simonitor
[![simon_giftcard.jpg](/space/simon_giftcard.jpg)](http://www.simon.com/giftcard/)

_Updated 12/20/2007._

For privacy reasons, I use
[prepaid debit cards](/space/privacy+through+prepaid+credit+cards) instead of
credit cards. Right now, I mostly use
[Simon gift cards](http://www.simon.com/giftcard/).

Like most prepaid card web sites,
[Simon's](http://www.simon.com/giftcard/card_balance.aspx) can show your
card's balance and transaction history in real time. However, it's a little
tedious to navigate the site and enter the card number and CCV each time.
So, I automated it.

[simonitor.sh](/space/simonitor.sh) is a shell script that fetches the
available balance, expiration date, and address (if registered) for one or more
[Simon gift cards](http://www.simon.com/giftcard/). It uses
[curl](http://curl.haxx.se/) to POST each card number and CCV to [Simon's web
site](http://www.simon.com/), then handles the cookies, follows links, and
screen scrapes the resulting HTML.

Here's an example run:

    $ simonitor.sh 9999012345789/123 8888012345789/456
    Enter the captcha string: ABC123
    99990123456789/123: $232.67, expires 08/2008
                        Mountain View, CA 94043
    88880123456789/456: $39.91, expires 12/2008
    $

Simon uses a [CAPTCHA](http://www.google.com/search?q=define%3Acaptcha) to
discourage bots. This script displays the CAPTCHA image to the user, asks them
for its text, and passes that text back to the site.

Naturally, Simon tweaks their web site every now and then, which breaks this
script. When they do, I've found the
[Live HTTP Headers](http://livehttpheaders.mozdev.org/) Firefox plugin
indispensable for capturing the actual requests and POST data sent over the
wire.

I briefly considered writing a [Greasemonkey](http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org/)
script, but I have a small brain, and the shell script was simpler and didn't
need a browser.

See also:
  * [privacy through prepaid debit cards](/space/privacy+through+prepaid+credit+cards)
  * [faking out address and credit card forms](/space/faking out address and credit card forms)
  * [view evites anonymously](/space/view evites anonymously)
  * [kodak picturecenter hacks](/space/kodak picturecenter hacks)
  * [change firefox's saved passwords](/space/change firefox's saved passwords)