Troubleshooting Wireless Networks
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Posted byTriona Guidry at 3:17 PM 1 comments
Labels: mac, pc, windows, wireless networks
Shame On Linksys For Plain-Text Passwords
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
I was minding my own business, installing a wireless router for a client, when Linksys gave me the screaming heebie-jeebies.
At first I was pleased with the latest Linksys/Cisco installer. It's become common knowledge that wireless routers aren't secure out of the box, but what isn't widely known is how to configure them correctly. So the wireless makers have been improving the install process to help folks secure their wireless networks. The installer for the Linksys WRT110 walks you through password-protecting first the router itself, then the wireless network. Nice, I thought, until I got to the last screen...
Heebie-jeebies! Bad enough to display those passwords right there on the screen, but saving them by default to a text file on the desktop?! Text files are like candy to viruses, easy to devour. How soon before some malcontent writes a virus that searches for those text files? Hackers already scan the wireless networks of hapless users, hoping to get in with a default password. Saving plain text files of passwords is like leaving the code to the burglar alarm on the front door. The Linksys installer gives people a false sense of security, helping to change the passwords then revealing them in plain sight.
Shame on Linksys for such an obvious security gaffe, and let's hope they eliminate it in their next installer version.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 9:49 AM 0 comments
Labels: consumers, security, wireless networks
Planned Computer Obsolescence
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Planned obsolescence is the idea that computer manufacturers deliberately design hardware to force customers into continual replacement.
Does planned computer obsolescence exist? If not, recent manufacturing quality (or lack thereof) certainly leads to that impression. I am positive that computer printers made fifteen years ago last longer than those made today. Cases in point: the high percentage of ancient HP LaserJet printers I encounter, bless their little electronic hearts. On the other hand, newer printers of all brands, especially the low-end models, seem to suffer a less-than-two-year lifespan.
Computers are the same. That $500 PC... well, you may get what you pay for in a few years. Then again, you could buy a $5,000 PC and have the same experience. In general, Macs seem to resist planned obsolescence more readily, perhaps because Apple's stranglehold on the Mac hardware market limits competition. Even so, design decisions like the Intel Macs force customers to invest in new hardware.
Sometimes you have no choice but to follow the industry's "rip and replace" mantra. A recent flaw in the wireless security protocol WPA may soon mean that if your wireless access point is more than a few years old, you will have to replace it or risk being hacked. But it's not always feasible to spend yet more money on another piece of equipment when you feel like you just bought the one you have.
What can you do? Don't worry if your computer isn't the latest and greatest. If it does what you want, fine. If it's slow, try software repairs before resorting to a new system, or see if you can upgrade rather than replace. Not only will this curtail planned obsolescence, but it's better for your budget as well as our ewaste-encrusted planet.
Next month I'll share with you the biggest secret in the tech world, Should You Buy PC Or Mac? If you have any computer questions, click Comments below this article, and be sure to sign up for the email version of Tech Tips for bonus tips and product reviews.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 4:40 PM 0 comments
Labels: computer help, computer stores, consumers, mac, small business, windows, wireless networks
WiFi Poaching
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Admit it, we've all done it: used someone's unsecured wireless connection without their knowledge.
It's called WiFi poaching, and there's been debate as to whether it's actually illegal. In Britain, there have been prosecutions for poaching, but in the U.S. the legality is less clear.
Some argue that those who run unsecured connections set themselves up for the situation. But most wireless access points are unsecured by default. Is it the fault of the unwitting consumer, who likely has no idea?
Either way, it's best to protect yourself by enabling security on your wireless access point. The best security is an encrypted passphrase called WPA. There's another standard for passphrases (WEP) but don't use it, as it's easily cracked. Your access point's Web management feature will allow you to set this passphrase, which you will then have to enter on each computer connecting to your wireless network.
It goes without saying--don't give out your passphrase! And while you're in that web management panel, change your access point's default administrator password, to keep snoops from resetting your security.
Do you think WiFi poaching is unethical? Discuss the issue here (click Comments below any article), and be sure to sign up for the email version of Tech Tips for bonus tips and product reviews.
[This article is reprinted from the March 2008 issue of Triona's Tech Tips. Look for more computer security tips in the October issue.]
Posted byTriona Guidry at 11:44 AM 0 comments
Labels: beginners, mac, security, windows, wireless networks
Is Your Computer A Zombie?
Saturday, July 26, 2008
[This article is reprinted from the February 2007 issue of Triona's Tech Tips. I continue to see many zombied computers on my daily rounds, so be sure to keep your antivirus and other protections updated. See the sidebar (below right) for Windows and Mac security options.]
It seems a strange time of year to think about monsters, but there could be a zombie lurking right in front of you. Your computer is a prime target in the botnet wars, waged by criminals making money at your expense.
Zombies are compromised computers, organized into so-called botnets and offered to the highest bidder. Advertising, spam, spyware–most of it comes from zombied computers, their owners blissfully unaware. Security experts estimate there are up to 3.5 million zombies active worldwide, and at least 250,000 are added daily. Fifty percent of the targets are home computers, and new attack variants are up 536% from last year (according to Ciphertrust). The statistics alone are scary.
If that weren't enough, it's hard to tell the good guys from the bad. I almost flipped the first time I saw one of those commercials on TV, offering to "stop computer viruses". It was from a company that has been known to distribute spyware! How is the average consumer supposed to know whom to trust? It's hard enough for an IT pro like me to keep up.
So let me tell you how you can protect yourself and your computers from this nightmare. The best defense is prevention. Once your computer is infected, the only sure way to disinfect it is to reinstall from scratch. The standard safety rules apply: use a firewall, and keep your protection software up-to-date. As I've mentioned, you should avoid opening attachments from people you don't know, or that you're not expecting. You'll want to curb your enthusiasm for e-cards and those cute PowerPoint presentations that make the rounds on any given holiday.
Know who makes the software and services you use. Symantec and McAfee may have their quirks, but they're not going to install spyware on your computer. (Or if they do, a la the Sony BMG fiasco a while back, people are sure to find out!) Just because a company has a slick website or a special offer, does not make its product reliable. You should know that there are some nefarious companies out there masquerading as their legitimate counterparts, down to copying the same logos and color scheme. They sometimes use Web addresses that are misspelled versions of the true address. This happens with banks, too, and it's called phishing, a term you've probably heard. Such ploys can be very convincing. When in doubt, you are always wise to type your destination manually, instead of clicking a link.
Please be careful when using public network connections, such as WiFi hotspots or Internet-cafe computers. Your data could easily be captured in transit. I would particularly avoid using a credit card number on any public system. There are programs called keyloggers that record every key you type, and they're waiting for such juicy morsels. Your own computer could be infected with a keylogger, too, if you wind up with one of the nastier spyware versions out there.
How do you know if you're faced with a zombie? The most common symptoms are slow performance, and tons of pop-up ads. If this sounds familiar, it's time to update your software and run some scans. Zombies can be notoriously difficult to destroy, so you may need to call upon a professional exterminator like yours truly to be fully rid of them.
Posted byTriona Guidry at 7:11 AM 0 comments
Labels: antivirus, beginners, keyloggers, phishing, security, spyware, windows, wireless networks