CompTIA SSL Certificate Error
May9
Going to https://support.comptia.org gives the following error. You would think that the organization that certifies computer security would have SSL certificates figured out…
First page visit test
March31
This page displays the first time any page on www.matthewstevenkelly.com is visited, when the below code is enabled. I have it disabled right now, but if you would like to create a landing page on your site using javascript, simple add the code below to your page <head> and replace the url= with your sites landing page. You can enable this on an entire site by adding it to the <head> of every page, or just add it to a single page. It uses cookies to detect if the site has been visited before.
<script language=”Javascript” type=”text/javascript”>
<!–
function GetCookie(name) {
var arg=name+”=”;
var alen=arg.length;
var clen=document.cookie.length;
var i=0;
while (i<clen) {
var j=i+alen;
if (document.cookie.substring(i,j)==arg)
return “here”;
i=document.cookie.indexOf(” “,i)+1;
if (i==0) break;
}
return null;
}
var visit=GetCookie(“COOKIE1″);
if (visit==null){
var expire=new Date()+60*60*24*30;
document.cookie=”COOKIE1=here; expires=”+expire;
url = “http://www.matthewstevenkelly.com/blog/random/first-page-visit-test.html”;
if(document.referrer!=url){window.location = url;}
}
// –>
</script>
CSV Test
February4
Test file: 1.csv
strlen($ins[1]); // 9
strlen(trim($ins[1])); // 7
$w = preg_replace(‘/[^0-9\.]/Uis’, ”, trim($ins[1]));
strlen($w); // 4
echo $w; // 1.02
echo is_numeric($w); // TRUE
floatval($w); // 1.02
Picture Perfect Private Information
December18
Remember that picture of my dog that supposedly only my friends can see?
Now imagine that private (but not really) image had all kinds of information in it, like what could be shown in the picture below. Or imagine if it was taken with a new smartphone camera that stores personal information like my location in the photos…
Windows Vista & Windows 7 have a link on the detail tab of every picture property labeled “Remove Properties and Personal Information”. You can select one, or several images at a time. If you are posting a picture online, that you want to keep some form of privacy with, I would suggest using this built in Windows feature.
And for all you Micro$oft haters out there 
MAC OSX and Linux both require third party software to remove this personal data.
Tired of credit card offers?
November10
I read this sentence about unsolicited credit card offers and laughed “Opting In: Most consumers prefer to continue to receive offers that may interest them.” (source: http://www.experian.com/credit-education/opting-out.html)
Do people really sign up for credit cards offers they receive unsolicited? Either way, an effective way to control what direct mail you receive (as best as you can, nothing will ever stop it) for five year periods is to register with DMA Choice.org: https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/member/home.action
They have a pretty good tutorial on the hows and whys of direct mailing as well which I found interesting: https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/static/learn_more.jsp
Where is your personal information online?
May31
Your personal information, whether you have social media accounts or not, is all over the internet. Below are a few places and how to remove yourself. Remember, that if you have family members living with you, you may want to remove their information as well.
Address Information, etc:
- WhitePages.com, for instructions on how to remove yourself, click here: http://www.whitepages.com/privacy_central#6. Basically just search for your name and then click “Remove this listing”.
- PeopleSearchPRO.com, you can opt out here: http://www.peoplesearchpro.com/PSP.aspx?_act=optout
- USA Today article on removing your personal details from online databases: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/2006-10-05-database-info_x.htm
Home Value and Property Taxes,etc:
- Zillow.com: http://www.zillow.com
I would certainly appreciate any comments as to other places to opt out of personal information being displayed to any internet user online!
Pretty please…
April26
…use my personal information to target advertisements!!!!
While browsing my YouTube privacy settings I noticed an option that states “Please use my account information to provide me with relevant advertising”. It of course is checked by default. I am torn between whether I am more amused with the wording of that default privacy selection or the “More Ads” button on Facebook. At any rate, as always, check your privacy settings on any website you have an account on.
I plan on leaving the YouTube setting checked, seeing as they do provide me a free service, and the more targeted their ads, the more ad revenue they are likely to get, which in turn will keep the content free for my listening and visual pleasure. However, the “Please use…” at the beginning of that check box still makes me laugh.
Figure 1. “More Ads” Facebook button
Figure 2. YouTube Privacy Settings
Check your privacy settings
January16
Think you should only check your privacy settings for sites like Facebook? Most other sites provide privacy settings as well. Those settings are most likely defaulting to sharing your information, so it is best to check and then update them appropriately.
Wells Fargo defaults “Allow sharing of my information among Wells Fargo Companies?” to “Yes” for example:
Chase website missing a feature
December6
I paid off my car in October. My Chase auto loan account is closed. It says “account closed” when I try to login at chase.com. However, during the first week of December, my bank account was charged a regular car payment. Apparently unless you cancel the auto pay feature on their website they keep charging you against your closed account. And then when you call them and ask them about it, they say the only thing you can do is send them a letter because since the account is closed, they have no way of refunding the money. Chase really needs to have a “feature” where they don’t continue auto pay on a closed account that has a $0 balance….
Viva la Vida
October24
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world
It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn’t believe what I’d become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world