Security Vulnerability: The Heartbleed Bug

The Heartbleed Bug

Pic courtesy of www.cnet.com

As I opened my email, I saw this security vulnerability and felt like I have to share this for a valuable information. 

So What is this Bug?

The Heartbleed Bug is a serious vulnerability in the popular OpenSSL cryptographic software library. This weakness allows stealing the information protected, under normal conditions, by the SSL/TLS encryption used to secure the Internet. SSL/TLS provides communication security and privacy over the Internet for applications such as web, email, instant messaging (IM) and some virtual private networks (VPNs).

The Heartbleed bug allows anyone on the Internet to read the memory of the systems protected by the vulnerable versions of the OpenSSL software. This compromises the secret keys used to identify the service providers and to encrypt the traffic, the names and passwords of the users and the actual content. This allows attackers to eavesdrop on communications, steal data directly from the services and users and to impersonate services and users.

How to stop the leak?

As long as the vulnerable version of OpenSSL is in use it can be abused. Fixed OpenSSL has been released and now it has to be deployed. Operating system vendors and distribution, appliance vendors, independent software vendors have to adopt the fix and notify their users. Service providers and users have to install the fix as it becomes available for the operating systems, networked appliances and software they use.

Am I affected by the bug?

You are likely to be affected either directly or indirectly. OpenSSL is the most popular open source cryptographic library and TLS (transport layer security) implementation used to encrypt traffic on the Internet. Your popular social site, your company's site, commerce site, hobby site, site you install software from or even sites run by your government might be using vulnerable OpenSSL. Many of online services use TLS to both to identify themselves to you and to protect your privacy and transactions. You might have networked appliances with logins secured by this buggy implementation of the TLS. Furthermore you might have client side software on your computer that could expose the data from your computer if you connect to compromised services.

How can OpenSSL be fixed?

Even though the actual code fix may appear trivial, OpenSSL team is the expert in fixing it properly so fixed version 1.0.1g or newer should be used. If this is not possible software developers can recompile OpenSSL with the handshake removed from the code by compile time option -DOPENSSL_NO_HEARTBEATS.

Where to find more information?

This Q&A was published as a follow-up to the OpenSSL advisory, since this vulnerability became public on 7th of April 2014. The OpenSSL project has made a statement athttps://www.openssl.org/news/secadv_20140407.txt. NCSC-FI published an advisory athttps://www.cert.fi/en/reports/2014/vulnerability788210.html. Individual vendors of operating system distributions, affected owners of Internet services, software packages and appliance vendors may issue their own advisories.

Disclaimer: Contents of this blog came from www.heartbleed.com. I have no intent of claiming, just sharing info. For more info, just visit the site. ^^

Ajisen Ramen. Oishii Sooo!

Luckily I've been back to Singapore to have a vacation, after 6 years of continuous stressful work. I've already resigned, but never thought that this will be happier than I could ever imagine. =)

Currently in Tampines, I went malling and stumbled at this Ramen resto, Ajisen! According to their site, it originated from Kumamoto, Japan on 1968 and is famous for its original white broth ramen with extensive array of garnishing.

Apologies for the pics. They were just taken from my smartphone. =)

Their sample menus

From the image above, I sampled their Hokkaido Miso Set Meal for S$15.90. You can choose from the 4 types of Miso Ramen, plus free appetizer and a drink. I went for a Spicy Miso Ramen, with 5 pcs. Gyoza and a Green Tea.

This is my order. Oh, I happen to be with my sister and 2 friends. hahaha. Don't question my appetite please. Lols.

Gyoza, Fried Chicken, Tempura, Cuttle fish

Here's what my sister ordered. A bento meal. It's deli, especially the daikon radish. =)

Overall, it was a great experience visiting this resto. two thumbs up. 

Oishii desu,

Happy faces? We are. I'll visit it again for sure at Manila. =)

The Bohol Bee Farm: It Stings!

It's my first time at this place. I haven't been an adventurer for the last 3 consecutive years I was going back at Bohol, kasi naman 'pag nasa bahay ako sa Balilihan all I want is to rest and unload all my stress. But seeing this one-of-a kind place, I believe it's worth a time blogging it. =)

Bohol Bee Farm.

Bohol Bee Farm is strategically located at Dao, Dauis Panglao Island. It's about a 2-hour travel from our house at Hanopol. Actually me and my office-mates were at Alona Beach when my Tito suggested to visit this place. 

I was mesmerized when we got there. Ang light ng aura ng lugar na yun. Homey. As we approached the entrance, I saw this woman weaving her craft. 

galing. 

Ang sipag ni ate.=)

Bohol bee farm introduces and teaches different livelihood activities to its workers, then assists them to market their own products. They highly value their people, and to the society in general. Sana lahat ganyan sa workers nila. 

They have their own homemade ice cream. I ordered malunggay with avocado. It's made from their home grown honey that's why it's all natural, no artificial sugar. Just wondering sa cone, sabi nila gawa sa kamoteng kahoy. This is the highlight for me. Ang saraaappp!!

Ice Cream!!!

happy tropa with the buzz ice cream!! 

Imagine they had Spicy Ginger ice cream! I didn't try it, sayang.

Bohol bee farm also have a day tour, boasting off their all-natural secret herbs grown at their own farm. We availed it, and they provided us a very knowledgeable and accommodating tour guide. Hindi ko lang matandaan yung cost ng but it's just less than 100 pesos.

Our tour guide,galing mag-english, nosebleed. XD

Their home grown basil. 

Their herb garden

Wish I have one. 

We do have company from Taiwan.=)

There is a part of the tour when you can hold the bees' home. Actually they don't sting unless they are threatened. One reminder, do not drop this for surely it will cause a mishap. (Mishap talaga? Ikaw ba naman makagat ng bubuyog, ewan ko na lang.)

the bees' home

My brave office-mates, Ferdz and Reuel

Ang tapang ni Leny! hahahaha! XD

Ikaw na Reuel. hehehe.

I couldn't hold it since I'm too clumsy, lalo na kapag kinakabahan ako. hehehe. 

Their home grown bees

Ang dami! 

Our tour guide said one bee costs 6,000 pesos. Wow. She also said that these bees have therapeutic claims, because its sting can cure arthritis.

After the tour, we proceeded to their shop. They offer a variety of products, from edible stuffs to souvenirs. 

The Buzzz Shop

This Pesto spread really is very delicious!! 

Coriander spread

Their spreads made from their home grown herbs. =)

Bee Pollens.

Coconut Honey. First time to see this.

They also have teas. 

Food stuffs. =)

Their souvenir shop

They also have body products like lotion and spa treatments, made from honey. cool. =)

Love these.

picture! picture!

They have this pasalubong basket. Nice.

Bohol bee farm also has its own bakery, spa and room accommodation. Haven't tried those yet since gahol na kami sa oras, and travelling back to our house means another 2 1/2 hours. I'll just include what I captured there.

Their crafts. Ganda.

These are the people who make the native slippers and necklaces.

Their sample works. Artistic.

Seeing their bakery. 

They have their own pool for the guests.

It's nice to have your friends. =) So happy!

I so love this place. Ganda ng ambiance, nature-attached, lalo na yung amoy ng herbs. Hopefully next time I'll get to try their baby back ribs, it's their specialty daw, and also their spa and room accommodation. I promise another entry for a second visit. Want to know more about this place? You may also visit their site, http://www.boholbeefarm.com/

Very positive!

Bee happy. 
Special mention: Leny, Misay, Ferdz and especially Reuel for some of the pics.
Thanks for dropping by. ^_^

MJ

Puerto del Sol. Bolinao, Pangasinan

Bound to Puerto del Sol, Bolinao, Pangasinan.

Woke up early to avoid traffic, after 5 hours of travel, we arrived at the resort. All my whining stopped when we got there. I never thought I would see this beautiful haven--a place for relaxation, away from the busy streets and pollution. Perfect for a heavenly vacation.

Puerto del Sol's Entrance

They have very accommodating staffs. The moment we arrived there, they gave us a shell necklace, as a form of their warm welcome to their guests. We were then guided to    our rooms. We rented a Mansion villa. Here are some of the pics I took along the way.

Their indoor restaurant, Cafe del Sol. Ambiance is great with a Mediterranean setting.

This their outdoor resto, the La Playa. View and food is great. =) 

La Playa. Lounge by the sea. 

Ambiance is just so great.

Relaxing.

View of the pool. Nice isn't it?

Picturesque. 

Here are my night shots. Still, the view's great but it's more into a romantic homey feeling.

Pool at night 

Pool overseeing the Mansion Villas 

Looked like I'm in other country.

The patio. 

Nice landscapes. 

Speechless. =)

 "Experience the rustic appeal of a beautiful town rich in culture and steep in history. Its verdant shelters breathtaking waterfalls and mystic caves, the crystal clear waters of the South China Sea is lined with golden-white sands that sparkle under the tropic sun. Its people, the friendliest there is in north of Manila...this is Bolinao! A most beautiful and exclusive resort/hotel nestles in the heart of this picturesque town in Pangasinan - Puerto del Sol." - puerto del sol's website.

Well that's true. I just didn't enjoy the sea because its low tide; we already reached halfway but still waters were just under my knees. hahaha.Want to know more about this place? Just visit their website: http://www.puertodelsol.com.ph/

Great escape. Homey. Romantic. I'll surely come back.

MJ ^_^