The SEO News Blog from Pat Marcello

You already know that I’m a Firefoxaholic. I really love the browser and all it’s cool stuff, and today, I found another great add-on that is SEO oriented.

You know how you can search from your Navigation Toolbar? I have a bunch of stuff in there that makes searching in my favorite places really easy. You can add stuff like Amazon, the IMDB (Internet Movie Database), and even look up domains on GoDaddy.

Today, I found a way to do some quick keyword research from there, too, at a site called continue reading »

According to Google, malware attacks are on the rise. Over the past 12 months, the number of sites that Google deems to be sites infected by malware have risen from 150,000 to somewhere around 325,000, and those are just the sites that Google has documented.

How does it happen?

Hackers have found ways to steal your passwords, right from your FTP programs. Filezilla, for example, uses a non-encrypted password storage system, and any passwords that aren’t protected in that manner can be stolen. The hacker then gets into your website via FTP and plants their nasty bombs.

In a post by Jonathan Hockman, entitled “Nasty Malware Attack Targets Web Developers,” he explains how this happens:

When a developer visits an infected site, the page installs a virus on their machine that silently copies the passwords stored in FileZilla, CuteFTP, and possibly other File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client software, and sends them to a central server. The server then runs a bot to access all sites for which credentials have been stolen and installs an iframe injection attack on many pages, further spreading the infection.

When Google detects malware on your site, they will usually pop it right out of their index, meaning no more search traffic for you. If your site has a large volume of  its traffic coming from Google search, and you make money with your site, you’re fried.

Here’s where Google Webmaster Tools comes in handy.  If you list your site, be sure to verify it, and check it regularly. You’ll know if your site is having any problems. There’s a wealth of data in Webmaster Tools, and if you’re not taking advantage of this free resource, well… get with the program! Any serious business owner should be using this to find problems in their sites.

You can also switch your browser to a more secure one, like Firefox (especially with the “No Script” add-on) or Chrome. Internet Explorer… feh.  Buggy, holey, and you really need to get yourself a real browser.

Change your FTP program to one that encrypts your passwords. Dreamweaver has this set already. Smart FTP, which I use has password encryption, and explains how this system works on their site:

“The client takes this special string, using a process known as ‘hashing,’ combines it with your regular password to create a special one-time-only password, which is then sent back to the server. The server performs the same process using your password, and if the two one-time-only passwords are identical, you are successfully logged in.”

This type of system is much more secure than passing the plain text password to your server. It’s definitely an argument for buying your FTP client rather than just using a free one.

You can also (and should) check your site’s rating at McAfee Site Advisor. Even sites that have no malware attached can have issues with McAfee (note earlier post: Beware the McAfee Red X ). You really don’t want your site to be showing up with one of those red X’s beside them in Google’s SERPs. But, if you find that’s the case, you may already have a malware issue.

Taking just a few simple steps can assure that you aren’t infecting and infecting others. You owe it to your business and your customers.

So, today has been a frustrating one, and I’m in a pretty testy mood right now.

Want to know what’s on my mind?

OK…

1) I HATE Internet Explorer. All versions. Hate it.

IE is a developer’s nightmare. It’s very quirky, and often won’t recognize what you want to do. For example, my new blog site (http://EasyBlogTricks.com). I have embedded some Camtasia videos into the blog, and they work perfectly on Firefox. No problem!

But when people try to view them in Internet Explorer, nada.

And I have a flaw. Yes, I admit it… a flaw. OK, well, maybe more than one, but this is tech related.

I always forget to check and see how my stuff looks in IE because I figure people should all be using Firefox, anyway.

Kidding.

People have their druthers. I really went kicking and screaming into Firefox from IE, and now, I realize how narrow-sighted I had been. But, people have their faves, and I know that TONS of people still use IE.

So, I’m trying to find a fix for this issue. I’m not much of a programmer. That’s the problem. I mean, if there’s PHP around, I can manipulate it, but writing? No clue. So… that leaves me at the mercy of Google, and trying to find a fix online. So far, bupkiss. I do have PHP for Dummies, so I think I might learn one day–at the Dummy level, anyway. Ha!

2) Power Going Off and On

I’ve had to reboot my computer 7 times this afternoon. Yes, 7! Servers me right for not having an APS, so I’m supposing I need to go out and purchase one tomorrow.

3) Windows Vista

Who does it think it is? I mean, it’s always telling me what I can and can’t do, and I’m sick of it. I turned it off. Stop trying to mother me, Vista. I’m a big girl and I know what and what not to do, really.

OK… I’m finished. I will return you to your regularly scheduled chat with Pat.

Whew! Feels better to get THAT off my chest.

If you have any pet peeves, anything that’s totally pissing you off today, here’s the place to let me know what that is!

Remember, misery loves company.

And I’m not really miserable, just hacked. LOL And totally glad it’s Friday.

Have a great weekend, everyone!