A bedrock element of IT security involves granting and restricting access. When we think of access, we generally think of user names, PINs, and passwords — the mainstays of identity authentication in the information age. We use them all the time throughout the course of the day: accessing our devices, networks, local applications, and cloud apps. (more…)

Our mobile gadgets are loaded with PII – personally identifiable information – and other nuggets of private data. Making matters worse, our handheld devices are easy to misplace. (Just ask the Apple employee who left his iPhone prototype at the bar . . . .) (more…)

Data security has become a pervasive topic these days, and with good reason – hardly a week goes by without a major security breach making the headlines. Just this week we learned of a huge security exploit at Epsilon, in which thousands of consumer email addresses were stolen. Events like the one at Epsilon push network and data security to the forefront of IT administration. Whether you’re a business owner concerned about your corporate network, or simply a home user wishing to protect a single computer; everyone can and should take steps to bolster security.

A question I’m frequently asked is how to enable WiFi security. The use of WiFi has witnessed explosive growth over the past decade, due in part to the advent of easily installed wireless access points and all-in-one network appliances. The design of these devices aims to make installation a snap for even the most inexperienced computer user. An unfortunate consequence of the “plug and play” ease with which these products are setup is abominable lack of security. In most instances the default settings for a typical WiFi access point include little or no security whatsoever. While this makes it easy for the average person to get up and running quickly, it also gives virtually anyone within range of your WiFi complete access to your network, and a clear shot at breaking into every computer on that network. (more…)

Due to high-profile hacker and terrorist attacks and the proliferation of viruses and other invasive software, firewalls have become a fundamental security tool — but what is a firewall, how does it protect you, and what are its limitations? (more…)