WiFi.com Blog | News about WiFi.com, wifi industry, security, products, and Wimax.

Protect Your Wireless Connection

stacy — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:40:39 +0000

The WiFi alliance is currently running a campaign to urge users to protect themselves with WPA2 encryption. They recently released a podcast regarding the subject.

WiFi has become the standard for wireless connections but like any connection, protection is necessary. Wardriving and other unsavory practices put your files, settings, and security and risk. The best way to avoid unwelcome visitors to your WiFi connection is to enable security on your router. Don’t forget to change the connection id and password to something other than the standard. Check your router/gateway manufacturer’s website or manual for information on changing your settings.

WiFi.com reminds you to be safe and secure. Protect yourself from attacks.

New Webpages at WiFi.com

Stuart — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 15:58:42 +0000

We launched a new homepage at WiFi.com yesterday. Additionally, you can see the changes to the blog. We hope you like the changes.

Over the next few weeks, all the core pages will undergo a new look and feel. Along with the look and feel changes, we are now offering a plethora of new wifi products and services.

What is missing, for the time being, is the wifi hotspots find tool. This tool is being overhauled for better functionality. We are also updating the wifi hotspots datadase with thousands of new hotspot locations. Stay tuned. We will keep you up to date through this blog or on the main WiFi.com homepage.

WiFi.com Shifting Gears

Stuart — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:07:12 +0000

As you may have noticed, our blog has been off collecting dust for some time now. We were working diligently with our BETA testers to get our wifi client nailed. In conjunction with this we determined through independent research we were better off moving toward a web-based client. Furthermore, we want to offer our visitors the best wifi hotspot directory: Free, Paid, or otherwise.

For the time being we are moving servers and unfortunately the hotspots database is not working correctly. The database was connected to our client and the new one will be untied from the client, so this will take a few days to get it all converted.

For those of you trying to use or download the client, it is no longer available on any platform. There are specific directions to remove the client from your system on the FAQ page.

We hope you continue to use our wifi database of hotspots and also check out some of the deals we will be offering in the way of low-cost wifi and wimax services. These will be available very soon and we will update you right here and on the main page of the site.

WiFi Security: The WPA (TKIP) Crack

Stuart — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:04:57 +0000

Recently two researchers found one of the wifi encrypion standards which was previously not cracked can be overcome when used in conjuction with a feature which improves VOIP using a wifi network. This is a simplified explanation, of course, and without going to extreme detail about the various encryption standards it can now be said a wifi connection may not be safe when using WEP and WPA/WPA2 (TKIP).

Unless you are using a software or hardware package which addresses your security issues, WiFi.com recommends setting up your network using the Advanced Ecryption Standard (AES). If someone really wants to get into your network, they will do it. However, considering the US government uses this standrad for their own networks and it is the b est one can get at this time, you should feel relatively secure using AES for your wifi network.

WiFi and Social Networking

Stuart — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:27:17 +0000

WiFi technology fits very nicely with social networking. With the boom of Web 2.0 companies like MySpace, Facebook, and LinkedIn the wifi world – the way you connect wirelessly to the Internet – can dramatically open up acess to your friends and family.

Imagine a world where you can share your wifi connections with friends, securely. In return, they share wifi connections with you, trusted networks of wireless access points which allow you to surf the net and network socially anytime, anywhere.

At WiFi.com we are working on bringing together your friends from social networking sites with your wireless Internet connections, perhaps like the one you have at home – or even the coffee shop up the street. Add your friends, allow them to access your recommended access points, and they return the favor. The beauty is no extra hardware is needed!

Important Points About WiFi.

Stuart — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:23:49 +0000

October 12, 2008.

WiFi is an established wireless Internet technology. It is established because there is a WiFi workgroup which certifies wifi hardware and sets the specifications for every new rendition of the technology. It is important to note WiFi was, and still is, meant for local area netowrking (LAN). To this end, it is not meant to connect you to the Internet at great distances. Most wifi hardware gives you a wireless connection between 100-500 feet (this is an average).

WiFi security, or the lack thereof, is a misnomer. WiFi has a number of security options to help you secure your wireless connection to the Internet. It is true if you do not secure the connection or use the basic security (WEP), the opportunity for nefarious activity may be higher. However, you must consider a wifi connection is a short-range technology and a potential breach by hackers can only be achieved by someone being within range of your wifi hardware. Regardless, if setting up your own wifi network you should consider using WPA or WPA2 for securing the network. In the very least use WEP for basic security and try not to be liberal about who you give the passcode to.

Here at WiFi.com, we are creating an environment in which you can secretly share your WEP passcode with friends on various social networks and your email contact lists. This is one of a number of features we are working on here at WiFi.com – check back often to learn more. Also, check out our support forum.

Public BETA Launch Update: We are getting close!

Stuart — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:54:20 +0000

We have had many inquiries about our public BETA launch over the past few weeks. We have a private BETA in play right now and based upon the feedback we are receiving it would have been a mistake for us to have launched already. Like with any development, the process can be slow and issues which arise are often fixed, only to find other issues pop up.

We dont expect to be too far off of a public BETA launch, and those of you who have been inquiring about getting an invitation code will be included once we offer our product to the public.

We can’t set a specific date, but rest assured we will announce the public launch date within the next few days. Also, keep an eye out for new pages at WiFi.com – we recently added our support forum which is a spot for you to ask questions about our product or talk about wifi technology. There is also a FAQ page for you to view, which will be updated from time to time.

If you have any questions, dont hesitate to shoot over to the support forum. One of us will be glad to answer!

Your Home Network is Changing (Again)

admin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:25:46 +0000

As our home networks integrate more and more technology we find more and more of our lives are lived and stored digitally. Beginning with multiple computer homes, the private home network has grown to include a myriad of devices and gadgets. Our new toys are now becoming sophisticated enough to communicate with one another and, as they should. Now that my phone, computer, television and game console can store and display my photos, it only makes sense that personal home networking becomes more commonplace. Photos are the perhaps only the first step but the need for easy and integrated home networking has become obvious. In recent developments within Cisco Systems and Ruckus, your home network may be changing again.
Naomi Graychase at Wi-Fi Planet reveals Cisco Systems’ recent announcement to acquire Seattle-based networking software company Pure Networks. Pure Networks is the provider of Network Magic, an easy-to-use home networking software tool. Cisco Systems sees this acquisition as an important step in maintaining their juggernaut status in the networking industry. The Network Magic software and Pure Networks geared toward OEMs, service providers and small business/home users, has a history with Cisco Systems already. They have been partners in providing Cisco Systems’ Linksys Easy Link Advisor tool.
Why might you be interested in the new focus on home networking? Why might you want to keep a tab on the business developments of software like Network Magic? The numbers surrounding HDTV use and desire seem to reflect a growing demand for spiffy television and not just one set but multiple HD sets, a network if you will.

According to Ms. Graychase’s article at Wi-Fi Planet, Ruckus Wireless has released their newest MediaFlex 7000 series to satiate your HD appetite. While your telecom company will be responsible for purchasing and implementing the MediaFlex series, it means your HDTV availability; quality, service and pricing will all change (again). Providing more consistent service at higher bandwidth speeds hits home at the wallet and the increase in capacity on networks with multiple high-use outlets such as HDTVs is an important factor in pricing. As David Callisch, Ruckus Wireless VP of Marketing explains, “carriers care about actual capacity, what they can actually charge for,” Ruckus Wireless is taking a pointed approach to the WiFi end-solution game. Their focus on multimedia distribution guided the development of the MediaFlex 7000 series. A product that is designed to do one thing and one thing well, as it’s so billed, will solve the WiFi end-solution game piece by piece.

Are You As Ticked As Joe Brancatelli?

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:07:29 +0000

Joe Brancatelli delves into the phenomenon of inconsistency in hotel wireless pricing. He asks why some lower end lodgers offer service free while upscale lodgers charge your firstborn. It’s an old problem in a new suit he concludes. Hoteliers must choose between charging an a la carte price (often significantly raised) or lumping their Internet costs into general room fare. The a la carte price seems to add insult to injury when upscale hotel chains are already charging a hefty fee. Assuming your clients can expense Internet fees is a dangerous game. But the flip side also has its issues. Why force guests who opt out of internet service to shoulder some of the cost? We’ve been here before and we’ll be here a while Brancatelli says, invoking memories of the past

Remember trying to use the hotel room phone? Another reason to be appreciative of mobile phones, but where is the Internet equivalent? A client that allows you to securely connect to Wifi hotspots already in place? Why, that’s what we were thinking…

Wifi Security–Consumer-grade Access Point/Router Security Options Explained:

admin — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:43:34 +0000

When it comes to the 802.11 standard (WiFi), there are two types of security, which can be deployed on the wireless network. The most common and least secure method is Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and the much more secure Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). It is important to note: Independent research conducted by wifi.com staff indicates better than 50% of home-based wireless networks and 40% of wifi hotspot providers do not deploy security measures.

For home-based and most other consumer-grade wireless networks, security is controlled at the access point or router. The current security settings on wifi-capable access points are; none, WEP, WPA, and WPA2. The key difference between WPA and WPA2 is the latter applies an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which has been adopted by the U.S. government.

In general WEP security will keep the average person from using your network. However, in August of 2001 a published article explained how the WEP encryption can be attacked and the passkey recovered in about 10 minutes time. Thus, if someone really wants in, they can gain access to the network and ultimately, your computer.

When securing a home network, wifi.com recommends using the WPA2 (AES) option. With the adoption of the next 802.11 standard (802.11n) the creation of a secure environment using WPA2 (AES) will become easier for the end user.