In this mini how-to, I show you how to encrypt SSL certificate private keys from the command line using OpenSSL.
Why would you want to encrypt an SSL certificate private key? If you found this how-to by doing a Google search, chances are you already know why and you just want the command syntax. Nevertheless, I’ll briefly explain why you should encrypt your private keys. After the explanation, I’ll provide the command. …Continue reading » How to Encrypt SSL Certificate Private Keys from the Command Line With OpenSSL
Last week I commented on a Vancouver Sun story about how Shaw and Telus were planning to start charging internet users who go over their monthly data limit. In my commentary, I pointed out the practical pitfalls of trying to accurately measure an internet user’s actual bandwidth usage and I showed examples of how a rogue user could maliciously drive up your usage without you even initiating any traffic.
Perhaps other internet users share my concerns. On February 8th, the Vancouver Sun’s Gillian Shaw reported that Shaw has decided to suspend its plan to charge customers for exceeding internet plans, “in response to consumer outrage”.
You can read more about Shaw’s “about face” in its February 8th press release entitled Shaw To Engage Customers In Consultation Process On Internet Usage Allowances. Essentially, Shaw is going to consult with customers during February and March to get their opinions and ideas about internet usage limits. Until this consultation is complete, Shaw will not charge charge customers for going over monthly limits.
For a very persuasive argument against usage-based billing for internet, I invite you to read Stephen Hume’s story Gutenberg changed the world. The Internet can do it again, from yesterday’s Vancouver Sun. It’s more philosophical and less nerdy than my argument.
If you are a current Shaw customer, please contact Shaw and let them know how you feel about usage-based billing (UBB) for internet. Do it now before it’s too late! You should be particularly concerned if you are a Netflix user.
If you haven’t heard yet, Google and Microsoft’s Bing are in a bit of a cold war. Yesterday, Google posted results of a series of experiments that confirm their suspicion that Bing had been “copying” their top query results.
In short, Google temporarily created about 100 “synthetic queries”. These synthetic queries would be strings that one would never expect a user to type such as “delhipublicschool40 chdjob” or “hiybbprqag”. Google would then insert as a top result a unique and real web page that had nothing to do with the query. In other words, the non-nonsensical string did not appear in the page nor were there any other indications that this real world web page should have any association to the strings.
Google engineers were then given laptops with fresh installs of both Windows, Internet Explorer 8 and the Bing Toolbar. They were then asked to query for those same strings.
Within a short time, the contrived top results that Google had placed started appearing as top results on Bing for the same queries!
Now the million dollar question…
Was this a sincere form of flattery? A clever idea? An indication that Bing is a cheap imitation? All of the above?
Hit us up in the comments with what you think!
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