A Peek Into the Near Future of Electronics Technology by Terry Mitchell
How long do you think DVDs have around? 20 years? 10 years? Actually, they have only been around for about seven years, but it seems like they have been around much longer. Many of us can hardly remember life before DVDs. That can be attributed to how rapidly we can become acclimated to some... This kind of service could prove useful for those who cannot get traditional broadband services like cable modem or Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), as almost everyone has access to electricity now. ... In addition, video can be automatically downloaded to the device via a phone connection.

Finding Your MAC Address On Wired And Wireless Network Cards by Darren Miller
The Answer To The Media Access Control Question Over the past few weeks I have received quite a few e-mails about Ethernet cards, both wired and wireless, and more specifically, about Media Access Control (MAC) addresses. I think the main reason I’ve received so many questions about Ethernet... Your cable/dsl router or cable modem has a valid IP address assigned to its “external” network interface. ... The DHCP server could be your wireless access point, cable/dsl router, cable modem, or a server on your network.

New Computer? Steps to Protect Your Computer Before Connecting to the Internet by Steve Freedman
Getting a new computer should be an exciting and gratifying experience. After all, you’ll be able to do things faster, safer and without having to worry that your old hard drive is so full that one more file will “break the camel’s back.” However, there are dangers out there that probably... A network firewall or firewall router is a hardware device that is installed between the computers on their Local Area Network (LAN) and their broadband device (cable/DSL modem). ... Right-click on the network connection you wish to change (e.g., "Local Area Connection").

Installing a PCI Wireless Card by Lee Asher
Installing a PCI wireless card might seem like a bit of an adventure -- after all, you have to open the case, find where to put the thing, close it again... and then you have to deal with the software! Even if you've never opened your computer before, though, you shouldn't have too much trouble... Your PCI wireless card gives your computer a permanent wireless connection. ... Just do what you did in step 4 in reverse -- put it all back together. ... Step 7: Close the Case. ... Step 8: Plug In and Start.

Motherboard Basics by Jason Kohrs
A recent Tech Tip covered the basics of selecting a computer case and made mention of the various sizes that correspond to motherboards of different form factors. A few people wrote in expressing interest in understanding more about the basics of motherboards, and that’s exactly what this Tech... A typical motherboard will now include stereo sound capabilities, a 10/100 LAN connection, and a few USB 2.0 ports on the back panel connection. ... Motherboards for AMD Athlon 64 and Pentium 4 processors will have a second power connection located in close proximity to the CPU socket for...

Freedom of Speech on the Internet by Fred Hanster
Once upon a time, the world was made up of many, many communities that each had different opinions about free speech. Some allowed it, some prohibited it, and some operated in vast grey areas depending on what their particular dictionaries defined as freedom of speech. ... Many phone companies operate overseas, and these companies can allow you to dial in to the internet, even if you can’t access it from your cable lines. ... However, it is impossible for a government to figure out how to filter all of the computers that are in their country, which means that if a person is in a place...

ARP, MAC, Poisoning, & WiFi by Brian Wilson
In this paper we will cover the basics on Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), Media Access Control Addresses (MAC), Wireless (WiFi), and layer 2 communications. I hope to explain how a “Man in the Middle Attack” works. The common name for this is ARP poisoning, MAC poisoning, or Spoofing. ... An attacker can just as easy spoof the ISP’s devices (Cable modem or DLS router) to get all your out bound data. ... Well this is not true you first should always have a firewall on any internet connection. ... Now a lot of people think there safe because there home network is inside there house.

Build Your Own Computer by George W. Cannata
I’m eighty-one years old and I bought my first computer six years ago. When I bought it I hardly knew how to turn it on. I consider myself still a Newbie as I’ve barely scratched the surface of computer technology. I have successfully built about a dozen computers for family, friends and myself. ... Some have on board video and audio cards, others include modems and cable connections and some even sport keyboards, mice and speakers. ... Actually, it’s not free, they are toll numbers. ... People who don’t understand English very well write the manuals and the technical support is like most...

Computer Safety for Kids by Rob Pirozzi
Start With the Basics - Protect Your PC Guarding Access to Your PC - Get a Firewall Beginning in the Zhou Dynasty, which was in the 11th century BC, construction was begun on what was to become the Great Wall of China. For 2,700 years, culminating in the mid-1600s, construction continued on... Literally, a cable from your cable or DSL modem gets connected to the hardware firewall. ... It prevents unwanted and unauthorized access to your PC over your Internet connection. ... Another cable is connected from the hardware firewall to your PC.