Reach4 Communications offers a full line of computer repair services to help you avoid frustrating downtime, system crashes, virus/spyware problems, unnecessary restarts, slow performance and much more. Call us today for more information at 337-783-3436 ex.3.
Category Archives: News
Faster Internet Available now in Lyons Point
Faster internet is now available in Lyons Point and north of Kaplan with NO data caps!
REACH4 Communications just upgraded our equipment in Lyons Point and can now offer faster speeds for online video and gaming. Call 337-783-3436 and choose option 4 to schedule new service or increase your bandwidth. Download as much as you want online. It is unlimited!
If you are considering choosing a dependable, local service to suit all of your online needs, REACH4 Communications is your company! We offer competitive rates for business and residential Internet customers with NO Data Caps! REACH4 Communications is also a leading provider for IT services. Our technology is top-notch and we are managed by professional staff who are sure to meet your needs.
Satellite Internet vs. Fixed Wireless Internet
Even though satellite internet and fixed wireless internet both deliver internet service via a wireless signal, they are in fact very different when it comes to performance. Satellite internet requires the equipment at your location to “talk” to a satellite in orbit. The wireless signal travels about 22,236 miles! At such a long distance, cloudy weather or heavy rainstorms can cause intermittent outages. Whereas, fixed wireless internet is a short wireless hop from the customer to the nearest tower which is anywhere from 2 – 8 miles and is not subject interference from bad weather.
There are two main performance issues regarding satellite and fixed wireless internet service. They are latency and data caps.
Latency is how long it takes to send a signal over the link measured in milliseconds. Even at the speed of light, which wireless signals travel at, there is an inherent delay (latency) with satellite internet that fixed wireless internet doesn’t have. Because of this high latency, this makes satellite internet almost unusable for online gaming or remotely working from home. Whereas, fixed wireless only has to travel a few miles to the nearest tower to access the internet.
Data caps are the other main issues with satellite internet service. Data caps are when the satellite internet service provider either slows your connection or charges you for using too much data. Data caps are a very real concern if you are watching Netflix or other streaming video. According to Netflix an HD stream can use up to 2.8GB of data per hour. If you have a 10GB monthly data cap, that limit can be reached within 3.5 hours. Your only options at this point is to pay for more data or wait until the new billing period comes around.
REACH4 Communications has over 27 tower sites in Acadia Parish and surrounding areas to provide fixed wireless internet service to rural residents and businesses. REACH4 Communications’ internet service has a very low latency thus providing great online gaming experiences and the ability to work securely from home. REACH4 Communications does not have data caps. REACH4’s service is unlimited downloads. In fact, REACH4’s heaviest user downloaded a total of 1,050 GB of data in one month’s time. That’s over 1 TB (terabyte)! Imagine what the bill would have been if he had satellite.
Are Updates to Your Web Browser Really Important?
Accessing the Internet from your home computer, tablet and mobile phone is now a daily, if not hourly, occurrence for most Americans. Unfortunately, while you’re exploring the most interesting world wonders, or watching the latest hilarious cat videos via the Internet, hackers are trying to break into your computer. One single error in your browser, can give these thieves the opening they need to snoop into your personal information, gather data and history about you, or even steal your identity.
That’s why browsers, such as Firefox and Chrome, release regular updates that correct any security flaws and add new features. To check your device and make sure that your most-used browser is up-to-date, click here.
Updating your Web Browser will give you the peace of mind to know that whoever and whatever is out there trying to breech business and personal information will not be able to hack into your life. It also usually comes with fun, new features that you didn’t realize you were missing, until you login and find that all of the sudden your browser knows you a little better than it did yesterday and in all the best ways!
REACH4 Communications is proud to provide the highest quality Internet service to homes and businesses in Crowley, Louisiana and surrounding areas. To learn more about our services and how we can assist with your Internet, phone or IT service needs, contact REACH4 Communications today!
Internet Trends Making An Impact
Nowadays you can find anything on the internet. Streaming videos has become extremely popular thanks to Netflix. In fact, Netflix and YouTube make up about 50% of the internet traffic which is steadily growing.
In recent years the change from cable to on-demand services has grown drastically. More and more customers are choosing to cut out their cable in lieu of on demand services. We live in a world of “we want it now” and sources like Netflix and YouTube can provide that instant gratification we crave. Most of the time we forget that streaming videos to our tv or mobile device is actually being streamed from the internet.
REACH4 Communications is your premiere choice for local business and residential Internet service in Crowley, Louisiana. Designed for today’s business and residential needs and supported by local, friendly professionals, our services are best suited for all of your business and residential purposes! Also versed in IT solutions, we are your best source for your network needs. Contact us today for inquiries about our services!
VoIP Phone System
REACH4’s Hosted VoIP solution is a hosted PBX phone system that allows businesses to customize their communications. Hosted PBX delivers more functionality and flexibility than a traditional phone system, without the costs of managing and maintaining a PBX. Enjoy Lower Startup Costs and Monthly Savings. With a Hosted PBX system, there’s no PBX equipment to buy or lease, and no maintenance contracts or fees for account changes. Service is configured through an easy-to-use web portal with dozens of features and options for a truly customized system. All you need are IP phones and a voice gateway router.
With full control over our network, REACH4 is able to prioritize voice from end to end. We use best-in-class Cisco equipment to ensure crystal-clear call quality. Together that means that, unlike other providers, we can provide true Quality of Service.
All packages are customized to fit your business needs. We can deliver the right service with the right features at the right price. Save up to 40% on your business phone bill by choosing one of REACH4’s state-of-the-art voice options for your business.
For more information please contact technical support
Happy Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a time to reflect on all the blessings God has bestowed on each one of us. REACH4 Communications is thankful for the blessings of an awesome staff and wonderful customers and wishes everyone a truly blessed and safe Thanksgiving Day.
Burglars and Social Media
1. Location Sharing Applications
Checking in at different locations may be a simple way to let your friends and family know how you’re doing, but they aren’t the only ones checking in on you. Criminals use location sharing services to gather information for potential victims. With a rough idea of where you live and access to Google Street view, criminals can begin to plan a break in.
Many applications have location sharing features that may communicate with other applications on your device, some having less security. A way to avoid any unwelcome guests into your privacy would be to go through your applications and fully understand the privacy and location settings. Many social media applications have a way for you to adjust these settings to your desired security level.
For example you can check your Facebook privacy settings to see who is able to see your post, and then adjust accordingly.
Being aware of which applications use your GPS automatically is a great way to avoid any security surprises. Not only can they leave you vulnerable to prying eyes, but they also have been know to drain battery life.
2. Hidden Media Data
Being able to share your media content with friends, and family is one of the greatest parts of social media. Unfortunately the wrong people may also be taking a glimpse at the content as well, and using that information to target you.
Every picture you upload online has many different pieces of information. Such as where the picture was taken, the time stamp of when, and on what device.
It is known as EXIF data. There are a few sites that help to remove this data from your upload automatically, such as Facebook. While many other sites do not. Any criminal who knows how to find this information can use it to your disadvantage.
Fortunately EXIF data is not something that cannot be removed.
It is still wise to remain cautious when making a post even if the EXIF data has been cleared. It is not very difficult for someone to find your location based on landmarks, street names, or personal information you may have posted.
3. Too Informative Posts
It is understandable to have the urge to alert the masses about you having an amazing time while on vacation. Yet it may not be the wisest idea to do this while it is happening in real time. Nothing ruins a good moment like an unwanted guest.
A better way of expressing yourself would be to wait until you are home safe and sound. You may even decide to be a little more private with some things than others. Sometimes it is best to keep those moments between you and the people who made them. Using private photo sharing applications like Flickr, or Google Photos would be a great way to make sure the memories are shared with those who appreciate them.
4. Reverse image search
When posting pictures to multiple sites you become vulnerable to reverse image searches. This type of search can show all of the sites that the image has been uploaded to.
How it works is if you post an image onto multiple sites, it creates a way for criminals to track it from site to site. All it takes is downloading that image and then putting it through a simple Google search to find all of the sites that it is posted to.
While doing this a criminal could find out your name and then use that information to do another search to then possibly find even more information.
Remaining cautious with where, and how you upload photos can help to prevent this type of intrusion.
Reach4 Communications now has access to the latest generation Internet and the service offerings are far better than any that have been available in the past. Contact us for more info.
Home Computer Security, Part 3
In REACH4 Communications’ ongoing efforts to keep you safe and secure online, we’ve talked about antivirus software and antispyware. Now, we’re going to look at a few more safety precautions you can take, and the easiest ways to do so.
Windows Updates
This really goes without saying, but make sure you download all critical Windows updates. These are frequently security patches, released as the dangers are found. The easiest thing to do is set up automatic updates. This way you never miss an update, and if you set it to update overnight, it all updates and the computer reboots without you even noticing.
Firewall
The term “firewall” can be a little intimidating for some people, but it’s a very simple concept. A firewall does just what it sounds like: it creates a barrier between your computer or home network and the Internet at large. Why is this important? When your ISP sets up your connection, it assigns you an IP address. Usually, it’s a public address, which means that anyone, anywhere online can access it, for any reason. A firewall blocks any traffic coming in that doesn’t match up with a request you made, thereby protecting your system from other computers trying to access it.
Windows has a firewall system built in, and as long as you keep everything set to medium security or higher, it’s effective. If you manually set it to low security, it will tell you that’s a bad idea, and if you choose to keep it there, you will not be fully protected. Another option is simply to install a router. Most homes today have at least one or two devices that use WiFi (cell phones, tablets, iPods, laptops, etc.), so the wireless router has become commonplace. Almost any router will have a firewall function you can configure. A router also takes on the public IP address assigned by your ISP, and issues private addresses to devices on your network. This means that no device on your network can be accessed from the outside, and provides another layer of protection. If you use a wireless router, make sure to configure a wireless network name and password! This protects your bandwidth from piggybackers, but it also ensures your firewall functions properly. Any device can connect to an unsecured wireless network from hundreds of feet away, and once a device is on your network, a firewall will think it belongs to you, so it won’t block access to other devices.
This may sound like a lot, but it’s really just a few minutes to set things up the first time. REACH4 Communications is proud to have the fastest and most reliable Internet service in Crowley, Louisiana and surrounding areas. Check out the IT Solutions, Phone and Internet services that we offer to your home or business today! We’ve got more information coming – check back for more security tips!
Home Computer Security, Part 2
Keeping Your Home Computer Safe and Secure
REACH4 is continuing our look at easy and inexpensive ways to keep your computer clean and in great shape. Last time, we discussed antivirus software (link). Today, we’re talking about the less obvious kinds of malware that can creep up every day.
Antispyware
Spyware and adware are some other little nasty things that can cause trouble in your computer. They can watch your activity, pop up ads, redirect you to websites you never meant to see, and any number of other unsavory things. Even if you’re extremely careful in your browsing and downloading habits, there is probably some spyware or adware on your computer right now. Some freeware programs have it built in, and won’t work without it. But there are ways around it.
Unlike antivirus software, which will conflict if you run more than one program, antispyware programs benefit from backup, and running two is a good idea. Make sure that you are downloading these from trusted sources, because there have been some knock-offs which may insert more spyware than they remove.
After you have downloaded and installed your antispyware programs, make sure that they have the latest spyware signature files, and then run a full scan. This will take a long time, maybe even longer than the initial antivirus scan. When it finishes, you will have the option to fix the errors, which you should do. Then run another scan. Immediately. Nine times out of ten, the second scan will still show a good number of errors. Rinse and repeat until a scan runs clean, or, as is more likely, it keeps showing just the same few errors every time. At that point, reboot, and run your second program, and continue running scans until that one runs clean (or as close as you can get). If there are still errors showing, try searching the web for specialized removal tools. Be careful, though! Back up your system thoroughly before running any of those extra strength spyware removers.
Now your computer is clean. But you still need to configure those antispyware programs to keep it that way. It’s a good idea to set one program to run every time the computer boots up, and also set both to run once a week. Don’t worry, you aren’t going to spend your life unable to use your computer because it’s running scans! You can schedule your antispyware scans right behind your weekly antivirus deep scan (antivirus runs at 12am on Sundays, Spybot runs at 1am, Ad-aware runs at 2am), or you can set them each for a different day. Just don’t try to run any two scans at the same time. While you’re configuring things, make sure to turn on any real-time blocking or monitoring your antispyware offers. This can warn you before anything gets entrenched in your system.
Spyware can be nasty and persistent, but it doesn’t have to bog down your computer! REACH4 Communications wants to help protect our customers from harmful Malware, spyware and other hacking techniques. REACH4 Communications offers the best Residential and Business Internet services to the Crowley LA and surrounding areas. Contact REACH4 today to find out more about our availability and prices of all the Phone and Internet services that we provide! See you soon for more tips and tricks for a secure system!