Newsletter Archives

• Am I part of the attack bot?

  Posted on December 30, 2024 at 02:42 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  ON SECURITY

  

  By Susan Bradley

  The other day, a headline popped up that made me stop and read the news story.

  It was all about the American government’s considering blocking the vendor TP-Link from selling routers. TP-link happens to be a vendor I rely on for my wireless access point, but it has also been called out by Microsoft and other vendors who say its products may be used in attacks.

  Many of these units not been updated by the vendor to fix issues that allow them to be used by other bad actors in group attacks.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.53.0, 2024-12-30).

  On Security DNS, Edge Devices, Exchange, Firewalls, Firmware Update, ISPs, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Routers, TP-Link

• My printer is offline!

  Posted on September 23, 2024 at 02:44 CDT by Ben Myers • Comment in the Forums

  BEN’S WORKSHOP

  

  By Ben Myers

  How often have you wondered why and how a networked printer has gone offline?

  For more than a few years, I was confounded when I discovered that a client’s networked printer had gone offline. Usually, I would reinstall the printer drivers, and that would take care of it. Recently, a new client gave me a clear explanation of events leading to a printer’s going offline.

  This is a networking problem, so I need to explain some networking concepts, principles, and software for reference later on.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.39.0, 2024-09-23).

  Ben's Workshop DHCP, Hardware, IPv4, IPv6, Networking, Newsletters, Printing, Routers, Web Services for Devices, WSD

• Home-networking primer, part 2

  Posted on August 19, 2024 at 02:41 CDT by Ed Tittel • Comment in the Forums

  NETWORKING

  

  By Ed Tittel

  It’s time to revisit home-networking tools and technologies, especially on the wireless side of things.

  In this, the second of a two-part series about the basics of Windows networking at home, we progress into the boundary devices used to connect your local-area network to the provider’s network and on to the Internet. We’ll touch on device economics, mesh networks, and the enduring value and appeal of wired Ethernet in our ever-more-wireless world.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.34.0, 2024-08-19).

  Networking Boundary devices, Home Networks, ISPs, mesh networks, Newsletters, Routers

• My day on jury duty

  Posted on July 31, 2023 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  ON SECURITY

  

  By Susan Bradley

  The last time I was called upon to perform my fundamental American civic duty was years ago. It hasn’t changed much, except for technology.

  There were bar codes, large displays that broadcast PowerPoint slides, and a YouTube video that explained jury service. That video went so far as to explain who sat where in the courtroom. (I thought that was obvious, but apparently I have watched way too many Perry Mason episodes.)

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.31.0, 2023-07-31).

  On Security Android, iPhone, Lockdown Mode, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Routers, Travel, Wi-Fi

• My encounter with Verizon

  Posted on March 13, 2023 at 02:42 CDT by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  INTERNET

  

  By Will Fastie

  I had two support encounters of note in the past 60 days, but the one with Verizon is worth noting.

  Second by second, it seems the systems we use are getting more complex.  That’s natural evolution and, for the most part, to be embraced.

  But the complexity of our systems in conjunction with the Internet to which we all connect also continues to rise. Even those who consider themselves experts will need help.

  Here are my two support stories.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.11.0, 2023-03-13).

  Internet Metro by T-Mobile, Networks, Newsletters, Routers, Smartphones, Synchronization, Tech support, Verizon