HTTPS - HyperText Transfer Protocol over SSL (Secure Socket Layer)

HTTPS stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol over SSL (Secure Socket Layer). 

It is a TCP/IP protocol used by Web servers to transfer and display Web content securely. The data transferred is encrypted so that it cannot be read by anyone except the recipient.

HTTPS is used by any Web site that is collecting sensitive customer data such as banking information or purchasing information. 

If you are making a transaction online, you should make sure that it is done over HTTPS so that the data remains secure.

You can tell when a page is using HTTPS in two ways:

1. There will be a lock icon in the browser window pane (usually at the bottom).
2. The URL will say "https://" 

There are two primary differences between an HTTPS and an HTTP connection work:

• HTTPS connects on port 443, while HTTP is on port 80
• HTTPS encrypts the data sent and received with SSL, while HTTP sends it all as plain text

Most Web customers know that they should look for the https in the URL and the lock icon in their browser when they are making a transaction. So if your storefront is not using HTTPS, you will lose customers. But even still, it is common to find Web sites that collect money including credit card data over a plain HTTP connection. 

This is very bad!

 

HTTP sends the data collected over the Internet in plain text. This means that if you have a form asking for a credit card number, that credit card number can be intercepted by anyone with a packet sniffer. Since there are many free sniffer software tools, this could be anyone at all. By collecting credit card information over an HTTP (not HTTPS) connection, you are broadcasting that credit card information to the world. And the only way your customer will learn it was stolen is when it's maxed out by a thief.

There are only a couple things you need in order to host secure pages on your Web site:

• A Web server such as Apache with mod_ssl that supports SSL encryption
• A Unique IP address - this is what the certificate providers use to validate the secure certificate
• An SSL Certificate from an SSL certificate provider

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Google Website Optimizer

Google Website Optimizer, Google’s free website testing and optimization tool, allows you to increase the value of your existing websites and traffic without spending a cent. Using Website Optimizer to test and optimize site content and design, you can quickly and easily increase revenue and ROI whether you’re new to marketing or an expert.
 

How it works?

1. Pick a page you want to improve
Look at your page and pick something you'd like to try changing.
Maybe it's a headline or a description. It can be anything.

2. Create your experiment
Click + Create a new experiment below.

Choose the test type that makes sense for you.
Website Optimizer will guide you through each step of creating your experiment.

3. Need help?
For each step, you'll find instructions and tips on the right-hand side of the page.
You also have a Beginner's Guide.


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Recovering root password under Linux with single user mode

It happens sometime that you can’t remember root password. On Linux, recovering root password can be done by booting Linux under a specific mode: single user mode.
 
This tutorial will show how to boot Linux in single user mode when using GRUB
During normal usage, a Linux OS runs under runlevels between 2 and 5 which corresponds to various multi-user modes. Booting Linux under runlevel 1 will allow one to enter into a specific mode, single user mode. Under such a level, you directly get a root prompt. From there, changing root password is a piece of cake.
 
Some Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu for instance, offer a specific boot menu entry where it is stated “Recovery Mode” or “Single-User Mode“. If this is your case, selecting this menu entry will boot your machine into single user mode, you can carry on with the next part. If not, you might want to read this part.
 
Using GRUB, you can manually edit the proposed menu entry at boot time. To do so, when GRUB is presenting the menu list (you might need to press ESC first), follow those instructions:
 
- use the arrows to select the boot entry you want to modify.
- press e to edit the entry
- use the arrows to go to kernel line
- press e to edit this entry
- at the end of the line add the word: single
- press ESC to go back to the parent menu
- press b to boot this kernel
 
The kernel should be booting as usual (except for the graphical splash screen you might be used to), and you will finally get a root prompt (sh#).
Here we are, we have gained root access to the filesystem, let’s finally change the password.
 
As root, changing password does not ask for your old password, therefore running the command:
# passwd
 
will prompt you for your new password and will ask you to confirm it to make sure there is no typo.
 
That’s it, you can now reboot your box and gain root access again.

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How To Use Comments To Their Full Potential In Microsoft Word

Though Microsoft Word can sometimes feel like a big clunky program with too many bells and whistles, there are still some powerful time saving tools under its hood that you should know about. One of them is the Comments tool, which can be used sort of like little yellow sticky notes as you write, revise, and edit your research paper, manuscript, business report, or your next great novel.

Comments in Word can serve many purposes, but they work like writing comments in the margins of a paper document. But of course, using Comments in Word, like other digital technology, provides a lot more than putting pen to paper. You can include external links to web resources, internal links to different parts of a document, and set up a pre-addressed email link for your readers. You can also send your Word file to someone or a group of people who in turn can add comments to your document.

Adding Comments In Word 2011

In Microsoft Word 2007-2011, you can add comments (when you’re writing in the Print Layout or Web Layout views) by first selecting one or more words in your document, and then clicking on Insert > New Comment in the menu bar. Note, I’m using Word 2011 for Mac for this tutorial, but the Comment tool and features are similar for the PC version of Word as well.











You can of course access this tool in Word’s Toolbar, or what is called the Ribbon of Word 2010 or Mac 2011 edition, to create a new note using one single click. Or better yet, create a keyboard shortcut for the New Comment menu item (here’s how for Mac users).








When you add a note, you can write as much as you like in it. Your notes will appear as “balloons” on the side of the page where you selected to add the comment. All comments must be attached to piece of selected text. Comments are useful in the writing process for making notes to yourself, especially when you’re in the flow of writing and you don’t want to stop and check a fact or a resource. You can make a note to do it later.











You or another reader of your document could use Comments to ask questions, make suggested changes, or make references to other sources in your document. The comments you add don’t show up when you print your document.

When your balloon comments get too distracting or take up too much precious space on the screen, you can simply click View > Markup to hide them. Do the same to bring them back. You can delete comments one at a time by clicking the “x” button in the upper-right of the Comment’s title bar.

Mobile phone locked OR Not able to unlock mobile phone

When you place a new or a existing SIM card from another phone provider into a different cell phone, it asks for a Security Code and you don't have it with you. This means that a mobile phone is locked to the original mobile phone provider.

You need to contact this mobile provider to ask for the unlock code (Security Code) for this phone.
For this you need to provide proof of ownership etc.

Following are the possible action items you may do, when you come aross the above situation:

1) Get security code/restriction code to unlock the cell phone from the current cell phone service provider.

2) If your phone provider does not help you then this WEB site it provides security codes for a small price.
http://www.mobileunlockstore.com/?gclid=CKDb2_y2558CFSlJagodxBkDHw

3) Try this WEB site also - UnlockFree http://www.unlock-free.com

4) You can also try this WEB site : http://www.mobileunlockguide.com/mobile-phone/

5) For Nokia phone - try this WEB site too : www.unlock-free.com/nokia-master

6)The IMEI number is unique for each mobile phone. The number is printed on the label under the battery.
You can also get the IMEI number by entering this on your phone
*#06# It will then display your IMEI number and you may also get a unique global serial number. Your IMEI number should be 15 digits.

Also read post on PUK information

Outlook 2007: How To Use Voting Buttons in a Message

You can use the Voting Buttons to get responses from a group of colleagues to see what the majority of them are leaning towards. This comes in handy when getting feedback for a meeting date and location or for figuring out where everyone is going to meet after work.

Outlook tallies the votes for you so that they can easily be assessed.


To Insert Voting Buttons into your Message:

1. Create your New Message.

2. Select the Options tab.

3. Select Use Voting Buttons.

4. Choose the voting buttons you wish to use from the four options provided (Approve; Reject, Yes; No, Yes; No; Maybe, or Custom).











5. Make sure your message is the way you want it, including the question or statement that is to be voted on. Make sure you have included the proper recipients for the email message.

6. Click Send.


The recipients of your message will notice a highlighted line of text (vote by clicking Vote in the Respond group above) showing up above the From line in the email. By clicking Vote, they will be shown the voting options to select from.









After they select the desired voting option, a confirmation prompt will appear showing their selection and giving them the choice of sending the response or editing the response before sending.


Getting a Tally of the Votes:

You will receive the replies to your message with the selected voting option in the subject line. You could tally the votes yourself, however if you sent the message out to a large number of recipients, this could be rather time consuming. A better method is to let Outlook tally the votes for you.

1. Go to your Sent Items.

2. Open the message that had the voting buttons.

3. Go to the Ribbon.

4. In the Show section, select Tracking.

You will see the reply totals followed by a list of the individual votes.








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