Viruses, Spyware, Malware, etc., are not just a game for hackers anymore. As exploiting computers has become profitable, it has drawn in organized crime. Hackers finding new vulnerabilities now can sell them to the highest bidder. Systematic exploitation of the computer user has become a business model. Attacks on the average PC user described in three vectors; exploits (i.e. drive by downloads), stealth and social engineering (1).

Until recently, web sites were essentially untouched by these “PC end user” problems. Unfortunately, that has radically changed; it is the average SME (small medium enterprise) web site which is now the prime target. As a method of delivery of the problems to the end user, in conjunction with spamming, data mining and e-commerce transaction theft. Many web designers and web masters are unaware of their web site even being a cause of infection until they receive notification of blacklisting from a major search engine or spam database-reporting agency. A company’s commercial reputation is damaged for some considerable time if not for good.

A widely used but not well-publicised technique is “ultra aggressive SEO” activity, where either a webmaster or host applies “unethical dominance” within a web hosting / IP environment to illicitly gain the benefit of their neighbouring website’s client hits and visits. This is to artificially improve the “dominant” web site’s Google, Yahoo, MSN, Alexa, or Compete, ratings.

Yes there is!

CoreXVII™ “protects and serves” its clients from outside and “within”. Upon application, we carry out a complete web clearance analysis against existing web sites and IP addresses. These checks are for current and historical; blacklisting, spamming, and other web based problem areas.

CoreXVII™ originated from assisting webmasters and hosts in cleanup operations, so we are the first to understand that the individual web designer, webmaster or host did not cause the problems, and often unaware they are even victims. Therefore as a community service if we perceive a initial problem restricting entry to CoreXVII™ we will provide input on what the problem is and any recommended resolution.

CoreXVII™ also constantly checks for any perceived negative web activity from within. Any spam or fraudulent activity from within is immediately paused until resolution, and attempted persistent activity will cause an immediate CoreXVII™ lockout and loss of service. Let us call it a “neighbourhood watch”.