May, 2008
You are the Weakest Link
by David
May 29, 2008
One of the things that constantly comes up when you start taking the security of your computer systems seriously is the simple fact that your users are the weakest part of any security policy. You can spend all day working out intrusion detection systems, firewalls, nearly impossible to crack passwords, and doors with five levels of authentication, but when your security guard holds the door open for the pizza guy, you have a problem.
Software As A Service — For Criminals
by Alex
May 27, 2008
Security researchers have uncovered a massive database of web site FTP logins and passwords to web sites around the world, including many well known sites. The scary twist is that the crooks behind the database have put in place a trading and payment interface to allow less talented thieves to purchase access to these compromised sites and even automatically upload tools to help them attack site visitors.
Lextech: Keeping Overzealous Entrepreneurs Honest Since 2001
by Adrienne
May 23, 2008
It would come as no surprise to me if entrepreneurs collectively named confidence as both their most dangerous and valuable personality trait. This trait can provide the drive necessary to achieve unimaginable goals, but it can also cause the bearer to promise results they aren’t 100% sure they can deliver.
Car Geekin: Mac Mini in a Nissan 300zx, part 1
by Alex
May 22, 2008
One of the great things about working with really interesting systems for our clients is the inspiration it can give for those personal side projects. After working on a touch screen application for one client I had the thought to mount one in my car (a 1996 Nissan 300zx) and drive it with one of Apple’s Mac Mini computers (being older, the car doesn’t have a CD player so it made sense to skip a few generations and go fully digital).
How To Avoid A Messy Break Up With Your Data Center, Part 1
by Jim
May 21, 2008
The decision to move your IT infrastructure from one data center to another is not one that ever should be taken lightly. There can be a considerable investment in planning time and personnel, and there is usually some downtime unless you have purchased twice as much equipment as is needed to do a live cutover. However, by planning it well you can minimize the negative factors and make the transition painless.
A Shocking Thing 100% of Lextech Clients Have in Common
by Adrienne
May 20, 2008
Lextech refuses to employ some of the less imaginative sales tactics used by other growing companies. For example, we don’t use obnoxious sales pitches or interrupt families gathered around the dinner table by cold calling them. Why? Because we have faith in our work.
We believe that we can only be as successful as we make our clients. If our clients are successful and happy with the work Lextech has done, they will tell their friends. And they have!
100% of our clients to date were referred to us by previous clients or friends.
Video Conferencing from Limbo
by Alex
May 19, 2008
I just had the opportunity to put video conferencing to a real trial by fire in an unexpected setting - a hospital waiting room. The other challenge was making the link using only a cellular broadband card — no ethernet, no wifi.
Eclipsing Xcode for Mac Development
by Nate
May 16, 2008
Apple has a (well-earned) reputation for creating products that are simply a pleasure to use. The iPhone springs to mind as a crowning achievement in this regard. But man, do I ever hate Xcode.
Nothing is where I expect it to be. I can’t seem to close a window I don’t want without closing the whole project. When I try to debug an application, I can’t get the present value of variables in all levels of the stack trace.
Don’t Let Subpar Vendors Hold Your Website Hostage
by Adrienne
May 14, 2008
Office Express President, Bill Raspe’s e-commerce website experienced 3 to 4 days of downtime per month. Maintaining, updating, and adding new features to the website was incredibly difficult and often impossible because the vendor gave Bill limited access to the back end of his system.
