General News Archives - Softcom Internet Communications, Inc.

Custom Wifi Setups for Your Unique Business Needs

November 5, 2019 4G LTE, General News, Internet Service Area News, Tips and Helpful User Information

Wireless networks are at the heart of practically every business these days, no matter how big or small. Every person who walks through your door – employee or customer – will need to use the internet at some point, and if your Wifi setup isn’t reliable enough, fast enough or secure enough, you risk negative repercussions. Lost revenue, damaged reputation, frustrated customers, and missed opportunities are just the tip of the iceberg if your Wifi isn’t doing its job.

Every business needs a WiFi setup that’s reliable, fast, and secure. However, getting there is often easier said than done. Every business is unique, which means every business Wifi must be set up correctly to meet those unique needs. A large vineyard operating across thousands of acres with multiple offices and locations needs an entirely different configuration than a small chain of family-owned restaurants. Other scenarios can include financial organizations with multiple branches and high security requirements versus home-based offices working from remote locations.

The Best Apps for a Better Night’s Sleep

October 28, 2019 General News, Tips and Helpful User Information

If Halloween is over and you still see a lot of zombies walking around, we know why – Daylight Savings Time. This year Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. on November 3. If this annual turning back of the clocks makes you feel like the living dead, we’ve rounded up four of the highest-rated apps to help you sleep like a baby. Whether you’re a regular insomniac or just need some help getting back on a schedule after the time change, these apps for a better night’s sleep have something for everyone.

*All of the apps profiled below have free and paid versions and work on both iOS and Android systems.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

October 22, 2019 General News, Online Security, Tips and Helpful User Information

Even though this month has been designated National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we feel that your security is an all-year-long issue that everyone should be aware of. It’s no longer enough to watch for suspicious emails and think that you’re too small a target to attract the attention of cybercriminals. As criminals get savvier and their efforts more targeted, everyone from individuals to large organizations need to be aware and vigilant in using positive and protective cybersecurity practices.

Held every October, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) is a collaborative effort between government and industry to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and to ensure that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online. NCSAM was launched by the National Cyber Security Alliance & the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in October 2004 and continues annually.

How to Cut Internet Costs Without Degrading Your Service

October 15, 2019 General News, Internet Service Area News, Tips and Helpful User Information

While technology has made it easier to do many things, when it comes to streamlining your bills it can still be pretty confusing. If you’ve successfully cut the cord and lowered your bill by moving to streaming services, it’s natural to take the next step and look for money-saving moves to help cut internet costs. You can save money, but it’s important to know what to look for – and what to avoid – or you might end up paying more in the long run.

Internet service provider (ISP) marketing campaigns would have you think that by choosing a new service you’re guaranteed to pay less. But those splashy, too-good-to-be-true offers don’t give you the whole picture. And as the saying goes, the truth can be found in the details. So here’s what you need to know about how to cut internet costs:.

7 Top Apps for Budgeting, Managing and Growing Your Money

October 2, 2019 General News, Tips and Helpful User Information

Understanding and managing your money has come a long way from the days where all you needed to know was how to balance your checkbook and put away some money in a few CDs. Today’s technology has put every aspect of personal finance at your fingertips, however, with apps for everything from apps for budgeting to investing for financial growth.

There are a lot of apps available with a variety of functions, so if you’re new to this market we’ve put together a list of top-rated apps you can check out to get started. One of the best things all of these apps share is accessibility. You have the ability to manage your finances wherever you go – on the computer, on your phone, on vacation or at home.

Nielsen’s report: Too many choices can lead to streaming paralysis

September 23, 2019 General News, On-Line Streaming, Tips and Helpful User Information

We’ve all had that feeling. You turn on your streaming service, a colorful menu with an ocean of options pops up. You pause and stare at the screen. So many great choices. New shows to try out. Old favorites to revisit. Movies, sitcoms, documentaries, concerts, the list goes on and on … and on. Suddenly it’s 20 minutes later and no decisions have been made. It’s called streaming paralysis. And it’s affecting so many Americans that news of this issue is popping up everywhere from broadcast news shows to Nielsen reports.

According to Nielsen’s latest Total Audience Report, adults in the United States spend 11 hours and 27 minutes per day connected to media, and more than half of that usage is with digital media. And even though seven in 10 homes now have streaming service, which would indicate a general sense of comfort and proficiency with using the technology, nearly 21% of people indicated frustration with not being able to decide on something to watch and eventually walking away.

Redefining privacy in these modern times

September 18, 2019 General News, Online Security, Tips and Helpful User Information

What defines privacy is constantly evolving in these modern times. Smart phones, live streaming video chats, family safety tracking apps and smart home devices have made life much easier. But the flip side of these devices mean that GPS location tracking, microphones and cameras accessible via most any wireless devices have made “living off the grid” an impossibility. Reasonable expectations of privacy have become the subject of debates ranging from our nation’s highest courtrooms to the family kitchen table.

As you read this article, for instance, there are currently 2,000 satellites orbiting in the skies above us. By 2025 as many as 1,100 satellites could be launching each year, including SpaceX’s Starlink plans to add 12,000 small satellites by 2027. These satellites are being created and launched to provide everything from weather monitoring to global GPS positioning to boosting internet accessibility and taking pictures of every angle of the Earth.

How to Block Robocalls and Fake Neighbor Calling

September 3, 2019 General News, Online Security

Robocalls. Fake neighbor spoofing. Cell phone spam. Whatever you call them, these types of illegal calls are getting worse, and definitely getting more annoying. In fact, according to YouMail’s Robocall Index, last month Americans received 4.4 billion robocalls during just that month. That breaks down to 145 million per day, or 6 million per hour, or 1,700 calls per second. In addition to the inconvenience, robocalls also pose a danger to those who fall prey to fraudulent scams that attempt to invade people’s privacy and often their bank accounts. So how can we block robocalls and the like?

While registering on the “Do Not Call Registry” was an initial solution that helped a little, lately it doesn’t seem to matter how careful you are, they still get through. In fact, it’s gotten so bad that the U.S. government is taking action.

U.S. consumers use record amount of wireless data in 2018

August 27, 2019 4G LTE, General News, Tips and Helpful User Information

Wireless data allows us to access the power of the internet from practically anywhere we want to, and a recent study shows that Americans are putting that easy access to use as wireless data use more than doubled in the U.S. in 2018 as compared to 2017 and continues to grow at an impressive rate. In fact, mobile data use was up more than 82 percent growth last year – more data than was used in the first six and a half years of this decade all together.

This growth in voice calls, texts, and data is driven in part by the increasing number of wireless devices in the U.S. In 2018, Americans connected another 21.5 million mobile devices for a total of 421.7 million devices. But it’s not just about smartphones anymore as people are using data-only wireless devices that connect on-the-go such as watches, cars, health and fitness monitors, and household items with use growing 10 percent in 2018 to reach 139.4 million devices.

Simple ways to add smart technology to your home

August 19, 2019 General News, Tips and Helpful User Information

If you like the idea of adding smart technology to your home, but are worried about complications or expense, you’re in luck. All you need is a smart phone and high-speed internet and you can easily add “smart technology” such as thermostats, smoke detectors, garage door controls, home security cameras, doorbells and locks to your home. The good news is that a lot of this kind of tech can be installed quickly and easily by the homeowner and without spending a lot of money.

Ready to get started? Here are a few ideas for smart home-tech upgrades that are easy to DIY.

Search: