Avoid using WiFi for a few weeks #KRACK

Internet & website information from HelloSpace.Me

Recently, it was discovered by security researchers that almost every single WiFi is vulnerable to breach. Basically, Key Re-installation Attack (KRACK) is possible for a hacker to act as ‘man in the middle’ by spoofing a local WiFi hub, so all your WiFi traffic will go through his (or her) computer, before going onto the real WiFi hub. The affected WiFi hubs use the WPA2 security protocol.

Normally, you should be protected by using https (the green padlock SSL certificates) on websites. SSL certificates should encrypt your username and password, making them invisible, but the KRACK vulnerability removes this protection.

Microsoft has already released a patch on their Windows 8 and 10 computers. If you don’t have automatic updates turned on, do it now. Google has announced that Android devices won’t be updated until the 6th November. Android users are advised to turn off wifi until the update is provided. Various other Linux devices will be updated in the near future (check your specific vendor). It is unknown if and how Apple iOS and Mac products are affected; Apple has not released specific information.

In the mean time, it is prudent to avoid using WiFi until you are sure your device has had this patch provided. Regarding your home and office WiFi router, check with your vendor for patches and updates. It is possible that using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) will keep your data and traffic encrypted, and probably protected. There are many VPNs, and these are available on mobile devices as well. Otherwise, absolutely avoid public WiFi until you see specific information stating it is protected against KRACK. After all, it is in the public space where man-in-the-middle attacks work best.

More detailed information from Engadget:

11 October 2017

Discount Coupon for new members

Welcome to the HelloSpace.Me blog. We announce news and information, including your chance to get a USD$30 discount off your own website! No coding or tech skills required.

HelloSpace.Me is a leading provider of websites for educators and lifestyle industry in Asia. We believe we’re the best, because we provide the easiest way to set up your own, powerful, fully-functional website, easily, and without the need to know coding. We are native-English speakers based in Nagoya Japan, but our servers are located in Switzerland and protected under Swiss data and privacy protection laws, which is very important for protecting students’ futures.

Academics and dedicated teachers need to have their own professional, ad-free, web presence. Set up a WordPress blog and on it describe and display your teaching ideas and your research output, which make it easier to land that next job. Alternatively, use your own website to attract and support online tutoring. Use your own website to sell your hobby output, be it yoga classes, photography, commercial blogging, whatever.

How to claim

Step 1: Domain

First you need a domain (aka “URL” or “web address”). Our web addresses are competitively priced. Search for your perfect web address here. Also, see here for what “TLDs” (like .com .us or .net) we offer.

Step 2: Choose your web space plan

To use your $30 discount, choose either the Premium, WordPress, or Lite Plans, or the Diamond Package*. Most people choose the Lite Plan with Rapid SSL Certificate (for that green padlock security). Compare web hosting plans here.

Step 3: Claim & pay

You will be guided through the checkout process, where you can be offered other options. At the Review & Checkout stage (pictured) is where you enter to the coupon code: JPN2017 to get USD$30 off for the first year of your web space. Currently, we advertise in US dollars, we also support prices in Australian dollars, Japanese yen, and South Korean won. All payments via PayPal will be converted to Australian dollars.

Scroll down to see this:

Review & Checkout: Enter coupon code here, and press “Validate Code”

Then click on the friendly green Checkout button, where PayPal will securely process the payment for us. We do not see or store your credit card or other banking details. Afterwards, you will receive a bunch of emails. Importantly, in one or some of the emails you will need to click on “Verify” for security reasons. Read the emails, and follow the rest of the website setup process explained here.

Step 4: Verify

Make sure you read all the emails you get regarding the signup process. Some emails are directly from us, and some are from the domain registrar agency we use. Make sure you click on the “verify” links, so for security reasons, we can be sure we are contacting you, the true owner.

* The Diamond Package is specially for low-tech people. We purchase the domain on your behalf, manually setup a WordPress website, manually setup an email address for you, and give it all to you.

3 October 201710 October 2017

Coupon Code for #JALT2017

Welcome to the HelloSpace.Me, a leading provider of websites for educators and lifestyle industries. Here on our blog we have news and updates, including this special announcement.

For a limited time only, we are offering a very special discount to JALT members, especially those attending the KOTESOL and JALT 2017 International Conferences. Normal websites cost over USD$120/yr, plus domain (web address). However, we are offering a special discount for you. Get USD$30 off for the webspace for a one year subscription.

How to claim

Step 1: Domain

Step 2: Choose your web space plan

Step 3: Claim & pay

You will be guided through the checkout process, where you can be offered other options. At the Review & Checkout stage (pictured) is where you enter to the coupon code: JALT2017 or KOTESOL2017 to get USD$30 off for the first year of your web space. Currently, we advertise in US dollars, we also support prices in Australian dollars, Japanese yen, and South Korean won. All payments via PayPal will be converted to Australian dollars.

Scroll down to see this:

* The Diamond Package is specially for low-tech people. We purchase the domain on your behalf, manually setup a WordPress website, manually setup an email address for you, and give it all to you.

22 September 201720 September 2017

TGIF: It’s the GOLDEN HOUR & #Totoro!

It's TGIF; Golden Hour! Celebrate with HelloSpace.Me

This week’s TGIF image is from JapanesePhotos.Asia. They are running two campaigns, one is about Japan travel info, stories, and photo give aways on their Patreon project. The other is a cost-share photo shoot, perfect for startups and small businesses wanting to make their products and prototypes look international, and have an association with Japanese quality and excellence. There’s only 13 days left to get in.

This photo is a sneak preview of JapanesePhotos.Asia’s latest Patreon post coming out shortly or in an hour’s time. It’s about seeing the house from the iconic classic movie My Neighbour Totoro, a photo shoot done with local model Chiaki. This this image, and the full travel info at Patreon.com/ablyth.

Satsuki and Mei's house, based on the movie My Neighbour Totoro. — Satsuki and Mei’s house, based on the movie My Neighbour Totoro.

8 September 20177 September 2017

It’s Golden Hour :: TGIF

We’re slowly getting back into things after the summer break. We hope you had a great summer and didn’t get as badly sunburnt as Andrew did (hint: put sunscreen on the tops of your feet too). Here is yet another great photo to celebrate the coming weekend. If you have a photo you’d like to share, please drop us a line.

7 September 2017

WIN a FREE website with us and JapanesePhotos.Asia

JapanesePhotos.Asia has started a new project at Patreon.com/ablyth, where they will share:

1 new photo each week with a short story about Japan (you can keep the photo for personal use on your own blogs), and
Each month, a new travel guide entry, or
A photographic how-to (great for beginners and travellers)

This project is really new, and they have BIG plans for it. It is exciting, and will be loaded with travel advice, travel information, and photographic ideas to make your next big trip fantastic. Best part is: It’s super cheap AND you can join in the discussion. Most travel books provide information one-way. Here, we will build a community, and you can have your say on what we can do next. That’s right, if you want to know more about a place in Kyoto, and other people agree, we can take you there with our Patreon blog.

They’ve teamed up with HelloSpace.Me to make the launch of their new project even more exciting.

The competition

Want your own .com web address and website? Yes, you can be one of five people to win the first year of your own website FREE from HelloSpace.Me. To enter, simply Become a Patron to our Patreon.com/ablyth blog in September 2017 and you’re in the running. Winners will be announced both here, Patreon.com/ablyth, and at HelloSpace.Me/blog. The prize is over USD$130 of webspace and domain for your own website*.

You will get:

The Lite Plan with 3Gb webspace, easy one-click install of WordPress and many other web apps, upto 5 email addresses, and more (see the Lite Plan here).
Domain registration (for your own web address) choose a name with one of the following TLDs: .com .audio .ca .cn .eu .nagoya .net .nl .nz .one .org .pro .ru .space .tokyo .uk .us (USD$20/yr limit).
If you prefer a different TLD like .blog .me or .photo then you will still get the 3Gb webspace free, but you will neet to pay for the domain registration (web address registration) yourself. Full list of TLDs is here.
Choose your web address / domain registration at: https://hellospace.me/host/index.php.
Cost of renewal after the first year is: domain registration plus Lite Plan fees (current discounted cost: USD$60) plus taxes.
Winners to be announced 1st October 2017, and will be chosen at random.
Follow JapanesePhotos.Asia on Twitter.com/japanesephotos Instagram.com/japanesephotosasia Patreon.com/ablyth
Follow us on Twitter.com/hellospaceme.

Best of luck

* Based on normal industry prices: https://hellospace.me/about-webhosting/compare-us/.

25 August 2017

TGIF: Summer Holidays

We’re about to wrap up our summer holidays and get back into the thick of things. We’ve had a great time, including some adventures around the place. We hope you had a great summer, too. Enjoy every last drop of it while you can.

Friends having fun at a weekend getaway.

7 August 20177 August 2017

It was a great Extensive Reading World Congress. Last chance for discounts:

Andrew (me) was at the Extensive Reading World Congress, where I met lots of attendees, and had lots of great conversations with delegates. I had the chance to see Richard Day and Jennifer Basset give their wonderful presentations; I really wish I could have seen more.

We were offering the Lite and Premium Plans for USD$60 and $80 respectively, at HUGE discount for the Congress. Sadly, the prices have to rise, but we’ll hold off for a few days. Go to https://hellospace.me/host/cart.php to get your own website now. You will also need to purchase a year registration for your own web address, and we also strongly recommend getting an SSL certificate to protect and secure traffic, especially sign on / login pages.

Dr Jennifer Basset at the 4th Extensive Reading World Congress in Tokyo explaining benefits of extensive reading, and just how carefully they are crafted these days.

3 August 20174 August 2017

Win a free website bundle at the Tokyo ExtensiveReading World Congress this weekend

This offer is only for people at the Extensive Reading World Congress in Tokyo this weekend. Andrew from HelloSpace.Me will be at the exhibitor’s area all weekend. He can help current members with some tech issues, and help you win. There are three ways to win:

If you are the first or tenth person of the day (valid for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday before noon) you win! But first, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or Google+, share the link Andrew’s interview with John about job interviews and online reputations on your social network, or some other article you really like, and show us you have done it (cannot be deleted). Also, show us the web address you want (see below).
If you are the first or tenth person of the day (valid for Saturday, Sunday, and Monday mornings only) you win! But first, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or Google+, and share a link to HelloSpace.Me on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or similar with “I’m going to install ____ on my new website”. Of course, replace “____” with something like WordPress, a blog, Mahara, Moodle, Open Biblio, or whatever your plan is (cannot be deleted). Also, show us the web address you want (see below).
Be a social media influencer. See announcement here.

The prize

You will win The Lite Plan: 2017 with a free domain for one year. Webspace includes 3Gb of storage, up to 5 email addresses, and up to 5 database web apps like WordPress, Mahara, Invoice Ninja, Booked, and more (see the Knowledge Base for the list of web apps available). This is normally over USD$150/yr of value! Currently, the Lite Plan is discounted to $60/yr, but you get it for free for the first year, and then $60 for webspace and normal domain registration charges each year afterwards. Prices are subject to gradual increases. Details about the webspace: https://hellospace.me/host/cart.php.

Web addresses

Be sure to research your web address / domain first, and show us that it is available. You could try “yourname.com” or “yourname.asia” or “yourcodename.us”, whatever you like. See this article for web address ideas, and here to do your research: https://hellospace.me/host/index.php.

24 July 201712 July 2017

I’m a teacher. How can I make money from my own website?

We all feel a little entrepreneurial or have in interest in joining the gig economy for other reasons. Whatever your motivation, yes, you can make money from your own website. You can sell books, t-shirts, and even digital photos with web apps like Blesta (ask us how). However, HelloSpace.Me is primarily for the education community, and we know that every little extra penny helps.

Option 1: Use your website to create, cultivate, maintain, and manage your professional identity. Install a blog app (like WordPress or Serendipity), and post your classroom things and use it like an online textbook. Potential employers like that, and are more likely to choose you over other candidates who don’t. If you’re more academically inclined, use your blog to post your ideas, discuss topics you are reading about, and insights as your going about a research project. It builds a network around you, and again creates a reputation that future employers notice.

CC0 UnSplash, https://www.pexels.com/photo/meeting-pencils-macbook-notebooks-40120/

Option 2: Online teaching and/or billing private lessons. Advertise and promote yourself. Have a central location where potential students can find out more about you. Handout business cards with your own website on it, and potential students can find you and sign up for your English class, maths tutorials, or even your yoga classes. Use SiteBuilder to create a simple homepage, and easily install Dokeos for your online interaction (with webcam) app. Easily install and use Invoice Ninja as a payment gateway for students, and use UStream (how to make a private stream) or DaCast (how to make a private stream) to do live streams from your own home office. Or, just easily install and use Invoice Ninja and Booked to organise your yoga classes. Whatever your thing is, we have options and solutions. Ask us for suggestions.

To get the ball rolling, get your own domain (web address) and webspace with us, then you can install the apps mentioned above. All our apps are one-click install, and no coding needed. Currently, our prices are at over 40% until 9th August 2017. See “coupon” for possible more discounts.