All posts by Utkarsh

Solution designer with Firstsource solutions. A post grad in Networks and IT Infrastructure. Technology enthusiast, blogger, webdesigner, Network security aspirant and in love with electronics and gadgets. This blog is an attempt to share what I find interesting... almost anything @Mtaram on twitter and
Security

Reasons to secure your Web Browser

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Failing to secure your Web browser can encourage unscrupulous hackers to easily take control of your PC. By not securing your Web browser, you are opening up your PC to spyware and adware programs, viruses, and other attacks with malicious intent.

About Vulnerable Web Browsers

 

Most Web browser software comes pre-installed on your PC’s operating system. The common Web browsers are Internet Explorer, Apple Safari, and Mozilla Firefox. The fact that there are three popular types make it easier for hackers to focus on vulnerabilities and then exploit them with malicious software attacks.

 

Malicious attacks take advantage of the following:

A lot of Web surfers neglect to configure their Web browser security settings or do not understand how to do this.

Many users view enabling and disabling certain functions as a hassle so they do not take these security measures.

The average Web surfer clicks on ads and links without thinking about the reputation of the website or the consequences of their clicking habits.

Web browser users tend to concentrate on all of the advantages that are highlighted by the Web browser creator and do not consider what effect these improvements have on the overall security.

New PCs with Web browsers pre-installed usually contain other types of software bundled together. Although the software seems like a good deal, the PC user does not realize that the additional software increases the vulnerabilities to attacks.

Many websites encourage the download of added tools to enhance the browsing experience such as Plug-Ins, Java, ActiveX, and other related software. While these tools enhance the browsing experience, they also increase the vulnerability of your Web browser.

New vulnerabilities are always discovered once a Web browser has been released to the public. Until there is an upgrade to counteract the problem, the Web browser is vulnerable and open to software attack.

These are only a few reasons why you should secure your Web browser. The process of configuring your browser security features is rather simple to accomplish and well worth the investment of a few minutes of your time.

Due to the explosion of the Internet, attacking the vulnerabilities in Web browsers has become one of the most popular ways for intruders to take over your computer, steal your identity and passwords, spy on your surfing habits, and in the worst cases, destroy your computer altogether.

source | more on browser security  | image source

Security

Cyber security Basics for Beginners

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What information is collected?

When you visit a website, a certain amount of information is automatically sent to the site. This information may include the following:

  • IP address – Each computer on the internet is assigned a specific, unique IP (internet protocol) address. Your computer may have a static IP address or a dynamic IP address. If you have a static IP address, it never changes. However, some ISPs own a block of addresses and assign an open one each time you connect to the internet—this is a dynamic IP address. You can determine your computer’s IP address at any given time by visiting www.showmyip.com.
  • domain name – The internet is divided into domains, and every user’s account is associated with one of those domains. You can identify the domain by looking at the end of URL; for example, .edu indicates an educational institution, .gov indicates a US government agency, .org refers to organization, and .com is for commercial use. Many countries also have specific domain names. The list of active domain names is available from the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).
  • software details – It may be possible for an organization to determine which browser, including the version, that you used to access its site. The organization may also be able to determine what operating system your computer is running.
  • page visits – Information about which pages you visited, how long you stayed on a given page, and whether you came to the site from a search engine is often available to the organization operating the website.

If a website uses cookies, the organization may be able to collect even more information, such as your browsing patterns, which include other sites you’ve visited. If the site you’re visiting is malicious, files on your computer, as well as passwords stored in the temporary memory, may be at risk.

How can you limit the amount of information collected about you?

  • Be careful supplying personal information – Unless you trust a site, don’t give your address, password, or credit card information. Look for indications that the site uses SSL to encrypt your information. Although some sites require you to supply your social security number (e.g., sites associated with financial transactions such as loans or credit cards), be especially wary of providing this information online.
  • Limit cookies – If an attacker can access your computer, he or she may be able to find personal data stored in cookies. You may not realize the extent of the information stored on your computer until it is too late.
  • Browse safely – Be careful which websites you visit; if it seems suspicious, leave the site. Also make sure to take precautions by increasing your security, keeping your virus definitions up to date, and scanning your computer for spyware.
Image source : RHIC News
Events

National Cyber Security Awareness Month

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Event @ Symbiosis Center for IT

Cyber Security Awareness Month

Date and Time:  October 1 at 12:00am – November 1 at 12:00am

Location: Plot no 15, Hinjewadi Phase 1, Pune, India

More Info: http://staysafeonline.org/

Cybersecurity is our shared responsibility. That means everyone has the potential to make a difference and educate others. You can raise awareness within your school, your workplace, your community – or all three.

The NCSA has developed a series of Get Involved sheets to provide suggestions on how you can participate in cybersecurity education. No matter what your role is, you can have an impact. Check out the links below to see what you can do. The Get Involved sheets are also available as PDFs and Word documents for easy distribution.

What Home Users Can Do

What Educators Can Do

What Businesses Can Do

What College Students Can Do

What College Administrators Can Do

What Libraries Can Do

What Local Law Enforcement Can Do

What Local Government Can Do

General

Ayodhya Verdict – Does it matter ?

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I was in class First when it was 1992 and North India specially UP was burning amidst the Hindu, Muslim and Ram mandir, Babri mashjid fire. There were riots every where and I still remember that our schools were closed for more than 8 months.
I was too young to understand what was happening but I still remember of the shops being closed down due to fear, the eerie feeling of fear all around. It all seemed like a very dark phase.
One of my teacher lost her son in the riots. I still remember that my mom and dad had to goto work during the curfew. It was allowed because the curfew had been a bit too long. The feeling of something unknown and unwanted happening lingered on for long.
I sill remember the walls painted with the Ayodhay Chalo slogans, I don’t remember the exact slogan because its more than 20 years. (I would appreciate if any one finds it and sends it to us.)
I never understood what purpose it solved except for some short term political goals at the cost of thousands of lives and millions in damage.
“Laathi goli khaenge, par mandir wahin banayenge”
“Bachha Bachha Ram ka, Janmabhoomi ke kaam ka”
“Saugandh Ram ki khaate hain, hum mandir wahin banayenge”
“Jo hindu hit ki baat karega, wahi desh pe raj karega”

Now after more than 20 years of the incident people are reluctant what would be the verdict. The Hindu Muslim funda is passe and people want to live in peace. In my opinion in case of such issues all the structure should be razed to ground and a charitable hospital should be made at the place. The cost definitely would be less than what we have spent so far since the incident in damages, lives and leagal processing.

This was our opinion. We would like to hear about your comments too.
More details @ http://www.kathniya.org/

About me

I didn’t want to but I did

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image Its been said and I have seen a lot that the life has its own ways of teaching you something. And for me it has happened a lot. I have always made up my mind while thinking not to do certain things or go a certain way but Life made me land at places and or situation where I had thought in my mind I wont be or wont be doing such things. And believe me that changed a lot in me and made me present me. I now take life as it comes.

It all started when I was in school. As a kid I wanted to be the pilot till class ten and not a mainstream engineering grad of the bulk of graduates. Then I just didn’t understand when I started to aspire to become an engineer. Every Tom and Dick I met that time was doing engineering from a local college and I had thought that I would at least not go to that particular college and I landed in that college for four wonderful years of my life.

That time when I had graduated the crowd was attracted to the BPO but I was to be a computer engineer and I had thought that I would never be working in a BPO and the first job of my life was as ISP tech support guy in a top BPO.

Then again I had thought that I am an engineer and that is enough, why do MBA, but yet again Life made me do MBA.

I had always feared that I would not be able to live in Mumbai that too in a place like Andheri, I was ok upto Vashi. and here I am living in Andheri, working as a finance executive (which again I had thought that I would not be doing) in one of the top 10 BPOs.

About me

I love you Dad

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dad My dad is my Hero. I love my Dad. All of us do and it wont make any difference if I say that “I love my dad most”. I bet here I would have serious competition. I love my dad not because he is the richest man on earth, not because he has good connections, not because he has provided for us, I love him because I know what ever happens he would be there for me. I cant even think of a day without my dad. He gave up all his wants and aspirations just to take care of me and my brother and sister along the way.

He has always been on my side but also taught me and at times very sternly what is wrong. Today I have the confidence to do what ever it want to do with my life and my Dad trusts me so much that I would never do something wrong which would even bring a doubt to his confidence. As kids we were close to our Mom more than our Dad and there were several times when we needed any thing we just went to her and she would get every thing done for us.

We never realized that we didn’t talk much to our dad. But before it was too late some small things made me realize that I need to be close to Dad to too. There are still some things that I have not told Dad but I know he knows but he never would ask me directly because he knows I would be telling him at the right time. I would do anything for my Dad but I know he wont let me. I now am closer to my Dad than before.

There was a time when I was the only child, my mom used to work morning to noon and dad noon to night just because they never wanted me to stay alone or with some one else. This just proves how much they love me. They have given me everything some things that I asked for and most that they thought would be appropriate for me. I might not be the best child but I know they are proud of me and there have been times when it shows in their eyes and that makes me so happy.

The credit to my life goes to my Dad who underwent a lot, gave up a lot and compromised a lot for me and my siblings. I hope I would do the same if not better for my kids.

I LOVE YOU DAD

Poems

Udaan

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udaan

C\\\\\aoTI CaoTI iCtra[ yaadoM
ibaCI hu[ hOM lamhao ko laa^na pr.

naMgao pOr ]na pr calato calato
[tnaI dUr Aa gae hOM
ik Aba BaUla gae hOM
jaUto kha^M ]taro qao.

eD,I kaomala qaI jaba Ae qao
qaaoD,I saI naaja,uk hO ABaI BaI
AaOr naaja,uk hI rhogaI
[na KT\TI maIzI yaadao kI Sarart
jaba tk [nho gaudgaudatI rho

saca BaUla gae hO
jaUto kha^M ]taro qao.
pr lagata hO
Aba ]nakI ja,rUrt nahI.

poem by Amitabh Bhattacharya

Slide 1

C\\\\\aoTI CaoTI iCtra[ yaadoM
ibaCI hu[ hOM lamhao ko laa^na pr.
naMgao pOr ]na pr calato calato
[tnaI dUr Aa gae hOM
ik Aba BaUla gae hOM
jaUto kha^M ]taro qao.
eD,I kaomala qaI jaba Ae qao
qaaoD,I saI naaja,uk hO ABaI BaI
AaOr naaja,uk hI rhogaI
[na KT\TI maIzI yaadao kI Sarart
jaba tk [nho gaudgaudatI rho
saca BaUla gae hO
jaUto kha^M ]taro qao.
pr lagata hO
Aba ]nakI ja,rUrt nahI.
Friends, General

Please Support Sahas

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Sahas Mehra is 17 years old and resides in Mumbai. He loves football and enjoys reading and listening to music. He started off with his very first year in college but didn’t get a chance to appear for his final exams. A month before his 17th birthday he was diagnosed with Philadelphia ALL, a high-risk blood cancer. What followed was hospital stays, transfers, complications and chemotherapy. But this was not enough. The family was told that a Bone Marrow Transplant would be essential to give him a chance to survive. There is no marrow match within the family. A Non-Related Allogenic transplant is recommended. The estimate letter provided by the hospital is for a minimum of Rs. 51 lakh (around $106250) , if complications don’t occur. This is not something the family can afford. This blog is an attempt at creating awareness about his case because financial support for the transplant is needed on an urgent basis. We also hope to create awareness about the the primary reason for the unaffordable cost of treatment – lack of a proper bone marrow registry in India.