Quantity has a quality all of its own — Joseph Stalin

There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third works — Alan J. Perlis

Questions are easy, it is the answers that are hard

The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge — Stephen Hawking #RIP

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is — Jan L. A. van de Snepscheut

« Beware the Dark Forest »

In computer science, there are only two hard problems: cache invalidation, naming things, and off-by-one errors.

If it’s a good idea, go ahead and do it. It is much easier to apologize than it is to get permission — Grace Hopper

ASAP means As Soon As Possible, not Right &#^ing Now!

So dumb he can’t fart and chew gum at the same time — Lyndon Johnson, on Ford

« Badger, Badger, Badger! »

Nobody notices what I do until I don’t do it

« A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP — Leonard Nimoy aka Spock »

They can’t even. They lose all ability to can.

Poor planning on your part does not necessitate an emergency on mine. — Bob Carter;

Just because I disagree with you, does not mean I hate you. We need to relearn that in society.

We have met the enemy, and he is us.

He is all of them. And he is one of us.

You can never have enough of too much

Perseverance, the secret of all triumphs — Victor Hugo

A person is smart, people are stupid. — Agent K

Should I shut up now?

Code is poetry

Could’a, would’a, should’a … that’s me

We are so creative that when we have no problems, we invent them. — Augusto Cury

A person is smart, people are stupid

For all that they did, and for all they were never able to do, we remember. Lest We Forget

Society has become so fake that the truth actually bothers people.

In the end, you only regret the chances you didn’t take.

One of these days I’m gunna climb that mountain

A blind, mechanical, unrecognisable orgy that no pen could ever suggest

Working on it …

Dumb as a bucket of rocks

If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one? — Abraham Lincoln

The grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side of the fence, but there is also always cow shit in the grass somewhere

I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I’m going to blame you.

Blatherings

Security and the Internet

Jenolan 20 August 2014 0 927

I am not one for running around like a headless chook at the first sound of a threat on the internet or a virus, Â trojan et al.

Butt I am seriously concerned about something that has been around for a while but with some other happenings seems to be something to take more seriously. That is malware (or spyware) being inserted into traffic and then been loaded into your browser by third parties. Given that browsers and operating system are just as likely to have large security holes that allow things to happen it is not inconceivable that by inserting some JavaScript, Flash or other assets into a data stream that you would find your system infected with a number of nasty widgets.

Unfortunately it would seem that the US NSA is already doing this and if they can do it then any government can/will and it is not a stretch then for organised crime to infiltrate a main data centre and also inject traffic into information that you are downloading from a totally different site. See the article at IT News AustraliaÂ or just do a few google searches if you understand the way the internet works even a little you will have your breath taken away!

Ultimately, the message is clear: nobody, not businesses, governments, or individual users should ever use non-encrypted communications over the internet for any purpose be it web browsing, service or social media logins or webmail.

Read more:Â IT News Australia

Now, I hear the bloke up the back say that browser are ‘sandboxed' from your main system and that the risk is really slight. Well let's have a think.

You could be downloading some software from a trusted source for installation the file could be modified and/or replaced without you knowing.
Using security holes (nah there aint any of them are there!) your browsers behaviour could be changed so that private information is sniffed by the people wanting to know these things
Information could be easily planted onto your computer that could make you out to be a criminal, paedophileÂ files could be placed into your browser history easily which could then be discovered by a search warrant.
Your credit card numbers, including pins, CCV etc easily sniffed
Passwords .. well you do know that they go up to the remote in plain text by default huh

So for my sites I have purchased SSL certificates so that all communication is secure to/from Jenolan. Standard SSL certificates are now pretty cheap (try SSLS) from now on if a site aint secure you should think about telling them to wake up or don't visit them! Watch yah back.