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HughesNet Buys Share of OneWeb

That didn’t last long. The OneWeb satellite internet system, thought to be near death after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a few months ago, apparently has cheated the Grim Reaper- at least in the short term. It may yet shake off fiscal extinction.

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A few days ago, Hughes Network Systems plunged $50 million into OneWeb. In this, Hughes joins the British government and Bharti Global, each of which paid $500 million for a 45% share only a few weeks ago.

Bharti Global is an Indian consortium.

How will this affect satellite internet service?

Hughes has operated its own satellite internet system for several decades. Its legacy system relies on high-altitude birds in geosynchronous orbit. OneWeb’s satellites hover in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). At the lower altitude, each of OneWeb’s satellites covers less territory, features lower latency. Latency is the delay between the sending of a signal and when the target receives it.

A geosynchronous satellite matches its speed to the Earth’s rotation. The satellite remains directly above a given spot on the planet’s surface.

With its added interest in OneWeb, HughesNet will be part of a multi-orbit system. High altitude geosynchronous systems offer certain advantages. LEO systems offer other advantages. But a multi-orbit system can provide the best features of both: more complete coverage, with low latency where its needed.

Some competitors, such as Elon Musk’s StarLink, deploy only LEO satellites. Industry experts, though, say multi-orbit systems are the wave of the future.

Before filing for bankruptcy, OneWeb had launched 74 satellites. It had planned to launch a fleet of more than 600.

What are HughesNet’s plans?

HughesNet said it wants to distribute OneWeb services in America. Hughes says this will include custom connections for government and business sites. This will mean, among other things, cellular backhaul and community WiFi hotspots.

Hughes has already gotten more than $300 million in OneWeb contracts for gateway antennae and other ground equipment.

HughesNet customers can also expect upgrades in residential web service.

You can get satellite internet service almost anywhere. You’re not limited by the location of the cable or telecom lines. To find out more, call 1-855-216-0185. Call 1-855-216-0185. Call 1-855-216-0185.

For the most reliable internet connection, contact Satellite Country. We can help.

Call 1-855-216-0185

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Are You Ready for the Coming Age of Mass Genius?

Some tech experts believe the intelligence of the human race is about to skyrocket. Some of you, we know, are thinking: “And not a moment too soon!”

Image result for einstein

What would account for this ballistic bulge in bubba’s brainpower?

Peter Diamandis thinks he knows. Diamandis holds degrees in molecular genetics and aerospace engineering from MIT, and made his reputation as the best-selling author of Abundance: The  Future Is Better than You Think.  He says the growth of internet connectivity, the cloud, and maturing brain-computer interfaces will bring dramatic acceleration of mass genius. This includes both individual and collective intelligence. Not only will the world at large become smarter, each of us will become a genius.

Mass Genius through Connectivity

The first factor Diamandis cited is connectivity. For most of history, he said, the greatest intellects have been squandered. Many were hindered by barriers of sex, race, ethnicity, class, and culture. Most, though, simply lacked means to communicate their insights to the world.

The coffee houses founded in eighteenth century Britain and continental Europe played a critical role in  destroying these barriers. In the coffee houses, people from all classes and vocations met to discuss ideas, debate them, and refine their own ideas based on the feedback they got from others. The intellectual ferment in the coffee house culture fostered the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution.

Concentrating population in large urban centers extended the idea generating power of the coffee house to many more people.

Diamandis says the internet is our current version of the eighteenth century coffee house and the urban center– but is many times more powerful than both. Our current networks need not be confined to our neighborhoods or our cities; they can now encompass the entire globe.  More than four billion people now have internet connections. Soon all of us will.

The Cloud and Brain-Computer Interfaces

The second factor, Diamandis says, is the cloud, which will be enhanced by brain–computer interfaces. The author says we will soon be able to upload our thoughts to the cloud, and download information directly to our brains. We then can bypass the usual cumbersome learning process. Research will become more efficient by several orders of magnitude, because it will be rooted in what Diamandis calls “the neurological basis for innovation”.

Is Diamandis right about this? We should certainly hope so. We wouldn’t be burdened with so many selfies or cat videos on social media. We might even hear Joy Behar or Barbra Streisand say something sensible.

To tap your own genius, you need a reliable internet connection. For the one that works best for you, call Satellite Country. We can help.

Call 1-855-216-0185

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The Russian Hackers Are Coming! The Russian Hackers Are Coming!

Those damned Russians will stop at nothing! They stole the last U.S. Presidential election, according to highly esteemed sources close to Hillary Clinton (cough.. cough…). But now they’re up to something even more nefarious: hacking your office equipment so they can spy on you.

Image result for soviet posters

The last statement actually is true. Microsoft announced last Monday that Russian hackers have been invading corporate computer networks by attacking their most vulnerable connected devices. Typically, these are devices we don’t think of as computers: VOIP phones, printers, refrigerators, and even coffee brewers.

How are the intruders getting in?

For such devices, security is often an afterthought, if thought about at all. Since IT experts seldom expect attacks on such devices, they often fail to update their security protocols. And the password for a peripheral- if it’s protected by a password at all- is usually an obvious one such as ‘password’ or a consecutive series of numerals.

The Russian hackers, who go by names such as Fancy Bear, Strontium, and APT28, are said to work in connection with the GRU, Russian military intelligence.

Their hacking activity dates to at least to 2007. It includes such infamous intrusions as:

  • the NoPetYa attacks in Ukraine,
  • attacks on NATO,
  • overriding of the French TV network TV5Monde’s programming in 2015,
  • hacking of the International Olympic Committee,
  • attempted 2018 thefts of data from U.S. conservative political think tanks.

For the Russian hackers, peripheral devices are beachheads, the weakest links in corporate communication systems. Once they have penetrated a poorly protected camera, printer, or video decoder, the hackers can easily take over other devices connected to them. This includes the supposedly impregnable central computer system.

We warned about this two years ago. We said that the Internet of Things (IoT) would multiply headaches for online security professionals– and for us.

What can you do about the threat?

The more connected devices we own: Alexa hubs, Fitbits, ‘smart’ TV sets, etc., the more avenues of attack we leave for hackers. This means we must be all the more vigilant about guarding everything.

We’re not suggesting you should panic about this. Just be careful. Use secure passwords or biometric authentication, or two-factor authentication. Be sure to keep your security protocols updated. And be sure to protect all of your devices, including the ones most of us never worry about.

For the internet connection you need, shop with Satellite Country. We can help.

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Wall Luxury TV Set by Samsung Measures a Full 292 Inches!

Do your friends brag about the size of their TV sets? Are you jealous of a neighbor with a 65-inch screen on the wall in his living room?

Samsung announced the 292 inch large format modular display at ISE 2019 in Amsterdam
Samsung’s 292-inch Screen

Rejoice, then! Within a few months, you’ll have a chance to buy a TV set that outclasses all others in your neighborhood- IF you have the budget and the room for it. A few days ago, Samsung Electronics demonstrated a TV set, called The Wall Luxury, that measures a whopping 292 diagonal inches. That’s over 24 feet. For all of its monumental dimensions, though, it’s only 30 millimeters thick- slightly over an inch.

In addition to extreme size, Samsung’s new video display boasts a record-setting refresh rate of a blistering 120 Hz and a brightness level of 2000 nits. Most TV sets manage only 60 Hz and 250 to 500 nits. A few HDR-capable screens can be as bright as 1000 nits.

How much does it cost?

“So”, you might be asking, “how much do I have to pay for this amazing new TV set?” Well, if you have to ask, you can’t afford it. Samsung has not revealed its suggested retail price for The Wall Luxury. But its closest competitor, dubbed simply ‘The Wall’, a now-outclassed and utterly humiliated 146-inch model, sells for $100,000.

If this is still too much for you, Sony sells a 98-inch screen for a mere $70,000. Of course, you’d have to accept the embarrassment of knowing that you’ve settled for the third place finisher.

Is size all that counts?

As impressive as Samsung’s Wall is, it might not be right for you. In fact, if you’re going to pay a premium price for a TV set, we recommend thinking less about size or even resolution, and more about factors more directly and more dramatically affecting the quality of the picture and sound. These other factors are display format and HDR.

Once you have a screen measuring at least 55 inches diagonally, adding more size is unlikely to add much to your enjoyment of the picture. And while HD was a massive and obvious improvement over SD in picture quality, upgrading from HD to 4K, 5K, or 8K will do little for you unless you’re sitting within six feet of the screen.

If you’re willing to pay the price for quality, we recommend buying a good OLED set with HDR capability. For now, OLED is the best available display technology, with the darkest blacks and most intense color gamuts. HDR (high dynamic range) provides the widest available color range, and the most accuracy and subtlety in mid-range and shadows. Is your vision normal? Do you watch TV from more than three feet away from the screen? Then HDR is likely to do more for your enjoyment of the picture than 4K or higher resolution will.

We are your source for HughesNet internet service. For the best deals in all home services, shop with Satellite Country. We can help.

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HughesNet Pushes Satellite For Broadband Backup

If you operate a business, how will you respond if your wireline broadband service fails? Do you have an adequate backup?

Image result for hughesnet satellite images

This is a question many business owners are asking since last month’s massive outage of Comcast services. Millions of residential customers were effected, and thousands of businesses were crippled by the outage. It affected a large portion of the U.S., from east coast to west, and all Comcast services suffered: phone, TV, internet, and business services. Ironically, even the Down Detector failed.

(The Down Detector is an online service that tracks cable and satellite service outages. It tracks dozens of internet, video, phone, gaming, and social media services. It even monitors access to individual TV channels.)

Comcast blamed the outage on a fiber cut in a Manhattan system owned by one of its backbone ‘partners’. The incident affected both business and residential customers.

Can anything insure against lost connections?

HughesNet cited the Comcast outage as the type of catastrophic surprise businesses need to insure themselves against. And HughesNet says it has the solution.

HughesNet Network Solutions now offers a backup high-speed broadband service for such events. It will automatically switch users to satellite broadband when their terrestrial web connections fail. The backup service is under the name of HughesNet Internet Continuity. For a mere $39.99 per month, it insures against losses due to DSL, cable, or telecom down time.

With the backup system, the customer gets a WiFi modem, an antenna, a router, and a radio. Once the terrestrial network is restored, the HughesNet Continuity system switches back to it automatically.

The backup system operates at speeds of up to 25 MB/S for uploads, and 3 MB/S for downloads. These speeds meet the FCC definition of broadband.

The need for some sort of internet insurance has long been evident. As many as 90% of businesses have suffered at least one web service interruption. A third report facing an outage every month. Such outages can block access to critical systems.

At minimum, the service interruptions bring loss of revenue. In extreme cases, they can alienate customers and even force business closure.

 

(For the most reliable web connection, talk to Satellite Country. We can help.)

 

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Zuckerberg in the Hot Seat

Mark Zuckerberg may soon cease to be a Master of the Universe. At least, that’s what we can gather from some of the Congressional reactions to his recent testimony on Capitol Hill.

Image result for mark zuckerberg

The Facebook CEO has been under fire lately over some of the social platform’s questionable business practices. These include blocking or ‘shadow-banning’ content for political reasons, limiting the reach of ads customers had paid for, and selling user data to third parties.

The immediate catalyst for the hearings was a recent report about Facebook’s relationship with Cambridge Analytica. The latter had apparently collected user data through an app called Global Science Research. More than 270,000 people allowed use of their data, but Cambridge was able to collect data about their friends, too. Cambridge used the data to promote Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign.

At this news, Congressional Democrats erupted. Of course, it may help to keep matters in perspective. Facebook had also allowed the Obama reelection campaign to exploit user data in 2012- and had not charged for it. Obama campaign officials even bragged about Facebook’s willingness to help them, and Mr. Zuckerberg visited the White House dozens of times between 2009 and 2013.

The legacy press apparently saw no problem with this. Many establishment reporters even hailed Obama for his genius and foresight in use of social media.

The Rules Change

It wasn’t the data collection itself, then, that offended the high and mighty. It wasn’t even the fact that most of it was without user consent. Facebook’s real crime, evidently, was that in 2016 a REPUBLICAN campaign had been able to exploit its user data.

Never mind that Obama’s people had used Facebook data far more extensively- and in the general election, while Cambridge had used it for Trump only during the primary. Never mind that Facebook had been happy- even eager- to help Obama. If Trump benefited, then data collection practices that had hitherto been perfectly acceptable were suddenly grave sins.

Mr. Zuckerberg Goes to Washington

And so, Mark Zuckerberg was required to explain himself to Congress. Democrats flayed him over Cambridge Analytica. Zuckerberg was deeply respectful and promised that he would try very very hard to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.

Some Republicans asked about censorship of conservative posts. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) grilled Zuckerberg closely about it. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) asked how Facebook determines what is or isn’t offensive content. In the face of this line of inquiry, the witness dodged and weaved, offering carefully worded and evasive responses.

On the whole, Mr. Zuckerberg proved carefully prepared- and quite slippery. We got the impression that Facebook may never provide a full accounting for its privacy and censorship practices, and that the reforms it promises will only be cosmetic.

 

(For the most reliable internet connection, talk to Satellite Country. We can help.)

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Will Your Next Driver’s License Be Digital?

Your current driver’s license is a plastic card. Every previous license was a plastic card. So far as you know, your driver’s licenses will always be plastic cards that you’ll carry in your wallet or purse. They couldn’t take any other form, could they?

Man in a car showing his drivers license on his phone

This is about to change. Some states are planning to digitize your driver identity so you can display it on a mobile tablet or phone. The new licenses will feature biometric data absent from your current license, such as fingerprints, iris scans, and facial recognition. Iowa will lead the way, issuing digital driver’s licenses in 2019. Delaware, Virginia, and Wyoming are conducting limited pilot studies of  digital license technology. Other states have also begin to study the matter.

How will the changes affect you?

Idemia, a company seeking new functions for augmented reality, developed Iowa’s digital license program. Its CEO says the new licenses will be “dynamically connected”. This means they will update driver information in real time, so if your license is suspended or you just reached your 21st birthday, your digital license will be updated to display the information.

If your device is stolen, the thief can’t open your license. Unlocking it requires your biometric data. At the very least, it will require PIN or fingerprint authentication. Without your PIN or biometric data, the thief will never get your personal information.

Your digital license data will be synced with your state’s DMV database. If a cop pulls you over, he can send a message to your phone simply by scanning your license plate. Your response confirms your identity. The signals “shake hands”. The cop can relax when he approaches your car, because he knows who you are. You in turn can be sure he’s not an imposter, because only a real cop could send a signal to your device.

When will you get your first digital driver’s license?

It will be several years, at least, before most states issue digital driver’s licenses. One great hurdle is lack of interoperability, or coordination between state DMV databases. Police in one state will need access to DMV data from another state.

Expect a national interoperability standard to be settled by the middle of the next decade. After this, your driver’s license will exist in cyberspace.

 

(For all news related to the internet, watch this space. For the most reliable internet connection, talk to us. We can help.)

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Secrets to Masking Your Identity Online

In a previous post, we offered a few tips about protecting online anonymity. We addressed browser security, VPNs, TOR, and proxy servers.

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Now we will explore a few other steps to masking your identity online.

Phone Security

If you’re serious about protecting your anonymity, the easiest way is to ditch your smart phone. Apple, which owns the iOS system, is obsessed with control; and Google, which owns Android, vacuums up your personal data for its advertisers. For anonymity, you need a pre-paid phone. It’s what police call a ‘burner’.

The advantage of using a pre-paid phone is that your name can’t be traced to it. Of course, GPS triangulation can still locate the phone, so you’ll have to throw it away to guarantee that your location won’t be tracked.

If you don’t want to give up your smart phone, masking your identity requires another step. You’ll need more numbers for your device. You can get extra temporary numbers through several apps.

There are some disadvantages with the temporary numbers. One is inability to call 911. Also, the pool of available numbers is small, and they’re often recycled, so you may receive calls you don’t want from people trying to reach someone who had your number before.

Available ‘burner’ number services include CoverMe, Too, Burner, and Hushed. Burner is the original.

Too charges $1.99 per month plus 3 cents per minute and 8 cents per text. CoverMe charges $4.99 for 130 texts and 130 voice voice minutes. Hushed charges $1.99 for 7 days or $3.99 per month- with limits on texts and calling. Burner charges $4.99 per month for a premium subscription with unlimited texts, calls, and pictures.

Most of Burner’s numbers expire after a specified period. Any number you don’t renew is burned. With the premium subscription, you can get a permanent second number.

In-Home Firewalls

If your computer is connected directly to a modem, then you’re vulnerable. Hackers are constantly probing IP addresses for routes into computer systems.

Masking your identity online may require a router with a built-in firewall. Such a router will assign an IP address to each home device on your network through Network Address Translation (NAT). These addresses will be visible only on your home network. This step alone will stop most direct attacks.

If your system doesn’t have a built-in firewall, you can buy a security suite with firewall software. Norton Symantec and Avast are two of the better-known providers of of such security packages.

To be continued…

You may want to do more for masking your identity online, such as securing your e-mail and finding out what information your device is giving away. We will cover these subjects in a future post. Watch for it.

 

If you don’t have a reliable web connection, get one. Talk to us. We can help.

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VPN: Do You Need One?

How much of your life is on the internet? How much do you communicate online?

If you’re like most of us, you probably reveal much more about yourself than you intended. Your schedule, your relationships, your general location, your political and religious loyalties- all are open to public scrutiny on the web. Skilled hackers can also obtain your credit card, social security, and bank account numbers, plus your identification codes.

The web is notoriously insecure. What’s even more alarming is that your ISP is allowed to sell your browsing history.

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How, then, can you keep your data secure?

One of the most effective methods is the virtual private network (VPN), an encrypted connection between you and the network’s private server. Some experts call such connections “tunnels”. The network masks your identity, because to a hacker or a spy, your web surfing appears to originate from the VPN’s address. It’s highly unlikely your data will be intercepted, especially if the sites you visit are secured with HTTPS protocol. If it is intercepted, though, it’s almost impossible for anyone to trace it back to you.

What level of protection do you need?

How do you know you need a VPN? It depends on how concerned you are about data privacy. If you never use public WiFi networks, you never buy anything online, and you keep a low profile, ordinary internet precautions may be enough. Even in this case, an extra level of protection may be wise.

You certainly should consider a VPN if you use public WiFi. You need to be especially wary on public networks. Not only is public WiFi  vulnerable to spies, some such networks are actually run by the thieves. The Applebee’s name on the network doesn’t always mean Applebee’s operates it. Anyone spying on the airport or coffee shop WiFi, though, will be unable to intercept data you’ve routed it through a VP network.

Consider, also, whether and how often you shop via the internet. Buying online can expose your credit card numbers, bank account numbers, personal I D codes, and other private data.

Finally, what is your profession? What are your hobbies? How do you use social media? If you’re a journalist, a public official, or a celebrity, you could be a high-profile target. Countless people may have powerful incentive to ruin your life, and an insecure web connection may be the opening they need.

 

If any of this applies to you, you need an extra measure of online security. You may need a VPN.

 

(For a secure home internet connection, talk to us. We can help.)

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Title II ‘Net Neutrality’ May Be Repealed

Internet service providers all across the fruited plain are awaiting December 14, 2017 with bated breath. On that date, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on possible repeal of Title II classification of the internet as a utility and ISPs as ‘common carriers’. Under Title II, ISPs are subject to regulation like land-line telephone services. The rules are often said to promote ‘net neutrality’.

A repeal ruling would revolutionize digital communications, though observers disagree vociferously about whether it would improve or degrade them.

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What is ‘net neutrality’?

In theory, ‘net neutrality’ seems unassailably right. As described by its supporters, it is the concept that ISPs should treat all data alike. They could neither slow or block disfavored content, nor accept payment for speeding other content. Without the rules, proponents say, an ISP might block or slow content from political opponents or market competitors. Comcast, for example, might throttle streaming of DirecTV.

‘Net neutrality’ is said to be necessary for a free and open internet.

What do the critics say?

Critics of the regulations say there has never been a convincing case that they’re needed. They point out that from 2005 to 2015, before the Title II web rules went into effect, average consumer data speeds surged by more than 1000% while internet traffic soared exponentially. Opponents of the rules argue that market forces will prevent abuse. If Comcast does throttle DirecTV streams, the cable system will lose credibility and alienate its customers. Comcast subscribers will then seek other providers.

What are the odds?

After December 14, we are likely to find out which view is correct. Given the partisan composition of the FCC (three Republicans, including chairman Ajit Pai, and two Democrats), a vote for repeal is nearly a foregone conclusion.

Since his appointment as FCC Chairman, Pai has often criticized the Tie II web rules. And on November 21, he issued a draft order to schedule the repeal vote.

How does this affect you?

If you have HughesNet service, you’ve nothing to worry about. We do not have a video division, and we don’t block or throttle any content.

 

(For the most reliable internet connection, talk to us. we can help.)