Wi-Fi routers, home servers, virtual private networks, and more.
Networking
Has my cable router been hacked?
Episode 1661
Charles fromCharles bought the CM1000 cable modem and an Netgear ORBI Router. But he's heard of a hack in cable modems. True? Leo says that there is a vulnerability called "cable haunt" that will allow someone to take over your cable modem. And there's no fix because your cable internet company doesn't want to do it since it'll take your internet down while they fix it. Additionally, the cable company wants him to pay for customer support every month to fix it. Leo says you have to keep putting pressure on the cable company to fix it. There is a workaround though.
Can I put a lot of hubs on my router?
Episode 1661
Tom fromTom's router has four ethernet ports. Should he use them to install multiple hubs with switches or multiple switches? Leo says that switches aren't very smart on the whole, and switches are really just another name for hubs. What you need is a smart switch to really isolate the traffic and maximize your speed. Leo has a 24 port switch connected to his Orbi router and he uses that to connect all his devices that need a wired connection. That includes his streaming box and TV.
Can my NAS be hacked?
Episode 1651
Brett fromBrett is worried he's been hacked. He used UNRAID to create his own Network Attached Storage. But he recently got a message that he had 114 login attempts on his network. Leo says that it is very common. Any server that is online and attached to the internet will be attacked. Mostly by a bot that is programmed to look for servers online. Make sure you have security features that only allow logins from approved regions, IP addresses, or from your work. There should also be a feature that will lock out an IP address that keeps trying to log in.
Can I use my own router for FIOS?
Episode 1651
Andrew fromAndrew has Verizon FIOS and wants to know if he can use his own router. Leo says that Verizon bundles the router/modem together. Leo says you won't save any money since you have to use Verizon's modem/router anyway. But if you want to do your own router, you can turn off HDCP in the Verizon router and then use your own router for a better experience. Here's a YouTube video on how - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2Jr_0P0zwY
Can I Recover My Data From a Bad RAID Recovery?
Episode 1648
Alan fromAdam wants to create a new RAID 5 array, but his current RAID 1 system went belly up as he was converting to RAID 5. Can he get his data back? Leo says probably not through the RAID itself. He could take one drive out and try to recover, but Adam may have been too deep in the conversion process to restore the data. But the good news is, that he can take the drive out and plug it into the existing PC and see the data. If the data is mirrored, it should be easy to recover with a utility like Recuva. EaseUS also has a free drive recovery tool. He can probably use those to see the files.
What WiFi router should I get for my mom?
Episode 1647
Jack fromJack's mom is moving into an assisted living facility, and he wants her to have her own WiFi. What router should he get her? Leo says it's a good idea to give her own WiFi access point. It'll protect her. NetGear makes great WiFi Routers. How about a basic wireless access point? Leo says that the router will be better for security, but a WAC is fine.
Should he get a Samsung Galaxy Note 10? Leo says that since Jack has a note 8, he can trade it in and get a great deal on a Note 10. Go for it.
What Should I Get for Data Storage?
Episode 1644
Gifford fromGifford is getting a new Mac but he also needs some storage for his 6TB of data. Is a Drobo a good option? Should he build a Hackintosh? Leo says that's a fun project, but it'll never be as reliable as a bonafide Mac.
Why can't I port forward on my Comcast router?
Episode 1641
Joe fromJoe has switched his parents over to Comcast for internet access and TV, and he's having a hard time opening ports through the router for their alarm system. What can he do? Rich says to try what Xfinity recommends here - https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/port-forwarding-xfinity-wireless-gateway. If that doesn't work, then it may be that the port forwarding capability of Xfinity is limited. Rich also says to make sure the firmware is updated.
How Can I Connect Back to My Network After a Power Outage?
Episode 1640
Karen fromKaren had her power shut off recently due to the wildfires and now she can't connect to her network via WiFi. Rich says this is common and can happen when turning things back on. If she doesn't reboot both in the right order, she won't be able to connect. So Rich recommends turning them off again and unplugging them. Then plug in the modem, and the router afterward.
How Can I Watch Videos and Music on My Network?
Episode 1638
Richard fromRichard is trying to use PLEX and he can't understand how to make it work. Leo says he can watch his own movies using a PLEX Server. That will serve up any media he has on the network.
