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Thursday, 05 August 2010 08:37 |
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I think most people today know they need to secure their home wireless networks. If someone isn't securing their WLAN, it's because they don't care, they want to provide free access to others, or they don't understand how to secure it. If you are providing free Internet access to others via your home WLAN, you might want to think about the ramifications. First and foremost, I completely understand the desire to share the Internet. I'm not saying, "Don't do that." I'm just saying that if you are going to do it, secure your WLAN first, and then invite your neighbors to use it via the secured link rather than an open link. Here's why.
When someone creates an open WLAN, it means they are choosing not to employ security mechanisms. This means anyone can get on the WLAN without configuring an encryption method. All the information flowing across that WLAN is unencrypted. Anyone who is within proximity of the WLAN can easily capture that information and use it for whatever nefarious task they have in mind.
Hackers can use your open WLAN in several ways. They can take the information they've captured and use it against its owner. For example, someone can capture your Facebook session (including the username and password) and use that against you on Facebook. They can login and change your password so that you no longer have access to your account. Hackers could also capture banking information, IM sessions, Skype calls, anything you do from your Wi-Fi-connected device, and use it against you... simply because you made it so easy for them to do it.
Another way people abuse open WLANs is to use it to connect to the Internet. From there they could be uploading porn or stolen movies or music. When the authorities track down where the illegal files came from, they aren't going to find the hacker, they're going to find your WLAN and they will prosecute you... all because you didn't set a simple passphrase on your wireless router and Wi-Fi devices.
Hackers can also use your wired network against you via your open WLAN. An unscrupulous invader will attack wired devices that are connected to the same router that provides you with Wi-Fi and Internet access. They circumvent the security of devices inside your network and establish "bots" on them so that those devices do all the work while the hacker is disconnected. A compromised network device can be used to store illegal files, carry on illegal activities, or send out spam during off-hours. When your Internet Service Provider (ISP) determines the illegal or disallowed activities are coming from your network connection, they shut off your account and cause you legal problems that you don't want to deal with.
All this can happen simply because you wanted to be a Good Samaritan. Go ahead, be a good neighbor, just secure your WLAN. Only provide access to those who request it and whom you feel comfortable granting access. You can still be the Good Samaritan... you'll just be a lot more comfortable with the security it provides you and your family. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 05 August 2010 08:46 |
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Motorola - Destined for mediocrity? |
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Wednesday, 21 July 2010 08:49 |
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So Motorola is selling off major pieces of their business. The most recent to go is their cellular-based divisions that handle WiMAX, LTE and other cellular-based technologies which is being sold to Nokia. Next will likely be their handset (cell phones) and set-top-box (cable) business. What will happen with their radio division, the Wi-Fi-based solutions division, and other parts of the company? It'll be interesting to see the sell-off occur over the next year or so but I wonder how that's going to impact their existing customers.
Motorola was founded in 1928. They've been pioneers in radio, TV, cellular and other technologies. It's disheartening to see such an established company having to deal with these issues but hopefully they'll come out of it better than they were. I fully believe that America needs companies like Motorola. We need to continue our tradition of building technologically advanced solutions in the USA and let the rest of the world copy us rather than USA copying others. Moto, to me, is like GE, Ford, and Cisco. These are all prime examples of American-based ingeniuty, persistance, and sweat-equity and we need to keep these institutions, not farm them out to others.
My first cell phone was a Motorola DynaTAC. It was ugly and heavy, but it was so well-made I could have used it as a weapon if needed. The next phone I carried after the DynaTAC was a piece of junk that only lasted a few months until it had to be replaced because I accidently dropped it. When I dropped the DynaTAC, I'd just piece it back together and continue using it. The point here isn't that it was an innovative device... it was just well-made and did the job for which it was designed. Maybe Moto should get back to that philosophy... maybe all of us should. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 July 2010 09:28 |
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Monday, 19 July 2010 18:47 |
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Why three resumes? I get asked that on occasion so I thought I'd address it here. First, I'm not looking for a job. I really, really enjoy working for Cisco as a wireless solutions architect. I am constantly challenged in the projects in which I am involved and Cisco treats me and my family well.
The reason why my resumes are posted here is so that I can easily keep them up-to-date in an acceptable format for my industry. I've had my resume on the Internet since 1994. In the past, my resume was in "proposal format". This is so the resume can be used as a consulting sales tool to show existing or prospective clients the skills a consultant has and why he or she is eligible to bill at a certain rate. I was a consultant long before I became a Cisco employee.
I have three resumes now because one emphasizes my technical skills and current position as a wireless solutions architect, another emphasizes my management experience, and the last is for the volunteer work I do as a search and rescue team member. Each resume is unique in its own respect. There have been times when I was required to submit a specific type of resume for the different work I do inside Cisco and for the volunteer work I do outside Cisco.
Keeping my resume up-to-date helps me keep an eye on the areas I need to concentrate on if I want to advance in my position. I also use them it to track significant events in my career.
If you don't have a current resume, I highly recommend you update yours immediately. It'll help you understand where you want to go with your career over the next few years and, almost as importantly, where you've been. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 19 July 2010 18:48 |
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Internet growth: Are you ready for the Video Internet? |
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Wednesday, 21 July 2010 07:46 |
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The Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) is the company's ongoing effort to forecast and analyze the growth and use of IP networks worldwide. Cisco VNI findings indicate what Cisco has consistently professed—that the network is playing an ever-increasing role in our daily lives. Because IP networking is part of Cisco's DNA, the forecast helps Cisco—and its customers—gain greater insight into what's coming next.
- Global IP traffic will increase by a factor of four from 2009 to 2014, approaching 64 exabytes per month in 2014, compared to approximately 15 exabytes per month in 2009.
- By 2014, annual global IP traffic will reach almost three-fourths of a zettabyte (767 exabytes). A zettabyte is a trillion gigabytes.
- By 2014, the various forms of video (TV, VoD, Internet Video, and P2P) will exceed 91 percent of global consumer traffic.
- By 2014, global online video will approach 57 percent of consumer Internet traffic (up from 40 percent in 2010).
- Globally, mobile data traffic will double every year through 2014, increasing 39 times between 2009 and 2014.
- For the first time ever, online Internet video will surpass peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing as the top Internet traffic contributor by the end of this calendar year (2010).
- Face-to-face communications via the Internet will grow sevenfold by 2014—and the global online video community will exceed 1 billion users.
- By 2014, 3D and HD video is predicted to comprise 42 percent of total consumer Internet video traffic.
If you are interested, you can read more here:
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/ns827/networking_solutions_sub_solution.html#~forecast |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 July 2010 07:49 |
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Identity theft and credit card companies |
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Monday, 19 July 2010 16:13 |
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Recently, again, my credit card number was used by some unscrupulous individual or group to purchase something I did not approve. This is the second time this has happened in two years. Fortunately for me, I caught the initial "test" purchase and canceled my card before they could purchase anything expensive. This was their test to see if the card and security number was valid, I assume.
I saw a purchase of $4.82 come across my card so I checked it out, knowing that I hadn't purchased anything from the company in question. A sub-second search on Google returned a result that the phone number and name of the company was known to be associated with an identity theft crime ring which is why I immediately canceled the card. I was glad I caught it but my primary thought was "Why the heck wasn't this identified first by Visa and immediately denied before getting approved?"
Why am I better at identifying invalid purchases than Visa or any other credit card company? I assume it's just too costly for Visa and others to "manage" and easier for them to reimburse me rather than prevent it but that kind of thinking is what got us in this mess in the first place. If credit card companies were proactive and made more secure ways of authenticating transactions, we'd have much less identity theft. It doesn't take a genius to steal credit card information because of the way credit cards work. All a thief needs is a valid number and sometimes a valid security code. With that basic information they can place orders all day long with no other questions asked.
With the current process in place, this problem will only become worse. I'd love it if someone could force the credit card companies to increase their security but the unfortunate reality is that, to them, it's just not worth it. |
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Last Updated on Monday, 19 July 2010 18:49 |
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