Wireless Tips: Stop Roaming to the Wrong AP - 7/18/2007 This week's wireless tutorial offers help for diagnosing connections to weak wireless Access Points and tips for connecting to the strongest possible AP.
Networking Tips: Free (and Almost Free) Mac Networking Tools - 7/10/2007 This week's Networking Tips article covers two handy freeware tools that make using Macs a little nicer for practical networkers. We also take a peek at one that costs a little, but offers good value.
Networking Tips: Wake Up and Smell the Network - 7/2/2007 More and more people want to take advantage of remote access, but your PC has to be on to be accessible, right? Well, that's not always the case, thanks to a technology called Wake on LAN.
Networking Tips: Do You Always Need A Broadband Router? - 6/28/2007 If you don't need the extra LAN ports or wireless access a broadband router offers, does it serve any real purpose other than to add cost and complexity?
Windows XP Networking Tips: Wireless Network Configuration Tricks - 6/21/2007 If you have several systems running Windows XP SP2, Windows Connect Now provides a way to avoid some of the repetitive, time-consuming, and error-prone tasks involved in configuring a wireless network.
How to Get the Most from Your USB WLAN Adapter - 6/19/2007 It's not hard to see the appeal of easy-to-install USB WLAN adapters, but how do you ensure you are getting the best results?
Vista Security Tips: Coping With Constant UAC Prompts - 6/14/2007 Our guest columnist presents a guide to living with Windows Vista's User Access Control feature and a list of helpful Vista Security Tips for setting up advanced "house rules" for your PC's protection.
Firewire Facts: What's a 1394 Network Connection? - 6/11/2007 Firewire/1394 is a high-speed serial connection used to connect PCs and external storage and multimedia devices, but you can also run TCP/IP over Firewire to network two systems together.
Wireless Security: Say No to WEP, And Yes to WPA - 6/4/2007 If reports and studies are accurate, a significant percentage of wireless LANs (especially those used in homes) are still using outdated and insecure WEP for their encryption.
Windows Wireless Zero Configuration: Five Steps to Sanity - 5/31/2007 Windows wants to help you get on a Wi-Fi network, but many times, it just gets in the way. Here's how to work around, if not bypass, XP's WLAN connection software.
WPA PSK Crackers: Loose Lips Sink Ships - 5/14/2007 Think Wi-Fi Protected Access makes your home or small business network impenetrable? Think again -- and learn how to protect yourself.
Windows XP: Don't Forget the Firewall - 5/10/2007 Windows XP Service Pack 2 users have a convenient and powerful software-based firewall available to them. Let's look at setting up and using the firewall built into XP SP2 and also discuss why you might need more firewall protection than what Microsoft has to offer.
Networking Tips: Unsafe at Any Price - 5/7/2007 If anyone could write a decent anti-virus package for Windows, it'd have to be Microsoft, right? Unfortunately, that argument fails miserably in reality.
Networking Tips: Optimize Your Browser's Internet Connection - 4/30/2007 It seems we're all looking for a way to squeeze a bit more out of our Internet connections. If you're using Firefox, two free add-ons can help you speed things up a little without having to deal with the browser's about:config page.
Will Outlook 2007 Wreck Your E-Mail? - 4/23/2007 The new e-mail program in Microsoft Office 2007 does a poor job of rendering HTML, but there are ways to work around the problems it creates.
Vista Expert: What's Not to Like About Vista? - 4/16/2007 Quite a bit, actually. The author of the bestselling Windows Vista for Dummies explains why he's sticking with XP. Plus: Vista tips for working around the new operating system's difficulties.
The Great Migration: Upgrading to Windows Vista - 4/9/2007 Vista: For most of us it's not a question of will we switch, but when. We talked to two experts to find out what you need to consider before, during, and after the great migration.
A Guide to VoIP — Just the FAQs Please - 4/2/2007 There are two kinds of people: Those who have switched to voice over IP service and those who are thinking about it. If you fall into the latter category, these frequently asked questions will help you make your decision.
Windows Vista Tips: Password-Protected File Sharing - 3/26/2007 Once you're ready to start sharing your files and folders in Windows Vista, the best step for security is to turn on password-protected sharing.
Windows Vista Tips: Home Networking Setup Tutorial - 3/19/2007 Our first Vista Networking tips article delves into Windows Vista's Networking & Sharing Center to reveal where in the layers of menus upon menus the key networking and file-sharing options are hidden.
Three Roads to Network Printing - 3/12/2007 Having a printer for each computer on your network is usually overkill. A better use of money and space is to set up a networked printer that everyone can share. This week, we explore three printer sharing methods and discuss the pros and cons of each.
Stop Spam Before It Stops You - 3/5/2007 When it comes to blocking spam, basic e-mail filters just don't cut it. Three small business people share how they won the war against spam.
Home Networking Made Simple(r) - 2/26/2007 Using a home network management utility is a good way to make Windows networking easier for novices and experienced users alike. We look at the range of features offered in this genre of software.
Living in a Virtual World — It Has Real Benefits - 2/22/2007 While the virtualization buzz is loud in big business circles, the technology also provides safer, more convenient networking for home offices and small businesses.
Vista: You Might Not Care Yet -- But You Will - 2/12/2007 While the new release has been greeted with tepid response, certain key features are highly seductive, argues our guest columnist.
Anytime, Anywhere Network Access with Dynamic DNS - 2/4/2007 Because ISPs don't assign static IP addresses, remotely accessing devices on your network can be tricky. One way around changing IP addresses is to use a Dynamic DNS service, which automatically tracks the changes to your network's public IP address.
Battling the Upstream Bottleneck of Broadband Connections - 1/29/2007 Browsing isn't the only thing people use the Internet these days. In fact, for just about any Internet-based application other than Web browsing, the speed of your upstream connection is often more important than that of your downstream connection.
Small Businesses Pick the Best Products of the Year - 1/26/2007 No one knows what works for your company better than you. Your votes are in, and here's the list of products and services that you say deliver for small businesses.
Networking Tips: The Problem with Windows (Or Any Other OS) - 1/22/2007 The battle of Windows vs. Linux or Mac people is a case of everybody being to some degree right combined with an abundance of human obnoxiousness. Regardless of which camp you're in, security threats are changing.
SSL Provides VPN Security the Web Way - 1/16/2007 If you're looking for a way to set up secure remote access with less complexity and cost than a traditional a VPN, an SSL VPN may be the way to go.
Networking Tips: Security Begins at Home - 1/8/2007 When it comes to keeping outsiders off your home or office wireless network, a little security can go a long way.
Open Port 25 from Your ISP? Cash or Charge? - 1/2/2007 Most ISPs are closing port 25 to curb spam zombies. What they should do is turn it into a revenue opportunity and help clean up the 'net that much more quickly.
Windows XP Networking Tutorial: Wireless Network Configuration Tips - 12/19/2006 Windows XP SP2's Windows Connect Now feature provides a way to avoid some of the repetitive, time-consuming, and error-prone tasks involved in configuring a wireless network. Learn how to use it in our latest Windows XP Networking tutorial.
Boost Your Bandwidth, Boost Your Network Performance - 12/18/2006 In recent years Gigabit Ethernet has become a practical and economical option for home offices and small businesses. Today it now makes sense to consider Gigabit to the desktop as a viable option when upgrading or setting up a new network.
Learn to Stop Worrying and Love Linux - 12/11/2006 Sizing up Linux for your next home networking project? You can take a pass on the holy wars and still reap the benefits.
No Mad Dash for Vista Needed - 11/27/2006 You can soon buy licenses to Windows Vista Business and Microsoft Office Small Business 2007 ahead of the general launch. Don't be fooled, though; Microsoft isn't doing small business owners any favors here.
Networking Tips: Four Things to Do Post-Ping - 11/20/2006 Here are four things you should in the hour after you've happily observed that you've "got ping" (i.e., a network connection) to make your network a little safer.
Why Can't I See My Computer on the Network? - 11/13/2006 Your peer-to-peer network is humming along, but you can't see all the PCs connected? We offer several options to browse your network resources.
When Beta Goes Bad: 802.11nuh-Uh - 11/6/2006 Vendors that are selling 802.11n have decided the imperatives of their product cycles trump the long-term benefit of their customers, who they're busy turning into beta testers.