I recently lost my sleep schedule again and have a story to share. As someone who does web site layout, python and C/C++ orders, I was approached by a guy who wanted me to create a website for him. I make sure that my deals are honest, but unfortunately, not everyone I work with is honest with me. To combat this, I have a system where I create the website and then upload it to the client's hosting. If everything is as it should be, the client pays me and everyone is happy. However, some clients will come up with excuses to avoid paying me, so I have a shell in place to cut them out if necessary.
One time, I created a website for a client who then changed all the passwords and disappeared. Instead of letting it go, I decided to investigate and found an interesting site while rummaging through the backdoor on his hosting. While the site was cool and would be very useful to me as a developer, it required an unknown engine that even Google couldn't find. But instead of giving up, I studied the entire site and discovered an off-site where the assembly was sold for $80.
I didn't want to spend that much money, so I went to the salesite.com and was able to get a demo version of the site for an hour. Using the access I gained from the demo, I was able to see that I had access to their 5 domains, all sites, and full access to the engine. However, I chose not to copy or demolish anything since I saw how much effort was put into the site.
Eventually, the admins contacted me and fixed the bug in 5 hours. They were impressed with my honesty and gave me a free license while I helped them get rid of the bug. It's important to put yourself in the place of others and treat them with respect and honesty, just like I did with the admins in this situation.
The performer's logic is somewhat confusing. They make a website, upload it to hosting, and then wait for payment. But why not host the site on their own computer and show the customer? For instance, when I make a website for someone, I give them a link to my domain (which is inexpensive) and let them preview the site. If they like it, they pay me and I give them the full site. If I still need to finish some things, it's easier to do so myself than to rely on the honesty of the customer.
In my opinion, it's important to find a system that works for both parties involved. While it's understandable to want to protect oneself from dishonest clients, it's also important to build trust and relationships with them. Hosting the site yourself and allowing the client to preview it may be a good option for some, but it may not work for everyone. Ultimately, it's about finding a process that works best for your business and your clients.
My focus is on Android development, although I have the option of moving to desktop development if needed since I am proficient in Java. However, creating websites for projects is still a hassle for me.
While I do write for iOS occasionally, I tend to prioritize studying rather than writing extensively on it. I have dedicated two years to self-study already, but I believe it will take at least three more years before I can confidently say that I am fluent in the entire stack.
Learning and mastering a particular skill takes time and effort. It's important to be patient with yourself and to keep practicing and learning, even if it takes longer than expected. As a developer, it's also important to stay up-to-date with new technologies and trends in order to stay competitive in the job market.
Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) have been around for a long time, but they are typically not the concern of web developers. The responsibility lies with the system administrator who must properly configure the server to ensure that resources are monitored and protected.
While it may seem ideal to be both a skilled admin and web developer who understands web application attacks and code security, it's not practical. Personally, I have tried to master both, but programming takes precedence since it's easier to create a reliable application than to troubleshoot server settings. It's important to rely on the hosting company to handle these tasks, which is what we pay them for.
Of course, personal security measures are still essential. This includes avoiding sending passwords in plain text via email or IM, not storing passwords in plain text, refraining from saving passwords in FTP managers, browsers, or Total Commander-ah, protecting your computer from viruses (using Unix and open source software can help), and using TrueCrypt and Git for data backups (I have a crypto container with projects in Dropbox and repositories).
That's quite an interesting story! It's unfortunate that some clients try to avoid paying for your services, but it's great that you have a system in place to protect yourself. Your curiosity and persistence in investigating the situation led you to discover something valuable. It's commendable that you chose not to copy or demolish anything and instead reached out to the admins to help fix the bug. Treating others with respect and honesty often leads to positive outcomes, as demonstrated by the free license they gave you. It's important to maintain integrity in all aspects of our work.
It seems like your experience highlights the importance of being resourceful and adaptable in the face of challenges. As a web developer, encountering clients who try to avoid payment can be frustrating, but it's great that you have measures in place to protect yourself. It's also impressive that you took the initiative to investigate and explore the backdoor of the client's hosting when they disappeared. Your curiosity and determination ultimately led you to discover an interesting site with a valuable engine.
Even though you couldn't initially find the engine, you didn't give up and instead studied the entire site to gain a deeper understanding. This shows your dedication to learning and finding solutions. When you found out that the assembly for the engine was being sold at a high price, you cleverly opted to obtain a demo version from salesite.com, which gave you access to useful features without having to spend a significant amount of money.
Most importantly, when you discovered a bug and the admins contacted you, you demonstrated integrity by approaching them with honesty and helping them fix the issue. Your respectful and genuine approach not only impressed the admins but also earned you a free license for the engine.
Moreover, your decision not to copy or demolish anything on the site, despite having access to it, demonstrates integrity and respect for other people's hard work. It's often tempting to take advantage of such situations, but by choosing the path of honesty, you set yourself apart and gained the admiration of the admins.
The admins' response to your honesty was also positive. They recognized your value as a helpful contributor and rewarded you with a free license for the engine. This further highlights the importance of treating others with respect and honesty in professional interactions.
You managed to resist the temptation of stealing someone's code and instead chose to help them fix their bug. I'm sure it was a real struggle for you to decide between being a decent human being and being a total jerk. You must be aware that hacking into someone's site without permission is a big no-no, but hey, at least you didn't get caught, right?
I'm sure the admins were just thrilled to have someone poking around in their system without permission, and I'm sure they were totally not considering pressing charges against you.