XFER Blog

If you recently set up a new Internet service account with your provider, they may have hooked you up with a two-in-one modem and router device. Is this modem/router combo the appropriate device for your business, though? The answer is no, for many reasons.

Back in the early days of wireless Internet connectivity, setting up your router was a challenge. Fortunately, this is no longer the case, and it’s a pretty simple process. However, that is not to say that there aren’t better ways of doing things as compared to others. Let’s go over a few things that you’ll want to address as you’re setting up your wireless router.

Your wireless router handles a lot of the tough work for your business, and as such, it’s important that it’s protected and secured as best as can be. If you want to secure your router, we recommend that you use the following best practices to make it happen.

Ordinarily, one of the best ways to protect your organization’s infrastructure is to make sure any and all patches administered to the software you use are applied as soon as possible after they’ve been released. However, patches don’t help against threats that aren’t discovered at the moment they are released. The recent spread of BCMUPnP_Hunter botnet shows that it’s not enough for people to keep patching their systems.

For many businesses, a wireless network connection plays a large role in what they do. The people who make your organization work require access to a continuous Internet connection to ensure collaboration can happen with minimal trouble, but it also means that more productivity can happen throughout the workday on your employees’ terms. Therefore, the problems that come from a poor wireless connection can present a considerable hurdle for your business to overcome.

A new type of malware is targeting routers in what is considered a large enough threat that even the FBI is addressing it. Even worse, a router isn’t necessarily a device that you think would be vulnerable to attack from a hacker. What can you do to keep your business’ Internet access points secure from hacking attacks? Let’s dig in to the details about what the VPNFilter malware does and how you can address it.

Hundreds of millions of people use wireless Internet connections every day, and as a result, hackers are taking that as a challenge. They are now starting to develop malware that targets people through their routers. Recently, security researchers at Kaspersky Lab have discovered the malware named Slingshot. The code is designed to spy on PCs through a multi-layer attack that targets MikroTik routers. Today we take a look at Slingshot, and other router-based malware and what you can do about it.

While many may want their Internet to be faster, not many realize that their router may be contributing to the problem. For this week’s tip, we’ll discuss how to configure your router for a faster Internet connection.

The next time you look at your device’s available Wi-Fi connections when in public, take a look at what some of the local connection names are. Chances are that you’ll see some names that match a nearby organization or family. Others might still be using the default SSID, like Linksys/Netgear-something-or-other. Others might get a little more creative. The latter example may have the right idea; using an obscure wireless network name is much more secure than naming your connection after what it’s associated with.

Your wireless router is both an integral part of your business’s online infrastructure, and a critical part of your home computing environment. Therefore, you need to make sure that your router is broadcasting a clear signal. Here are some tips on how to keep your wireless signal as strong as possible, regardless of where you are in the office.

If your wireless router is an archaic piece of machinery from the turn of the century, you owe it to yourself to upgrade to something a little less dusty. Depending on your Internet connection, increasing your bandwidth is a tricky matter, and the easiest way to do so is by upgrading your wireless router. These next-gen routers are simple to use and don't require passwords; something that both increases network security and ease of use.

In 1943, psychologist Abraham Maslow published a paper about human motivation that would become the well-known Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. His theory states that before self-actualization can be achieved, four needs must first be met, like esteem, belonging, safety, and physiological (the most basic which includes, air, food, water, etc.). In 2014, we feel the need to add one more layer to Maslow's pyramid: WiFi.

If it's been a few years since you setup your wireless network, then you may be overdue for an upgrade. Thanks to more devices having mobile capabilities, and more employees bringing their devices to work, wireless network technology has advanced quickly. Your old router might not be up for the new demands of the mobile office.