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ALERT! osCommerce is an online shop e-commerce solution that offers a wide range of out-of-the-box features that allow online stores to be setup quickly and is available for free as an Open Source based solution released under the GNU General Public License. osCommerce site owners, in light of the spike in website hacking, specifically osCommerce website's, it is extremely important to protect your business and your customers by upgrading your website software and installing all security patches provided by the distributor. Watch your server logs. Attempts to hack a website will appear first in your server logs as errors, usually searching for your database. Look for unauthorized access attempts. All e-commerce platforms are attractive targets for hackers. Reputable hosting companies notify their clients when their website's are at risk. The problem then becomes website owners that are not comfortable installing updates or cannot find the time to perform maintenance. If you are among this group of website owners we are here to help http://www.InternetMarketConsulting.com.

Protect your customers & credibility:

Do Not Store Credit Card Numbers
Monitor Server Logs
Promptly Install Security Patches

Alternative e-commerce solutions, that are not open source, often automatically install security updates for a specific period of time. These alternatives range in price from $1,000-$25,000 depending on their features. Another option is to hire a website maintenance company to perform regular maintenance operations, security checks and updates.

Google Wars - Battle of the Giants

Things are heating up between Google and Microsoft with the introduction of Bing, Microsoft's new search engine. The first assault, the introduction of Google Chrome, Google's first Internet browser, attempting to cut into Microsoft's Internet Explorer market. Microsoft has maintained a stronghold on Internet browser market for many years, it is estimated that 75% of Internet users browse the web with some version of Internet Explorer. Microsoft counters with Bing, successfully competing with Google's search engine and surpassing Yahoo, the second leading search engine, within the first month of it's public introduction. Now we hear that Yahoo has agreed to join forces with Microsoft to further weaken the search engine giant, Google, on the battle field. Google retaliates by announcing their newest weapon, Google Chrome OS, an open source operating system, competing with Microsoft's monster Windows OS. How do Google Chrome users rate Google's new browser? Does Bing deliver quality search engine results? What impact will a FREE operating system, in the personal sector, have on computing in the future? Imagine the possibilities...

Marketing In A Struggling Economy

Do we market in this struggling economy? ABSOLUTELY! There is a growing trend of online coupon shoppers according to a survey by Simmons/Experian Research and Coupons, Inc. Over 36 million American shoppers went online for coupons in 2008 an increase of more than 10 million from 2005.

Website marketing: Graphic designs, banners, print & web Of the 36 million online coupon shoppers, 61% have an annual income exceeding $60,000. The survey found that more than half (57%) believed companies and brands offering coupons care about keeping them as customers. Demographically, 29 percent of online coupon users are under the age of 35. Close to half are between the ages of 22 and 44. Online coupon users are 64 percent more likely to click on an ad banner or search listing if they know a coupon is offered.

"The economic downturn is generating a shift in coupon use and a long-term change in consumer perception and behavior," said Steven Boal, CEO of Coupons, Inc. "A new generation of shoppers is discovering coupons on the Web and printing coupons is becoming a regular part of a consumer's shopping routine."

In a struggling economy can we really afford not to market?

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