| Are you wireless? Should you be? Does it | | | | client |
| matter?With wireless capabilities being built into | | | | data (which we ALL do), it is in your best |
| every new | | | | interest to |
| laptop under the sun, the internet is quickly | | | | understand what you are dealing with. Don't |
| becoming an | | | | worry, it's |
| always-on, always accessible way of doing | | | | just a matter of understanding a few simple |
| business.So what does that mean for you | | | | ideas and |
| then?Well, I don't need to tell you the value of | | | | then applying them to protect yourself.By |
| being able | | | | default, most wireless networks send everyone's |
| to communicate with your clients from | | | | data |
| anywhere, at anytime. | | | | flying through the air unprotected. If you have |
| (Of course, we all have the power to choose | | | | the proper |
| just how | | | | tools (which are easily downloadable from the |
| accessible and available we are to our clients, but | | | | internet), |
| I | | | | you can pluck that data straight out of the |
| digress...)The real power of a quick email reply to | | | | air.The wireless access at your local coffee shop |
| an urgent client | | | | or library |
| request from your wireless device of choice is | | | | is most often this type: completely unsecured |
| this: | | | | and open to |
| it makes your client feel VALUED and | | | | prying eyes. Yes, even Starbucks lets your data |
| IMPORTANT. It is | | | | fly |
| a feeling we all live for. Delivering that feeling to | | | | through the air, available for all.So enough scare |
| your | | | | tactics...The only word you have to remember |
| clients will do more for increasing your profits | | | | when it comes to |
| than many | | | | protecting yourself and your data is |
| other activities.That's the power of wireless.Want | | | | ENCRYPTION.A good rule of thumb: If a wireless |
| to go wireless? Here are some basics. Much of | | | | network is not |
| this | | | | encrypted, DON'T connect to it.Some might say |
| is not stuff you need to remember, but just | | | | this is a bit paranoid. To that I might say, |
| information to | | | | "Should my clients expect anything less?"It is one |
| help fill out your understanding:*Wireless | | | | thing if you are a college kid sitting at a |
| networks have flavors. There aren't many, but | | | | coffee shop sending messages back and forth |
| most wireless networks are one of three types, | | | | between your |
| which are | | | | friends. It is quite another when you are |
| labeled by the letters a, b, and g. The differences | | | | preparing a legal |
| are | | | | brief or some other piece of confidential |
| quite technical. In short, A and B are pretty old | | | | information that |
| and G is the newest and the fastest. End of | | | | will be sent to your client.So how do you tell if a |
| story.*Wireless networks have names. These | | | | wireless network is encrypted?Simple...If you need |
| network names have been | | | | a password to connect, it is encrypted. If no |
| given the techie acronym SSID, which stands for | | | | password is required, you are operating in the |
| Service Set | | | | open with no |
| IDentifier. When you sit down at your laptop and | | | | protection whatsoever.There are various |
| pull up | | | | encryption strengths, some suited for |
| the list of wireless networks in the area, the | | | | your basic office environment and some more |
| names in that | | | | suited for |
| list are, you guessed it, the SSIDs. Please don't | | | | even more confidential situations, like a doctor's |
| bother | | | | office.At this point, the important thing is not so |
| to remember this acronym, you most likely | | | | much the strength |
| won't need it | | | | of the encryption as much as whether or not |
| again.*Wireless networks can have extra | | | | you have it |
| security. This extra | | | | at all. Most would-be internet thieves (no, that is |
| security comes in the form of encryption. Just | | | | not their |
| like the | | | | technical name), upon seeing an encrypted |
| technology used to protect your data when | | | | wireless network, |
| logging on to your | | | | will move on the thousands and thousands of |
| bank accounts online, wireless networks can be | | | | easier targets |
| (and should be) | | | | with no encryption.The bottom line:The benefits |
| ENCRYPTED to protect your business data.*New | | | | wireless internet access bring to your business |
| laptops are wireless ready. Most every new | | | | are too numerous to count. If you aren't |
| laptop comes | | | | "wireless" yet, |
| with wireless access built in. No additional | | | | look into it. If used properly, it can add heaps of |
| hardware or | | | | value |
| software is required. For older laptops, however, | | | | to the service you offer your clients.Once you |
| you will | | | | go wireless, you owe it to yourself, your business |
| need a small wireless card that can be purchased | | | | and your clients to be knowledgeable enough to |
| for | | | | protect your |
| anywhere between $15.00 and $100.00 at your | | | | data from theft.Jason Leister, the Real Estate |
| local computer | | | | Technology Guru (tm), is owner of Computer |
| store.While wireless internet access provides | | | | Super |
| many, many benefits | | | | Guy, LLC, a Chicago-based technology firm that |
| to you and your business, there is a dark side...As | | | | helps real estate professionals |
| internet access becomes more and more | | | | profit with technology.Visit the |
| interwoven into the | | | | Real Estate Technology Guru |
| business landscape, internet SECURITY, will | | | | to subscribe to our free monthly eZine, ProfIT, |
| become more and | | | | and receive a FREE copy of |
| more of a priority.Wireless security is not only | | | | our special report "The Truth About Real Estate |
| something for the tech | | | | Websites and Search Engine |
| world to worry about. When dealing with private | | | | Optimization. |