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01
Jun
2021
Leveraging your Mobile Hotspot

Leveraging your Mobile Hotspot

You're out and about and have some time between meetings. Or, if you're like me, you've just brought your son or daughter to soccer practice and decide that it is not worth driving back and forth, only to net 20 minutes back at the house and you want to get some work done in the car. Yes, I know, I am sure you've never done this, I am the only one, right?

How do you access the internet?

Well, you have basically a few options.

First, you might consider "borrowing" someone's WIFI. Well, that is so 2010. While you may have gotten away with that a number of years ago, it is bad form today and outright silly, not to mention unsafe. While most wireless networks are "secure" meaning you need the password to get on to the network. If you do find a network which is "open", you should beware as it may be open for a reason -- to sniff the data you send in an effort to steal information. Side note -- it is just amazing how many WIFI connections are available when you're on vacation visiting the grandparents in Florida! There is sometimes that temptation to just get in and get out quickly, what harm could it do, right? Wrong. Don't do it.

There are many Hotspots available from internet service providers (ISPs). These are a "benefit" of being a subscriber -- you can get high-speed access from your cable company while on the go. While this is not an outright "bad" idea, you are vulnerable to "fake" networks and "man in the middle" attacks. This is where the network you *think* you are connecting to is not really the ISP's network but someone who is proxying the traffic and all the while helping themselves to your data. This is kind of like those "skimmers" that read your debit card at the ATM at the truck station just off the highway. Everything works fine, but someone snagged your information and by the time you realize something is wrong, you've been victimized. However, the stakes are actually much higher when someone gets between you and the Internet because you just never know when, or if, your information has been accessed.

 

In all cases you are better off using your own mobile device -- either a dedicated personal hotspot device or just your handy dandy cell phone with "tethering" enabled. 

While we never know 100% of the hops our data makes on the Internet, using your own mobile phone has a couple of advantages. First, it is in all likelihood, ALWAYS with you. We spend more time with our phones than anything else, so we have the advantage of being able to access our personal device's internet connection just about any time. You can have your laptop "remember" the network, so connecting is a breeze. If you want to share the network with a family member or a friend, it is as easy as sharing a password. (note to self, you may consider changing your password from time to time...story for another day).

Regardless of where you get your internet access from, you will want to do a couple more things.

First, enable the firewall on your computer -- there is no good reason to not have this security feature enabled.

Second, make sure that any place you visit on the web is secured using a digital certificate. A digital certificate provides protection in two ways. A digital certificate gives you more confidence that the site you are visiting is indeed the site they are claiming to be. Your browser will usually let you know if there is something wrong with the digital certificate. Plus, the communication exchanged between your laptop and the site is encrypted. Safe computing involves many steps. To learn more, see our posts on VPN, firewalls, and the three A's of Information Security -- Authenication, Authorization and Auditing.


 

Contact us at 973.448.0070

Testimonials

  • De'Ana gave great insight on billing issues. I recommend navitend for all IT services.

    Christian
  • My firm has used navitend for our IT needs for over 10 years and we are highly satisfied. We’ve found the navitend team to be professional, friendly, and, knowledgeable. They are sensitive to our changing IT needs and the shifting compliance landscape within the financial services industry. We recently completed a server migration and had the pleasure of working with Tony & Andrea who handled the project extremely well, ensuring a smooth transition. We are pleased to call navitend our trusted IT partner!

    Kristin
  • I just had an excellent experience with Navitend! I got a new computer and I needed Microsoft Office installed and access to an additional e-mail account. The navitend team was so professional, polite, and patient with me. I am not technologically savvy at all, so they were doing all that they could with the little bit of information that I gave them. They spent over an hour trying to help me. They went above and beyond in assisting me and I was able to get everything installed that I needed. The navitend team is doing a great job!

    Denise
  • The tech's at navitend are very knowledgeable and thorough. Corey was patient and kept looking into every avenue until he found the issue and fixed it. Thank you so much you guys are great.

    Lisa
  • Their technicians? Unsurpassed, each and every one of them. They make me and my co-workers feel as though they are just sitting in their office waiting for us to call them with a problem so they can solve it right away. They treat us as if we are their only client. Talk about great customer service. Call them, you'll be glad you did.

    Kathy
  • Over the years that Navitend has been supporting my network and hosting our web site they have always been responsive, professional, and highly skilled. On a few occasions, I have turned away other vendors that have tried to get their foot in the door. Very satisfied.

    M B
  • I wanted to personally thank Corey for always helping me with any concerns I have about my software inquiry issues. He is quick with his responses and I am always up to date with all my connectivity. Always a great experience! Thank you!

    Blerina
  • My customer service experience with navitend was absolutely amazing. My computer crashed and we needed to order a new one. navitend was there to help and get us a new computer and set it up from start to finish. The tech Corey that came out was very pleasant to work with. From start to finish he made sure that all of my programs were working properly again from my old machine. I even had follow-up phone calls from him making sure I was happy with how everything was set up. I have never experienced such exceptional customer service.

    Brian
  • navitend is a professional IT organization that I would recommend to my clients. Navitend builds strong relationships with their clients to better understand their needs. Navitend is community focused and does work to support local charities. Overall a great company.

    Michael
  • The team over at Navitend always takes care of my IT needs. They are quick to respond and patient, no matter how simple my question or need.

    Jeremy
  • navitend has consistently offered timely, professional, and courteous solutions to our business needs ranging from troubleshooting, purchase and setup of new computers and other advice. They are my 'go-to team' and continue to be a trusted support in our time of need.

    Laurie
  • I have been working with navitend for 10+ years. Great group of talented professionals!

    Anne
  • These folks are spectacular! They're contracted by my work to provide IT support, and they are SO responsive that my mind is blown every time! Just a quick email to request help, and I immediately get a response for a patient and friendly person to call me and walk me through the solutions.

    Hannah
  • navitend has been a great IT partner for our company.  Their helpdesk response time is the best I have experienced in my 30 year career.  navitend has helped me to have great IT services without the need to have a full time, in house, technician at significant savings to our company.

    Bob
  • I have done business with navitend for 10+ years and have found their products and professionalism to be 1st rate. And, from a “service after the sale” perspective … even though my company is California based, my customer experience couldn’t be better. Frank Ableson and his team are top tier professionals. Proud to be one of their customers!

    Bryan
  • AMAZING!!!! Every time I have an issue or question, navitend responds promptly and professionally. Each time I deal with one of their support technicians, I am always grateful for how quickly an issue is resolved and how courteous the staff is. I cannot recommend navitend enough!!! Wonderful support in a day and age when customer service can be challenging.

    Jacqueline
  • Corey helped me with what I thought would be a minor problem that snowballed in to some complex computer world wizardly stuff and he was so smooth and calming and had it fixed in 15 minutes!! YES!!!! Tuesday crisis averted!!

    Kari
  • Our company uses Navitend for all its IT needs and every time I've had to ask them for help, they've fixed the issue within hours. Thank you so much!

    Chase
  • I look forward to working with you again in the future. Once again, thanks to your organization for your prompt response.

    Luke
  • navitend has gone above and beyond my highest expectations. Anthony was great! He was able to coordinate with an Adobe Rep and resolve issues that I had just put too much time into. Thank you again - It was a real pleasure working with you!

    Forrest
  • Everyone at navitend I have worked with has offered some of the best customer service I have had. They are patient, knowledgeable and somehow remember my and my colleagues' names. After working with other IT support, I am thrilled my organization is using their services.

    Robyn
  • Rick dedicated 2+ days of helping my facility with the install of new printers. This team is fantastic!

    Lori
  • Corey is always a huge help when I need assistance. Gets it completed quickly and successfully. Thank you Corey.

    Fran
  • Anthony was very helpful and solved all my issues promptly. I appreciate all his hard work. Thank you navitend and Anthony.

    Kyle
  • Corey came to my rescue by getting Quick Books working for me. He is excellent at what he does. Very knowledgeable in the Tech field. I don't know what we at Equity Environmental would ever do without him. Thank you Corey!!!!

    Lucille
  • This company is the best! I feel for the guys that have to help us who are not so tech savvy! Never have I been disappointed at the great service navitend provides! Corey was especially helpful and I highly recommend Navitend for all your IT needs! You will be extremely satisfied!

    Kathleen
  • navitend is an amazing resource for all your IT need! Navitend has been supporting Capitol Care Inc.'s IT needs for many years now and our relationship is wonderful! They are in the know on the latest tech trends and they are always working to enhance our security. Their support team is amazing and you are lucky to have the chance to work with Anthony DeRosa. He is professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to go the extra mile to assist us! HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY!!!

    Nicole
  • I needed to have the battery on my computer replaced. Andrea met me in person to complete that task. While with her, Andrea was able to assist me with a variety of software and computer setup issues. Andrea was pleasant, professional and patient with me and I greatly appreciated her assistance. She came to address one need but was able to fix several for which I am grateful. I think she is an asset to the Navitend team! Thanks again Andrea.

    George
  • navitend is always providing prompt response, strong technical skills and excellent customer service. Corey, Jeffrey and the other technical support team members are very helpful and user-friendly. Thank you all very much for your fabulous work!

    Chenghan
  • I highly recommend navitend for their professionalism, integrity, down-to-earth advice and thoughtful recommendations. Every solution that they offer is unique and the most appropriate to their customers' needs.

    Paula
  • Our company uses navitend for all of our IT needs. Rick and team worked for many hours today repairing an issue they had never seen before. With a project deadline of 5pm today, they were able to figure out the issue and get me back to work. The persistence, urgency and professionalism are 2nd to none. Thank you!!

    Matthew
  • I appreciate that they didn’t just build the application. They made it better by bringing ideas to the table that not only made for a better user experience, but also kept the development costs down.

    Andy
  • Andrea always goes above and beyond with meeting expectations and customer satisfaction! navitend provides great IT services.

    George
  • Thank you to Anthony at navitend for the time and effort he put into trying to resolve the issues my laptop was experiencing. I so appreciated his tenacity, professionalism and good humor as we tried (and tried) to figure out a solution. Anthony made sure I understood what was happening at all times, explained things thoroughly and followed up when promised.

    Maria
  • navitend is a professional company providing Quality service, great customer service and prompt response to service needs.

    Tammie
  • We've dedicated our lives to growing our retail and ecommerce business and it's a relief to have found a company like navitend who treats our business likes it's their own. navitend's personal approach to project management and problem solving are top-notch.

    Stamatis, Co-owner Twisted Lily, Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary
  • Thanks so much again for taking care of everything in such an expedient manner. It's a pleasure to work with navitend and its staff as always!

    Lawrence
  • 100% of all expectations met. Don't just consider navitend, choose them and get back to YOUR mission!

    C Baker
  • Corey is the best there is at his job! He fixes everything with no problem. It's amazing to have someone to trust. GO COREY 😊

    Grace
  • THE BEST!! I've never felt compelled to write a review for any service until having the pleasure to work with navitend. The professional and supportive staff make an often frustrating technical situation, dare I say, enjoyable. They always go above and beyond to find answers to unique problems. Their response time is unbelievably fast. I could not more highly recommend!!

    Stephanie
  • This IT firm has been extremely patient, helpful and professional and they are immediately available to troubleshoot and solve problems whenever they arise. Highly recommend them!

    Kathy
  • Corey is ... an IT genius!!!! This man deserves a major raise and weekly bonuses!!! navitend is my go to for everything IT related, morning noon night and weekends!!! Love this crew!!

    Heather
  • I recently had to work from home for the first time, and Corey at navitend provided EXCELLENT service. He was patient, kind, and followed through on all the details!

    Penny
  • navitend’s approach to customer service is greatly appreciated here.  Ensuring that we are well protected from a technology standpoint provides us with peace of mind to continue our day to day operations and that they are looking out for our company's best interest. 

    Debbie
  • IT technician Jay provided exceptional service on our call today! I have worked with him a few times. He has been really wonderful to work with in getting all my systems set up the last few weeks. He has been so helpful, patient and really just so great all around. In regards to Navitend--- This has been the best IT team I have worked with in my career. I have worked in corporate for years prior to transitioning into non-profit, and IT support has always been one of the challenging things to deal with in both major companies I worked with. Navitend, your service is exceptional and your team is wonderful to work with. Quick response on all my ticket service requests! Thank you!

  • Corey and the group at navitend are always so helpful and do everything they can to help. Thanks for your professionalism and continued help.

    Robin
  • The staff at Navitend is very professional and strives to meet the needs of their clients. As a Small Business owner trust and professionalism are keys to conducting business. navitend sets a high standard of ensuring their clients trust their decisions are for the interest of their business.

    Christopher
  • Navitend is a professional, responsive, and knowledgeable organization. They go above and beyond for their clients. The other day Corey Feinsod, one of their Network Technicians, helped resolve a challenging technical issue I experienced working remotely. I appreciate that their team finds value in customer service.

    Cheryl
  • Their support staff is beyond good. They sorted out our company email server migration problem yesterday in record time. It's great to work with a team that has expertise in depth. There are so many one-man-bands out there. It was a good decision to go with the pros.

    Steve
  • navitend’s expertise helped our firm over the past year to effectively elevate our I.T. game, powering our website into a highly interactive tool. Well done to Frank and his team!

    Chuck Steege, CFP®, CEP, President, SFG Wealth Planning Services, Inc.
  • This company provides IT service for my firm. They respond quickly and have always helped me navigate and fix whatever issue I am having. Corey, Jay and others - and others - all are excellent. Highly recommend.

    Nancy
  • navitend was great and my experience was beyond excellent. Very professional, courteous, and responded in a timely manner. They go above and beyond for their clients. They are a pleasure to work with. Kudos to the navitend Team - keep up the great job!

    Ann
  • The nonprofit that I work for contracts with navitend for tech support. I am so grateful for this service! The support team is highly trained, friendly, professional, and is able to figure out any and every situation that requires help. I recently had a rather lengthy software installation and worked with Andrea who was amazing. I can't recommend Navitend highly enough. I'd give more stars if I could!

    Claire
  • Best costumer service!! They are the nicest and most patient people. I highly highly recommend!!!!

    Stephanie
  • I am truly impressed by the focus the team places on the requests from our company. Truly an excellent team!!

    Josefina
  • Thanks so much!  You are a class act!  
    You and your team have really done an excellent job on this!

    Steve The C12 Group in Houston, Texas
  • navitend has been great with me and my colleagues as we go through a difficult transition to new technology! They are incredibly patient and helpful. I highly recommend them.

    Molly
  • Corey has been very helpful! Response to my concerns are always prompt and he makes it easy for me to understand exactly what he is doing. I am very grateful for his help!

    Sue
  • Navitend has been our IT provider for many years and we are so grateful for their hard work. Nate and Vin especially deliver exceptional service and great communication. We highly recommend Navitend for your IT needs.

    Behavioral Health Client
  • navitend has been a life-saver many times for me! They are diligent in troubleshooting problems - until they resolve it. I've worked many times with Corey and he is fantastic - I can count on him to fix all my Outlook and computer problems. Overall, I highly recommend navitend.

    Bob
  • Corey was outstanding today in the services he provided - efficient, professional, knowlegable, kind, and understanding with someone who has no clue about computers. Thank you! 😊

    Mertie
  • Very helpful, courteous & professional. They do a great job and are pleasant to work with as well.

    Robert
  • Our company is more efficient and has grown as a result of navitend’s work. navitend helped us get to the next level.

    Greg
  • We wholeheartedly recommend navitend for their exceptional IT solutions and services; they have undoubtedly earned our trust and loyalty for future endeavors.

    Benjamin
  • I cannot say enough about navitend's expertise, customer service, knowledge and professionalism! They have been a great partner with our company for all of our IT needs.

    Margaret