tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129929182918599848.post8086612186141769919..comments2024-02-06T17:02:25.684-05:00Comments on Field notes on the Web: OK, this is a bit unsettling ...David Hullhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07602323703256325141noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129929182918599848.post-60236274781972125852011-01-28T00:12:32.400-05:002011-01-28T00:12:32.400-05:00It's a good point that just because a web page...It's a good point that just because a web page says "I know you're logged in," that doesn't necessarily mean the server knows it. However, there are any number of ways to get that information back from the client side to the server side. If you're viewing this as an exploit, then you have to assume that the server knows anything the client side can find out.<br /><br />But the larger issue you raise, I think, is how much you care what the server knows about you. If you don't have anything to hide, then what do you care who knows what about you?<br /><br />Personally, I think this is a reasonable default position. Rather than hassle over protecting every last bit of personal information, relax. Paradoxically, if you assume that everything you do online is permanently available to everyone, a lot of the stress goes away, because most of the uncertainty goes away.<br /><br />On the other hand, there is some information, for example banking information, that someone could very easily use to make life very difficult. This is also the kind of information that random miscreants are likely to care about -- they may not care about making one's life miserable, but they do care about the money in one's account.<br /><br />For that kind of information, I want real safeguards and I'll have very little patience for information-leaking web sites -- hmm, maybe I'll start using incognito windows for my banking.<br /><br />Keep in mind, too, that (as Cardwell points out) what kind of information can make one's life miserable varies from place to place. There are certainly parts of the world where you wouldn't want The Man to know you're logged in to Twitter.<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for the response. I see from your profile that you're in the Faroe Islands. I believe you're due for a total eclipse of the sun in 2015.David Hullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07602323703256325141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2129929182918599848.post-17758084898230213642011-01-27T21:35:38.617-05:002011-01-27T21:35:38.617-05:00There is a lot of information that is processed cl...There is a lot of information that is processed client side, and not server side, when a web page is created.<br /><br />A web page is not sent complete as it is from the server to your browser, but created by your computer from the code that your browser recieves.<br /><br />You can have a link on a web page that makes the browser open a folder on your computer. The contents of that folder is never sent to the server, however.<br /><br />Secondly, it has never bothered me that information about me is available on the web. I am pretty boring person. If anyone would like to dig something up on me on the web, which I doubt anyone would, then feel free.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02111335106694346793noreply@blogger.com