Beware the Common Gateway Interface (CGI)!
Posted: 11/21/1998
Hello cyber-surfers! Today's topic is a serious one: CGI scripts. While these handy little programs, often written in Perl, let us do amazing things like count visitors to our site or process forms, they can also be a major security hole! A poorly written script can allow a malicious user to run commands on the web server. Imagine that! Always validate user input and be careful with what you pass to the system shell. Don't let your guestbook become a gateway for hackers.
Is Your Password a Secret? Keep it That Way!
Posted: 10/15/1998
It sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how many people use "password" or "12345" to protect their accounts. In this new online world, your password is the key to your digital kingdom. Don't write it on a sticky note attached to your monitor, and certainly don't share it with anyone over email! A good password should have letters AND numbers. For extra security, try mixing upper and lower case letters. This will make it much harder for someone to guess.
The Magic of SSL: What's That Little Lock Icon?
Posted: 09/02/1998
Have you ever noticed a small lock icon in the corner of your Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer window? That means the site is using SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer. This is cutting-edge technology! It encrypts the information sent between your computer and the web server. This is essential for any "e-commerce" site where you might type in your credit card number. If you don't see the lock, don't buy! It's as simple as that. These "certificates" are issued by trusted companies and prove the website is who it says it is. The future is secure!
Java Applets: Cool Animations or Security Threat?
Posted: 07/30/1998
Everyone loves a cool dancing animation or a fun game running right in the browser. That's the power of Java applets! But remember, these are small programs downloaded from a server and run on YOUR machine. While they operate in a "sandbox" that's supposed to limit what they can do, clever hackers are always looking for a way out. My advice? Only allow applets from websites you trust. You can usually configure this in your browser's security settings. Better safe than sorry!