The Top Apps Parents Should Know Their Kids Are Using

As kids get older, they become more interested in using apps on their smartphones and tablets. While some apps are perfectly safe and age-appropriate, others can be dangerous for children. As a parent, it’s important to be aware of the most popular apps your kids are using, so you can make sure they’re staying safe online.   Understanding the App Landscape: It’s no secret that kids love using apps. In fact, a recent study showed that kids under the age of 8 spend an average of 2 hours and 19 minutes per day using mobile devices and teens over 7 hours per day. That’s a lot of time spent on screens! As a parent, it’s important to be aware of the most popular apps your kids are using. Some apps are age-appropriate, while others can be dangerous and inappropriate for children. Here is a list of the top 5 app categories parents should know their kids are using: Social Media Apps: Kids love staying connected with their friends and family on social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. While there are some great things about social media, there are also some dangers that parents need to be aware of. For example, cyberbullying is a real problem on social media platforms. Parents should talk to their kids about online safety and make sure they know how to report any inappropriate behavior they see on social media. Messaging Apps: Messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage are popular among kids for staying in touch with friends. However, these apps can also be used for cyberbullying and other inappropriate behavior. Parents should talk to their kids about responsible use of messaging apps and make sure they know how to report any problems. Gaming Apps: Gaming apps are extremely popular among kids of all ages. While there are many age-appropriate and safe games out there, parents need to be aware of the dangers of some gaming apps. For example, some games may contain violence, sexual content, or in-app purchases that can add up quickly. Parents should carefully review the games their kids are playing and make sure they are appropriate for their age. Camera Apps: Camera apps like Snapchat and Instagram are popular among kids for sharing photos and videos with friends. However, these apps can also be used to share inappropriate photos and videos. Parents should talk to their kids about responsible use of camera apps and make sure they know how to report any problems. Shopping Apps: Shopping apps like Amazon and eBay are popular among kids for buying items online. However, these apps can also be used to make in-app purchases that can add up quickly. Parents should carefully review the apps their kids are using and make sure they are appropriate for their age.   The Most Dangerous Apps for Kids – Are those that allow for anonymous messaging and communication. These apps can be used by predators to groom and exploit children. Some of the most popular anonymous messaging apps used by kids are Kik and Yik Yak. Predators can pose as other kids on these apps and trick children into revealing personal information or sending them inappropriate pictures. It is important for parents to be aware of these apps and talk to their kids about online safety. Another app that can be dangerous for kids is Snapchat. While the app does have some safeguards in place, like only allowing snaps to be viewed for a limited amount of time, there are ways for predators to circumvent these measures. For example, predators can take screenshots of snaps before they disappear or use a separate camera to record the video. They can then use these images or videos to blackmail or bully kids. Some apps, while not necessarily dangerous, can be inappropriate for children. These include apps that allow users to share nude photos or engage in sexual conversations. Some of the most popular apps in this category are Tinder, Grindr, and Blendr. While these apps may have age restrictions in place, it is still possible for kids to access them if they lie about their age. Parents should be aware of these apps and talk to their kids about using them safely and responsibly. Finally, there are a number of apps that can be addictive and cause kids to neglect their studies and social lives. Some of the most popular addictive apps include Candy Crush, Clash of Clans, and Flappy Bird. These apps can be extremely frustrating and cause kids to spend hours trying to beat them. This can lead to isolation from friends and family, as well as poor grades at school. Parents should talk to their kids about time management and setting limits on how much time they spend on these apps.   The Top Apps Parents Should Know Their Kids Are Using As kids get more and more tech-savvy, it’s important for parents to stay on top of the latest apps and games their children are using. While some apps are perfectly safe and age-appropriate, others can be dangerous and expose kids to inappropriate content. Here are five of the most popular apps parents should know about: TikTok: This popular video-sharing app allows users to create and share short videos of themselves Lip-syncing, dancing, or performing other creative acts. While TikTok can be a lot of fun for kids, there have been concerns about its safety, as the app has been known to host inappropriate and even pornographic content. Snapchat: This messaging app is extremely popular with kids and teens, as it allows users to send disappearing photos and videos. However, Snapchat also has a number of safety concerns, including “Snap Map” which can show your child’s location to anyone on their contact list. Fortnite: This online multiplayer game has taken the world by storm, with kids and adults alike spending hours upon hours playing. While Fortnite can be a fun and harmless game, there have been concerns about its violence and addictive nature. Instagram:… Read More

Internet Safety – Someone Send Up the Bat Signal

Everybody loves a good superhero story, right? In the 1930s we were introduced to a few in 10-cent comics, the 1960s brought us the Silver Age of superheroes including corny tv shows (Pow, Wham, Boom) featuring over-the-top villains and it took until the mid to late 1980s before we got a real serious look at what a superhero movie could be (more on that in a bit). I guess you’re wondering how superheroes tie into internet safety. It’s easy. Protection, sometimes when you don’t even know it. At Wisper Internet we do our best to keep you safe before threats even reach our customers. In just the month of May, Wisper blocked 13,000 cyber threats before they could even reach customers’ homes. But as you know there are more threats out there. Depending on your age (and nerd level), there are two particularly important superhero questions that must be asked before any conversation or argument. We all know Christopher Reeve is the best Superman, so I will not even put that up for discussion. 1. Are you a fan of the Marvel Universe or the DC Universe? 2. Who is the best Batman? Can we all agree on who was the worst? For those who may not know, the Marvel Universe features characters like Spiderman, Thor, Hulk, Ironman, Captain America, Deadpool, X-men, Guardians of the Galaxy, and dozens of others. I am sure I will cause some aggravation by leaving out someone’s favorite. The DC Universe, (my personal favorite) features Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, etc. There may not be as many, but they are superior. Also, Michael Keaton, Batman 1989, is the best. My opinion only. Sorry, not sorry. Whether you like Marvel, DC, or both, we can all agree on the idea of the forces of good protecting us from threats and evil in the night make us all feel good. In real life, we have flesh and blood heroes like police, fire, EMS, and others who are there to keep us safe from threats we can see. We also know there is not a real Lex Luthor, Thanos, or Joker trying to take over our cities or world. However, every day, we are online, our phones, computers, gaming systems, etc. are bombarded with threats of viruses, malware, and bad actors with ill intentions. Why do the bad people do these things? Who knows, but unfortunately, because the threats are out there, we must take extra steps and be hypervigilant just to work, play and do the things we enjoy online. In a recent chat with Officer Casey Harget with the Dupo, Illinois Police Department, we talked about many of the threats that are out there for both kids and adults. Officer Harget is the School Resource Officer (SRO) and teaches the D.A.R.E. program which includes a small section on internet safety for kids. For the kiddos there are three simple tips: Keep Safe, Keep Away, and Keep Telling. Keeping safe means keeping your personal info off the internet and when playing games, make sure you are only playing with people you know. Keep away refers to online bullying and strangers and keep telling means to let a trusted adult know if there are strange people trying to contact you or asking you to do inappropriate things. At the end of the conversation, I asked Officer Harget what was the overall biggest internet-related complaint they get at the police department from all ages. He told me they are phishing schemes asking for personal information and money. No, they are not emailing bout actual casting lines and reeling in lunkers. These swindlers have been on the rise in recent years and can come from what look like legitimate sources like your own company as well as streaming or gaming services you may subscribe to and many other innocent-looking sources. Harget also mentioned a particular case where an elderly resident was solicited online and asked to give money. I’m sure you can imagine how the rest of the story unfolded. Just like the kids who need extra protection, seniors could also use a little oversight when it comes to internet safety as well. It’s a shame we are forced to have these conversations, and we can’t all be superheroes, but we can do our part to keep our loved ones safe. The bad guys are out there and hopefully it gives some peace of mind that Wisper will continue to stand in the gap to protect our customers. We may be good at internet, but we will leave fighting the Joker, Doomsday, and Green Goblin to the real superheroes. Does anybody know any good stores to buy a cape and mask? Asking for a friend. To see my interview with Officer Harget visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq6Top2q4hM…. Read More

Avoid Constant Ups and Downs with Reliable Service from Wisper

Remember when you were a kid at the county fair, firemen’s picnic, or a big amusement park for the first time? Craning your neck and shielding your eyes from the sun to look up at the top of the roller coaster towering what seemed like hundreds of feet into the heavens. Hearing the screams of riders, feeling the breeze and the sounds of the cars on the tracks as they blurred past at what could be no less than 500 miles per hour. Those roller coasters with names like “Widowmaker”, “The Dragon”, or something to do with screaming or doom. Sounds fun, right? Remember that feeling in your stomach causing the cotton candy and fried garbage you’d been eating all day to do flips flops. It was either from excitement, anxiety, or fear. Probably a combination of all three. You tentatively get in line and try to put on a brave face for your friends, who are probably just as terrified as you are to get strapped into this wood and metal serpent that is sure to bring certain death. The bars come down over your legs and chest and the machine lurches forward. No turning back now. Click, click, click….up the first hill you go. Heart pounding, lump in your throat (definitely the cotton candy), muscles tensed, eyes closed. Whoosh down you go and into the first hills and flips and corkscrews. It was probably at this point you realized you were in fact not going to perish and as the machine winds, turns, and climbs you find your arms raised and screaming not in terror but in pure delight. Delighted that you not only get to keep the contents of your stomach on the inside (hopefully) but delight in the knowledge that you have conquered your fears and in fact can’t want to get back in line and do it all over again. Or better yet, let’s go ride the bigger coaster! So, how does a roller coaster tie into Wisper Internet? You can insert anything you’ve ever been afraid to try in place of the roller coaster. The same fear of trying new things stays with us throughout our lives…Until we conquer it! Over the past few days, spring has arrived in the St. Louis metro area (where Wisper is headquartered). With spring comes renewal, growth, and lots of new things. Spring represents new beginnings. Graduations are in the spring, crops are planted in the spring, love is in the air (yuck, I think I feel the cotton candy coming back up) and the warm weather seems to give us all the desire to start something fresh (Lord knows our New Year resolutions from three months back have long been broken). I’ve said all of that to explain everyone likes to try new things but it’s scary. If you’ve never shopped at a new store or eaten at a new restaurant, that unconscious fear of the unknown is keeping you from doing it. Since our creation nearly 20 years ago, Wisper has focused on bringing wireless internet to areas where services are lacking. In fact, in some areas, Wisper has been the only company that cares enough to provide service. You’ve seen our signs on the road, heard our commercials on the radio, and even overheard your neighbors on the church pews and bar stools talking about Wisper. Spring has sprung and it’s time to try something new. Now is the perfect time to spring into Wisper. Wisper isn’t some faceless, national corporation making empty promises. We have homegrown roots and care about small towns because that’s where we live too. I guarantee just like the roller coaster, halfway through those fears will melt away, you’ll be smiling and wondering why you waited so long…. Read More

Wisper and Water Towers: A Match Made in Internet Heaven

Water is the pathway to communication, now pass the spray paint? Since the beginning of time, human beings have settled on the banks of oceans, lakes, and rivers. For centuries, these bodies of water provided food, commerce, protection, trade, and most importantly, an outlet to stay connected. As the settlements grew from tents and shacks to cities, and canoes transformed into sailing ships, the importance of spreading news and information to one another grew in importance as well. These connections by water could literally mean the difference between life and death in the “old days”. Too bad it took a few months to cross an ocean back then. Moving forward in time as steamships and paddle wheelers moved up and down our coasts and rivers, one of the most important commodities they carried was communications in the form of letters, contracts, messages, maps, and any other information people needed to share for business, entertainment, and simple family life. Let’s fast forward about a hundred years to middle America and a landmark in thousands of small towns across the country. Sometimes on the outskirts on a nearby hill, or smack in the middle of the town square stands a water tower. No matter the natural habitat they are found in, water towers all seem to look the same. Usually painted white or blue or gray with a town name proudly displayed hundreds of feet in the air. Many times they are scarred with graffiti affirming teen love, letting the town know a certain graduating class or sports team “rocked” or marked with areas of mismatched paint covering up some four letters words. No, I don’t mean “love”. One specific water tower located down south somewhere was the subject of a very popular country song in the 1990s. If I remember correctly that teen artist (Billy Bob) professed his love to Charlene with a ten-foot heart and green letters three-feet high. Again, just like the oceans and rivers of old, water is still a key to keeping communities connected. With all due respect to Billy Bob and Charlene, water towers are playing an even more important role in keeping small towns and communities connected to each other and the world with wireless internet service. For nearly two decades, Wisper Internet has been installing wireless broadband equipment on dozens of water towers in small towns across the Midwest. Since they are usually the highest point in the center, or near center of a town they are perfect to connect every household within line of sight. In Wisper’s infancy, it understood the importance of water towers and today has equipment attached to 176 water towers in communities like Waterloo, Ill., Lead Hill, Ark., Orongo, Mo., Bluejacket, Okla., and Riverton, Kan., just to name a few. If the internet was around back in the old days, Wisper would have found a way to attach our equipment to whatever we could to keep information flowing. Just like hundreds or even thousands of years ago, water is still key to keeping people connected and the use of water towers today, shows Wisper’s humbly confident focus on customer service, commitment to serving one another, lifelong learning, and driving to solutions. Wisper cares about small towns because that’s where we live too!… Read More

How to Spot Phishing Scams

We’ve all gotten plenty of spam emails, but have you heard of ‘phishing’? I’ll give you a hint, they’re basically the same thing. One important difference, however, is that phishing emails, and even texts, are actively trying to steal your information.  The Oxford Dictionary defines phishing as “the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.” In the last few years, phishing emails have gotten clever and now go beyond just asking for your password or social security number outright. For example, a scammer may send an email that appears to come from within your company, or from an automated Netflix account. You may have even received a spam text telling you that your phone is receiving too many spam messages, and to reply to make them stop! They’ll tell you that your payment information has declined and to re-enter it by following a link, or they may pose as a member of your own company, asking you to confirm a password or other personal information. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that people lost $57 million to phishing schemes in 2019. Luckily for us, there are some pretty easy ways to tell if a message is legitimate.    Sketchy Sender Information – Does the email look legitimate? Sometimes they may look real, but a word will be spelled wrong,  or the sender name will seem legitimate, but the email address includes a collection of random letters and numbers. For example, an apparent email from Paypal with the address paypal@notice-access-273.com is probably a scam.  Grammar Check – If the body of the email is full of spelling and grammar mistakes, it’s a pretty good guess that it may be a phishing attempt. Grammatical mistakes in particular are a big giveaway. When sending out messages, hackers often run their messages through spell check, so they end up with correct spellings, but incorrect usages. For example, a phishing email might sound like this: “We detected something unusual to use an application” or “a malicious user might trying to access”. Suspicious Links and Attachments – If you notice an unusual attachment or link in an email, it’s probably best not click it. For example, if the title of the attachment is simply “Attachment” or “Invoice” there’s a good chance it’s a scam. The same goes for links. Sometimes they make it easy to spot, and you’ll be able to see the destination where the link is going to take you. If it’s anywhere other than the expected site, do not follow it! It’s always best to click out of the email, and pull up the real website in a new tab to reset your password, check your payment information, etc.  Must Be Completed Immediately! – If you ever receive an email, especially in a workplace setting, stating that a task must be completed immediately, this should raise a red flag. Hackers can now hide their own emails and use one that looks almost identical to the real thing, so always verify with the supposed sender using a different method, like on the phone or in person.    If you do receive what you believe to be a phishing email, don’t panic! Receiving a phishing or spam email does not mean that hackers already have your information, but they do want it!  Always check where the message came from, do not open any unexpected attachments, and always navigate to the website in question from your browser, not via a link. If you receive a suspicious email to your company account, notify your IT department immediately.    Happy Internet Safety Month! Be careful out there!… Read More

So You Want to Learn to Code

As more and more people are looking for ways to work from home permanently, tech jobs are on the rise. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 11 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.” This includes general coding, software development, and data analysts. Even non-coding jobs are now recommending that applicants have at least a basic knowledge of HTML or JavaScript.  In short, now is a great time to start your career in coding! There are any number of resources available to you online, but first, you need to pick a discipline.  Step One: Choose Your Discipline There are four major disciplines when it comes to coding: web technologies (HTML5, CSS, JavaScript), mobile apps (Android,iOS,Windows Mobile), server development (PHP, Node.js, ASP.NET), and desktop applications (.NET, WinForms, C++, C, WPF). Your specialty will depend on your personal preference, so pick what sounds interesting to you! Step Two: Study the Language The next step is to learn the language. Depending on where your focus will be, you can get a head start by studying the language. For example, if you want to write websites, it’s a pretty safe bet to begin learning HTML. Step Three: Find Your Resources If you’re lucky enough to still be in school or going back to school, this step is already done for you. You can choose classes for basic skills, specific disciplines, or advanced code writing. Your path will probably be spelled out for you. But if you’re looking to shift careers or just interested in learning more about coding, look no further than the World Wide Web. Resources like Microsoft’s Linked In Learning courses offer classes on subjects like “Programming Foundations: Fundamentals”, “JavaScript Code Challenges”, and “Becoming an Agile Software Developer”. Courses range from 45 minutes to 32 hours, and you can start with a free trial! There are YouTube channels, books, podcasts, forums, and even online games dedicated to teaching coding basics to beginners and experts alike, so no matter where you want to start, there’s a resource for you. Once you have a working knowledge, you can start playing around with writing your own code for personal projects like apps and website, which can help you offer examples to future employers, class projects, or just for fun.  If coding sounds like something you might be interested in, you can open yourself up to jobs like Computer Programming, Web Development, Computer Systems Analyst, or Back End Development, which can pay anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000 annually! Or maybe you’re looking to build your skills to help you in your current job. Maybe you just miss the good old days of writing your own HTML code for the perfect Myspace layout. Either way, coding can be a valuable tool in your career arsenal.  So if you think coding may be the path for you, do some research, explore some resources, and have some fun with it! Don’t forget to check out the Microsoft Linked In learning courses, and let us know how it goes!… Read More

Our Top Cyber Monday Picks of 2021

We’re coming up on our favorite day of the year… Cyber Monday! Everybody loves a good deal, and that feeling is even sweeter when you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home.  Sure, you could fight through the crowds in person on Black Friday, but why would you when companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy pull out all the stops for Cyber Monday? We did some research and pulled together our favorite Cyber Monday deals, so get your “Buy Now” fingers ready! Amazon Fire TV  Smart TVs give you easy access to streaming services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu without needing a separate device.. Many also come with a voice remote, which lets you operate your TV via voice commands. Currently, smart TVs start at Amazon start at just $99. Galaxy S21 Phone The Galaxy S21 is the most affordable phone in Samsung’s current lineup. It features a 6.2-inch 120Hz display, 8GB of RAM, and a 10MP front camera. You also get 12MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 64MP telephoto rear camera lenses. Samsung has it on sale for $149.99 with a trade-in of an older phone. Chromebook by Google Best Buy has a variety of Chromebooks on sale from $99. The sale includes popular models like the Galaxy Chromebook 2 QLED Laptop on sale for $399 (its lowest price ever).  Nectar Mattress Cyber Monday isn’t just for electronics! Nectar is taking up to $399 off of their fan-favorite mattresses. They’re also including a free bedding set worth $399 with every mattress purchase. As part of the current sale, you can get the twin mattress for $499 (on sale from $798) or the queen for $799 (was $1,298). Nintendo Switch w/ Mario Kart 8 Switch deals are very rare, so don’t miss this bundle! They include a Switch console, a free download of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and a free 3-month Switch Online membership. If you have kids or gamers in your house, definitely check this out! So whether you’re on the lookout for TVs, mattresses, or laptops, don’t forget to check for Cyber Monday deals next week!… Read More

What Will ‘Meta’ Mean for Social Media Users?

By now you’ve probably heard the news about Facebook becoming Meta. But what does that actually mean for its users? First of all, Facebook as you know it is not changing its name. Meta is the new name for the Facebook family of companies, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, as well as their new projects moving forward. So don’t worry, the individual social platforms won’t be changing anytime soon.  According to their website, “the metaverse is the next evolution of social connection. Our company’s vision is to help bring the metaverse to life.” ‘Meta’ is a prefix usually meaning change, very appropriate for reinventing a company. Last week, the leader of the Facebook empire took to the web to announce the new name and a number of new features. One of the biggest announcements from CEO Mark Zuckerberg during his keynote presentation was about the addition of 3D spaces within the Metaverse. Zuckerberg says that “3D spaces in the metaverse will let you socialize, learn, collaborate and play in ways that go beyond what we can imagine.” Social media has grown from text to photos, to video, and this new vision for immersive social media includes virtual reality, augmented reality, and even wearable technology. Virtual reality has been in the works for a number of years, but Meta’s vision goes beyond video gaming. Using their Quest products, users would be able to enter virtual classrooms, workspaces, and more, offering experiences that wouldn’t be possible otherwise. Of course, there are still some VR games in the works as well.  Augmented reality has also already been floating around social media for some time in the form of photo and video filters, particularly on Snapchat. Meta is currently working on a new program for creators, Spark AR, that would allow artists to create new AR filters as well as working with artists and museums to build augmented reality experiences. Always ahead of the game, Snapchat tested out their Snapchat Spectacles a few years ago, but the technology never really took off. Meta announced they are currently developing their own version of wearable technology, Ray-Ban Stories. The glasses would allow wearers to record audio and video, listen to music, and answer phone calls.  Overall, the self-proclaimed goal of the Metaverse is to focus on how technology interacts with people, putting people at the center of technology, not the other way around. They’re committed to online learning, global collaboration, and responsible innovation, and Zuckerberg hinted at more announcements to come in the future…. Read More

Wisper Partners with Microsoft on New Digital Literacy Resources

Mascoutah, IL (March 3, 2021) – Today Wisper ISP, LLC’s announced efforts with Microsoft Corp. to provide digital skilling and literacy resources to the communities it serves in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. This builds on an existing agreement between the two companies aimed at expanding access to broadband Internet in rural communities across the six states as part of Microsoft’s Airband Initiative. Awareness of the digital divide has only heightened since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the problem doesn’t just stop at providing rural communities with a high-speed, reliable Internet connection. The lack of access has created a lack of digital literacy and skills, when compared to urban communities. These digital skills are required for many common office jobs, and lay the foundation for higher-paying, high-tech jobs. Technology can play a powerful role in helping people connect, learn, engage with their community, and create more promising futures. Wisper is working with Microsoft to bring broadband service to rural, traditionally underserved communities via the Microsoft Airband Initiative and is now working to provide access to curated learning resources from Microsoft, LinkedIn, and its partners, available via Microsoft’s global skills initiative. These resources can help build the technical skills needed to participate in today’s digital economy. LinkedIn Learning – Build skills for in-demand roles in digital marketing, product management, data analysis, and software development. Microsoft Learn – Interactive, self-paced content to help learners advance their technical skills and prepare for role-based certifications in Microsoft products. GitHub Learning Lab – Develop technical skills by practicing on fun and realistic projects. Certifications in Microsoft products at reduced costs. Opportunities to get in front of employers Microsoft and LinkedIn are combining resources to help job seekers prepare for a successful job search with access to LinkedIn job search tools and free courses. Microsoft is also using Microsoft Artificial Intelligence to power virtual interviews, whereby jobseekers can practice virtual interviews and receive feedback. You may visit Wisper’s main website to view the digital literacy resources, or the following link can be used for direct access, https://wisperisp.com/learning-resources-from-microsoft/. Tens of millions of Americans have experienced job displacement during the pandemic. “With a large pool of applicants fighting for a limited number of competitive, in-demand jobs, rural residents can’t afford to be behind in their digital literacy skill set,” said Wisper CEO and founder Nathan Stooke. “We are thankful for our collaboration with Microsoft and hope these resources help members of the communities we serve in their job search and career development.” “Together with Wisper, we are making great progress to provide broadband to unserved and underserved rural communities, but connectivity is only the beginning of our work together,” said Vickie Robinson, general manager of Microsoft’s Airband Initiative. “Helping people utilize that new connectivity is the next step, and our work with Wisper to bring provide digital skills resources will help lay the foundation for new, in-demand jobs for rural residents.” Wisper ISP, Inc. Wisper ISP, Inc. is a Wireless Internet Service Provider with 180 employees and 20,000 subscribers across Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Wisper is based out of Mascoutah, IL, in the St. Louis Metro Area, with regional offices in Joplin and Washington, MO. Wisper customers in rural and metropolitan communities receive fast, reliable service and friendly, helpful customer service. About Microsoft Airband Microsoft’s Airband Initiative is an effort to close the broadband gap and help communities use new connectivity to improve education, health care, and agriculture, and transform their businesses. The Airband Initiative works with the private and public sectors to invest in new technologies, accelerate broadband deployment, and support policy changes with the goal of bringing broadband access to millions of people in the United States. More information can be found at aka.ms/airband.  … Read More

Tech Trends to Watch in 2021

2020 was a year of firsts: an unprecedented number of people worked from home for the first time, kids tried out online learning, and most of our social activities were done behind a screen. And while it wasn’t always positive, we had to think on our feet to adapt to a new way of doing things. It created opportunities for innovation and new research in the tech world. We’re expecting to see a lot of these new trends and innovations grow even bigger and better in 2021. We’re definitely going to be seeing more video calls and virtual visits, but what about in the business world? Here’s what we’re expecting to see in 2021: The Future of AI Artificial Intelligence sounds like the plot of a sci-fi movie, but it is becoming more functional for data and analysis. Financial markets are using AI to monitor potential changes and predict their own trends. AI is also allowing employees in all fields to build models and examples to test possible outcomes. AI is becoming very user-friendly, and we’re probably going to be seeing it used in multiple applications this year. Growth of 5G 5G itself isn’t necessarily new, but this year showed us a need for speed in data transfer. 5G also helped people stay connected to family and friends on their phones and smart devices, and since it might be a while before we can go back to in-person conversations, speed and connectivity are at the top of the list for 2021. We’re also finding more uses for 5G in manufacturing for equipment monitoring and maintenance, so we expect that to continue this year as well. Cybersecurity We’ve talked about cybersecurity before, but with so many people shopping online due to COVID-19, we’re more aware of identity protection. Companies are also reworking their network security features as employees continue to work from home, using more AI to block threats and monitor activity on their internal and external networks. Cybersecurity companies like Alsid are helping companies of all sizes protect their information. Staffing Optimization Retail stores that remained open this year faced a lot of staffing issues, so we’re seeing more companies creating programs to more easily manage scheduling and store-to-store transfers of employees to help keep them on track. Health Data This trend started off with a bang last year as hospitals tried to organize contact tracing efforts for COVID-19. Now we’re seeing more AI in potential technology solutions, creating new apps to help identify symptoms and use photos to find possible conditions. We’re also seeing new programs that are able to help develop treatments by sharing data between hospitals. Human Resources Like we mentioned above, there was a large percentage of employees working from home this year. On top of that, the majority of the workforce will soon be millennials, so businesses are adapting to more tech-friendly programs, including digital recruitment and hiring processes, virtual training, and remote work capabilities. Zero Waste Technology is becoming more eco-conscious in 2021 and looking for ways to create less waste. We’re seeing programs to help decrease food waste by finding ways to redistribute leftover food, create better monitoring and stocking in stores, and even apps to help people find and buy excess food before it becomes waste. We have some exciting things coming at Wisper too! We’ve talked about some new features in the Wisper Home app, like device priority. You can go back and watch our show on that one from last week. We have even more announcements coming in February, so stay tuned for those! 2020 might have felt like a setback, but we’re hoping it will bring new innovations and opportunities to 2021!  … Read More

Top 10 Tech Gifts for 2020

Struggling to find the right gifts for everyone on your list? We’ve put together a collection of our favorite tech gifts for 2020! Whether you’re shopping for friends, family, or even yourself, the perfect gift is out there! Larq Self-Sanitizing Water Bottle – $98 Got a germaphobe on your list? The Larq bottle is lightweight, keeps your drinks cold, but also cleans itself every 2 hours. With a built in UV light, this germ-killing water bottle will impress even the most discerning germaphobe. Moleskine Bluetooth Pen and Notebook – $159 Easily keep track of your notes between work and home with built-in bluetooth technology. The bluetooth pen records everything your write in the notebook and will save to your devices, so you can access all of your notes anytime, anywhere. Apple Watch SE -$299 The latest Apple Watch will always make the top lists, but the SE offers a slightly more affordable option, without sacrificing the bells and whistles. So if you have an apple fan in your family, take a look at the SE. EyeBuyDirect Blue Light Blocking Glasses – $28 With the amount of time we’ve spent on our devices this year, our eyes deserve a break. Blue light glasses are available without a prescription or a trip to the eye doctor. The protective lenses block harmful blue light from your devices to help cut back on eye strain and damage. Playstation Classic – $99 Who said tech gifts had to be new? For the retro gaming fans in your life, the Playstation Classic is being re-released, complete with a handful of preloaded games. If the playstation 5 isn’t quite what you’re looking for, consider the original. Roku Ultra 4K Streaming Player – $79 We’ve talked about streaming devices before, but now is the perfect time to help someone on your list catch up with their favorite shows. Roku is one of the top rated streaming devices and is compatible with most devices and services. Tile Pro – $35 Tired of helping them look for their keys? Tile pro and Tile mate clip onto just about anything to track your easily misplaced keys, headphones, purse, or your wallet. They even come in multipacks for everything you need to keep track of. Amazon Smart Plug – $25 Make their smart house even smarter with voice controlled devices! Plug in any lamps, tvs, or even coffee makers, and control them from Amazon Echo. Don’t have an Echo? Go ahead and throw one of those in too, you can catch them on sale for $19! Mophie Charging Phone Case – $80 Never run out of charge again with a charging phone case. With a portable battery built right in, and great protection for your fragile phone, cases come in sizes to fit any phone. Normally $80, you can still grab Cyber Week deals at $30. Click and Grow Smart Garden – $100 Don’t let their new gardening skills slip during the winter. This smart garden makes it almost impossible to kill kitchen herbs with a built in light and watering compartment big enough to sustain your plants for a month. Add some spice to their cooking and some greenery to their kitchen. And of course, all of those new devices will need more bandwidth, so don’t forget to check in with your Wisper sales rep about possible upgrades in your area! Happy Shopping!… Read More

Growing Your Digital Literacy Skills in an Online World

If you’re between the ages of 25 and 45, you’ve probably been using computers for most of your professional career. You know how to create a spreadsheet, you’ve signed digital PDFs, and you’re probably familiar with the basics of Google searching. But how many times has someone asked you for help resetting a password or locating a particular website? While it seems simple to us, this lack of digital skills can hold someone back from accessing the knowledge and opportunities available online. With more of our lives now happening virtually, digital literacy is more important than ever. Businesses and individuals navigate the internet every day, but if you’re having trouble building those digital skills, it creates a barrier between you and the rest of the online world. What is Digital Literacy? The definition of digital literacy depends on where you look, but according to the American Library Association, digital literacy is “the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.” That’s the very technical definition, but in regular terms, digital literacy is the ability to navigate and understand the online and digital world. For someone who grew up in the 90s, 2000s, or 2010s, we have a habit of taking these skills for granted, rolling our eyes at parents and grandparents who call us yet again to ask how to get to their email. But with everyone spending more time at home in 2020, being able to navigate that iPad you gave them for Christmas last year is one of the few ways you can stay connected. We do a majority of our shopping online, so much so that malls are going out of business. And why wouldn’t we, when companies like Amazon can have items to your house the next day. But what does that mean for small businesses who never created a website for their store, who are losing their foot traffic? Digital Literacy is more than just sending an email or responding to a Facebook message. It’s the skills, knowledge and opportunities needed to succeed. Why Do We Need Digital Literacy? Digital literacy is a hot topic for a few reasons. While the issues of building digital skills have been in the spotlight for a couple of years now, COVID-19 has increased the awareness and need to build these skills for personal and professional reasons. When it’s difficult to get together with friends and family face-to-face, technology offers a way to fend off some of the feelings of isolation and loneliness, which is key to maintaining our mental health. Being able to handle a laptop or webcam can make a huge difference in maintaining relationships, but also in allowing for virtual visits with doctors or mental health professionals. We also know that a large number of people lost their jobs this year, leaving people looking for work who may not have had to search for a job in many years. This can be especially challenging now that the majority of job searches and interviews are conducted online. It also poses a problem for mom and pop stores that have been ordered to close their doors. Without the ability to navigate popular platforms like Facebook or even basic website creation sites like Wix to keep sales going online, they could be forced to close their doors. Being able to navigate online job boards like Indeed and professional networking platforms like LinkedIn can play a large part in the ability to find new work in the current market. Being able to handle technology is also essential for remote positions and working from home. On a more positive note, now is a great time for anyone looking to switch careers or just to grow their skills in their current field. If you’ve ever been interested in starting a new career in technology, now is a great time to work on those skills. Digital Literacy Resources If you’re interested in building your digital skills, there are resources available! In non-COVID-19 times, local colleges and libraries often offer classes on things like Microsoft Excel, basic email and Google skills, and even Apple-specific classes. You check with your local institutions on what they may have available. Companies like Microsoft also have programs available to help you build career-specific skills, like data analysis and IT support, or soft skills like Excel and the entire Office 365 suite. The Microsoft Global Skills Initiative offers free courses to help people affected by COVID-19 build their digital skills, but also learn new skills to help them prepare for a remote career. Their courses are available at no cost until March 31, 2021. Digital literacy has become one of the most important issues in 2020, allowing us to stay connected even when we can’t be face to face. Take some time to check out digital literacy resources and see what skills may be useful for you!… Read More

Cutting the Cord for Beginners

Ever thought about ‘cutting the cord’ of traditional cable? Back in the day, the only way to access channels beyond your TV antenna was traditional cable. The cable company would come to your house, hook up your box, and hope for the best. It was expensive, and you often paid for channels you didn’t actually want, but they weren’t any other choices available. With internet streaming on the rise, the traditional cable TV monopoly is losing its footing. In 2020, an estimated 44.3 million households have ditched regular cable for streaming services, and most of them say they aren’t missing out on anything. With new streaming services coming out every month, there’s no better time to cut the cord on cable. But where do you start? What is streaming? ‘Streaming’, in video terms, can be two things: on-demand streaming or live streaming. On-demand streaming gives you the freedom to watch your shows whenever you want, without worrying about your schedule getting in the way or remembering to set a show to record. Services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and AppleTV are just some of the most popular on-demand streaming platforms. When looking to change up your TV routine, look at what you most want to watch. Not all shows are available on all platforms, and a lot of platforms also produce their own exclusive content that will never air on live, traditional cable. Make sure your favorites are available on your chosen platform! Live streaming platforms are more similar to traditional cable with live channels. One of the top selling points of live streaming platforms like fuboTV and Sling is that they have access to live sports. Other platforms like Hulu are a hybrid of both, with on-demand and live content available, depending on the plan you choose. Streaming Devices Once you decide to cut the cord, you’ll need a streaming device to connect your TV to your new streaming service. If you’ve already invested in a Smart TV, you’re all set! But if you’re looking for a way to connect, you have a couple of options. The first option is to use a device you already have, like a gaming system. Newer consoles like Xbox and Playstation have apps available for most major streaming services. Other options include the Amazon Firestick, Apple TV, Roku, and Google Chromecast. These devices connect to your tv either by USB or HDMI, so be sure to check what will work with your TV. Roku won best streaming device from ‘cnet’ this year for its variety of available streaming apps, simple interface and easy search feature. Roku isn’t made by a streaming service, so they don’t have any particular loyalties either. There are several different Roku devices to choose from, so there’s probably an option for you! Google TV’s Chromecast device was rated second-best overall, Apple TV 4k got the top spot for Ultra HD streaming, and the Amazon Fire TV Stick was rated the best budget option. Check Your Internet Speed Now that you’re ready to cut the cord, you need to check your internet speed. Faster internet means less buffering and pausing while watching your new streaming service. Most services have their own recommendations, but the faster the better. For example, Hulu recommends 16 mbps for high quality, 4k content, but only 4 mbps for regular HD. Netflix’s recommendations are similar, 25 mbps for 4k and 5 mbps for regular 1080p. However, you can manually adjust these in your streaming settings, but it may affect the image quality. If you’re on a plan that includes a data cap, be on the look out for those as well. If you spend a lot of time on your streaming service, you may need to raise your cap, or look for a reliable, high speed, wireless, non-data capped provider like Wisper! If you’re already a Wisper customer, you can check your speed anytime on our website or Wisper Home app, and check with our team if there are higher speeds available in your area. So if you’re interested in cutting the cord on your cable provider, whether you’re looking to cut down on your monthly expenses or just looking for new things to watch, take some time to research different live streaming and on-demand services…. Read More

Why You Need Antivirus Protection for your Devices

If you’ve never been unlucky enough to get a virus on your computer, let me set the scene for you: You’re sitting at your desk, typing away on a work or school assignment. You’ve been researching information online all day, including a few sources you weren’t so sure about. Suddenly your screen freezes. Everything goes black and lines of code begin scrolling across your monitor, and you realize that all of your work and data are gone. Or maybe you’re a pre-teen, sitting at the family computer circa 2007, downloading music from LimeWire. You finish saving “Sk8r Boi” by Avril Lavigne to your ipod shuffle and go to bed. The next day, your computer won’t turn on and your parents are furious. In both cases, you and your computer fall victim to malware. Viruses and malware have been around as long as computers have, and as technology advances, they become harder to avoid. Recovering your data after a virus can be expensive or even impossible, and often the easiest thing to do is replace your device all together. Computers are our whole lives, and to lose all your data can be devastating. So how can you keep your devices virus free? What is AntiVirus Software? Antivirus software has been around since the beginning of computers in the 1970’s, back when the very first virus, The Creeper, was created. The antivirus software industry developed in the 80’s, back when Atari still made computers. The 90’s led to the development of more widely available antivirus software from companies like Norton and McAfee, as well as the rise of the VPN, virtual private network. Technology has certainly advanced since then, but the idea is basically the same: scan for potential threats and eliminate them. So why do we need antivirus software? The short answer is easy: to protect your device from viruses. But there’s more to it than that. Threats to your computer and other devices come in many forms, collectively known as malware, including: Viruses – meant to damage your computer Rootkits – which mask malware Bots – which allow criminals to access your device Worms – meant to attack networks Trojan Horses – malware disguised as other programs that you can download Spyware – like the name suggests, can collect and access personal data Message scams – threats disguised at links in messages and emails A good antivirus software protects your devices from all of these threats, keeping your devices and your personal information safe from attackers. Regardless of the type of devices you use, a good antivirus program is necessary to protect them, as well as your information. Types of AntiVirus Software How can you get antivirus protection for your devices? The easiest and most common way is to buy antivirus software or subscriptions. While CD ROMs used to be the main installation method for antivirus programs, these days you can sign up for a subscription online and download the program right to your computer. But what about your other devices? Smartphones and tablets are also susceptible to malware and need antivirus protection as well. Most antivirus brands will offer extensions for your other devices, but often as an additional cost. There are also some free versions available online. Other antivirus methods are offered through some internet providers, blocking threats before they make it to your devices, rather than just finding and deleting them from your system. This also includes all of your devices through a single service. We offer this service at Wisper! If you’ve signed up for our Wisper Care plan, you’re already covered. Through the ProtectIQ add-on in the Wisper Home app you get access to built-in antivirus and malware protection for all of your connected devices. You’ll receive notifications in your app when a potential threat is blocked. You’ll also be able to see all threats that have been blocked, how many scans have been run and see a list of alerts. Viruses and malware can come from anywhere, so it’s important to keep your devices protected at all times. Whether you purchase a software subscription or go through your internet provider, you should seriously consider adding antivirus protection to your devices, if you haven’t already!… Read More

Getting Started in the Wisper Home App

As we announced on October 1st, we’re launching a new service, Wisper Home! The new feature of the Wisper Care plan is the Wisper Home app. The app gives you total control of your home wifi, right from your phone. Wisper Home allows you to monitor any smart devices in your home, and it also protects your devices using a secure network. You can set parental controls, block viruses, and create guest networks, all in the Wisper Home App. Setting Up Your App Before we install our new routers, customers will need to download and set up the Wisper Home app. You can find us in your app store! Once the app is downloaded, you’ll need to set up an account. Start by setting up your information. Enter your email, create a strong password and provide a few extra details on your location. Once your account is created, you’ll be able to connect to your new router. There are a few ways you can do that: Scan the QR code on the router. This will automatically input all the information you need. Or you can enter the details manually. The MAC address and serial number are located on the router. Now you’re ready to set up your network! The app will prompt you to enter a Router Name and Network Name (SSID). The router name will help you identify the router when working in the app, and the network name is what you’ll select on your devices when connecting to the wifi. Finally, set up a network password. This should be different from your app password. Your network password is what you’ll use to access your internet on your devices. Now that your account and your router are ready to use, we can start getting into more of the available settings in the Wisper Home app. Parental Controls When you connect devices to your home wifi, they will be added to your Connected Devices list in your app. From here, you can choose a device that you want to set filters or profiles for. For example, you could select a child’s laptop, and a filter to block adult content or block specific websites. First you’ll need to set up a parental control profile. Using the parental control tab from the side bar menu, tap the plus in the upper corner to create a profile. Once you enter the profile information and add a photo, you can select the devices you want to include. Just be sure not to add the device that uses the Wisper Home app! From there, you can set time limits or disconnect all the listed devices. For more advanced options like content filters, go back into your main menu and select Enable Applications and select Enhanced Parental Controls. If it’s already enabled, you’ll already see these options in your profiles! Once that’s enabled, you can go back to your profiles and select Filters to create and view filters by content, applications, or websites. Network Security One of the best features of Wisper Home is the built-in antivirus and malware protection for all of your connected devices. This feature should already be available in your menu as Protect IQ, but if not, just select it from the Enable Applications menu. Once Protect IQ is up and running, you’ll receive notifications when a potential threat is blocked. No action is required! Threats are blocked automatically. Through the app, you’ll be able to see all threats that have been blocked, how many scans have been run and see a list of alerts. You can also skip devices that you don’t want to be scanned, but we don’t recommend it! You also have the option to add a potential threat to the Trusted List if there’s been a mistake. You can take content off the Trusted List at any time if you change your mind. Guest Networks guest network, wisper home And speaking of network security, Wisper Home makes it easy to set up guest networks. Guest networks allow people to easily access your wifi without leaving your private network exposed. Just select Guest Network from the main menu. Tap the plus sign to create a new network. You’ll also be able to see any active guest networks. Enter the information for your network. Event name can be customized for the purpose of your guest network, and the network name will be the option your guests select to connect. You can also choose to add a password using the AES security option. You can choose whether to make your network endless, something that is available all the time, or set dates for the start and end of the network. The network will expire and no longer be available after this date. When you’re done, select Save and Send to send the details to your guests. These are just a few of the options available to you in the Wisper Home app, so open it up, play around, and be sure to check out our Wisper Youtube channel for quick how-to videos if you have any questions!… Read More

Keep all of Your Devices Protected with a Secure Network

Guest Networks and Network Security We know that visiting suspicious websites on your home internet can leave you exposed to malware and viruses, but did you know that letting guests on your network also leaves you exposed? Leaving your home network exposed also leaves room for hackers to access devices on your networks, like cameras, doorbells, smart thermostats, TVs, Alexa, and any device that is connected to your wifi. The ‘smarter’ your home is, the more important it is to protect your network. There are several strategies to keep your home network protected. You can set network strong network passwords, create guest networks, or start at the source with your internet provider. Network Passwords The number one way to keep your network protected is to create a strong password. Everyone who comes to your house will ask for your wifi password, but be careful. Once you give someone your password, they can tell it to their mom, their sister, their dentist, or just strangers on the street. We’ve talked about passwords before, but we’ll go over the basics: For network passwords, the longer the better! You want it to be something you’ll remember, but your friends won’t. A series of letters and numbers will be the best way to protect your network. Don’t give your password out to just anyone. This one is pretty obvious, but limiting the number of people who know your wifi password will limit the potential risks to your network. Change your password often. Create a system for yourself. Every 5 people you give your password to, change it up! Find a system that works for you, and stick to it. Guest Networks If you have a lot of people in your home for parties, holidays, or just have people over often, you may want to create a guest network. There are two different kinds of guest networks – a temporary network and an endless network. A temporary network has a start and end date. These are the most useful for events, so your guests can have wifi access while at your home, but the network will timeout when the event is over. You can set a guest password or leave it available. Either way, it keeps people off of your personal network. Let’s say your buddies are coming over for a Super Bowl party. Everyone’s going to be live-tweeting, checking stats, and googling the latest commercial. You don’t know where those searches will take them on the wide web, so you set up a guest network. The network starts the morning of the party, uses the password TouchDown#1, and expires at midnight when all of your guests have hopefully gone home. Now whatever your friends are searching will stay on that protected guest network, and the password for your personal password stays private. The second type of guest network is an endless network. These networks don’t have an expiration date, so you can keep up all the time. These are the most helpful if you often have guests in your home. Network Security with Wisper Home And finally, one of the simplest ways to protect your devices and your network is to start right at the source. Services like Wisper Home App and the Wisper Care plan block any negative invaders before they even get into the house. Wisper Home and other similar services run in the background 24/7 and alert you anytime something tries to get onto your network. It works by protecting all devices on your network, preventing any outside access to those devices, and blocking data from suspicious sites. As we mentioned before, some devices don’t have built-in antivirus capabilities like your phone or computer. Your smart TV or video doorbell has access to a lot of your information but isn’t inherently protected. Protecting them at the source keeps your information safe and private. Network security is important to protect your data, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep your password strong and private, set up a guest network when you need it, and keep all of your devices protected from invaders with Wisper Home…. Read More

How to Get the Most out of Your Wifi

Does this sound familiar? You’re on a Zoom call in your home office, maybe in the middle of a presentation, when suddenly everything freezes and your call is dropped. How about working on a spreadsheet online when your internet crashes and your work is lost? If you’re working from home, this can be incredibly frustrating! Most of these issues get blamed on the wifi, and rightly so. If your connection is slow or jumpy, it can kick you off or refuse to connect at all. For most of us working from home, wifi has become the most essential accessory in our homes, but how do you get the most out of your wifi? Of course, choosing an internet provider you can count on makes a huge difference. Check to see if Wisper is available in your area! Plugging directly into the router would solve most connection problems, but what if that’s not an option? Here’s a couple easy ways to get the most out of your wifi. Router Positioning It’s not always possible to plug right into your ethernet, and that can make it difficult to get a steady connection. One way to make connecting a little bit easier is to pay attention to the position of your router. Sometimes just a small shift can make a world of difference. Choose a central location – Router positioning is often limited by the location of your wires, but if you can, try to pick a spot in your house that is in the hub of your home. Don’t forget to check how many walls your signal has to pass through to get your devices. The closer you can get to the most popular wifi access points, the easier your router’s job will be. Clear the way – Is there anything in front of your router? It might seem silly, but something as small as a book or a lamp can affect the strength of your signal from the router. High vs Low – Is your router closer to the floor, or the ceiling? Keeping your router up higher on a shelf or table makes it easier to create a clear line of sight to your devices and strengthen your signal. Antennas – If your router has an external antenna, don’t be afraid to move it! For example, setting antennas at either a 45-degree diagonal or parallel to the floor will work the best for a two-story house. Free up Your Bandwidth Are you trying to spread your signal too thin? Sometimes just one application can suck up all of your available bandwidth and slow down your connection. Things like downloads, streaming, and gaming all take up an enormous amount of your wifi capabilities. If you’re having trouble staying connected during work hours, take a look at what else is going on in your home. Are the kids playing video games in their rooms? Is your significant other streaming Netflix upstairs? Setting a schedule of who can use what and when can really help open up your bandwidth. Cutting down on multitasking can also make a difference. It’s tempting to watch a video in the background while getting your work done, but this can create a pretty significant slow down. You can also make sure the kids are offline by a certain time using systems like profiles and parental controls. Signal Boosters If you want to get really serious, signal boosters, or wifi extenders, might be a good investment. Boosters work by grabbing your wifi signal from another room and amplifying it, before projecting it back to the room that you’re in. So if your office space is in the back of the house or on a different floor, placing a booster near your device can help create a stronger signal and keep you from cutting out. For Wisper in particular, we recommend mesh wifi extenders, but there’s plenty of options out there. Wifi extenders connect to your internet via wifi, and can be plugged in just about anywhere to amplify your signal. This creates two separate networks within your home, so you can choose to connect to the one that is strongest in different areas of your home. You can connect your living room smart tv to the original network on the main floor, but keep your office devices on the extended network when working upstairs. Mesh wifi works by creating a single, seamless network. Mesh networks use multiple devices, or ‘nodes’, placed strategically around the house to amplify your overall signal. Your devices will automatically connect to the nearest node, essentially eliminating any dead spots. Mesh systems tend to be more reliable and don’t require you to switch between networks when connecting in different parts of the house. They can also be useful for offices, schools, or if you have multiple people working from home or online learning.  … Read More

Using Parental Controls to Keep Your Kids Safe Online

“Don’t talk to strangers on the internet, they’ll try to kidnap you!” As kids who grew up at the same time that the internet was coming into its own, we heard things like this constantly from our parents. Don’t put your real name on the internet, never give out personal information, and don’t respond to requests from people you don’t know in real life. A lot of us ignored that advice and spent a lot of time in chat rooms telling complete strangers our A/S/L (age/sex/location), or at least pretending to. There were no parental controls, no ‘safe search’ settings, and pop-ups were a constant annoyance. We chatted with strangers on AIM and made internet friends on Myspace, thinking we were old enough to stay out of trouble. Kids these days are often given an iPad before they take their first steps. They grow up taking technology for granted as a part of everyday life. So how do you teach them about internet safety and making good choices online? Parents turn to parental controls to keep their kids away from potential internet threats. Types of Parental Controls So where do you start? There’s a couple of different types of parental controls to look at when setting restrictions for your kids. Filtering and blocking restrictions limit access to specific websites, and filter out certain words or images. Kids search for some crazy things, and can easily stray into the less kid-friendly parts of the internet. Options like Safe Search keep potentially unsafe content from showing up in the first place. Blocking outgoing content helps keep your kids from putting sensitive or personal information out online. Once it’s online, you can’t get it back, and being able to keep them from sharing it can save you a lot of headaches. Time Limits let you determine how long your kids should be online for, and at what times of the day. Even adults have a hard time limiting our screen time, how can we expect our kids to? Setting and discussing time limits helps avoid the “five more minutes” fight and gives kids a chance to decide when and how they want to spend their screen time. Monitoring tools allow your kids to explore online, but keep you informed on where they’re going and what they’re looking at. We want to be able to trust our kids, but it never hurts to keep an eye on them, especially online. Monitoring tools can send you alerts when your kids venture out of the kind-friendly realm, or help you keep track of what they’re posting on social media. These settings can be made directly on phones or tablets, through your mobile provider, or in our case, your wireless provider! Our Wisper Home App and Wisper Care Plan allow you to set filters, block content, and make changes from your phone. It also alerts you any time a child’s profile attempts to get past the controls. You can apply them to TV’s, laptops, or any device that connects to the internet. Talk to Your Kids About Internet Safety In addition to restricting content, it’s important to teach children how to navigate the internet to help stop problems before they happen. Careful What You Share: Information that gets put out online stays online, so it’s important to show kids how ‘oversharing’ can happen and why it can be bad. Setting family guidelines about what information is ok to share helps set rules for kids to follow. As an example, try googling yourself and looking at the results together. Maybe your high school honor roll comes up, or maybe your resume, but whatever it is, be sure to point out how it got there, and how easy it was to find. Phishing for Information: Children and older adults are the top targets for phishing attempts, but children don’t know how to look for sketchy email addresses or grammatical mistakes. By teaching them to recognize common scams, like someone asking for credit card information, you can prevent your data from falling into the wrong hands. Password Creation: Silly passwords are fun and easy to make, but they aren’t usually secure. A password like ‘ihateschool’ is easy for hackers to break, and even hidden or private information can be revealed. Having a base password like A@ronS! (Aaron’s) with a specific detail to determine which account it belongs to, like A@ronS!T@b (Aaron’s Tablet) help’s keep passwords strong but easy to remember. And don’t forget to log out of devices and accounts when you’re done! This will keep friends and siblings from posting embarrassing statuses or releasing information. Questions? Talk about it!: If your kids find anything online that they aren’t sure about or that makes them uncomfortable, they can come to you. Walk them through what they found, and it’s not appropriate, figure out how to stay away from it in the future. The internet is a fun, educational place for kids to explore and learn, but it can quickly turn dangerous. Parental controls help limit the content your kids can access and keep them from sharing personal information online. Once you’ve decided what kind of limits you want to set, don’t forget to talk to your kids about why you put the controls in place! Teaching them safe internet practices build a strong foundation of internet-savvy to build onto as they get older and restrictions change. Whatever route you choose to take with parental controls, keeping your kids safe online is always the top priority!… Read More

What Is Fixed Wireless – And Is It For Me?

Today there are several ways to get an Internet connection. Families rely on it more than ever for homework, work, entertainment, and to stay connected. Many are familiar with traditional Internet options such as Dial-Up, DSL, Cable, Fiber-Optic, and Satellite. However, fixed wireless is a new name in the game. It is gaining more and more attention as a valuable alternative Internet option. What is Fixed Wireless? Fixed wireless is another way to receive broadband Internet. Users are connected using radio signals, and no cables are needed. Wireless Internet avoids costly, time consuming inground fiber installations. This allows the wireless Internet service provider (WISP) operator to get service where it is needed much faster! It also saves the customer money! It is more common in rural communities where other providers won’t go. It is fast and consistent with unlimited data, which is perfect for streaming all your favorite shows. How Does it Work? How it works is really pretty simple. A wireless broadband provider mounts a radio outside of your home and aims it at a nearby structure. Structures include towers, water towers, grain bin elevators, poles, etc. The structure and the radio securely send and receive your Internet content. A wireless radio (CPE) is installed on the outside of the home. From the outside radio, a cable is run into your home, along with a wireless router. This allows you to connect your wired and wireless devices to the Internet, so everyone in your home can get online. How Does Wireless Compare To Satellite, DSL, Cable, And Fiber-Optics? Satellite: Most satellites are floating in orbit between 100 and 24,000 miles away. That’s how far your data is traveling – so latency (the delay between the signal being sent and reaching its destination) is going to be much higher than just about any other option. By comparison, your nearest Wisper tower will be less than 5 miles from your house. Wisper latency times (i.e. 30ms) are a fraction of that of satellite (i.e. 400ms). Customers who switch from Satellite to Wisper are often amazed by the improvement in Internet speed and reliability. Unlike Satellite, weather does not affect Wisper service. DSL: Only available in towns, or within a certain distance to the DSL Central Office. Usually requires a phone line, so bundling with phone is usually required. Most DSL speeds are between 1 and 3 Mbps. Beware – the older the phone lines in your town or neighborhood, the slower and less reliable your DSL Internet connection can be. If you are looking to cancel your landline telephone and get Internet only, or you want more speed than DSL can provide, Wisper could be your solution. Cable: It can be very fast. Cable providers rank highest on lists of companies with the worst customer service. Wisper’s speeds are comparable to cable, and customers enjoy local, friendly, and knowledgeable support. Fiber: It can be the fastest – but it’s not always. Providers can vary a lot – from the speeds they offer and how much they charge, to how long it takes to repair a cut fiber line and restore an outage. It’s not available everywhere, so if you have the option to choose fiber, you might want to look into it if speed is important to you. Does Weather Affect Wisper Internet? Unlike satellite, which can lose signal during heavy rain, weather does not typically affect the wireless signal. There are some exceptions to this, such as, severe storms and ice. Lightening can sometimes damage tower equipment. Wisper monitors the network 24/7, so tower techs know when there is an outage and can work quickly to restore service at all hours. Ice buildup can affect a specific type of antenna called a Yagi. This is the long, skinny, pronged antenna that is only used in areas with no line-of-sight to the tower. Is Fixed Wireless for Me? If your current internet providers are limited and not offering the speeds you need, it may be time to look into a fixed wireless solution. Service is fast and consistent with unlimited data which is perfect for streaming all your favorite shows. Check to see if it is available in your area! About Wisper Internet The idea of connecting others started when a friend didn’t have Internet access at his business. Therefore, Nathan Stooke accepted the challenge. It took a little research, a few maxed out credit cards, and hard work. After that, Wisper Internet was born. Wisper thrives by bridging the gap in rural America with fast Internet. In other words, we help you connect and create opportunities in your community. Headquartered in Mascoutah, Illinois, our team is known for problem-solving, and spot-on customer service. Above all we have an ever-growing staff, which means you can now find us across Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. To sum up, we are here to help you.  … Read More