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Git, PGP, and the Blockchain: A Comparison
The Blockchain, a cryptographically linked list with additional restrictions, is often touted to be the most significant innovation towards democratization of the digital landscape, especially the Internet. However, the ideas did not come out of thin air, but have ancestors and relatives. An attempt at technological genealogy.
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Network Time Security: NTS articles overview
NTP, the Network Time Protocol, is the way most computers and mobile devices obtain their time through. NTS (Network Time Security) is to NTP what HTTPS is to HTTP. It also is as easy to upgrade as upgrading to HTTPS is these days: No effort for the client, just adding a certificate for the server.…
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Debugging NTS problems
Debugging is hard, debugging security protocols doubly so. And there are not many tools and how-to’s available for NTS yet. So, here’s a (short) list of NTS problems I have seen and some tricks for debugging them.
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NTS and dynamic IP addresses
Good news is that NTS relies on DNS names, no longer “naked” IP addresses. But what happens when the DNS name changes, pointing to a different IP address? A look at the protocol, the Chrony source, and the implications.
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Configuring an NTS-capable NTP server
The choice of Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers supporting NTS is still very limited. Here is some advice to get it to run smooth and trustworty.
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Transparent, Trustworthy Time with NTP and NTS
«Time is Money», as the old adage says. Who controls the time, controls all kinds of operations and businesses around the world. And therefore, controls the world. Today, we all take accurate time for granted. Even though, today, it is delivered over the Internet mostly unsecured. But this is easy to change.
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Array Thickening: More can be less
When turning flexible file formats into data structures, the consensus seems to be to avoid using arrays whenever possible. However, more arrays may reduce code and coding errors. A plea against the extinction of arrays.
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vcard4-ts: A TypeScript-first vCard parser
TypeScript is the amiable and helpful sibling of JavaScript, always there for you, whether you currently do want type safety or you don’t. So it was only natural to use it to make handling digital business cards easier. vCard4-ts is the result of this attempt.
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CompanyON: Serving as gutSTEIN
Our gift card solution for regional brick-and-mortar stores and restaurants has been successfully used in Stein am Rhein for almost a year. As of today, the local version of our gift card for Stein am Rhein, provided by the regional business association, also has a local name: gutSTEIN. The card has become an important asset…
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Contact Tracing — Quo Vadis?
How much we are all looking forward to returning to normal lives: Meeting friends, hugging family, a cool beer, culture. After more than a year, we really deserve it! However, there are still roadblocks in the form of a bloody virus and the countermeasures. Anyone promising a quick end is hailed as a saviour. (This…