New Security Tools and VPN

To boil it down to one word, we were shocked when we looked at the alerts we saw for our Trend Micro customers. While your security is good, it can be a lot better. The same goes for our VPN customers. Start watching for the new tools.

Let’s look at overall security first. Three keys to good security – in our opinion – are: malware detection, phishing detection, and reliability. We have joined our colleagues in IT and security in finding that Trend Micro has fallen to average or below-average performance in these areas. We came to our conclusion by comparing the alerts we saw in your systems to industry-wide reports. The software was getting buggier and less effective in our opinion, and we found better tools from a number of other vendors. A key element for us is making sure we keep your system out of danger 24/7/365.

Our new security tools will be a combination of products instead of relying on one vendor. This will give us the ability to tailor stronger tools to your specific needs. We believe all of us will sleep better at night once we have the new tools installed. They will cost a little more, but they will be well worth the investment.

We’re also rolling out a new VPN. While we like ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access) as a way of verifying access to a network, VPNs are ubiquitous and usually easier to administer. Our new VPN will be easier to maintain (which can help you keep it more secure), and it will create a more locked-down environment (which also keeps you more secure).

The feature I like most about the new VPN is that it allows me to connect to any Wi-Fi network in the world and trigger software to route traffic through a specific device. I have device called a Raspberry Pi, a computer the size of a credit card with the power to run a desktop. I use mine to route all my internet traffic through my home internet to home/office computer. The VPN removes worries about rerouting and who might see my traffic. That’s an important feature if you’re forced to use a public Wi-Fi network or even hotel network that’s supposed to be password-protected. You really can’t be assured one of those networks has been compromised.

If you travel and want access to all your home-based streaming accounts, our new VPN will see your home or office internet if you have it set up to do so.

While we’ll be contacting all of our clients to offer our new security tools and VPN, you can contact us for more information about how they can work for you. Call us – 973-433-6676 – or email us to discuss your objectives and your needs.

AI: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

AI gives you the tools to do a lot of things in a fraction of the time they used to require. But using AI has its privacy costs, and trying to avoid them can lead to some really bad consequences. AI also doesn’t always get things right.

The most important thing you need to know about AI is that it’s not private. As soon as you put something into AI, it’s out in the world. AI makes its living by collecting data from the internet – lots of data at lightning-fast speed and often without permission. That means they frequently gather sensitive information without your knowledge or consent, and that data can be used for purposes you didn’t agree to, raising ethical concerns. AI can also enable unchecked surveillance, and when you combine that with the vast amounts of data stored by AI systems, you could be set up for the heightened risk of unauthorized access and data breaches. That’s bad and ugly.

Protecting your privacy takes some work. Best practices include never sharing sensitive information, actively controlling data settings, and using approved AI tools. Additionally, regularly deleting past chat histories and reading privacy policies can help ensure better data security. To be anonymous, consider using tools that run locally on your device instead of cloud-based services, and utilize a secure browser with privacy features. You can also use a VPN and sign up with a disposable email address to further protect your identity. DO NOT try to use the dark web. I have some good “street smarts” in the internet world, but these streets are populated by some really bad people. You can easily stumble into a really bad place and be ruined. It’s not like a game.

You also need to remember that AI is not always correct or all that smart. AI can provide wrong answers, so it’s up to you to make sure you verify any information you get from it. A wrong answer could create a life-and-death situation, a costly business decision, or a major inconvenience – just to name a few.

But what I find really frustrating is when Copilot puts you into a loop that is not related in any way to what you’re trying to do. I understand how computers work – they’re anal – but you are supposed to be able to use plain English get your work done or get information. I got into some serious verbal tiffs with my AI; it was really ugly.

However, if you check and double-check AI and really stay on top of it, the technology can work wonders. As an example, I was able to create in just a few hours a travel itinerary that combined independent travel and a cruise. It got us down to the minute we would arrive in various locations, and in the next-to-the-last stage, it gave us choices of hotels that met specific criteria. On the downside, it included a hotel that doesn’t exist, but the beauty was that as I continued to feed it information, it kept narrowing down our options to those that were more acceptable. The lesson from this exercise is that you have to verify all the information, but the bottom line is that it saved me days of work.

We can help you peel away the bad and the ugly to get to the good stuff in AI. Call us – 973-433-6676 – or email us to see how you can keep your corporate data safe and prevent employees from leaking sensitive information. We can set up rules for how your system uses AI. Our new security software tools provide safeguards if you choose to use them.

The Useful Lifespan of a Wireless Router

Some people like to run their wireless router until it drops – and some may not even know when it has dropped dead. A wireless router that can’t take the latest software updates is a huge security risk.

Signs that a router has reached the end of its useful service life include unreliable connections, significantly reduced speeds, weak signals or dead zones, and an inability to handle multiple devices effectively. Let’s look at them in a little more depth.

  • Unreliable Connections: Frequent disconnections or dropped signals can indicate that your router is failing, and they may be due to worn-out components or outdated firmware. We’ll have more to say about firmware later in this article.
  • Reduced Speeds: Noticeably slower download and upload speeds can signal that your router is struggling to keep up with current demands.
  • Weak Signal or Dead Zones: If you’ve had good coverage but find it’s diminished, it could be a sign that your router is failing.
  • Inability to Handle Multiple Devices: If your router struggles to maintain connections when multiple devices are online, it may be overloaded. And if you see a sudden drop in connectivity when new devices connect can indicate that your router’s hardware is no longer sufficient.

The average lifespan of a router is between three to five years, and it can be affected by usage intensity, environmental conditions (dust and heat), and technological advancements (new Wi-Fi standards or heavier traffic demands).

You can extend or maximize a router’s life by installing firmware updates as they’re issued. Similar to software updates for your OS and apps, firmware updates keep your hardware (routers, printers, etc.) operating at peak performance. Regardless of how old your router is, you should check for firmware updates right away and then do so regularly.

You should also check to make sure the manufacturer still supports your current router. We see this most commonly with devices such as mobile phones and with app software. At some point, the manufacturer or software publisher stops supporting an older version of its product, and that leaves you vulnerable to failure at some point.

We can help by checking your router for updates or helping you decide on a new router. For home users, we can also check on your mesh network if you have one or install one if it’s needed. Call us – 973-433-6676 – or email us to set up an appointment.