Fiddler is a useful tool for tracking http requests and responses. It’s similar to the Net tag in Firebug, except that it can be used to track all requests, not only browser-based ones.
For Ubuntu users, the recommended alternative is Wireshark. Wireshark is noted as being more powerful than Fiddler, but the focus will be on the features most commonly used by web developers for tracking.
Installation
Wireshark is found in the Ubuntu repositories, so simply search for wireshark in Synaptic, or enter sudo apt-get install wireshark
Usage
Under Applications > Internet, you will notice there are two options. Wireshark and Wireshark (as root). Run the second one (as root) as this gives you more data to track.
After wireshark has started, the process is straightforward:
Choose which network interfaces to capture traffic from
Start capturing
Filter captured requests
1. Choosing which network interfaces to capture traffic from. From the menu, choose: Capture > Interfaces
This will bring up a list of network devices.
2. Since my work involves debugging work off my laptop (http://localhost etc), I only start device lo (127.0.0.1). This is useful as it immediately ignores all other traffic.
3. The one thing you will notice is that fiddler will log both the TCP and HTTP requests. For the purpose of debugging AJAX, etc., we are only interested in HTTP requests, TCP requests are not required. These can be hidden by adding a filter.
In the field next to Filter:, enter http and click on Apply.
The steps will now show all traffic coming on 127.0.0.1 via HTTP. The last step is picking up the AJAX parts for debugging. Notice that for each request, there is a response. Unlike Fiddler, Wireshark does not combine the request and the response. So click on the response line, and then expand the Line-based text data row. This will show the text of the AJAX response.
Conclusion
Wireshark takes more steps than Fiddler, and Fiddler is a more focussed program than Wireshark. Wireshark also captures traffic without having to install a plugin into firefox, etc., so it’s useful for debugging applications as well. The biggest improvement to make Wireshark truly replace Fiddler is to turn off truncation of the response text. Wish I knew how!
Recently, I’ve noticed more and more young people talking about and joining Facebook. In one instance, I’ve come to learn that practically a large majority of learners in a secondary school (we talking about 12-16 year olds) have joined Facebook.
Are such young people putting themselves at risk with personal info and details being shared on Facebook?
What steps/advice can be taken/rendered to assist and protect young people who are on Facebook?
Understanding Mxit vs Facebook
Mxit is a popular cellphone application in South Africa. In a region and continent with high and excessive telecommunication costs, Mxit is a cheap alternative to SMS (Short Message Service). Whereas users pay a premium rate to send SMS’es, Mxit uses a form of instant messaging, where users only pay for the data cost of sending a message.
Being a cellphone-based social instant-messaging application, the only information really being made available is the cell phone number of the user, and possibly the name of the user if they dont use a pseudo-name.
Mxit (like Facebook) operates on a friend request-and-accept approach, but also offers a chatroom service, and it is seemingly here that ‘relationships’ (for want of a better word) fosters.
Given the ability to generate online friendship, being known for having a lot of online friends, and thus possibly popular, may be one reason why people allow such friendships and relationships to happen.
Enter Facebook
These young people are entering Facebook at a time where it has already reached spectacular growth, and some are even forsaking it for alternatives like Twitter. I’m unable to account for why they are switching to Facebook. Is it perhaps the next step after Mxit? Is it because Facebook offers more features than Mxit? Is it because of the popularity of Facebook and that adults are using it?
Oddly, Internet access is not an issue since many of them are accessing Facebook via there cell phones. Perhaps the fact that Facebook has a mobile version helps.
Facebook Features which could be considered dangerous from a Mxit perspective
Facebook allows users to upload photos of themselves, providing a picture to the name
So unlike Mxit, there is a picture to the person you are corresponding with
Facebook allows users to be tagged in photographs
Even if the user does not provide a photo of him/herself, others could do it for them
Facebook allows users to enter a detailed profile, including contact details
Compared to Mxit, this is much more comprehensive
Facebook provides a history of past activity
Mxit doesnt.
Facebook’s add a Friend feature provides a risk where people blindly accept friendships.
The more friends you have, the better it supposedly seems, as it makes you appear more popular. Mxit doesnt have the search feature of Facebook where users can search for friends.
If parents become concerned and paranoid about Mxit, it’s not difficult to see why they could possibly be more apprehensive of the dangers Facebook potentially provides at a greater risk than Mxit.
Facebook’s negative could also be positive
I recall an incident a few months ago where an older sister stepped in when her younger sister started receiving inappropriate comments on some of her photos. This is an advantage of an open system, and makes it easier for an adult/guardian to supervise. Needless to say, the intervention was a rebuke to the offenders who desisted from their actions.
Good News for South Africans is that SkypeIn is now available in South Africa! SkypeIn allows users to have the own personal number. People call you from a phone or cell phone and you pick up the call with Skype.
Via MyBroadBand website:
Local Skype users can now get their own SkypeIn number and can make unlimited international calls for R 102 per month
Voice over IP (VoIP) provider Skype recently announced that it has extended its SkypeIn service to South Africa. SkypeIn provides Skype users with their own unique number on which they can receive calls on their computer from regular landline and mobile phone users.
“An online number (SkypeIn) is perfect if you have friends, family or business colleagues who don’t use Skype. Anyone can dial your online number from any phone or mobile and hey presto, your Skype rings and you pick up the call – wherever you are in the world,” the Skype website explains.
“You buy an online number and your friends, family or business contacts can call that number and only pay for a standard rate call (if they are in the same country as your online number) – the online number uses the internet to route the call and so saves them money. It makes absolutely no difference wherever you are, you can pick up the call at no cost to you wherever in the world you are logged into Skype.”
SkypeIn numbers cost US $18 for 3 months or US $60 for a full year. This translates into R 141 for a SkypeIn number for three months and R 471 per number for a 12 month period.
Unlimited International calls for R 102 per month
SkypeIn complements the company’s existing products like SkypeOut and Unlimited flat rated calling. Apart from standard SkypeOut credits, South Africans can purchase South Africa 400, World 400 and Unlimited World packages providing discounted call rates to fixed lines.
South Africa 400, priced at $ 14.95 (R 117), gives subscribers 400 minutes of calls to landlines in South Africa per month. World 400, which costs $ 17.95 (R 141) per month, offers 400 minutes of calls to landlines in South Africa and over 40 countries per month.
The most attractive deal is however the company’s Unlimited World service which at $ 12.95 (R 102) per month allows for unlimited calls to landlines in over 40 countries worldwide. These countries include Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the UK and the United States. Calls to South African landlines are however excluded.
When Mozilla Prism was first launched, I honestly never gave it much thought as to it’s usefulness, or why anyone would want to use it. Today, it is such an essential tool for me. Let me explain.
Adobe launched a program earlier this month whereby it is giving its Flex Builder 3 Professional software free of charge to developers who have been hit by current economic conditions and are out of work. To participate in the program, unemployed developers must attest that the software will be used only for personal use and skill-building—not for any production or commercial purposes. In exchange, they get a free copy of Flex Builder 3′s Professional version, which is normally priced at USD 699.
Posted on the March 30th, 2009 under Internet by Tohir
Recently I came across this advert on the left, and it left be kind of shocked. How did they know i am 29? Is Facebook sharing my details with advertisers?
Knowing it could be too good to be true, I nonetheless clicked on the ad. Pity I’m not in Australia (the target audience), else I could have won the iPhone – yeah right!
Nonetheless, looking up on Facebook advertising, it does offer some really great targeting information. With people providing location, personal info, what they like (fans, etc.) it seems to be an advertiser’s paradise. All that needs to be done is really accurate profile of the target audience.
One just wonders where does the blur occur if it does at all?
Posted on the March 27th, 2009 under Internet by Tohir
DevHub claims it can help you build a money-making website in 10 minutes. I’m going to put that to the test [the building part at least ] and post the results on this blog. Keen to try it yourself?
Further to my recent posting on Blogging as a Sadaqatul Jaariyah, I was glad to hear that Maulana Imran Nazar Hosein now has a website at http://www.imranhosein.org/. Maulana Imran was a student of the famous Maulana Fazul-Rahman Ansari of Pakistan.
On Maulana Imran’s last tour to South Africa, he clearly highlighted the problem of Riba (usury), and what could be done to overcome this starting at a micro level. Some of his proposals are being implemented in places such as Indonesia and Australia. Hopefully the website can be instrumental in this part.
Already the website covers some topical issues, such as the debate on Terri Schiavo, so the website is worth a visit (and bookmark).
I'm a Web Developer living in Cape Town, South Africa. Interests include: PHP, JQuery, ExtJS, Adobe AIR, Linux, Ubuntu, WordPress, Human Rights, Usability, Multimedia
Recently I came across this advert on the left, and it left be kind of shocked. How did they know i am 29? Is Facebook sharing my details with advertisers?
] and post the results on this blog. Keen to try it yourself?
I'm a Web Developer living in Cape Town, South Africa. Interests include: PHP, JQuery, ExtJS, Adobe AIR, Linux, Ubuntu, WordPress, Human Rights, Usability, Multimedia