WSDG May Technical Presentation

Browser HAR Files, a Potpourri of Topics
by Jon Meek

Abstract:
The major Web browsers include developer tools that allow recording of all transactions between a browser tab and servers. In addition to seeing some analysis in the browser, it is possible to save the transaction data in a HTTP Archive (HAR) file. Vendors and service providers sometimes ask for a HAR file to be collected and uploaded to them as part of a troubleshooting process. A significant security breach in 2023 exposed a vendor's customer data, including uploaded HAR files.

Using several HAR files, we will:

• See what they look like
• Summarize the data to determine all of the domains used, and check for possible performance issues
• Observe some dangerous data in a HAR file (usernames! passwords! credit card numbers!)
• Cleanse a HAR file, removing sensitive data
• Extract raw data, such as images, from a HAR file

Some of the analysis steps will also provide a Gentle Introduction to Data Analysis using R / Tidyverse.

Bio:
Jon Meek, an Experimental Physicist by training, has had a single job for most of the past 41 years in several roles including building laboratory instrumentation, managing analytical chemistry and IT, and network protection engineering.
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This hybrid meeting will be available both in-person and remotely. For those attending in person, we will be at the Williamsburg Regional Library, Conference Room C. (Note the change from our usual Room B.)

For online access, this time we are trying Zoom instead of Jitsi. The Zoom info is:
Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/9269039079?pwd=7ZzpbfoV0AyLoiRReqgaHVVeVDUGqH.1&omn=75637439481
Meeting ID: 926 903 9079
Passcode: V6g8VW
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Upcoming schedule:

June 12, 6:00 PM - Social Event

July 10, 6:30 PM - Williamsburg Library, Conference Room B
Kelly Shaw will talk about Rust, a general-purpose programming language.

August 14, 6:00 PM - Social Event

September 11, 6:30 PM - Williamsburg Library, Conference Room B
Alex Podyachev will overview V, a statically typed, compiled programming language.

October 9, 6:00 PM - Social Event

November 13, 6:30 PM - Williamsburg Library, Conference Room B
Josh Shroyer will present a topic yet to be named.

December 11, 6:00 PM - Social Event