Archive

Posts Tagged ‘email security’

Choosing A VPN Service

February 19th, 2010 Stuart Fisk No comments

VPN stands for virtual private network and is commonly used by organizations to provide remote access to a secure organizational network. For instance, you are working from home and you need to access files in your computer at the office or connect to applications that are available only via your office network. If your office has VPN installed and your laptop or home computer is configured to connect to it, you can get what you need from the office without having to worry about the security of the data transported over the Internet.

For ordinary users, however, they would know VPN as a means to hide their email address so that they can surf the Internet anonymously or bypass web site access restrictions such as firewalls. An example would be a user on VPN being able to avail of Internet television when this would be normally blocked on his computer.

You can find many providers online offering VPN services at different rates. It depends on how the service will be used. If you need it just to browse web site content (no downloading or streaming), you can get it cheaply (as low as $5 per month) or even for free!

But to be able to do more than browsing Internet content and be anonymous at the same time, you will need a premium VPN account. This is easily available, since most providers try to make the set up process as painless as possible for you – easy to follow instructions, no software to install, no IP numbers to configure into web applications, etc. Depending on the provider, the subscription may include a choice of server locations (to be able to visit sites that would normally block your IP address), strong encryption (the data you entered will be encrypted when transmitted over the Internet and make it difficult for hackers to get) and dedicated IP address (you have your own IP address, instead of having a different one every time you log on to the VPN).

That said, before subscribing to a VPN service, decide how you are going to use it: Is it simply for browsing web site content? Download torrents? Watch Internet television? Each provider has its own terms and conditions for service and some will include restrictions against “illegal” activities such as P2P file sharing of intellectual property. It is best to look for and read the fine print before committing to anything.

Another tip is to look for providers who offer a trial period for prospective subscribers. This indicates that the provider has confidence in their product, and you will be able to judge if the service works for you.

Here are a couple of things to check: Internet speed and quality of technical support. You will want to know how reliable the Internet speed is, and how fast or slow it is (depends on what you want to do). You will also want a technical support team that doesn’t take weeks to respond to your questions or help requests, and who actually know what to do when problems or issues arise.

Read the customer testimonials on the website, but do go to online forums as well. There are many discussions on VPN service providers and you may find that the provider you are considering isn’t a good deal after all.

Anonymous surfing and email security tools can be a great way to improve your chances against threats online. Stuart Fisk is an experienced network analyst who helps individuals minimize risk by using VPN services at work or at home. For additional information about this and other related topics search the internet and you can find a large amount at connectinprivate.com.

Using Secure Email Is Crucial For Any Business

December 2nd, 2009 Mitch Stenson No comments

The business world is a very competitive place, and companies need to take extra steps to make sure hackers can’t get into their email systems and cause trouble. If this ever happened it has the potential of costing a business millions of dollars. Secure email systems can help you protect your business by keeping your secrets safe while encouraging a better flow of information between employees.

What would happen if you fired an employee who had access to information in important emails? Would that employee leak the information? That could be devastating to a company, but secure email can prevent this from happening. These leaks could be within the same company, but secure email programs can keep it safe on that level, too.

Or what would happen to a business executive checking their email at a WiFi hotspot? How safe is the information? When you are on a public connection like that, it might not be very safe. This is why enlisting a program that provides additional secure email options can really save you a lot of problems no matter where you go.

Today’s busy lifestyles coupled with business needs can be a dangerous mix. This makes important correspondence more vulnerable for thievery. There are ways to nip this problem in the bud. It takes a secure email plan in place and tools for email protection to be at an optimal level.

Imagine what it would be like to have spent hours on an important report only to have it stolen. Internal competition can be just as tough as external competition. If there is another worker who wants the competitive edge within the company and they have no sound ethics what is there to prevent email theft? Secure email is the ticket to help stop a crook.

Ethical standards are usually expected in a company, but they are not always followed. Many employees can cite examples of someone acting in unethical ways. If they are in your company, what is to stop them from hacking into other’s emails? Are you sure you have secure email?

If someone really wants to get a look at your important information (whether in a business or personal situation) it really isn’t that hard. It may be illegal, but that doesn’t stop some people from attempting to get into your personal data. Secure email solutions, though, can help you prevent this from happening.

A secure email system can do a lot for businesses and individuals and help them avoid many of these problems. Find a good system and you will be sure that your important information will be safe.

A secure email can keep your personal information safe from identity theft and further threats. Mitch Stenson is extremely familiar about companies offering secure email services and can help you reduce risk by using anonymous surfing tools. Find more articles online.