Cyber warfare refers to a massively coordinated digital assault on a government by another, or by large groups of citizens. Estonia was subject to this kind of attack in 2006. The conflict apparently stemmed from a decision by the Estonian government to move a Soviet-era monument to another location, an action resented and protested against by many of the country's ethnic Russian citizens. Although the conflict had seemingly been resolved by mid-April, Estonia internet security experts were still wary about a cyber-assault. How the Estonian Cyber-Attack was Carried Out Cyber-attacks Read More

Two of the most popular technologies that offer speedy access to the World Wide Web are DSL broadband and the cable modem. There are several reasons why this is the case and the first one is that both of these Internet connections are considerably faster than the standard dialup connections. However, when you compare the speed of data transfer between DSL and a cable modem there is a bit of variance depending on various technical aspects. Because of these variances DSL and the cable modem might have the advantage at Read More

When surfing the Internet, a problem that can arise for consumers is getting a number of DNS errors or 404 errors in the web browser despite a working Internet connection. If this is the case, then learning how to flush DNS for your computer’s operating system (OS) is key to restoring the proper quality of service for your computer’s web browsing capability. The act of flushing the DNS removes the local resolution for the website name saved or cached on your computer which can result in a slower initial revisit Read More

Subnetting is the process of breaking down an IP network into smaller sub-networks called “subnets.” Each subnet is a non-physical description (or ID) for a physical sub-network (usually a switched network of host containing a single router in a multi-router network). In many cases, subnets are created to serve as physical or geographical separations similar to those found between rooms, floors, buildings, or cities. There could be more than one definition for subnetting but perhaps the best explanation is that by default a network id has only one broadcast domain. Subnetting is Read More

Mbps stands for megabits per second. This is the data transfer speed explained in megabits, the unit. Therefore, if someone were to have a Mbps of 25, that means it can move 25 megabits per second. A bit is a unit of data described by either a 1 or a 0. This is simple binary. Eight of these individual bits, when combined together, is equal to a byte. Everything that is done on a computer, whether typing an a or hitting the exclamation mark requires a byte. For example: A Read More

802.11b is the standard that is popularly used for high speed wireless networks. The standard is set by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and uses a 2.4 gigahertz radio frequency. There are several standards that are in use today for wireless communication from one computer device to another; however 802.11b is cost effective, quick and easy to use. For many people, building a wifi network is easier than ever thanks to 802.11b. This technology usually includes a wireless router that is able to send radio signals using 802.11b Read More

Linksys is the home networking division of Cisco, Incorporated and has significant penetration in the U.S. home networking market. A common question that arises for consumers who are new to home or small business networking is determining how to find a Linksys router IP address on a new or legacy network. When shipped from the factory, a Linksys broadband router’s IP address is 192.168.1.1 which is set at the factory. If the end-user needs to change the address due to conflicts with other networking devices on the local or home Read More

SerDes (pronounced sir-dees) stands for Serializer/Deserializer. It is a set of blocks that is commonly found in high speed communications. SerDes’ general purpose is to compensate for limited input/output. The blocks can convert data between serial data and interfaces that are parallel in different directions. Functions of SerDes The generic function is made up of two blocks: Parallel In Serial Output (PISO) Serial In Parallel Output (SIPO) Additionally, there are four different SerDes architectures. They are: Parallel Clock SerDes Embedded Clock SerDes 8b/10b SerDes Bit interleaved SerDes Parallel Input Serial Read More

RG-58 is a coaxial cable that is used for wiring purposes. A coaxial cable, in general, consists of an inner conductor that is surrounded by a spacer. The coaxial cable is electrically charged and sometimes consists of different uninsulated conductors that remain entangled with one another. The insulating spacer of the cable is further surrounded by a sheath that is cylindrical in shape. The final circle is formed by an insulating jacket. The insulation surrounding the RG-58 cable carries a low impedance of around 50 or 52 ohms. It is Read More

It is important to check regularly if a Linksys product has a new firmware update. Firmware updates are quite common in computer peripherals and devices and in many cases must be updated in order to run properly. However, before upgrading LinkSys firmware, it is important to understand what firmware is and why it should be updated once new versions are available. What is Firmware? Firmware is a type of computer program that is included in many computer devices. It should be noted that it is not categorized as solely software Read More