By Hugh Garber -

Wow, here’s a sobering article by Baseline magazine that shares some scary details behind the massive increases in data breaches and identity theft in 2007.
Here’s a scary tidbit: Retail was the #1 affected industry in 2007 with 24 breaches affecting almost 100 million records. One hundred million records. 100,000,000 records. Yikes!!!
The “Top 25 Data Breaches of 2007″ includes two retailers whom I’ve given my credit card to, one financial institution that I keep money at, not to mention hospitals, schools and government offices. Double yikes…. This is personal!
I’m gonna go reread my blog post from February 12th on steps to prevent online fraud and identity theft. I’m pretty sure I gave some good advice on how to minimize my risk by being a aware person and surfing safely.

By Erik Small -

Our parent company, Ipswitch Inc., announced today that it has acquired Standard Networks, a Wisconsin-based company, and leader in managed file transfer technologies.
This is a big step for Ipswitch and a first in the company’s history. We’re looking forward to working with Ipswitch as they expand their file transfer solutions into the larger, enterprise market with Standard Network’s products such as MOVEit Central and MOVEit DMZ.
FTPPlanet will be monitoring the merge of the two companies and blog periodically on new WS_FTP and MOVEit product enhancements.
Ipswitch has posted a new page with more details, including common questions and answers. Click on the banner at the top of their website:
http://www.wsftp.com/
Here’s the full Press Release:
LEXINGTON, MA–(Marketwire – February 19, 2008) – Ipswitch, Inc.’s File Transfer division, the leading developer of file transfer solutions, announced today that it has acquired Standard Networks, a key provider of mission-critical secure managed file and message transfer products for the enterprise. For the past 15 years more than 3 million users in the SOHO and SMB markets have relied on Ipswitch WS_FTP®, the industry’s award-winning secure file transfer solution. With the addition of Standard Networks’ MOVEit solution, Ipswitch is extending its reach into the enterprise, enabling it to deliver substantial value in each segment of the file transfer marketplace.
The new Ipswitch file transfer offerings are raising the bar by providing the market with the most robust, secure and reliable file and message transfer capabilities available from a single vendor. Ipswitch customers now include nearly every company in the Fortune 100 and more than 80 percent of the Fortune 500. Ipswitch File Transfer division’s ability to bring a broad set of solutions to market enables businesses of all sizes to fully utilize their corporate data in support of their business rules and objectives.
“This acquisition is a key element in our division’s global go-to market strategy for file transfer solutions,” said Gary Shottes, president, Ipswitch File Transfer division. “Whether a customer is a single individual or a large, complex enterprise, we are now able to deliver simple, innovative and secure products and solutions that address customers’ current requirements, while anticipating their future needs. With this acquisition, Ipswitch has the broadest and most comprehensive set of secure file transfer offerings on the market today.”
Shottes added: “Our customers and our support of them are of paramount importance to us. We look forward to welcoming MOVEit customers into our family by offering them and the market a comprehensive set of MOVEit and WSP_FTP products. Our goal, as always, is to deliver to our customers the greatest file transfer value available in the market today.”
“The market for secure managed file transfer solutions is rapidly expanding up as more companies look at moving corporate data, while at the same time complying with new governmental and industry regulations for corporate data audit trails,” said Gartner Research Director, L. Frank Kenney. “This acquisition adds additional, viable solutions to the market.”
The acquisition enables Ipswitch File Transfer to extend its core competency and technology leadership to include broader capabilities in deploying secure and managed file and message transfer to the enterprise. The assimilation of Standard Network’s workforce into the Ipswitch File Transfer division adds significant secure and managed file transfer experience and knowledge to Ipswitch. All of the employees of Standard Networks will become File Transfer employees, and the company will retain its secure file transfer R&D center and its world-class technical support and direct sales operations in Madison, Wis.

By Erik Small -

Here’s a gadget that caught my eye: A night-vision, motion detection IP security camera! It’s just something interesting for Friday reading just before the weekend.
What is neat about this Zonet motion camera is it allows images to be transfered over FTP.
Check out the review here on GizMag.com:
http://www.gizmag.com/zonet-security-cameras-night-vision/8800/
“The cameras provide the option to record streaming video with sound to a hard drive, or schedule and upload images to FTP or send over email. Both cameras have customizable automated alert notifications.”

By Hugh Garber -

As promised, here are some sensible (and simple) steps you can take to prevent your personal information and data from falling victim to online fraud and identity theft:
• Be aware: Be conscious that criminals are trying to steal private data for financial gain
• Take inventory: Know what personal information is contained on files that are being shared electronically
• Determine sensitivity: What could the repercussions be if your personal info fell into the wrong hands
• Be smart…. Be safe: Know how personal information is being transferred and shared. Are security precautions being used by yourself and others?
• Don’t use email or Instant Messenger to share sensitive information!: Plain and simple – email and IM are NOT secure
• Keep it simple and secure: Set up easy, intuitive, secure processes for storing and sharing personal data
OK, so there’s my list and I’m sticking to it. I know that whenever I need to move sensitive information I’m going to rely of the WS_FTP Professional secure file transfer client.
WS_FTP Professional is tremendously easy to use, delivers super fast transfers, priced fairly, and most importantly, its got uber-strong security built-in such as 256-bit AES encryption for transfers over SSL and SSH protocol as well as SHA-512 file integrity checking, and integrated PGP file encryption so data is protected while in storage.

By Erik Small -

This is a basic poll to find out what File Transfer client you are using? And Why? Also, if you’re using WS_FTP, what version are you currently running?
Post comments here. We’d love to hear some comments!
Feel free to share details on your normal tasks and use of File Transfer. Happy Monday!
-FTPPlanet Team

By Hugh Garber -

It’s that time of the year again when I’m starting to gather all the information needed to fill out my tax return.
As I’m pulling all the data together I can’t help but think about how tax season poses a significant risk of identity theft due to the communication of private information between individuals like myself, accountants and even the government.
U.S. tax returns include all of the information data thieves need to perpetrate credit card and other fraud: Name, Address, Social Security Number, Employer, Bank Accounts, Etc.
People certainly need to ensure that their accounting providers are taking appropriate care. However, businesses (particularly small businesses such as small accountant firms) have an obligation to protect their customers’ private data.
Next week I’ll post some steps you everyone can take to help ensure that their personal information remains safe.

By Hugh Garber -

Every so often I get asked the question: “How do I transfer files from one server to another?”
I did a quick Google search and here is one of the MANY links that pretty much ask the same question about moving files (or even complete sites) between two servers.
For me, the easiest way to accomplish server-to-server transfers is to simply use WS_FTP Professional. One of the products most useful features is the ability to open multiple server connections at the same time and transfer files between them. It’s literally as easy as highlighting the files on server #1 and pushing the transfer button to copy them to server #2.

By Erik Small -

Ipswitch’s File Transfer Client-Server Bundle may be more bang than what our readers need, but we wanted to let our larger, corporate-level readers to know about Ipswitch’s bundled solution. It combines the client software, WS_FTP Professional with the easy-to-use secure WS_FTP Server.
By running both programs, it guarantees end-to-end security and gives administrators a simple way to monitor, track, audit, and control how data moves within, to, and from their organization. This ensures that the right people have access to the files and data they need when they need them – and that confidential information isn’t getting into the wrong hands.
Extensive information on the Client-Server solution can be found on the wsftp.com website:
http://www..wsftp.com/products/client_server_solution/

By Hugh Garber -

More and more people are learning how to create their own website. Simple, secure and inexpensive tools make this one-time overwhelming activity much easier and much more mainstream now than it was just a couple years ago.
Here’s a nice overview by Linda Roeder about how FTP can be used to help develop a website:
“FTP is something that can come in handy when creating a Web site. An FTP client is a program that allows you to easily move files from one computer to another.
In the case of creating a Web site, this means that if you create the pages for your site on your computer, either using a text editor or some other Web page editor, then you will need to move it to the server where your site will be hosted. FTP is the main way to do this.”
If you haven’t already tried the WS_FTP Professional file transfer client then give it a shot — it’s the best and fastest secure file transfer client you can get. Free 30-day evaluation.
Linda goes on to describing how to use a file transfer client:
“The left side of the screen are the files on your computer. Find the file that you want to transfer by double clicking on the folders until you get to your file. The right side of the screen are the files on the hosting server. Go to the folder you want to transfer your files to also by double clicking.
Now you can either double click on the file you are transferring or you can single click on it and then click on the arrow that points to the right side of the screen. Either way you will now have a file on your hosting server. To move a file from the hosting server to your computer do the same thing except click on the arrow that points to the left side of the screen.“

By Erik Small -

Ipswitch’s File Transfer Division posted a Limited-Time Special Discount on WS_FTP Professional.
If you’re in the market for a file transfer client, this is a fantastic offer for two licenses of their award-winning file transfer software.
Here’s the offer:
Buy a 2-pack license of WS_FTP Professional now, and get $20 off.
Use this link to purchase:
WS_FTP Professional $20OFF 2-PACK License