How your Browser Speeds up Cross Domain Loading using DNS Prefetching

<strong>How it Works</strong><br> What DNS prefetching does is attempt to resolve domain names before we, the users, try to follow a link. This is accomplished using the computer's built-in DNS resolution mechanism. Once a domain name has been resolved, if we do navigate to that domain, there will be no effective delay due to DNS resolution time. While downloading speed remains the same, looking up the IP address before hand will save you an easily perceptible second or two when going from page to page. A good example where DNS prefetching can really help is when a user is looking at a page with many links to various domains, such as a search results page. When the browser encounters an a hyperlink that does not share the same domain name as the current location, it first checks its cache and then, lacking a cached copy, resolves the domain to the associated IP address through a request from a DNS server. These requests happen in the background so as to not block the rendering of the page. Moreover, since all this takes place in parallel with the user's reading of the page, it places only a negligible load on CPU and network resources. How much navigation time will a user save can range from an average savings of about 200 milliseconds for non-cached content, to one to two seconds for the worst DNS resolution delays.<br> By default, prefetching of embedded link hostnames is not performed on documents loaded over HTTPS. You can change this by setting the network.dns.disablePrefetchFromHTTPS browser preference to false.<br> <br>

How your Browser Speeds up Cross Domain Loading using DNS Prefetching

How it Works What DNS prefetching does is attempt to resolve domain names before we, the users, try to follow a link. This is accomplished using the computer's built-in DNS resolution mechanism. O…

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Wireless Threats: Is Your Broadband Secure Enough?

<div class="MsoNormal"> Internet use in Malaysia is at an all-time high and is still growing, and broadband adoption is rapidly spreading along with mobile connectivity. In this environment of increasing digital interconnection, security threats are likewise growing in number.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> As an active broadband user, you at least need to know the threats and the preventive measures available to pre-empt them.<o:p></o:p></div> <h2> Increased Risk, Improved Security<o:p></o:p></h2> <div class="MsoNormal"> Findings from industry leaders and research institutions like Alcatel-Lucent are showing signs of an increased number of security threats to broadband networks, both fixed and mobile. Data points out that the wireless threat trend is growing with telling statistics, including:<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>10% of home networks have been infected by Malware in the second quarter of 2013<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>6% of home networks were shown to exhibit high-level security threats, including rootkits and Trojan banking viruses<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>0.5% of mobile were invaded by Malware in the second quarter of 2013<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> Compared to data from the previous quarter, the numbers indicate a rise in threats to broadband networks. The research was conducted in Europe, but the same analysis would apply especially for a boisterous and dynamic market full of technologically-agile users like Asia.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> These security threats are being used by hackers to perform illicit activities ranging from the simply annoying, like spamming, to the devastatingly dangerous, like personal identification theft and espionage.<o:p></o:p></div> <h2> Broadband Gateways<o:p></o:p></h2> <div class="MsoNormal"> Broadband networks are 500% more prone to security threats compared to other forms of internet connectivity, including dial-up. Hackers typically perform three general activities when breaking into wireless networks:<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Use them as stepping stones to perform more attacks<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Use them to store illegal copies of software or digital goods<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Launch waves of unsolicited activities (spamming, illegal information collection, et al)<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> Malware, viruses, and hackers share the same “gateways” to attack your broadband connection or network. Some of the most common entryways include:<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b>Phishing</b> – Ever received a suspicious email claiming to be from your bank, asking for personal information? Phishing is nearly as old as email itself, but modern variations can be very complex, making it difficult for the layman to see it for what it is. Some phishing setups even buy official-sounding domain names and setup email addresses from them and then contact people.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b>Cookies</b> – Cookies are your browser’s way to track your internet surfing activities to make sure it keeps your preferences for websites you visit regularly. Unfortunately, because cookies can store information like passwords and other similarly telling data on your activities and behaviour online, they are also usually targeted by hackers.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b>Spyware, adware, malware</b> – All of these virus-ware are designed with devious endeavors: spyware spies on your computer activities, adware collects information on your behaviour online so it can spam you with ads, and malware is generally any piece of code intent on causing harm to your computer in any way. All of these can be gateways into your broadband network.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span><b>Ports</b> – Your computer interfaces with other devices connected to it via “ports,” and a single computer can have thousands of ports. A good number of them connect to your network, and each one is a vulnerability that can potentially be taken advantage of.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> These are just a handful of examples, and hackers are usefully ready to exploit them all and more to get what they want.<o:p></o:p></div> <h2> Implementing Measures for Tighter Wireless Security<o:p></o:p></h2> <div class="MsoNormal"> It’s not all hopeless, gloom, and doom for your broadband network. Your firewall, your anti-virus, and the individual efforts implemented by your trusted websites and service providers all counter and pre-empt any malicious attempts to compromise your network or your computer.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> For your part, the first step is to arm yourself with knowledge on how these wireless threats affect you, and how they work, so you can prepare properly. If you know how a phishing scam works you’re less likely to be victimized, right?<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> Beyond that, however, there are always best practices you can adhere to so you can ensure that you are part of the fight against these wireless broadband threats:<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Faithfully install and upgrade software, apps, games, and anything installed in your device. These patches and updates are typically offered free by providers, as they are also constantly fighting against broadband threats.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Always use a firewall. Your firewall is your sifter that screens potentially dangerous information and stops it from ever going into your computer or network. You have a network firewall and a computer firewall, at the very least. You can control its settings to allow trusted data to always pass through, which still provides sufficient flexibility for good security.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Deploy an anti-virus. Anti-virus providers always try to keep abreast of developments in the industry, and are always updating their databases so your software always knows about the latest viruses or other threats to your security.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -17.95pt;"> <!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">●<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">     </span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="LTR"></span>Use an Intrusion Detection System (IDS). An IDS does exactly what it sounds like: it provides warnings about potential attacks or illicit entries into your system. It can also monitor critical areas of your computer or network.<o:p></o:p></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> Ask your service providers for more information and more options to prepare yourself against wireless threats to broadband security.<o:p></o:p><br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/b2a4f04659d5bb4b310e233323ed8190.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ian G. Elbanbuena" border="0" src="http://www.gravatar.com/avatar/b2a4f04659d5bb4b310e233323ed8190.png" title="Ian G. Elbanbuena" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/110532977385282494579/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Ian G. Elbanbuena</span></a> is a blogger and infopreneur who writes on various topics mainly finance, web security, network connections, broadband plans and other technical topics . At present he works as marketing staff at <a href="http://comparehero.my/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">comparehero.my</span></a>, Malaysia's leading comparison website. This portal helps individuals in making the best decision by comparing rates from different  finance providers.</span></div>

Wireless Threats: Is Your Broadband Secure Enough?

Internet use in Malaysia is at an all-time high and is still growing, and broadband adoption is rapidly spreading along with mobile connectivity. In this environment of increasing digital interconnec…

Read more »

Simple step to use php.ini using htaccess

If you use linux hosting such as cpanel, you really are not able to update your php.ini settings. This is the best way to use your own php.ini in your hosting. But make sure it not read by public and over the internet.<br> Edit the .htaccess file and use this code.<br> <br> <br><pre style="font-family:arial;font-size:12px;border:1px dashed #CCCCCC;width:99%;height:auto;overflow:auto;background:#f0f0f0;;background-image:URL(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGLmb-hQK_k3NcEuv4M23qo1WEp4FA9B4ou74WhFZAEWlK1bStKo3-M7hK3PeqxKIwAWrmgJb4fkpIQPSok8c64L0jLBtgCu9h9xzw9-40YQhAlVZa0hqyoLNS-nVSPOhkg0lRN9TRLhC/s320/codebg.gif);padding:0px;color:#000000;text-align:left;line-height:20px;"><code style="color:#000000;word-wrap:normal;"> SetEnv PHPRC /home/username/dir/to/php.ini </code></pre>

Simple step to use php.ini using htaccess

If you use linux hosting such as cpanel, you really are not able to update your php.ini settings. This is the best way to use your own php.ini in your hosting. But make sure it not read by public and …

Read more »