DKR Computing

Here is a script that will randomly generate a hexadecimal digit. Please enjoy!

# randomhexdigit.sh - Version 0.01
#
# A simple Unix shell script that generates a random hexadecimal digit.
#
# Written by: Keith Rice
#
# This script is free to use but please credit me and/or link to my site.
# http://dkrcomputing.com
# You are free to modify this script to your heart's delight, but PLEASE
# DO NOT DISTRIBUTE MODIFIED VERSIONS! Please send comments and recommendationss
# for improvement to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

# Step 1: Get a random number using the $RANDOM environment variable
NUM=${RANDOM}

# Step 2: Perform modulo arithmetic using the 'let' shell command. Perform
#         MOD 15 on the random number to get a number from 0 to 15.
let "NUM %= 15"

# Step 3: Convert our decimal number from step 2 into a hexadecimal digit
#         by using the bc utility.
echo "obase=16;$NUM" | bc

# end of randomhexdigit.sh

I was just going back and looking at some of the different spam/malware emails I've gotten over the last couple of months and ran across one that said the following:

From: DHL Delivery Services
Subject: DHL Delivery Problem Number 31965
Date: 10/6/09 4:09 AM

Hello!

Unfortunately we failed to deliver postal package sent on the 8th of June in time
because the addressee's address is wrong.
Please print out the invoice copy attached and collect the package at our office.

DHL Delivery Services.

There was one slight problem though. They forgot to attach the "invoice copy." :-)