SamuraiNet Blog

While working on my web-spider class for an application I was developing, I did some searching for efficiency of spidering algorithms. I came across this comparison of the depth-first versus breadth-first search algorithms. http://www.leekillough.com/trapopt.html

Using a combination of Javascript and CSS, it is possible to enumerate parts of a user’s history. This site demonstrates this with a “finding your gender” based on which sites you have viewed. http://www.mikeonads.com/2008/…-history-estimate-gender/

The following two links provide a breakdown of file systems based on capabilities (the wikipedia post) and performance (the linuxgazette post.) I’ve been using these lately while re-installing a few machines and have found them to be more than helpful.

http://linuxgazette.net/122/piszcz.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_file_systems

Typo-squatting is a well known method of gathering data or presenting spam-sites. This article from TechRepublic gives a few methods for protecting against such a threat. http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/security/?p=543&tag=nl.e036

This is a handy little web application that will generate your .htaccess file to restrict access based on what country the IP address is from. http://blockacountry.com/htaccess.php

If you are a programmer anything I like I am, you are constantly trying to find ways to better yourself or keep skills sharp. A friend of mine showed me this set of exercises designed to help keep things fresh. http://codekata.pragprog.com/2007/01/code_kata_backg.html

Restrictive passwords make cracking more difficult by requiring that users use a wider range of characters; however, can restrictive password policies actually decrease time required to crack? This blog goes into the math behind it. http://lukenotricks.blogspot.com/2008/03/more-on-counting-restrictive-password.htm

Mozilla has a new campaign to break the world record for number of downloads in 24 hours. They have even gone to allowing people to pledge downloads, to be sure they accomplish their goal. This is an interesting marketing campaign. http://www.spreadfirefox.com/en-US/worldrecord/

In a previous post (America’s Cyber defense or lack there of) I pointed out problems with foreign hackers and our government. Here are two articles as a semi-continuation of the saga. http://www.scmagazineus.com/Potential-security-breach-by-China/article/110790/ http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/06/04/stories/2008060451781200.htm

If you are considering being in the IT field or are looking to hire new IT staff, this article is well worth a read. 30 items that IT staff should know. I don’t agree with all 30, but the list itself is something to be looked at and will help you evaluate yourself or potential staff. http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/06/02/23FE-how-to-fire-IT-staff-skills-list_1.html

After battling with an .htaccess problem all day long I ended up at this article. It didn’t solve my problem, but is a great source of information on all things .htaccess. http://perishablepress.com/press/2006/01/10/stupid-htaccess-tricks/