Browsing and the Clipboard

[Tricky]

I never knew this was possible until someone pointed it out to me...How many times have you "Copied" your password from somewhere in order to enter it on a website logon or something?

Well I've just found out that the contents of your clipboard are available to anyone!!!

Using JavaScript:
<script language="javascript">
document.write(clipboardData.getData("Text"));
</script>

For an example:
http://www.um8.co.uk/clipbrd.htm

This is fine until you leave one site (that you cut and paste the password for) and go to another site that reads the clipboard!!!

[Richard M]

Only works in IE, but I never use that...

[Tricky]

Originally Posted by Richard M

Only works in IE, but I never use that...

Goes off to download Mozilla

[basa]

Originally Posted by Tricky

Goes off to download Mozilla

I know I'll probably get slated but why does everyone think of Mozilla / Firefox as an alternative browser when Opera is IMO a better more sophisticated, highly configurable alternative to IE and doesn't require a degree in IT to set up and configure for all the necessary plugins etc ?

Opera is a successful, commercial, professional, profitable company who develop and market an excellent product which is not just a browser but a mail client and irc chat platform as well and is successfully integrated on hand helds and phones worlwide.

IMO whilst Mozilla is undoubtedly a good browser, it is IMO developed by a group of keen enthusiasts for the tecchie market.

[Chris W]

Originally Posted by basa

I know I'll probably get slated but why does everyone think of Mozilla / Firefox as an alternative browser when Opera is IMO a better more sophisticated, highly configurable alternative to IE and doesn't require a degree in IT to set up and configure for all the necessary plugins etc ?

Opera is a successful, commercial, professional, profitable company who develop and market an excellent product which is not just a browser but a mail client and irc chat platform as well and is successfully integrated on hand helds and phones worlwide.

IMO whilst Mozilla is undoubtedly a good browser, it is IMO developed by a group of keen enthusiasts for the tecchie market.

I tried Opera and didn't like it... it seemed quite keen to make me pay for it as well, so i'll stick with firefox.

I have to disagree with what you have said about installing plugins- in firefox,

go to tools-> extensions-> get more extensions and just click on the one you want and it will be installed... hardly IT degree level!!

anyway, that is

The passwords that i use at home, i know off by heart so don't copy, and i also use firefox, but at work where i use IE, i can't remember all my passwords so end up copy and pasting them

[basa]

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

I tried Opera and didn't like it... it seemed quite keen to make me pay for it as well, so i'll stick with firefox.

Well yes as a commercial operation they do like to make money ! But the free Opera only has a quite small ad banner.

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

I have to disagree with what you have said about installing plugins- in firefox,

go to tools-> extensions-> get more extensions and just click on the one you want and it will be installed... hardly IT degree level!!

Well so long as they don't conflict .. I've heard a few people having trouble with conflicting plug-ins.

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

anyway, that is

The passwords that i use at home, i know off by heart so don't copy, and i also use firefox, but at work where i use IE, i can't remember all my passwords so end up copy and pasting them

Well, again Opera has a 'wand manager' (yeh stupid name I know) which stores your ID and passwords (encrypted) so when you get to a log-in page you simply click the 'wand' (or use right click --> mouse gesture) and you're in !! Simple, no remembering or typing. (Only drawback is after a while you do tend to forget your ID/passwords as you never have to type them !)

[Graham M]

Originally Posted by Tricky

I never knew this was possible until someone pointed it out to me...How many times have you "Copied" your password from somewhere in order to enter it on a website logon or something?

Well I've just found out that the contents of your clipboard are available to anyone!!!

Using JavaScript:
<script language="javascript">
document.write(clipboardData.getData("Text"));
</script>

For an example:
http://www.um8.co.uk/clipbrd.htm

This is fine until you leave one site (that you cut and paste the password for) and go to another site that reads the clipboard!!!

Wait up a mo. Thats only in Javascript, which is a client side scripting language. The only way to send this to another server is to have it as a post or a get form redirect and that is always a risk with nearly any browser that supports Javascript anyway. And the answer, dont copy your passwords onto the clipboard. Spyware can do this too. Dont think youre safe anywhere.

[philip.j.fry]

Originally Posted by basa

Well, again Opera has a 'wand manager' (yeh stupid name I know) which stores your ID and passwords (encrypted) so when you get to a log-in page you simply click the 'wand' (or use right click --> mouse gesture) and you're in !! Simple, no remembering or typing. (Only drawback is after a while you do tend to forget your ID/passwords as you never have to type them !)

Mozilla/Firefox has the same feature