- TechRepublic Author Biography
Presently, my professional responsibilities are as a Network Field Engineer for Orange Business Services, a world-wide IT service organization. The certifications I have at this time are Network+, Internet+, CWNA, CWSP, ISO 9001:2000 Auditor and finally my amateur radio license K0PBX. Being asked to become a writer for TechRepublic and...- more about Michael Kassner »
TechRepublic Resources
- 802.11n: MIMO really needs smart antennas
- As Wi-Fi standards go, 802.11n has a lot to live up to. Especially after hearing how 802.11n's advertised throughput, security, and reliability will allow Wi-Fi to replace existing wired networks. This means 802.11n's RF technology needs to be rock-solid, just like Ethernet cables, while facing ever-changing environmental conditions. ...
- Tags: Device, Network, Signal, IEEE 802.11n, Interference, MIMO, Technology, Antenna, RF, Ruckus Wireless, Antenna Diversity, N, Beamforming, BeamFlex, Path Control Module, Ruckus, Wi-Fi, Wireless LANs, Wireless, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-05-14
- HotelChatter's 2008 Wi-Fi review: Rating the hotels
- HotelChatter.com is a good starting point for road warriors who are looking for virtually any kind of information about hotels. I try to glean helpful information from the the Web site whenever I travel. On more than a few occasions the site has helped in deciding the best place to...
- Tags: Hotel, HotelChatter, HotelChatter.com, Wireless LANs, Wi-Fi, Wireless, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-05-09
- WiMAX Forum endorses new WiMAX lab at University of Maryland
- WiMAX appears to be back on track. TechRepublic's executive editor Jason Hiner published some good news today in his post, "The new Clearwire: Mobile WiMAX in the US gets major cash infusion." It appears that Sprint and Clearwire are on the same page again and buoyed by major investments from...
- Tags: University Of Maryland, WiMAX, Wi-Fi, Wireless, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-05-07
- Anonymizer is purchased by Abraxas, a security consulting firm
- Anonymizer's claim to fame is being one of the first applications to promote secure and anonymous web browsing. It's a method I've recommended to road warriors who want to increase security while using public Wi-Fi hot spots. Because I've recommended the application and have mentioned it on several postings, I...
- Tags: Web, Server, SSL, Anonymizer, Abraxas Corp., Ssl/Tls, Authentication/Encryption, Channel Management, Internet, Network Security, Security, Marketing, Networking, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-05-06
- Wi-Fi security for road warriors: On-line banking
- TechRepublic members are asking some excellent questions on how to ensure secure Wi-Fi connections while traveling. As an occasional road warrior, I have garnered a great deal of respect for the serious road warriors and their ingenuity, committing their hard-earned advice to memory. In appreciation, I'd like to return the...
- Tags: Bank, Web Server, Tunnel, Banking, Server, Wi-Fi, SSL, Web Browser, Wi-Fi Security, Option, Ssl/Tls, Authentication/Encryption, Network Security, Security, Networking, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-05-01
- Botnets: German researchers fight back
- In a recent post of mine, "Kraken: The biggest, baddest botnet yet," there wasn't much good news. In fact, reports describing the potential for harm and economic loss are downright scary. There maybe a glimmer of hope though. I just finished reading a Techworld article, "Researchers ‘poison' Storm botnet" by...
- Tags: Researcher, Bot, Peer To Peer (P2P), Productivity, Internet, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-04-29
- Wi-Fi security for the road warrior; revisited
- I recently penned a "10 thing" post called "10 Wi-Fi security tips for the road warrior" and TechRepublic member DonnaKline responded with an excellent observation: "The point of varying the level of security required by location might have been stressed more, especially for those of us who are less...
- Tags: VPN, Internet, Advisor, Wi-Fi Security, Security Zone, Wireless LANs, Wireless Security, Wi-Fi, Wireless, Security, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-04-28
- Cisco's co-founder wants to simplify fiber optic networks
- After leaving Cisco 17 years ago, Cisco Systems co-founder Len Bosack started a new company. The man and his company have been quietly working away in semi-seclusion, partially because of a non-compete agreement that Mr. Bosack signed with his former company. That all changed about a year ago; his present...
- Tags: Fiber-optic Network, Network, Fiber-optics, Cisco Systems Inc., XKL, Fiber Optics, Optical Networking, Network Technology, Telecommunications, Networking, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-04-24
- DARPA: A very impressive 50 years
- I dare say that most of us on this forum owe some part of our livelihood to DARPA. I even seem to mark major moments in my life by the amazing accomplishments of DARPA. One such defining moment would be the first manned moon landing by Apollo 11. It all...
- Tags: DARPA, Urban Challenge, Internet, Team Management, Leadership, Networking, Management, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-04-21
- Kraken: The biggest, baddest botnet yet
- At the recent RSA 2008 gathering Damballa, an Internet security company devoted solely to researching botnet technology, is reporting some "not so good news." In the article, "Kraken BotArmy-Twice as Big as Storm; Evades over 80% of Installed Antivirus Software" pdf Ashley Vandiver of Damballa explains: This new...
- Tags: Technique, Researcher, Server, Zombie, Computer, Damballa, Kraken BotArmy-Twice, Storm, Productivity, Wiki, Viruses And Worms, Security, Online Communications, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-04-20
- Cisco 800 series Integrated Services Routers now support 802.11n
- Cisco is planning to release the 860 and 880 routers with on board 802.11n this coming June. This is "really good news" for wireless network administrators dealing with remote branch and home offices. Finally; a business grade, multi-purpose, 802.11n device that is affordable. Just what are Integrated...
- Tags: Router, IEEE 802.11n, Cisco Systems Inc., Routers & Switches, Wi-Fi, Network Technology, Networking, Wireless, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-04-16
- Learn more about deploying and securing RFID technology
- The book, How to Cheat at Deploying and Securing RFID, written by Frank Thornton and Paul Sanghera, does a great job of explaining radio-frequency identification RFID. RFID technology we all know is an identification method based on the storage and retrieval of data using devices called RFID tags. ...
- Tags: Wave, Carrier, RFID, Wireless, Security, Biometrics, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-04-14
- New submarine cable links Australia and Hawaii
- Not long ago a rash of submarine cable breaks garnered a great deal of interest here at TechRepublic, chiefly centered around Paul Mah's post "Severed submarine cables knock out Internet access to tens of millions." I thought it would be appropriate to mention something positive about submarine cables. A brand...
- Tags: Cable, Network Technology, Telecommunications, Personal Technology, Networking, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-04-11
- 10 Wi-Fi security tips for road warriors
- Wi-Fi security is a popular topic these days, and the "best approach" is being vigorously debated on many forums, including TechRepublic's. One fact I discerned from reading the various forum posts is that there are many opinions as to what's required to securely associate with unknown and possibly hostile Wi-Fi...
- Tags: VPN, Notebook, Network, Wi-Fi Network, Road, Wi-Fi Security, IronKey, Wireless LANs, Wi-Fi, Wireless, Networking, Security, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-04-09
- WiMAX's slow rollout may be technical
- There have been all sorts of possible explanations as to why WiMAX is not readily available. Most refer to business plans and political issues. Some recent news may very well point to the real reason for the slow rollout. Quite simply, providers are having problems trying to get "big enough...
- Tags: Bandwidth, Microwave, T3, Sprint Communications, Cell, Fiber, WiMAX, Network Technology, Wi-Fi, Wireless, Networking, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-04-04
- IronKey: Simple, safe, and secure surfing over Wi-Fi
- Fellow TechRepublic writer Paul Mah has written a great post, "Secure your data on the go", that explains why the IronKey USB flash drive is a very secure data storage device with virtually foolproof encryption and password-protected access. I would like to discuss another equally interesting feature of IronKey that...
- Tags: Web, Network, Road, IP, Server, IP Address, Wi-Fi, Web Browser, IronKey USB Flash Drive, Networking, VPNs, Wireless LANs, Network Security, Telecommunications, Security, Wireless, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-03-27
- A great book about RF circuit design just got better
- Christopher Bowick and his book RF Circuit Design have been helping people understand the intricacies of RF design for almost 25 years. Well, Mr. Bowick has stepped it up a notch by creating a second edition with new information. The following synopsis of the book mentions the new areas covered...
- Tags: Noise Figure, Noise Factor, Wi-Fi, Wireless, Bluetooth, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-03-24
- Fake Cisco kit may contain malware
- Marketing counterfeit Cisco equipment is not breaking news by any means, as it has been an ongoing problem for Cisco and its resellers for years now. As evidence, check out this article for NetworkWorld by Brad Reese "Giant counterfeit Cisco sale on eBay". The equipment must be a pretty good...
- Tags: Malware, Cisco Systems Inc., Indictment, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-03-21
- Enterprise 802.11n: The fog may be clearing
- There appears to be some semblance of a master plan rising out of the 802.11n implementation fog. Enterprise equipment developers have done their research and are incorporating additional technologies into 802.11n equipment and by doing so should garner some impressive wireless network performance characteristics. I'd like to point out the...
- Tags: IEEE 802.11n, Guard Interval, Wi-Fi, Wireless, Michael Kassner
- Blog posts 2008-03-19
- 10 Wi-Fi security tips for road warriors
- Road warriors have to be creative. Besides their normal work, they are asked to maintain an almost continuous electronic presence while away from their office or home -- and that can mean dealing with unknown and possibly hostile Wi-Fi networks. Michael Kassner offers some simple tips to help mobile workers...
- Tags: Road, Worker, Wi-Fi Security, Michael Kassner, Wireless LANs, Wireless Security, Wi-Fi, Wireless, Security
- Download resources 2008-04-09
