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Network Security

Let’s face it, today security sells. And most times it causes us to over buy. What happens when you get N… Security or M… Security? These programs perform many of the same functions as does Windows with a twist, they do a better job. Or do they? The main function that overlaps between these add on products and Windows is the firewall function.

Firewalls prevent unwanted visitors from coming into our PC uninvited. Typically there is more than a single firewall in most networks. All DSL and Cable modem/routers have a built in firewall. These firewalls by default prevent most unwanted visitors. They are hardware firewalls. N.. security software, M.. security software, and Windows app provide software firewalls. To go one better than Windows (because they all pretty much effectively block unwanted guests) the N,,, and M,,, security software monitors activity in your PC to see if some bad program has installed itself and decided to invite in some old buddies for a PC home warming (Burn the house down, Yeah!). To prevent this they monitor all data transmissions to and FROM the PC. From has special emphasis because the thought there is that you can catch bad programs sending out invitations. OK, time for a poll all those that have had their N… and M… security software catch invitations please raise their hand. I see a few. Those people working for N… and M… please disqualify your self (conflict of interest you know). Let’s see do we have anyone left. Well no not really. This is like the movie “A Bridge Too Far (or Many)” and too much of a good thing. Mostly that slows down your PC significantly, makes it misbehave when new programs are installed, blocks local networking, and other undesirable events for dubious benefits.

Security sells like a pandering politician but often does not deliver. There are no statistics on how effective and useful these added security features really are or how they will really help your day to day operation. In most of the cases I have seen, they were more a hindrance than a help.

Wireless security is used by almost everyone. It sells. But does it help? There are several types an I won’t explain them all. Some work on encryption. The data is encrypted in the PC by a numeric key. The same key is used in the Wireless Access Point (WAP) – the thingy with the antenna sticking out of it – do decrypt the data traveling across the wireless radio link. When a PC does not have the correct key it may see the wireless network, but it cannot connect. Another type of wireless security has only authorized PCs identified by their Medium Access Control (MAC) address allowed to talk to the WAP. There is no encryption so the guys in the front of your home in the black van with the multitude of antennas sticking out of it are monitoring everything that you do. Is it time for another poll? Or do you get my drift here.

In all cases if you are doing shopping or banking on the Internet, your communications across the Internet must be encrypted at the PC and decrypted at the merchant or the bank. End to end encryption must be employed because data travels across the wireless radio link and the public Internet. So encrypting the radio link is doing the job for the second time. What is the worst that can happen on an unencrypted Wireless LAN? Someone steals bandwidth (Internet connectivity) from you (Like the smiling guy in the herbal male enhancement commercial). Just look for the smiling neighbor and ask them stop. This works every time because they are fearful that they have been found out and monitored. You could slide in an “I saw you browsing at ….. the other night to really stop them dead.

Use security common sense and don’t succumb to slick security sales ploys.


Link to "Network security"

P. D. Moulton and Dial A Nerd, a local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) PC repair, computer repair, laptop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server computer support, and virus & spyware removal. Dial-A-Nerd repairs PC (s), computers, networks, removes viruses & spyware and upgrades slow computers 24 hours a day 7 days a week. DialANerd provides immediate remote access as well as fixed price computer repair, network repair, virus & spyware removal services at its local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) repair shop. Repair completion is typically 24-hours to 48-hours. Dial A Nerd recovers hard disk data and saves your data. Each hard disk is tested for errors for free. Dial A Nerd makes a fixed disk image, recovers and saves your data for about a 90% of the desktop computer, laptop computer, and netbook PC (s) serviced. Dial A Nerd, a local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) repair business provides fast PC repair, computer repair, desktop computer repair, laptop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server support, and virus & spyware removal services with a warranty. Dial A Nerd works on many PCs including Sony computers, Gateway computers, Hewlett Packard computers, Compaq computers, Toshiba computers, Emachines computers, Clone PCs, and Dell computers in the local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD). The Dial A Nerd mission is delivering the best quality, affordable cost effective PC repair, computer repair, laptop computer repair, desktop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server support, virus & spyware removal, home PC repair, printer configuration, PC - desktop computer - laptop computer - netbook computer performance optimization & speed up service. Homes and small businesses with limited IT service and IT support budgets in the local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) hire Dial A Nerd.


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DialANerd
7146 Rivers Edge Road Columbia, MD 21044 US
Phone: 410-531-5890 Website: dialanerd.com