Hackers and Websites

Topic

New Reply

Our school is suppose to have a website, which had been online for about five years now. It has been off-line since June. So upon inquiry of the Tech. Coordinator, this is the reply we received:
“Well a few things………..In June the NIC card went out. Also, Dr. XXXXX asked if I would take over the website, which I am starting to build a new one now with completely different software and look.
In a nutshell, our website ran on a Windows box with Front Page. It was a target for viruses and hackers since it was Windows. I am working on a Linux box which is much more secure and didn’t pay a dime for it. It will take time for me to continue to build it when I get time……”

I am not a happy camper because this doesn’t seem to be a very valid excuse and I would like to raise a bit of concern. Couldn’t he at least keep the first box running until he finally gets around to building that Linus box? Are virus and hackers such a problem? [….deep breath…..] But first I need to be sure I am just not going off the deep end. So, what would the appropriate response be? The web server was an independent box and I believe it had been behind a firewall. I cannot remember the operating system except it was MS and the new server was set up in 2002. Are viruses and hackers a real problem here? The school uses Sophos AV as well. And definitely a NIC isn’t expensive nor hard to replace!

Do you see and understand my frustration? Am I totally out of line in being aggravated with this response? Any helpful information would really be appreciated! and

Reply | Quote

Replies

Hi Skitterbug,

There are 3 aspects of web security: Network (firewall, router, etc), System (Windows, IIS or other web server), and Appliation (the actual code of a website or web application). I’ve got a lot of experience with web security – mostly from the application development side, but I’ve also picked up an understanding of the system side as well. Generally, if the website is a target for hackers it’s because there are security holes in the way it is set up. It’s not just a Windows problem! Rather than abandoning a potentially good box/system, it seems like your IT person/people could invest a few minutes to read up on the proper ways to secure a web server. It’s not *that* hard, really!

I would also recommend having a knowledgeable network person check over your network setup. If there are major holes in the firewall/router then moving to a Linux system won’t do much good.

Hope this helps

Reply | Quote

Hi Skitterbug,

There are 3 aspects of web security: Network (firewall, router, etc), System (Windows, IIS or other web server), and Appliation (the actual code of a website or web application). I’ve got a lot of experience with web security – mostly from the application development side, but I’ve also picked up an understanding of the system side as well. Generally, if the website is a target for hackers it’s because there are security holes in the way it is set up. It’s not just a Windows problem! Rather than abandoning a potentially good box/system, it seems like your IT person/people could invest a few minutes to read up on the proper ways to secure a web server. It’s not *that* hard, really!

I would also recommend having a knowledgeable network person check over your network setup. If there are major holes in the firewall/router then moving to a Linux system won’t do much good.

Hope this helps

Reply | Quote

I’d echo what Mark says. This Tech. Coordinator has been drinking funny Kool-Aid. Recent verisons of Windows are no more secure or insecure than Linux. It is all in the setup and administration. As far as being free – there is nothing free. You may be able to download a basic Linux disto free but if you get a ‘enterprise’ distribution from a vendor you are going to pay. You’ll pay either for support or add-ons unique to the vendor. Also, you must consider the whole picture of on-going support and maintenance. For instance, what happens when this person leaves or is ill and no one else knows Linux administration? Linux in itself in not a bad decision – it will provide a good webserver platform. It does seem however that buying a new NIC would have been faster and cheaper than building a Linux box.

You can get into a real war of words about security, cost, etc. when Windows and Linux are used in the same context. It is really hard to get good information. IMO, many (if not most) Linux supporters are much more inflexible and rabid about cost, security and benefits than other OS supporters.

Joe

--Joe

Reply | Quote

for your replies, MarkJ and Joe! And to Leif for putting this post where it belonged!!
From what I knew of the system in our school, the vendor who developed it had been in the business for 20+ years and, in my estimation, is one very smart individual. For the Tech Coordinator to chuck the current web server because of a “broken NIC” and hackers, etc., does seem ludicrous to me. If he wants to migrate to new software and server O/S, I guess that is his choice but to not maintain the current web while making the transition seems rather strange to me. Our school is about to begin (Aug. 24th), and it would be nice to know what is going on without having to make umpteen calls. Another side of this is our school is asking for more operating money (what’s new?) and when I see this type of inactivity going on, it just makes my blood boil. Time for a stiff cup of

Reply | Quote

… Not to discourage you from having your stiff cup of

But in the meantime you could easily purchase a short-term hosting account with a reliable budget web host. You can find dozens of trustworthy companies that offer hosting for less than $10 per month – even on a month-to-month basis. All you would need to do is upload your most recent website files and redirect your domain to the new host. Another side benefit is that the 3rd party host would handle all of the network and system-level security for you!

You should be able to find plenty of discussions about web hosts in the Web Design forum.

Hope this helps

Reply | Quote

MarkJ!!
I like this idea as it takes the excuse of potential hackers/virus troubles right out of the equation. I really doubt that this was the initial problem for the downfall of the school web but more just an excuse to use in an email to an “uninformed and questioning inquirer”……… or so the Tech Coordinator thought. And I am not uninformed thanks to all the help I get in Woody’s Lounge (As a side note, this person has been “working on” a Linux box since spring 2003.)

Now to see what I can do to rectify the situation of the “missing” web or at least motivate the people in charge to look into the matter!

My did help!! Maybe it is time for one more!! Cheers!

Reply | Quote

Skitterbug

> As a side note, this person has been “working on” a Linux box since spring 2003

I’m sure that nice Mr Wolfman has been working on one for far longer than that!

John

Reply | Quote

But at least probably has his Linus boxes up and running!!

Reply | Quote

But at least probably has his Linus boxes up and running!!

Reply | Quote

Skitterbug

> As a side note, this person has been “working on” a Linux box since spring 2003

I’m sure that nice Mr Wolfman has been working on one for far longer than that!

John

Reply | Quote

This is an opportunity to teach your tech about customer service and the mission of your institution. Sometimes, purity of technology has to take a back to useful work getting done. Even if he is right in the long run, unless he can complete it in 48 hours, he shouldn’t be allowed to stand in the way of needed services. I think whoever is his boss should be able to put the correct spin on that message.

Incidentally, I assume this person is not interested in learning more about securing Windows and IIS, but if he is, there are detailed guides for “hardening” Windows and IIS at Microsoft.com and on various security-related sites. Probably one of the top subjects in the security world for detailed steo-by-step guides.

Reply | Quote

This is an opportunity to teach your tech about customer service and the mission of your institution. Sometimes, purity of technology has to take a back to useful work getting done. Even if he is right in the long run, unless he can complete it in 48 hours, he shouldn’t be allowed to stand in the way of needed services. I think whoever is his boss should be able to put the correct spin on that message.

Incidentally, I assume this person is not interested in learning more about securing Windows and IIS, but if he is, there are detailed guides for “hardening” Windows and IIS at Microsoft.com and on various security-related sites. Probably one of the top subjects in the security world for detailed steo-by-step guides.

Reply | Quote

Skitterbug,
Is this tech coordinatior getting a fee for this “work”? Unfortunately, there are some unscrupulous people who will try to take advantage of the so called “uninformed and questioning inquirer”. My advice is to get rid of this hack ASAP.

It reminds me of the time where my wife was working for a real estate company called Cove Realty. This was in the dark DOS days B.W. ( before windows )
The tech they hired to come up with a real estate application for the Multiple Listing Services. After a long and dragged out time frame, he came by with what turned out to be a hacked version of an existing application. He installed it and had ONE day of training for the employees. At one point, my wife asked, ” what is that symbol that came up after starting”? C: ? ( he proudly stated that it was one of his custom parts of his program. He said it stood for “Cove” Realty ! And for this he charged almost a thousand bucks for an app that retailed for about $99.00. Buyer beware !

Reply | Quote

(Edited by skitterbug on 17-Aug-04 20:49. Obviously, this is my editorial opinion about this situation!! Thankfully, we are entitled to our opinions yet!!)

Hi Bob,

You asked Is this tech coordinator getting a fee for this “work”?

Yes, this Tech Coordinator has a school contract which presently pays him somewhere between $50K and $60K, closer to the 60K mark this year I believe, along with his month’s worth of vacation, etc. His credentials for the job consisted of a Bachelor degree in Business, an A+ certification and experience in knowing how to load software for inventory of parts in cribs for industry. The former Superintend gave him the job for some unknown reason and once someone is hired into the Education world, it is very hard to do anything about them. And It is our school that is suffering. We had a forward thinking gal, who was the Tech Coordinator before him. Among other degrees, she had a degree in Computer Science and a work ethic that wouldn’t quit. The only reason she stepped down (and back into teaching) was that she had felt she had taken our school as far as she could and she was hoping that the superintendent and school board would hire another individual who would improve on her foundation and take us even farther. Instead we have come to a grinding halt and even lost ground now. Trouble is, this is a small community and everyone thinks he is “such a nice fellow”. It would be nice to be able to follow your advice and “get rid of this hack ASAP”. I am just not sure how!! My frustration has been very apparent in this thread and I hope I haven’t offended anyone with my ranting and raving!! I do appreciate all the information you all have shared and I hope that some way, some how it can be used for “enlightenment” of “the powers to be” in a positive manner. So maybe some good will come of this! I sure hope so!!

Reply | Quote

Hi Skitterbug,
——————————–
I am just not sure how!!
——————————-

Maybe you could show the present school Super copies of this thread to show what other people think of his performance?

Reply | Quote

Hi Skitterbug,
——————————–
I am just not sure how!!
——————————-

Maybe you could show the present school Super copies of this thread to show what other people think of his performance?

Reply | Quote

From my position, which includes volunteer maintenance of several web sites, the biggest problem with this Tech is part of what you’ve mentioned-taking down the old site before the new one was ready. Is it possible that there was a requirement to build the new site on the same hardware as was running the old one? That’s still not a very good explanation/excuse, but if that was a requirement it might explain why he took it down. (For my work I ‘test build’ the new site on my own hardware when I have this problem. Then I do take the old site down before putting up the new. But the longest I’ve had a site down for this was 3 days.)

Yes, security & hackers are a major problem-although it depends on what services you run, too. (Windows has far too many services enabled by default-and even worse, some that you disable are re-enabled when you apply an update. So not only is it more difficult to set up securely than most Linux distros, but you also need to keep re-checking it. Not that that’s a bad idea for any security, but sometimes-particularly with a volunteer effort-you just don’t have the time.)

Reply | Quote

From my position, which includes volunteer maintenance of several web sites, the biggest problem with this Tech is part of what you’ve mentioned-taking down the old site before the new one was ready. Is it possible that there was a requirement to build the new site on the same hardware as was running the old one? That’s still not a very good explanation/excuse, but if that was a requirement it might explain why he took it down. (For my work I ‘test build’ the new site on my own hardware when I have this problem. Then I do take the old site down before putting up the new. But the longest I’ve had a site down for this was 3 days.)

Yes, security & hackers are a major problem-although it depends on what services you run, too. (Windows has far too many services enabled by default-and even worse, some that you disable are re-enabled when you apply an update. So not only is it more difficult to set up securely than most Linux distros, but you also need to keep re-checking it. Not that that’s a bad idea for any security, but sometimes-particularly with a volunteer effort-you just don’t have the time.)

Reply | Quote

(Edited by skitterbug on 17-Aug-04 20:49. Obviously, this is my editorial opinion about this situation!! Thankfully, we are entitled to our opinions yet!!)

Hi Bob,

You asked Is this tech coordinator getting a fee for this “work”?

Yes, this Tech Coordinator has a school contract which presently pays him somewhere between $50K and $60K, closer to the 60K mark this year I believe, along with his month’s worth of vacation, etc. His credentials for the job consisted of a Bachelor degree in Business, an A+ certification and experience in knowing how to load software for inventory of parts in cribs for industry. The former Superintend gave him the job for some unknown reason and once someone is hired into the Education world, it is very hard to do anything about them. And It is our school that is suffering. We had a forward thinking gal, who was the Tech Coordinator before him. Among other degrees, she had a degree in Computer Science and a work ethic that wouldn’t quit. The only reason she stepped down (and back into teaching) was that she had felt she had taken our school as far as she could and she was hoping that the superintendent and school board would hire another individual who would improve on her foundation and take us even farther. Instead we have come to a grinding halt and even lost ground now. Trouble is, this is a small community and everyone thinks he is “such a nice fellow”. It would be nice to be able to follow your advice and “get rid of this hack ASAP”. I am just not sure how!! My frustration has been very apparent in this thread and I hope I haven’t offended anyone with my ranting and raving!! I do appreciate all the information you all have shared and I hope that some way, some how it can be used for “enlightenment” of “the powers to be” in a positive manner. So maybe some good will come of this! I sure hope so!!

Reply | Quote

MarkJ!!
I like this idea as it takes the excuse of potential hackers/virus troubles right out of the equation. I really doubt that this was the initial problem for the downfall of the school web but more just an excuse to use in an email to an “uninformed and questioning inquirer”……… or so the Tech Coordinator thought. And I am not uninformed thanks to all the help I get in Woody’s Lounge (As a side note, this person has been “working on” a Linux box since spring 2003.)

Now to see what I can do to rectify the situation of the “missing” web or at least motivate the people in charge to look into the matter!

My did help!! Maybe it is time for one more!! Cheers!

Reply | Quote

… Not to discourage you from having your stiff cup of

But in the meantime you could easily purchase a short-term hosting account with a reliable budget web host. You can find dozens of trustworthy companies that offer hosting for less than $10 per month – even on a month-to-month basis. All you would need to do is upload your most recent website files and redirect your domain to the new host. Another side benefit is that the 3rd party host would handle all of the network and system-level security for you!

You should be able to find plenty of discussions about web hosts in the Web Design forum.

Hope this helps

Reply | Quote

for your replies, MarkJ and Joe! And to Leif for putting this post where it belonged!!
From what I knew of the system in our school, the vendor who developed it had been in the business for 20+ years and, in my estimation, is one very smart individual. For the Tech Coordinator to chuck the current web server because of a “broken NIC” and hackers, etc., does seem ludicrous to me. If he wants to migrate to new software and server O/S, I guess that is his choice but to not maintain the current web while making the transition seems rather strange to me. Our school is about to begin (Aug. 24th), and it would be nice to know what is going on without having to make umpteen calls. Another side of this is our school is asking for more operating money (what’s new?) and when I see this type of inactivity going on, it just makes my blood boil. Time for a stiff cup of

Reply | Quote

Ok, I read thru most of the thread and read a few great things and a few things that I MUST disagree with. First. Yes, Mark is 100% right abut the hosting. Most hosting companies now do NOT require a contract. Its month by month. The tech shouldn’t have taken down the box until the site was secure somewhere.

As far as the Linux v. Windows security issues. First, out of the box, Linux is far more secure then any Windows rev. After a bit of tweaking on both ends, you have 2 secure boxes, BUT how many times does someone find a hole in windows and how long does it take for them to patch? I can tell you’s, fact, a major hole in windows – 1-3 months. A minor hole in apache (linux web server) 2 days.

Then, not sure about the age range of the students but we were constantly hacking the schools computers. (they were all tied in, even the one in the classrooms)
Its a lot harder to hack a secure linux box then a secure Windoze box.

Thats my 2 cents.

Reply | Quote

While I will always be a die-hard Microsoft pereson, I’ll agree with Mike on this. Educational IT environments are a unique animal. Not only do you have to secure the network and systems from outside attacks, you also have to keep things just as tight from the inside! After all, many hackers are of high-school and college age.

In this case, the biggest factor that should determine the OS is what type of content and/or applications will need to be run on the server. If you have any ASP or ASP.NET code in your website then you have no choice but to go with a Windows environment. If you have mostly static content, Perl scripting, or PHP scripting then you’ll be right at home with a non-Windows platform (Linux, Unix, etc…).

Please keep us posted with the details. I’m quite interested to hear how this turns out.

Reply | Quote

Actually, funny you should mention asp Mark… heheh this is one of many articles on google.

http://www.pcquest.com/content/search/show…7162&way=search%5B/url%5D

Reply | Quote

That’s interesting – it probably works better than ClassicASP did with ChilisoftASP.

But I doubt you’ll see any mainstream companies running production ASP/ASP.NET applications without a Windows box.

Reply | Quote

That’s interesting – it probably works better than ClassicASP did with ChilisoftASP.

But I doubt you’ll see any mainstream companies running production ASP/ASP.NET applications without a Windows box.

Reply | Quote

Actually, funny you should mention asp Mark… heheh this is one of many articles on google.

http://www.pcquest.com/content/search/show…7162&way=search%5B/url%5D

Reply | Quote

Hi MarkJ,
If or when I manage to get the chance to put some pressure on the school administration concerning the missing web site (for starters), I will post back on what develops. Presently, I have started with a simple request about when we might see the return of the web site! This was an email sent to the Superintendent about 3 days ago now. To date, no reply! And this is a district that currently is begging for more money through a new levy. I guess just one “John Q. Public” is of no concern! I may need to rally the troops! BTW, the first levy, which was placed on a special ballot just this August, was voted DOWN! Imagine that……………….

Reply | Quote

Doesn’t surprise me. Our high school was rated for 1200 students. Right now it has 1600. Voters approved building a second high school two years ago. Estimated cost was 50 million dollars. (At the time the student population was 1500, IIRC, and estimated to be 2000 in 4 years.) Then they took part of the money the voters approved & remodeled the current high school. Then they went back to the voters & asked for another 12 million dollars to build the second high school Then they dedicated part of the money for the new high school to artwork. Then they went back to the voters & asked for another 10 million dollars to build the new high school. Final plan for the new high school was for it to hold 1200 students-not bad if their earlier estimates had been accurate, but a little big for the reality.

Guess what? Last May, in a special election, the voters voted *against* building the new high school they’d approved 2 years ago. Wonder why this so shocked the authorities? Especially after they announced that they were laying off several teachers due to a budget shortfall. (If they had handled the planning correctly they wouldn’t have needed to hire more teachers for the new school-unless they intended to reduce the average class size, in which case they’d need to hire more teachers whether they built the new school or not. In the plan they worked out however, they planned on duplicating a number of ‘special’ teachers like foreign languages. Never mind that there would only be enough foreign language students in each school to occupy those teachers only part of the day, it was still ‘necessary’ that each school have its own full-time teacher. No wonder the vote went against them.)

Reply | Quote

Doesn’t surprise me. Our high school was rated for 1200 students. Right now it has 1600. Voters approved building a second high school two years ago. Estimated cost was 50 million dollars. (At the time the student population was 1500, IIRC, and estimated to be 2000 in 4 years.) Then they took part of the money the voters approved & remodeled the current high school. Then they went back to the voters & asked for another 12 million dollars to build the second high school Then they dedicated part of the money for the new high school to artwork. Then they went back to the voters & asked for another 10 million dollars to build the new high school. Final plan for the new high school was for it to hold 1200 students-not bad if their earlier estimates had been accurate, but a little big for the reality.

Guess what? Last May, in a special election, the voters voted *against* building the new high school they’d approved 2 years ago. Wonder why this so shocked the authorities? Especially after they announced that they were laying off several teachers due to a budget shortfall. (If they had handled the planning correctly they wouldn’t have needed to hire more teachers for the new school-unless they intended to reduce the average class size, in which case they’d need to hire more teachers whether they built the new school or not. In the plan they worked out however, they planned on duplicating a number of ‘special’ teachers like foreign languages. Never mind that there would only be enough foreign language students in each school to occupy those teachers only part of the day, it was still ‘necessary’ that each school have its own full-time teacher. No wonder the vote went against them.)

Reply | Quote

I am going to move my discussion of this to Scuttlebutt since it now is evolving more toward thoughts and ideas of job performance rather then the actual facts of hackers and virus problems! So see there for the latest response from the Superintendent!

Reply | Quote

I am going to move my discussion of this to Scuttlebutt since it now is evolving more toward thoughts and ideas of job performance rather then the actual facts of hackers and virus problems! So see there for the latest response from the Superintendent!

Reply | Quote

Hi MarkJ,
If or when I manage to get the chance to put some pressure on the school administration concerning the missing web site (for starters), I will post back on what develops. Presently, I have started with a simple request about when we might see the return of the web site! This was an email sent to the Superintendent about 3 days ago now. To date, no reply! And this is a district that currently is begging for more money through a new levy. I guess just one “John Q. Public” is of no concern! I may need to rally the troops! BTW, the first levy, which was placed on a special ballot just this August, was voted DOWN! Imagine that……………….

Reply | Quote

Hi Mark,

Just wanted to let you know the recent happenings!! I would have put this down in Scuttlebutt but my thread has expired there and I wanted to put an ending on this!

The tech coordinator finally published a “web page” which I can’t “point to” now because it is down again! Early on, I had asked twice about it and then decided I had harped enough; but in my inquiry, I had asked quite a few questions about why it was taking so long, etc. The Superintendent answered once but never did return a reply for the second email so I let the issue alone for the time being.

This morning I received a telephone call from one of the teachers advising that the tech coordinator resigned his position at last night’s board meeting stating that he was receiving “too much pressure” about the web page, etc.

While I feel sorry for the fellow, I believe that he was never the person for this position and I am happy that he finally realized this and quit! So now, maybe……., the administration will find someone who can really do this job and get things rolling for our school! And yes unhappily, this November, the levy did pass by a very slim margin but this issue about the tech coordinator was my main concern and now it has been resolved! So good things still happen occasionally!

Reply | Quote

Hi Mark,

Just wanted to let you know the recent happenings!! I would have put this down in Scuttlebutt but my thread has expired there and I wanted to put an ending on this!

The tech coordinator finally published a “web page” which I can’t “point to” now because it is down again! Early on, I had asked twice about it and then decided I had harped enough; but in my inquiry, I had asked quite a few questions about why it was taking so long, etc. The Superintendent answered once but never did return a reply for the second email so I let the issue alone for the time being.

This morning I received a telephone call from one of the teachers advising that the tech coordinator resigned his position at last night’s board meeting stating that he was receiving “too much pressure” about the web page, etc.

While I feel sorry for the fellow, I believe that he was never the person for this position and I am happy that he finally realized this and quit! So now, maybe……., the administration will find someone who can really do this job and get things rolling for our school! And yes unhappily, this November, the levy did pass by a very slim margin but this issue about the tech coordinator was my main concern and now it has been resolved! So good things still happen occasionally!

Reply | Quote

Skitterbug

> maybe, the administration will find someone who can really do this job and get things rolling for our school

Can we see your new application for his position??!! (Can the Lounge vote for you?)

I’m sure you can handle something as easy as a web page!

John

Reply | Quote

John, for the vote of confidence but what they will be looking for is someone with certification and teaching skills to go with some sort of degree in technology. IMHO part of the problem with the fellow who left is that his only credentials was a BA in business and a few years loading software to be used in inventory of tool cribs! He didn’t have background enough to understand what the teachers needed and he wasn’t qualified to write grants which are very necessary in schools for extra $$. He also needed to be forward thinking so he could anticipate the needs of the school for future uses. And he needed motivation to get the job done!

Concerning my qualifications, I made it to the 2nd year (of college) and had to quit, thinking I would return at a later date to complete my course work. It never happened! Since then, I have had various classes for networking, trouble shooting hardware, server work, and several years of support work experience in these areas but I feel I would not be qualified for a Tech Coordinator’s position. I could be a “right hand gal” to help keep things flowing very well and would be an asset to any tech department but to say, I don’t have that all important diploma to even be in the running for this position!

But yes, I do believe I could get a decent web page published for the school!!

As Mark said, the most important part now will be for the school to find that qualified person to get the tasks taken care of! I feel they have lost valuable time for improving technology in our school. I also feel it is imperative that the school be on the cutting edge so the students can enter their next level in life prepared!!

It will be very interesting to see how this situation finishes. And you can bet, I will be watching every step they take!

Reply | Quote

John, for the vote of confidence but what they will be looking for is someone with certification and teaching skills to go with some sort of degree in technology. IMHO part of the problem with the fellow who left is that his only credentials was a BA in business and a few years loading software to be used in inventory of tool cribs! He didn’t have background enough to understand what the teachers needed and he wasn’t qualified to write grants which are very necessary in schools for extra $$. He also needed to be forward thinking so he could anticipate the needs of the school for future uses. And he needed motivation to get the job done!

Concerning my qualifications, I made it to the 2nd year (of college) and had to quit, thinking I would return at a later date to complete my course work. It never happened! Since then, I have had various classes for networking, trouble shooting hardware, server work, and several years of support work experience in these areas but I feel I would not be qualified for a Tech Coordinator’s position. I could be a “right hand gal” to help keep things flowing very well and would be an asset to any tech department but to say, I don’t have that all important diploma to even be in the running for this position!

But yes, I do believe I could get a decent web page published for the school!!

As Mark said, the most important part now will be for the school to find that qualified person to get the tasks taken care of! I feel they have lost valuable time for improving technology in our school. I also feel it is imperative that the school be on the cutting edge so the students can enter their next level in life prepared!!

It will be very interesting to see how this situation finishes. And you can bet, I will be watching every step they take!

Reply | Quote

Skitterbug

> maybe, the administration will find someone who can really do this job and get things rolling for our school

Can we see your new application for his position??!! (Can the Lounge vote for you?)

I’m sure you can handle something as easy as a web page!

John

Reply | Quote

Hi Skitterbug,

Thanks for the update. It’s great that some action was finally taken – even if it took a while. I hope they are able to find a new person who is adequately skilled for the tasks at hand, and that he or she can do a fine job on this project.

Reply | Quote

Hi Skitterbug,

Thanks for the update. It’s great that some action was finally taken – even if it took a while. I hope they are able to find a new person who is adequately skilled for the tasks at hand, and that he or she can do a fine job on this project.

Reply | Quote

While I will always be a die-hard Microsoft pereson, I’ll agree with Mike on this. Educational IT environments are a unique animal. Not only do you have to secure the network and systems from outside attacks, you also have to keep things just as tight from the inside! After all, many hackers are of high-school and college age.

In this case, the biggest factor that should determine the OS is what type of content and/or applications will need to be run on the server. If you have any ASP or ASP.NET code in your website then you have no choice but to go with a Windows environment. If you have mostly static content, Perl scripting, or PHP scripting then you’ll be right at home with a non-Windows platform (Linux, Unix, etc…).

Please keep us posted with the details. I’m quite interested to hear how this turns out.

Reply | Quote

Ok, I read thru most of the thread and read a few great things and a few things that I MUST disagree with. First. Yes, Mark is 100% right abut the hosting. Most hosting companies now do NOT require a contract. Its month by month. The tech shouldn’t have taken down the box until the site was secure somewhere.

As far as the Linux v. Windows security issues. First, out of the box, Linux is far more secure then any Windows rev. After a bit of tweaking on both ends, you have 2 secure boxes, BUT how many times does someone find a hole in windows and how long does it take for them to patch? I can tell you’s, fact, a major hole in windows – 1-3 months. A minor hole in apache (linux web server) 2 days.

Then, not sure about the age range of the students but we were constantly hacking the schools computers. (they were all tied in, even the one in the classrooms)
Its a lot harder to hack a secure linux box then a secure Windoze box.

Thats my 2 cents.

Reply | Quote