My web home ....

Computer Stuff

December 2024

Broadband Supplier

Having been happy with PlusNet as my Broadband supplier for many years, my contract was up for renewal, mid 2024.  I would have been content to stay with PlusNet, but I was irritated by their mid contract price increase.  As a result I investigated options, and with reasonable feedback on the quality of service, I chose one of the new fibre only providers, BRSK, which offered 100mbps duplex for around £23/month. The installation was carried out professionally, and so far has provided a good service.

Security when using Web Mail

If you are using a Web Mail account from a shared computer or one in a public space, such as an internet cafe, there are some security issues to be aware of.  Some care is needed to keep your mail account secure.  Most browsers cache pages that you have read (i,e, keep a local copy).  This could mean that after you’ve left the PC, someone else using it could use the browser’s History function to go back to your mailbox.

Two steps are needed to secure your Web Mail.  First, make sure you use the service’s Log Out button.  This makes sure that the server knows you’ve finished and won’t allow further access without your password again.  Second, clear all the pages you’ve viewed from the browser’s cache.  Press Ctrl+H to bring up the History Window, select all the pages from your session and delete them.  Then close the browser to make sure the cache is flushed.  Anyone using the PC after you shouldn’t now be able to access your Web Mail.

Security on the Web

If you are using a Microsoft Windows computer on the internet, then you really should have an Anti-virus product and a Firewall installed.  There are a number of free products in this area.  The ones I am using currently are:

• Integral Microsoft Windows Security which includes Windows Defender Anti-Virus.  In my opinion, this provides adequate anti virus and malware protection if you are aware of the risks of being online and adopt personal safe web etiquette.  If you are less confident in understanding the risks, then a paid for solution or the one below may be better for you.

Other options to consider include:

• AVAST Anti-virus.  To download off the internet click here

Use Quality CD’s and DVD’s for important data storage

Not all the CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R or DVD-RW are of the same quality.  For transient, unimportant or temporary use, I just tend to buy the cheapest disks I can find; however, for information you wish to retain for a long period of time, or where the information is important, I strongly recommend using quality media.  I recommend using Verbatim products, CD’s and DVD+R and DVD+RW disks. 

Creating your own web-site

If you wish to create your own web-site you need to do at least the following things:

• Obtain your own domain (e.g. this one is shaynoo.co.uk) or use a domain provided by someone else (discuss this aspect with them!).  I would suggest obtaining UK domains using Ionos via www.ionos.co.uk and .COM, .ORG and .NET via www.namecheap.com .
• Select where to host your domain.  You could do this yourself, but this is a bit technical.  I used to use asmallorange,  addaction.net and latterly www.webhosting.uk.com.  In 2021 however there was ‘lifetime’ deal with www.ibrave.io,which I chose to take advantage of.  After a couple of years monitoring the service I opted in 2023 to move over all my domains to ibrave. Noting the ‘rule’ when something sounds ‘too good to be true’ ... early in 2024 ibrave announced they were ceasing trading (so much for a life time service).  Looking around I chose to move to eukhosting.net, part of Hyperslice which also owns webhostingUK; so far so good..
• Use a tool to create your web-site.  You can just code in HTML and use FTP to upload this to your hosting site, but I would really recommend you use a site creation tool.  I currently use NetObjects Fusion.  There is a free download of a starter version, ‘Netobjects Fusion Essentials’, from ‘click here’.

General Firewall Testing

I find the following service very useful in checking the effectiveness of Firewalls.  The use of this tool is not straightforward, but if you know what the results mean and how to use it, it is very good.

Use Shields Up by clicking here.