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Posts Tagged ‘Home’

How To Choose Awnings For Your Home or Business

September 8th, 2010

Before, awnings just served as protection from the sun and rain for houses. But now, awnings are included as part of a house’s or building’s architecture not only for its primary purpose, but also to add charm and create a statement.

If you are still unconvinced about the architectural beauty of awnings, you might want to have them installed for the following reasons:

* It protects the window frames from the rain, sun and snow. Most window frames and windowpanes are made of wood. We all know how wood responds to environmental changes. Even with sufficient wood coating and polish, wood deteriorates faster when exposed to the harshness of the weather conditions.

* Your house may have a porch or a patio and you have some furniture there, where you relax as you read a book or have a cup of coffee with your friends. Such furniture, regardless of the material, wears out faster when exposed to the sun and rain.

* When it’s raining, you normally keep your windows shut, blocking fresh air from coming in through the windows. If your house has awnings, during rain showers, you can keep your windows open and still prevent rainwater from getting in.

* When you are watching TV or using the computer, you usually have the windows shut, or the curtains or blinds down to reduce the glare. If awnings were fitted, you wouldn’t need to block natural light from the rest of the room since the awnings will reduce the glare on the monitors positioned near the windows.

* A major effect of having awnings, according to a study, is that it can reduce summer heat increase by 65% for windows facing south, and 77% for windows facing east and west.

So if you are now convinced that you would like your house or your building to have awnings, don’t just go out there and get one. There are things that you need to consider.

* Material

The most commonly used materials for awnings are outdoor fabric and aluminum. Those made of outdoor fabric come in a variety of color and shapes; however, these require more maintenance than aluminum ones.

Those made of aluminum are sturdy and require less maintenance. These awnings, however, have limited design and color options.

* Angle

It is recommended that for windows facing east or west, the size of the drop should be 65-75% for the best efficiency. For a window facing south, the drop can just be 45-60% since less coverage is needed, as the sun has a higher angle from this direction.

* Side panels

Side panels may alter the architectural feel of the awnings. Side panels are also beneficial in adding coverage in a different direction.

* Stationary, Retractable or Freestanding

Roll-up and retractable awnings allow you to permit the sun to shine into the house during winter.

Retractable awnings are also good for patios or decks. These awnings have a mechanism that allows it to be extended as far as necessary.

Retractable awnings can also have motors and switches for ease in retraction. Some also have sun and wind sensors to automate the retraction.

Retractable awnings are not for heavy rains, high winds and snow, though. So make sure these are properly protected from such weather conditions.

Freestanding awnings may also be used for patios, decks or terraces. Business establishments, as these also double as an advertisement, usually use these.

* Size

Small awnings are used for their decorative effect. If you would like to maximize the protective function of awnings, choose the bigger ones.

* Style

The most popular styles are traditional with closed sides, traditional with open sides, dome style, double bar standard, waterfall, quarter barrel, gable walkway and semi-circular entrance.

To check the most applicable style for your house design and the direction of your windows, consult an architect.

* Color

Apart from considering what color goes well with your house or establishment, if possible, choose a light-colored awning since it does not only block direct sunlight light other awnings, but this also reflects sunlight. By doing so, it lessens the amount of heat that comes in.

Also to minimize the heat that comes into the house, make sure that there is a gap between the side of the house and the top of the awning to prevent the heat on the awning to be transferred to the house.

Keep these tips in mind when consulting your architect while designing your house or business establishment.

For more great awning information and resources check out:

http://www.justawnings.info

ERP , , ,

Oh, Give Me a Home, Where the Home Insurance Quotes Roam

September 8th, 2010

Are you like me – do you love talking about insurance? Well, who doesn’t really? So let’s talk home insurance, and what you need to know when you get a home insurance quote.

Do you own a home? Do you plan to? You are not required by law to have insurance on your dwelling, but if you carry a mortgage, your lender will most likely require it. If you don’t have or need a mortgage (please, please, tell me how you did that! I am but a poor scribe), it remains a wise decision to protect your investment with insurance. Gather up your information and get a reliable home insurance quote.

How do I go about getting a home insurance quote?

For those of you who have read my other delightful yet poignant insurance articles, you know that I always recommend using a reputable insurance agent. No, that is not an oxymoron. And no, I am not an insurance agent myself. When you need electrical work, do you not call an electrician? Or plumbing work, a plumber? When you want to know the ins and outs of riders, floaters, and umbrellas, call a pro. Get a professional home insurance quote from someone who can meet with you, and address your specific needs.

So once I find one of these “shady” insurance agents, what should I tell him?

Now stop it! They’re not all shady. But here are some issues that you might want to discuss with your agent as he prepares your home insurance quote:
1. Coverage for the structure of your home
2. Coverage for your personal belongings
3. Liability protection
4. Additional living expenses in the event you are temporarily unable to live in your home because of a fire or other insured disaster (e.g. rivers of blood, plagues of frogs).
Most people are aware of the first issue – watching the news, we see homes destroyed by things like hurricanes or earthquakes and realize we need to insure the structure itself – but what about the other three? If you live in a home, odds are pretty good that you also own “stuff” that you keep inside your house. This should be insured as well. Many companies will cover your personal belongings for 50%-70% of the amount of your policy. This means if you have $100,000 worth of insurance on the structure of your home, you would have between $50,000 to $70,000 worth of coverage for your belongings. If you have more expensive stuff, like a Renoir, Monet, or Grandpa’s gold teeth, you may want to purchase a floater to cover the difference.

What do I need liability protection for? Isn’t this just another scam so my agent can produce a larger home insurance quote, and get a bigger commission?

Well, it could appear thus, but remember – insurance is protection against the unforeseen. Liability covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or family members cause to other people (I didn’t mean to shoot Joey with that BB gun, Dad), and the liability portion of your policy pays for both the cost of defending you in court and any court awards – up to the limit of your policy, of course. Your policy also provides no-fault medical coverage. In the event a friend or neighbor is injured in your home, he or she can simply submit medical bills to your insurance company.

Okay, okay, and the additional living expenses?

Well, what if your house is gone? What if a twister takes it to the Merry Old Land of Oz? Where are you going to live? This part of your coverage pays the additional costs of living away from home, if you can’t live there due to damage from a fire, storm or other insured disaster. It covers hotel bills, restaurant meals and other living expenses incurred while your home is being rebuilt. Although coverage can vary, and will depend upon the home insurance quote you received, many policies provide coverage for about 20% of the insurance on your house. You can increase this coverage, as well, for an additional premium. Make sure your home insurance quote details this for you.

Anything else I need to know before I get my home insurance quote?

There’s tons of stuff. But I can’t address it all in this article. However, consider these things as well when your agent gets your home insurance quote for you (you do now have and agent, don’t you?):

-What type of home insurance quote do I need for a co-op or condo?
-What types of disasters are covered?
-What’s the difference between cancellation and nonrenewal?
-How can I save money?
-What information do I need to provide to my agent so he can provide me with an accurate home insurance quote?
-What if I can’t get coverage?
-How often should I review my policy?

Your agent can help you with these and other questions as he prepares your home insurance quote for you. See, now…wasn’t that fun?

Albert Medinas has developed and maintains the website Homeowners Insurance Directory, which answers the most common questions people have about Homeowners Insurance. Please visit us at http://www.homeownersinsurancedirectory.net today.

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7 Ways VoIP Software can Benefit Home and Business

March 27th, 2010

Voice over IP (VoIP) software is used to manage phone voice discussions across the Internet. There are numerous free VOIP Software applications ready for use on the web for download. VOIP Software is in demand because VOIP phone service is often cheaper than conventional phone service, and is becoming further sought-after for both business and personal calls.

 7 powerful benefits of a VoIP Software Solution:

 

1. Ease of Use – Internet telephony provides voice mail and other telephone services, and installation of simple VoIP software is easy for anyone with an iota of ability. Industry insiders forecast that, in time, Internet phone technologies and services will supersede much of the workload at this time handled by plain old telephone service.

Making phone calls over the Internet isn’t just for the technical knowledgeable anymore. Employing VoIP (or Voice over Internet Protocol) is easier than ever before, with a number of VoIP providers out there that can help considerably decrease the cost of your current phone bill.

 2. Saving Money -The greatest benefit of VoIP over the typical telephone service is the cost. It is far less expensive to furnish a customer with Internet Phone Service than it is to furnish them with regular phone service. This means the client receives better prices also.

3. Portability – You don’t necessarily need a VOIP phone to obtain portability. Some providers of computer based VOIP services offer a Web interface. This interface allows clients to log in and place calls from anywhere in the world, so long as a broadband Internet connection is available.

4. One Stop Solution – VoIP Internet phone service is being favored amongst the latest generation users as it furnishes a one stop phone solution for making long distance as well as international calls at lesser fees.

The reason why we haven’t all been utilizing a VoIP solution to make calls up to the present moment is that it requires a broadband Internet connection, and broadband has only existed widely ready for use to home and business users for a somewhat short time. However, with broadband becoming constantly more common, VoIP solutions have started to take off in a huge way.

5. Functionality – VoIP phone usefulness can also be carried out with a PC or laptop if you have the Softphone software and a headset or microphone and speakers.

To use your regular analog or cordless phone, you’ll need an Analog Telephone Adaptor (ATA). Plug your phone into the ATA and the other end into your high speed broadband or DSL modem.

Your VoIP service provider or broadband phone company should be able to furnish you with one of these. Apart from that, online stores sell many popular brand names VoIP Phones.

6. Business Networking- Selecting a business VoIP phone service may be unavoidable, however selecting an appropriate service provider will allow the company to discover features that will convey immediate benefits, as well as harvesting the cost savings and scalability a VoIP service essentially offers.

Business VoIP software offers a huge collection of applications. Obtain your faxes and voicemail through your email box or web browser. Conference calling, Caller ID, Paging equipment, Handsets, Call forwarding, no problem on a business trip – take your IP phone or Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) with you and your number follows you, or configure your phone to call-forward.

7. Business Productivity – The majority of the business owners are now consciously accepting business VoIP phone service for better business productivity. Many service providers offer structured and affordable VoIP service plans together with PBX systems.

VoIP phone service breakthroughs are advanced with many PBX functions such as auto attendant and voicemail that naturally boosts any business productivity.

The auto attendant facility provides great assistance in administering all the incoming calls. This feature expedites receiving numerous calls simultaneously. Callers are now welcomed with a recorded greeting. If a caller is left unattended, the caller will be provided with a voicemail option by which they may leave messages in the voicemail box.

The choice of the virtual receptionist assists accompanying calls is provided from the establishment of the service provider. Therefore, your calls are answered in spite of off-hours and weekends in need of keeping live receptionists at your office. As a result, the advantage of a business VoIP phone service redeems your capital and increases the productivity of your business.

Finally, VoIP Software Solutions are easy to use, manage, and expand into. Features for advanced small business VoIP technology save time and money, providing an efficient choice for all.

Roy King, is the editor for VoIP Solution Journal. Selecting VoIP Phone Software for Home or Business. Learn how VoIP Software and Telephone VoIP converge providing huge savings for everyone

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Checklist: How to Choose a VoIP Provider For Your Small Office, Home Office Business (SOHO)

March 27th, 2010

Once you’ve decided to use VoIP for your Small Office Home Office, it’s time to get set up. You’re probably keen to get going, find a VoIP provider, and start saving money on phone calls. It’s a good idea, though, to take a little time to consider some of the points on this check list. That way, you can be sure you’ve chosen the VoIP provider that’s best for you, and best for your business.

Who are the best established VoIP providers?

VoIP isn’t new technology, as such, and though broadband telephony is likely to become the way we all make telephone calls, you want to be sure that your provider is reliable and experienced.

What’s your existing broadband infrastructure?

Make sure you know how your existing broadband works. Is it cable (eg Virgin)? If so, you could cancel your cable telephone line entirely without affecting your broadband connection. If it is ADSL (eg BT), however, you can’t cancel your phone line because you’ll lose your broadband, too. You can, though use a VoIP phone line as your second phone line which you could use to make your business calls.

Do you need just one line, or two?

If you work from home, either all the time or part of the time, you may want to separate business from private telephone calls, so a second, cheap VoIP phone line might make more sense, especially if your business is growing or likely to grow.

What features will help?

Will your customers be able to get hold of you whenever they need to? Check that the VoIP provider offers inclusive features such as call-forwarding, three-way calling, ringback, do not disturb, call waiting or voicemail sent to your email address.

Call plans.

Think about what you need in terms of the business calls you make. Do you call mostly UK numbers? Or do you need to call other European countries, or mostly the US? Look at the call plans the VoIP offers. Is there a good choice? Is there one that suits you? Are calls to mobiles included?

What exactly does ‘unlimited’ mean?

Make sure you understand exactly what the VoIP provider is offering. If it says ‘unlimited’, does this mean that the calls really are unlimited to the countries listed in your call plan? Most VoIP providers will have a ‘fair usage’ policy. That is, they will give you have a generous allowance of free minutes, say 2000 (about 33 hours a month). What is the VoIP’s allowance? Is your SOHO likely to use more minutes than that? What will you pay if that happens?

What will you pay if you call countries outside your plan?

Check what you’ll be charged if you call countries outside the call plan you’ve signed up to. VoIP usually offer very competitive rates, but it’s a good idea to check. If you think you may make regular calls to a country outside one call plan, it may be a good idea to see if there’s another call plan that includes that country.

What do its customers say?

Try and find some of the customer feedback about the VoIP provider. Reviews from customers, either satisfied or disgruntled, will often tell you a lot about what you need to know about a company in terms of reliability, customer service, technical support, customer satisfaction etc.

What are the extra costs?

As well as the advertised monthly call plan, make sure you know exactly what else you might have to pay for. The VoIP provider may, for example, charge a set-up or administration fee, a line activation fee, a cancellation fee. There may be charges for equipment, too, though some of it may be free.

Is the VoIP’s website clear?

You don’t want to have to root through a website to discover hidden charges and the small print. A well written, professional, clear website, with all the charges clearly set out, is a sign that the VoIP provider is committed to professional transparency.

What’s the support like?

A phone line is one of the most crucial elements of any SOHO. So it’s a good idea to make sure that the VoIP provider offers technical support and customer service 24/7. Can you always get hold of someone if you need to? Do you have to pay for this?

What add-ons do they offer?

If or when your business starts to grow, can you adapt your VoIP phone system accordingly? Find out whether the VoIP provider offers add-ons such as a second phone line, a fax line, or the ability to make calls from your laptop.

Can you keep your number?

If you’re starting up in business, it may make sense to get a whole new business number. But if customers already use your landline number, you may want to keep that. Check that the VoIP provider offers the option of ‘porting’ your existing number to your new VoIP phone provider.

Can you choose a dialling code?

You may want a VoIP telephone number that’s local to you. Or you may want one that’s local to your customers. Either way, find out what the VoIP offers in terms of choosing dialling codes, and check that the code you want is available.

What about emergencies?

A final important consideration is to think about how your business would cope if your broadband connection went down. If that happens, and your VoIP telephone is temporarily out of action, you need to make sure you have a back-up plan (such as a mobile), particularly in case of critical business calls or even calls to the emergency services.

Once you’ve been through this check list, you should be ready to choose your VoIP provider. It shouldn’t take long to get your VoIP phone line set up, and then you’ll be ready to start saving money by using your broadband to make and receive business calls.

Costas Kariolis – Online Marketing Manager of Vonage UK. Vonage are leading low rate VoIP providers for home & small business users. Offering cheap phone calls and free international calls to landlines via an internet phone service for a set monthly fee. For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact: Costas Kariolis Online Marketing Manager E-mail: theteam@vonage.com

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Computer Games Stopping You from Making Money from Home?

October 7th, 2009

Not just computer games but there may be a number of things that get in the way of you earning money from your own business venture.

You set yourself up for a few hours each night and a lot of the weekend so you can have one of the work jobs from home. Trouble is you have had a hard day at work or you want to earn at home but you have been looking after the children all day. The last thing you want to do is sit in front of your computer and try to start making money from home with your part time business.

You begin to look for distractions not realizing you are doing it. Your games console starts talking to you or there is something you must buy from an auction site or your favorite store. Suddenly you realize it is time for bed and all your plans to work online from home are out of the window.

Do you sometimes come to a point where you do not know what to do to get past a problem with your earn at home business venture? You start to look at all the emails you have, get caught up with them and again the time has run out, you are late for meeting up with your partner, family or friends.

Use the following plan to get your work online from home empire back on track so that you start making money from home sooner rather than later.

Before you even look at the computer make a list of the things that you need to accomplish to help with the work jobs from home. Sit away from the television or any other distractions. You could compile the list earlier in the day or get it ready for the weekend.

Spend a selected amount of time such as 15 minutes, to answer emails. Answer the important ones first. Once the time has elapsed start on your empire to work online from home. Now begin to complete the tasks that you gave yourself in the list from point one above.

When searching for work jobs from home or information to help you, you may spend more time reading useless information before you get to it. That is if you even get to it. Give yourself enough information to know what you want to help you earn at home before you begin looking. Limit the time you spend searching for one idea and come back to it later if necessary. It is better to accomplish a few points rather than spending hours on just one.

Once you have the information you need to complete a task then use it. When making money from home it is easy to get the information needed but so many people do not use it. You have to take action. It is so simple yet so many fail at this point. I remember when I got some customers on my very first list. Even though I new what to do I left it until the last minute to set up my auto-responder campaign.

Why, I have no obvious reasons apart from it was new to me and I left the task until the last minute. Making money from home is easy but it is the unknown that gets to us. So once you have your information use it immediately. The sales come a lot quicker to you if you do.

Work jobs from home can cause conflict in your free time and work time. You may stop trying to earn at home to get a small household chore done. Before you realise you are doing more of these chores which could be every ten minutes. Balance your time effectively. Give yourself some free time but remember that this is only for you to spend a certain amount of other time making money from home.

Although it has already been mentioned you must not look at your emails every 30 minutes or so as this is just a distraction. Remember that you have allotted time for this process already so leave it until then. If you find they are growing in number then spend a larger chunk of time to deal with them in your schedule.

One of the best methods to help you when you work online from home is to give yourself a daily schedule. Set time aside to deal with chores, answer emails and work for you to earn at home. Try your best to stick to it but also try and be flexible. You may get unexpected jobs to do that will through your plans in all directions.

Another point is if you become very productive and run out of your allotted time, come to a point where you can stop and do so. This will keep you interested and eager to start when the next allotted time comes around. It is fatal to spend too much time at once on a project to work online from home as you will tire yourself when you do not realise. This means next time you are not so eager to work on your business venture in making money from home.

This is all so simple and you may think it is obvious but it is easy to forget the simple things. Myself I have found that there have been so many times that I have read some information that I already new to come across a small part that I had forgotten. We are always learning and those who think they know it all beware for the traps you are setting yourself.

Your goals will be reached much sooner with a little planning.

Thanks for your interest in reading the above. Hope you found it useful.

Simon Turnock is always looking to help others with his extensive knowledge that is always expanding. To find details that can help you go to Simon’s Blog or for a huge amount of free information take a look at Simon’s Great Freebies. All are most welcome!

Remember – to succeed you must take action. Take a look at either of the two links above for your business to explode into multiple money making income streams.

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Playing Free Texas Holdem Online or as a Home Computer Game

September 28th, 2009

Poker is a card game where you pit your skill and luck against players who have the same passion and skill as you. One of the more favorite poker games is that of Texas Holdem. While there are many places where you can play this game, sometimes you may like play this game online or as a home computer game. These alternatives will provide you with different ways of playing free Texas Holdem poker.

The internet has a selection of these free Texas Holdem poker games that may be of interest. The free download version of this game will have a full instruction set that you can read and follow to get the most out of this game. You will find that your computer has to be configured to the settings that are most compatible for these computer games.

The different levels of the free Texas Holdem pokers games will prove to be both interesting and challenging for the novice player. These will provide the more experienced player a platform in which they can hone their playing skill especially against an unknown player.

As you advance in the free Texas Holdem poker game you will see that the stakes of the game have risen. This is so that you have the atmospheres of playing in a poker establishment. You can if you feel that you need more help find free Texas Holdem poker lessons on the internet. These lessons will describe the various aspects of the game. You will be instructed and shown the different types of cards which can be used to good effect.

In some of these free Texas Holdem online game tutorials you will find lots of good strategies and tips for getting the best possible hand. These sessions will show you by giving a small demonstration of the poker game moves which you might want to use. To test your skills at this poker game you can play against the online computer and see if you have mastered the various poker skills.

These various methods are the best way to master the game of Texas Holdem Poker. Once you are sure that you know all of the card tricks that can be used in this game you will be ready for the real game of poker. The main fact that you should keep in mind is that you will be playing poker against some really skilled players. For this reason take your time and practice playing free Texas Holdem games in an atmosphere where it will not matter if you win or lose.

Muna wa Wanjiru is a Web Administrator and Has Been Researching and Reporting on Poker for Years. For More Information on Free Texas Holdem, Visit His Site at FREE TEXAS HOLDEM

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Home Networking One 0n 0ne Part 2

August 7th, 2009

Today, more than ever, home networks are easier and less expensive to set up. At times, however, the knowledge needed for building a network is not accompanied by any guidelines on how to secure them.  In some cases, the guidelines are simply ignored. No matter what the case, that is a data disaster just waiting to happen.

You may have a thing about being paranoid about security. That is an excessive amount of concern that should be tempered. However, you should have a certain amount of caution. Security is much like medical insurance. You may not need it very often, but when you do need it, chances are you need it badly. If you don’t have it you may face dire consequences.

Wireless home networks are becoming increasingly popular due to their lower cost and flexibility.  However, the wireless network is particularly prone to security issues. In theory, someone that has a wireless enabled laptop can just drive by your house, get into your space and tap into your network. It’s not too much of a problem if all they do is steal a little bandwidth. However, if they happen to be malicious and clever, they will be able to implant a virus into your home network without you even knowing it!

Using the Internet has similar risks. However, in a case like that you usually have to download an attachment from someone you don’t even know to get infected. This scenario is easy to avoid. As a rule of thumb, if you do not know who it is from, do NOT open it. It could be a hacker with a virus. However, in the case of a wireless home network, you do not have to take any action to get infected. Even though you may be following good Internet file sharing practices, you are still vulnerable.

Even if you have a cabled network, it is possible for someone to break in while you are away. Most of these incidents will revolve around stealing property. But by infecting a computer a disgruntled employee, an angry person or a party to a lawsuit may use this as a way of getting revenge. What a better way to get revenge than to have your computer crash!

The solution is typically the same in either type of network. Practice the same good habits you use for Internet data sharing and magnify them. You must make sure that each computer on the network has a password that is required in order to gain access to the system. Leaving a system unprotected to just save a few seconds of inconvenience at home will expose your entire network to unnecessary risk.

One thing you want to do is change the password on your router often. The defaults for most of the popular vendors’ products are known by just about everyone who has the necessary skills to do harm.  Make it harder for them to inflict damage by following this simple step. Configure your wireless router according to the manufacturers’ instructions in order to prevent unauthorized access. Today, all wireless routers use WAP to prevent drive-by’s from accessing your system.

Most adults today would be astounded by the amount of computer knowledge a teenager has. Most are well meaning, but some young people have not yet learned how to use a home network securely. Some young people can master the techniques, but they do not yet have the common sense or the wisdom to know how to put these techniques into practice.

Treat your home network in much the same way as you would treat your credit cards. You wouldn’t just hand you credit card out to a stranger would you? Moreover, you wouldn’t tell that stranger your password would you? You would be broke in no time! Do not provide physical access or pass out information to anyone that you do not want to have access to it. This is often a short step from having them access your money. It is an even shorter step to your valuable home network as well as your data!

Get free affiliate marketing help tips to boost your website revenue starting today.


Joseph Nyamache blogs about the best affiliate programs to earn you the best commissions

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How Can I Secure My Home Network?

February 4th, 2009

I would imagine that the thought of setting up a home network is probably quite scary for the average home computer user.

It isn’t too difficult though as the companies that sell routers have been listening to their customers and have made the process as simple as possible.

That, however, has had a negative impact on network security.

Remember that large corporations still have major issues when it comes to the security of their networks – hackers still get in and deface websites, steal information, etc, etc.

What chance, then, does the guy in the street stand with his new simplified router, trying to keep the bad guys out of his home network?

Actually, he stands a good chance, as long as he follows some basic rules -

Secure Passwords

My first tip is an obvious one – always use a secure password.

This can be said for everything you do online, from using social networking sites to internet banking to your own router.

When you buy a new router it comes with a password by default.

You should realise, however, that this password is most likely the same for every single router that the company sells – if you don’t change it then a hacker will be able to guess it in seconds.

When you set your router up follow the instructions that come with it to change your password immediately.

Choose a password that is hard to guess, such as a long string of random numbers, letters and symbols.

Otherwise you may just find that you no longer control your router and that a hacker does.

Encryption

Once you have a secure password installed you will want to choose the correct type of encryption for your network.

The most common encryption type, and one you may well have heard of, is WPA.

WPA encryption offers a high level of security and has proven difficult for hackers to break through.

It can be got around but doing so isn’t easy and so it should deter the casual attacker with ease.

If you have a newer router you can even take a step up and run with the more secure WPAII.

Active Firewall

My third and final tip for today is to ensure that you have activated the router’s own firewall.

A firewall is designed to block out intruders who may try to access your home network via the internet.

If you configure your router correctly then it will only allow authorised traffic to access your network.

It would also be a good idea to make sure that you have activated any software firewall that you may have as well in order to enhance your computer’s protection.

There are, of course, more steps you can take to secure your network but if you follow the above tips you’ll be going a long way towards keeping your home network secure.

If you wish to learn more about staying safe on the internet then I recommend that you read The 10 Commandments Of Internet Security.

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Your Wireless Home Network Security

June 9th, 2008

Many people enjoy the flexibility of a wireless network and love the fact they can sit in their garden with their laptop and check their email. Whilst wireless networking is indeed a very useful technology it does come with its downsides. The truth is many people are not particularly tech savvy and will setup their wireless networking without implementing any wireless security, the same group of people are totally unaware of the massive threat to private data and their internet connections that arise from the no wireless security.

Having an unsecure network is like allowing someone to come into your house, plug a network cable into your router and start browsing the web as they please, you just wouldnt do it! Which is why you shouldnt leave a wireless network unsecure, it is inviting people to connect to it and do any of the following:

1: Download illegal content.
2: Use the connection for malicious activity
3: Intercept local traffic and have the ability to check what sites your visiting, your private data and even passwords.

This is just the beginning. There are many horror stories of peoples wireless networks being used and abused with criminal activities happening leaving the owner of the network responsible!

This is why wireless security is so important, if you leave your network open then your just asking for trouble, and you wont even know its happening! People can access your network from several houses down the street and you would be none the wiser.

So always implement Wireless Security, make sure that you are using a wireless key, preferably WPA or WPA2 as WEP is extremely vulnerable and can be cracked in a few minutes with freely available tools from the internet.

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Computer Security , , ,

Home Wireless Network Security: Safety Plus Convenience

December 24th, 2007

If you are shifting to a more secured housing system, but do not want to disturb the existing wiring in your house, the best choice would be to go for a home wireless network security system; a home wireless network security system basically works the same way as a wired one does, and it has the same efficiency as well.

When it comes to installing a home wireless network security, things are just so easy compared to a wired one. Such a wireless system uses window and door contacts and motion sensors that run on radio wave frequencies.

What Actually Happens in a Wireless Network?
Besides that, the typical security systems for entering your house such as keypads at your door exist as well. You basically have to enter the pass codes which will open the door for you, as well as to deactivate the alarm when some intrusion takes place. The keypad is connected to the control unit wirelessly, and the processing is done there.

Just like how a wired security system works, this home wireless network security also has monitoring station which will activate the alarm when there seems to be any intentional break in, and it basically wakes up everyone. It is directly connected to the power back up system at the same time, so if the trespasser or robber shuts the system down, the back up system will kick in immediately alongside the protection alarm and surveillance system being on extra alert.

Setting up
Basically home wireless network security kits can be found in almost any security service store or even at departmental stores these days. Or alternatively you can also order it online from certain security service companies. These kits are very easy to set up and user friendly. You can simply buy it off the shelf, and go back home and set up the whole home wireless network security system by yourself. When buying from professional security service stores, you can also ask for consultation on the right placing of the sensors and alarms, so that the work at the best level.

One good thing about a home wireless network security system is that it is portable, or simply called mobile. You can easily take the system with you if you move, for lets say you want to switch the system from your house to you office; there’s no hassle at all. But one bad thing about this system is that it runs on batteries, so you always need to check on them to make sure everything is working fine.

on any of these links to find out more about home security monitoring, home wireless network security and home security camera system.

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