IE does not open some website - MSN and Bing opens, but Google, Facebook etc are blocked : A Case Study to understand Transport Layer Security ( TLS 1.0 ) Protocol

It is a rough day when you want to start a new research on your old machine and try installing an old OS like XP and suddenly your world come crushing as no websites are being opened up in the Internet Browser.

The story started when today I tried to open google.co.in on my Internet Browser on this freshly prepared old machine ( I minted an HP Compaq Presario V200, bought in 2004, with Windows XP, a genuine copy of it!) The IE was not able to open any website. To my surprise, msn.com and bing.com were opening. I mean WTF! I somehow held to opinion to myself as my younger brother was scolded last night for not using abusive slangs. But comeon. WTF Actually!

See the error screenshot:

Obviously, this halted my program to start actually with the parallel computing experiment i am planning. I wanted to dig deeper as to what must be happening. Clearly, there must be some Security options issue. The error message read as follows:

"The page cannot be displayed.
The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your browser settings.
To attempt fixing network connectivity problems, click Tools, and then click "Diagnose Connection Problems..."


After, investigation and checking where my network is getting blocked (used fiddler and a network sniffer for the purpose), i found that its the strong security measures taken up by some sites that are blocking me launching those ones.

The solution was to enable some settings in the Internet Options -> Advance Tab ->Security settings.

If you are trying to reach a secure site, make sure your Security settings can support it. Click the Tools menu, and then click Internet Options. On the Advanced tab, scroll to the Security section and check settings for SSL 2.0, SSL 3.0, TLS 1.0, PCT 1.0.

See the screenshot below:

So, in my case a missing TLS1.0 was the reason.

Transport Layer Security (TLS) and its predecessor, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), both frequently referred to as "SSL", are cryptographic protocols that provide communications security over a computer network. Nowadays, major websites use TLS to secure all communications between their servers and web browsers.

The Transport Layer Security protocol aims primarily to provide privacy and data integrity between two communicating computer applications. The connection is private (or secure) because symmetric cryptography. The keys for this symmetric encryption are generated uniquely for each connection and are based on a shared secret negotiated at the start of the session (see TLS handshake protocol).

Furthermore, if you are using TLS, the connection ensures integrity because each message transmitted includes a message integrity check using a message authentication code to prevent undetected loss or alteration of the data during transmission.


Currently, a new 1.3 Transport Layer Security protocol is being drafted. And, going by the design and algorithms it has panelled in, I gurantee that there will be a number of websites that stand a chance to be blocked by standard webbrowsers. Its time when either webbrowser industry incorporates those supports fast or websites wait for some time to consume those super secure standards. In any ways, its nothing to panic. Rather, its a state to feel more secured.

So coming back to my case, enabling the TLS 1.0 option and restarting my browser solved the issue. Ah! Issue solved.

But Oh! Are Bing and MSN not that secured? Or, IE has a separate treatment for them?
Folks, you know what such an informed cue means to geeks like you. Enjoy!!

Does Quora API exist - How can I use Quora's API - How to use Quora API

There are many including me who ponder over questions like:
Is there a Quora API that dev can use
How to use Quora api
reading Quora programatically

Answer: There is no official Quora APIs till date. Period.


Although there is an unofficial version to it, but its in a nascent stage till recently. See: https://github.com/csu/quora-api. This API interface also uses PyQuora package. It is build in Python. Refer: https://github.com/csu/pyquora


Yeah! however you can directly parse using URL injections. You can also understand it in a way that Quora has exposed a JSON-based data API that allows users to access data about a currently logged-in user. However, the power is very limited.

For instance, to request particular fields about the currently logged-in user, you can add fields to a query string and append to http://api.quora.com/api/logged_in_user. Currently supported fields include:

•     Inbox
•     Followers
•     Following
•     Notifs, etc

And, that is why i referred to it as mere URL injections!


You can also read about specific details on a Quora post itself. The only Quora API appears to be located at Quora Extension API by Edmond Lau on Edmond Lau's Posts.


But, I have an advice for you all geeks. Use these hacks with caution. At the best, DO NOT try with your primary account. You shall also stand a chance to block your account.

Afterall, Spamming is not good for health dear!

*PS: This answer is also posted in an official Quora post itself.
Refer:  https://www.quora.com/unanswered/How-can-I-use-Quoras-API

Why is there no iPv5 after iPv4? Story of what happened between ipV4 and ipv6

It is really interesting to know Why is there no iPv5 after iPv4? When my brother asked this i retold him thr Story of what happened between ipV4 and ipv6. His knowledge did wonders to him at his college. Today I share it with my readers ;)

To start with, lets note that ipv5 actually doesn't exist. While this may seem confusing, version 5 was in fact intentionally skipped to avoid confusion, or at least to rectify it. The problem with version 5 relates to an experimental TCP/IP protocol called the Internet Stream Protocol, Version 2, originally defined in RFC 1190. 


IPv5 was used to define an experimental real-time streaming protocol. To avoid any confusion, it was decided to not use IPv5 and name the new IP protocol IPv6. Another thing is that IPv6 has a high span of IP adresses that is up to 340 trillion trillion trillions.


This protocol was originally seen by some as being a peer of IP at the Internet Layer in the TCP/IP architecture, and in its standard, these packets were assigned IP version 5 to differentiate them from “normal” IP packets (version 4). This protocol apparently never went anywhere, but to be absolutely sure that there would be no confusion, version 5 was skipped over in favor of version 6.


For academic geeks, IPv5 was used to define an experimental real-time streaming protocol. To avoid any confusion, it was decided to not use IPv5 and name the new IP protocol IPv6. Another thing is that IPv6 has a high span of IP adresses that is up to 340 trillion trillion trillions.

Refresh All the open tabs in Chrome browser instead of F5 each window

Ever encountered the issue of lost connectivity and on regaining connection the need of refreshing all the open tabs in chrome browser. Yeah! sounds similar. Isn't it?

Basically you will need to refresh all the tabs in following circumstances:
1. You have opened tabs and network loses and comes again after sometime.
2. You have hibernated machine and on restart want to refresh each tab
3. you open some websites or a list of saved bookmarks, but gone for a cuppa coffee and return again.

In all the above scenarios you need to go to each and individual tab and hit F5 or Refresh. Actually this was what i have been doing for quite some time.
And, trust me I was really very upset about that. I knew there would be some solution, but installing just another plugin for this was a not-my-type solution.

And, finally my Columbus heart discovered AmericA! Yo:)

Refreshing All the Tabs in Chrome is actually very easy. Thanks Google Dev Team for that. But at the same time, I would be angry with them ( anger of a beloved!) that why have they hidden this for so long.


To do this you need to treat the tabs as if they are some files or folders in System explorer. Just click on the first tab. Hold down the shift key. And, finally click on the last tab. This would light up all the tabs, if you see minutely. Actually, its an indication that all tabs are activated or selected. Now just right any tab and click on reload or do an F5. This would refresh all pages.

Facebook CamelCaseLimitations Hack: Using other name to overcome the the Too Many Capital Letters error

This solution might help you overcome the JavaScript like error that is returned by Facebook if your profile name consists of too many capital letters.

Actually you may also refer to this as Facebook CamelCaseLimitations Hack

Goto your profile page
Tap on More
Tap on View Your Profile
Tap on Update Info
Go down and tap on Add a nickname
Type your other name next to Name
At last, you need to check on the Show at top of profile.

It should be rembered that your other names, which could be nick name, a former name etc, should not violate Facebook policies. If approved, all names shall be visible in the About section of your profile. And, the one chosen to be shown on top is shows as main profile landing title.

Have fun. Happy branding.