“Reliance on
PenTeleData's
solutions has
greatly
improved our
communications
both
internally and
outside of the
hospital.”
Judy Remmel,
IT Department
Manager,
Blue Mountain
Health System
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Wireless Home Networking |
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Those of you who keep up with Wi-Fi news may have already heard the story about the man in St. Petersburg, Florida who has been arrested for accessing someone else’s wireless network. Why? Because he used someone else’s Wi-Fi without their permission—in other words, according to the police there, he stole it. It seems innocent enough in many cases, until you begin to consider the potential consequences.
The man used his laptop in his car—parked right in front of the resident’s house—to access the wireless network. What makes this type of activity so dangerous is that it can allow access to personal information stored on the computers connected to the network as well as access to other illegal materials and activities on the Internet. Worst of all, it allows the hacker to remain anonymous.
Wireless Fidelity, or Wi-Fi, has grown tremendously over the past few years. Millions of homes are setup with wireless routers whose primary purpose is to transmit high-speed Internet service to multiple computers throughout the home. These routers and other wireless equipment usually give ranges of up to 300 feet—meaning that for some homes, users can sit in the front or backyard and still connect to the Internet. This is the reason how this man was able to hack and use another person’s wireless network just by being parked in front of the house.
Wi-Fi is growing rapidly beyond just household use—you can surf the Internet in many coffee shops or restaurants with a laptop and a wireless card. The ProLog Unleashed Wi-Fi hot spot service provides this same type of access in various locations throughout PenTeleData’s service area.
But, nearly every good technological innovation has a darker side to be exploited. In this case, wireless makes it easier for criminals to cover their digital tracks. Anyone who does the same thing as the St. Petersburg man can disguise their tracks behind the person whose wireless access they’re using. The tracks will end at the compromised wireless router belonging to an ordinary law-abiding person.
There are people who drive around in their vehicles with wireless-equipped laptops and antennas looking for unsecured or easy-tohack wireless networks to access—a practice often called ‘wardriving.’ The scariest part is that these people can drive up, use your wireless access to download information, send spam e-mail, or hack into other computers and drive off—you may never even know they were there unless they do something that eventually brings the authorities to your door.
So, if you want to go wireless, what can you do to prevent these things from happening to you? Well, if you are a ProLog Express customer— PenTeleData’s partners have begun offering a new Wireless Home Networking service. At this time, the service may not be available in all areas from all partners, so please check with the appropriate partner for more information. Our partners include: Blue Ridge Communications, CATV Service, Inc., Service Electric Cable TV & Communications, Service Electric Cablevision, and Service Electric Cable Company. This service provides our customers with a complete Wi-Fi setup that has already been secured to protect against the above mentioned misuses. Plus, the entire Wireless Home Networking setup is installed and pre-configured by PenTeleData’s partners. Should you ever have a problem, PenTeleData’s Technical Support is available for assistance. It’s that easy and a much safer way for you to enjoy wireless.
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FUN FACTS!
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Did you know?
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Thirty gallons, or 135 liters, of water is used for the average shower in the United States.
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Throughout history, more ships have been sunk by hurricanes than by war.
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In one year, the average tree gives off enough oxygen to allow four people to breathe for a year.
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Long before it was used as a "kiss encourager" during the Christmas season, mistletoe had long been considered to have magic powers by Celtic and Teutonic peoples. It was said to have the ability to heal wounds and increase fertility. Celts hung mistletoe in their homes in order to bring themselves good luck and ward off evil spirits.
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The junk mail that Americans receive in one day could produce enough energy to heat 250,000 homes.
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The lower the Sun is behind you, the greater the rainbow will be in front of you.
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Actress Judy Garland was 16 years old when she filmed "The Wizard of Oz" in 1939.
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The sound of thunder travels about 1,100 feet per second.
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Earthquakes occur in the world about once every hour
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Only one-fifth of air is oxygen. Most of the rest is nitrogen.
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Only three percent of the energy the atmosphere receives is converted into movement or kinetic energy.
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Every living thing on the earth contains carbon.
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