ImOn Insider

Wireless networks, aka Wi-Fi, allow you to access the Internet anywhere in your home and provides an easy way to share a single Internet connection among multiple devices. While wireless networks are very convenient, they can also be very insecure. If your Wi-Fi network is not secure, you open the door for hackers to steal your information or neighbors to hijack your Wi-Fi for their own use. Not only can this slow down your Internet speed, it also leaves you vulnerable to identity theft or illegal activity. Here are a few basic tips from PC World and the University of Illinois for locking your wireless network to help prevent unauthorized access.

Image Courtesy of www.centracomblog.com/ 

In 1989, Milli Vanilli was “blaming it on the rain,” but for the next few weeks cable TV and satellite customers will be blaming it on the sun. That’s because starting October 5^th, cable TV and satellite customers will experience a phenomenon known as “sun outages”.  Sun outages occur for a week each Spring and Fall, right around the time of the equinoxes (when the sun crosses the celestial equator and day and night are of equal length.)

Cedar Rapids has once again been dealing with historic flooding along the Cedar River.  And just like in 2008, thousands of Iowans have stepped up to help their neighbors in need. Over 250,000 sandbags were filled and temporary walls and levees were constructed around the city in hopes of holding the water at bay. Now, as the water slowly recedes, the citizens of Cedar Rapids are rolling up their sleeves again and starting the cleanup. While the flood has brought out the best in many people, it can also attract scammers who prey on those affected. Here are a few tips from the Better Business Bureau and the Cedar Rapids Police Department for dealing with the aftermath of the flood and potential scammers.

Last week we highlighted some of the new TV shows that will be filling your prime-time TV guide this fall. So, we thought it only appropriate to highlight some of the much-loved shows that will also be returning this fall. Here is a little recap from TV Guide on where some of your favorite shows left off and where they are headed this season. We have also created a helpful calendar on MyImOn.com/Events to help you remember when your favorite shows will be premiering. And remember you can always catch your favorite shows anytime, anywhere with ImOn TV Everywhere.

Summer is coming to a close and along with the close of the sunny season comes the end
of some of our favorite summer TV shows. While we will miss our summer series, it’s time to get excited for some fresh faces coming onto our screens this fall! If you are looking for good dramas, new comedies, or even programming that you can stream on your ImOn TV Everywhere, we've put together a list of some of the great new programs that will be filling the slots on your prime-time TV guide.

While September marks the beginning of Fall, it also marks the start of the Fall TV season. The major networks are gearing up to release a bunch of new series, including both comedies and dramas, and new episodes of some of our favorite returning shows. (Next week, we will highlight some of the most hyped new shows coming this fall.) With all the new shows hitting the air, we thought it was important to take some time to review the TV Rating system.

We all use passwords to help protect our computers, smartphones, and online accounts. But, there is no such thing as a perfect password. A committed hacker can crack any password given enough time, the right tools, and the right information. But if a password is strong enough, the hacker will likely get discouraged and give up before it is cracked. Here are a few tips from How-To-Geek and Krebs on Security on how to create a password that is strong enough to foil hackers, but are still easy enough to remember.

Whether its college or NFL, fans are getting excited for the upcoming football season and are ready to root for their teams. The Associated Press released its College Football Preseason Rankings on Sunday, August 21^st. There were a few surprises atop the list. Alabama, Clemson, and Oklahoma are at the top with the Iowa Hawkeyes currently ranked #17.  But according to CBS Sports, only two teams have started the season #1 in the polls and have gone on to win the national championship. So we will have to see how this year plays out, and that’s why ImOn Communications is committed to bringing you the games you want.

The Internet has changed the way we live our lives, how we do business, and even how we socialize. So it is important that your Internet speed is fast enough to keep up with your needs and usage. Because we all know how frustrating it is to have to wait for your website to load or your video to buffer.  But, one of the big factors affecting your Internet speed is just how many people and devices are using your Internet connection.

It’s that time of year, again – stores are taking away their pool noodles and replacing them with backpacks and notebooks. The picnics and late summer nights are being replaced with sack lunches and homework filled evenings. The kids are going back to school, sports teams are starting practice for the big season, and the marching band is gearing up for the year!

With all of the excitement of the new school year, we know that there are various safety concerns, like walking to the bus stop or school and leaving your kids home alone before or after school. ImOn wants to relieve some of your stress with these back to school tips from The National Safety Council: