Fareham — Jun 11th 2016
There were two presentations today, which differed from the advertised one.
John gave a talk about using Wi-Fi and how to set it up on an iPad. He explained that having a good Wi-Fi signal, as shown by the Fan symbol, didn't necessarily mean that you were connected to the internet. The term Wi-Fi was only used to describe the wireless part between your computer or iOS device and a Router or Access Point.
Most Wi-Fi hotspots are free, although you often need to ask for the password first. Some require you to register with an email address and also accept the terms and conditions. BT Internet customers can login to a vast network of BT hotspots throughout the UK. This is because each BT customer has an option to provide a totally separate Wi-Fi hotspot from their own router. John also mentioned Airplane mode, which switches off any wireless signals from your device.
There were questions about the Apple term Airport, fluctuating Wi-Fi levels inside a house, bluetooth, microwave radiation and the safety aspect of sitting too close to your router. Also, more general questions about Apple IDs, and the difficulty creating a new Gmail address.
After the break, Mick spoke about some Internet Security issues.
He showed us some software that could test your firewall, to establish whether or not your computer or other devices could be seen externally by a hacker.
He mentioned that all routers now had a built-in hardware firewall. Also, there is a software firewall already in OSX, but this is not necessary, unless you are connected to an unsecured hotspot away from home.
Mick said that security threats were more likely to come via a phishing email, and he emphasized the importance of not being fooled by such an email. The weakest point is usually yourself, especially if you click on any links in the email, then inadvertently give personal information away.
The next meeting will be on Saturday, 9th July, starting at 10.30 as usual.
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