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In this week’s edition, we're addressing a security concern that many might not even be aware of: your phone can easily identify your Wi-Fi router. This seemingly harmless fact can pose security risks, from unauthorized access to potential privacy breaches. Let’s explore how this happens and what you can do to safeguard your network.
Why It Matters
When your phone or any other device scans for available Wi-Fi networks, it picks up the SSID (Service Set Identifier) of all nearby routers. By default, most routers broadcast this SSID, making it easy for devices to find and connect to them. However, this also means that anyone within range can see your network name, which can lead to:
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Unauthorized Access: Potential hackers can attempt to crack your Wi-Fi password.
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Network Mapping: Intruders can map out the devices connected to your network.
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Privacy Risks: Knowing your SSID might help malicious actors identify and track you.
How Phones Identify Your Router
Phones use a feature called Wi-Fi scanning to locate and display available networks. This scanning relies on the broadcasted SSID, which is essentially the network name that routers send out. While convenient, this can be exploited by those with ill intentions.
Steps to Enhance Your Wi-Fi Security
Step 1: Disable SSID Broadcasting
One of the most effective ways to prevent phones from identifying your router is to disable SSID broadcasting. Here’s how to do it:
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Access Router Settings: Enter your router’s IP address into a web browser. This is usually something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
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Log In: Use your admin credentials to log in. These are often found on the router itself or in its manual.
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Find SSID Settings: Navigate to the wireless settings section.
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Disable SSID Broadcast: Look for an option to disable SSID broadcasting and turn it off.
Step 2: Use a Strong Wi-Fi Password
Even if your SSID is hidden, a weak password can still leave you vulnerable. Ensure you use a strong, complex password:
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Length: Aim for at least 12-16 characters.
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Complexity: Use a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters.
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Avoid Common Phrases: Don’t use easily guessable information like birthdays or simple patterns.
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Vintage IT Services prides itself on hiring individuals who have an appreciation for the arts and music in addition to their technical skills. Over the years we have found that employing individuals with these characteristics, has translated to enhanced communication with our clients when calling our service desk. That's one small part of what we like to call the Vintage Way, so it seemed fitting to incorporate a creative aspect like music into our weekly message.
With that said, please check out our 92nd Edition of Vintage Playbacks. We hope you enjoy and thank you for reading!
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"Somebody's Watching Me" is a song recorded and written by American singer Rockwell, released by the Motown label in December 1983, as the lead single from his debut studio album of the same name. It features guest vocals by Michael Jackson (in the chorus) and Jermaine Jackson and Norman Dozier (additional backing vocals).[8]
The song became a major commercial success internationally, topping the charts in Belgium, France, and Spain, and reaching the top 5 in Canada, West Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.[9][10]
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"Strength doesn't come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't."
~ Rikki Rogers, Writer and Marketer
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Keep Your PC In Dreamland...
Ever found yourself frustrated with your Windows PC waking up randomly from sleep mode? It's not just a minor annoyance—it can disrupt your workflow and waste power. This week, we’re tackling this common issue with some easy-to-follow tips to keep your PC in dreamland until you're ready to wake it up. Let’s dive in!
Understanding the Culprits
Several factors can cause your PC to wake up unexpectedly. Identifying these is the first step towards solving the problem. Common culprits include:
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Scheduled Tasks: Automated tasks set to run at specific times.
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Network Activity: Network devices or other computers on the same network.
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Hardware Issues: Faulty or overly sensitive hardware components.
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Power Settings: Improperly configured power settings.
Solution 1: Disable Wake Timers
Wake timers can be useful for scheduled tasks, but they often cause unwanted wake-ups. Here’s how to disable them:
- Open the Control Panel and go to Power Options.
- Click on Change plan settings next to your current power plan.
- Click on Change advanced power settings.
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Excel spreadsheets are a staple in business operations, but did you know that AI can take your Excel game to the next level? Today, we’re diving into how AI can make working with spreadsheets not only easier but also a lot more fun. From automating mundane tasks to uncovering insights hidden in your data, AI is here to save you time and boost your productivity. Let’s get started!
1. Automating Data Entry with AI
Imagine never having to manually enter data again. With AI, that dream can become a reality. AI can automate data entry, reducing errors and freeing up your time for more important tasks. Tools like Microsoft’s Power Query can help clean and transform data with just a few clicks.
Example: Using Power Query to Clean Data
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Load Your Data: Open your Excel spreadsheet and go to the “Data” tab. Click on “Get Data” and choose where your data is coming from (e.g., an Excel file, a database, or a web page).
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Transform Your Data: Use Power Query’s interface to clean your data. You can remove duplicates, split columns, change data types, and more—all with a few clicks.
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Load the Clean Data: Once your data is clean, click “Close & Load” to bring it back into Excel.
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No matter how long you’ve used an iPhone, there are always new (or new-to-you) features to discover. And stumbling upon a time-saving trick after so many years is, quite frankly, a delight.
Here are 15 tips and tricks that Wirecutter staffers rely on all the time. If you don’t already know about them, we hope they make your life a lot easier.
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Identify plants or animals. If you take a photo of a plant, flower, tree, or animal, you can find out exactly what it is by tapping the Info button on the bottom of the screen; if your iPhone knows what it is, a symbol with stars will appear at the bottom of the photo. The metadata details will tell you what the plant or animal is and will also give you an option to look up more information about it.
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Transform your phone into a portable white noise machine. In Settings, go to Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds and choose from sounds such as Ocean, Rain, and Stream. We’ve tested this ourselves and with babies, and the sounds are soothing for all.
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Ask Siri to read things to you. Open the Safari app and then command Siri to “read this” or say “I want to listen to this page.” You can also tap the Aa button on the left of the address bar and tap Listen to Page. You have the option to adjust the speaking speed as well as pause.
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In today’s digital age, your business’s cybersecurity is as crucial as its physical security. While the landscape of online threats continues to evolve, there’s an often-overlooked shield that could safeguard your operations: Cyber Security Insurance. At Vintage IT Services, we understand the importance of comprehensive cyber protection, which is why we strongly advocate for cyber insurance—even though we don’t require it for our services.
Cyber Security Insurance: Why It Matters
Cyber Threats Are on the Rise: Each year, cyber-attacks grow in sophistication and frequency. From ransomware that locks you out of your systems to data breaches that leak sensitive information, no business is immune. Cyber insurance acts as a critical buffer, offering a layer of financial protection that can be the difference between a temporary setback and a catastrophic blow.
Not Just a Safety Net, But a Springboard: Cyber insurance does more than just protect; it empowers. Knowing that you have coverage can give you the confidence to pursue business opportunities that require digital innovation, without the fear of what might happen if a breach occurs.
Benefits of Cyber Security Insurance
Risk Management: Just as property insurance protects against physical damages, cyber insurance helps manage the risks associated with electronic business activities. This includes data restoration, loss of income due to downtime, and even negotiation costs if ransomware strikes.
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Vintage IT Services offers cloud services that are all local and based in Austin, Texas. We have made a major investment in our data center to be able to provide industry-leading cloud hosting services for cloud computing, cloud backup, and cloud restorations. | |
With Office 365 business solutions through Vintage IT Services, your team will be able to securely view their email, contacts, and calendar from their own mobile device or any internet browser using the WebMail portal. All of our technicians are highly licensed, certified, and incredibly knowledgeable in Microsoft Office 365’s products and support procedures. | |
Vintage IT Services has the professional team, technology resources, knowledge, and skills to introduce best practice methodology and ensure advanced function utilization and top notch security.
With services ranging from firewall installation to Intrusion Detection.
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