Pegasus Communications

03/07/2017

Verizon plans 5G rollouts in 2018 and 2020

http://www.lightreading.com/mobile/5g/verizon-says-its-fixed-5g-will-arrive-in-2018-mobile-in-2020/d/d-id/730880

Verizon moving fast with fixed – but not true mobile – 5G.

09/21/2016

5 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR MONEY ONLINE

Americans are using their smartphones for banking at an increasing rate. According to the consulting firm AlixPartners, in the last quarter of 2013, approximately 82% of 18-25 year olds owned smartphones and 61% of that group used mobile banking apps. The numbers are likely rising in 2014.

As a result of this trend, hackers are targeting mobile devices more frequently. Here are several common sense ways to protect your mobile data against theft and misuse.

1. Apply Passwords and Manage Them Wisely – These are the simplest steps to securing online accounts, yet a startling number of people refuse to take them. Apply password protection , use difficult passwords, and change them frequently.

2. Use Mobile Devices in Secure Areas – Whenever possible, restrict the use of your mobile accounts to areas with secured Wi-Fi systems. This takes away a lot of the convenience of using smartphone banking apps – but you must decide on your own tradeoff between convenience and security.

3. Enable All Security Features – The newest lines of smartphones have higher levels of built-in security features. For example, the fingerprint reader on the iPhone 6 makes it extremely difficult for a pickpocket or a thief of opportunity to access your data.

4. Beware of Suspicious Apps/Downloads – Not all apps are vetted and approved for use like those in the Apple App Store. Open platform devices (or jailbroken iPhones) can easily download any app, and those apps can contain malware. Only download apps that have been thoroughly reviewed and come from a trusted source.

5. Keep Your Software Updated – Developers and hackers are in a constant battle over security. Hackers often have the advantage, leaving software developers in a reactive mode to fix bugs and security gaps. New software revisions are constantly being released to patch security holes, so it is important to check for new versions frequently.

Yes, password protection is a hassle and tough passwords are difficult to remember. Try blending by mixing odd characters into a familiar word or character string. Write them down in a safe place if you have to, but try your best to commit them to memory. Do not re-use your passwords between sites.

Both Apple and Android have "Find My" apps that allow you remotely locate your device and lock the device… and in the case of Apple, you can remotely wipe the contents via iCloud if it comes to that point. However, you have to make sure the system is enabled to allow its use in a time of crisis.

Older systems may have lesser protection such as the simple 4-digit screen lock, but with whatever device you have, make sure you understand and use the security features that you have available.

Even Apple phones can be attacked indirectly. Fake text messages and e-mails with links can trick users into downloading a false app that replaces your existing app and allows outside access to your account information. CNET reports that Apple devices running iOS 7 or above are vulnerable to this attack.

The bottom line is to avoid any suspicious downloads or links you cannot confirm. If you discover your software has vulnerabilities – as all software eventually does – read on.

There is one big caveat – make sure your update is coming from a reputable source. Phishing alerts can be very convincing, especially to the novice. Check the corresponding product website separately to verify that a security patch is real.

Don't let convenience lull you into false security. Take common sense steps to protect your data, or prepare to fund some hacker's next shopping trip.

This article originally posted here: http://www.moneytips.com/5-ways-to-protect-your-money-online

Hackers are targeting mobile devices more frequently. Here are several common sense ways to protect your mobile data against theft and misuse.

09/08/2016

HOW EASILY YOUR SMARTPHONE CAN BE HACKED

A recent 60 Minutes story details how a group of hackers acquired all of the information on a smart phone from having only its telephone number. The hackers exploited a security flaw in the SS7, or Signaling System 7, protocol: A common, low cost standard of how telephone networks exchange information over a digital signaling network. Besides the SS7 protocol, there are unfortunately many other ways in which your smart phone can be hacked.

Available mobile apps like Lookout (www.lookout.com) and TrustGo (www.trustgo.com) can help to combat hacking attacks and help keep your phone more secure.

View the entire video here: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/60-minutes-hacking-your-phone-2/

08/22/2016

Thanks to everyone who attended our 20th anniversary celebration event last week. We are grateful to all of our customers for their continued support!

08/16/2016

SPOOFING, Part 1

Have you been a victim of spoofing? Most of us have, and the problem is only getting worse. The term “spoofing” means that you are receiving a call or text message from a number with caller ID is information that has been purposefully changed. The calls can be generated from anywhere, but made to appear as if they are coming from somewhere else. The goal? To try to get more people to answer their phones, and thus increase the number of connects produced from the telemarketer in the call center.
Spoofing can take place in different forms. One is traditional outbound call center telemarketing, where a live agent generates a call, hoping to connect to a live person on the other end in order to pitch a product or service, conduct a survey, collect a bill, etc. This can vary slightly, where the call is being generated by a completely automated program, not for the purposes of attempting a sales pitch, but to collect a database of valid numbers that can be reused or resold to another telemarketer, whose live agents then have to filter through fewer disconnected or otherwise invalid numbers.

08/16/2016

SPOOFING, Part 2

Simple software programs can change the appearance of caller ID information before that information arrives on the destination person’s phone. For example, call centers on the east coast whose clients are in the political arena are frequently based in the 202 area code (Washington, D.C.) or 703 area code (northern Virginia). During election season, registered voters around the country get inundated with both live and automated calls, also known as robo-calls. Over several election cycles, voters got wise as to the source of these calls, and answered fewer of them. So call centers responded by changing their caller ID information via software, so that their outbound calls to not appear to come from the 202 or 703 area codes. Instead, the caller ID information will often appear to be coming from the same area code in which the voter resides.

Here in Colorado, there are four area codes: 303 and 720 are used in the Denver metro area, and 970 and 719 are used in other parts of the state. So a person in Denver may receive a call whose caller ID begins with 303, but the call is really coming from someplace outside of Colorado. Most people are more likely to answer a call from a number they don’t recognize if it is coming from the same area code in which they reside, thus resulting in a higher number of connects from the call center.

08/16/2016

SPOOFING, part 3

One of the ways to push back against this deceptive practice is to use an app which blocks unwanted numbers. This can sometimes only be a way to slow down the unwanted calls rather than stop them, as call centers can regularly change their caller ID info once their number of contacts has peaked and then fallen. Three of the most popular apps to block unwanted calls are:

Advanced Call Blocker https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=us.wahooka.advanced.call.blocker
True Caller www.truecaller.com
Mr. Number www.mrnumber.com

08/16/2016

SPOOFING, Part 4

Mr. Number’s website also allow people to enter in numbers from whom they have received unwanted calls, and those numbers can be flagged by others who have also received unwanted calls, and then entered into a person’s call blocking program. 800 notes (www.800notes.com) is another site that does this, and whose focus began as spotting calls coming from toll free numbers such as 800 or 888, but has expanded into numbers from any area code.

Don’t look to regulation and/or legislation to stop this problem. Many of these call centers are based outside of the United States, so enforcement of anti-telemarketing laws is rarely successful. In addition, the FCC has exempted political based calling from telemarketing laws, citing political speech as a first amendment right.

This entire article can be found on our website here:

http://pegasuscommunications.net/telecom/index.php/blog

03/10/2016

06/01/2012

In 2012, Pegasus Communications is celebrating its 15 year anniversary. Over the years we have saved hundreds of customers thousands of dollars on their telecom expenses by auditing their existing services and finding the right carrier at the best price to suit their needs. We have also served as a single point of contact for our customers through the sales, installation, and maintenance of their telephone systems and their voice and data cabling. We were founded on one simple principle: Take care of the customer. In rough economic times, this principle is often overlooked in exchange for short term gains. But we believe in long term relationships, and looking out for our customers’ best interests is what got us where we are today. And the support of customers like you and your referrals to new customers is what will enable us to grow for the next 15 years. So if there are any businesses that you think we can help the way we have helped you, please let us know.

03/27/2012

Celebrating 15 Great Years of Business!
http://www.pegasuscommunications.net/blog2/?p=47

This month, Pegasus Communications is celebrating its 15 year anniversary. Over the years we have saved hundreds of customers thousands of dollars on their telecom expenses by auditing their existing services and finding the right carrier at the best price to suit their needs. We have also served ...

03/27/2012

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