Tips For Mobile Security - Public WiFi

If you choose a Wi-Fi connection from a public facility, how do you ensure that the data is secure?

This is where you need to put on your tech hat to properly secure mobile data. Be very careful, because data sent over public Wi-Fi networks is usually totally insecure unless you take proactive security measures. Public networks do not provide encryption between your mobile device and nearby access points, so it's up to you to implement a form of end-to-end encryption between your laptop and the server that you're communicating with. (continued...)

Ensure that your e-mail login and e-mail transfer use SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption. If not, hackers can read your e-mails as they're flying through the air. To do this, ask for help, either from your organization's help desk or from your software vendor.

Only use secure (SSL) Web sites when placing credit card orders over the Internet. Most sites offer SSL, but not all of them. Without a secure site, you're broadcasting credit card numbers to potential hackers in the area. You'll know you are using a secure site if a little icon that looks like a lock appears on the status bar of your Web browser.

When accessing corporate servers and applications, use VPN (virtual private network) client software on your mobile device. (Most larger companies require the use of VPNs when employees use Wi-Fi and Ethernet public networks.) The VPN client communicates with the corporate server and encrypts everything on an end-to-end basis. Thus, hackers sniffing the air for your data packets won't be able to read anything intelligible.

Maybe you don't work for a company that has VPN services? If this is true, then consider a for-hire VPN service. This is a good way to get on board with wireless security if your company isn't quite there yet.

Source: InformationWeek

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Web-Based Email -- AIM Mail

AIM Mail, Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, and even Comcast.net Mail -- some are better for business, some for consumers, and all are quite useful.

For many of us, web-based e-mail services are a useful adjunct to our home inbox, allowing us to check e-mail while traveling and to privately communicate outside of corporate messaging. But a review of the latest web mail services shows that you can now consider foregoing desktop programs without compromising your communications flow.

America Online's AIM beta has leapfrogged Hotmail and Yahoo!Mail by providing the most robust set of privacy and mailbox management features. Google's Gmail redefines web e-mail by focusing more on search and archiving instead of managing mail through folders. ISP Comcast's web e-mail service is geared more towards families than small businesses, but does the basics well.

AIM MAIL
AIM Mail does a good job of protecting users while keeping connections with contacts through an easily navigated interface. AIM Mail provides the greatest flexibility in allowing users to configure how they block unwanted -mails. The built-in spam blocker successfully thwarts nearly all of the junk mail sent to my inbox, and rarely classifies legitimate mail as spam. (continued...)

The volume of spam that gets through AIM Mail screens and is automatically rerouted to the spam folder is much lower than my Hotmail spam. That's surprising because I've had that account for a much longer time and have signed up for many things with that address. Users can also blacklist specific websites or block any mail that includes file attachments or clickable hyperlinks. Like all of the web e-mail programs reviewed AIM Mail automatically checks e-mails for viruses.

AIM Mail's interface for managing messages and contacts is the easiest to navigate and includes several unique features. E-mails sent to other AOL users that have not been read can be recalled. Also, AIM Mail users can see their contact's online status when reading mail, browsing contacts or composing messages, making it easier to respond via IM.

The tabs used to manage messages make it simple to organize communications, and you can also drag and drop messages into two gigabytes worth of storage. While you can share your calendar with peers or publish it as a web page, you cannot directly access it from within AIM's e-mail area.

Source: InformationWeek

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Tips For Mobile Security - Hotels

In a hotel room that offers both a Wi-Fi and an Ethernet connection, which should you choose?

Because Ethernet is a wired connection, it's natively more secure than Wi-Fi. Data goes from your laptop via an Ethernet cable to a hub located in the hotel room and then on to the Internet service provider (ISP) via a cable. A hacker needs to attach directly to the Ethernet system to have any possibility of compromising your data, which means that he or she must have physical access to the facility. A hacker equipped with an Ethernet sniffer could connect to the system from another hotel room and monitor your data traffic, depending on the configuration of the system. (continued...)

With Wi-Fi connections, data typically is sent unencrypted through the air between the mobile device and an access point near your room, making it very easy for hackers to sniff the data passively from as far away as the parking lot. That's not good, unless you implement proper security safeguards (refer to question #2 for more details). If you pay close attention to securing your network connection, then Wi-Fi is very secure.

By the way, you'll almost always find that Ethernet provides faster performance, mainly because most public Wi-Fi networks have lousy signal coverage. Low signal levels cause data rates and corresponding data throughput to be much lower than Ethernet. Wireless, however, allows mobility throughout the hotel room and other parts of the hotel.

For me, it's worth implementing additional security mechanisms in order to make use of Wi-Fi when staying at a hotel. I like the ability to relax from anywhere in the room and still access e-mail and the Web. In addition, Wi-Fi is generally available in other parts of the hotel, such as in the restaurant, bar, lobby, and convention area. You can pay for one day's service (or get it free at some hotels) and continue using Internet-based applications wirelessly after checking out of the room and, for example, attending a meeting in the convention center. Thus, Wi-Fi usually offers more value than Ethernet.

Of course, most hotels offer either Ethernet or Wi-Fi, not both, so you may not have a choice. Still, you could find out what a hotel offers before scheduling your trip and book according to your preferred connection type.

Source: InformationWeek

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Pocket PC Tips and Tricks -- Free Memory

By: The Authors of Pocket PC Tips and Tricks

FREE UP AVAILABLE MEMORY
One of the main reasons why your Pocket PC begins running more slowly is the persistence of applications and programs running in the background. As a result, the shutting down of those unnecessary applications becomes a necessary task to running a problem-free Pocket PC. (continued...)

The Windows Mobile platform uses a feature called Smart Minimize that actually leaves the program running in the background after you click on the X in the upper right hand corner.



One of the largest programs that consumes memory is ActiveSync, which runs in the background once you synch your Pocket PC with your computer. There are several ways you can shut down this application.



The most common way is to go to Start -> Settings -> System - > Memory and selecting the grey Running Programs tab. This will open up a majority of applications running on your Pocket PC.

By removing large applications from memory when not in use, you will be providing yourself with more space for necessary applications and will potentially improve the overall performance of your device.

Source: Pocket PC Tips and Tricks

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MP3 Player Buying Guide

By: The Editors at TigerDirect

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A DIGITAL AUDIO PLAYER
Thanks to the wonders of digital technology, music and entertainment has never been more portable. It seems like everyone has an MP3 player, and it’s now your turn to get in on all the fun. MP3 is an audio technology that was developed to compress CD-quality sound, and its development has ignited a revolution in the way we listen to music. With a portable MP3 player you can play music you’ve downloaded from the Web or from your own CD collection. If you’re looking to join the growing of people seeking the incredible convenience of a digital audio player, you face a daunting number of choices. Do you go for the fancy features or the basics? What do you need and what can you do without? To help you decide, we’ve listed 8 features and characteristics you ought to consider in order to make an informed choice. (continued...)

1. Storage - Most MP3 players use one of two storage formats - hard drive and, flash memory. Some units utilize recordable CDs, though these are becoming increasingly rare. The more storage capacity your player has the more music it can accommodate. To determine which type of storage you should select, you need to evaluate how you’re going to use your player. Are you going to use it while exercising? Or will you keep the player in a stationary spot, such as your work cubicle?

Hard Drive Players
Hard-drive based players - commonly called Jukebox Players - hold the most storage - literally thousands of files. They are the most versatile digital audio players on the market, offering the latest digital audio software to play and arrange your music. Unfortunately, hard drive models generally have moveable parts, which can cause skips when you’re active. Also, hard drive players are larger than flash players. However, if you are likely to keep your player in one place all the time, then hard drive players are a reasonable choice.

Flash Drive Players
Flash memory players are solid-state devices. They are the most popular among digital audio players, because they’re small enough to fit in your pocket and since they contain no moveable parts, your music does not skip while you’re pounding the pavement when you are jogging. The downside to flash storage is the fact that they can’t carry more than several hours of music unless you add a memory card. Most players have expansion slots that allow you to add more memory. Regardless of which type of storage you choose, always try to select the largest-capacity device you can afford. The general rule is one megabyte of space equals one minute of high-quality playback. For example, a player with 64MB of memory offers about an hour of music.

2. Computer Compatibility and Connections - This governs how your digital audio player communicates with your PC. Your primary connectivity options are USB and FireWire, which require special cabling that goes from the player to your computer. These cables sometimes are included with your MP3 player’s packaging. When you purchase an MP3 player make sure your computer has the minimum system requirements necessary to work with the player.

3. File Types - Make sure you know what types of music files your player support. When music is copied onto your PC from a PC or downloaded from a web site, the type of file it’s saved at can vary and end up as any number of formats, such as .wav, which may or may not be supported by your player. If possible, look for a player that supports a variety of formats such as MP3, WMA , AAC and OCG, which will give you more listening options.

4. Display - Make sure you can see your screen clearly. Because displays on MP3 players are usually quite small, this can be a problem. You’ll want to be able to see what music is playing and how to navigate through your control options.

5. Software - Most digital audio players come with software that allows you to create play lists and copy files. Look for software that’s simple to use, with clear instructions and easy-to-use interfaces.

6. Power options - Many digital audio players feature a built-in rechargeable battery. While this option is great for extended play, the rechargeable batteries can be difficult to remove. This can be a problem if you’re not near a power outlet or a computer that has a USB port. Other players use replaceable alkaline batteries. The downside about batteries, is the fact that MP3 players use a lot of power and can run through batteries quickly.

7. FM Tuner - This is a nice option to have, especially in many modern gyms that feature television monitors tuned in to specific FM formats. It’s also a nice change of pace from your customized music selections.

8. Carrying Case - If your MP3 player is small and fragile it’s a good idea to have a good case to protect it.

Simple Downloading and Copying Tips!
There are two ways to find music for your MP3 players - from your CD and on the Internet. As you probably know, it is illegal to share copyrighted music. Fortunately, there are numerous free online sites you can locate through your search engine. However, you usually will have to pay a fee in order to download popular music. Your computer has the capability to play MP3 players using Windows Media Player or QuickTime for Macintosh. There are other media player programs available, many of which you can download for free from the Internet. Converting CD tracks to MP3 files is called ripping. This is a process that your Windows Media Player can perform; it uses Microsoft’s WMA format, which is similar to MP3 and will work with most digital audio players.

Downloading Audio Files from the Internet to your PC
Downloading MP3 and other audio files from the Internet is as simple as downloading any other digital data file. Once you have identified the link, right-click on it, then choose "Download Link To Disk," "Save Target As," or "Save Link As" (depending on your browser). If your mouse only has one button, click and hold down until the necessary menu pops up. If you're using a Mac, you can also hold down the Control key and click to bring up the menu. Finally, select a location on your computer and save the file. Note that the MP3 files are quite large and may take a long time to download, especially with a slow connection.

Ripping Tracks from CD
(Note: the information in this section is based on the Rio Music Manager. Procedures will vary according to the music manager software that accompanies your digital audio player. We provide this information to offer a general description of how to convert your CD selections to audio files that are compatible with your digital audio player.)

In order to convert your music to MP3 files you rip them off your CD and then encode them onto the new format. Various software programs exist to perform this function, and many digital audio players include these applications. The following instructions are based on Rio Music Manager for the Rio Forge MP3 player. Rio Music Manager is an all-in-one solution that can rip, encode and manage entire collections of digital audio tracks. To copy tracks using Rio Music Manager, launch the music manager, insert an audio CD into your CD-ROM drive, click the CD-ROM icon on the Rio Music Manager Device List, select the track you want to enter, then click the appropriate icon to begin copying the tracks to your computer. It’s as simple as that! Of course, instructions will vary from software program to software program, but we wanted to give you a general idea how easy it is to rip music from your CD and convert them into MP3 files.

Transferring Tracks
Transferring tracks from the PC to the MP3 player using Rio Music Manager involves selecting tracks, then transferring them to the player. Launch the music manager, click My Music in the left frame to access tracks. The music manager then scans your computer’s hard drives for digital audio files that are compatible with your player. Files are automatically categorized by album title and displayed in the Track List. Then you can select tracks within a category of tracks including Albums, Artists, Genres, Songs and Playlists.

Transferring Tracks using Windows Explorer
This procedure is as simple as Copy and Paste! Connect your player to a PC using a USB cable. Double-click My Computer on the Windows Desktop or in the Start Menu, locate MP3 or WMA audio files on the computer, highlight files and/or folders to transfer to the player, click Edit, click Copy. Double-click My Computer to open another window. In the new window located the Rio Forge icon that is associated with the Rio Forge. Double-click Rio Forge or Removable Disk. Click Edit. Click Taste.

Article Source: TigerDirect

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Sprint Treo Gets Additional Bluetooth Support

New Bluetooth support enables Treo 650 to act as a 3G cellular modem for laptops and other devices.

Sprint and palmOne said Thursday that they are now offering updated system software for Treo 650s that, among other features, adds Bluetooth support for using the device as a wireless modem. (continued...)

Enabling Bluetooth Dial-Up Networking (DUN) support enables the Treo to act as a wireless modem for laptops if the owner has a Sprint data plan, the company said in a statement. That becomes increasingly important as the company moves towards rolling out its 3G 1xEV-DO cellular data network.

In addition, the update adds support for hands-free Bluetooth kits for a number of different cars, Sprint said. It also updates the built-in VersaMail e-mail client, according to the company.

The upgrade is available to subscribers from palmOne's Web site

Source: InformationWeek

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Choosing The Right WiFi

By: The Editors at TigerDirect

MAKING SENSE OF THE WIFI NUMBERS AND LETTERS
With three types of Wi-Fi "802.11" technology to choose from for wireless Internet access, and more on the way, which one is best for a new laptop? First there was 802.11b, the geeky name for the wireless technology which quickly made Wi-Fi a must-have for laptops. Next came versions 802.11g and 802.11a. And now, just when you’ve got Wi-Fi letters up to your eyeballs, yet another one is on its way. And another one, and some other ones. 802.11n is the newest generation of Wi-Fi technology, and although a unified 802.11n standard has yet to be finalized, some manufacturers are already selling equipment based on their own versions of "n" technology, which is more than twice as fast as 802.11g and 802.11a. But these "pre-N" products. But they’re often twice as expensive as other Wi-Fi devices, so it might not be a wise investment since they may not be compatible with the eventual official standard. Meanwhile, back in the lab, engineers are working on another series of letters -- "e," "r," "s" and "t." And so it goes… (continued...)

HOW TO CHOOSE AMONG THE WIFI CONFIGURATIONS
Actually, the decision isn’t as tough as it seems, because no matter which Wi-Fi generation you choose, you’ll be able to catch current wireless signals. That’s because nearly all current Wi-Fi products are interoperable, and provide far more speed than most users need. So, even if your new laptop boards the slowest Wi-Fi incarnation, you won’t really notice the difference. And slow, of course, is a relative term. It so happens that interoperability has been a major thrust of the industry group that coined the name Wi-Fi to describe the 802.11 family of wireless technologies. Nearly every Wi-Fi modem in a computer will talk to just about any Wi-Fi transmitter, at home or on the road, regardless of manufacturer. Furthermore, the next generations of the Wi-Fi standard, starting with 802.11n, may not hit the market until after 2006, so there’s no reason to fret right away.

THE DIFFERENCES AMONG WIFI
The original "b" flavor of Wi-Fi can provide data speeds of up to 11 megabits per second (mbps). Actual data transmission is probably closer to half the maximum speed, but that's still several times faster than the broadband connections used by most homes and small businesses. The next version, 802.11g, allows speeds of up to 54 mbps, but is fully compatible with equipment based on 802.11b because they both use the same radio frequency, or wavelength, to transmit data over the airwaves. Once again, actual speeds are usually about half the maximum rate. While the third standard, 802.11a, is also billed at up to 54 mbps, it isn't compatible with either of the first two because its signal travels over a different wavelength. However, nearly all 802.11a products available to the general public are also equipped with 802.11g capability, so some level of connectivity is likely between devices with the latest Wi-Fi standard and those without it.

Nevertheless, it makes sense for most users to pay a little extra for 802.11g, but not necessarily 802.11a. In fact, most DSL and cable broadband connections aren't as fast as the slowest version of 802.11. As a result, few users can take full advantage of Wi-Fi's speed. But DSL and cable broadband providers are starting to boost the bandwidth they offer with little or no price increase, and some local phone companies are installing fiber-optic cables that will deliver lightning-fast connections. While 802.11a offers the same increase in speed as 802.11g, the advantage of 802.11a is that it operates at a wavelength that's less clogged by competing signals from other Wi-Fi users, microwave ovens and cordless phones. While most people don't encounter such interference, 802.11a could prove useful in densely populated environments such as an apartment building.

Article Source: TigerDirect

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Pocket PC Theme Best Sellers

The-Web-Lab.com specializes in developing unique Pocket PC Today Themes that are both fun and functional.

They are developed for use with the FlashDash today screen player which provides a superior user interface and allows developers to produce sensational, full-screen, interactive content and animations. FlashDash makes your Pocket PC easier and faster to use.

Many customers have downloaded hundreds of our themes and here we present the nine most popular themes as determined by the number of customer downloads.

Click on each image for a detailed description and see if you agree with them.


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