Web Evolution Infographic

Browsing the web today, I came across the coolest interactive infographic.

This infographic does a great job of creating a "funner" timeline of the internet than one might find elsewhere.  It hits all the major points, like developments in CSS and JavaScript.

Check it out.  Were you on the web when Netscape was the only option?  I have never gotten along with Netscape, even in the mid-nineties.  However, I have heard good things from other about the old Netscape.  Apparently it was once the fastest and most reliable browser for the Mac OS.  I believe it was purchased by AOL around the end of 1998.

How about the first version of Internet Explorer?  You can still download it, as a matter of fact.  Not that you would want to.  I imagine it would break the internet pretty hard (prevent pretty much everything from displaying or functioning correctly on the internet, that is).  I know IE 6 and 9 are already doing a pretty good job of that.  I'm a big fan of Opera and Chrome, myself.  Most of the best features of Mozilla/Firefox were available in Opera first.  Plus it is so easy to customize.  Chrome is amazing because it’s so fast.  It is a slim, sleek browser that gives you the option of using a ton of great add-ins.  Where it's different than other browsers in that respect is that all of the add-ins are opt in - you have to specifically request them.  The lack of bloatware is part of what makes Chrome so fast and reliable.

That's all… just my two cents.  Again, check out the infographic for details on the evolution of some of the things you use to access the internet.

More Hacking News

Lists are fun!

• Hacking can be good or bad, white hat or black hat.
• Many of the "rogue" hacking groups lately gaining media attention are "grey" hat.  They aren't out solely to take advantage for their own gain, but they also are not working for companies or governments to help patch security flaws.
• LulzSec, discussed in a previous post, hacks "for the lulz."  They sometimes maliciously steal information and disperse it to the "Twitter Horde" to use as they will, but they also sometimes use their powers for good - exposing individuals who view or purchase child pornography and stealing their information in order to make their lives more difficult, for instance.
• LulzSec has also been releasing documentation lately illustrating that they have been alerting organizations to their security flaws and giving a grace period before attacking.  They are actively forcing companies and organizations to close their security gaps.
• Other "grey hat" hacking includes hacking that is neither malicious nor done to benefit others, like hacking the Microsoft Kinnect to do interesting things.
• The future of hacking promises to be exciting to say the least.  While the actual volume of hacking has not increased, it is becoming more publicized.  Additionally, the technologies at work are increasing and changing all the time.  Bill Gates has said that the future of hacking is in biology - learning the code of genetics well enough to manipulate or replicate in technology.
• The future of hacking seems to be of growing interest to many.  The first-ever Defcon Kid's conference is being held in Nevada this, and focuses on young and aspiring hackers, teaching the to use their powers of inquisitiveness for good.  Word has it that the ever-secretive NSA (National Security Agency) will be scouting young talent, as will many other organizations.