A VPS provides users with a secure and isolated environment for hosting websites and web applications. Each VPS has its own dedicated resources, such as CPU, RAM, and storage space, which are not shared with other users. This provides faster performance and greater control than shared hosting.
With a VPS, the user has full control over the server, including the operating system, software, and security settings. This allows for greater customization and flexibility, but also requires more technical knowledge and responsibility. The user is responsible for maintaining the server, including security updates, backups, and hardware maintenance.
VPS hosting is ideal for users who require more resources and control than shared hosting, but who do not need the full resources of a dedicated server. VPS hosting is often used for hosting multiple websites, running custom applications, and testing new software.
There are two main types of VPS hosting: managed and unmanaged. Managed VPS hosting is where the web host provides technical support and takes care of server maintenance, security, and updates. Unmanaged VPS hosting, on the other hand, requires the user to take care of these tasks themselves.
In conclusion, a VPS is a virtual machine that provides users with a secure and isolated environment for hosting websites and web applications. It offers a similar level of functionality and control as a dedicated server, but at a lower cost. VPS hosting is ideal for users who require more resources and control than shared hosting, but who do not need the full resources of a dedicated server.
]]>Shared hosting is a type of web hosting where multiple websites are hosted on the same server. Each website is given a portion of the server's resources, such as CPU, RAM, and storage space. This means that the resources are shared among all the websites on the server, which can lead to slower performance and limited control.
With shared hosting, the web host is responsible for maintaining the server, including security, software updates, and backups. This makes shared hosting a more affordable option, but it may not be suitable for websites that require a high level of performance or customization.
On the other hand, a dedicated server is a physical server that is dedicated to a single website or web application. This means that all of the server's resources are available exclusively to the website or application, providing faster performance and more control.
With a dedicated server, the user has full control over the server, including the operating system, software, and security settings. This allows for greater customization and flexibility, but also requires more technical knowledge and responsibility. The user is responsible for maintaining the server, including security updates, backups, and hardware maintenance.
Dedicated servers are generally more expensive than shared hosting, but they are ideal for websites and applications that require high levels of performance, security, and customization.
In conclusion, the main difference between shared hosting and a dedicated server is the level of resources and control that you have over the server. Shared hosting is a more affordable option, but it may not be suitable for websites that require a high level of performance or customization. Dedicated servers provide faster performance and more control, but they require more technical knowledge and responsibility.
]]>SSH was designed as a replacement for the earlier Telnet protocol, which transmitted data in plain text and was therefore vulnerable to eavesdropping and tampering. SSH uses encryption to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted between two parties.
To use SSH, a client software is needed, such as OpenSSH, PuTTY, or Bitvise SSH Client, which is installed on the user's computer. The client connects to a server running an SSH daemon, which is listening for incoming connections. The client and server then establish a secure channel, which is used to transmit data between them.
One of the primary uses of SSH is for remote command-line access. Once a secure channel is established, users can log in to a remote server and execute commands as if they were physically sitting in front of the server. This is particularly useful for system administrators who need to manage remote servers without being physically present.
SSH can also be used to transfer files securely between two computers using the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP). SFTP is similar to FTP, but it uses the SSH protocol for encryption and authentication, providing a secure way to transfer files over an insecure network.
In addition to remote access and file transfer, SSH can also be used for other applications, such as port forwarding, X11 forwarding, and tunneling. These features allow users to securely access services that are behind firewalls or otherwise inaccessible from the internet.
In conclusion, SSH is a cryptographic network protocol that provides a secure channel for remote access and control of a computer or server. It uses encryption to protect the confidentiality and integrity of data transmitted between two parties and is widely used by system administrators and other users to manage remote servers and transfer files securely.
]]>HTTP is the foundation of data communication on the web. It's the protocol used to transfer data from a web server to a web browser, allowing users to access and view web pages. When you type a URL into your web browser, it sends an HTTP request to the web server, which responds by sending back the requested information in an HTTP response. HTTP is a stateless protocol, meaning that each request is independent and doesn't rely on previous requests.
However, HTTP isn't secure. When data is transferred over HTTP, it's sent in plain text, which means that anyone who intercepts the data can read it. This can include sensitive information like passwords, credit card numbers, and personal information.
To address this security issue, HTTPS was created. HTTPS uses an SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security) encryption protocol to protect data as it's transmitted between a web server and a web browser. This encryption ensures that any data transmitted between the two parties can't be read by anyone who intercepts it.
In addition to providing encryption, HTTPS also uses digital certificates to verify the identity of a website. This means that when you visit a website using HTTPS, you can be sure that you're actually connecting to the website you intended to visit and not an imposter site created to steal your information.
In summary, HTTP is a protocol used to transfer data between a web server and a web browser. HTTPS is a secure version of HTTP that uses encryption and digital certificates to protect data as it's transmitted over the internet. When transmitting sensitive information over the web, it's always recommended to use HTTPS to ensure the security of your data.
]]>TLS was designed to replace the earlier Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol, which had several security vulnerabilities. TLS is used to secure a wide range of applications, including web browsing, email, messaging, and virtual private networks (VPNs).
TLS works by using a combination of symmetric and asymmetric encryption. When two parties establish a connection, they negotiate a set of cryptographic parameters, including the encryption algorithms and keys to use. They then use these parameters to generate a shared secret key, which is used to encrypt and decrypt data.
TLS provides three main security features: confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity.
TLS has several versions, each with different levels of security. The latest version is TLS 1.3, which was released in 2018 and provides enhanced security features such as improved encryption and better protection against attacks.
In conclusion, TLS is a protocol that provides secure communication between two parties over a network. It uses encryption to protect the privacy and integrity of data transmitted between the parties, and provides authenticity to ensure that the communication is with the intended recipient. TLS is widely used to secure various applications and is constantly being updated to provide better security features.
]]>POP3 (Post Office Protocol 3) is a protocol that is used to retrieve email messages from a mail server. With POP3, email messages are downloaded to the user's computer or mobile device, and then deleted from the mail server. This means that if the user accesses their email from multiple devices, they will only be able to see the messages on the device that downloaded them. The POP3 protocol has two modes: standard mode and secure mode.
Standard mode is the most common mode used for POP3, and it uses port 110 to connect to the mail server. In standard mode, the email messages are transmitted in clear text, which means that they are not encrypted during transmission. This makes standard mode less secure than other email protocols.
Secure mode, also known as POP3S, is a secure version of POP3 that uses SSL/TLS encryption to protect the email messages during transmission. POP3S uses port 995 to connect to the mail server. When using POP3S, the email messages are encrypted before they are transmitted, which makes it much more secure than standard mode.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is another protocol used to retrieve email messages from a mail server. Unlike POP3, IMAP allows users to view their email messages directly on the mail server. This means that if the user accesses their email from multiple devices, they will see the same set of messages on all devices. IMAP also has two modes: standard mode and secure mode.
Standard mode is the most common mode used for IMAP, and it uses port 143 to connect to the mail server. In standard mode, the email messages are transmitted in clear text, which means that they are not encrypted during transmission. This makes standard mode less secure than other email protocols.
Secure mode, also known as IMAPS, is a secure version of IMAP that uses SSL/TLS encryption to protect the email messages during transmission. IMAPS uses port 993 to connect to the mail server. When using IMAPS, the email messages are encrypted before they are transmitted, which makes it much more secure than standard mode.
In summary, POP3 and IMAP are two popular email retrieval protocols that allow users to download their email messages to their local computer or mobile device. They both have two modes of operation, standard and secure, which determine whether the email messages are transmitted in clear text or encrypted using SSL/TLS. POP3 is more commonly used to download email messages to a local device, while IMAP is used to view email messages directly on the mail server. It is recommended to use the secure modes, POP3S and IMAPS, to ensure that...
]]>On a Linux server there are a number of ways to do this, in the webserver configuration, via your .htaccess file or in your hosting panel. If you are using Plesk Onyx then this has features built in to do the redirection for you, if you dont have access to the server configuration files then you will want to add this via a .htaccess fil which I will show you here, this is the most popular way to do this and should be available on any linux apache hosting.
In your webroot create the file .htaccess and add the content and save.
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
After saving the file the changes should be imidiate and the site should now be redirecting to https.
If you are using the Windows IIS hosting platform then you will want to create the redirects in your web.config file.
If you already have a web.config file then you will need to add to it, else create a new file in your webroot and save
<configuration>
<system.webServer>
<rewrite>
<rules>
<rule name="HTTP to HTTPS redirect" stopProcessing="true">
<match url="(.*)" />
<conditions>
<add input="{HTTPS}" pattern="off" ignoreCase="true" />
</conditions>
<action type="Redirect" redirectType="Permanent" url="https://{HTTP_HOST}/{R:1}" />
</rule>
</rules>
</rewrite>
</system.webServer>
</configuration>
Once you have added the content and saved the file you should now see the site is redirecting to https.
]]>FTP is a client-server protocol, which means that there is a client software that runs on the user's computer and a server software that runs on a remote computer. The client software can be a standalone program or a built-in feature of a web browser. The server software is typically provided by a web hosting company or an organization that wants to make files available for download.
FTP works by establishing a connection between the client and server, and then transferring files over that connection. The connection can be either a data connection or a control connection, or both. The control connection is used to send commands and responses between the client and server, while the data connection is used to transfer the actual files.
There are two modes of FTP that determine how the data connection is established: active mode and passive mode.
Active mode FTP is the original FTP mode and is still widely used. In active mode, the client initiates the data connection to the server by specifying an IP address and port number. The server then establishes the connection and sends data to the client. Active mode can sometimes cause problems when the client is behind a firewall or NAT (Network Address Translation) device, as the firewall or NAT may block the incoming data connection.
Passive mode FTP was introduced as a workaround for the problems caused by active mode. In passive mode, the server opens a port and listens for the client to connect. The client initiates the data connection to the server, and the server sends data to the client. Passive mode is often used when the client is behind a firewall or NAT device because it allows the client to establish the data connection to the server.
FTP can also be used with different security protocols, including:
FTPS (File Transfer Protocol over SSL/TLS) is a secure version of FTP that uses SSL/TLS encryption to protect data during transfer. FTPS can operate in either implicit or explicit mode.
Implicit FTPS uses SSL/TLS encryption to establish a secure connection right from the start of the connection, and the client is required to use SSL/TLS from the beginning of the session. Implicit FTPS uses port 990 by default.
Explicit FTPS also uses SSL/TLS encryption to secure the connection, but the encryption is only enabled after the client requests it. The client initiates an unencrypted connection on port 21, and then explicitly requests a secure SSL/TLS connection. Explicit FTPS uses port 21 by default, just like regular FTP.
SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol) is a secure file transfer protocol that uses the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol for authentication and data encryption. SFTP is a completely different protocol from FTP...
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between 2 devices for example your web browser and the site you are visiting. The SSL connection between the devices ensures that all data passed between them is encrypted and remains private, as SSL is an industry standard it is used by millions of devices and websites to protect data in transit (from your browser to the server). In modern systems they will now be using TLS (Transport Layer Security) which has replaced the traditional and deprecated SSL technolagie, most people still refer to TLS as SSL for example you dont oftern see a site selling TLS Certificates they still refer to them as SSL Certificates which is the widly accepted term even if it is using TLS.
The simplest way to obtain an SSL certificate for your site is to contact your web hosting company they will be able to offer you a certificate (if they sell them) or at the very least point you at where you can order one from, they should also be able to advise on the type of certificate that you would be best suited for your site, ultimatly the decision is your so it's always worth investigating yourself as you will know your requirements best.
To be able to create a secure SSL connection a web server this will require a valid SSL Certificate. For the case of your website certificate the users browser provide them with somesort of indication the connection is secure, in most cases this shows a padlock in the address bar to indicate an encrypted SSL connection.
As you can see below when using Chrome this shows a padlock for the secure connection.
There are many product offerings all at very different prices where the pricing changes on type of certificate and between providers, the main difference in the cost of an SSL Certificate is the amount of verification performed by the CA (Certificate Authority) that issue the certificate there are 3 main types Domain, Organization and Extended Validation. Identity verification can assure the visitors of a site that it can be trusted to do business with, by understanding the differnances in the various levels of verification this will help you select the most appropriate certificate to secure your site.
The 3 main types of certificate validation:
There is another certificate type called "Self Signed" as this certificate is generated and signed by the same organization and not a trusted 3rd party CA, these types of certificates are genreally only used on internal private systems within the same organization and should not be truested on any public/commerse site.
A “self-signed” SSL Certificate is a certificate you generate and sign yourself for free. As there is no identity verification browsers will display a security warning that the site is not to be trused. The warning may prevent users from directly navigating to your site without making an exception. As they are free and quick to create the certificates they are genreally used on internal private systems that are not public facing.
These are the quickest type of validated certificate to get issued with the lowest cost, as the domain validation is offten an automated process using a challenge-response system. As this does not require organization validation, it also has the lowest trust and smaller warrenties.
OV certificates require full business/company validation from a CA (certificate authority) using established and accepted manual vetting processes. As this type of validation required a human to perform part of the validation process OV certificates provide much higher levels of trust and security than DV certificates but are not validated to the standards set by the CA/B forum and do not possess the ability to turn the address bar green in all of the latest browsers.
EV certificates have the higest level of validation and confirm to the guidelines set by the CA/B Forum – a standards body that requires in-depth verification of the legality and probity of a company before it is issued with an EV certificate. Because of this, EV certificates provide the highest levels of security and can show the company name within the green bar in your browser.
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