Clear Skys

Archive for the ‘Top Tips’ Category

Tip - Test out the compression of your JPEG images on your web pages using this free online JPEG compressor tool at www. Chami.com.

Even pictures that I thought were pretty well down to there lowest possible size before they lose their clarity - were compressed another 10-20% using this tool.

I reduced the size of a customers slow loading Home page recently by 60% using this tool, adobe photoshop was managing about 40%.

All you do is enter a URL of a JPEG, and it produces 5 images of varying compression ratios, reductions of 30% were still looking good for some of the images I tested.

Its easy to use - so give it a try.

When starting with Joomla, consideration should be given to the security set up for your new web site. Here are our top tips to avoid if you want your web site taken over by hackers.

Always update to the latest version of Joomla for any security patches

You can subscribe to the joomla security teams rss feed here. The critical fixes are essential. Of course you need to ensure that the latest joomla installation works OK with all your extensions that you have installed - best to try on a test or development site that you have installed before updating your live site.

Change the default administrator login

When joomla is first installed the administrators user name is admin, this should be changed to something less familar from an admin user. Your admin password should also be a combination of numbers,letters and special characters - more than 10 characters preferably. Best not to use this username or password on any other web site that you are regsitered for.

Get a good SEF component

If a hacker know your site is a joomla site, this can make it easier for him to find vunrabilities and exploit them. A good SEF Search Engine Friendly URL component will help mask the components and the folder structure of your web site. Artio SEF and sh404SEF.

Beware 3rd party components and templates

Most 3rd party components are there to help you build a feature rich web site, but beware there are some extensions that could potentially leave your site open to a hacker. Always source your extensions from a trusted source and check for updates to that extension. Similary with templates.

Backup backup backup your web site

Your no doubt the one responsible for backing up your own site, it is unlikely to be the responsisbility of the web developer or hosting company. So backup up your MySQL database and all your web files. This is normally carried out via cPanel or there are some commercial backup solutions for joomla.

Here is my top 3 all time best widgets and advice on how to get the most from them

1. “Never install a widgety widget on your desktop” from the Keep your Life Simple Inc. Never ever ever use widgets on your desktop - desktops should be uncluttered and used for shortcuts to your top priorties and most used applications.
2. If you don’t live in Scotland then maybe just maybe the Weather widgets may be of some use. I don’t need a widget to tell me that it is going to rain - it is a given - thanks to global warming the rain clouds all seem to meet over the highlands of Scotland and then make there way down to the lowlands. A widget that can stop global warming….now that would be in the top 3.
3. “IBM is a joke” widget, any widget devoted to poking fun at IBM. eg. IBM’s latest version of the email and application system Lotus Notes - now includes the ability to add widgets - how far behind a trend can one company get. Stop talking to each other and your large enterprise customers and see what is happening in the rest of the world…..JAVA is dead get over it. Also to run said bit of software requires a high spec PC with at least 2GB of RAM…..it’s an email client…yikes. 

OF course this is a bit of fun, but in all honesty the widgets are just gimmicks and should be treated as such….but I’ve an open mind  - so any suggestions as to a productive business widget I’m all ears.