TP-Link TL-MR3020 3G Wireless N Router
TP-Link just announced a new product in their stable of connectivity devices called the TL-MR3020 Portable 3G/3.75G Wireless N Router.
This little gadget will allow you to plug your USB 3G modem into and it in turn lets multiple Wi-Fi devices to share that connection!
Sure, there are other devices out there that do the same thing, but this one has some distinctive features, such as a firewall with port forwarding & port triggering, UPnP, Parental Controls, Access Schedules, MAC address filtering and a 3G/WAN failover function!
With one of these and your 3G USB modem, your iPad, Android tablet, X-Box, notebook computer and any other Wi-Fi device can be connected to the internet wherever you are! This could be the perfect camping or tailgating companion. It could make for backup connectivity for your business as well.
These are priced at under 40 dollars and they are compatible with over 120 UMTS/HSPA/EVDO 3G USB modems. If you need more information or want to get one, give us a call at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com
Last week I was discussing RIAA letters to people who had supposedly downloaded music illegally and it turned out it was neighbors using their wifi connection.
I wonder if anyone was paying attention? If you did not secure your wireless access point after that, then maybe THIS will encourage you to do so…
A dispute with neighbors turned ugly back in 2009, and one man used the wireless access point of one neighbor to make it appear as if they were downloading child porn and more. The article says the man hacked into the access point, but chances are good, at least at first, he did not have to do any “hacking” at all.
Read more here:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/07/13/wifi.hacking.neighbor.sentenced.wired/index.html?hpt=te_bn15
Secure those APs kiddies! If you are running a business, you should be even more concerned. Want to add a little extra protection? Remove the broadcast of SSID, sure it will not matter to someone who is intent on getting in, but it does at least make it a little less visible to the casual observer.
Should you require help in the Greenville / Upstate SC area, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com
The time has come to replace that old analog phone system in your small business and upgrade to VoIP (Voice over IP) technology! The prices have never been better.
One interesting option is the Cisco Small Business Unified Communications 300 series. A few features include:
The UC320 system’s specific features:
If this sounds of interest to your Greenville / Upcountry business, please give Homeland Secure IT a call at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com. We are a Cisco Small Business Select Partner offering sales, support and consultation!
Secure your Wi-Fi Connection with a VPN
WSPA’s Amy Wood (@TVAmy) had a great segment on last night (2011-02-07) in which she had Doug Cone (@nullvariable) a local web/graphics “devsigner” discussing the dangers of using public Wi-Fi. You can find that story here.
He demonstrated a tool which allows even the most novice of “hackers” to see a list of others who are using any given open wireless access point. He did this at a coffee shop and then went around and scared the bejeebus out of people by showing them how much information was at his fingertips.
In a discussion on Facebook the other day with Doug and Russell Tripp (@RussellTripp), I suggested that those two get together and product a video showing the same information in depth and then explaining how to protect yourself from this all-too-real security threat. I believe they may be doing that as a follow-up to the WSPA story and will post that information here as a reply when that becomes a reality.
In the mean time, I thought I give some info about one tool that is both readily available and super-affordable that you can use to secure your connection when using a public Wi-Fi hotspot. That tool is a VPN, or Virtual Private Network. Yes, the same VPN technology that has been around for a very long time and used in businesses and larger corporations, and it is so easy, a caveman could do it. (I’m sure a lawsuit is forthcoming for my use of that slogan)
A VPN connection established to your home will allow you to connect to the open wireless network of your choice, build a “tunnel” to your home connection, and then send all traffic through the wireless network through the encrypted tunnel, providing a very secure transport.
All that is needed is a VPN capable router or firewall at your home. But wait, you say you can’t afford a Cisco ASA 5505 (or WatchGuard or SonicWALL security appliance). That’s okay, you don’t need one.
You may already have a compatible home router that can be setup with the free DD-WRT (the website http://www.dd-wrt.com has a list of compatible routers) which provides VPN capability to your 40 dollar Linksys or similar device!
The setup is pretty straight-forward once the device end is ready. Connecting takes only seconds.
The VPN is not just for Microsoft Windows, but also Apple Mac OSX, iPad, linux, freebsd, solaris, etc. Most smartphones including Android, iPhone, Windows Mobile and Blackberry should have the ability to utilize your VPN too.
If you don’t have a compatible router, you could optionally use OpenVPN on your PC, and last but not least, you could use the OpenVPN HOSTED service. The hosted solution comes with a price tag, but for many it may be worth it to protect their privacy.
If you are fortunate enough to work for a company with a VPN already in place, you could probably use that as an option, assuming the IT policy permits you to do so.
Should you require assistance in Greenville or the Upstate for your personal or business VPN needs, we are partners with Cisco, WatchGuard, SonicWALL, ZyXEL and have a solution that is right for you. Call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com.
Homeland Secure IT Alert
Homeland Secure IT Alert for Saturday, October 30, 2010
FireSheep add-on for Firefox browser is proof-of-concept why you should NOT use public / unencrypted Wi-Fi to access without extreme caution.
Last week, a tool was released that makes it possible for anyone to easily hijack your web sessions from within a browser view. When I say anyone, that means anyone. It has always been possible to do this, but this tool is so easy to use, a child could do it, or is that a caveman could do it? Either way, once the browser extension is installed, the hacker can see a list of everyone using the public unencrypted Wi-Fi network he/she is on and what sites they are on.
The person can see in a browser sidebar WHO is logged into Facebook, Google, Twiter, Dropbox, WordPress, Evernote, Amazon, Flickr, etc, and then they simply click on your session to be logged in as you. Yes, they become YOU… It works because it hijacks your cookie which is sent in the clear.
So think twice before you log into some site via public enencrypted Wi-Fi!!!
What can you do about this? Good quesiton.
Option 1: Avoid public unencrypted Wi-Fi, defeating the purpose of having easy access, but offering you the highest level of protection.
Option 2: Only use sites that offer SSL/Secure logons – Actually this is sketchy because to sign into the “secure” section of most sites, the session info is still sent in the clear, so be careful.
Option 3: Use a VPN back to a gateway at your office. This insures all your traffic is encrypted.
Option 4: Try information that is available here: Force TLS
It doesn’t matter whether you are using Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, Linux, etc, this is not a *bug*, it is the nature of the beast.
Be careful out there…. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com.
Homeland Secure IT Alert
Ecobee Smart Thermostat
Web Enabled Thermostats: A not-so-new technology is becoming mainstream due to the desire to save money and be “green”.
If you have been looking to purchase a new HVAC system for your home or business, you may have been given the option to include a thermostat that enables you to view statistics & make changes to the settings using a web browser or an app on your phone. The price ranges from a round $100.oo to as much as $500.oo at the time you purchase a new system, and you promised that it will pay for itself by allowing you to set schedules to reduce the costs of operating your system during times you are away from the home/business.
Some utility companies, such as UTX in Texas have plans you can sign up for that will enable you to get a FREE web enabled thermostat, and I believe you only pay around $75.oo for the installation. Ultra good deal in my opinion.
X-300 Web Enabled Thermostat
But what about those of us with older systems? Fortunately, the majority of web enabled thermostat manufacturers have designed their units with us in mind. Instead of targeting the new HVAC market, they have built devices that can be used with any system, whether it is a heat pump, or an oil fired unit, there is a model for you.
The benefits are as mentioned before… Ability to control your system from a web browser, ability to control your system from a phone with either a web browser or an app loaded on it for that thermostat. Some thermostats feature the ability to control other devices, such as lighting, and some have the ability to sense a contact closure. You can see a graph of system usage and override scheduled events, as well as easily SEE the schedules, rather than paging through one day at a time as you do on older programmable thermostats. Some units feature alerts, should your system not cool or heat properly, which would be perfect for those who have unattended / vacation properties.
X-300 Thermostat Control via iPhone App
What about security? Can someone “hack” my home? Sure! Anything that is accessible via the internet could potentially be exploited by attackers, however, these devices are currently low-profile making them an unlikely target. Most of the manufacturers claim security through encryption of the data stream.
Where do you get one of these? Online vendors have a large selection of web thermostats, and your HVAC vendor probably has their favorite. Some quality brands are Ecobee, Control By Web, Schlage / Trane, Proliphix, BAYweb, among others. Which model is right for you should be based upon exactly what features you require. For instance, some have a Wi-Fi option to eliminate the CAT-V cable run.
Can I really recoup my investment? That remains to be seen. I am sure a $150.oo unit could pay for itself in a year or more if you are replacing a non-programmable thermostat, but for some of the higher end products, I’m thinking that realistically you are looking at a couple years… Your mileage may vary.
If you have any question about these, please email info@homelandsecureit.com, call 864-990-4748×201 or respond here! If you have one, tell us what you like best about them.
Typical Cisco 802.11n Certified Access Point
Late in 2009 the 802.11n wireless LAN standard was finally ratified by the IEEE, making way for a host of manufacturers to produce products that are certified with this standard.
What is 802.11n exactly? It is an upgrade to the 802.11b/g standard that has been in use for years in homes and businesses around the world. It’s the same, but different! Think of it as Wi-Fi on steroids.
Just how fast is it? Five times faster throughput than 802.11g and even faster throughput possible through the use of different formats of this new standard. Imagine a wireless LAN having throughput greater than your wired network!
“But I’ve already got 802.11n” you might say. While that is true, depending upon when you obtained it, you probably have the 802.11n Draft product that may not have all the bells and whistles of the post ratification standard and certified devices that are coming on the market.
The real secret sauce will be what is known as “three-spacial” and “four-spacial” systems… These will will make it a toss-up between a wired 10/100 LAN and wireless, even in heavy use environments.
When purchasing 802.11n equipment, you may wish to insure it is on the Wi-Fi Alliance’s list of certified devices which can be found HERE. Every major manufacturer is offering a line of products with the new standard, including our favorite, Cisco.
Need another reason to consider upgrading current 802.11b/g systems to the new standard? How about range? 802.11n has a more consistent coverage area!
If you would like additional information or to purchase new WLAN equipment, please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com
Tanya Thompson / @thompsontanya commented about a device on Twitter this morning that caught my eye… It is the Withings / @Withings Wi-Fi connected scale, which uses network connectivity to log and track your weight loss (or gain) among other things.
You can view your trends with a web interface, and access the data with your iPhone. I believe something like this really could encourage you to lose some weight. Recently there have been news stories which cite studies about weight loss and the results indicate that those who use internet weight tracking actually do lose more weight and manage to maintain that loss better than those who do not.
The thing that bothers me is that it will Tweet out your weight once a week to Twitter. All I could think was exactly what it would be tweeting when I stepped on it… Something like, “HELP ME! This fat guy is smushing me!” is probably what it would have to say about me! Still, it is an interesting gadget and I would love to have it. Who knows, maybe I will order one. Follow me on Twitter to see what this thing has to say!
Trend Micro Internet Security is great for business or personal use!
In previous posts I have primarily focused on Trend Micro Worry Free Business Security products which is a perfect solution for a small, medium or even larger company who has a server to host it on and five computers or more. (With WFBS Hosted, you do not need a server to host it on, it is hosted in the cloud). The reason for that is because we service a lot of companies and organizations who have 5 or more computers.
But what about those of you who have only one or two computers at home, your small business or a non-profit? Fortunately, Trend Micro has a product especially for you! It is called Trend Micro Internet Security, and its big brother Trend Micro Internet Security Pro!
Trend Micro Internet Security is an outstanding product which has never let us down. We have hundreds of seats of Trend Micro in use currently without a single unhappy client! The “footprint” of this anti-virus, anti-malware, anti-spyware, anti-spam product is much smaller than some of the other packages that are available, meaning that it uses less resources, leaving more for your important applications (and even gaming).
Here are some of the features direct from the Trend Micro website:
Surf the web with confidence
With easy-to-use security features, Trend Micro Internet Security protects your personal information when you email or surf the web:
- 20% smaller file size, 20% faster scan time
- Detects and removes viruses, spyware, and other malicious threats from your computer, email, instant messages, and downloads
- Proven leadership in anti-spam technology, including email and image spam
- Finds and blocks untrustworthy links in email and instant messages
- Stops websites from installing dangerous downloads on your computer
- Quick Scan allows you to quickly find and remove most malware when you are running short on time.
Protect your children online
Enhanced parental controls help you to protect your children from inappropriate content when they go online.
- Block websites with inappropriate content based on specific categories
- Choose when and for how long your children are allowed to go online
- Monitor online activity reports to fine-tune your controls if necessary
Enjoy smart features tailored to your activities
Trend Micro Internet Security safeguards your computer and personal information against the latest threats:
- Prevent unauthorized software from changing your critical applications, without impacting your PC performance
- Pause security updates or scans when you give presentations, watch movies, or play games
- Automatically prevent suspicious software on USB devices from opening.
- Helps you to easily manage all the devices connected to your home network
Security made easy.
Protect your personal information with easy-to-use Trend Micro Internet Security. Surf the Internet without slowing down your computer.
Keep your personal information safe — order today!
Protect up to 3 PCs per household for $49.95 per year.
100% Money-Back Guarantee
All Trend Micro consumer software purchased through the Trend Micro online store have an unconditional 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee. For purchases made elsewhere, the retailer’s terms and conditions apply.
HOW TO TRY:
You can get a 30 day trial of Trend Micro Internet Security or Internet Security Pro for FREE by visiting HERE. Simply click the “Free Trial” link, and fill out a little information and you can download the product and see for yourself how well it works on your system before committing to purchase. During the trial, if you decide to purchase, you can purchase direct from Trend Micro or through your favorite reseller (I hope that is us!).
HOW TO BUY:
You can buy from Homeland Secure IT, LLC by calling 864-990-4748 ext 201 or emailing info@homelandsecureit.com. We offer sales of this product for one computer, 3 computers, dozens or even thousands at reasonable prices. We can provide it as a retail package, or licensing (for 5 computers or more) which helps cut down on packaging and shipping costs because the licenses are delivered electronically.
In addition to offering sales of Trend Micro Anti-Virus, we also perform installations, upgrades, virus cleanup & removal, as well as the full range of computer repair / service in Greenville and Upstate SC!
Only a few days left until we giveaway the Wireless IP / Network Security Camera so be sure to get signed up to win….. Visit this URL for more information or hit the “follow me” link over on the right hand side of this page.
Next month, we will probably give away some awesome Trend Micro Anti-Virus product!!!!!
Thanks for playing…
