Internet-Related Stuff

[bmwracer]

Wynter wrote:

And I should be able to do it. I get the PC in 10 minutes. The only thing, my bro uses Vista, so I hope the instructions are compatible. I'll post my success/frustrations shortly.

Since you're configuring the hub/switch, it should be independent of the operating system... Aside from the look of the graphical interface.

[dochira]

Wynter wrote:

I didn't read any of the previous posts, so forgive me if this has been answered, but how, on a PC, do you configure your wireless hub? Like how do you set a password and stuff to it? The one I have is U-Link.

I'm guessing it's a D-Link (unless it's U-Link up north ).

Connect a network cable to the router (I'm pretty sure it's a router) and to your PC. Power the D-Link first and then the PC, and on the PC browser, enter

Code:

http://192.168.0.1 (this is the default and it probably should work)

and use your username and password (if you remember it). It shouldn't have changed even though it has been powered off. If you can't remember them, there should be a way to reset it to factory defaults.

[bmwracer]

dochira wrote:

If you can't remember them, there should be a way to reset it to factory defaults.

That usually involves holding the reset button down for several seconds while powering up...

[tabana]

Just great. The major ISP and major node owner in Canada decided to start filtering and slowing internet transfer like BT and the like.
_________________

[bmwracer]

tabana wrote:

Just great. The major ISP and major node owner in Canada decided to start filtering and slowing internet transfer like BT and the like.

Yow, looks like everyone's cracking down on BT.

[atskv9]

Anybody have any experience with third party Linksys (specifically WRT54G) router firmware? The factory firmware doesn't seem that stable to me as I have to reset it atleast once a month. I also wanted to get a bit more benefits out of my router, like signal boosting, since I'm doing wireless from a router on the opposite end of the house in the basement. I've heard Tomato, DD-WRT, and HyperWRT are good, all of course having their own pros and cons. So for those who have done it, any opinions?

[bmwracer]

atskv9 wrote:

Anybody have any experience with third party Linksys (specifically WRT54G) router firmware? The factory firmware doesn't seem that stable to me as I have to reset it atleast once a month. I also wanted to get a bit more benefits out of my router, like signal boosting, since I'm doing wireless from a router on the opposite end of the house in the basement. I've heard Tomato, DD-WRT, and HyperWRT are good, all of course having their own pros and cons. So for those who have done it, any opinions?

I'd think the basement would be a bad location to try to transmit/receive via wireless...

[dochira]

atskv9 wrote:

Anybody have any experience with third party Linksys (specifically WRT54G) router firmware? The factory firmware doesn't seem that stable to me as I have to reset it atleast once a month. I also wanted to get a bit more benefits out of my router, like signal boosting, since I'm doing wireless from a router on the opposite end of the house in the basement. I've heard Tomato, DD-WRT, and HyperWRT are good, all of course having their own pros and cons. So for those who have done it, any opinions?

I use DD-WRT on the WRT54G and I like it. It makes that cheap routers have more features (like QoS). It also allows you to increase the power the antennas transmit at to increase the range of the signal. But keep in mind that this also adds heat to the unit.

Overall, I'm happy with it, but lots of the added features are not necessarily for novices.

[atskv9]

bmwracer wrote:

I'd think the basement would be a bad location to try to transmit/receive via wireless...

True, but the reason it's down there is that the cable modem only works on that incoming line. I've tried it everywhere else. Not to mention the signal is the strongest from that line. There could be something I'm missing though about the lines that work.

dochira wrote:

I use DD-WRT on the WRT54G and I like it. It makes that cheap routers have more features (like QoS). It also allows you to increase the power the antennas transmit at to increase the range of the signal. But keep in mind that this also adds heat to the unit. Overall, I'm happy with it, but lots of the added features are not necessarily for novices.

I don't really consider myself a novice but I probably am when it comes to all these added features. If there's a simpler option that's tested and proved I would jump on but I've found a few that don't support my newer version unfortunately. I think I am gonna do some more searching since DD-WRT is seeming like a bit much.

[dochira]

atskv9 wrote:

I don't really consider myself a novice but I probably am when it comes to all these added features. If there's a simpler option that's tested and proved I would jump on but I've found a few that don't support my newer version unfortunately. I think I am gonna do some more searching since DD-WRT is seeming like a bit much.

I haven't looked at HyperWRT or Tomato, but you don't have to worry about the other features in DD-WRT. I primarily use the boost antenna feature to increase range. I am thinking of getting a second wireless point and using WDS (wireless distribution system) to really boost the signal. But that would mean my neighborhood would be able to see my signal.

[bmwracer]

dochira wrote:

But that would mean my neighborhood would be able to see my signal.

Hopefully it's not near an FCC facility.

[tabana]

Thanks for the info about DD-WRT btw. I bought another brand, just because mine was crashing all the time. They should really patch it. IIRC it's the cheap product brand for Cisco. It's not like they don't know how to write a router's firmware.
_________________

[atskv9]

That damn router has gotten the best of me. I'm finally back online since trying to put DD-WRT on my router not too long after my last post. It's highly possible I bricked my router... The instructions definitely didn't work so I tried to put it back to factory settings a ridiculous amount of ways, no luck. Had to go out and buy out a router temporarily until I can get my other one functioning again.
This is what I get for not doing enough research

[tabana]

That sucks. Might be some kind of problem like different batch, revision or something. I guess I won't flash my old one.
_________________

[dochira]

atskv9 wrote:

That damn router has gotten the best of me. I'm finally back online since trying to put DD-WRT on my router not too long after my last post. It's highly possible I bricked my router... The instructions definitely didn't work so I tried to put it back to factory settings a ridiculous amount of ways, no luck. Had to go out and buy out a router temporarily until I can get my other one functioning again. This is what I get for not doing enough research

I'm sure you checked, but certain models of the WRT54G have different memory sizes. IIRC, the newer models have less memory. It was easier to flash older models (in fact I had to go to four different stores to find a compatible model). Linksys came out with the WRT54GL (the 'L' for Linux) that was flashable.

Incidentally, certain models of Buffalo routers are flashable. (So are shady people in parks. )

[bmwracer]

dochira wrote:

(So are shady people in parks. )

LOL, But they're not routers.

[bmwracer]

New report identifies dangerous Web domains

By JORDAN ROBERTSON, AP Technology Writer
Wed Jun 4, 7:09 AM ET

When surfing the Internet for safe Web sites, not all domains are equal.

Companies that assign addresses for Web sites appear to be cutting corners on security more when they assign names in certain domains than in others, according to a report to be released Wednesday by antivirus software vendor McAfee Inc.

McAfee found the most dangerous domains to navigate to are ".hk" (Hong Kong), ".cn" (China) and ".info" (information).

Of all ".hk" sites McAfee tested, it flagged 19.2 percent as dangerous or potentially dangerous to visitors; it flagged 11.8 percent of ".cn" sites and 11.7 percent of ".info" sites that way.

A little more than 5 percent of the sites under the ".com" domain �\ the world's most popular �\ were identified as dangerous.

More spammers, malicious code writers and other cybercriminals can establish an online presence when domain name registry businesses cut requirements for registering a site in order to boost their profit and profile. The report doesn't identify domain name registration companies McAfee believes are responsible for those lapses.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of companies are in the business of registering domain names; some are large and well known, while others are small and less reputable, offering their services on the cheap and with flimsy or no background checks to lure in more customers.

The fact that Internet scam artists gravitate to domain name services with lower fees and fewer requirements isn't new.

What McAfee's "Mapping the Mal Web" report, now in its second year, tries to do is identify the domains that are populated with the highest concentration of risky sites.

The servers for ".hk" and ".cn" Web sites don't have to be in China; Web site operators can register sites from anywhere to target different geographies.

Other risky domains include ".ro" (Romania), with 6.8 percent, and ".ru" (Russia), with 6 percent of sites flagged as dangerous.

Shane Keats, research analyst for McAfee and lead author of the report, said the increase in dangerous sites registered under the ".hk" and ".cn" domains over last year's report was caused in part by better data collection on McAfee's part on those domains and by apparent security lapses in some registrar companies' processes for registering addresses.

"My advice about surfing behavior is that if you're really desperate for cheap Prozac and the pharmacy ends in '.cn,' don't do it. Just don't do it," Keats said. "Find another place to get your Prozac."

Many Internet frauds involve fake sites for pharmaceuticals.

The McAfee report is based on results from 9.9 million Web sites that were tested in 265 domains for serving malicious code, excessive pop-up ads or forms to fill out that actually are tools for harvesting e-mail addresses for sending spam.

Keats said domain name registrars that are strict about authenticating that Web site owners are operating a legitimate business see far fewer malicious Web sites using their services.

Where McAfee found some of the least-risky domain names:

".gov" (government use), with 0.05 percent flagged;

".jp" (Japan), with 0.1 percent flagged and

".au" (Australia), with 0.3 percent flagged.

[Anime Dad]

bmwracer wrote:

".au" (Australia), with 0.3 percent flagged.

Hai, they are very strict, especially with .com.au - you have to have a registered business name.

[bmwracer]

Study says many dial-up users don't want broadband

By ANICK JESDANUN, AP Internet Writer
Thu Jul 3, 1:34 AM ET

A new study suggests that attitude rather than availability may be the key reason why more Americans don't have high-speed Internet access.

The findings from the Pew Internet and American Life Project challenge the argument that broadband providers need to more aggressively roll out supply to meet demand.

Only 14 percent of dial-up users say they're stuck with the older, slower connection technology because they can't get broadband in their neighborhoods, Pew reported Wednesday.

Thirty-five percent say they're still on dial-up because broadband prices are too high, while another 19 percent say nothing would persuade them to upgrade. The remainder have other reasons or do not know.

"That suggests that solving the supply problem where there are availability gaps is only going to go so far," said John Horrigan, the study's author. "It's going to have to be a process of getting people more engaged with information technology and demonstrating to people it's worth it for them to make the investment of time and money."

Nonetheless, the Pew study does support concerns that rural Americans have more trouble getting faster Internet connections, which bring greater opportunities to work from home or log into classes at distant universities. Twenty-four percent of rural dial-up users say they would get broadband if it becomes available, compared with 11 percent for suburbanites and 3 percent for city dwellers.

Vint Cerf, one of the Internet's key inventors and an advocate for the idea that the government should be more active in expanding broadband, suspects that many more dial-up users would be interested in going high-speed if they had a better idea of what they're missing. He pointed out that broadband access is available from only one provider in many areas, keeping prices high and speeds low.

"Some residential users may not see a need for higher speeds because they don't know about or don't have ability to use high speeds," Cerf said. "My enthusiasm for video conferencing improved dramatically when all family members had MacBook Pros with built-in video cameras, for example."

Overall, Pew found that 55 percent of American adults now have broadband access at home, up from 47 percent a year earlier and 42 percent in March 2007. By contrast, only 10 percent of Americans now have dial-up access.

Despite the increase in overall broadband adoption, though, growth has been flat among blacks and poorer Americans.

Of the Americans with no Internet access at all, about a third say they have no interest in logging on, even at dial-up speeds. Nearly 20 percent of nonusers had access in the past but dropped it. Older and lower-income Americans are most likely to be offline.

Pew's telephone study of 2,251 U.S. adults, including 1,553 Internet users, was conducted April 8 to May 11 and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. The error margins for subgroups are higher �\ plus or minus 7 percentage points for the dial-up sample.

[Anime Dad]

I guess we're not all addicts