FDI International has taken the Telecom industry by storm. Global Verge, ACN and 5Linx cannot compare. FDI goes international in over 60 countries around the world by partnering with GI Connect. GI Connect has already proven itself outside the United States with over 800,000 representatives. Now it is coming back home to change the face of telecommunication and has partnered with Financial Destination Inc.

On August 14th, Financial Destination Inc is going global. The industry is buzzing with what is coming. On August 14th FDI International goes live in over 60 countries. All this will happen at the National Convention August 13th-15th Baltimore, Maryland.

In the United States alone, the telecom industry is $1.3 Trillion dollars in worth. However, when combined with the international market, it skyrockets to over $4 Trillion dollars. FDI International is vastly becoming the global leader in personal communications and financial solutions for people and businesses worldwide.

Prior to FDI’s global expansion, it’s VIP Personal and Financial Concierge Services was unheard off. Each member has access to their very own personal and financial assistant that would literally cover almost every aspect of your life. From maximizing credit scores and knowing the exact day, month and year one would be debt free. 

FDI has truly set itself apart. Some of the benefits of FDI International will be:

*Users will be able to talk on their cell phone while flying in a commercial aircraft from coast to coast, without violating the “no cell phone” law and at no coast.

*Free unlimited access to Video Conferences with or without a video phone and for up to 23 people. Video Phone Calls—See the person you are talking, LIVE! 

* Unlimited voice, text and data plans for as little as $10 a month, with no credit checks and no contracts.

These are just a few of the awesome benefits that will be coming with FDI International. FDI International has positioned itself so that everyone can save up to 95% on the things they are already spending.

FDI owns the tone ( and I mean literally ) and is proving it in a big way. FDI International will be in 7 categories of Telecom. Telecom as we know it is changing and FDI is leading the charge.

* Cellular
* VOIP
* Residential
* Calling Cards
* Video Phones
* Business Solutions
* Hardware and Equipment

FDI has No Competition!!!

Need More Information About Financial Destination then visit

We have a program that is setup so that you maximize your profit potential.  “Work Smarter, not Harder”

www.FDIRep.com/4u2bn

http://www.fdipro.net opportunity webinar CONF CALLS MON-FRI 1:00 PM AND 5:00 PM CST 212-990-8000 PIN 7555#
HILRY THOMAS   drivingsuccess@yahoo.com   504-329-4519

Best Regards,

VOIP is an advanced technology that is used as one the modes of telecommunication. It has created its own space in the world of telecommunication. The main factor responsible for the functioning of the VOIP system is the broadband internet connection which has become a matter of concern for the customers as there is no proper coverage of network.

Therefore, many VOIP service providers are working hard to increase the network coverage so the maximum percentage of the VOIP phone services should gain their advantage.

VOIP Service Providers

The VOIP network can be hooked up in many ways and is dependent upon the VOIP service provider. There are many companies that provide VOIP services such as, Skype, VoiceGlo, Vonage, etc. Among all the companies, Vonage is the best known company in providing VOIP services because it proffers a wide range of services. In terms of pricing, it is mid range that is it is not too cheap and not too expensive.

It also replaces the normal phone line with a VOIP phone and also provides a portable phone to carry along whenever you are out of town. These portable phones work according to “wi-fi,” which is a technology that works similarly to that of mobile phone towers.

Clear Picture Of VOIP Networks

As discussed earlier, VOIP phone service is one of the methods of telecommunication via internet. Due to lack of proper network coverage, it has become impossible for the VOIP service to reach each and every person. But the technical persons are working hard to increase the network coverage, which will lead to an increase in the demand of the services.

As compared to the pastoral areas, the network coverage is better in the cities. After going through the reviews and testimonials of the customers those who have already used the network of VOIP, it has been concluded that there are the chances of eruption of big problems within a short span of time after it gets installed.

It has been found through researches that people are more satisfied with their old networks as they don’t have to be more concerned about their working in terms of troubleshoots. The different types of problems that are confronted by the users in case of VOIP networks are hearing echoes, garbled conversations, and call drops. All these issues and problems have even resulted in the loss of businesses by many companies because of the dissatisfaction of the customers of the companies.

How To Overcome The VOIP Network Related Problems

Though the VOIP network related problems are the major disruptions as they lead to the economic loss of the company. These disruptions can be rectified by considering the following points:

1 – You should work with your internet service provider in order to get the disruptions rectified.

2 – If you are able to trace out that troubleshoot has occurred in your network then isolate and amend it. The problem can be traced by taking the help of other network administrators.

3 – You can even opt for another option that is to buy a software tool to search for the problem quickly. This software can be searched online as there are many companies that are into the selling of such software.

4 – It is always recommended before using a newly discovered technology to get in a link of the company which is already working on this project so that if any such problem arises, you should get assistance immediately.

Therefore, according to this article, it is conveyed that before getting into a use of newly introduced technology, you should always be prepared for its positive as well as negative side.

PBX phone systems constitute a unified telecommunications solution which ensures uninterrupted communication with your customers and business partners regardless of your location and point in time. Besides, you can easily generate a Fortune 500 business image for your company.

Manage Multiple Incoming Calls with Outstanding Efficiency

PBX phone systems offer the call management features found in IP PBX phone systems and other advanced communication tools. Important call management functions include automatic call distribution, auto attendant, call conferencing, call waiting, voice to email, fax mail, caller ID and more.

Incoming calls are received by the auto attendant with suitable welcome messages. It provides the callers with menu options for transferring calls to the exact extensions. It can manage multiple calls coming together with higher proficiency and perform call redirection without giving connection engaged indications. It can be programmed to provide details about your organization, products and services offered. The auto attendant rules out the need for call answering persons in your office.

Speak to Your Clients from Distant Sites

Through the sophisticated find me follow me call forwarding option, calls can be forwarded to your pre-assigned extension phone numbers including residential landlines and cell phones. Therefore you are not required to remain in office continuously for answering calls. You can maintain 24 hour communication with the clients from far-off sites. Besides, you can make outgoing calls to your branch offices in any location at reduced call charges.

No More Missed Calls

With this powerful PBX phone system you can concentrate on your business activities without being concerned about missing business calls. When the calls remain unanswered in the provided extensions, callers are routed to the voicemail system where they can leave voice messages. The system has facilities to deliver voice and fax messages to your email account and to send message notifications to your cell phone. The diverse features of PBX phone systems can be utilized without installing costly PBX hardware in your premises. The services can be obtained from leading service providers at cost-effective monthly charges.

. Attractive designs, sophisticated features and highly advanced technology are some of the qualities associated with most of the high-end Samsung phones that have been released recently.

The recently unveiled Samsung D900 is a perfect example of Samsung’s glorious tradition of producing user-friendly and beautiful phones. This Quad Band phone comes with a host of features, such as handsfree speaker, Bluetooth, USB, photo caller ID, Java games, EDGE and GPRS. Samsung D900 has 60MB internal memory and a document viewer for viewing Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF and TV output.

The Samsung D900 also has an amazing TFT screen providing a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. The 3.15 mega pixel camera allows users to take pictures and videos with great clarity. The music player in Samsung D900 supports MP3, AAC and ACC+ formats. One can connect this phone to laptops and PC, transfer data easily and even surf the Internet with WAP XHTML browser.

The Samsung D900 is an exceptional hand-held gadget that allows users enormous opportunities for entertainment and communication. That is why the Samsung D900 is gaining wide popularity among phone users worldwide.

But, often new and latest mobile phones are very expensive, which makes it impossible for the general people to own such gadget. This elegant mobile phone Samsung D900 is also quite expensive. But, with various network service providers coming up with innumerable mobile phone deals it has become easier to own an expensive mobile like Samsung D900. Some of the network providers like T-Mobile, 3-Mobile, Orange, O2, Virgin and Vodafone offers free mobile phone deals, contract deals and other cheap tariff plans with Samsung D900. Some contract deals with Samsung D900 even include various incentives and free gifts. Customers are also left with a host of contract deals, such as free line rental, half price rental, cashback offers and redeemable gift points. So, by choosing a good contract deal with Samsung D900, a user can not only save his money, but also enjoy the revolutionary experience of seamless connectivity.

With so many tariff plans to choose it is easier even for the average budget user to own a highly sophisticated mobile like Samsung D900.

The evolution of telephone and Internet has given birth to the emergence of conference calling. And today, be it business operations or domestic use, Audio Conferencing has given further boost to communication revolution all over the world. Several of its benefits like cheaper rate of communication , better voice quality, and decreased need of transportation have made the communication process easier by many times.

Web based voice conferencing works somewhat on similar apparatus, which are used in regular phones. This technique receives analogue audio signals, and converts it into digital data which are transmitted through the Internet. The technology upon which it works is called VoIP, which has become a very popular terms today in communication industry. Availing the facility of conferencing requires some technical equipments. For a web based Audio Conferencing, you need basically three things – a computer with Internet connection, a conferencing phone, and softwares given by software moderator.

Make sure that the web browser you are using is equipped with Java, and the Internet connection must have speed of at least 56 Kbps. Using dial-up connection is not acceptable in web based conference. You can opt any cable or DSL hook-up. Next comes audio linking. VoIP phones are best to avail to give you the best result. Through VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), voice is sent digitally through Internet, which makes you talk to people all over the world at cheap rate. Comfortable headsets, microphone and microphone are other equipments that you have to be equipped with.

If you want to make your Audio Conferencing a bit more articulate, take a conferencing camera. Put the web cam in right angle, and make sure that there is enough lighting. We would rather advice you to use all equipments of good quality. Qualitative conference products is capable of not only enhancing your communication experience, but also it saves a lot of your money.

Removed your PC Fingerprints?

Think Again. Microsoft Windows scatters your Internet activity, IM chat, search engine queries, pictures, music and videos all over your pc and the standard cleanup tools only remove some of the data. Take control of your privacy today

So cover your tracks! Whatever happens on your PC stays on your PC. Your computer records practically everything – every website visited, all your internet activities, and search engine inquires, pictures, music, and video viewed, accessed and downloaded. Every IM session, including the full text, is also automatically stored in your computer’s memory.

Your computer is a treasure trove of secrets just waiting to be exposed. Cover your tracks and secure your sensitive information with affordable and powerful One Click Privacy software. Put One Click Privacy to the test NOW.

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Ø Permanently erases all internet activity and history

Ø Deletes records of websites visited, cookies, passwords, ID’s, banking and credit card information

Ø Secure trash feature guarantees sensitive information is permanently deleted

Ø One Click Privacy cleans all records generated by all major P2P apps including Bit Torrent Client, Kazaa, LimeWire, Morpheus and more

Ø Erases Instant Messaging and Voice Over Internet Protocol files

Ø Erases media player records such as Windows Media Player, QuickTime, RealPlayer and more

Ø Removes records of search queries from desktop search applications

Ø Deletes history of recently opened software and email applications

Ø Erases browser activity logs from Internet Explorer, Firefox, Netscape, etc

Ø Free email tech support for life

Ø Automated and easy to use

Ø Unlimited free upgrades and updates for life

Ø Flexible platform works with Windows Vista, XP, Me, 98, 95, NT4 and 2000

Don’t risk your reputation and relationships by leaving sensitive information on your computer for others to misread and misinterpret. Permanently delete everything that can be used against you with just one click. It’s that simple.

Spain is the second most visited country in the world. History oozes from every corner and in southern Spain you are practically guaranteed warm weather year-round. Spain gives you the opportunity to have an outdoor wedding surrounded by beautiful landscapes as well as a chance for all your guests to holiday, take some time out and have fun!!

With so much choice across the country, here is a review of the most outstanding spots for me. The location you choose will pretty much depend on the kind of destination wedding you have in mind, although if you still haven’t decided, this mini guide may help you get some ideas.

Malaga as a wedding destination

Malaga is an ideal choice if you are looking for a sun and sea wedding and vacation, although it has many beautiful rural spots to offer. Malaga has stunning beaches, modern facilities and great weather, not too hot – not too cold! The sea winds are not too strong in this area either, compared to further down the coast such as Cadiz.

As Malaga is mainly geared towards tourism, there are many hotels to choose from, although the entertainment options are slimmer than in other Spanish cities such as Seville or Granada. The main historical monuments can only found in the main city, whilst the coastal towns offer bars and beaches. There are, on the other hand, plenty of sea activities: taking a small cruise across the coast, scuba diving, jet skiing or simply having dinner at a restaurant on the beach…… Malaga is glamour and class.

Ideas

Malaga offers its Botanical Gardens for weddings. You can have the blessing, banquet and reception here. The Botanical Gardens used to be the home of a rich merchant family and features a stunning pergola overlooking the entire state. A great bonus is that you can do evening/night weddings, perfect in the summer when the sun doesn’t set until 9 – 10 pm.

Benalmadena, a coastal town, offer its Bil-Bil castle. This is a newly constructed castle however its charm lies on its location – practically on the beach. You can have your ceremony, banquet and reception all within the castle grounds.

Marbella boasts some amazing beach restaurants/lounges where you can have a jet-set glamorous wedding. Many of them are large enough to have a blessing in the same grounds, such as Pangaea Prive.  The amazing Finca La Concepcion can also be found in Marbella and it is one of the best wedding venues I have ever seen. The finca itself is beautiful, with a remarkable entrance. Although it is only a short drive from Puerto Banus, as soon as you arrive to the Finca you feel like you are in the middle of the countryside, where the only sounds come from birds singing.

The Byblos hotel in Mijas is truly amazing and is available for weddings. The hotel is set within the Mijas Golf Course, with its stunning lakes and peaceful surroundings. Byblos is “Andalusi” inspired, combining Spanish and Arabic decoration. This is a wonderful place to have a banquet and reception as the building itself is beautiful. The restaurant is set near the pool and you can have live music until late. Speaking from personal experience, this is an amazing hotel to have your honeymoon. The rooms are luxurious, the staff make you feel like royalty, it is quiet enough to sleep-in and stay in bed as long as you want, and some of the rooms have gigantic baths!

On the other side of the coast we find Nerja, a favorite amongst many couples. Although a little far from the airport, Nerja has some fantastic views, restaurants and still keeps that bohemian look about it. There is plenty for guests to do here, including some unique caves where you can watch ballet shows in the summer. The most stunning part of Nerja is the Europa Point, fantastic for pictures. Right next to it is a great restaurant, Casa Luque, where I have attended a couple of weddings. The restaurant features a gigantic terrace on the edge of a cliff, looking right out to sea, where you can celebrate the blessing, banquet and reception.

You can create your wedding theme around the venue: For example a vintage 40’s – 50’s theme, a style that can provide a lot of entertainment and fun. Swing was in and the “cool cat” sounds of Benny Goodman, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin were being heard in ballrooms and nightclubs everywhere. If you love the jumpin’ and jivin’ sounds of the 1940’s, along with glamour, then why not plan your wedding theme around this fascinating era?

A wedding in Spain does not have to mean you are limited in choice. Live music agencies such as The Tribute Band provide all styles of party entertainment, with professional musicians from all over the world. Have a look at some videos so you can start getting an idea of what atmosphere you want to create during the reception.

Pros

Clean, accessible beaches Near Airport Excellent weather Many English speakers

Cons

Not much historical heritage in the coastal areas A car is needed to go pretty much everywhere – alternatively, hire a mini-bus with a chauffeur.

Seville as a wedding destination

Seville used to be the capital of Spain until, for strategic reasons, it was moved further inland to Madrid. This is the city where Columbus set sail from, scene to the romantic Carmen opera, and is in my opinion the most Spanish of all the Andalucian capitals. Surrounded by monuments dating back thousands of years, gigantic parks and a stunning river, it will give your guests (and yourselves) the chance to enjoy Spain in all its splendor. Culture and folklore emanate from every corner; Seville has the highest quality flamenco shows.

The city is very near Malaga, where there is a denser population of English speakers, therefore having a blessing in English or any other language will be no problem at all.

Ideas

Holding the wedding at a Spanish “Cortijo” or “hacienda”. “Cortijos” are the typical farmhouses of southern Spain. This may not sound very glamorous at first but these are in fact the most refined and noble of all. Families became rich over centuries breading horses and bulls. Photo of Cortijo.

Many of these “Cortijos” specialize in celebrating weddings. This could be a great option as you can have the blessing, the banquet and the reception all in one place. Some have even been turned into hotels and have accommodation with a suite for the bride and groom, spas, additional restaurants….

Having your destination Spanish wedding in a “Cortijo” sets the scene and theme easily. You and your guests will be in out-of-the-ordinary surroundings, making it a magical and memorable experience

Adding your touch

Having your destination wedding with a Spanish theme does not mean you have to miss out on adding your personal touch. Quite the opposite, use the theme as a canvas and make the wedding truly yours. I think a wedding should reflect the personalities of the bride and groom. Live music and entertainment can help you a great deal here.

A Gospel choir or even a classical guitarist, playing during your outdoor ceremony …  Once the ceremony has finished a great way to greet all your guests is over a “cocktail”. You can have it very close to the blessing grounds and have the waiters serve appetizers and drinks. With a jazz and swing band playing in the background, you will keep your guests from getting bored until you arrive back from taking photos, and what more can you ask for: sipping on champagne, outdoors in the sun, while you listen to Sinatra’s “LOVE” played live!

A wedding in Spain does not have to mean flamenco dancers and Spanish songs. Live music agencies such as The Tribute Band provide all styles of party entertainment, with professional musicians from all over the world. Have a look at some videos so you can start getting an idea of what atmosphere you want to create during the reception.

Pros

Clean, environmentally friendly city True Spanish feel to it Lots for guests to do and see Superior quality restaurants and products, not much more expensive than the rest of Andalucia. Near Airport Great for honeymooning

Cons

Very hot during July & August Not near the sea Not many English speaking service providers so communication can be hard – although Malaga is just a short drive and many can be booked from there.

Granada as a wedding destination

Granada was the capital of the “Andalusi” world, the Moorish kings who conquered and lived in Andalucia for over 700 years. With the Alhambra forever present, this city is a true blend of Jewish, Catholic, Moorish and modern Spanish culture.

Choosing Granada as a wedding destination offers many possibilities: Snow, City and Beach. The city of Granada is set inland although the province runs all the way down to the coast. There is also a ski resort, Sierra Nevada, with the longest skiing season in Europe.  This gives you plenty of options to organize guest activities and lots to do for your own honeymoon.

Eating out in Granada is extremely reasonable and fun. It is a tradition in many bars across the city to get a free “tapa” each time you order a drink. Granada University is one of the most prestigious in Spain and therefore the city has a vast array of live music venues for all ages.

Ideas

Quite obviously, the ideal choice is to have your wedding near the Alhambra such as in the old town, the “Albaycin”. The noble people who lived in ancient Granada had homes in this part of the city, right next to the Alhambra palace. Many wonderful restaurants in the area have terraces with views to the beautiful labyrinths of narrow streets running across the “Albaycin”.

Within the forests of the Alhambra, next to the “Albaycin”, and the “Generalife” (residence of the sultans who lived in Spain) there is a wonderful Hacienda, “Carmen de los Chapiteles” ideal for weddings. Enchanting gardens and fountains and views of a city you will not forget easily.

Another fantastic option is the “Parador de la Alhambra” located within the Alhambra palace itself.

Pros

Beautiful monuments, buildings and gardens Easy to move around without a car – Taxis are very reasonable Mix of landscapes & activities: beach, snow and city Mixture of interesting cultures

Cons

Very hot in July & August and very cold during December, January & February Not many English speaking service providers  – so it is hard to communicate. However Malaga is just a short drive and many can be booked from there.

Telephone systems are the backbone of any business house. There are many reputed manufacturers as suppliers of high quality telephone systems. Panasonic, Samsung, Siemens, AVAYA, Commander, Alcatel, LG, NEG, Aristel, Ericsson, Fujitsu, Omni, Exicom and other manufacturers had been supplying new telephone systems all over the world for several decades. Still, the decision whether to use new telephone systems or used telephone systems will depend on the specific needs and requirements of the business house.

New telephone systems are supplied by the above reputed telephone system manufacturers with fixed warranty, though the warranty may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and from model to model. On the other hand, used telephone systems may not carry any warranty. Hence, when a decision is taken to purchase used telephone system, the warranty part should be questioned and a specific commitment obtained from the supplier. If properly handled, used telephone systems can save considerable amount of money. On the other hand, if a wrong supplier is selected, it can lead to unwanted frustration due to frequent equipment failure and may be much more costlier than a new telephone system in the long run.

While purchasing a used telephone system, the features, expandability and reliability should be carefully considered. Cost should not be the sole criteria. By spending some extra money, a good used telephone system that does easily fail can be purchased. The question whether the supplier will be able to install and maintain the system should be gone into. Any dealer who cannot install and maintain but only supply the equipments should be avoided. Normally, buying used telephone systems from one supplier and engaging another wiring and cable company for the installation is not a wise decision.

Another factor that will need to be checked is how old are the used telephone systems and the phones. It should be ensured that the used telephone system and the phones had been properly refurbished and thoroughly tested by the supplier. The supplier or the dealer should also be able to supply phones and required spare parts in case there is such a need in future. The supplier should provide a written warranty for all the hardware at least for one year. The used telephone system should have the standard communication capabilities like automatic call distribution, call forwarding, full-feature voice mail, extension dialing, VoIP support, etc. If all these factors are checked and the system is purchased, it will be as good as a new telephone system.

However, the above option of buying used telephone systems may be suitable only for small business houses that cannot afford new telephone systems. Used telephone systems that had been refurbished can never match new telephone systems. They will lack the quality that a telephone system from Alcatel or Panasonic can provide. If the operations of the company are critical and with lot of outside voice and data communication, only new telephone systems should be purchased, irrespective of the cost. This will also ensure scalability in future and total reliability.

This Global Verge Review is from a third party this is not affiliated with this company.

The Global Verge organization is a network marketing company that has a key differences which allow it to be more lucrative than some others in this industry. The company offers a range of tech based products such as VOIP, cell phone service, power saver, identity theft and water from air. This is just a small sampling of the companies product offerings.

As with most MLM structured companies there are varying levels of entry to get started as a distributor. There is the intro package starting at $19.95 which entitles you to direct sales commissions as well as second level commissions. You can then upgrad to the Propack which is $99.95 and this allows you to accrue maximum proftits with your sales force. Distributors can purchase all products at wholesale prices and can mark them up as they wish to make a profit. The higher the level you start ie. pro vs starter the greater the commissions you earn. The costliest plan works well for those who have a large sales force under them or feel sure they can recruit a large and effective sales force. Profits are based on active associates.

Global Verge boasts that 80% of the profit goes directly back into the commission and compensation hub. The sales force directly under the associate also brings in a profit with a plan called “Flex Pay”.

Compensation and profit accrue in several ways according to Global Verge.

Direct Sales Commission – Profit genereated from selling products at wholesale prices
A 3 X 9 Flex pay system that places the associate in the first available spot directly under the sponsor.
Associates will earn commissions from their sales up to the ninth level down.
The top performers in Globa Verge will also have the ability to earn global bonus’s based on their annual revenue.
The Matrix system and flex pay system are as outlined by Global Verge proposed to keep the money rolling back into the system rather than stalling in little pockets. There is also a product upline commission available however; this is not applicable for those top 20 associates with the most personal sales in a category. A portion of each retail sale is divided up to 9 levels upward.

This is a rather ingenious and complex compensation plan, which deviates from the standard by ensuring that profits matrix are divided or paid out among qualifying associates at all levels.

The products are real and the incentives exist to not only recruit a sales force but to also market, the product is great due to the compensation packages. Your selling efforts are definatly rewareded with the commissions you make on your sales as well as your residual earnings from the matrix system.

Entry is very cheap with this company so if the products appeal, you might want to consider joining this company as there will always be the opportunity to upgrade in time.The math seems workable the company has a slick little website and plenty of products available to make Global Verge attractive from both an MLM standpoint and a direct sales commission standpoint.

Like any MLM opportunity you need to have a endless supply of prospects coming into your sales funnel if you are going to be successful in this industry. If you want to learn REAL STRATEGIES that will drive and endless supply of hungry prospects to your opportunity then review the links below to learn more.

As with any other year, in 2008 network and systems administrators will have to face challenges which will tax their ability to adequately protect corporate networks. Experience shows that maintaining and improving on security is never easy; hackers, malware creators, spammers, malicious insiders and other, mostly unpredictable, elements all add up to the factors which tend to give these network security professionals many a sleepless night.

Various 2008 threat predictions have already hit headlines. Some mention VOIP and virtualization , others mention malware evolution and Facebook widgets that will be used to distribute malware; However, facts and figures indicate that the challenges faced in 2008 will not stem from technology itself; for in its nature technology is a neutral element that can either be used in a good or in a bad way. The biggest threat for 2008 is the same threat to businesses that has been around for the last 200,000 years – the Human Being himself!. Human beings, their weaknesses, fallacies and inquisition can all be exploited to wreck havoc within organizations.

Human Overconfidence

History shows that we tend to rely too much on the claims which operating system vendors and business software vendors make. New systems sell themselves as being more secure and more fail-safe than their predecessors. While this is undoubtedly true, one must remember that at every release of each operating system and business software throughout the years vendors have all made the same claim, over and over again, year after year. This has never. However. deterred hackers and other malicious individuals from researching and executing attacks against newer systems.

A case in point is Microsoft Windows Vista, which by end 2007, will hit the 10% market share, with a projected 30% adoption rate expected by end 2008. Microsoft Windows Vista does not only equate to a new operating system, it also equates to a new user expierience. While this system is much more secure than its predecessors, its users are still the same as before, and therefore they are the path of least resistance to the average network environment exploit. Through social engineering, security features such as the new user access control can be easily circumvented, duping users in installing software which is insecure or tainted with malware.

Humans’ misplaced trust

Trust should be earned and not automatically afforded. Dangers to business do not only lie outside of the business perimeters; recent history shows that insider attacks to businesses cost as much, if not more, than attacks originating from the outside. Insiders have their own advantages for they have an intimate knowledge of your network and its inner workings. In 2008, an ever increasing proliferation of portable storage and communication devices (iPods, USB drives, USB WiFi cars, etc) will highly facilitate data theft, logic bombs and other forms of sabotage that can throw your business back to the Stone Age. Yet again, while it might be easy to put the blame on such devices it’s not these devices that are at fault; once again, technology is a neutral entity. The main fault here is the use made of such devices – banning them will simply not work because you simply cannot rely on voluntary compliance, supervision is too laborious, the devices can be easily concealed and you’ll just create dissent.

Human lack of knowledge

When it comes to network security, ignorance in neither bliss nor excuse. In 2008, a lack of basic security principles and a lack of knowledge in the trends that malware, spyware, spam and other malware are taking will greatly contribute to the downfall of network security. This most often is due to lack of time or resources to research security principles and trends; an issue that translates into a firefighting approach to network security: reacting to incidents after being hit.

This is, once again, a human issue. Malware does not evolve on its own, in a vacuum. The reason why malware evolves is greed – Hackers and other malicious individuals today create targeted attacks not to create havoc but for financial gain. Targeted exploits that attempt to address the inquisitive human nature to make them click on a tainted link will become more and more commonplace. This makes them much more dangerous than ever before, making the issue of lack of knowledge even more critical. Limiting human inquisitiveness through a blanket ban on access to resources will also backfire since it will create both dissent and boredom, all of which hamper productivity.

Human gullibility

Being gullible does not only make you the butt of jokes but also exposes you to myriad network security threats. In 2008, targeted email spam will continue in its evolution with newer and novel attempts to breach network defenses using social engineering. These will extend beyond email and attempt to, for example, compromise VOIP infrastructures through denial of service attacks, SIP vulnerabilities and Spit (Spam Over Internet Technology) attacks. In 2008, an increase in the number of attacks targeted at specific individuals or businesses is also expected, and it is highly plausible that the perpetrators of such attacks will use social engineering to gain access to confidential information that enables them to gain access to your systems.

As with malware, social engineering attempts at exploiting human gullibility evolve for financial gain. No one will be calling anyone up asking for passwords; more subtle methods such as targeted attacks on social networking sites (myspace, facebook, etc) where users are duped in exchanging personal information for virtual goods empower hackers and other malicious individuals to gain unauthorized access to networks.

Conclusion

In 2008, network and security administrators will have to wear more hats than ever before and employ all sorts of defenses against attacks directed at the human nature – overconfidence, trust, lack of knowledge and gullibility will all be decisive factors in how successful network security will be. More than ever before it will be a question of managing the risks that humans pose to businesses; for even if the risks humans pose are the same risks as before, the motivation behind attacks in 2008 is changing and becoming much more dangerous. The best way to defend infrastructures from potential threats is for administrators to implement methods to:

• Monitor the user’s activity 24 x 7 x 365

• Control access to network resources

• Safeguard all the business information

• Backup all communications to, from and within the business

• Enact technological barriers that permit device use according to a clear and defined policy.

• Train network resource users in both network security and information disclosure policies.

In 2008, systems administrators will have to find the fine balance that suits and encourages the human inquisitive nature – without becoming the dreaded medieval Inquisitors!