Thom Heemstra's blog

Importance Of SSL – Securing Data Sharing

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What is SSL?

As website owners and IT professionals, I am sure you are well aware of SSL. But just in case, God forbidding you don’t, here’s a brief intro. SSL i.e., Secure Sockets Layer is a security mechanism that is devised to secure the transmission of data between the website and the end user. More specifically, the aim of Secure Sockets Layer is to secure the personal information of users such as your credit card numbers, social security numbers and your login details which are prone to attacks from hackers. [Read more…]

What you should know about Let’s Encrypt

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Let’s Encrypt is a Certification Authority (CA), which makes it easy and free to receive TLS / SSL certificates via an automated system called certbot, thereby allowing the use of an encrypted connection HTTPS. At the moment, the service is in beta test and receive a certificate in a fully automatic mode, it is possible only when using a web server Apache. The idea is simple: download and open to web server with a single command code request and install the certificate and configure it for use, everything is automated, like a boss! For example, let’s try to enable SSL on Apache. [Read more…]

IoT: Internet of Things – Security Concerns

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Internet of Things, referred to as IoT nowadays is a technical implementation of devices that are connected to the internet. The internet has taken over almost every aspect of our lives. With the low rates (€€) of connectivity and devices with built in Wi-Fi, it’s no wonder connecting devices with each other or to Internet is taking over the world. Anything with an on and off button can now have remote access through Internet. These devices range from kitchen and laundry appliances to wearable devices such as your watch. People seem to forget sensors that can be placed anywhere in the world, to protect dikes, sewer systems and road systems. In this article we’ll talk about applicances, but we’ll mainly look into the security concerns. [Read more…]

European Encryption Directive: What You Should Know?

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Ever since the bulk of communication and correspondence has become automated, cases of breaches and identity thefts have become a commonplace phenomenon. It has cost the end users their credibility, investor loyalty, and reputation. Cybercrime is a reality which the governments around the world have decided to kerb through the implementation of regular laws. The European Union has taken one such step in the form of Data Protection Regulation, or the European Encryption Directive. [Read more…]

New Google Safe Search: Securing Websites and Users

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Safe browsing has always been under discussion by programmers, social engineers and the users alike. Google has taken numerous remedial actions with Google Safe Search on making the search engine safe from various malware and phishing. Once Google flags the website to be insecure, the website will be removed from the search results. But as soon as the website is secure again, the warnings are removed and the website will be added to the search index again, then this annoyance resurfaces and vulnerable users are the sufferers in the end. [Read more…]

Releasing Information about Clients to Authorities

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A choice that you should consider!

Privacy has always been a basic right that has been appreciated and promoted by western societies. With the advent of the technological revolution, another Pandora’s Box of complications opened up with regards to the protection of privacy online.

Do you know the Internet and the widespread usage of email with traditional forms of communication all steadily being replaced with online communication, the need to define users’ privacy rights is becoming ever more important?

[Read more…]

Firefox sync server with ownCloud

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You might know what ownCloud is, that ownCloud is extremely easy to set up. This article is about Firefox Sync, the new service of Mozilla Firefox.

There’s a plugin available that creates a ‘wave’ server, that’s the protocol used to sync Firefox. Witht his plugin you’ll be able to sync firefox with your own server and your other devices.

This plugin enables you to sync your passwords, bookmarks and settings to all your devices that run Firefox (Android, Winodws, Linux and Mac OS if you will).

Steps

Here we go:

  1. Download the plugin (http://apps.owncloud.com/content/show.php/?content=155251) and put it in the app-dir (/var/www/owncloud/apps).
  2. Don’t forget to change the permissions (depending on your webserver, with me it was www-data:www-data with 755).
  3. Log in on your ownCloud installation and go to Apps (in the upper-right menu), enable “Mozilla Sync Service“
  4. Edit your own account and fill out your email address.
  5. Copy the URL that appears at the bottom of the page (see image)
  6. Open Firefox and go to sync settings (firefox-button->sync), choose ‘new account’. Fill out the details according to your personal page in ownCloud.
  7. Click Next.
  8. Magic

Adding other devices

After setting this up, you can add other devices, follow the instructions in this video to do so:

http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/video/?video=fx4-sync-instructions