Technology Resources
Explore the latest web design trends and tools with our comprehensive technology blog, packed with valuable resources and information.
How to Know if You’ve Been Hacked
Malware, or malicious software, is just a part of 21st century life. The most effective malware embeds itself in your computer’s system files, and looks and acts like it belongs there. Sometimes it works by replacing system files with itself, keeping the same file name and functionality, but adding its own functionality. Sometimes it might transmit information about your activity, like what keys you’ve been typing, and sometimes it gives a bad actor complete control over your computer. But not all malware is equally threatening. We’ve outlined a few signs your system has been compromised, from items of least concern (unwanted browser toolbars) to computer activity that happens by itself.
Cool Tools: D-Link Security Cameras
After a few shocking, tragic crimes this week in our normally tranquil area of Dallas, there have been lots of murmurs on various neighborhood websites about setting up security cameras. We have a great deal of experience with setting up comprehensive independent home security systems, as opposed to relying on a third-party vendor to provide equipment and monitoring. Installing these cameras can require running wires in the attic and through walls, though, even with WiFi cameras. If you want to just dip your toe into the water, though, the D-Link Wireless Day/Night Network Surveillance Camera is extremely inexpensive and easy to set up. For only $39.99, you could purchase a camera that can take still photos when motion is detected, both during the day and at night. The night vision feature is particularly good, and it works in pitch dark. If you already have a D-Link router, you’re in a particularly good position to get started. (Be aware that if you do have trouble setting up the camera, tech support may blame the problem on your router.)
Should I Choose an Open Source or Proprietary Platform for E-commerce?
During a meeting this week, we discussed the best platforms for e-commerce for a brand new shop being built from the ground up. There are so many decisions to make that the choice can be overwhelming, but one of the first decisions must be whether to choose an open-source platform, or to use a third-party vendor. By “open source,” we mean that the base software is free and in the public domain. You (or rather your web development company) installs and configures the software on your own hosting package. The options for customization are great, but so is the responsibility to maintain it with updates and security patches, and if the website goes down or gets hacked, that responsibility also lies with you. Proprietary e-commerce platforms are run by various third-party companies, who typically specialize in making it easy to set up a shop online. Each has varying degrees of limitation. Some have a narrow bank of templates to choose from. You may have limited payment options, shipping options, or customer interaction options. But in turn, they also offer you 99.9% uptime, reasonable costs for hosting and payment processing, and lots of support. How to decide? Find websites selling products that are similar to yours—and have a look relatively similar to what you want. Go through the ordering process as far as you can. Do you like how they did things? Did the website they’re using have a nice way of displaying product thumbnails? Did you like how it displayed the product options and product description? Did it look modern and fresh or old and dated? If you can identify the system they’re using, it can be a contender.
