Random Access

By Bob Arnold

(Canastota, NY) I’ve seen several reports recently of people stealing Internet service from others using the signals from their wireless routers. Not only is this stealing but it could cause the police to pay you a visit with accusations of accessing child pornography on the net.

Wireless routers use radio signals to make the Internet available to mobile devices like Apple’s iPad, netbooks and notebooks as well as ebook readers. They can also be used to replace wired connections to computers and other devices in your home. There’s a big problem with using them however.

When you install a wireless unit in your home they come configured as a totally open system. Basically they will accept any connection from any other wireless device within their range. Usually this is several hundred feet or more depending on the wireless router and the antennas it uses. If you live in a populated area, this can include neighbor’s homes, apartments and even neighboring roads and parking lots. This means that anyone can use your wireless router to access your Internet connection.

If you have one of the connections that has upper limits on how much you can download before your service provider either limits your connection or starts charging you extra fees for going over your limit someone can run up a sizeable bill.

Wireless routers have some security features available that you should be using. The most important is to secure your wireless connection by turning on any encryption features your router may have. See the owner’s manual for your router for directions on how to do this and how to enable the same security features on the equipment that uses the same router.

Basically what this involves is to set your router up so that any device accessing it has to have the same security “key” as the router. This is usually set by typing a long string of letters and numbers into your router then making certain that the devices accessing the router’s wireless signal have the same letters and numbers set in their wireless configuration.

Most home type wireless routers have several levels of security setups built into them. Use the highest levels of security that both your router and the devices using it have in common. The harder you make it for someone to steal access to your router the better.

You might also consider turning off the ability of your router to broadcast the name of your network. This tends to make your router harder to find and would require someone trying to use it to already know the router’s name. Many home routers will let you change their network name so be certain to change it to something unique. DO NOT LEAVE IT SET TO THE DEFAULT NAME! That’s the first thing a hacker will try if they are going to try breaking into your router.

Home routers also have a login name and password to get into their configuration settings. CHANGE THE DEFAULT LOGIN NAME AND PASSWORD. DO NOT leave them at the settings that are the defaults from the factory. Again, those are the first things a hacker will try if they are trying to gain access to your router. Just be sure to record the new login name and password on the inside cover of your owner’s manual.

If you didn’t record or just can’t remember the correct login name and password then you can usually completely reset the router to factory settings by following the reset procedure in the manual. Most of the time pressing and holding the reset button on the router for 10 seconds or so will force a complete reset. Just be aware that you will have to completely re-configure your router if you reset it in this manner. A simple press and release of the reset button should cause your router to reboot as if you unplugged it then plug it back in again. Do this if you can’t seem to connect to the router from all of your remote devices.

Remember that securing your wireless router is entirely up to you. Remember to record all of the new settings and login names and passwords inside your owner’s manual and put the manual where you can easily find it if needed. Otherwise you’re going to have to start from scratch and completely re-configure the router. Securing your wireless router is not something you should take lightly. Having someone use your wireless home router to download child pornography is not something that you should be dealing with.

Bob Arnold is a Canastota resident and long-time technology pro.

Random Access

By Bob Arnold

(Canastota, NY) I think by now some of you have probably heard about the compromise of a major provider of email services to many large businesses. The company is Epsilon and they maintain lists of email addresses used by more than 2,500 businesses to facilitate email communications with many of those businesses clients.

While it isn’t known exactly how many of the millions of email addresses may have been poached by the hackers responsible for the break-in, Epsilon is now saying that “only” 2 percent of their database was compromised. With millions of addresses in the database, that means that possibly hundreds of thousands of email addresses and other personal information may be at risk.

By now, Epsilon has notified the companies involved and they, in turn, should have notified the individual users of the caution they should exercise in responding to any scam-type email that may result. What makes this break-in so nasty is that the hackers who stole the information may now know much more about the individuals involved to be better able to craft an email to scam users into responding.

Say for example that you’ve done business with XYZ Bank (a fictional bank, by the way) and that your information was one of the compromised accounts. Hackers now know that you are indeed a customer of XYZ Bank and that you do have an active account there.

They also know your name and address.

In previous attempts at phishing, the email that you might have gotten from a scammer had to be rather generic in nature, since they didn’t have that information. I personally have gotten scam emails like this from banks and other places I’ve never done business with.

Now, with this information, the scammers can target specific users and address you by specific name and address in an attempt to get you to log into a bogus website in order to get your account information like login name, passwords and possibly credit card information, as well.

A side tactic is for that bad website is to infect your computer with malicious software that steals whatever you type and as many other bits of personal data as possible.

Supposedly, no credit card or other financial information was stolen in this break-in, but you still need to be careful if you get emails appearing to be from a business or anyone else that you may have done business with.

First, DO NOT USE ANY OF THE LINKS PROVIDED IN THE EMAIL!

If you feel that the email is indeed from a legitimate business and that you need to contact them, do it by the normal links you’ve always used. Even better is to call them or email them by a telephone number or email address that you’ve always used.

If you are using Firefox as your web browser you can simply hover your cursor over an email address or link on a web page and look at the bottom of the browser window to see where the link or email address actually points to.

Other web browsers and email programs may also do this, so be sure to verify where the link or email address goes BEFORE responding to it.

DO NOT use the same passwords everywhere. Doing this is a recipe for disaster. Use different passwords for the different businesses that you deal with online and change them periodically to be safe.

GET AND USE a good anti-virus and malware detection program and keep it updated with the latest detection information. Even if you use a Mac system of some type, you need to use virus detection! While many of the viruses out there are targeted at Windows-based computers, the Mac is starting to become popular enough that hackers are now starting to make viruses for it, too.

Macs are NOT immune to getting a virus, so Mac owners need to use the same caution that Windows users should.

Again, use caution whenever you get an email from someone you have done business with over the Internet. With this latest hack, it may be from a scammer attempting to take your money and personal information.

It’s up to you to protect yourself from a scammer or hackers, so don’t blame others if you fall for their attempts to cheat you.

Bob Arnold is a Canastota resident and longtime technology pro.

Random Access

By Bob Arnold

(Canastota, NY – April 2011) I saw a sure sign that summer is coming a week or so ago. I had to look twice to be certain that what I saw was indeed a robin, but I’m glad to report that it wasn’t my imagination after a harder than normal winter here in Central New York.

Spring and summer come a few things that users of almost any kind of electronic gear here should keep in mind.

We all love the warmer temperatures of spring and summer. Unfortunately, some of the electronic gear we’ve come to rely on isn’t so appreciative of the same conditions.

If you’re a photography fan and have a digital camera or even an older film-based camera, then you’ll want to be a bit careful of leaving it in a car for a few hours. It’s possible that temperatures inside a closed car can hit 140 degrees or higher in just an hour or less in bright sunshine.

Almost any electronic device that is built to be carried around may be damaged by temperatures above 100 degrees or so. Even it if doesn’t get any damage, the batteries may not be able to perform properly if exposed to high or low temperatures for prolonged periods of time.

The same is true for laptop computers, such as tablets, notebook systems and many other devices using LCD type displays, since they, too, are subject to damage from temperatures beyond their designed storage limits. Many manufactures specify the maximum range or temperatures that their products will safely handle for storage and use.

Check your owner’s manual for the specifications for your electronic device.

Also, if you’re a digital camera user, you need to be aware that the camera may have limits on temperature tolerance, especially if you are using a digital still camera for shooting video. The imaging chip in many cameras was designed primarily for still use with the ability to do video in limited situations.

Snapping still photos causes much less heat to build up in the imaging chip than the constant use of doing video. Check your camera’s manual for any cautions about using your camera for doing video for more than a few minutes, especially if using your camera when the body of it is exposed to direct sun conditions.

Temperature isn’t the only thing to be aware of, either. If you’re going to pay a visit to any of the area’s beaches this summer, be aware that there are hazards there, too.

When you visit the beach, sand seems to get in places on your body that you didn’t even know you had. The same problem happens to electronic devices. I suggest using gallon-size food storage bags with a sealable closure to store any electronic devices that you’re going to take with you to the beach while you’re not using them. It will help to keep the sand out, along with providing resistance to the extra moisture that being near a body of water brings.

And don’t forget those electronic devices you leave at home when you go on vacation.

You’ll want to unplug any electronic devices like computers, stereo systems, alarm clocks and the like, since they almost always use a small amount of electricity to stay ready to turn on.

Devices like these (including the many “wall warts” that power or recharge small handheld devices) are often called “vampires” since they suck a small amount of power all the time, even if they are not in use.

Unplugging them will keep your electric bill lower while you’re away and help to prevent any damage to those devices from the many thunderstorms that sweep through the upstate New York area over the summer.

Don’t forget to disconnect the Ethernet cable to any network in your home from the cable or DSL equipment, either. While today’s cable or DSL network equipment is better protected from lightning damage than they used to be, it can still provide a direct path to any computer gear connected to it if there happens to be a close lightning strike while you’re away.

Be sure to enjoy the upcoming summer, but remember to be kind to your electronic equipment to protect it from the temperatures and other hazards of summertime here in Upstate New York.

Bob Arnold is a longtime writer and technology pro. He resides in Canastota.

Random Access

By Bob Arnold

(Canastota, NY – March 2011) I’m quite certain that everyone has heard of the recent tragedy in Japan and some of the aftereffects, so I won’t repeat it here. There are a few things that you might not be aware of, though.

Within minutes of the information spreading around the world, the scammers were hard at work making up their plans to siphon off some of the funds that were sure to be collected for aid to Japan. You may have already seen fake emails about organizations collecting money for relief efforts.

While many may be true, other emails and links are complete fake from scammers wanting the money and your own personal information if you are using a credit card to make donations. If you are making a donation, please be sure that whatever organization you are donating to is genuine.

I suggest using the list of organizations on the CNN website, since they’ve made sure that the organizations listed are honest and that whatever funds are received are indeed going to relief efforts. You can find the site at cnn.com/impact if you want to make an on-line donation to one of the groups listed there.

You’ll also find some information on how to make sure that any donation you do make is going to an honest organization and not to scammers.

The lasting effects of the quake and resulting tsunami are going to be around for quite a while. It will take time for the people of Japan and their economy to recover. I’ll leave it to the academics to figure out how long that may take. One thing I am sure of is that the U.S. and other countries will be feeling this for quite a while, as well.

Much of Japan’s infrastructure was damaged or destroyed by the quake itself, and coastal areas were effectively wiped out by the tsunami that followed. Many of their power generation plants (both conventional and nuclear) were damaged.

While many plants are operational again, enough were damaged that repairs are needed that could take months or years.

This means that Japan is now experiencing power problems. Steel plants and other power-hungry manufacturing are now shut down and may not start up again for weeks or months. Hardest hit are auto manufacturing and steel production.

Even the plants that produce auto parts for both new cars and replacement purposes are experiencing rotating power blackouts that could last for weeks or months.

The same is true for any plant that requires electricity to run, and that’s just about every one there. What this means for the rest of the world is a potential shortage of Japanese-made products and the parts to repair them. Everything from cars to TVs is at risk.

Look for higher prices as existing supplies of products made in Japan dwindles and potential problems with getting parts to fix things like cars and trucks manufactured there.

There are also problems with the Internet, too. The quake and tsunami have damaged many of the undersea fiber optic cables that link Japan and parts of Asia to the rest of the world. Capacity has been greatly reduced, so expect the Internet to be slower to respond to and from parts of Asia.

The U.S. military has temporarily blocked access to some websites that require high bandwidth (like YouTube.com and others) for their military bases in the region to allow more of the limited bandwidth to be available for other uses like email communications into and out of Asia.

The fiber optic cables also carried voice circuits, as well as data for the Internet, so telephone service into and out of Japan is reduced, as well. Voice calls might be dropped or may not make it at all during peak periods of use.

Efforts are now under way to repair or replace the broken cables where possible. Unfortunately, some of the cables came ashore in the region damaged severely by the tsunami. Since power is out in those areas, it may be quite a while before complete restoration of service is possible.

The big question for Japan is how much the problem with the nuclear power plants now having major problems is going to hamper the effort to rebuild the country. Hopefully, by the time this column appears in print, the problems will have been resolved and a major catastrophe averted.

Japan and its people are quite resilient, and I and everyone else I’ve talked with hope for the best for them.

Bob Arnold is a longtime writer and technology pro. He resides in Canastota.

Random Access

By Bob Arnold

(Canastota, NY – March 2011) While Apple is taking the next steps in the evolution of its popular iPad, Google is having some major problems with the security of its own applications on its Android operating system.

Last week, Google removed more than 20 applications from its Android app store. The applications were copies of popular apps for their operating system. Besides being “stolen,” the apps were infected by hackers with malicious software (malware) that stole passwords and other information, as well as being capable of downloading other malware that could infect the phone.

According to press releases, more than 50,000 users downloaded the compromised apps, and that’s just on Google’s app store alone.

Google’s Android operating system is open. In effect, anyone is free to write applications for it and to sell them whether on Google’s own application attire or on other app stores run by third parties.

The main problem with this is that there is little to no control over the applications to ensure that they are what they say they are.

Hackers have in this case taken legitimate applications and altered them to include software that steals passwords, runs up telephone bills and possibly download additional software to take control of the smart phone.

If your phone was running one of these infected applications, any login names and passwords you used through the phone are at risk. You should use a non-infected PC to check your accounts to make sure that they have not been compromised and to change the passwords.

Unlike the Android operating system, Apple’s iOS operating system for its iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is considered a closed operating system. Authors may write applications for it under a strict set of rules. In order to distribute those applications, they must submit them to Apple for testing.

If the apps meet the programming guidelines, the applications are put up for sale or downloading only on Apple’s App Store and nowhere else. This provides a degree of security to application users that simply doesn’t exist for Android users.

On March 2, Apple held a press conference to announce the availability of the iPad 2, the next generation of their popular tablet. The prices remain the same, but the features have changed a bit.

The iPad now comes with two video cameras and is about one-third smaller in thickness than the previous model. The front-facing camera does VGA (640 by 480 pixel) video, as well as still pictures, while the rear-facing camera is capable of doing 720p high resolution video and pictures.

Memory for the iPad remains at 16, 32, or 64 gigabytes, depending on which model you buy. The processor in the previous model contained a single core. The new model contains Apple’s new A5 dual core processor and runs at 1 gigahertz.

I won’t go into a long list of the specs of the new iPad 2 here. You can visit Apple’s web site at apple.com and watch an on-line video of Apple’s press event and another video about the new iPad.

Prices range from $499 for a 16 GB model with wi-fi capabilities only to the 64 GB model with wi-fi and cell data capability for $829. Unlike the iPhone, the new iPad 2 will be available in both black and white case colors at the start of sales on March 11.

If you’re planning on buying an iPad, check some of the local stores first. Any of the original models of the iPad may be on sale for $100 off the list price. Both Best Buy and Walmart have sold the tablet in the past and both should also have the new model available after March 11.

Online ordering will be available through the Apple web site, but if you want a tablet in your hands on the 11th, you’ll need to do it in person at the Apple brick-and-mortar stores or at one of their authorized re-sellers.

Personally, I do not find the improvements to the next generation iPad enough to spend $500 to buy a brand new one. The old model meets all of my needs quite nicely for web browsing and checking email when I’m not near any of the computers around the house.

I also see no need to add the cost of a cellular data connection, either, since I really don’t use the iPad away from the house.

If you’re looking to buy a tablet, give the new iPad 2 a look. If you don’t need a cellular data link, the models with wi-fi only might be the right choice for you. Apple indicates that both AT&T and Verizon models of the iPad 2 will be available.

Just keep in mind the extra monthly cost of a data connection if you buy one of these models.

Bob Arnold is a longtime writer and technology pro. He resides in Canastota.