IP SurveysInternet Security and Information

1) Verizon FIOS has taken the number one spot with the highest customer satisfaction ratings. Although it isn’t every where yet, their network is rapidly expanding.
2) Cablevision Optimum Online takes the spot for the fastest cable internet service. Fast speeds of 30mbps come at a reasonable price.
3) At&t Basic DSL comes in as the best budget internet. While this wont be the fastest, it will get the job done for an occasional e-mail checker and basic web browser.

I’m sure the average home in America probably now has internet, and on top of that, wireless internet. While every router I have ever seen comes with at least the option to secure your network with WEP, it still amazes me how many people ignore it. Here’s a few reasons why you should secure your wireless network:

1) Your internet, your responsibility. If someone logs into your network and downloads illegal software, it is your responsibility when the FBI knocks on your door.
2) It keeps your internet running faster. The more people on your network, the slower it is. This especially applies in apartment buildings.
3) No freeloaders. How do you feel about someone stealing the internet you’re paying for so they don’t have to pay for your own?
4) Protect your personal information. Allowing someone onto your wireless network allows them the ability to possibly access your computer. This means every file on it is potentially vulnerable to someone else seeing it.
5) Protect your passwords. Data is sent over the wireless network in packets. Someone who is on your network can intercept these packets and decode usernames and passwords stored in them.

Hopefully this is enough to convince you to secure your own wireless network and remember, WPA is always better than WEP.

After discussing what phishing is previously I figured we should discuss how to prevent it. Here’s a list of what to do to help keep your information safe:

1) Always check the url before entering your information. If it the web address is not from the site you meant to go, do not enter any information.
2) Beware of poor grammar. Often phishers are from other countries and do not use the best grammar when creating their fake website
3) Pay attention to faulty security security certificates. If you get a popup saying the certificate is not valid, double check everything before entering your information
4) Copy and paste all links instead of clicking on them. This prevents you from being redirected to a different site than what the link says without you knowing it.
5) If you think you have entered your information into a phishing scam, immediately go to the original website and change your password. If possible contact the owner of the site as well to let them know.

These 5 tips should be a good start to keeping your information safe!

Phishing, by definition, is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Often these are carried out by the hacker sending an e-mail that directs you to a website that looks like the original, but is actually fake. From there a user will enter their username and password into the fake site which then sends that information to the hacker. After that the user is directed to the real site where they reenter their information and actually login, leading them to believe that the first time they entered their information it was an error

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