Tech Bitch

It’s easy, it’s convenient, and you can do it naked. But how many of the UK’s 27 million e-shoppers actually know a secure Web site when they see one? Not a lot as it turns out.

We’re all concerned about the security of data. And I’m not just making it up - a survey conducted by managed hosting company NetBenefit reveals that over 80% of consumers are concerned over the security of their financial data when shopping online. While approximately half of those surveyed said they would be prepared to spend up to £500 online, 70% of shoppers don’t understand the significance of the green browser bar and 20% of those questioned do not understand what the golden security padlock represents.

Secure Web site technology has been in place for some time now and the industry has put standards in place to provide the online shopper with confidence, but in actual fact many shoppers simply do not have a clue. To cut a pretty long a boring story short, look out for the golden padlock in your browser. This will be displayed next to the browser bar and it contains details of the Web site’s security report.

If you have any doubts about the Web site that you are visiting (prOn sites are excused), look for the golden padlock and just right click to find out whether the certificate owner and the Web site match. If the security certificate has an extra level of validation in the shape of an Extended Validation certificate then the browser bar will turn green. It’s a shame the UK’s 62,000-plus Internet traders don’t take our safety concerns more seriously.

The University of Bath has just made learning more accessible for all its students thanks to a ‘revolutionary’ blow-up pub high bandwidth connectivity. Made possible by H2O Networks’ FS Focus System, those students who have no girl/boy friends are actually resident on campus and those attending one of the University’s city centre student residencies and business centres can benefit from the speeds associated with next generation broadband. H2O Networks’ DARC fibre (Derestricted Access Route Connection), which delivers connectivity via its FS Focus System (Fibre Optical Cable Underground Sewer System), is used to deploy the cable through the City’s sewer network.

Keen not to cause too much disruption to the local area while the ultra broadband service was being rolled out to both the campus, students residences and education centres, the University’s IT department was over the moon at having more work that it could provide students with the fastest speeds available, yet still set up its own secure IT and telecoms network in case it all went tits-up.

Kris Shah, network manager, University of Bath commented: “It was important to us to ensure that all students attending the University could benefit from the same technology. Now all students attending the University of Bath regardless of whether they are on or off campus will be able to take advantage of ultra fast broadband access which is both reliable and scaleable for at least the next decade.

The new service now offers the kinds of bandwidth that students will really appreciate when it comes to prOn research and entertainment. According to boffins, the deployment process is at least 80% faster than traditional methods, resulting in operational networks within weeks rather than months. Every city and town has ready-made ducts that can be used without causing disruption - H2O wants to cash in big time…