private void updateHitCounter() {
        Connection connection = getConnection();
        try {
            String sql = "UPDATE hits SET counter = counter + 1";
            PreparedStatement stmt = connection.prepareStatement(sql);
            stmt.executeUpdate();
        } catch (SQLException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        } finally {
            closeConnection(connection);
        }
    }

    private void getHitCounterImage(HttpServletRequest req,
                                    HttpServletResponse res)
            throws IOException {
        Connection connection = getConnection();
        String hits = "";
        try {
            String sql = "SELECT counter FROM hits";
            PreparedStatement stmt = connection.prepareStatement(sql);
            ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery();
            while (rs.next()) {
                hits = rs.getString("counter");
            }

        } catch (SQLException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        } finally {
            closeConnection(connection);
        }