GMail Defaults to HTTPS access

Max - The IT Pro — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:40:56 +0000

[Gachie, Kenya]
AFTER THE FRACAS with the Chinese about Google’s refusal to filter its search results behind the “Great Firewall,” they decided to give its millions of users worldwide HTTPS (HyperText Transmission Protocol Secured) access by default. What does this mean? Well, all of your data communications between GMail’s servers and your computer is encrypted so that anyone eavesdropping will say, “what the heck is this useless gobbledygook?” Once again, Google takes the lead against its rivals (Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, et al) where it matters the most.

Since we’re talking about SECURITY, I’d suggest you take a peek at the OpenBSD project that’s based in Western Canada. It’s an open source Unix-like Operating System (O/S) that’s hailed by many as the MOST SECURE O/S on the planet. It shares a lot of similarities with the NetBSD and FreeBSD projects (which came to life from some of the greatest Computer Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley…BSD = Berkeley Software Distribution), but focuses fanatically on SECURITY. Heck, it’s almost IMPOSSIBLE to hack into a computer system running OpenBSD. Hackers just move on to something that’s a lot easier to compromise — like Windows. Oh, isn’t Puffy, the OpenBSD mascot, a cutie? Don’t mess with him though…he’s armed and dangerous — to hackers. Not even the CIA, FBI or NSA can hack into an OpenBSD system!!!

BTW, the US government secretly envies China for its tight control over its “citizens.” Don’t think for one moment that CIA/NSA/FBI attempts (Carnivore, Echelon, Clipper, et al) to invade your privacy is a laughing matter. The majority of Westerners are so fuc#ing naive most of the time simply because they “elect” their leaders. After watching The Obama Deception documentary (download it for offline viewing via ClipNabber) on YouTube, I really don’t know if “democracy” is all it’s crack up to be.

Related Links:

It’s Crunch Time in Nairobi

Max - The IT Pro — Mon, 29 May 2006 18:59:00 +0000

I’m back
Well, sorry for taking the past few weeks off folks. But it’s crunch time for the eBusiness web portal that I’m part owner of, and we needed to get things developed here and there plus add more content to the site. Most importantly, I got my pal Robbie (aka the download whore) in Ottawa (Canada) to grab me a GoDaddy.com TurboSSL certificate so that we can encrypt all data traffic between our web server and the user’s web browser.

Got protection?
Just as you need to protect yourself when going under the sheets with your “friend(s)”, it’s extremely important that you, the web surfer, are protected in cyber space when exchanging information (passwords, user names, bank account info, etc.) with strangers (web servers). Why? Well, when you send your data unencrypted over the wire, it could be intercepted by anyone sniffing your network. In the case of our new web startup, I wanted to make my users feel right at home, and not have any aprehensions with signing up. Also, residents in Africa are not too trusting with this sort of stuff, so encryption was a must have feature.

BTW, if you want to see 2 examples of the correct use of browser SSL encryption, take a look at 2 banks I deal with for online banking: TD Canada Trust and President’s Choice Financial. Just remember that https shows up in the browser address bar instead of http when you need to send vitally important (or secretive) data to the computer on the other end of your Internet connection.

Gotta jet!
Oh well, it’s time for me to hit the sack! I have a meeting with a wireless data provider tomorrow who’s service offering just might shake up the broadband market here in Kenya. If so, I want a piece of the action by starting up my very own wireless ISP with them providing me with the infrastructure to do it. Why? Well, DSL service down here literally sucks. And boy do I hate monopolies. Just take a peek at the first blog entry link below to see why I get annoyed so easily with telecom sharks. The second link clearly illustrates how customer service appears to be a foreign concept in said industry.

* Telkom South Africa: Can a Company be this Hated?
* Tracking Jumbo Elephants with PostgreSQL, Flashcom sucks, Shirky rocks

Sweet dreams.

Max The IT pro [versatile]» web security | Max The IT pro [versatile]

GMail Defaults to HTTPS access

It’s Crunch Time in Nairobi