Marlabs Web Application Security

By Doug

Nov

19

In today’s world everything revolves around the Internet. We use it for everything from shopping to socializing to running a business. Unfortunately because the Internet has become so mainstream, there are many threats and viruses that can easily wipe out your system. And while losing personal information would be damaging enough, losing your business information and application could do even more damage long into the future.

One team working to combat these vulnerabilities is Marlabs. They offer an extensive web application security services that could be beneficial to any business. While the vast majority of problems originate with commercial web applications, browsers and serves can also be at fault.
For this reason Marlabs developed a five step process that is the web application security package.

  • Security Design: This incorporates the highest security settings for the web application as well as designing a specific security package for each business.
  • Vulnerability Assessment: This includes a detailed analysis of the web application, browser, and server to determine areas that are at risk.
  • Security Testing: Once the new security measures are in place extensive testing is done to ensure that everything is running properly and vulnerable areas have been protected.
  • Source Code Review: Because web application codes are often the weakest areas, manual and automated reviews are done of all the codes to further ensure that the vulnerabilities have been addressed.
  • PCI DSS Compliance Readiness: Finally, everything is checked to make sure that it meets the necessary regulations and that online payment options are secure.

Website security is increasingly difficult to maintain. No matter what security package you use for your business, it is important that is covers all three areas-web applications, browsers, and servers-and meets all of the necessary regulations so that both you and your customers will be protected.

iPad Apps are Dominated by Games

By Doug

Oct

20

In the early rush of programming for the new iPad, games seem to be winning the battle for user downloads. the iPad was originally conceived as an ebook reader and quickly developed into something that fits the gap between a smart phone and a netbook. It gives users the ability to run software and apps with better portability than a full computer and a much larger screen than an iPhone — and users like the larger screen for games.

Distimo conducted a study shortly after the release of the device and found that over one-third of all apps were games. It seems that iPad application developers know their market. Following the 35% saturation of games was entertainment with 11% and then education with 8.6%. Other popular app categories include business, books, productivity, music, and lifesytle.

Now that a few months have passed the number of available iPad apps has skyrocketed to the hundreds of thousands. Some of the most popular apps continue to fall in the games and entertainment categories though the productivity category is growing as more and more people begin to use iPads instead of laptops for work-related travel.

Examining New York Mortgage Brokers

By Doug

Aug

10

On August 2, 2010, The New York State Banking Department announced that 1,800 mortgage loan origination firms have met the new licensing mandates as well as the Federal Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008.

Mortgage firms, under both pieces of legislation, were required to meet certain professional criteria such as being registered with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry by July 31, 2010 and pass the New York mortgage broker exam , in order to continue doing business in the State of New York.

The state of New York also requires mortgage loan originators to pass a criminal and financial background check, be covered by a surety bond and be employed by a licensed mortgage banker, mortgage broker or a non-banker lender.

New York is the first state to make mortgage loan officers, not just the mortgage brokers and bankers, accountable to consumers and regulators for their actions and expertise as loan officers. In 2006, New York legislation mandated the registration of mortgage loan officers with the Banking Department.

Currently, with the Secure and Fair Enforcement Act , government has a set of nationwide minimum standards for the mortgage industry and a verification system that is accessible to both the consumers and to the regulators.

Choosing a Host

By Doug

Jul

12

It’s one of the most exciting times to be working in the world. The digital, information, and technological age that has been here for a few decades has taken some unusual turns suddenly. John Cage had a notion, back in the 1950s, that people would be able to communicate without wires sometime in the future. And the internet was just an idea in the 1970s, leading to a phenomenon called electronic mail . That was available to a few businesses, and to university professors and students, but it took a little time before it caught on. Of course, today, these things are part of the fabric of reality, and what was once extraneous is now a necessity.

It is possible to communicate without a cell phone, and probably even possible to have a business without a website, but they pay off so quickly, it’s hard to think of good reasons why. It’s usually not a choice, then, to consider whether to have them or not, but who to work with. Web site hosting is an important consideration, and has as much to do with the site’s success as the cell phone carrier. This still leaves the bulk of the responsibility for success on the business and individual. A site that has a strong presence speaks of a place in the world in the present moment.

Could Robots Be the Future?

By Doug

May

22

They might be the future of business meetings. Meet QB. The idea with QB is that even when an office is far away, or if someone is sick, they don’t have to travel to go to a business meeting. All they would have to do is log in to their company robot, drive it down the hall, and go to the meeting. It is complete with a video camera and a screen so that both parties can see each other. It also has microphone and speakers for the same reason. The video below has more information, but if you watch it remember that you are hearing the echo because it is also coming from the robot.