wps

Wi-Fi users not as safe as they think, survey says

Among Wi-Fi users, there's a big gap between knowing about Wi-Fi security and keeping their network and devices secure, as revealed by the Wi-Fi Security Barometer Survey results that the Wi-Fi Alliance announced today.

According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, the survey, conducted by Wakefield Research in August, randomly asked 1,000 participants age 18 or older around the country about their knowledge of Wi-Fi security. Around 97 percent of the interviewees said they thought that data on their devices and networks was "safe and secure." However, when asked which of several recommended steps they have actually taken to protect their Wi-Fi networks or devices, respondents received an overall score of just 66 percent. This means that in practice, users were actually not as safe as they could be.

The good news is, according to the survey, most users (about 86 percent of those surveyed) have taken basic steps to ensure the privacy and security of their Wi-Fi network by enabling security protections on their access point or router. However, only 59 percent have implemented wireless passwords or encryption methods that meet the basic criteria for strength and privacy. This means that there is a large number of people who have been using Wi-Fi with a false sense of security. … Read more

Netgear ships high-end dual-band wireless router

Since my CES blog on Netgear's WNDR3700, I have received a numerous e-mails asking about the availability of the product. Today, I can provide readers with a definitive answer.

Netgear announced Tuesday the immediate availability of what it calls "the ultimate networking machine for gamers, media enthusiasts, and small businesses," the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit router WNDR3700.

This is Netgear's highest-end draft-N router that offers true dual-band (concurrent signals in both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands), as well as other features such as ReadyShare for high-speed access to a USB hard drive from any … Read more

Netgear adds DSL modem to dual-band router

If you sign up for a DSL Internet service, chances are you will be offered a router and modem combo device.

I would normally recommend against this kind of combo deal, as it doesn't provide the flexibility of choosing the right router for the network. That's not to mention that the combo router offered by the service provider tends to be subpar, in both performance and features. It's much more flexible to get just the modem and add a separate wireless router later.

Now I am about to change that mentality with what Netgear introduced at CES … Read more

Netgear reveals new dual-band router

I reviewed the Netgear WNDR3300 wireless router a while ago and complained that it wasn't a true dual-band router, citing that it was only able to offer Draft N performance in one band at a time. Now at CES 2009, Netgear makes up for that with its all new successor called RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNDR3700.

Netgear hopes to make the WNDR3700 the ultimate in wireless routers for both home and small business environments. Like all true dual-band wireless routers, such as the D-Link DIR-825 or the Linksys WRT610N, the WNDR3700 features separate Wireless-N access points that … Read more

Netgear's wireless router goes mobile

D-Link did this a while ago by making its DIR-825 router support USB 3G mobile modems, and today at CES, Netgear introduced its 3G-only mobile router, the MBR624GU.

The router has a compact form factor and can be used only with USB 3G modems. It is compatible with most 3G modems on the market. It will not, however, work with other DSL or cable modems like most regular wireless routers do.

It's rather disappointing that the MBR624GU doesn't support Draft N but instead stays with the 802.11g standard speed, which caps at 54Mbps. While this speed is … Read more

Netgear brings 5Ghz Wireless-N signal to wired clients

Together with the WNDR3300, Netgear recently introduced the HD/Gaming 5Ghz Wireless-N Networking Kit. The kit includes the Wireless-N HD Access Point/Bridge (WNHDE111). Despite the confusing name, the device itself is rather straightforward.

The WNHDE111 has the same design as the Netgear WNR834B router and that means it's bulky, actually very bulky for an access point/bridge device. But nonetheless, thanks to the internal antenna design and its vertical posture, the WNHDE111 manages to have a relatively small footprint. However, there are a couple of other things worth mentioning about this device than its appearance.

First, the WNHDE111 … Read more

Netgear blends frequencies with WNDR3300

Ever since the review of the D-Link DGL-4500, a Draft N 2.0 router can operate in ether 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequencies, I've been anticipating the day when I can get my hands on a router that can operate in both frequencies simultaneously. Today is that day.

Out of the blue, I just received the RangMax Dual Band Wireless-N Router WNDR3300 from Netgear. The router looks very much like others in Netgear's RangeMax series with the sleek casing (that attracts fingerprints very easily) and the round, big button on top that glows blue light when the router … Read more