The highway is part of the Hanshin Expressway, a network (239.3 km) of expressways surrounding Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto, Japan.

The Gate Tower Building is Japan’s first building to have a highway pass through it. And it had been nicknamed  beehive” referring to its appearance as a “bustling place”.

The Umeda Exit of the Ikeda Route of the Hanshin Expressway system passes through this building. The expressway is the tenant of these floors. The elevator doesn’t stop on floor 5th-7th, floor 4 being followed by floor 8.

These floors consist of elevators, stairways, machinery and other stuff. The highway passes through the building as a bridge, held up by supports next to the building making no contact with the building itself.

The building has a double core construction, with a circular cross section and special care is taken by providing surrounded structure to the highway to protect the building from noise and vibration.

Generally expressways are built underground, and passing through a building is an extremely rare occasion. It dates back to 1983, when the redevelopment of this area was decided upon, “building permits were refused because the highway was already being planned to be built over this land.”

The property rights’ holders refused to give up, and negotiated with the Hanshin Expressway corporation for approximately 5 years to reach the current solution.”

Impressive structure !

The marketers therefore struggle to get their very own unique content written, while some marketers with spare cash doesn’t mind throwing big chunk of cash into content writing  to the freelancer who can do a great job. The objective is one, to get a totally unique content on their website and avoid duplicate content once-and-for-all.

Well, while what they have done is right but what most webmaster or marketer have forgotten is  that the duplicate factor come directly from their own website or blog. In other words, the content on the website is unique but the site itself is not !From Google point of view, there are multiple similar copy of content appear on the site.

Let see what I mean.

a URL http://www.yourwebsite.com is different from http://yourwebsite.com. Likewise for www.yourwebsite.com or www.yourwebsite.com/

At least Google see them as different page while in fact, the links above are all referring to the same page !

To get a clearer picture and understanding of how you can avoid this costly mistake, let watch the explanation slides by Matt Cutts of Google.

No doubt many take this website security issue lightly and doesn’t bother as most think this is not going to hit them. They are absolutely wrong. Do the necessary before being hit by the hacker ! If you have a Wordpress powered site/blog, you may check out How Blog Lock Down can greatly help you to secure your site from the hackers roaming freely out there.

Better be safe than sorry….:

Secure websites from hackers, owners told

2009/09/04

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has advised Malaysian website owners to update and secure their website from hacker attacks.

This was in response to media reports on the incidences of Malaysian websites being compromised by hackers.
” Malaysian website owners must update and secure their website applications and servers to the latest patches and service packs to fix various vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers to compromise their websites,” it said in a statement.
MCMC said the hacking incidence was first detected on Aug 31 and has since affected 125 websites. The hackers had inserted a webpage through known vulnerabilities on the websites, announcing that they have compromised those websites.
The commission said it has been monitoring the situation through the MCMC Network Security Centre on the various postings made by the hackers on related blogs, forums and social networking websites.

1. Do not use your login name
Sure it is easier to remember when you use your name, birthday or similar information as your key but these are the worst kinds of security for your account. These data are the first things that the criminals will try to use to break your password.

2. Make it long
Each letter, number or character that you put in your password increases your defense against password filchers. If possible use 8 or more characters to guard your information. The maxim ?the longer the better? truly applies in this case.

3. Mix and Match
Feel free to use the whole keyboard in making your password. Use letters, numbers, and symbols or if it is permitted, use space or the shift key to strengthen further your code.

4. Avoid series of letters or numbers
It may look like plain ingenuity to use 12345678 or 7777777 as your secret code but this technique has been cracked by password hackers. Remember the more diverse your code is the stronger protection it will give you.

5. Use different passwords for your multiple accounts
If any of your accounts has been broken, then similar accounts using the same password is at risk. It is imperative that you use different passwords for your accounts.

6. Change your password every 2 months or as you deem necessary
Changing your code regularly will help keep the thieves away. This is an easy yet an effective way to protect your important information.

7. Keep your password to yourself
This is the simplest and the most obvious way to keep your accounts away from harm. But sad to say, many of us have failed to do this. If possible do not write your password but if it cannot be avoided, protect your records and do not leave them lying around for everybody to see.

Our passwords are the first line of defense against computer hackers. It is also the weakest in providing computer security. Password cracking programs continue to improve as you read this. Do your part and protect yourself from these crooks. Be vigilant, check your password(s) now and see if they pass these simple tips.

Your personal computer is a common target for intruders and other malicious users because they want to access personal data such as bank account information, credit card numbers or any important data they could find.

Not only can intruders stead your financial information, they could also use your computer resources ? such as hard disk, processor and internet connection ? to attack other users. This way, law enforcement will find it difficult to solve where the attacks are coming from.

To prevent possible identity theft or computer hijack, follow these eight steps in maintaining PC security:

1) Anti-Virus Programs - These programs search and assess the contents of each computer file then removes or destroys ?virus signatures?, which are known to be harmful to your computer.

2) Patch up your System – This process involves fixing the operating system and restoring different functions of your computer. Most computer vendors offer patches that are designed to fix bugs in their products. This process is repeated until the patch fixes the problem completely.

3) Email Attachment Precautions - Most unsolicited items, such as exploding packages or letter bombs, can be sent through your e-mail. Take extra precaution in opening emails to prevent any harm your computer may receive.

4) Firewall Programs - Install and use a firewall program. These programs act as a guard to your computer when looking at network traffic received from or destined for other computers. The firewall program determines if certain traffic should be allowed to continue to its destination or stopped. These programs keep the unwanted out and permit only ?healthy? traffic to enter and leave your computer.

5) Data Backups - It is important that back up your data in your computer?s hard disk, external hard disk drives or any removable media. This ensures each important data will not be harmed when computer problems arise.

6) Strong Passwords - It is important to mix up several numbers, symbols and letters to strengthen password safety. An ideal length of password is around eight or more letters, numbers or symbols.

7) Download and Installation - Be careful in accepting or downloading any material online to prevent virus attacks and computer hijacks.

Hardware Firewall - Hardware firewall, which works similarly to firewall programs, stands between your personal computer and the Internet.

Although these steps may seem simple, remember that maintaining computer safety is a continuous process. You cannot perform these tasks once and let your computer be. Get back to each of these steps regularly and check if you need program updates.

Keeping your computer secure is in your hands. Outsmart computer hijackers by reinforcing computer safety precautions.

They take a lot of your time and there are steps that need to be done. The following are some of the tips and advice you could do to be able to secure your very own personal computer.

Anti-virus programs is a must

Imagine it this way, would you allow someone to knock at your door and enter your own living space in order to make you buy something or use your own telephone?

If they were neat and presentable enough you could probably let them inside your own home, but just like anyone else, you definitely would be watching their every move.

Observe just what it is you have done. You have already profiled that person and based on the profile you have come up with, have also decided what you will do.

This is because you are very much cautious and concerned on just who enters your own space.
Basically, this is how anti-virus programs work.
These programs scan all contents of every file, looking for patterns that are specific and one that would match a particular profile. This is basically termed as virus signature ? or something that is notoriously harmful to your computer.

Every file that has a signature match, the program provides options on just how it is it should respond. One such response is by removing the patterns that are offensive or one that destroys the file.

A virus basically works this way. They are like salesmen who knock in your own living space and they would get you to buy or listen to their sales pitch. However, they could try to pilfer your money or valuables.

One way to know if a particular scammer is prowling in your neighborhood is probably by reading about them in the news or seeing them in a tv news report. These reports could give you an idea of what these scammers look like or what are the things to be wary and watch out for.

Anti-virus software programs basically work similarly. When the vendors know of a new potentially threatening virus, they have a set of updated signature viruses that could include the new virus threat.

Scan and check, check and scan

Other ways and means for viruses to enter your personal computer is via floppy disks, web sites, email, CD-ROM as well as downloaded files.

As much as possible, all these avenues must be checked if they contain viruses or not.

For instance, prior to using a particular floppy disk, it must first be checked for any viruses.

Also, when downloading a specific file from the net, these must be checked for any viruses. Your own anti-virus software program usually allows you to specify and check these places for any viruses. They may also do this scan automatically.

Patch it now, patch it good

The instance your computer?s system breaks down, do you have an idea on how you should restore its functions?

Many vendors have patches whose purpose is to fix any types of bugs. Usually, vendors offer patches that are free in their own web sites. When purchasing programs, it is a great idea if you ask the vendor how they supply patches.

Software vendor programs also have a service that allows you to a recall. Notices for patches could be received via e-mail through mailing list subscription. Through this service, one can easily learn computer problems even if you have yet to discover them and before any intruders could have the opportunity to exploit your computer?s system.

Be cautious when reading attachments via e-mail
Always be careful when opening received e-mails that carry attachments. Sometimes, the potentially threatening messages could come from unsolicited e-mails.

To be able to determine if an email is safe or not, it would be best to conduct the following test and ask these questions: Was the email sent by someone you know? Did you receive this e-mail before? Is the subject of the email described in a clear manner?

A suspicious e-mail usually read as BradPitt.jpg.vbs. Worms could travel this way and reading / opening it could bring damage to your computer system.

All in all, caution and care is needed to be able to protect your computer from unnecessary attacks by malicious viruses and worms.

Before anything else, you should buy or download an anti virus security program. A good security program should be able to do 2 things: One, it should be able to detect and block incoming viruses. Two, the program should be able to detect viruses that actually manage to infect your system, and should be able to clean these viruses out.

There are three major types of viruses known. It is best to be aware of these types, and know what steps can be taken to protect your computer against them.

One is the standard computer virus. These ride hidden in a normal program, and activate only when the program is accessed. The virus then spreads through the system by copying itself and infecting other programs it detects. Any good security system is primarily geared towards protection against generic viruses. However, new viruses are constantly being created by hackers, so the best defense against this is to find a security system provider that also remains up to date with the latest known types of viruses.

The second type of virus is the Email virus. These are viruses that reach your computer by hiding in an email. Once you access the email it activates the virus and proceeds to replicate by sending copies of itself to everyone in your address book. Email service providers have built in virus detectors to monitor incoming email, but the best defense is awareness. DON’T open emails from unknown sources, and in case you get an email from a trusted source with a title that looks suspicious, try confirming with the source if he or she did send the email before opening it.

Worms are the third type of security threat. These are computer programs that have the ability to copy themselves from terminal to terminal across the internet or even within a closed system like a local area network. Unlike regular viruses, worms copy themselves directly onto a computer without needing to ride hidden inside a file. Also, worms are dangerous because they are programmed to seek out specified loopholes in computer security programs, and use those weaknesses as an entry point to get into a system. Firewalls are the best means to deal with worms. Firewalls are programs that block out attempts by unknown computer sources to access your terminal.

Since almost anyone and everyone has access to e-mail, viruses now have the ability to infiltrate both your office and home as this popular form of communication is being used by virus writers to spread electronic worms and viruses.

According to a study conducted way back in 2003 by the Internet Security of Semantec, viruses and worms that were spread using instant messaging services have increased to 400%

The instant messaging worms

Currently, the worms Bizex and Jitux.A are now targeting the instant messaging services of MSN as well as ICQ.

The worm Jitux.A is currently spread by infiltrating the contacts of a particular user?s IM. However, the Bizex worm has an intent that is more malicious, it sends a user a link to a particular web site that have already scanned the computer you are using for any electronic finances or payments.

Since it was discovered, the site has since been shutdown, however it is yet to be known the quantity of data they have already collected, albeit maliciously.

Do not be complacent

Though the major virus threats have already been discovered, this is no time to be complacent. Threats could still continue. As more users know better on how to stop traditional virus attacks, writers of viruses will continually look for other targets.

This is according to CyberScrub president, Bill Adler. And the soft target are currently instant messaging services.

Yet do not panic

Relax, this is still no reason for you to throw away your instant messaging service. Be aware that many viruses in IMs do not automatically propagate.

Usually, clicking a link or downloading an applet is hat would require to download a virus or a worm.

Avoiding these threats require that users constantly be vigilant and always do safe computing.

Do not trust friends

Or at least those messages sent by friends. Unbeknownst to your friend, he could be sending you a link that would lead you to a particular site (under the guise that it was supposed to be a picture of someone you both know) which would get you to download a software. When actually, it is a Trojan horse that would automatically install spyware and adware on your PC and easily distribute itself.

It s during these moments that an anti-virus software would be a big help.

Another thing that should not be trusted are games, one such example is a game called Osama Found that is spread via instant messaging.

It is spread via instant messaging via a link inviting users to download the game wherein the idea is to pretend that one is catching Bin Laden.

Those who clicked downloaded the game and BuddyLinks which were able to grab all the user?s contacts in IM and sent the same message link to everyone.

A lot of software could help

Thankfully, there are security and anti-virus software that could extend the coverage protection of instant messaging services.

Zone Labs, for instance, has released IMSecure. It is a program that makes it possible to encrypt messages as well as block hazardous and dangerous URLs.

The anti-virus software of Norton by Symantec has in its feature the scanning of instant messages as well as McAfee. These software programs are able to remove different viruses from any files that were received through instant messaging.

The good thing about the mentioned software is that it works. Based on the tests conducted by PC World, a lot of anti-virus software have been able to catch known worms and viruses that were sent via instant messaging.

However, it is also a fact that there is really no defined anti-virus software program that could one hundred percent prevent all known attacks from viruses or worms.

Vigilance is always the most excellent defense.

All in all, one way to prevent threats from worms and viruses is by not putting your whole trust to any content that you receive from the internet especially through instant messaging.

Prevention is always better than a pound of cure. Being wary of any files sent through IM is not being paranoid, it is being safe rather than sorry later on.

From purchasing to selling to paying bills, one really need not go out as any transaction could actually be made thru the computer thanks to the internet. Unless of course fresh air is also available online.

However, the computer’s flexibility has also allowed it to be vulnerable to attack from one of the most potentially harmful entities around: the computer virus.

The instance you detect that the computer you own is infected with a virus, the following are helpful tasks that you could do to protect it further and to also avoid other personal computers to be affected as well.

Use disks from trusted sources

You do not allow your shoes to tread on any mud puddle or any dirty floor, or your shirts to be easily vulnerable to stains or dirt. Therefore, it is always best to treat your computer the same way.

As much as possible, always be careful with what kind of disks as well as files enter your computer. Either the files were downloaded from the internet or the disks borrowed from friends, it is always best to make sure where they come from or to scan them in order to avoid any potentially harmful viruses.

It is also not a good idea to download any files from internet sites that are unsafe or insecure. Also, do not immediately open attachments received via e-mail.

Take a good look on the subject of the email as well as where the email came from. Be wary even if the email was from your contacts.

Fortunately, there are now facilities in email services that immediately scan attachments prior to opening them. Email subjects that are vague and from senders that have gibberish email addresses must arouse your suspicion.

Included in this group are those emails that aggressively claim that you should ? Check out this message!? or that you should ?See the following pics!?

Acquire a program that fights viruses

Fortunately, there are a lot of anti-virus software programs that scan and eliminate viruses once they are detected. This allows anyone to safely and confidently share data and disks, the freedom to download any files from the internet as well as open any attachments received via e-mail.

When the virus hits

Fear not. As much as possible, relax. There is a way out of this predicament. All you have to do is to visit the web site of the manufacturer of your anti-virus software. They may have the latest software which, if it will not delete the harmful virus, could identify and detect it.

Search for a vaccine

The world wide web is available at your beck and call so you could search for any information you may need with regards to the particular virus that you want deleted.

By entering the virus name on the search engine, all information as well as vaccine may present itself.

Download, download, download

Be free to install as well as download any patches of software or programs that could help in eliminating the computer virus.

You could also try to religiously follow any of the instructions that you will find in order to manually delete the virus.

Do not rest on your laurels

Do not be easily convinced that once the computer virus has been deleted, the virus is now totally eliminated.

The best way to determine if the virus is completely destroyed is via running a virus scan. If the scan reports that no virus components have been detected, you can now relax.

Un-attach yourself from attachments

Caution must always be practiced once attachments have been received. The file extensions that one should be careful in opening are those that end in *.exe, *.doc, *.ppt or *.xls.

However, those that end in the following extensions such as: *.js, *.vbs should ? as much as possible ? never be opened.

All in all, every computer is vulnerable to be attacked. What one needs to protect your own PC is caution and preparedness to look towards the future and anticipate any potential attack prior to it happening. This ensures your computer to run as smoothly as it possibly could.