Everyone on the World Wide Web today understands the need for web security with such long standing internet security firms as Norton and McAfee now household names in the world electronic security, however even the most powerful suite of internet security software is vulnerable without constant and timely updates to the software.

These updates are routine and should be installed in a timely fashion because of three basic facts of the internet, changing hostile programs, changing user programs, and evolving computer operating systems. Any one of the three facts listed above can nullify even the most sophisticated electronic security package if updates are not performed.

Hostile programs such as trojans, worms, malware, and adware are constantly being reinvented, redeveloped, modified and streamlined by hackers around the world on a daily basis for one major reason, to defeat internet security measures. Every electronic security suite depends on an electronic file that contains the identifying characteristics of hostile programs. As long as the characteristics , or definition, of a particular attack are on file, the security programs can filter the offending data out, however security programs that are not regularly updated will contain only the definitions of older programs and new electronics can and will penetrate security unmolested causing havoc.

Changing user programs also can necessitate a security update for two reasons. The first being user program associated vulnerabilities. Certain web-based programs can, when updates, accidently create loop-holes in internet security and only proper updates can allow the security software, and often the altered program, to recognize and defeat the program flaws.

The second way user programs can necessitate a security program update is when the modified user program, usually as a result of an upgrade to existing software or the installation of new programs to an existing operating system, can be attacked as if the program was hostile due to out of date definition information. Thus changing user programs necessitate security updates.

Evolving computer operating systems (OS) also lead to a need to upgrade security software regularly for no other reason than each OS change alters the fundamental electronic structure of a computer and sufficient changes to the structure of the OS will prevent the smooth operation of the security software and cause unexpected vulnerabilities in the web software.

Thus, it is critical to update the web security software on a computer to prevent hostile programs from being misidentified. Likewise to prevent the changing nature of modern computer programs to either neutralize programs security or otherwise electronic updates need be made. With changes in programs necessary updates need to be made to keep up. This especially true when discussing operating systems or OS.

When an OS is updated many different aspects of the electronic infrastructure change as well, damaging the interface between program and environment and thus downgrading the effectiveness of web security software. Thus, regular, routine upgrades to web security software are a necessity for any user of the World Wide Web both professional and personal.

With a web based enterprise the E-mail in-box largely replaces all other means of communicating with both clients and suppliers.

Web customers communicate with the web enterprise using email or email based shopping links and thus the faster a business responds to an email from a customer, the better the chance of favorable impressions. Each communication that is slowly replied to or remains unanswered for a good deal of time reduces positive word of mouth and thus decreases sales opportunities. To explore this relationship between email and profit it is necessary to explore the effects of word of mouth advertising in the small business environment as well as influence email has on the phenomena.

Word of mouth is the currency that builds the sales figures of any small enterprise. Large chain stores, often referred to as Big Box stores, have the benefit of large and extensive advertising campaigns that bring name recognition as well as customers right into and out of, the store front. Small enterprises on the web can get advertising inexpensively, or arrange for higher placement in search engine returns, but a more reliable means to acquire a solid reputation is customer word of mouth. A customer who is treated well will correspondingly recommend the service when another individual has similar needs, thus increasing customer base and profits.

A solid enterprise builds word of mouth by providing good customer service. Good customer service is delivered to electronic enterprises via email. Emails answered quickly and professionally provide assurance to the customer that the website that is being dealt with is professional and more importantly cares. A responsive email that recognizes the individual who sent it and gives a professionally worded response quickly typically builds up a good reputation. Good reputation builds up into good word of mouth. Good word of mouth results into more customers and most likely more sales. A poorly worded reply email, or worse a failure to return an email at all, will attract poor word of mouth and have the person to person referrals move to the negative, such that the word of mouth advertising costs the enterprise money and reduces cash flow. As a result, a small business owner should consider it a priority to answer business e-mail very quickly and very efficiently in an effort to produce positive word of mouth advertising.

Word of mouth and E-mail can be a wonderful business tool for small business operators. The E-mail mechanism is the fastest way for a E-commerce venue to gain or lose standing with the paying customer base. With the small budget of a typical small business mass media advertising is typically contraindicated thus making positive word of mouth extremely necessary. Good word of mouth advertising is quickly generated by a policy of rapid, professional replies to customer email communication and providing as positive as possible relationship with the customer base. Without good word of mouth, no small business will prosper.

Many website operators have a poor understanding of the Interest and how to legally host software, images, and other information content inside the United States. Most believe that the interest is similar to the myths of the Old West, a lawless frontier with few restrictions and even fewer enforcement agents.

However, website operators often fail to remember a critical portion of internet regulation, the DMCA or Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Each and every website hosted on a server that’s located in the United States operates under the aegis of the DMCA and operators need remember the DMCA restrictions on copyright and fair use. Website administrators who fail to yield to the restrictions of the DMCA face stiff criminal laws and sizable civil lawsuits.

The DMCA is in actuality a network of adjoining copyright laws that protect a myriad of possible website content ranging from simple images to the various video clips used by websites since time immemorial. According to the eight national and international laws that make up the DMCA no video clip can be used in a pay site without the written consent of the original copyrighting authority.

As a result, the simple placing of a short still image or video clip, or even a video game can end a website and place the website administrator in deep legal trouble. Likewise, the DMCA provisions block the usage of special software to decrypt existing media and prevent said media from being released on the internet or other media in the decrypted form. Thus, video webhosts and those websites that host image galleries and/or libraries need to locate and archive permissions for each image or video clip for which a fee is paid to view.

There is however, an exception to the DMCA in terms of video and image usage and that is commonly referred to as fair use. Students and educational institutions are allowed limited usage of copyrighted material for a very few specific reasons since 2010, in particular for educational use, for the comment or criticism of the original work from in an educational setting, or for noncommercial video presentations.

Likewise, the security software of video game material can be bypassed as part of a security test, otherwise the website and the website administrator are legally liable for content unless the security material is no longer obtainable due to the age of the video game in question.

In short, the DMCA or Digital Millennium Copyright Act bans the use of copyrighted video material, images, and digital game content without prior written consent unless very specific rules are followed. Failure to follow the specific rules of the DMCA can result in strong legal action and crippling legal costs as well as the dismantling of a website or ecommerce site. Many individuals would argue that given the size of the internet, the DMCA is more of a guideline than an existing web rules, but the DMCA does not consider stupidity a valid defense.