40Tech

I’ve recently started having issues with my WiFi network, such as dropouts and slowness. One of the first steps I’ve taken to address the problem is to try to determine if I’m getting interference from other networks. To see nearby networks, and what channels they’re using, I’ve found WiFi Stumbler to be valuable.

One of the bigger security-related stories over the past week concerns a vulnerability in WiFi Protected Setup (WPS). WPS is designed to be an easy way for inexperienced users to set up a secure network, using methods such as inputing a PIN from your router into your computer or other device. The problem is that the PIN, which is 8 digits long, is susceptible to brute force attacks. In fact, a free tool named Reaver can crack that PIN in just a few hours. This vulnerability exists regardless of the kind of security you’re using on your network, so even WPA2 is at risk. This means that the kid next door could get Reaver running, go off and watch a movie, and a few hours later he is in your network. The solution? Turn off WPS. Unfortunately, you can’t do this with modern Linksys routers.

Telnet is an old outdated protocol that is used for remote command line administration on various devices such as Cisco routers. I would recommend the use of SSH over Telnet in any circumstance; however I still find the Telnet command useful for testing mail servers and for checking open TCP ports.

Follow these instructions to enable Telnet on Windows 7.

As technology increasingly creeps into our lives, we have more devices that require Internet or network connectivity. In the past, many of us had a computer or two on our networks. Now, we have gaming consoles, DVR’s, streaming devices, and more. In my house, I count 10 devices that regularly connect to my network, not counting my smartphone. How many devices are connected to your network? What types of devices are connected? Let us know in the comments.

According to a Dutch study, our beloved Wi-Fi — the stuff that large populations of the planet now use in their homes, their workplaces, where they shop, where they drink coffee, and pretty much everywhere else they go — may be killing our trees. Or at least contributing to it. The researchers of Wageningen University say that more analysis is required to reach a solid conclusion on the matter, but so far, it looks like the particular radiation that is Wi-Fi is not at all interested in becoming a tree-hugger.

By now, you’ve probably heard of Firesheep, the Firefox plugin that makes it trivial for someone on an unsecured WiFi network to hack user login info for many social networks and email services.  Yesterday, ZScaler Security released BlackSheep, a Firefox plugin to alert you if someone is using Firesheep on your network.  This is promising, but can also lull you into a false sense of security.  Here’s how you can really protect yourself over WiFi.

Are we approaching the day where remote access software will be meeting its grim reaper – the cloud?  A few months ago, we compared LogMeIn and Teamviewer, two popular choices for accessing your PC when away from home or the office.  How often do you need to access your PC remotely, though?  Now that we now live in a cloud-based world, where we let third parties manage our data, how will consumer remote access products survive?

If your wireless router doesn’t give you the coverage that you need, or if you want to broadcast your Wireless N and Wireless G signals from different devices for speed purposes, then you should consider setting up a wireless access point.  You may not need to purchase additional hardware, as a spare wireless router sitting around your house may do the trick.