Archive for the ‘Hardware’ Category

Toll Free Numbers for Companies

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

Projecting a larger corporate image could be as easy as giving customers a toll free number. Connecting toll free numbers for companies isn’t the complicated expensive venture it used to be decades ago. Companies can get their toll free number by using an online service and in doing so gain access to multiple other features that come with that toll free number. All of this for a monthly fee starting as low as $9.99 per month.

Businesses who provide a toll free number to their clients, make it more likely that customers will call. By utilizing an online service to do this, the toll free number is activated immediately and comes with total advanced phone and fax features providing the functionality of a full PBX. Companies can choose from 800, 888, 877, 866 or even Vanity Numbers. Selection of the toll free number is completed before the registration, that way companies can ensure they’re getting the toll free or vanity number they actually want.

Add as many toll free numbers as needed, meaning your phone lines can grow with your business. You can provide additional toll free or local numbers to employees, departments, branches, or establish a dedicated fax number.  No matter how you set this up, all numbers are linked and managed through one online call controller accessible from anywhere in the world.

Your companies toll free number will come with a full online call manager, giving you the ability to react to calls in real-time along with a click-to-call feature and the ability to automatically route callers based on who they are and when they’re calling. With your company toll free number, you also get custom music on hold, a dial-by-name directory, an award-winning fax service and more. Use your toll free number along with multiple extensions and an auto-attendant to give the company switchboard capabilities.

Companies can take a trial run. Find more information about toll free numbers for companies, individual professionals, and small businesses at My-Telework-Tools.com.

7 Easy Steps to Secure Your Wireless Router

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008
wireless router
When you buy a wireless router it is not secure and its default configuration will allow unwanted users that are in the vicinity of your router to connect to the internet and “steal” your wireless router internet connection. They could also gain access to your PC and steal files and folders of data. Manufacturers leave the configuration “open” so that the user can easily set up the router and get it up and running quickly. However, there is a risk if the router is not secure.

Accessing Your Wireless Router’s Configuration

To gain access to your wireless router settings and configuration menu then connect to the router either wirelessly or via a Ethernet cable. Open a web browser and type either:

http://192.168.1.1 or

http://192.168.2.1

1) Change Admin password

Most wireless routers ship with a blank password. It is essential that this is changed else a potential hacker could get into your router configuration and lock you out of your own hardware.

2) Change The Network Name (otherwise known as the SSID)

The default network name is usually made up of the name/model of your wireless router. This information gives a head start for a hacker and makes it easier for them to break into your network. Don’t rename it to something like your surname or house name as this unnecessarily exposes personal information. Rename it to an alpha-numeric string – this can be up to 32 characters long.

3) Turn off SSID broadcasting

By default, a wireless router’s SSID is broadcast so anyone in the vicinity of your wireless router can see that it. SSID broadcasting can be turned off thus making your wireless router virtually invisible.

4) Enabling Encryption

This is switched off by default. There is a choice of WEP, WPA and WPA2. Currently the latest encryption method is WPA2 so use this where possible. Both your wireless router and wireless PC adaptor must be configured to use the same encryption.

5) Mac Address Control

All hardware has a unique MAC address associated with it, including your PC adaptor card. This MAC address can be added to access control list in the wireless router. Only devices added to the router’s access control list are allowed to be connected.

6) Update router firmware

It is recommended that the latest router firmware is downloaded from the manufacturer’s website and installed in the router. This will hopefully fix any bugs that have been found for your router and also help with any known security flaws in the router itself.

7) Backup settings

Finally, backup all router settings. If you reset the router back to its factory default settings for whatever reason, your configuration can later be easily and quickly restored back into the router.

By: Andyj00

About the Author:

Andy Jones is a technology expert with a broad range of hardware and software skills. To read more tips and techniques like the ones in this article, go to: http://www.setupwirelessrouter.com