Profiling and Personalizing

Once a person have gained access to an E-Commerce site, profiling processes can occur that gather data on a person and the website behavior and choices, and build electronic profiles of the person characteristic and preferences.

User profiles are developed using profiling tools such as user registration, cookies files, website behavior tracking software, and user feedback.

These profiles are then used to recognize a person as an individual user and provide and provide the person with a personalized view of the contents of the site, as well as product recommendations and personalized Web advertising as part of a one-to-one marketing strategy.

Profiling processes are also used to help authenticate a person identity for account management and payment purposes, and to gather data for customer relationship management and marketing planning, and website management.
Profiling and Personalizing

What is Computer Hacking?

Hacking, in computerese, is the obsessive use of computers, or the unauthorized access and use of networked computer system. Illegal hackers (also called crackers) frequently assault the internet and other networks to steal or damage data and programs.

One of the issues in hacking is what to do about a hacker who commits only electronic breaking and entering: that is, gets access to a computer systems, reads some files, but neither steals nor damages anything.

This situation is common in computer crime cases that are prosecuted. In several states, courts have found that the typical computer crime statute language prohibiting malicious access to a computer system did apply to anyone gaining unauthorized access to another’s computer networks.

Hackers can monitor E-mail, Web server access, or file transfer to extract passwords or steal network files, or to plant data that will cause a system to welcome intruders. A hacker may also use remote services that allow one computer on a network to execute programs on another computer to gain privileged access within network.

Telnet, an internet tool for interactive use of remote computers, can help hackers discover information to plan other attacks. Hackers have used telnet to access computer E-mail port, for example, to monitor E-mail messages for password and other information about privileged user accounts and networks resources.

These are just some of the typical types of computer crimes that hackers commit on the internet on a regular basis. That is why internet security measures like encryption and fire walls, are so vital to the success of electronic commerce and other E-business applications.
What is Computer Hacking?

Software Suites and Integrated Packages

Software Suites and Integrated Packages
Software suite is the popular general-purpose application software. That’s because the most widely used productivity packages come with bundle together as software suites such as Microsoft office, Lotus Smart Suite, Coral WordPerfect Office, and Sun’s StarOffice. Examining their components gives us an overview of the important software tools that can be used to increase productivity.

Notice that each suite integrates software packages for word processing, spreadsheets, presentation graphic, database management, and personal information management. Microsoft, Lotus, Corel, and Sun bundle several other programs for internet access, E-mail, Web publishing, desktop publishing, voice recognition, financial management, electronic encyclopedia, and so on.

Advantages of software suite
A software suite costs a lot less that the total cost of buying its individual packages separately. Another advantages is that all programs use is similar graphical user interface (GUI) of icons, tool, and status bars, menus, and so on, which give them the same look and feel, and makes them easier to learn and use. Software suite also share common tools, such as spell checkers and help wizards to increase their efficiency. Another big advantage of suites is that their programs are designed to work together seamlessly and import each other’s file easily; no matter which program is being using at the times. These capabilities make them more efficient and easier to use that using a variety of individual package version.

Disadvantages of software suite
Of course, putting so many programs and features together in one super-size package does have some disadvantages. Industry critics argue that many software suite features are never used by most end users. The suites take a lot of disk space, from over 100 megabytes to over 150 megabytes, depending on which version or functions installed. So such software is sometimes derisively called ‘bloatware’ by its critics. These drawbacks are one reason for the continued use of integrated packages like Microsoft Works, Lotus e-suite WorkPlace, AppleWorks, and so on. Integrated packages combine some of the function of several programs-word processing, spreadsheets, presentation graphics, database management, and so on into one software package.
Software Suites and Integrated Packages

Access Control and Security of E-commerce

The essential E-commerce process is required for the successful operation and management of E-commerce activities. One of the processes is access control and security. E-commerce must establish mutual trust and secure access between the parties in an e-commerce transaction by authenticating users, authorizing access, and enforcing security features.

For example, these processes establish that a customer and E-commerce site are who they say they are through user names and passwords, encryption keys, or digital certificates and signatures. The

E-commerce site must then authorize access to only those parts of the site that an individual user needs to accomplish his or her particular transactions. Thus, individual usually will be given access to all resources of an E-commerce site except for others people’s accounts, restricted company data, and webmaster administration areas.

Other security process protects the resource of an E-commerce site from threats such as hacker attacks, theft of passwords or credit card numbers, and system failure.
Access Control and Security of E-commerce

Application Software for End User

Application software can be subdivided into general purpose and application specific categories.

Thousands of application specific software packages are available to support specific applications of end users in business support managerial, professional, and business uses such as transaction processing, decision support, accounting, sales management, investment, analysis, and electronic commerce. Application-specific software for science and engineering plays major role in the research and development programs of industry and the design of efficient production processes for high quality products.

General purpose application programs are programs that perform common information processing jobs for end users. For example, word processing programs, and graphics programs are popular with microcomputer users for home, education, business, scientific, and many other purpose. Because they significantly increase the productivity of end users, they are sometimes known as productivity software packages. Their examples include Web browsers, electronic mail, and groupware, which help support communication and collaboration among workgroups and teams.
Application Software for End User