Skip to content

Category Archives: Security / Privacy

Practical computer security and privacy related topics.

Tips for Prevention of Domain Hijacking

25-Dec-07

Domain Hijacking is defined by Wikipedia as "the process by which Internet domain names are stolen from the rightful registrant."  This sort of crime is not limited to large organizations.  An unfortunate example of domain hijacking is described by the victim himself, David Airey.  David describes the crime in detail on his post "WARNING: Google’s [...]

KeePassX: Open URL Function in Ubuntu Linux

09-Jun-07

The “Open URL” function does not work with the default settings for KeePassX in Ubuntu Linux. To make it work, go to Extras/Settings/Other tab and change the “Browser command” to firefox %1
Now when you highlight an entry and press CTRL + U, it will open a new Firefox window or tab.
Via KeePassX forum [...]

Huge Security Problem in AOL’s Login Mechanism

13-May-07

As if there weren’t enough reasons not to use AOL already. Now someone has figured out that AOL’s password system completely disregards any characters after the first 8. This makes it much easier to guess people’s passwords, which is an obvious security concern.
AOL’s Password Puzzler - Via Reddit

Man Kept off Flight for Book He was Carrying

25-Apr-07

It is plainly obvious that airport security has its head up its ass.
“He told me to step aside,” Godfrey says. “Then he took my book and asked me why I was reading it.”
Within minutes, Godfrey says, Philadelphia Police officers, Pennsylvania State Troopers and airport security officials joined the National Guardsman. About 10 to 12 people [...]

Automatic HTTP-to-HTTPS Redirect with Greasemonkey

09-Apr-07

Many websites have the option of using an SSL-encrypted version of their site. Google applications have this option, but HTTPS is not used by default. To use it you would normally have to manually correct the URL, which is very tedious.
To ensure that you are always using the HTTPS version of a site, [...]

Worst 10 Consumer Privacy Infringers

18-Feb-07

Here’s a great post by Business Intelligence Lowdown that lists the worst 10 consumer privacy infringers. I’m very disappointed to see many of the names on the list, although I’m not at all surprised. The lack of ethics and respect for privacy is very disheartening.
Top 10 Big Brother Companies: Ranking the Worst Consumer [...]

Andy Griffith on Eavesdropping

31-Jan-07

Someone at the Electronic Privacy Information Center figured out that this clip aired on October 30, 1967.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CvoC551i2E

Via EFFector 20.05

Export From RoboForm to KeePass

16-Jan-07

RoboForm is a fantastic program, but the fact that it doesn’t run on Linux is a major problem for me. KeePass seems like the best alternative, but it does not currently support a direct import from RoboForm. I have almost 140 passwords, many of which consist of 10-30 random characters. Typing [...]

Upgrade Your Router’s Firmware to Enhance Security

09-Jan-07

It is a good idea to upgrade the firmware on your router to take advantage of new features and bug fixes. Firmware is the software that runs the router. Most people are not aware that the firmware can be upgraded and don’t know why they should do so. It is likely that [...]

Unabomber’s Secret Code Cracked

02-Jan-07

Ted Kaczynski’s secret code has finally been cracked - a decade after he was arrested. The most memorable quote in the article comes from Bruce Schneier:
“it would not surprise me if this was the most complex cipher the FBI has seen since World War II.”
The irony is that Kaczynski was against technology and targeted [...]