Category: Life: Work and Techy

It appears there is a new Mozilla Firefox based exploit around which (as these demos shown) can be utilised to practically run anything on your computer.

However, the reason I’ve added “sortof” is that Firefox doesn’t actually trigger the exploit itself – another browser (such as Internet Explorer) has to go to a URL starting firefoxurl:// which is then passed to the command line version of Firefox which then starts the exploit. Therefore, even if you just have Firefox installed (but not in use), you are at risk.

So how can you fix this? Secunia advises you to “Do not browse untrusted sites” (yep, like that is easy – especially with third party advertisements on “trusted sites”), and also to disable the “Firefox URL” URI handler. But how do you do this?

It’s reasonably simple:

Open Windows Exporer (not Internet Explorer) and from the Tools menu select “Folder Options” menu. On the dialog that appears select the “File Types” tab.

Now in the list of registered file types find the one that says:

“(NONE)” for extension and “Firefox URL” for file type

Select it and click on delete button to delete it.
Click on “OK” to close the “Folder Options” dialog.

If the delete button is greyed out, click it anyway, click [Advanced], [Remove], Sure? [yes].

As many of you may be aware, Google Analytics is actually based off the old Urchin statistical gathering systems (which was a commercial available stats package). However, the new version of Analytics has a “Bounce Rate” section – but what does this mean?

Via 123-reg, I came across Google bounce factor research data is in, I found a nice summary which basically means:

• The Bounce Rate is the rate that people leave your site for the one they were on previously (i.e. they didn’t find what they wanted on your site)
• Google actually uses this information to tweak the search engine rankings for your site (on the basis, the lower the bounce rate the “better” your site is)
• The overall bounce rate for the site and each individual bounce rates for each of your keywords plays a role.

Interesting – and it’s certainly one reason not to use Google Analytics (unless your bounce rate is non-existent), but in theory, it should help persuade people to build content rich sites which actually have the content on the page which the page is being promoted for (no more search for “car insurance” and ending up on adult only websites!).

Have a quick look at the Netcraft report of the web servers which are running the computer supplier eBuyer – on the 15th, 17th and 27th of June they were running on a 48k ZX Spectrum (cool) and in between those dates they alternated between a Commodore C64, CBM Pet, MSX Toshiba HX-10 and a CRAY (which was a really fast machine back in the 80s).

Memories…. Sigh

Continuing on my theme of free phone thingies (ok, this is only the second post out of what looks like to be two), I just thought I’d let people know that they can get free UK directory enquiries. Yes, apart from the BT Online DQ service and services such as 192.com, you can also get free directory enquiries over the telephone. Just call 0800 118 3733 (aka 0800 118 FREE) and listen to the short advertisement and then just ask the nice automated service for the number you require. It’s operated by 118118 so your mileage may vary….

Rich Skrenta (he of Open Directory Project fame) has blogged how code is our enemy. The following phrases in particular: “The more code you have, the more places there are for bugs to hide….The longer it takes a new employee to make sense of your system. If you have to refactor there’s more stuff to move around.”

These sound so true to me and I agree with Jeff that Smaller Code Is Better, but I’d prefer smaller, segmented re-usable code with comments over a large bloated undocumented mess any day!