PCTips Box

Why upgrade? Chances are you have bought something online with a credit card, used internet banking, or dealt with confidential information on your computer. If you use a wireless router with anything less than WPA2 encryption, your information may not be as secure as you think.

“WPA2 security is definitely worth the modest amount of effort required to set it up. The original WPA security standard can be cracked with relative ease unless you use a passphrase that is longer than 20 characters and is not merely composed of words that can be found in a dictionary.” [Quote from the PC World article: Wireless Tips: Your Wireless Network Needs a Security Update]

1. Check current devices for compatibility. Your router and wireless network card may already support WPA2; Google your devices and find out. If they do, download the latest drivers for your wireless network card and update the firmware on your wireless router (very easy to do, but follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully). (more…)

Microsoft is on the verge of making available the third and final service pack for Windows XP. Long overdue following numerous updates, Windows XP SP3 will hit by mid 2008. This much is certain, as the Redmond company has debuted the testing for the operating system’s service pack all the way back in July 2007. A near final Release Candidate build of XP SP3 is currently available to MSDN and TechNet subscribers with a public version looming on the horizon. In this context, Microsoft published an official overview of XP SP3.

“Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) includes all previously released Windows XP updates, including security updates and hotfixes. It also includes select out-of-band releases, and a small number of new enhancements, which do not significantly change customers experience with the operating system. (more…)