Showing posts with label Service Quality. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Service Quality. Show all posts

This $25 device will double the internet speed on your computer



If you use a modern home Wi-Fi solution like the Google Wifi or our favorite mesh system, the AmpliFi HD, you’re undoubtedly enjoying lightning fast internet all over your home. It’s great for phones, tablet, and other light-duty devices, but we have a better recommendation for your PC, streaming devices, or anything else that needs the fastest and most reliable connection possible. Wiring your house for Ethernet is a pain in the neck, which is why devices like the TP-Link AV200 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit are so fantastic. You get the same reliability and sustained speeds as you would with cat5, but you don’t need to install anything at all. Plug one box in near your router, another box near your PC, and you’re done!

Here are the highlights from the product page:
Follow us on Twitter to keep up with the latest and greatest deals we find around the web.

12 Ways to Secure Your Wi-Fi Network

Quick Steps to Complete Wi-Fi Lockdown
Sometimes the best thing to say about a wireless router in your house is that once it's set it, you forget it exists. As long as the devices that need the Wi-Fi connection can get on and function, that's all that matters, right?
Maybe, but we also live in the age of leaks, wiki and otherwise. If you're worried about the security of your home and by extension your personal data—especially from hackers who could casually sit in a car outside and get access to your systems—then you need to put a padlock on that wireless. You may also want to prevent others from using your network, and freeloaders alike.
So what do you do? Follow these tips and you'll be well ahead of most home Wi-Fi users. Nothing will make you 1,000 percent safe against a truly dedicated hack. Crafty social engineering schemes are tough to beat. But don't make it easy on them; protect yourself with these steps.

Time-Tested Wi-Fi (and All Around) Security

Change Your Router Admin Username and PasswordEvery router comes with a generic username and password—if they come with a password at all. You need it the first time you access the router. After that, change them both. Immediately. The generic usernames are a matter of public record for just about every router in existence; not changing them makes it incredibly easy for someone who gets physical access to your router to mess with the settings.
If you forget the new username/password, you should probably stick to pencil and paper, but you can reset a router to its factory settings to get in with the original admin generic info.
Change the Network NameThe service set identifier (SSID) is the name that's broadcast from your Wi-Fi to the outside world so people can find the network. While you probably want to make the SSID public, using the generic network name/SSID generally gives it away. For example, routers from Linksys usually say "Linksys" in the name; some list the maker and model number ("NetgearR6700"). That makes it easier for others to ID your router type. Give your network a more personalized moniker.
It's annoying, but rotating the SSID(s) on the network means that even if someone had previous access—like a noisy neighbor—you can boot them off with regular changes. It's usually a moot point if you have encryption in place, but just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to use your bandwidth. (Just remember, if you change the SSID and don't broadcast the SSID, it's on you to remember the new name all the time and reconnect ALL your devices—computers, phones, tablets, game consoles, talking robots, cameras, smart home devices, etc.
Activate EncryptionThis is the ultimate Wi-Fi no-brainer; no router in the last 10 years has come without encryption. It's the single most important thing you must do to lock down your wireless network. Navigate to your router's settings (here's how) and look for security options. Each router brand will likely differ; if you're stumped, head to your router maker's support site.
Once there, turn on WPA2 Personal (it may show as WPA2-PSK); if that's not an option use WPA Personal (but if you can't get WPA2, be smart: go get a modern router). Set the encryption type to AES (avoid TKIP if that's an option). You'll need to enter a password, also known as a network key, for the encrypted Wi-Fi.
Activate Encryption (Wi-Fi)
This is NOT the same password you used for the router—this is what you enter on every single device when you connect via Wi-Fi. So make it a long nonsense word or phrase no one can guess, yet something easy enough to type into every weird device you've got that uses wireless. Using a mix of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters to make it truly strong, but you have to balance that with ease and memorability.
Double Up on Firewalls The router has a firewall built in that should protect your internal network against outside attacks. Activate it if it's not automatic. It might say SPI (stateful packet inspection) or NAT (network address translation), but either way, turn it on as an extra layer of protection.
For full-bore protection—like making sure your own software doesn't send stuff out over the network or Internet without your permission—install a firewall software on your PC as well. Our top choice: Check Point ZoneAlarm PRO Firewall 2017; there a free version and a $40 pro version, which has extras like phishing and antivirus protection. At the very least, turn on the firewall that comes with Windows 8 and 10.
Turn Off Guest NetworksIt's nice and convenient to provide guests with a network that doesn't have an encryption password, but what if you can't trust them? Or the neighbors? Or the people parked out front? If they're close enough to be on your Wi-Fi, they should be close enough to you that you'd give them the password. (Remember—you can always change your Wi-Fi encryption password later.)
Use a VPN
The Best VPN Services for 2015
A virtual private network (VPN) connection makes a tunnel between your device and the Internet through a third-party server—it can help mask your identity or make it look like you're in another country, preventing snoops from seeing your Internet traffic. Some even block ads. A VPN is a smart bet for all Internet users, even if you're not on Wi-Fi. As some say, you need a VPN or you're screwed. Check our list of the Best VPN services.
Update Router FirmwareJust like with your operating system and browsers and other software, people find security holes in routers all the time to exploit. When the router manufacturers know about these exploits, they plug the holes by issuing new software for the router, called firmware. Go into your router settings every month or so and do a quick check to see if you need an update, then run their upgrade. New firmware may also come with new features for the router, so it's a win-win.
If you're feeling particularly techie—and have the right kind of router that supports it—you can upgrade to custom third-party firmware like TomatoDD-WRT or OpenWrt. These programs completely erase the manufacturer's firmware on the router but can provide a slew of new features or even better speedscompared to the original firmware. Don't take this step unless you're feeling pretty secure in your networking knowledge.
Turn Off WPSWPSWi-Fi Protected Setup, or WPS, is the function by which devices can be easily paired with the router even when encryption is turned because you push a button on the router and the device in question. Voila, they're talking. It's not that hard to crack, and means anyone with quick physical access to your router can instantly pair their equipment with it. Unless your router is locked away tight, this is a potential opening to the network you may not have considered.

'Debunked' Options

Many security recommendations floating around the Web don't pass muster with experts. That's because people with the right equipment—such wireless analyzer software like Kismet or mega-tools like the Pwnie Express Pwn Pro—aren't going to let the following tips stop them. I include them for completion's sake because, while they can be a pain in the ass to implement or follow up with, a truly paranoid person who doesn't yet think the NSA is after them may want to consider their options. So, while these are far from foolproof, they can't hurt if you're worried.
Don't Broadcast the Network Name
This makes it harder, but not impossible, for friends and family to get on the Wi-Fi; that means it makes it a lot harder for non-friends to get online. In the router settings for the SSID, check for a "visibility status" or "enable SSID broadcast" and turn it off. In the future, when someone wants to get on the Wi-Fi, you'll have to tell them the SSID to type in—so make that network name something simple enough to remember and type. (Anyone with a wireless sniffer, however, can pick the SSID out of the air in very little time. The SSID is not so much as invisible as it is camouflaged.)
Disable DHCPThe Dynamic Host Control Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server in your router is what IP addresses are assigned to each device on the network. For example, if the router has an IP of 192.168.0.1, your router may have a DCHP range of 192.168.0.100 to 192.168.0.125—that's 26 possible IP addresses it would allow on the network. You can limit the range so (in theory) the DHCP wouldn't allow more than a certain number of devices—but with everything from appliances to watches using Wi-Fi, that's hard to justify.
For security, you could also just disable DHCP entirely. That means you have to go into each device—even the appliances and watches—and assign it an IP address that fits with your router. (And all this on top of just signing into the encrypted Wi-Fi as it is.) If that sounds daunting, it can be for the layman. Again, keep in mind, anyone one with the right Wi-Fi hacking tools and a good guess on your router's IP address range can probably get on the network even if you do disable the DHCP server.
Filter on MAC AddressesMAC Address Control
Every single device that connects to a network has a media access control (MAC) address that serves as a unique ID. Some with multiple network options—say 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and 5GHz Wi-Fi, and Ethernet—will have a MAC address for each type. You can go into your router settings and physically type in the MAC address of only the devices you want to allow on the network. You can also find the "Access Control" section of your router to see a list of devices already connected, then select only those you want to allow or block. If you see items without a name, check its listed MAC addresses against your known products—MAC addresses are typically printed right on the device. Anything that doesn't match up may be an interloper. Or it might just be something you forgot about—there is a lot of Wi-Fi out there.

Turn Down the Broadcast Power
Got a fantastic Wi-Fi signal that reaches outdoors, to areas you don't even roam? That's giving the neighbors and passers-by easy access. You can, with most routers, turn down the Transmit Power Control a bit, say to 75 percent, to make it harder. Naturally, all the interlopers need is a better antenna on their side to get by this, but why make it easy on them? via pcmag

test speed of broadband


measure your internet speed


how to check the speed of my internet


What is GAID/IDFA?

In order to identify unique users, Google created ‘GAID’ (Stands for - Google Advertising ID), And Apple created ‘IDFA’ (Stands for - Identifier for advertising).

While some of our tracking solution partners do offer dedicated macros to support GAID/IDFA targeting, it’s important to understand that users are able to opt out of tracking from advertisers in their device settings.

If a user chooses to opt out of tracking from advertisers, the GIAD/IDFA value would not return, even if the macro was implemented in the tracking link.

Also, some of the publishers do not have access to this identifier and can not pass it on in the tracking link.

Free WIFI Now?

Free APP for Android now Acess internet for free using WI-FI

Premium WiFi Hotspots?

Download now and get 7 days free, Top Android App

WiFi Premium Grátis

no Brasil e no Exterior! baixe grátis, com 7 dias Premium

Are You Getting Your Full Bandwidth? Test Now, Free!

Is Your Internet Too Slow? Test Your Speed Now - Free!

Premium WiFi Hotspots?

Download now and get 7 days free, Top Android App

Telus speed test

SHAW speed test

comcast speed test

How To Speed Test Wi-Fi Router Performance With WiFI

How To Speed Test Wi-Fi Router Performance With WiFI

Wi-Fi SweetSpots on the App Store - iTunes

Wi-Fi SweetSpots on the App Store - iTunes

How To Speed Test Your Local Wi-Fi Router Performance


There are many ways to evaluate a Wi-Fi network. You can either go for the hands-on visual approach by looking at the Wi-Fi signal bars, or just run a regular speed test and see the general performance of a network. But a regular speed test doesn’t tell the complete story as it’s usually done on server side to check Internet speed, not local wireless network’s speed. This is where a handy app for iPhone and Android comes in.

The app we’re talking about here is called Inhome WiFi Speed Test for iPhone and Android. It’s not an app like Speedtest.net, which only shows how much download / upload speed you’re getting on the Internet, instead, Inhome WiFi Speed Test  shows the speed you’ll be getting on the local network. 

At this point you must be thinking: why would I want to know that?

A congested or slow local wireless network will hinder tasks like creating wireless backups, streaming movies from a network drive to an iPad or a smartphone, copying files to and from other devices on the same network etc. With this handy app installed on your device, you’ll get a better idea whether or not the wireless network is perfect for carrying out such tasks. This is an ideal app for those who rely on their local wireless network a lot for heavy data transfers.

You can also make good use of this app to perfectly set your Wi-Fi router’s position at home, office or anywhere else, so you get proper signal strength within your desired network setup.

Using the app is fairly simple; you just connect to the Wi-Fi network which you want to test, and hit the Start button on the app, and in a matter of seconds you’ll be presented with a real-time graph showing you the Wi-Fi network’s speed at your given position. Move around the place with your smartphone to see which spot gets you the highest speed.

The app is absolutely free for both iPhone and Android and can be downloaded from the links embedded below.

(Download: WiFi SweetSpots for iPhone / Android)