program’s execution path.

Remember that while code obfuscation enhances security, it may also increase execution time and overhead. Striking the right balance between protection and performance is crucial for real-world applications.

Why not to use nulled WordPress Themes and Plugins

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Navigating the world of WordPress themes and plugins can be daunting, especially with the temptation of nulled (pirated or illegally obtained) themes and plugins. However, it’s crucial to understand the risks associated with using nulled WordPress themes and plugins. Here are several compelling reasons why you must avoid them:

1. Security Vulnerabilities

Nulled themes and plugins often contain hidden malicious code inserted by hackers. This code can compromise the security of your website, leading to malware infections, data breaches, and unauthorized access.

2. Lack of Updates and Support

Legitimate WordPress themes and plugins receive regular updates to address security vulnerabilities, introduce new features, and ensure compatibility with the latest version of WordPress. Nulled themes and plugins do not receive these updates, leaving your website vulnerable to security risks and compatibility issues. Furthermore, you won’t have access to customer support from the original developers if you encounter any issues.

3. Legal Risks

Using nulled themes and plugins is illegal and violates copyright laws. By downloading and using pirated software, you expose yourself to legal consequences, including fines and potential lawsuits from developers and copyright holders.

4. Poor Code Quality

Nulled themes and plugins are often poorly coded and lack proper documentation. This can lead to performance issues, website errors, and conflicts with other themes and plugins. In contrast, legitimate WordPress themes and plugins undergo rigorous testing and adhere to coding best practices to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

5. Blacklisting by Search Engines

Search engines like Google can detect websites using pirated software and may penalize them by lowering their search rankings or removing them from search results altogether. This can significantly impact your website’s visibility and traffic, ultimately affecting your online presence and business success.

6. Backdoor Access

Nulled themes and plugins may contain backdoors that allow hackers to gain unauthorized access to your website. Once inside, hackers can steal sensitive information, install malware, or hijack your website for malicious purposes.

7. Hidden Ads and Affiliate Links

Some nulled themes and plugins include hidden ads or affiliate links that generate revenue for the hacker. These ads can appear on your website without your knowledge or consent, detracting from the user experience and potentially driving visitors away.

8. Loss of Reputation

Using nulled themes and plugins can damage your reputation as a website owner or developer. Visitors may view your website as untrustworthy or insecure, leading to a loss of credibility and potential customers.

9. Compatibility Issues

Nulled themes and plugins may not be compatible with other WordPress themes, plugins, or updates, leading to website errors, broken functionality, and poor user experience.

10. Voided Warranties

Many legitimate theme and plugin developers offer warranties and guarantees to customers who purchase their products. However, by using nulled software, you forfeit any warranties or guarantees, leaving you without recourse if something goes wrong.

In summary, the risks associated with using nulled WordPress themes and plugins are extensive and far-reaching. It’s essential to prioritize the security, integrity, and legality of your website by investing in legitimate themes and plugins from reputable developers. By doing so, you can protect your website, your reputation, and your business from harm.

Common motivations to use nulled WordPress themes & plugins

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Despite the associated risks, here are some reasons people may be tempted to use nulled WordPress themes and plugins.

1. Cost Savings

One of the primary reasons people opt for nulled themes and plugins is to avoid paying for legitimate versions. Nulled versions are typically available for free or at a significantly lower cost than purchasing the original product.

2. Access to Premium Features

Nulled themes and plugins often claim to offer premium features and functionality found in paid versions. This can be appealing to users who want access to advanced features without having to pay for them.

3. Ease of Access

Nulled themes and plugins are readily available for download from various websites, file-sharing platforms, and online forums. This accessibility makes it convenient for users to obtain and install pirated software without going through official channels.

4. Experimentation and Testing

Some users may use nulled themes and plugins for testing purposes or to experiment with different designs and functionalities on their websites before committing to purchasing the original product.

5. Lack of Awareness

In some cases, users may not be aware of the risks associated with using nulled software. They may mistakenly believe that downloading and using pirated themes and plugins is harmless or acceptable.

6. Desperation or Urgency

Users facing tight budgets or urgent deadlines may resort to using nulled themes and plugins as a quick and inexpensive solution to address their immediate needs.

7. Peer Pressure or Recommendations

In online communities or forums, users may encounter recommendations or endorsements for nulled themes and plugins from other members. Peer pressure or positive reviews may influence users to try out pirated software despite the potential risks.

8. Lack of Technical Knowledge

Some users may lack the technical knowledge or expertise to evaluate the risks associated with using nulled themes and plugins. They may not fully understand the potential security vulnerabilities or legal implications involved.

It’s important to note that while these reasons may seem compelling, the risks associated with using nulled WordPress themes and plugins far outweigh any perceived benefits. Users must prioritize the security, integrity, and legality of their websites by investing in legitimate themes and plugins from reputable developers.

A way to access Google accounts without a password by Hackers

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A recent discovery by security researchers has unveiled a new hacking technique that enables cyber criminals to infiltrate individuals’ Google accounts without requiring their passwords. CloudSEK, a security firm, conducted an analysis and identified a malicious form of malware that exploits third-party cookies to gain unauthorized access to users’ private data. This dangerous exploit is already being actively tested by various hacking groups.

The revelation of this exploit occurred in October 2023 when a hacker shared information about it on a Telegram channel. The hacker explained how accounts could be compromised through a vulnerability associated with cookies. Cookies are utilized by websites and browsers to track users and enhance their browsing experience.

Google authentication cookies play a crucial role in allowing users to access their accounts without repeatedly entering their login credentials. However, the hackers have discovered a method to retrieve these cookies, thereby bypassing the security measures of two-factor authentication.

To address this issue, Google Chrome, the world’s most widely used web browser with a market share exceeding 60% last year, is currently taking steps to crack down on third-party cookies.

“We routinely upgrade our defences against such techniques and to secure users who fall victim to malware. In this instance, Google has taken action to secure any compromised accounts detected,” Google said in a statement.

“Users should continually take steps to remove any malware from their computer, and we recommend turning on Enhanced Safe Browsing in Chrome to protect against phishing and malware downloads.”

The researchers who first uncovered the threat said it “underscores the complexity and stealth” of modern cyber-attacks.

“This exploit enables continuous access to Google services, even after a user’s password is reset,” Pavan Karthick M, a threat intelligence researcher at CloudSEK, wrote in a blog post detailing the issue.

“It highlights the necessity for continuous monitoring of both technical vulnerabilities and human intelligence sources to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats.”

The report, titled ‘Exploiting Undocumented OAuth2 Functionality for session hijacking: Malwares Compromising Google Accounts’, was authored by Pavan Karthick M., a threat intelligence researcher at CloudSEK.

Chinese hacking group has found new way to bypass two-factor authentication

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A group with alleged links to the Chinese government has been accused of hacking networks worldwide, but in a rare twist, it’s said to be bypassing two-factor authentication in the process.

The hack was detailed late last week by security researchers from Fox-IT Holding B.V. APT20, the group behind the campaign, targets web servers as the first point of entry with a particular focus on Jboss.

Once through the door, the group installs web shells then spreads throughout the network. Showing fairly typical behavior, the group seeks out passwords and administrator accounts to obtain more information from their targets utilizing virtual network credentials for more secure access.

Where it gets interesting is that the researchers claim they found evidence that APT20 was gaining access to VPN accounts that were protected by 2FA. Hacking 2FA isn’t new, and the process involved is somewhat complicated, but APT20 is said to have found a new way to bypass the process.

The hackers are believed to have stolen an RSA SecurID software token from a hacked system, then modified the key to work on different systems.

“The software token is generated for a specific system, but of course this system-specific value could easily be retrieved by the actor when having access to the system of the victim,” the security researchers explained. “As it turns out, the actor does not actually need to go through the trouble of obtaining the victim’s system-specific value, because this specific value is only checked when importing the SecurID Token Seed, and has no relation to the seed used to generate actual 2-factor tokens. This means the actor can actually simply patch the check which verifies if the imported soft token was generated for this system, and does not need to bother with stealing the system-specific value at all.”

While specifically applying to software-based tokens, the method is disturbing particularly given that 2FA is regularly held up as a way to prevent hacking such as this.

A full copy of the research into the group can be found here.

Bitcoin ransomware locks 10 years’ worth of government data in Argentina

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Bitcoin-hungry hackers have attacked a data center in Argentina which houses local government files.

According to Alicia Bañuelos, the country’s Minister of Science and Technology, the attack took place on November 25.

In an interview with Agencia de Noticia de San Luis — a local government digital news outlet — on December 2, Bañuelos said the center had already recovered 90 percent of the encrypted data. Some 7,700 GB — approximately 10 years worth data — was originally compromised as a result of the attack.

“Decrypting the files will take at least 15 days, mostly due to the sheer size of the archive,” Bañuelos added during the interview.

The size of the Bitcoin ransom is unknown, but reports suggest attackers asked for somewhere in between approximately $37,000 and $370,000 (0.5 and 50 BTC) in exchange for decrypting the files.

Just last week, Hard Fork reported on how a major US data center had been hit by Sodinokibi, a prominent strand of ransomware which several months ago earned a hacker $287,000 worth of Bitcoin in just three days.

Governments have proved to be popular targets. A group of cybercriminals calling themselves the “Shadow Kill Hackers” attacked the City of Johannesburg (South Africa) administration website in late October and threatened to upload the stolen data on the internet unless they received a $300,000 (4 BTC) Bitcoin ransom.

Hackers are also targeting private companies, including Spanish multinational security firm Prosegur, which was hit by Ryuk ransomware under two weeks ago.

thenextweb

New Employees Can Be a Cybersecurity Risk. Here Are 5 Simple Practices You Can Teach Them During Onboarding

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Employee cybersecurity training is becoming an important best practice for organizations, and for good reason. In fact, more than half of small business owners name employee error as the biggest information security risk to their companies.

Many organizations hold annual security training for their employees, which is an important practice that should remain in place. That said, there’s great value in training new employees on cybersecurity during the onboarding process instead of waiting until an annual security training rolls around. While new employees bring skills and experience to the team, they could also bring significant risk if they were never properly educated on cybersecurity practices at previous jobs.

Including security training as part of the initial employee onboarding process makes it clear to new hires that they play a critical role in maintaining the company’s privacy and security, as well as protecting sensitive customer information. It also educates them on key cybersecurity principles, such as how to recognize and avoid common threats, the importance of strong passwords, and the risks of unsecured devices, such as their personal cell phone.

Since cybersecurity is such a broad topic, you might be wondering what to focus on when training your employees. Here are a few of the most important cybersecurity lessons to communicate to new employees as soon as they join the team.

1. Avoid phishing scams.

Phishing scams are a huge cybersecurity threat to companies, playing a role in 91 percent of all data breaches. That’s why it’s essential to teach new employees how to recognize and avoid possible phishing attacks. Be sure to educate them about spear phishing emails, which appear to come from a trustworthy sender but are actually designed to steal sensitive company data. These emails often come from someone high up at the organization, like the CEO.

Teach employees to be vigilant when checking their emails, and to be cautious if an email from a coworker contains lots of typos or asks for sensitive information. If they receive emails that seem suspicious, instruct them to verify the email address to make sure it originated from the actual sender. In addition, educate your new employees to hover their mouse over any links in emails to see where they will take them.

2. Keep up with security patches and software updates.

Another important lesson to teach your employees is to stay on top of security patches and software updates. While it’s easy to click the “update later button” on software update notifications, ignoring them can put devices – and your company – at risk. Security patches and updates are designed to repair vulnerabilities in your device or software and should be installed immediately. Instruct new employees to check their devices for software updates regularly and to install them right away.

3. Avoid unsecured Wi-Fi networks.

Be sure to educate your employees about the dangers of unsecured Wi-Fi networks and how to protect their devices when using public Wi-Fi. This is especially important if you let your employees work remotely or set up permissions so they can access work communications outside of the office. Your employees need to understand that bad actors often linger on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, hoping to launch a man-in-the-middle attack and steal their sensitive information. If your employees want to connect to public Wi-Fi, make sure they use a virtual private network (VPN) to secure their connection and protect company data.

4. Stick to company-sponsored apps and tools.

During cybersecurity training, stress the importance of sticking to apps and online tools that are company-approved. If employees avoid using employer-mandated tools and opt for their preferred apps instead, they create risk by spreading sensitive company information on systems outside the company’s control. Teach new employees about the dangers of circumventing company-sponsored apps and provide in-depth training on approved tools so employees don’t feel the need to seek out alternatives.

5. Create strong passwords.

Communicating the importance of using strong passwords is an important step to secure sensitive company data. Creating a strong password by using a password generator or a password manager can help secure accounts and prevent cyberattacks. An important point to make with your employees is not only to focus on using strong passwords, but to ensure they are not using the same password on all of their logins.

Employee cybersecurity education is essential for companies of all sizes. In fact, employee cybersecurity training might be even more important for small businesses, which rarely have access to the resources and sophisticated IT teams that large corporations rely on to protect their organizations.

For this reason, small businesses need to take a proactive approach to educating new employees on cybersecurity best practices. By including cybersecurity training during the onboarding process, you can lay the groundwork for your company and employees’ long-term success.

inc

Programmer finds ridiculous ATM loophole that let him withdraw ₦377 million in cash

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It sounds like something straight out of a movie: an unsatisfied bank programmer discovers the perfect scheme for making an ATM spit out free money.

But apparently, this story is true: The South China Morning Postand China’s Daily Economic News report that 43-year-old Qin Qisheng managed to withdraw over 7 million yuan (upwards of ₦377 million) from ATMs operated by his employer, Huaxia Bank — all by exploiting a crazy loophole.

According to the reports, the bank’s system didn’t properly record withdrawals made around midnight — effectively spitting out cash without removing the total from a user’s account. Normally, that might send up a red flag that a transaction had failed, but Qisheng allegedly inserted scripts into the system that suppressed those alerts.

Qisheng started pulling out money in November 2016, but it wasn’t until January 2018, some 1,358 withdrawals later, that the bank discovered the bad code in its system and brought him to the authorities.

Perhaps the most surprising part of this story: the bank didn’t want to keep pressing charges once he’d returned the money. Maybe fearing the bad publicity (apparently the loophole has already been fixed), Huaxia Bank reportedly asked police to drop the case — reportedly accepting Qisheng’s explanation that he was merely testing the bank’s security and was holding onto the money for the bank to reclaim. As one does.

The courts refused, though, and Qisheng is now looking at 10 and a half years in prison after losing his appeal. They didn’t buy the argument, considering that he’d moved the money to his personal bank account, instead of the bank’s dummy account, and had apparently been investing some in the stock market, too.

The Verge