Macrotone Blogs

Macrotone blogs upon Joomla, our products and other matters.
Blogs that do not fit into any other of our specified categories.

PECR – Cookies and Joomla

I have discovered a few pieces of software that provide a start in satisfying the PECR Cookie regulations which come into effect on 26th May 2012.

I make no claims for any of these pieces of software, but my searches may be of use to others.   In total I have found the following:

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PECR, ICO cookies regulations

The new Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), announced by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in 2011, comes into effect on 26th May 2012.  In advance of the ICO cookies compliance date, organisations are expected to take appropriate steps to be compliant, which include making proactive changes to their websites.

We have blogged about this topic before and reference should be made to the official EU cookie compliance guide (registration required) which contains news and advice for organisations in Europe and around the world for complying with the cookie law.

The ICO provides specific guidance on PECR compliance.  However this is not all that clear (to me at least), so the absence of clear guidance on cookie compliance, and the range of practical difficulties that will be encountered in determining what to do with each identified cookie, may lead many website operators to struggle with the compliance process.

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Four steps to comply with PECR, ICO cookies regulations

The new PECR regulations, announced by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in 2011, will be enforced in May 2012. In advance of that date, organisations are expected to take appropriate steps to be compliant, which include making proactive changes to their websites.

The absence of clear guidance on cookie compliance, and the range of practical difficulties that will be encountered in determining what to do with each identified cookie, may lead many website operators to struggle with the compliance process. To make the process easier, here are four steps you can take to make the appropriate changes to your website in order to comply with the PECR cookie regulations.

This article [Requires registration] discusses the steps to take further.

PECR Regulation compliance

The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) governing the use of electronic cookies, announced in 2011, will be enforced in May 2012. In advance of that date, organisations are expected to take appropriate steps to be compliant.

This will impact all/most sites including Joomla where cookies are used.  A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that websites place on their visitors' computers, and despite its small size, it can reveal a lot of information website visitors may not be eager to share. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) provides specific guidance on PECR compliance and recommends a cookie audit as the first step. This article [Requires registration] explains how to audit cookies on an organisation's website.

Resolving short URLs

One thing that we are seeing more and more often are links identified by short URLs.  These on the surface seem very handy and avoid typing but they hide the real site and it is very easy to hide a malware site behind them by tricking users by actually redirect the user's browser to a site hosting malware.   This is easy to do using a popular URL shortening service like TinyURL, Bit.Ly, and many others. For example http://bit.ly/uKClxK is a shortened URL and yes, in this case it is safe to click, you may go ahead...

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Technical Article links

The following are interesting articles that are generally informative and may prove useful to someone in the future.

Scaling a PHP MySQL Web Application, Part 1

Scaling a PHP MySQL Web Application, Part 2

The DBA’s Guide to Setting Up Oracle RAC One Node and Oracle Data Guard

The DBA’s Guide to Setting Up Oracle RAC One Node and Oracle Data Guard, Part 2 (Advanced)

MySQL and Oracle Goldengate

MySQL versions and binlog_format settings

Following on from an earlier post, there has been further investigations into the settings of the binlog_format setting for MySQL.  The problem is possibly aggravated by the use of InnoDB tables, which are the default in MySQL 5.5, the use of which offers some distinct advantages.  This setting seems to have been introduced in version 5.1.5 of MySQL.  Prior to that date it didn't exist and attempts to use the setting would generate an error, which is not totally surprising.

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MySQL logs and QNAP systems

 

All (most) company development and testing making use of MySQL databases locates the databases upon QNAP systems.  The default MySQL installing being by the QNAP installation itself.  Recently there has been some interest in the space being consumed.  Looking at the database settings in the /etc/my.cnf file it can be seen that it is not optimum.
The main areas of interest are the log files.  It is noted that the binlog format is set to STATEMENT which is why the messages about log format have been seen.  [It is not known how many systems are set to the default so it is sensible perhaps to leave the setting alone.  In this way we have a 'worse' case scenario for when we distribute software and have to include session settings to enable the software to install and/or function.]

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Fake Name Generator

Found this web site that enables one to completely generate a fake identify, complete with valid email address etc.  Interesting although I haven't tried it.   Could be useful for those sites that want more than an email address.

Fake Name Generator

5 More Free Tools For Windows 7 You Have To Try

Peter Bruzzese said in his blog: "Every couple of months, it's both entertaining and useful to revisit the tools and toys available to make our desktop experience smoother, more flexible, and, yes, more fun. A while back, I identified eight free Windows 7 tools you have to try and later revealed some truly awesome tools for Windows 7 power users. I have five more "gotta try" Windows tools for you to consider." Check them out here:
More Free Tools

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