How power outages affect your internet access

How power outages affect your internet access

March 30, 2020 ,

One of the best early warning systems of a Wifi internet outage is children. “What happened to the Wifi?!” is a cry well-known to parents, educators and the like and the most vocal heads up you can get that your wireless internet access recently stopped working.

Today’s modern home has much more than just a laptop relying on Wifi connectivity. There can be dozens of devices that require wireless internet to function including TVs, computers, tablets, thermostats, smart doors, and security systems. If your internet stops working, there are a number of possibilities for the cause. Power outages are usually obvious, so if it looks like the power is still on, click on the article link below for an easy checklist to help you identify the problem.

Kristy CooperHow power outages affect your internet access
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How Softcom is responding to COVID-19

How Softcom is responding to COVID-19

March 24, 2020 , ,

To our friends and customers,

First and foremost, we want to send you our wishes for the health and safety of you and your family, and our thanks for your continued patronage.  As a company, Softcom is adjusting to these unprecedented circumstances we face as a community, a nation and the world. We know that the service we provide is essential during these times, and we are committed to continuing to serve our customers in a safe and responsible manner in our offices, in your homes and businesses, and throughout our community.

As a result of shelter in place directives issued by the State of California, more people are working, learning, and entertaining themselves at home and finding their need for fast and reliable internet increasingly essential. Due to increased demand we are experiencing a dramatic number of new customer sign-ups and existing customer upgrades.

Kristy CooperHow Softcom is responding to COVID-19
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How social media political ads will influence 2020 elections

How social media political ads will influence 2020 elections

February 25, 2020

Making false claims about a political opponent is nothing new. As far back as 1800, for instance, historians tell us that Thomas Jefferson’s camp falsely claimed that John Adams was going to take our country to war with France. That probably wasn’t the first “fake news” to show up in politics, and it’s definitely not the last as lies and mudslinging have been a mainstay of political campaigns ever since.

Fast forward to today and one thing remains the same: misinformation and manipulation are still popular tools that politicians and their supporters use with gusto. One area that has been under scrutiny especially since the last election is social media and its role in influencing election outcomes.

Kristy CooperHow social media political ads will influence 2020 elections
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NYT Investigation Unveils Shocking Smartphone Tracking Practices

NYT Investigation Unveils Shocking Smartphone Tracking Practices

January 30, 2020 , , ,

Most of us have wondered, at one time or another, if smartphone tracking is being done to us. Truth is… it probably is!

The New York Times released an interesting, in-depth investigation about who is tracked in the United States via personal smartphones and how much of that information is out there for public use. The answer? Everyone is tracked, no matter where they are. And all of that information is available to pretty much anyone who knows how to access it.

This all started when an anonymous source gave the Times a massive file showing location tracking data for more then 12 million phones from around the country that accurately showed where, when and for how long individuals visited places ranging from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

From the Times report:

“In the cities that the data file covers, it tracks people from nearly every neighborhood and block, whether they live in mobile homes in Alexandria, Va., or luxury towers in Manhattan. One search turned up more than a dozen people visiting the Playboy Mansion, some overnight. Without much effort we spotted visitors to the estates of Johnny Depp, Tiger Woods and Arnold Schwarzenegger, connecting the devices’ owners to the residences indefinitely.”

Kristy CooperNYT Investigation Unveils Shocking Smartphone Tracking Practices
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What a year! Softcom’s best of 2019

What a year! Softcom’s best of 2019

January 21, 2020

What a year! Looking back, we see a year filled with drama, excitement, and accomplishments that made everyone’s life a little bit easier and a whole lot happier. Here’s a round-up of our best of 2019, we hope you feel the same way too!

Education & Entertainment

Connect, learn and grow is the theme for many of the articles and posts we share with our audience online. Educating our readers about technology and how it affects them always gets rave reviews from the community.

Kristy CooperWhat a year! Softcom’s best of 2019
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Mozilla, Etsy and more join the fight for net neutrality

Mozilla, Etsy and more join the fight for net neutrality

January 16, 2020 ,

Consumer groups and tech companies including Mozilla are continuing the fight to overturn the FCC’s latest ruling and bring about the return of net neutrality. The maker of the popular Firefox web browser joined other influential companies such as Etsy and Vimeo, along with public-interest advocates, to ask a panel of judges to rehear a case that upheld an FCC decision to repeal open-Internet rules.

Let’s stop for a second a review what net neutrality is. In December of 2010, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) passed the Open Internet Order, requiring internet service providers (ISPs) to give everyone equal access to everything they use the internet for. This order also prevented ISPs from creating pay-to-play “fast lanes” for faster delivery of content to those who could afford to pay more.

Kristy CooperMozilla, Etsy and more join the fight for net neutrality
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Elevate Your Internet with Softcom Smart Routers

Elevate Your Internet with Softcom Smart Routers

January 7, 2020 , ,

We have some exciting news! We’re happy to introduce the Softcom Smart Router, now available to all Softcom customers. These cutting-edge routers have been developed with the end goal of making our customers’ experience better, faster, stronger, and with an increased ability to control key issues for both home and business users.

If you love the idea of easy device management, robust parental controls, streamlined troubleshooting and advanced customization options, this is what you’re looking for.

Smart Routers are available to Softcom customers for a low monthly rental fee of $10.00. For customers that wish to set up a mesh network, it will be $5.00 per month per device (a minimum of 2 devices).

Kristy CooperElevate Your Internet with Softcom Smart Routers
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How Encrypted DNS Servers Can Support Internet Browsing Privacy

How Encrypted DNS Servers Can Support Internet Browsing Privacy

December 4, 2019 , ,

Looking for more ways to keep your browsing information private? Understanding how DNS (Domain Name Service) requests work, and how they expose the minutia of your internet activity, is a good place to start. Every time you visit a new website, your computer submits a request to the DNS servers system so it can translate the domain name to an IP address.

Let’s put it this way – DNS server information is like a detailed phone record showing all of your Internet use. And because DNS servers are what connect you to your internet service provider (ISP), this means that they can see what websites you are visiting, as well as when and how often you visit them.

Kristy CooperHow Encrypted DNS Servers Can Support Internet Browsing Privacy
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Federal court says FCC can’t block state laws supporting net neutrality

Federal court says FCC can’t block state laws supporting net neutrality

November 26, 2019 ,

A federal appeals court recently ruled that while most of the FCC’s ban on net neutrality can stand, the FCC did not have legal authority to ban states from implementing their own laws. This net neutrality update comes after a nearly year-long lawsuit filed by the Mozilla Corporation vs. the FCC appealing the FCC ban of net neutrality.

A few months ago we shared our thoughts about the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of net neutrality and what could happen because of it. Net neutrality can be very difficult to understand, that’s why we laid it all out in an article on our blog, along with our official position that can be accessed here:

“Our Position on Net Neutrality”

Kristy CooperFederal court says FCC can’t block state laws supporting net neutrality
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How Cloud Computing is Changing the Way Companies Do Business

How Cloud Computing is Changing the Way Companies Do Business

November 20, 2019 , ,

Cloud computing. You’ve heard of it, but you might be thinking “where is this cloud and how does it work?” We’ve been hearing from customers – both business and residential – who are making the switch to cloud-based systems. If you’d like to learn more about how the cloud works, and how it will change the way you work, we’ve got you covered.

What is cloud computing?

For starters, using cloud-based systems allows you to store and access data, software, and programs via the internet instead of using physical storage drives. The technology is quick, user-friendly, secure, affordable, and flexible. You can access it anywhere, anytime as long as you have internet access.

Kristy CooperHow Cloud Computing is Changing the Way Companies Do Business
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About us

We believe that everyone deserves fast, reliable internet service no matter where they live or work. Softcom brings the experience, infrastructure, and technology to stand behind our vision. And we’re laser-focused on giving our customers the fast connections, exceptional customer service, and simple, affordable pricing they deserve.

For more information, visit our About Page.