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Human firewall: best practices to prevent cyber attacks

By GlassWire. September 2022. reading.

Introduction

Due to the pace of digitalization, it’s more important than ever to have a strong defense against cyber attacks. That’s where the human firewall comes in!
A human firewall is someone who is aware of the dangers of the internet and takes steps to protect themselves and their company from being hacked.

There are three lines of defense when it comes to cybersecurity: prevention, detection, and response. The human firewall is responsible for all three. By being proactive and educating yourself on the latest threats, you can prevent attacks before they happen. If an attack does occur, you can quickly detect it and take steps to mitigate the damage.

So how do you become a human firewall? Everything starts with understanding the three lines of defense and being vigilant against phishing scams (the most common form of cyber-attacks). You should also make sure your software is up-to-date and that you’re using strong passwords.

Furthermore, being aware of cyber threats and acting as a human firewall is the perfect skill to leverage synergies.

You can train yourself as an employee to be a human firewall by learning about cybersecurity threats and implementing security policies, so to drastically improve your company’s security!

The Importance of a Human Firewall

What Is a Human Firewall

A human firewall is the last line of defense against cyber attacks. He is responsible for stopping attacks that make it past the outer layers of security, such as firewalls and antivirus software.

The Human Firewall in Action

The human firewall is responsible for identifying and stopping attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in hardware or software, such as phishing scams and malware. They do this by using their knowledge of how cyber attacks work to identify suspicious activity and prevent it from happening.

Human Firewall – A Company Asset

Know the Three Lines of Defense

You are the first line of defense against cyberattacks and are responsible for the prevention of cyber-attacks. You need to be aware of the different types of attacks and how to protect yourself. Phishing attacks are one of the most common types of attacks. They are attempts by attackers to trick you into giving them your personal information, such as your username and password. To protect yourself from phishing attacks, you should never click on links in emails or texts from people you don’t know. If you think an email might be a phishing attack, you can forward it to your company’s IT department or security team for analysis.

Another type of attack is malware. Malware is software that is designed to damage or disable computers. It can be installed on your computer without your knowledge and can cause serious problems, such as stealing your personal information or destroying data on your hard drive. To protect yourself from malware, you should keep your antivirus software up-to-date and run regular scans for malware on your computer. You should also be careful about what websites you visit and what files you download. Only download files from trusted websites and avoid clicking on links in emails or texts from people you don’t know.

Your company’s security team and IT department are the second and third line of defense against cyberattacks. They are responsible for protecting the company’s network and data from attacks. To do this, they use a variety of tools, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and encryption technologies. They also create policies and procedures to prevent employees from accidentally exposing the company to risk. As an employee, you need to follow these policies and procedures to help keep the company safe from attack.

Be Wary of Phishing Scams

Phishing attacks are one of the most common types of cyberattacks. They are attempts by attackers to trick you into giving them your personal information, such as your username and password. To protect yourself from phishing attacks, you should never click on links in emails or texts from people you don’t know. If you think an email might be a phishing attack, you can forward it to your company’s IT department or security team for analysis.

Keep Your Software Up-to-Date

One way to protect yourself from malware is to keep your software up-to-date. This includes your operating system, web browser, and any applications you have installed on your computer. Attackers often exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software to install malware on computers. By keeping your software up-to-date, you can help prevent attackers from being able to take advantage of these vulnerabilities.

Use Strong Passwords

Ultimately, but not less important, is to use strong passwords. A strong password is one that is difficult for an attacker to guess or brute force. It should be at least 8 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. You should never use the same password at more than one site or service. When possible, you should enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for additional protection.

How to Train Your Employees to Be Human Firewalls

Educate Your Employees

Thorough education on cyber threats is crucial to keep the security level of a company high. Figures show that 50% of cyber-attacks are due to human failure, thus the importance of having robust education in place for your employees, as a business owner.
The first step in training employees to be human firewalls is to educate them on what a human firewall is and why it’s essential. Make sure they understand the three lines of defense and how they can help protect the company from cyber-attacks.

Implement Security Policies

Once the employees are educated on cyber security, it’s important to implement policies and procedures that will help protect your company. Some things you may want to consider are requiring strong passwords, implementing two-factor authentication, and restricting access to certain sensitive information.

Hold Regular Trainings

It’s not enough to just educate employees once; you need to make sure they’re up-to-date on the latest cyber threats and how to protect against them. Hold regular trainings and encourage them to ask questions if they’re ever unsure about something.

Conclusion

A human firewall is the first line of defense against cyber attacks. By being aware of the potential risk in every scenario, and taking steps to protect yourself, you can be a valuable asset in keeping your company safe from hackers. Educate yourself and your employees on best security practices and make sure to stay up-to-date on the latest threats. Following these simple steps can help make your company a harder target for attackers.

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How to disable automatic sign-in to Windows

By GlassWire. September 2022. reading.

by Chris Taylor

About Chris Taylor: Chris is on the Community Review Board for SANS’s OUCH! (the security awareness newsletter designed for everyone), has given over 470 computer-related presentations at the Ottawa Public Library, and is President of the Ottawa PC Users’ Group.

Microsoft has, more or less, continually improved security in Windows. One important layer of security is the sign-in to the computer, which helps secure your information and identity.

We have progressed from Windows 95, where hitting the Esc key at the login prompt allowed you to access all locally stored information. But even in Windows 11, Microsoft still allows you to configure automatic sign-in and local accounts with no password. If you have taken advantage of either of these features and have become concerned about the security of your information and identity, you might want to fix them.

Disable automatic sign-in

Press

type in netplwiz, and press Enter. If you are not currently signed in using an account with administrative privileges, you are prompted to provide credentials for a local admin account. Control Panel’s User Accounts loads. Put a check mark in the box Users must enter a username and password to use this computer. Click the OK button and restart the computer.

Set a password on every local account

An account with no password also allows automatic sign-in, so it is best to ensure all local user accounts have a password. Load netplwiz as above and click on each account listed.

For your current account, you will see the following:

If you have no password on your account, follow the instructions to set a password.

For accounts using a Microsoft Account for authentication, you will not be able to change the password and will see the following:

That’s fine as they have a password. You can change the password for a Microsoft Account at https://accounts.microsoft.com.

For other user accounts, you cannot see if a password has been set, but you can force a password by clicking the Reset Password button.

If this is an account used by someone else, you might want to try signing in under this account to see if you are prompted for a password and then speaking with the person before you force a password on the account.

For advice on choosing a good password, see my article Password strength in the December, 2021 issue of Cybersecurity News https://mailchi.mp/glasswire/glasswire-six-million-routers-vulnerable-2534800.

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Tips

Speedtests & how to measure your internet speed

By GlassWire. September 2022. reading.

Introduction

If you’re having trouble with your internet connection, one of the first things you’ll want to do is test your speed. Speedtest is a free online tool that lets you measure your internet connection speed. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to use Speedtest to measure your internet speed and interpret the results.

What is Speedtest

Speedtest is a tool that allows you to measure your internet speed. It is a useful tool for troubleshooting internet connection issues and for determining whether your internet service provider (ISP) is providing the speed they promised. You can also use a Speedtest to measure the performance of a home or office network.

There are several benefits to using Speedtest:

– Ensuring you are getting the speeds you are paying for from your ISP.

– Diagnosing and fix potential issues with your internet connection.

– Seeing how your home or office network performs compared to other networks.

How to use Speedtest to measure your internet speed.

In order to use Speedtest to measure your internet speed, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Go to www.speedtest.net in your web browser

2. Click on the ‘Start Test’ button

3. Wait for the test to complete – this usually takes around 30 seconds

4. Once the test is finished, you will see your results on the screen

5. These results will show you your “ping”, “download speed”, and “upload speed”.

How to interpret your results.

After you’ve run a speed test, you’ll see a variety of metrics that show your results. Here’s a rundown of what each metric means:

Download Speed: This is the amount of data that your computer can receive from the internet in a given period of time. It’s measured in megabits per second (Mbps).

Upload Speed: This is the amount of data that your computer can send to the internet in a given period of time. It’s also measured in megabits per second (Mbps).

Ping: This is the amount of time it takes for your computer to send a request to the server and receive a response back. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms). A lower ping means a faster connection.

Jitter: This is the variation in latency (ping) over time. A low jitter means a more stable connection.

How can I get a more detailed analysis of my speed traffic?

In spite of its overall accuracy, Speedtest only does a general analysis of your internet speed capability. What the tool doesn’t tell you is how the different apps and services on your computer are draining internet resources.

Let your internet speed connection be 100 mb/s, how can you tell which is the most speed-consuming app on your device?

Well, lucky for you GlassWire is what you are looking for. Our app lets you run a speed test analysis and can tell you how much data your single apps are using.

There’s more, GlassWire can keep track of the historical consumption of data so that you can spot anomalies in the volumes of data exchanged. This is the first alert, for instance, for bad behaving apps and malicious services.

Start your free trial today, download GlassWire at www.glasswire.com/download and start monitoring your traffic now.

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Tips

Moving your File History to a new computer by Chris Taylor

By GlassWire. August 2022. reading.

One of the most critical security measures you can take is implementing an effective backup strategy. That way, no matter what might fail, you don’t lose your data. I have written many times in Cybersecurity News about backups.

A wonderful utility that comes with Windows is File History (https://mailchi.mp/glasswire/glasswire-newsletter-how-to-detect-a-hidden-camera-in-your-room). While it doesn’t replace either a good image backup or an off-site backup, it provides two capabilities other means of backup usually lack: near-real-time backup and versioning.

Near-real-time backup means that even in a catastrophic failure, you need not lose more than 10 minutes worth of your work. File History can backup new or changed files as frequently as every 10 minutes.

Versioning provides access to potentially years of versions of your important data files. You can easily recover data files as they existed 15 minutes ago, two weeks ago, or a year ago last June.

But what about when you move to a new computer? If you simply move the drive being used for File History to the new computer and go through the normal steps to turn on File History, you will find that none of your previous versions of files show up when you right-click a file, choose Properties, and click the Previous Versions tab. The old versions of files are still on the drive used for File History; they are just not easily accessed.

Fortunately, with a couple of extra steps, you can have all the old versions show up on the Previous Versions tab.

First, connect the drive used for File History on the old computer to the new computer. Don’t use Settings | Update & Security | Backup | Backup using File History to configure File History. If you do, it will configure a new File History on the drive and you will lose your ability to recover the old versions of files through the normal means mentioned above.

Click the Start button and type Control Panel. When it appears at the top of the results pane, click it and choose File History (if Control Panel is in Icon view) or Save backup copies of your files with File History (if Control Panel is in Category view).

Click on Configure File History settings. Note: you may not see this initial dialogue box. It might go directly to the following.

Don’t click the Turn on button…yet. Put a check mark in the box for I want to use a previous back-up on this File History drive.

Select your existing back-up in the lower box and then click the Turn on button.

File History will probably run automagically, but if it doesn’t, you can click Run now.

File History will then run with the default set of folders to be backed up. Having selected the option earlier to use a previous back-up, this backup will be integrated into the existing File History set, rather than creating a fresh configuration.

Most people moving to a new computer probably restore their data files from a different restore regime, but if you have not done so, you can restore your files from the File History that was run on the old computer.

Click on Restore personal files and File History will open and show the latest backup in the set, which will be the one you just ran on the new computer.

Click the Previous version button at the bottom. This will bring you to the last backup run on the old computer.

With nothing selected in the main window, click the Restore to original location button at the bottom. This will restore the latest version of all files to your new computer.

Fly in the ointment

The File History dialogue box does not have an option to restore files to a different location. If you were backing up files from Z:\Data on the old computer and you don’t have a Z: drive on the new computer, you will get an error.

If this happens you can click on the Restore to button and select a different location. Another option would be to connect an external drive, at least temporarily, and assign it the Z: drive letter.

Since File History on the new computer is in the default configuration, you should configure it now. Run Settings | Update & Security | Backup | Backup using File History | More options. The settings you probably want to configure are frequency of backup, period to keep backups, and folders to backup/exclude.

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Security

Endpoint security solutions: the benefits of adopting one

By GlassWire. August 2022. reading.

Introduction

If you want to keep your network safe from cyber attacks, you would better choose an effective endpoint security solution. But with so many options on the market, how do you know which one is right for you?

In this blog post, we’ll discuss what an endpoint security solution is and the benefits of using one. We’ll also give you some tips on how to choose the right one for your needs.

By the end of this post, you should have a better understanding of how to protect your network from cyber threats.

Endpoint security solution and firewalls

An endpoint security solution is a complex system of softwares that may include several functions. If advanced functions such as machine-learning classification and threat forensic belong to costy security suits, every endpoint security solution should include an effective firewall to control the data flow.

A firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.

It establishes a barrier between a trusted internal network and an untrusted external network, such as the Internet.

All traffic entering or leaving the protected internal network must pass through the firewall, which examines each packet and allows or denies passage based on the security rules configured by the administrator. By controlling traffic in this way, firewalls can prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to sensitive data and systems within the network.

In addition, firewalls can be used to monitor and control outgoing traffic in order to prevent sensitive data from leaking out of the network. Firewalls are an essential component of any organization’s security infrastructure.

There are two main types of firewalls: hardware-based firewalls and software-based firewalls. Hardware-based firewalls are physical devices that are installed between the router and the rest of the network.

Software-based firewalls are installed on individual computers and servers and control traffic in and out of those computers.

Most routers have built-in firewall functionality, but these defense systems are generally very basic and may not offer adequate protection for most organizations. For more robust protection, it is recommended to use a dedicated hardware firewall or software firewall solution, like GlassWire.

Benefits of adopting an endpoint security solution

In an era where data breaches are becoming increasingly common, it’s more important than ever to have a robust security system in place to protect your network. An endpoint security solution is one of the best ways to keep your network safe from attacks. Here are some of the benefits of adopting one:

Protection from malware and viruses: An endpoint security solution can help protect your network from malware and viruses by filtering incoming traffic and blocking malicious content.
Improved performance: A well-configured endpoint security solution can improve the performance of your network by blocking unwanted traffic and reducing the amount of data that needs to be processed.
Enhanced security: By filtering traffic and blocking unwanted connections, an endpoint security solution can help safeguard your network against attacks.
Reduced costs: By improving the performance of your network and reducing the need for other security measures, an endpoint security solution can help save you money in the long run.

How to choose the best solution for your needs

An endpoint security solution, among other functions, filters incoming and outgoing traffic and blocks any suspicious activity. It can protect you from malware, phishing attacks, and other online threats with ease, while you focus on your own duty.

There is a huge variety of solutions on the market and a number of factors to consider when choosing an endpoint security suit, for your network.

We’ve already discussed the various firewall technologies, and how they differentiate the final product.

For the purpose of the article, we’ll just focus on key factors to consider at the time of choosing asuitable solution:

What type of devices will be using the endopoint security solution?
How much traffic will the firewall need to handle?
What level of protection do you need?
What features are important to you?
How easy is the security solution to use?

With the answers to these questions clear in mind, you can narrow down your choices and select the best security solution for your needs.

Here are a few additional criteria to be considered to make your decision:

1. What is your budget?

2. What level of security do you need?

3. What features are important to you?

4. How easy is the endpoint security solution to use and manage?

5. What type of support does the vendor offer?

6. Does the solution fit into your overall security strategy?

7. Is the security solution scalable as your needs change?

8. What are the performance requirements of the endpoint security solution?

9. How often do you need to update the security solutionrules?

10. Are there any compliance requirements you need to meet?

Conclusion

An endpoint security solution is an important tool for protecting your network against cyber threats. There are many benefits to adopting one, including staying secure against potential attacks. When making the best choice for your network, it is important to consider your needs and the features offered by different products. By carefully selecting the solution that meets your needs, you can help keep your network safe from potential threats.

Download Glasswire and start your free trial today!

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Security

.Exe Files – Everything You Need To Know About them

By GlassWire. August 2022. reading.

The files on your computer come in different types, which often can only be opened by programs that are associated with that file type. One common file type is the .exe file, which is the most common type of file found on Windows computers.

An .exe file is a program file, and it stands for “executable.” This means that the file can be run as a program on your computer. Most .exe files are installed programs, but they can also be used for malicious purposes. When you double-click on an .exe file, it will automatically open and run a program that is contained within the file. When you download an .exe file from the internet, you should always be sure that you trust the source before running it on your computer.

If you’re not sure what an .exe file is, or if you’re not sure if you should run one, you can always ask a trusted computer expert for help. Here is everything you need to know about .exe files.

What Is An .Exe File?

An executable file is a type of computer file that runs a program when it is opened. This means it executes code or a series of instructions contained in the file. The two primary types of executable files are 1) compiled programs and 2) scripts.

The majority of executable files are compiled programs because they are more efficient. A script is basically a text file that contains a set of instructions that can be executed by a software program. Scripts are typically used to automate tasks or create simple applications.

When you double-click on an executable file, the program will automatically run. You can also run an executable file from the command line by typing its name. For example, if the file name is “program.exe”, you would type “program” at the command prompt.

In simple terms, an .exe file is a type of file that is used to run a program. This is in contrast to a file that is used to store data, which is called a data file. Data files typically have the file extension .dat or .txt. Other file types that are similar to .exe files include .dll files and .sys files. You may also run into .bin files, which are binary files that contain machine code that can be executed by a computer, and also .hex files, which are hexadecimal files that contain data that can be used by software programs.

Can .Exe Files Be Dangerous To Open?

Exe files are executable files that launch a program. While most exe files are safe, some can be harmful to your computer. If you’re not sure about a file, don’t open it. Exe files from unknown sources can contain viruses or malware that can harm your computer.

When it comes to downloaded files, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Unless you’re absolutely positive that a file is safe, don’t open it. If you’re unsure, you can always scan the file with a virus scanner before opening it by right-clicking the file and selecting “scan.” The Windows Defender program that comes with Windows 8 and 10 can also scan files for malware, but it’s best to use a professional antivirus program for the most comprehensive protection.

How Can I Open An .Exe File?

There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the file in question and the operating system you are using. However, in general, you can open an .exe file by double-clicking on it or opening it with a program that is designed to run executables. Most .exe files are designed to be run on Windows, so if you are using a different operating system, you may need to use a compatibility layer like Wine to run them.

Can You Convert .Exe Files?

No, you cannot convert an .exe file into another file format. This is because .exe files are already in a compiled state, meaning that they are ready to be executed by a computer. The only way to change an .exe file is to decompile it, which would result in the loss of all information contained in the file.

If you’re unable to open or use an .exe file, there may be several reasons why:

The file may be corrupt.
Your anti-virus software may be blocking the file.
You may be trying to open the file on an incompatible operating system.
The file may be a malicious file masquerading as a legitimate one.

What Are Other Common File Types?

Besides .Exe files, there are many other types of files that are common on a computer. Examples include:

.DLL – A Dynamic Link Library file that contains code that can be used by multiple programs.

.sys – A Windows system file that contains code that is essential for the proper functioning of the operating system.

.ini – A configuration file that contains settings for a program.

.log – A log file that contains a record of events that have occurred.

.jpg – A JPEG image file.

.mp3 – An MP3 audio file.

.png – A PNG image file.

.html – An HTML file.

File types are typically indicated by the file extension, which is the portion of the file name that comes after the last period. For example, the file name “example.html” has the extension “.html” which indicates that it is an HTML file. So .Exe is just the file extension for an executable file, which means it’s a file that can be run or executed by the computer.

For example, when you double-click on a program’s icon, the program’s .exe file is executed and the program starts running.

Conclusion

File types aren’t too confusing once you understand how they work. It all comes down to understanding how computers store data, and how we humans organize it. Each file type has a purpose, and some are more useful than others.

.Exe files are used to run programs like video games, photo editors, and other computer software. Many virus programs are also .exe files, so be careful as to what you download!

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Security

What is Azurewave Device?

By GlassWire. August 2022. reading.

The rate of spread for connected devices has increased at a ridiculous pace over the last few years and amog them, Azurewave devices keep on appearing in our domestic network. Internet-of-Things (IOT) is now part of our daily activities and the number of devices that can be automated is endless. The technology is Wi-Fi driven, meaning that it’s essential for the devices to be constantly connected to the internet via a router.

Azurewave Technology consistently provides Wi-Fi modules and solutions for desktop Pc and IoT devices. Many partner companies that produce IoT devices are leveraging the quality of their wireless modules. They install them directly in devices such as laundries or air conditioners turning regular, offline, electronical home appliances into smart devices that you can easily control via your mobile. Once installed, these devices are usually visible on the network with the name of the manufacturer, e.g. Azurewave.

You can also install Azurewave modules in DIY automation projects. You can connect up to six wireless tools using Azurewave products. They make amazing small devices and modules within their unit. Azurewave modules are improved through computerized processing, making them applicable for wireless purposes or Wi-Fi on most devices.

This article will provide comprehensive details about Azurewave devices and products. Read on below to find out more about Azurewave Devices.

A Guide on Azurewave Devices

In 2005, Azurewave was firstly founded as a company leading in providing software solutions, production, and design. Since then, their manufacturing process mainly focuses on producing home appliances, laptops, automotive appliances, personal computers, and much more. Taiwan is the headquarters of the company.

The wireless modules produced by Azurewave technology are highly compatible with a lot of devices. Over the years, they produced various products such as wireless modules, remote modules, camera modules, and others but the most common and recent modules are wifi, a digital camera, and Bluetooth.

Why use Azurewave devices? Here are four reasons why it is preferable to use these devices:

Spatial propagation
They support various Network Bandwidth
Spatial stream transmission
Short guard breach of 400ns

You can get these devices in various products, such as Wi-Fi, DTV, GPS, Bluetooth, and camera modules.

Azurewave technology is an image processing and wireless solution that offers different devices. Most businesses and households use Azurewave modules as well as their devices and products.

Some of the devices using their modules include:

DTV
Cameras
PC
Laptops
Mobile Phones
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
GPS
Home Automation System

Azurewave Modules

Azurewave technology offers different modules you can use at home or in your business.

Here are some of the best modules they provide:

Camera Modules

Azurewave technology released its 360 underlying panomorph excellent camera. It became the answer for cell phones, consecutive cameras, activities cameras, as well as other photographing gadgets.

Similarly, an extraordinary 360 encounter requires unique and quality pictures. Azurewave confirmed that all their gadgets or items using their proprietary Panomorph camera procedure would make recordings of 360 for spilling live on various web-based media.

The focal points of the 360 panomorph camera are the only focal points that produce extraordinary quality in an exact configuration perfect for mobile phones.

Remote Modules

The company also provides wifi models like WLAN and WPAN and Bluetooth models such as WWAN modules applicable to different applications.

Some modules involve MM.2 1216 and M.2 1630/2230, which are patch-down and attachment modules. It also contains IoTModule, a type bind below module for wifi or Bluetooth, sound or voice SoM, and the SiPMolding Modules.

It can include programming or application or winding down capacities from other application processors.

Other modules may include:

IoT Module for Providing Service

If you are working on a device or project based on IoT, you need to use a wireless module for your project to connect with a cloud server.

Most developers use AWS cloud while using IoT models. However, if you want the best and fastest connectivity while using the AWS cloud, you need their IOT wireless module.

It would help if you used IOT modules because they will offer long-lasting and stable connections with zero interruptions. AWS cloud allows you to connect different OIT devices simultaneously.

MCU Modules

We are now in the modern age, and if you want your home to be completely automated without having to replace your home appliance, you need to check out Azurewave technology.

Azurewave provides a microprocessor unit that converts all your devices into IoT devices using wifi.

You can change your old devices such as cameras and hone and make them new. MCU contains two units: AW-CU427-P and AW-CU300. You can use both with or without a host.

How’s Azurewave Products Security?

Products from Azurewave technology work best while using IEEE 802. 1li, which works well with 64-bit and 128-bit and also encryption of WPA or WPA2. Azurewave products are not linked with security.

WEP is denounced by those who aren’t aware.

You may be curious why the device is fragile and insecure when attacked. For this reason, WPA 2 is quickly replacing WPA 3 in the networking sector.

The main challenge facing these products is that Azurewave cannot sustain data encryption, particularly the 256-bit, one of the most secure groups.

Conclusion

Lastly, azurewave is the best company supplying production, image processing, wireless, design, and software devices in the technology market.

This company has worked with different technology like Glasswire to bring you the best wireless devices. Azurewave technology provides camera and wifi solutions for mobiles and pc. All these products serve you in different ways.

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Firewall for network, improve your security with Glasswire

By GlassWire. July 2022. reading.

A firewall for your network

Why installing a firewall for network? The global business world is spending hundreds of billions of dollars every year on acquiring and evolving their assets to digital. Figures say the rate is rapidly growing and will quickly reach 3 trillion dollars per year by 2025.

With digital assets at the core of most businesses, sound network infrastructure is key to avoiding nasty surprises while keeping your revenue stream high.

A firewall is a fundamental security measure that creates a barrier between your network of devices and the external network. In doing so, it protects you against external threats such as malware and hackers trying to gain access to your data and system.

Adopting one is ultimately the first quick win for your network to be safe.

What can a firewall do for your network safety?

Firewalls come with a set of perks and enhance your network health and security.

Find below a list of major benefits of adopting a firewall solution.

Monitor data flow

Trojans and other malware silently sit on the back of your computer, exchanging data with malicious actors through your wi-fi. The first action a user can take is to monitor where the data goes and comes from and its volume, in real-time.

GlassWire is working on a brand new feature able to compare the single user data for each app with a benchmark average obtained from its user base.

This will highlight suspicious activity such as anomalies in the volumes of data exchanged, and let the user block the jeopardizing piece of software with a single click.

Local access control

Adopting a firewall for the home network is the first-tier security line against cyber attacks. Monitoring wouldn’t be enough if not matched with the capability to control single app behaviors and secure your endpoint. A firewall should provide you with the ability to allow or deny your apps from exchanging data. Taking control over all the hosts and services that want to access your computer is underrated but is actually among the most powerful features in terms of security.

A firewall allows you to customize a rule set for content filtering, thus allowing you to lock down the internet connection against unwanted packets of data. The simplest yet the most effective anti-malware.

Remote access control

Taking care of security is pretty straightforward when you own just a single computer or a local network. It’s indeed as simple as installing a firewall for the internal network and a malware detector. Things get way more complicated if you own remote-connected devices.

In fact, one of the best features a firewall can provide is the ability to track the apps and services running on a number of devices connected remotely. You could then block those services individually and have control over the data flows they exchange.

Prevent virus attacks and hacking

Threats in the digital ecosystem are basically everywhere. Tuning your firewall for network security may prevent a virus from entering your computer and hackers from forcing your defenses. It may seem simplistic, but the very first line of defense comes from technology as simple as a filter, a firewall.

By only admitting the desired data, you could drastically improve your level of security. It’s no news that the concept of a firewall applies also to humans, where a person himself acts as a filter in disclosing certain information.

The 5 Types of Firewall

If every firewall has its own architecture, is important to highlight the 5 main technologies on which they build.

Packet filtering firewall

This technology acts at the junction points between devices, such as modems and computers, and filters data packets according to certain rules. If a packet doesn’t pass the rules (IP address, packet type, port number, etc…) is simply blocked.

Circuit-level gateway

The circuit-level gateway acts at the very beginning of a TCP connection, allowing only legitimate sessions. They filter out traffic that doesn’t respect established network protocols such as TCP handshakes and session initiation messages.

Application-level gateway (aka proxy firewall)

An Application-level gateway constitutes the only entry and exit point between the network and the device. It filters data by a number of characteristics such as the service for which they are intended, the destination port, and the HTTP request string.

Stateful inspection firewall

More complex technology is one of the so-called stateful inspection firewalls, not only matching each packet with a set of rules but also checking whether the packets are part of a certain network session or not.

If on the one hand, this is way more effective in terms of security, on the other hand, it requires more computational resources, resulting in less network performance.

Next-generation firewall (NGFW)

Next-generation firewalls are powerful software leveraging a variety of deep packet inspection (DPI), antivirus, and malware filtering. Moreover, they validate the packets after being assembled over a web browsing session, filtering out packets that don’t constitute a legitimate HTML-formatted response.

New cybersecurity challenges

New habits like remote working and cyber threats raising at large pose new cyber security challenges. Working remotely from home with a company device, for example, creates a new vulnerability scenario, that a malicious actor could take advantage of.

A home network may easily constitute a vulnerable company entry point and this is the reason for an endpoint cybersecurity solution on both personal and company devices.

Adopting firewall software for the home network will result in better protection for personal and business computers.

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Software Updates

Upgrade to GlassWire 2.3 with new IOT detection features!

By GlassWire. May 2021. reading. | 1 Comment

Upgrade to GlassWire 2.3.318 Now!

Do you use GlassWire to keep track of all the devices (Internet of Things) on your network? GlassWire’s “Things” tab has been completely redesigned with all new IOT features with GlassWire 2.3.318!

To use the new features first go to our “Things” screen. Now click the “i” icon next to “connected” on the top right part of the screen to see some basic information about your network. You can now use GlassWire to see your current IP addresses, Mac address, Gateway info, and your DNS servers.

Next you’ll notice how GlassWire keeps a list of all your devices that have ever been on your network. If a device joined and left while you weren’t using GlassWire you’ll now see the details about this device under the “All” sorting option. Want to remove a device or remove multiple devices from the list? Mouse over the device you want to remove, then you’ll see a small three dot menu to the right that looks like this (…). Click it, then choose “forget device”. You’ll also notice that GlassWire keeps separate lists of devices, depending on what network you join. For example if you go to a coffee shop and use the WiFi there this list of devices should not interfere with your home list of devices.

You’ll also notice GlassWire’s “Things” detection scanning is much faster, and more reliable. To change GlassWire’s scanning speed, options, and technologies, go to the top right settings icon that is directly below the top right “X” icon that you use to close the GlassWire main window. Click the settings icon and you’ll see different options to sort your devices in the list.

You can also choose “more” to access the dedicated “Things” settings as shown in the image above. It’s now possible to change the “threads quantity” with GlassWire’s scanning. Moving the slider to the left makes GlassWire scan slower, but more accurately. Moving the slider to the right can make a very fast scan, but in some cases some devices can be missed. We let you decide which setting is best, but we recommend putting the slider somewhere near the middle. You can also disable certain scanning protocols if it causes problems with your corporate or home network. All networks can be different with some networks only having one or two devices, while other networks may have thousands of devices. This feature lets you adjust our scanning settings depending on how many devices you have to deal with on a daily basis.

Would you prefer to only get alerted by GlassWire when a new unknown device joins your network? If so, go to our top left menu and choose “settings”. Now click “Security” then “Things Monitor”. Check the box “notify me” then make sure “report only new unknown devices” is selected. Now GlassWire will alert you when a new unknown device joins your network. You can also choose to get alerted every single time a devices joins/leaves the network, but you may find those alerts annoying if you have a lot of devices on your network.

Do you want to keep notes about the devices on your network? With GlassWire 2.3 it’s easy! Mouse over the device you want to add notes to, then click the three dot menu (…) on the right side. Now choose “device name” to add a custom name and description for a device.

This major update also has a lot of other changes and fixes that we made due to GlassWire fan emails and forum posts. Check out the full change list for GlassWire 2.3.318 here.

Get GlassWire 2.3.318 Full or GlassWire 2.3.318 Lite and upgrade your IOT detection today!

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Tips

How to estimate your phone or ISP data usage

By GlassWire. March 2021. reading.

Many mobile or ISP data plans have strict data caps that can cause you to get hit with massive overage fees. Some mobile companies even offer something called “unlimited” data, but in reality after you hit a certain cap you’ll be throttled. Ridiculous isn’t it?

How can you estimate your data usage to stay under these barbaric data caps in 2021? Fortunately, we at GlassWire have made a free Data Usage Calculator estimation tool to help you stay under your limits!

Our new Data Usage Calculator makes it easy to estimate what your average data usage will be per month, week, or day for your mobile phone or WiFi network. With our data usage calculation tool you can see what apps and services use the most bandwidth, and how much data you’ll use per app or service.

For example, see how much data video streaming services like Youtube or Netflix use. Or calculate how much bandwidth you’ll be using in a Zoom video meeting, or just by using Facebook on your phone.

Try our Data Usage Calculator now for free to estimate your monthly data usage. You’ll be able to calculate exactly how much 250 GB of data per month really is.

Calculate your Monthly Data Usage Free!

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Introducing GlassWire Lite!

By GlassWire. October 2020. reading.

GlassWire Firewall Lite with less resources

Since GlassWire was introduced in 2014 over 20 million people have used our software to help protect their devices from privacy violating apps, bandwidth hogs, and malware.

However, for some people who need to use very minimal hardware resources, GlassWire’s resource usage requirements can be just a little too much.

For example we have one customer who runs a server at a remote location with very limited connectivity and limited resources. It’s critical that they use GlassWire to secure their server and keep their bandwidth in check, but they are also extremely limited by the unique server hardware they use.

We’ve listened carefully to the feedback from that customer and others who have unique hardware resource usage requirements and we’ve designed a special version of GlassWire just for them.

Today we’re excited to introduce GlassWire Lite! This optional new version of GlassWire uses less than 1/3 the memory that our normal GlassWire software uses and writes 1/20th of the disk write operations. And just like our original GlassWire version its CPU usage should usually be almost zero.

To make this super light version of GlassWire we made it collect very minimal host data. If you’re using GlassWire Lite you’ll find you’ll only see hosts on the Firewall tab, and in “New” and “Ask to Connect” notifications.

If tracking hosts is important to you then you’ll probably want to stick with our powerful original GlassWire version. But if you don’t need to track hosts we recommend that you give GlassWire Lite a try.

If you’re a Basic, Pro, or Elite user you can use your license on GlassWire Lite and it works exactly the same.

Please note if you switch to GlassWire Lite from our original GlassWire version your history and settings will be completely reset because GlassWire Live uses a different database structure. Our installer window warns about this.

However, when you install GlassWire Lite over GlassWire, your original GlassWire history will be backed up and moved inside the GlassWire folder. If you find GlassWire Lite is not for you then you should be able to install GlassWire again over itself, and your original GlassWire history should return with no issues.

Please note if you’re concerned about losing your GlassWire history you can back up your database before trying GlassWire Lite.

To try GlassWire Lite visit our download page, then look for the logo at the bottom left of the page and download it.

We hope you enjoy this new version of GlassWire and we appreciate your feedback.

Have comments about this new version of GlassWire? Please give us feedback by commenting on this post, or let us know in the forum.

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Software Updates

GlassWire 2.2 for Windows now available!

By GlassWire. May 2020. reading.

Our team has spent many months completely rewriting GlassWire’s backend from scratch. With this new major update GlassWire now uses significantly less memory, and even less disk resources.

We’ve also added a new free dark theme we call “asphalt”. Go to the top left GlassWire menu to try it out.

What else is new with GlassWire 2.2?
– GlassWire now starts much faster!
– DNS resolving is improved.
– Graph data loading is faster!
– VirusTotal analyzing is faster!
– Things device discovery and resolving now works much better!
– Many other bug fixes and improvements.
– Remote monitoring is now even more secure and improved. Please note it’s required that you update your client and server with this update.
– GlassWire now has a speed meter in the mini viewer.

Download GlassWire 2.2 now!

Please give the update a try and let us know your results in the forum, or email us if you need help.

Our complete list of all the changes in 2.2 are available here.