Are Web-based Applications Right For You?
by Patricia Jordan

Web-based applications or webapps are applications that are accessed through web browsers over the Internet or an intranet. They are increasing in popularity as they are updated and maintained without distributing and installing software on computers. Webapps are used to implement calendars, e-mail, information managers, online retail sales, online auctions, spreadsheets, weblogs, webtops, word processors, and many other functions.

Webapps allow you to access data from anywhere 24/7, and reduce overhead costs for system maintenance. Parts of a web application can be hosted in different locations on multiple machines to prevent server overload. Application security can be centrally managed. Depending on the type of application, users pay a monthly or yearly fee for use of a software application without having to install it on a local hard drive. A company that provides this type of service is known as an application service provider.

Google Docs & Spreadsheets
Google Docs & Spreadsheets (docs.google.com) is a popular resource for free webapps. With Google webapps, you can create basic spreadsheets and documents with bulleted lists, columns, comments, formulas, fonts, tables, and more. Google accepts most file formats, including DOC, XLS, ODT, ODS, RTF, CSV, and HTML. Files can be saved to your computer in a variety of formats and are automatically saved to Google’s servers to prevent data loss.

Google allows you to share files by providing a list of e-mail addresses for people with whom you wish to share a file. You send an invitation via e-mail to access your document or spreadsheet. Anyone who has been invited to edit or view a file can access it upon signing in. Files can be viewed and edited by multiple people in real time and can be organized by dragging and dropping a document into a folder or folders. Files can be posted to your blog or published online as a web page that can be viewed by a few people or the world. Google adheres to the US Safe Harbor privacy principles. For more information visit www.export.gov/safeharbor.

Has your browser been hijacked? If your computer’s Internet browser suddenly changes as to how and what is displayed when you surf the web, then you could be a victim of a “browser hijacking.” Hackers use this common form of online attack to take advantage of improperly secured systems to install malicious software that can monitor your Internet use, build a profile of your habits, and impede your computer’s performance. Other common indicators of a hijacking include the inability to navigate to specific websites for security and anti-spyware software, multiple pop-ups, redirection to a variety of unsavory sites, and new shortcuts that appear on your favourites menu. These attacks differ from spyware attacks in that victims usually have not downloaded a program, but have inadvertently allowed the addition of a web toolbar or a change in home-page settings. Some steps that can be taken to protect a computer from these attacks are: installing a firewall and antivirus/spyware software using automatic software updates installing the latest version of your browser using the “Trusted” sites zone.

Patricia Jordan is the CBABC Web Manager. She welcomes your comments, questions and suggestions. Tel: 604-646-7861 E-mail: pjordan@bccba.org

This article was published in the October 2007 issue of BarTalk. © 2007 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.