Router Security – Is Your System Vulnerable?

Our busy IT people are currently in the process of enhancing our website to allow for online payments.  Part of this process has involved running in-depth security checks through SecurityMetrics, an internationally recognised website scanning service, and we are pleased to say that our website passed with flying colours!

Whilst on the subject of online security, we wanted to raise awareness to a common vulnerability that many home and business users may be open to.

Most broadband suppliers send out their broadband routers which are configured with a default username and password.  Often these routers come preconfigured from Internet Service providers, so users don’t always think to go into the settings and change these crucial settings.  But unless this username as password is changed your router is potentially open to others to use and exploit.

It might serve you well to take 5 minutes and check your router settings.

How to Check Your Router Password

On a Windows PC, click on the Start menu and type CMD then press enter.  This will open the Command Prompt.  Here type IPCONFIG /ALL this gives you a set of information which includes your Default Gateway number.  Open your website browser and type this number into the address bar.  This will display the login page for your router.  You can look up the default username and password of any router at www.routerpassords.com all you need is the make and model of your router.  Once you have the default password, type it into the login page of your router, if you gain access to your router with these details, you might want to consider changing these details.

The process is much the same for a Mac, only the way you obtain your Default Gateway number is different.  So on a Mac click the Apple icon on the top left corner and select the System Preferences option.  Then click Network, your Default Gateway number appears next to the Router details. 

Safe surfing one and all!

 

A Smooth Move for our Heathrow Branch

Our Heathrow Branch has recently relocated.  Had you noticed?  We hope not we were aiming for a seamless change, and we think we achieved it!

We must acknowledge that our Cloud based computing system played a large part in the fluidity of the move.  This fairly recent change really has paid off in terms of flexibility of work.

Our move comes before we launch an exciting new service, which we think would be perfect for many eCommerce businesses who have goods to supply.  We can’t say too much yet, but our new service could open up opportunities for many!  So, watch this space!

Here are our new contact details for those who need to update their records:

CSM Heathrow

Unit 1D

Summit Business Park

Sunbury

TN16 5DB

Telephone:  01932 787277

Feeling Grounded, with our Work in the Cloud

CSM are embracing a new way of working, our systems have gone to a hybrid Cloud computing environment.  Being an organisation with multiple locations, many considerations had to be taken to make this project successful.

We have been working with a fantastic company, Tek Net, and together we have taken time to consider our users’ needs and carefully plan and redesign the architecture of our electronic system.

Change is always daunting, but is often for the better, as our move to the Cloud is proving.  During part of the planning process a document for our staff was put together to answer some questions and to provide information to make the process less intimidating, as the saying goes “forewarned is forearmed!” and we hope that we have alleviated some potential concerns.

Its relatively early days for our new system, but the benefits are already noticeable.  Document sharing between branches is now straight forward, and long explanatory internal emails have greatly reduced as information is easily accessible to all who need it.  So time has been saved and our work process is smoother.

The only regrettable side to this new working environment is that every terminal is set up in the same way so that it works at the fastest possible speed, after all the very nature of Cloud computing is that you are accessing files over the internet, so it imperative that users profiles are as streamlined as they can possibly be.  So as a result it is no longer possible to customise the desktop with a photo of a loved one or an escapist image of a faraway land.  But maybe this is an opportunity for staff to add something to their desk to make their workspace theirs, given this option I wonder what they would do?