If you live in an area where there is little to no internet connectvity via cable or Fios, read on! Assuming you have an unlimited or very high limit phone data plan and a good signal, you can use your phone with your home router to allow home internet access. This is done through a technology called "tethering", which is a way of sharing a wireless data plan beyond the device it is tied to (ie. your cellphone). Read here to find out how this is better than using your phone as a wireless mobile hotspot as well as other advantages!! Call The GoTo Tech Guru for help setting this up on your home!
#wifi #android #iphoneipad
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Slowly but surely, we're moving closer and closer to the super-connected, ultra-fast, 5G world tech companies have been promising us for years. Here's what you need to know about the state of 5G right now.
#wifi #android #iphoneipad If you live in one of these few cities, you're about to get the fast mobile 5G. AT&T announced on February 21, 2018 the first locations that will receive its new mobile 5G network. The company says a dozen cities will receive the new, lightning-fast internet and will announce additional cities in the coming months. Verizon, the largest U.S. wireless provider, plans to roll out 5G home internet by the end of the year, but AT&T claims it will be the first to deliver standalone mobile 5G. Read all about it here!
#wifi #android #iphoneipad There are so many tech terms out there. Some matter, some not. Networking terms have higher visibility than other terms because so many people need and use the internet, but don't get good quality signals. If you want to be in the know, read here!
#wifi Microsoft is releasing a new Photos Companion app for iOS and Android, designed to make it much quicker to get photos from a phone to a PC. The app works by temporarily linking (via QR code) to the Windows 10 photos app. You can send multiple photos over the same Wi-Fi network, and they appear immediately in the photos app. The app doesn’t permanently link to a Windows 10 PC and is useful if you don’t automatically back up your photos to a cloud service. Check it out here!
#windows #iphoneipad #android #wifi Cybercrime, data breaches, and internet attacks are on the rise. In fact, it is estimated that the global economy will lose around $2 trillion by 2019 due to cybercrime. Through your router, Hackers can hijack and harvest your personal information, commandeer your smart devices, install malware on your computer and redirect your traffic to fake websites. This newly discovered malware campaign does precisely that. If you're not careful about, cybercriminals can quickly all drain your bank accounts without warning! Enter Roaming Mantis, which propagates itself not via third-party app downloads nor phishing scams but via a technique known as DNS hijacking via your router! Find out here how to protect yourself!
#virus&malware #android #security #wifi Cloudflare has launched its own consumer DNS service that promises to speed up your internet connection and help keep it private. The service is using https://1.1.1.1, an actual DNS resolver that anyone can use. Cloudflare claims it will be “the Internet’s fastest, privacy-first consumer DNS service.” While OpenDNS and Google DNS both exist, Cloudflare is focusing heavily on the privacy aspect of its own DNS service with a promise to wipe all logs of DNS queries within 24 hours. What is DNS and why does it matter to you? How and why does 1.1.1.1 work? Find out here how this simple change, which even novices can do, could improve your internet experience.
#wifi The fifth generation wireless broadband technology is on its way. It operates with a 5Ghz signal and will offer super-fast speeds when compared to 4G networks. Unfortunately, there could be some negative health effects that come along with this new technology. Find out how, why and what to look out for here!
#news #wifi Did you know you can turn your Windows 10 computer into a mobile hotspot for other devices to use? It's one of the latest functions Microsoft has added! Check out how to enable this feature here!
#windows #wifi Intel announced in early January 2018 that it’ll have chips ready within the year for the next generation of WiFi — known as 802.11ax. This new generation is supposed to be faster, of course, but mostly it’s meant to perform better in environments with lots and lots of connected devices; so things like public hotspots, but also your house if you just have a ton of phones and tablets and smart gadgets lying around. Get the latest on this here!
#news #wifi This is an older article but still just as illuminating! You’ve probably read at least one story with warnings about using unsecure public Wi-Fi hotspots, so you know that eavesdroppers can capture information traveling over those networks. But nothing gets the point across as effectively as seeing the snooping in action. Not only can a hacker see the website you're going to, they can hijack private accounts on popular Web services such as Gmail, LinkedIn, Yahoo, and Facebook.
Read this article on how it happens and how to protect yourself! As always, The GoTo Tech Guru is here to help you navigate these confusing waters! #security #wifi Several security flaws in the Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) protocol were recently disclosed, which can reportedly expose any wireless device. An attacker within range of a victim can exploit these weaknesses using Key Reinstallation Attacks (KRACKs). Attackers can use this attack technique to read information that was previously assumed to be safely encrypted by easily getting your Wi-Fi password. This can be abused to steal sensitive information such as credit card numbers, passwords, chat messages, emails, photos, and so on. The attack works against all modern protected Wi-Fi networks. Depending on the network configuration, it is also possible to inject and manipulate data. For example, an attacker might be able to inject ransomware or other malware into websites or seemingly legitimate files you may download.
The weaknesses are in the Wi-Fi standard itself, and not in individual products or implementations. Therefore, any correct implementation of WPA2 is likely affected. To prevent the attack, users must update affected products as soon as security updates become available. Note that if your device supports Wi-Fi, it is most likely affected. Microsoft has already released a patch for Windows, so be sure to update your computer! Versions include: Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2016. You can find every patch for KRACK here. Use the following methods to protect yourself: 1. Do NOT use Wi-Fi in public or other dense areas such as office / apartment / condo buildings. 2. Use an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi. 3. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). 4. Use your phone data instead of Wi-Fi. 5. Use HTTPS instead of HTTP urls. You can add a HTTPS Everywhere browser extension to Google Chrome, Firefox or Opera. There’s no need to configure it, so anybody can do it. In most cases, this extension will allow HTTP urls to use HTTPS instead. Read here for the gory details. As always, The GoTo Tech Guru is here to help protect you. #security #virus&malware #windows #wifi #news All-electric satellites are changing the way airline passengers access the internet. Like a Tesla in space, an all-electric satellite uses electric propulsion to climb from transfer orbit to geostationary orbit and to maintain its position on station, instead of the chemical rockets used by traditional satellites.
So what does all this mean for airline passengers? Lots more internet capacity, for one thing, with a capacity of 1.8Gbps to deliver in-flight entertainment and connectivity to commercial airlines across the Pacific Ocean. Read all about it here! #wifi #news Yes, it's true! Comcast uses all its routers as public hotspots anyone can sign into and use! This means your home Wi-Fi network is at risk of being more easily hacked! To turn off this public hotspot, follow the directions below or call TheGoToTechGuru for help on defeating this!
1. Go to customer.comcast.com 2. Sign into your Comcast account. 3. Click on Users & Preferences 4. Look for service address. Below you will see the link labeled “Manage Xfinity Wi-Fi.” 5. Click on “Manage Xfinity Wi-Fi.” 6. Click on the button labeled “Disable Xfinity Wi-Fi Home Hotspot. 7. Click “save.” If you don’t click “save,” the Hotspot won’t be turned off. Be sure to use a wireless device such as your smartphone to test if the hotspot is actually turned off. #security #wifi Free public Wi-Fi networks may seem like an easy and convenient way to access the internet while on the go, but the risks involved with using them can seriously outweigh any convenience or ease. There are a lot of risks to the data on your phone! Studies show that the vast majority of Americans don’t avoid public Wi-Fi. A security firm set up fake Wi-Fi hotspots at the Republican National Convention with names ranging from “I VOTE TRUMP! FREE INTERNET” to more legitimate-sounding monikers like “ATTWifi at GOP.” According to Avast, 1,200 people logged into those fake hotspots — and 68.3 percent of them went on to conduct online activities that compromised their identities and data.
The risk of attackers installing malware is present even if you’re using a Mac-based computer to connect to a public Wi-Fi network. While Mac users have long believed that they are safe from viruses and trojans normally, this is increasingly becoming less true. Although there's no 100% foolproof solution, here are some ways on how to protect yourself. #security #wifi Comcast’s Xfinity Internet service will make tens of thousands of households vulnerable to hackers and other security threats by converting thousands of customers’ modems into Wi-Fi hotspots. That means anybody with a Wi-Fi device could log into the Internet and possibly hack into your computer once the “hotspot” is activated. To make matters worse, Comcast is not asking customers whether they want their modem to become a hotspot or not. Instead, it is simply switching the service on, according to Houston Chronicle. Anybody who has a Comcast login number will be able to access the Internet via the home Wi-Fi hotspots. That means any Comcast customer could use your system if the Wi-Fi is turned on. The good news is that there a way to turn this off. Read this article for more information.
With all the complications of life, the last thing you need is for tech issues get in the way. After all, tech is supposed to make things easier, isn't it? Here are four quick tips on how to make your tech life just a little easier!
Your smartphone's GPS uses both your cellular and Wi-Fi connection for accuracy. Most of the time, when you're in the car or walking outdoors, the Wi-Fi is turned off to save battery power. Yes, your GPS will work with just cellular, but it's not as accurate as when you also have the Wi-Fi turned on as well, since the GPS has an error rate of +/- 100 feet.
To increase your GPS accuracy, just turn on your Wi-Fi. You don't have to be connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot for the GPS to benefit from it, it just has to be turned on! Other factors that affect GPS accuracy are whether there are physical obstructions between your phone and the satellites, such as walls, building and trees, so make sure you have a clear line-of-sight between your phone and the sky. Your GPS is most accurate when it can "see" all 4 satellites. It will still work with fewer, but again, the accuracy will be affected. Your GPS may work despite these obstructions, however, its accuracy may be affected significantly. Although when driving, 100 feet may not make much of a difference, it does when you are walking or hailing an Uber, otherwise the driver may think you are 1-2 blocks from your actual location! If you want to make sure you're located at an exact address for an Uber pickup vs. depending on the GPS to "pin" you accurately, type in the actual street address of your location! Broadband is offered in 4 major flavors today: Cable, DSL, Fios and Satellite. There is a lot of confusion between these, so here's what you need to know.
Cable can offer not just TV, but internet and landline VOIP (Voice Over IP; ie. internet telephone) telephone services as well, depending on your cable company and what package options they offer. There are a few main differences between cable and the alternative DSL and Fios options. Cable uses a copper line from the cable company to a junction box in your neighborhood or apartment building/condo complex and is split amoung your neighbors and you. As such, the bandwidth is shared with all your neighbors. Thus, if a few select people are gaming or doing heaving downloading, everyone else's bandwidth degrades. DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line and is for internet connectivity only, not for TV. It uses the regular telephone copper wire between the phone company and your home. You must have regular telephone service from your phone company in order to get DSL, but your telephone itself does not use it since it is just for internet access. Unlike cable, this line is dedicated to your dwelling so is not shared with your neighbors. It is typically slower than cable and Fios but is faster than satellite. It is the least expensive of these options. Fios stands for Fiber Optic Service and is offered by Verizon. It is called by other names by other companies like AT&T and Qwest. Fios can be used for TV, internet and your landline phone. A fiber optic cable is run from the phone company to your house, so it is dedicated and thus bandwidth is not shared with your neighbors. If you install Fios, you MUST use the fiber optic telephone service since it replaces your regular copper-based landline phone. You still get a landline phone but it will be fiber based vs. copper based. It is the fastest of the three options because signals run through fiber optic cables and thus travel literally at the speed of light! Fios does come with a backup battery for when the power goes out, enabling you to make phone calls, watch TV and access the internet for a limited time. ***Of the four broadband options, Fios is the fastest and best option*** The downside of Fios is that when the power goes out and backup battery runs out, your landline phone won't work (with your old copper-based telephone you could still make calls). But you always have your cellphone! Satellite currently only offers TV and Internet. Internet-wise, it is the slowest and most expensive of these options. Placement of the satellite dish MUST have a direct line-of-sight view of the satellite. This means the dish must be able to communicate with the satellite via a 100% unobstructed view. This means no trees, buildings and the like can be between your dish and the satellite. If you live in an extremely rural part of the world, like way out in the country, satellite may be your only option. There are other considerations, especially when installing these in your home (placement, etc), so call TheGotoTechGuru for help! If you have cable TV, you have a cable modem/router that you're most likely renting from the cable company. Did you know you can buy one, often better than what the cable company offers and stop paying that rent? Yep, it's true! Yes, there's configuration that needs to be done and you'll need to secure your home network, but that's what TheGoToTechGuru does! Call or email us for a free consult and stop paying unnecessary rent to the cable company!!
The internet speed your provider advertises you're getting actually depends on several factors such as: how many other people are sharing that connection, the number of "hops" between your router and the provider's server. So how do you tell the internet speed you're really getting? Read this article to find out how to determine your real speed .. it's easier than you think!
Some laptops come with a button to turn the Wi-Fi on or off. If your laptop doesn't have this feature, don't dispair for there is an alternative! You can create Windows desktop shortcuts to do the exact same thing! Follow this link for turning your Windows Wi-Fi on and off!
Many people are not aware that the 5Ghz band is now available for Wi-Fi. 2.4Ghz has been around forever, so almost all wireless devices use it. As a result, the frequency is very crowded as it is also shared with cordless telephones, garage door openers, baby monitors, microwave ovens and more. Even if you don’t have some of these, chances are your neighbors do, so you’ll still suffer from interference and dropped signals due to conflicts.
Both the 2.4 and 5-Ghz bands have pro’s and con’s. 2.4 can go longer distances and through walls / objects much easier but is much more crowded so prone to congestion (ie. slow transmission) and dropped signals. 5-Ghz can handle transmission of larger amounts of data due to less congestion but is less able to penetrate walls and objects. For both 2.4 and 5-Ghz, what channels within those bands you use and share with your neighbors and other devices also affects the quality of your transmission. You’ll need a professional to help determine channel conflicts and to make the proper adjustments. For more information on 2.4 and 5-Ghz wireless bands, see this article or contact TheGoToTechGuru for more information and to setup or improve your Wi-Fi reception. Did you know you could hook up your old stereo system to your home or office Wi-Fi network and play those old records to speakers throughout your home/office? Yes, with the advent of the Internet, it's now possible to listen to your stereo throughout your home or office at minimal cost! For more information, contact The GoTo Tech Guru!
Did you know your home or office Wi-Fi could be suffering from interference from your neighbors? The end-result is that this interference will slow down your Internet access. Unless you are way out in the country, chances are that there are a number of other Wi-Fi networks overlapping your location. The good news is, there is a way to minimize the interference. Although it will likely take a technician to make the proper changes, here is a brief overview of what occurs to cause the Wi-Fi interference.
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Blog AuthorI love technology and how it enhances our lives! Just think, without the Apollo moon missions, we might not have calculators! Imagine!! Archives
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