Tech Spot

5G is something that everyone talking about. The media keeps talking 5G and saying how much a game changer 5G will be. And yet what difference does it make and will it really be a game changer? If you read our previous blog about bandwith this, relates in a lot of ways. 5G is a wireless technology that providers like Verizon, and ATT, Sprint plan to use to increase speed. Back a few years ago the big push was 4G.  4G was great for it's time. It allowed us to watch videos on a quick connection and really changed the mobile speeds of times gone past. 4G pushed us to a wireless level that had never seen before and it brought us to the edge of the capabilities of long range speed. In short 4G is the fastest data can run based on the distance you are from the transmitter. I will not get to technical as this is not a technical blog. 4G is fast, 5G is faster. Here is how 5G is faster. 5G involves the companies that provide it to build out more points of access. Just like with ...

Bandwith is something we all have but not many know what it is. You know that you pay for it every month on your Isp bill or your cell phone. What is it really? And do you need more or less? What is Bandwith? Have you ever worked with a water pipe? A water pipe is the best example to understand bandwith. Imagine that the internet is the Ocean. The internet has a vast, resource of knowledge and your internet connection is the way that you access it. It is much like having a small 1 inch connection that huge ocean of information. Imagine trying to get all that water through your tiny 1 inch connection. This is how data moves through data pipes. The larger your pipe (bandwith) the more you can get through. Internet speeds are based on how much bandwith you can get through. Isp's base how they charge you on bandwith. There are limits on how big your pipe is, and how much your pipe can transfer in a given period of time (such as during a billing cycle). All of this relates to h...

Anti-Virus is the first thing that any responsible computer owner should have installed on their computer after firing it up for the first time. This question is likely the #1 question I am asked daily about computers. However the question should be not which "FREE" but rather which "PAID" anti virus should I get? The old adage "you get what you pay for" is so true when it comes to anti-virus. Everyday there are news articles about malware attacks and ransomware. And it shocks me so often how unprepared everyone is when it comes to computer security. Many business owners,  purchase a great computer to run their business. However they will not spend $100 or less per year to protect themselves from a malicious attack? Ongoing maintenance and security should always be factored into the cost of your computer. You will end up spending more and experience more loss if you do not. What you get for free Understand how free anti viruses work. Free Anti V...

Many of my clients get confused about networking equipment that they have in their place of business. And rightly so as these are appliances that you generally never touch and may never see. They just sit in place and work. One of these devices is a Firewall. Firewalls can be virtual but they can also be a physical stand alone device that have firewall software installed on the system. Often Firewalls and Routers are the same physical device.  Keep in mind that many routers have firewall capabilities but this does not mean they are turned on. Not all firewalls are created equal. You should always work with an IT professional when selecting a firewall as there are so many out there to choose from  and there are so many configurations that it is even hard to know what to pick. No matter what.  Get a firewall! What is a Firewall? A firewall stops bad traffic from coming on your network. A firewall scans and filters traffic. A firewall helps route traffic to keep you...

More often than not my clients are confused by the many networking items that are around their offices or homes. And to their credit, it is really confusing, as to what all this stuff does and how to use it all.  They all look very similar and do similar things. The key is they all are not the same and do not do the same things. In a typical network setup (in a business environment) you will have the following devices before anything ever gets to a computer. Modem Router/Firewall Switch Let us work backwards and look at the switch, this is usually the last appliance that the data will touch before it comes to your computer from the internet or another machine in your network.  What do Switches do? Switches do what the Router tells it to do. The Router is the boss is the network setup. Networks can be configured in all sorts of ways but you cannot do anything large scale without a switch. Some switches can be configured as routers(not recommended). Routers ...

Free WiFi is everywhere today. At the restaurant down the street your auto repair shop and your hair salon. WiFi is great, it connects you to the wonderful world of the internet, however with all the free WiFi out there another risk is associated. When you connect to any WiFi anyone else on that same connected network has access to you and what you do. Unless you have educated yourself on how to stay safe on a WiFi network and then initiate the right practices you will likely be a victim on your WiFi network you are connected to. In a free public WiFi situation generally hundreds of people over time will connect to that network. During that time they will do a variety of things. Including checking their social media and reading their email. What you do on public WiFi is important, because what you do could be seen by a nefarious source. Most business owners put in free WiFi to add value for their clients, they are not in the business of securing their network or making sure you are...