How to Make Your 802.11b/g Wireless Network More Secure
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 309369,

SUMMARY

Wireless networks can be vulnerable to a malicious outsider gaining access because of the default settings on some wireless hardware, the accessibility that wireless networks offer, and present encryption methods.

The concepts that are presented in his article are general suggestions, and may help make your wireless network more difficult for a malicious outsider to gain access. For more specific information about the implementation of these suggestions, see the documentation for your wireless network hardware or contact the hardware vendor.

The 802.11b/g standard permits Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption. Depending on the manufacturer and the model of the network adapter and access point, there are two levels of WEP typically available: 64-bit encryption based on a 40-bit encryption key, and a 24-bit initialization vector, and 128-bit encryption based on a 104-bit key and a 24-bit initialization vector. In addition to enabling WEP, there are other steps that you can take to make your home or small business local area network (LAN) more secure.

MORE INFORMATION

Wireless at Home - what do I need?

This image will give an example for a home network that is going from a single modem to a modem and a wireless router. The device names and models are all Linksys from CompUSA as an example. Other brands are available depending on your budget. Click here for a visual wireless home network description.

Transferring files to the new computer from Santa

By JAMES DERK
Scripps Howard News Service
December 23, 2003

- Many of us will find new PCs under the tree this season and generally I get lots of questions in the weeks following. So I thought I'd head it off at the pass and answer your questions before you have them.

(This is one of those "clip & save" columns.)

HOW DO I MOVE FILES TO MY NEW PC? This is one of the best features of Windows XP and few people know it is there. The "File and Settings Transfer Wizard" is buried in XP's bowels and it's a shame; it is quite a tool.

This little gem lets you transfer everything to your new XP-based PC, from your dial-up Internet settings to your documents and photos and it is very easy to use.

To launch it, hit START, then ALL PROGRAMS, then ACCESSORIES, then SYSTEM TOOLS. From there you will find the application. One of its choices is to copy itself onto a floppy disk; do that to get it loaded on the old computer. (If your new PC has no floppy disk drive, you need to copy it to a USB key drive, or run it directly on the old PC from the Windows XP install CD.)

Once you launch the application on the old PC, you will be given a choice on how you could like to transfer the files. The easiest and fastest way is to head to your local computer store or big-box retailer and buy a "crossover cable," a special kind of network cable. You connect the network card of the old computer to the network card of the new computer and, voila, you can directly transfer files from one to the other. (If the old PC does not have a network card, be prepared to swap floppy disks for an afternoon.)

Once the process finishes, most of your data files and settings will be transferred to the new PC. Do check every directory, though, to make sure all of your files are there. And keep in mind the File and Settings Transfer Wizard does not reinstall applications on the new PC. In other words, if you have Photoshop files on the old PC, the files will be moved but the Photoshop application won't be moved. You will need to reinstall all applications you want on the new PC, one by one.

ACCESSORIES: Make sure you have the PC and monitor plugged into a surge protecting power strip not just a cheap power strip from Wal-Mart. That way when lightning strikes nearby or your power company sends a spike down the line, your investment won't be toast. For better systems with business data on them, consider a battery backup (about $100.) Just don't plug your printer into one.

- First, if you have a high-speed connection, you MUST have either a software firewall product installed or a hardware router. Without it, your PC is a sitting duck to be hacked and taken over as a "zombie" to be used for evil purposes.

- Second, you must buy and install anti-virus software and update it religiously. I have mine update itself once a week and I manually update it myself at least two or three times a week besides that. I then leave my PC on overnight on Friday nights and have Norton System Works do a SpeedDisk to clean my disk and then Norton Anti-Virus do a very thorough scan.

- Last, if you have kids in the house, install Internet filtering software that will help stem the tide of porn online. It won't take the place of parental supervision, but it may help.

HELP DESKS ARE LIKE THE LOCAL UTILITY COMPANY: You forget they exist until a storm knocks out your power and you're stuck in a cold, dark house. Their role in keeping companies running smoothly is critical, yet often thankless. Help desk employees get little recognition, spend most of their time fighting fires and must meet ever-rising expectations for today's tech-savvy workforce. Nevertheless, if a help desk is consistently below par, its leaders may find themselves being helped to the exit door.

    So how does an average help desk become an outstanding one? The caliber of the staff is paramount, but there are other considerations.

Successful help desks display a high degree of teamwork, have sophisticated training and education programs, enjoy support from senior management and can effectively integrate new technologies, says Ron Muns, chairman of the Help Desk Institute, a major industry group based in Colorado Springs, Colo. (See "Help Desk Checklist," Page 128.) Muns points to Bank of America as an example of a company with a world-class help desk. A visit to its center in Concord, Calif., reveals some best practices for building a help desk from scratch or reengineering an existing one. (Click here for complete article)
June 2000

In tests of this major upgrade to an established product, PC Week Labs was impressed by RightNow Web's improved use of artificial intelligence. Despite its use of multiple cutting-edge technologies to automate the rapid delivery of useful answers to customers, RightNow Web 3.1, which shipped this month, carries a low price and can be implemented in a matter of days—unusually fast for a customer service package. (Click here for completee article)

Techie Talk
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