wi-fi – PSafe Blog

Smart Devices Could be Connected to 5G, But is it Safe?

PSafe Newsroom — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 12:00:54 +0000

Most of us own smart devices that can connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi, but the technology is far from perfect as network shortages can shut down these devices. Tech companies are looking to fix these issues with 5G, which would allow Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices such as smart refrigerators, home security systems, and smart TVs to connect to a network that does not rely on WiFi.

The idea is to allow these devices to stay online at all times via the connection to 5G data, similar to how smartphones remain online without Wi-Fi.

Design Company Is Changing the Game
A company called Arm is developing a new software stack called Kigen that would offer smart devices SIM cards for 5G connectivity. Arm believes that by 2035, there will be more than a trillion connected devices on SIM cards, as good as Wi-Fi connections in most areas of the U.S. There are still plenty of places that are susceptible to blackouts and poor connectivity that would benefit from such technology.

The initiative would also mean that IoT-device owners would not have to set up an individual Wi-Fi network — the SIM cards would connect your device quickly. Arm claims 5G technology adds more security to the home since hacking attacks typically take place through unsecured Wi-Fi networks.

Nevertheless, security experts believe this technology could create a slew of security issues that Arm needs to address before rolling out SIM cards for smart devices.

Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?
We’re moving towards a world that will soon see mainstream adoption of autonomous driving technology and healthcare solutions that operate on 5G in order to reduce accidents and save lives. However, if the technology were to misfire, the results could be catastrophic. These networks would operated in a different way than Wi-Fi is and rely on cloud systems and visualization, leaving them open to other vulnerabilities that Wi-Fi networks don’t currently deal with.

Networks running on 5G have low latency and high bandwidth capabilities that could be vulnerable to distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on larger scale. Cryptocurrency miners aka, hackers could also take advantage the network resources of smart devices connected to 5G to increase processing power and reduce yours.

Cyber Attacks Could Grow Exponentially
Experts believe that hackers will have the opportunity to launch larger attacks than previously seen if they manage to infect IoT devices connected on 5G. One of the most impactful cyber attacks in recent memory was the 2016 Dyn IoT botnet attack, which shut down the East Coast of the U.S. preventing users from loading certain websites.

A threat of this scale targeting a 5G network would be faster and of lower latency, allowing hackers to potentially take down more than just a small geographical area.

Arm and other 5G developers will have to develop iron-clad security measures to prevent such attacks from happening before the technology is rolled out.

These Are the Top 4 Cities Worldwide for Free Wi-Fi

PSafe Newsroom — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 22:00:25 +0000

Traveling abroad is never a smooth process, and locating reliable Wi-Fi — on top of typical travel dilemmas — can often be stressful. However, many cities around the world have taken steps toward installing broadly accessible Wi-Fi networks. When using these Wi-Fi networks, keep in mind that public networks can come with a host of security flaws. Be sure to run a the Wi-Fi Check feature on your phone once you’ve connected to a new network:

The Wi-Fi Check feature will check the download speed, DNS security, and network security of your public network. It’s a great way to see if you’re using a safe and reliable network. Continue reading to find out a few of the world’s top cities with free and reliable Wi-Fi access.

Taipei, Taiwan
After installing nationwide Wi-Fi in 2011, Taiwan became one of the first countries to offer free Wi-Fi to its citizens. A few years later, the nation expanded its “iTaiwan” network to tourists, as well. By visiting a Taiwan Tourism Bureau Center and presenting their passport as an ID, visitors can register their phones to the foreign network. Taiwan offers approximately 5,000 individual hotspots, many of which are located in tourist destinations, transportation hubs, government offices and cultural establishments. Taipei is heavily populated by hotspots, featuring hundreds of locations all easily locatable through the city’s hotspot map.

Tel Aviv, Israel
Also a leader in the installation of citywide Wi-Fi, Tel Aviv offers 80 separate free Wi-Fi locations for tourists and locals. Most major tourist and transportation locations sport hotspots, many of which are concentrated in the city’s center. Tech users wishing to take advantage of this should connect to the “free_tlv” network. The free Wi-Fi imposes no limits on network usage for users.

Kansas City, Missouri
Although this might be an unusual travel destination, Kansas City’s recently installed public Wi-Fi networks are a sure draw for tech users. This installation is part of an initiative to shift the city towards smart infrastructure. Built and managed by the Sprint network, the Wi-Fi hotspots will feature upload speeds of 130 Mbps and download speeds of 150 Mbps. While the network is available to locals and visitors alike, city officials have said that their main reason for the network is to benefit low-income and underprivileged citizens.

Helsinkl, Finland
This Finnish city’s Wi-Fi network requires no account or password, and imposes no usage limits. The public network offers download speeds of 24 Mbps and upload speeds of 21.8 Mbps. These speeds are fast enough to allow for fast and high quality HD streaming and video calling. The network is available for access in most public spaces and government-owned buildings.

How Can dfndr Help You When Traveling Abroad?

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 00:00:13 +0000

During the summer months, more than nine million Americans will travel outside of the country. With these increased traveling numbers come a heightened number of phone thefts. Even popular vacation destinations such as Spain have reported theft incidents at rates as high as 1,074.9 per 100,000 individuals. Travelers also face dangers when relying on public Wi-Fi networks, which are common in airports, hotels, and other transportation hubs. Click here to quickly check your Wi-Fi’s security:

The danger of simply misplacing a phone or plugging a charger into an unsafe outlet is magnified in an unfamiliar city. Luckily for dfndr users, the service’s built-in anti-theft and advanced protection features can help prevent and remedy these worst-case scenarios. Find out how to take advantage of both features to protect your phone on your next trip abroad.

anti-theft
Thefts in popular tourist locations, such as (but not limited to) Mexico and Costa Rica, specifically target vulnerable foreigners. Some robberies will occur while a thief poses as a plainclothes cop and asks for credentials, which are then stolen along with valuables. Other times, nice cars harboring visible electronics will be targeted and the windows will be smashed.

However, if you activate anti-theft on your phone in advance, then you will be fully protected in the event of loss or theft. This feature allows you to remotely control your Android device and block thieves from accessing apps and media files or delete these files entirely.

anti-theft also allows users to remotely erase all data on the device, track the device’s location, and sound an alarm (to find the phone nearby). Thanks to these protective functions, thieves will not be able to locate sensitive data or access accounts within the phone. Click here to activate anti-theft now:

advanced protection
Public Wi-Fi networks are notoriously unsafe options for mobile users. Unfortunately, the cost of international data plans forces travelers to become almost entirely dependent on such networks for Internet access. In particular, both Russia and China pose significant risks to mobile security thanks to the number of cybersecurity threats. Further, while travel ports and charging stations within airports are tempting for travelers running low on juice, these outlets are often targeted by hackers, as well.

That’s why it’s important to add additional protection on your phone, especially when traveling abroad. The advanced protection feature will prevent thieves and viruses from disabling dfndr’s security, and ensure that your phone stays protected no matter what. Click here to enable advanced protection on your phone:

How Safe Is It to Use Public, Unprotected Wi-Fi Networks?

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 00:00:02 +0000

Just because public Wi-Fi is free and easy doesn’t mean that it’s safe to use. Whenever you join a public network on your phone, you’re not alone when you’re using it. If a hacker gets access to the public Wi-Fi router then they can use it to access your private information like your credit card numbers, bank passwords, or even social media accounts. You should use the wi-fi check feature to test for speed and security. Click here to check your network:

The Dangers of “Eavesdropping”
When your phone is connected to a public Wi-Fi network, hackers can use a Man-in-the-Middle style attack to eavesdrop on your personal information. With this type of hack, the criminal hacks into the public Wi-Fi router and can “eavesdrop” on your data as it goes from your phone to any website you may be using. So if you log in to your social media accounts on public Wi-Fi the hackers can watch as you put your username and password into the website. This means that the hacker now has that username and password so your account is no longer secure.

Using Virtual Private Network
The only ways to guarantee that your phone will not be hacked is to either stay off of public Wi-Fi altogether or to connect to a virtual private network, or VPN. These virtual private networks encrypt your private information as it goes from your phone to any website you may be using. This means that, even if hackers somehow get into the Wi-Fi router, they will not be able to see your data because it is encrypted and unreadable by others.

Stay Safe Using wi-fi check
wi-fi check is a tool that will verify the download speed and network security of your phone. It can tell you how fast your Internet connection is and whether or not it’s a secure network that your phone is connected to. It’s an important tool to take advantage of when using a public network.

The Cities to Travel to with the Fastest Internet

PSafe Newsroom — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 01:00:43 +0000

There are so many great places you can visit in the United States and all over the world. It’s already tough to leave loved ones and our everyday conveniences behind, so why make it worse by dealing with slower Internet? While you travel you’re already leaving behind so much; you may as well stay connected at the fastest speeds possible.

There are plenty of cities that are restricted and only have access to slow DSL connections or worse, but there are plenty of cities across the country and the world that have access to some of the fastest speeds available.

Check Out London for Speedy Wi-Fi
London is filled with history and plenty of must-see sights. Luckily, its Internet speed is pretty good, too. The average download speed in London is 0.15 Gbps, and while that might not be the fastest on the list, it’s certainly nothing to scoff at.

Top Destinations for Fast Wi-Fi
San Francisco, Mexico City, Berlin, and Dublin stretch across many different and beautiful parts of the world. While you’re visiting all of these wonderful places, you’ll be able to enjoy some great Wi-Fi speeds, too. These cities may not have a lot in common but they do all share an average download speed of 0.2 Gbps. This means you can focus on fun instead of waiting for things to load.

Where to Go for Faster Internet in Canada
Canada is a beautiful place to visit. You’ll find plenty to do and see, and Toronto is a great place to start. Luckily, Toronto enjoys an average download speed of 0.35 Gbps so you can quickly browse the Internet for things to do instead of waiting.

The City with the Fastest Wi-Fi Speeds
Seoul, in South Korea, tops this list with average download speeds at 1 Gbps, while also having a much lower cost than most other countries. You’ll want to make sure to check out all this wonderful city has to offer, though it’ll hard to stop binge-watching and surfing the Internet at these insane speeds!

What You Should Do if You Lose Your Phone While Traveling

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 01:00:32 +0000

It’s natural to panic when you misplace your smartphone, especially while traveling. These days, practically our whole lives are stored on our devices — important contact information, account information, emails, and valuable mementos such as photos and videos. Luckily, you can minimize the damage of losing your phone while traveling. Click here to enable anti-theft in advance so that your phone is protected in the event of loss or theft while traveling:

With anti-theft activated, you can remotely block thieves from accessing your phone, sound an alarm to find your phone nearby, show you your phone’s location on a map, and erase all of your phone’s data. anti-theft is a great tool to take advantage of on your phone because it’s easy to activate and gives you a crucial layer of additional protection. Find out how to access these features of below.

What to Do When You Lose Your Phone
The first step is to locate your phone from a different device. This step should be taken first to ensure that you didn’t misplace your device at your hotel or leave it at home. This can be done by visiting my.psafe.com and entering your Google account information. Once you’ve logged in, you can view your phone’s location, lock your device, erase all of your data, sound an alarm, or see if your SIM card has been taken out or replaced by clicking the “+” symbol in the bottom right corner.

You can choose which option seems most appropriate based on your situation. If your phone is somewhere in your room, for example, you may choose to play a sound in order to locate it quickly. If you suspect someone has taken your device, you can remove all of your data to prevent identity theft. You can also lock your phone to prevent further access to your device. From here, you can determine whether or not further action should be taken with the police in the event that your phone has been stolen or tampered with.

It’s important to be proactive in the event of misplacing your phone. In order to access the anti-theft features, you should have them activated prior to misplacing your device in order for them to work. The next time you plan to travel, you will experience a safer, worry-free traveling experience because you are prepared.

Easy Ways to Avoid the $1000 Vacation Mobile Phone Bill

PSafe Newsroom — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 01:00:22 +0000

Whether you’re vacationing abroad or on a cruise ship this summer, you can easily and unknowingly rack up your cell phone bill very quickly. Many fees occur without ever making a call. Apps are constantly running in the background of your phone, using up data and draining your phone’s battery. If you want to use your phone abroad, make sure to get a plan with your carrier before you leave, and take advantage of powerpro to save battery life and reduce your data usage:

If you don’t have an international plan, even turning your phone on once while abroad can rack up roaming fees as calls and texts come in. Roaming is when your phone uses data while you’re outside your carrier’s covered area — such as when traveling internationally. Educate yourself below so you can avoid the $1000 (or more) vacation cell phone bill.

Block Apps’ Data Usage to Stop Background Updates

In addition to using PowerPro, go into your phone’s settings to limit which apps run even when they’re closed. This will save your data and limit roaming fees when traveling abroad.

Get a New Sim Card Before You Leave

With a local or international sim card, you’ll get charged as the locals do. You can purchase these cards online for around $40 plus usage fees. This option means that you’ll have a different phone number when abroad.

Talk to Your Carrier About International Packages

Keep your same phone number by purchasing an international package. Each carrier approaches them differently, but most are reasonably priced when compared to the fees you’d rack up from data roaming. The data is usually slower, but you can speed it up for a fee. Some even let you use your domestic plan’s monthly data, text, and call allowance abroad for a daily or monthly fee. Many carriers even offer specific plans for cruise ships. Always read the fine print to know what your package covers.

Say Hello to Airplane Mode

Turning your phone to airplane mode ensures data roaming and cellular data is off. Go to your phone’s settings or swipe down menu and click on the airplane icon. Once enabled, your data and Wi-Fi will automatically turn off. Easily turn Wi-Fi back on to enjoy Internet access without fear of roaming charges.

Switch to an Alternative Messaging App

If you give up data altogether or are limited, use a messaging app to stay in touch. WhatsApp, Telegram, FB Messenger, and Skype all let you make calls and send photos and texts over Wi-Fi. Let your friends and family know before you travel so that they can download the app of your choice.

Here Are 4 Tips on How to Avoid Phone Hacking

PSafe Newsroom — Wed, 26 Jul 2017 23:00:48 +0000

The security of our mobile devices and Wi-Fi networks are a constant source of worry. It seems like hackers are finding new ways to breach our networks and steal our information every day. To protect your phone, activate the Anti-Hacking feature now:

Our phones hold so much personal information that the risk of them being hacked is an intimidating thought. The Anti-Hacking feature protects against malicious sites with warnings and prevents password theft by making sure your login credentials are never found by hackers. Besides a good security app, the following are other ways to protect yourself.

Avoid Public Wi-Fi

It can be tempting to tend to some personal business while sitting in a local coffee shop and taking advantage of their free Wi-Fi network. However, doing so can put your phone’s security at risk. If you’re going to use public Wi-Fi, make sure that you are not entering any sensitive information while doing so, such as your banking information or passwords. These networks are particularly susceptible to being hacked, putting your information at risk.

Use Passcodes

Using a passcode on your phone may be considered a pain, but it’s worth the effort to protect your device. Avoid using passwords that are easy to guess, and stay away from generic passcodes such as “1234” or “0000.” The more numbers or characters, the better, so switch the length of the code to six digits for extra points (and protection).

Limit Bluetooth Usage

Using Bluetooth on your device can make your phone more susceptible to being hacked. While this feature of our smartphones is useful, it gives hackers an easy “in” to record your keystrokes, steal credit card numbers, and even to send scam text messages to your device. To minimize this risk, limit your Bluetooth usage as much as you can, always turning it off when it’s not being used.

Be Cautious When Downloading Apps

Believe it or not, not all apps offered on the Google Play store and beyond are safe for our phones. Before downloading any apps to your device, ensure that they are from a trusted source, such as via the manufacturer’s app store. Do your research, and read reviews and the description of the app so that you’re not unknowingly putting your device at risk.

Even if we’re not always consciously aware of it, our phones are typically at some level of risk of being hacked by a predator. Protect your information and your device by following these simple tips and you’ll be glad you did!

Tips for Using Wi-Fi Safely When Traveling Abroad

PSafe Newsroom — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 23:00:11 +0000

Free Wi-Fi networks are notorious for putting your data at risk and opening your devices to possible hacking attacks. When accessing these networks while traveling abroad, the risks associated with free Wi-Fi become even greater. When connecting to an unknown or public Wi-Fi network, you should take advantage of DFNDR’s Wi-Fi Check feature. This function will verify download speeds, DNS security, and network security, clearing up concerns about which hot spots to trust. Click here to check your Wi-Fi:

While the smartest approach is to rely solely on data, this may not be a viable option for most travelers due to cost. In situations where you feel the need to rely on free hot spots, be sure to use Wi-Fi Check and to follow the safety tips listed below.

The Risk

When targeting tourists through Wi-Fi, hackers typically rely on one of two main tactics. In both cases, sensitive data can be viewed, recorded, and stolen by hackers. These attackers can potentially view your passwords, social networks, important documents, emails, bank account information, and much more through the compromised device.

The first tactic involves tracking users’ movements on unencrypted Wi-Fi channels. In this instance, hackers can capture all data sent to and from your computer and, with websites who don’t use HTTPS, can view your usernames and passwords, as well. In some instances, unprotected networks can enable Man-In-The-Middle attacks, in which traffic sent from your device to another is intercepted, recorded, or adjusted and then passed on.

The other risk Wi-Fi users face when traveling abroad includes fake hot spots offered for free, often mimicking the name of a known and trusted free Wi-Fi network. Oftentimes, these networks will appear to mobile users as Starbucks or Apple Store hot spots, when in fact they are malicious connection points.

Safety Tips

When leaving on a trip, you should change passwords, using a strong combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. In addition, your phone’s Wi-Fi setting should be switched off when not in use to prevent automatic connection to nearby hot spots. Before connecting to a Wi-Fi network, verify that the channel is encrypted and authentic. This can be done by verifying the network name with hotel managers or airport employees. When using these networks, only access encrypted channels (ones where the URL begins with “HTTPS”).

Make sure to turn off sharing settings, program your devices to “forget” Wi-Fi connection, and enable two-factor authentication for all accounts.

Can a Lack of Storage Space Affect Internet Speed?

PSafe Newsroom — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 16:00:19 +0000

The storage space on your phone is almost full, and suddenly your phone’s performance seems like it’s lagging behind. Even your Internet seems to be slower than usual. But are these two related to each other? The answer: your phone’s minimal storage space could be the reason for your slow Internet, if your browser app is storing too many temporary files on your device. Click here to quickly remove all useless files from your device with Quick Cleanup:

The Quick Cleanup feature will allow you to instantly remove all junk files, temporary files, trash files, and cache. These unnecessary files can take up a lot of space on your device because of the way modern apps collect and store them. Clearing these files from your phone will free up space on your device for new apps and files, in addition to improving the performance of your phone and apps. If you’ve never cleared cache from your Internet app before, then clearing these files should help to improve your online experience.

While a lack of storage space and your slow Internet speed may be unrelated, they’re still issues that you shouldn’t ignore. Continue reading to find out how you can tackle these issues on your smartphone.

How to Find Out Why Your Internet is Slow

Your Internet could be slow for a number reasons. It could be the result of an old router, placing your router in an undesirable location, or an issue with your Internet service provider. Click here to use Wi-Fi Check to check the speed of your Internet and your network security:

How to Respond to a Lack of Storage Space

A lack of storage space can be frustrating because you’ll no longer be able to download new apps and files. Your phone may also start to lag behind, because it’s having a harder time performing tasks. In order to free up space on your device, you should evaluate all of the files on your device. Back up any videos, photos, and music that you want to keep, and then delete these files from your phone.

If you don’t have a microSD card for your phone, you should get one to store any media files that you want to keep on your device. Make sure to look up how much external storage space your device can hold before purchasing a microSD card. Some phones can only hold 32GB of storage space, while more powerful phones can hold up to 256GB.