When connecting to Wi-Fi networks you may have seen notifications referring to WEP, WPA and WPA2, but what exactly do these terms mean?

Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) was the first standard implemented to make Wi-Fi networks secure. It was designed to be a strong type of security encryption which would keep Wi-Fi user’s data safe. However, it was discovered that WEP had some serious flaws and was not particularly difficult to hack.

Unfortunately, many Wi-Fi users are unaware that WEP is vulnerable and continue to use this type of encryption. This is not helped by the fact that some wireless router manufactures still ship their devices with WEP set as default when the routers are capable of more secure encryption.

Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) was developed to replace WEP and address the security issues associated with Wi-Fi networks. This more secure type of encryption was developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance and released in 2003. The Wi-Fi Alliance is an organisation dedicated to promoting and improving wireless networking technologies. It was founded and run by a group of companies which had an interest in standardising and improving wireless networking technologies.

While far more secure than WEP, it is still possible for a skilled and determined hacker to break WPA encryption. To further improve Wi-Fi security the Wi-Fi alliance developed WPA2. The main difference, in terms of security, between WPA and WPA2 is the type of encryption algorithm used.

WPA uses Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) encryption. When introduced it was thought that this type of encryption was extremely secure. However, as security advances, so do hackers and WPA’s TKIP encryption was eventually hacked in 2008. As it was based on the WEP type of encryption it was found to be vulnerable to similar, but more advanced, types of attack.

WPA2 uses Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining Message Authentication Code Protocol (CCMP, although sometimes known as AES). CCMP was a significant improvement on TKIP and has proved to be extremely resilient to attack. While it is theoretically possible to hack CCMP encryption it would require tremendous computing power and would take an extremely long time.

Remember it is very important to keep your wireless network safe; you should make sure you are using WPA2 in order to keep your data secure. This is especially true for business broadband users. Businesses often have very sensitive and potentially damaging information on their networks and a successful cyber-attack could cost a company a lot of money.

Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

T-shirts are often overlooked as a significant fashion piece. There are a variety of styles available for the classic t-shirt this winter, so consider these options when deciding to invest in the season’s trendiest t-shirts.

First, there is always room for the classic t-shirt in your wardrobe. They are versatile and easy to create an outfit around. The classic t-shirt can feature a number of neck lines, including crew neck, scoop neck and V-neck. They are available in a range of colours and accent any outfit or serve as a base layer.

A variation of the classic t-shirt is the patterned or printed t-shirt. Patterned t-shirts, as the name might suggest, feature patterns like horizontal or vertical stripes and add a punch of colour or dimension to your look. Available in a variety of colours, a patterned t-shirt is well suited to an assortment of outfits. Another variation is the printed t-shirt, which feature a main image, usually on the front of the shirt. These are increasingly popular in today’s trends as they are a great way of expressing your thoughts or personality. A printed t-shirt worn underneath a casual blazer is a popular combination, and gives a polished look with a casual edge.

Men’s t-shirts are also available with long sleeves. These are perfect for those colder months. They add dimension to any outfit and the added layer will help keep you warm. Available in three-quarter or full-length sleeves, the long-sleeved t-shirt will be a well-worn addition to your wardrobe, and perfect for create a more casual look throughout the winter months.

While the fact that it’s colder out could lead you to believe that you’d be less likely to need as many new t-shirts as you might have in the winter months, if you stop and think about it, that’s not necessarily the case. After all, winter brings with it the festive season, and once you actually get inside at all manner of Christmas and New Year parties over the coming months, you’re going to want to look your best underneath your long coats and scarves!

When shopping for t-shirts this season, keep in mind the range of t-shirt trends that are popular at the moment. It might be a good idea to purchase a wide variety of styles to be able to put them together in several different combinations. One or two t-shirts in every style will be a good start when creating your wardrobe. Keep your eye out for mens t shirts that help to showcase your personality and personal style. They will add colour or a personal touch to any outfit and are easy and comfortable to wear.

Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

The internet is already considered by many people to be an essential part of everyone’s life and not having access to it can put you at a great disadvantage.

In recent years governments in the western world have gone to great lengths to connect all of their populaces to a high speed internet connection, even in the remoter regions, as people have come to demand access to the internet, in much the same way as they demand running water.

As well as connecting to the internet through their phone lines, people can now access the internet on mobile devices like their smart phones and tablet devices. The internet has become ubiquitous and essential.

Every year people are demanding faster and faster connections, as people look to the internet more and more as a reliable source of entertainment and business. Fibre optic broadband is heralding a new age of superfast broadband into people’s homes and offices and with it may come an even more essential utility, remote processing power.

In the future processing power may become a utility just like electricity. In this brave new world you would access this processing power through cheap, low-specification terminals; all of your documents and data would be securely stored externally, online; and all the operations on them will be carried out by software provided, run and upgraded by online application providers, perhaps Google. Like any other utility, the more processing power you use, the more you will pay for it - and vice versa.

This future is not as far away as you might think, you probably already store a lot of your data online, be it in email inboxes, drop box accounts or new services like Apple’s iCloud. The concept of running software remotely is something familiar to anyone that has ever used the remote desktop function in windows and running software remotely is already being commercially sold by video games companies like OnLive.

What will be essential to the development of this technology will be the necessity to connect everyone to fibre optic broadband, as a large bandwidth would be essential in ensuring that computers could communicate rapidly across the internet.

The possibilities of this new technology could be astonishing. Imagine just a simple, small, basic computer terminal connected through fibre optic broadband to an online network of supercomputers. You could call upon as much processing power as you need, to run whatever program you want, from the latest computer games to modelling your own weather forecast.

Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Buying your first property can be stressful. It seems like there is a mountain of paperwork to fill out just so you can get a foot on the property ladder. Once you have found and bought the right home, you have to spend time getting the essentials like furniture, insurance and utilities.

Take, for instance, essential utilities like gas and electricity. The phone has always been a popular way of communicating with friends and family. Now the prominence of the internet means broadband can be added to the list of essential utilities.

Many people use different suppliers in order to save money. This doesn’t have to be the case when buying a phone line and broadband for your new property, however. It is possible to combine both into a package that suits your level of use.

Also known as bundles, packages are a great way to save money. Suppliers often give discounts for choosing to buy both services from them. Another way that packages can save money is picking the correct one to suit your needs.

As everyone will have different levels of use, companies will offer a range so you can make sure you have enough to match your lifestyle. For example, if you use both sparingly, you can save money by picking a less costly package. Equally, if you are a big user of both, you don’t have to worry about not having enough - simply pick a larger bundle.

The choice can be overwhelming. The first step is to look at what you think you will use and how often. Suppliers may have deals which offer special rates during a particular time. This could be cheaper calls during the evening or weekend; perfect for those who make calls at that time.

When choosing broadband, look at the gigabyte allowance. This is especially important for those who upload or download media such as movies and music. The allowance also affects how much you can watch on TV catch up services too. Speeds will also vary from location to location. Some areas may have access to fibre optic wires which produce the fastest internet speeds.

While setting up your first property and making it into a home can be stressful, buying your phone and broadband needn’t be. Companies will often supply a router, taking the pain out of finding a suitable model to maximise your broadband. Start your search by using the internet to find the best deal for you.

Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

People looking to go ice skating in London have a wealth of choices. The city has several high quality indoor ice rinks suitable for expert skaters and beginners alike. During the winter months many outdoor rinks are opened. Several of these temporary skating rinks are located near major tourist attractions.

One of the most famous ice rinks in London is located at Alexandra Palace. Colloquially known as Ally Pally, the Palace was designed and built for the public, and is often referred to as the “People’s Palace”. The venue boasts a particularly large ice rink which was upgraded to competition standard in the late 00’s. Visitors can take an array of classes including; figure skating, ice hockey training and kids training. At the weekends, the venue has disco nights in the evenings.

Another of London’s major indoor ice rinks can be found at Queen’s Ice and Bowl. This leisure venue houses a ten pin bowling centre alongside the ice rink. The rink has a variety of features including: colour change lighting, climate control and special effect light shows. It is located in Bayswater, West London and is relatively close to the city centre.

Streatham Ice Arena is a highly popular indoor ice rink located in South London. The rink has been open since 1931 and has been welcoming a variety of visitors ever since. It is considered to be a centre of excellence for both figure skating and ice hockey.

For skaters who enjoy historical attractions, the Tower of London Ice Rink may be worth a visit. The ice rink is located in the moat, and runs right up to the fortress battlements. Skating next to this world-famous tourist attraction could prove highly entertaining for visitors.

Another of London’s most famous outdoor ice rinks can be found at the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland. Every winter Hyde Park is given a seasonal makeover. The Winter Wonderland encompasses a skating rink, fairground rides, a circus, Santa Land and a Christmas market. A night time skate around the lavishly decorated rink could be a particularly good choice for romantics or those with children.

The Eyeskate rink in Jubilee Park, is another set in a particularly dramatic location. It sits in the shadow of the 443ft London Eye Ferris wheel. Eyeskate is run by the operators of the London Eye and visitors can buy combined Ferris wheel and ice rink tickets.

If you are thinking of taking a break in the city there are plenty of great London hotels to choose from.

Fiona Roy writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Now that the days are getting cooler and the dark nights of winter are fast approaching you can start experimenting with your wardrobe for the new season. Autumn and winter are all about layering and staying warm, but this doesn’t mean you can’t look chic and fashionable every day.

Creating your perfect winter wardrobe is about finding the right coat and building the rest of your outfits around this staple piece. Your winter coat or jacket is the item you will probably spend the most money on and the most time wearing.

Pick a coat that accentuates the best parts of your figure and truly represents your personality. Key looks this season are faux fur, utility and bright fabrics.

Faux fur is eternally glamorous and perfect for dazzling at all those parties that are already filling up your calendar. A little faux fur jacket works well with a sparkly dress and some killer heels. For a daytime look that adopts the faux fur trend go for a fur collar or fur around the wrists.

The utility look is also big news this season – think belted waists, high necks and symmetrical buttoning with a military edge.

Bright statement coats are the perfect way to bring a little colour to drizzly days. Choose from sky blue, fuchsia or zingy orange and stand out for the crowd in a coat that is great for either day or night wear. Black or brown boots will keep your feet cosy whilst complementing your statement coat. Team your bright statement coat with neutral accessories – from hats and scarfs to keep you snug, to a good sized handbag to carry around all your essentials.

When choosing a winter coat to complement your figure, bear in mind that length is important. If you are long and lean then longer length coats look great on you, and large buttons are something you can pull of that are on trend. Petite women should opt for shorter jackets that stop at the hips and won’t hide your legs. Use a waist belt to create an hourglass silhouette and give your shape some definition.

Once you have found your ideal women’s coat you have a basis from which to build the rest of your winter wardrobe and coordinate accordingly.

This autumn and winter invest in good quality womens coats that will engage with the season’s latest trends and keep you cosy right through to the spring.

Sean Burke writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.