#home network

[dragonfly7022003]

DNS Raspberry Pi hole

The amount of traffic on a network has always fascinated me. I know when you set up a new Windows PC on of the first things it dose is send out a message looking for anything out their. Looking to connect and discover what kind of network its on and where it can go.

This is neat and all, but it leads to a few other things. Watching my network, using Wireshark I cant but help and see all the things trying to get into my network. This is normal, but what got me was the amount trying to get out of my network.

Now I am not talking about the normal request, like when you use Youtube, or any website. I am taking about my smart TV sending messages out. My kids tablet, sending packets out when its in sleep mode. Worst of all my ISP keeps sending packets back and forth, that have nothing to do with my internet.

Inside all of these packets is nothing but information on me and my family. Our watching habits, things we like. All being sent to advertisers. Well I needed to put a stop to this.

So I did some looking around and found out about Pihole. Its a DNS server set up by a group of people who had the same problem I had. So they set up this DNS server that runs on a Raspberry Pi.

Well after some research, I had to have this and I found a very good guide to set things up.

After following along. Soon everything was set up and I was already seeing results. All those pesky packets stopped, in the GUI I can see everything that was being blocked and everything that was getting through. The only thing I wish it would do is block the adds on Youtube, but that would mean blocking all of Youtube as they send the adds through there domain.

So yes I would recommend this, if you have a raspberry pi laying around.

[dh-gamer]

Building JARVIS: Some Assembly Required

The next part of my Building JARVIS series is now up!

Now that we had our network cabinet in place, I turned my attention to JARVIS’s hardware. While I want to keep this relatively budget friendly, I also want to make sure JARVIS will be robust and durable enough to be reliable 24/7 for us. If we’re going to have a locally hosted solution for our files and services, JARVIS needs to be up to the task. While I’ve been building my own PCs since the…

[nick-momrik]

Network Rack Cart

[cableandinternetinsight]

Essential Internet Security Tips for Families in 2024

Introduction

In today's interconnected world, internet usage has become an integral part of family life. Whether it’s for work, education, or entertainment, families are spending more time online than ever before. While the internet provides countless benefits, it also poses risks, especially when it comes to online safety. Protecting your family from cyber threats is more crucial than ever. This article outlines essential internet security tips that families can implement to ensure safe and secure online experiences for every member.

1. Educate Your Family About Online Dangers

The first step to safeguarding your family online is education. Make sure every family member, from children to adults, understands the potential risks of the internet. Discuss topics like phishing, malware, ransomware, and online scams. Younger children may not grasp the severity of these risks, so explaining them in age-appropriate terms is important.

2. Set Up Strong Passwords and Use Two-Factor Authentication

A strong password is the cornerstone of good online security. Teach your family to create complex passwords that are difficult to guess. Use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or common words. Additionally, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security. With 2FA, even if a password is compromised, the account remains secure unless the second verification step is bypassed.

3. Install Reliable Antivirus Software

One of the most straightforward ways to protect your family’s devices from cyber threats is by installing reliable antivirus software. Make sure all devices—computers, tablets, and smartphones—are equipped with up-to-date antivirus programs. This software helps detect and remove malicious files, providing an essential layer of protection against malware, spyware, and other harmful threats.

4. Monitor Online Activities and Set Screen Time Limits

For families with children, it’s vital to monitor their online activities. This doesn’t mean invading their privacy, but rather ensuring that they’re using the internet responsibly. Parental controls on browsers and apps can help limit exposure to inappropriate content. Set screen time limits to avoid internet addiction and ensure a healthy balance between online and offline activities.

5. Secure Your Home Network

Securing your home Wi-Fi network is a crucial step in protecting your family’s online safety. Start by changing the default login credentials on your router. Set a strong Wi-Fi password and enable encryption protocols like WPA3. Ensure that only trusted devices can connect to your network by monitoring your device list regularly. You can also set up a guest network for visitors to keep your primary network secure.

6. Be Cautious When Sharing Information Online

Teach your family to be mindful of the information they share online. Personal data like home addresses, phone numbers, or financial details should never be shared on public platforms. Be especially cautious on social media sites, where cybercriminals often scout for valuable information. Make privacy settings strict and avoid oversharing personal details.

7. Keep Software and Devices Updated

Regularly updating software and devices is an often-overlooked but critical aspect of internet security. Cybercriminals frequently exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software. Ensure that all devices in your household have automatic updates enabled for operating systems, browsers, and applications. Installing updates as soon as they’re available reduces the risk of being exposed to potential threats.

8. Teach Safe Online Shopping Practices

Online shopping has grown in popularity, but it’s essential to practice safe shopping habits. Ensure that your family only makes purchases from trusted, secure websites. Look for the “HTTPS” in the URL and the padlock icon, indicating that the site uses encryption to protect your data. Avoid making transactions on public Wi-Fi networks, which can be easily hacked by cybercriminals.

9. Encourage Open Communication About Online Experiences

Maintaining open communication about online experiences can help in identifying potential risks before they escalate. Encourage your family to talk about any unusual or suspicious online behavior they encounter. Children should feel comfortable reporting cyberbullying, unsolicited messages, or any website that makes them uncomfortable.

Conclusion

In a world where the internet has become an indispensable part of daily life, safeguarding your family’s online presence is essential. By educating your family, setting up strong passwords, installing antivirus software, and following these essential internet security tips, you can ensure that your family enjoys a safe and secure online experience. Internet security is not a one-time effort but an ongoing commitment to staying informed and proactive.

[essayboardorg]

(via How to Secure Your Home Network: A Comprehensive Guide)

[ajkueterman]

Google Nest Home Network Problem Statement

I've been dealing with some annoyances with my home network setup and I just want to document them for posterity in hopes of one day fixing them / asking for help.

Today I have a Google Nest Wifi mesh network with Google Nest Wifi Routers/AP's. They're these little rounded pucks:

I like them because they work well with the rest of our Google Home setup in our house (Nest x Yale lock, Nest Doorbell, Nest Thermostat, Nest security cameras, Smart lights, etc.) but I've recently been dealing with some annoyances with them.

The main issue I'm having is that I want to have my home office wired with ethernet, so I can get the performance benefits of my gigabit ethernet for my Mac, PS5, etc. that are in there. But I also want to have an AP in there that I can use to connect my phone and other mobile devices to (I'm a mobile developer, so have a few test devices I want to have on the wifi). I also want everything to be on one network/devices to be visible to each other (more about that later).

My current setup allows me to do that for the most part, here's what it looks like right now.

*Modem = Modem/Router supplied by the ISP

In my office, I circumvent the Google Nest network to connect directly to ethernet using a series of switches (TP-Link TL-SG105). This works okay, but it has two main drawbacks.

The Google Nest AP in my office doesn't get great connectivity from the mesh network.

When my PS5 is hard-wired into ethernet this way, it's not visible to my Steam Deck (connected to Google Nest wifi) via chiaki.

#1 is pretty clear-cut. I would ideally like to hard-wire in that AP so it had guaranteed good connectivity.

#2 is a bit more of a mystery to me, but I believe it's because the hardwired PS5 is somehow on my internet in a separate kind of network than the devices linked via my Google Nest wifi (I'm not a networking expert by any stretch of the imagination). If I was able to somehow get my PS5 hardwired in via Google Nest wifi I was hoping that would solve it.

Enter my first attempt at fixing this issue:

In this attempt I connected the Google Nest AP to ethernet, and then used the AP's 1 hard ethernet port to connect my switch & my other devices.

However I learned that Nest Wifi doesn't support multiple routers like this. There's 1 router & multiple mesh access points. So this approach still means the AP is connected to the mesh over wifi (ignoring the ethernet in) and thus limits all of my devices to wifi speeds. It also didn't solve my problem #2 with the Steam Deck.

At this point, I'm back to using the setup in the first diagram.

I'm now considering moving off of my Google Nest Wifi mesh network setup and towards something else, but I'm not sure what setup will work to give me everything I want. Primarily - the ability to have two AP's connected via ethernet, but still be part of the same home network.

Any suggestions / tips / troubleshooting ideas welcome.

[virtualizationhowto]

Install Pi-Hole in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Install Pi-Hole in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS @vexpert #vmwarecommunities #pihole #ubuntu2404 #adblocking #homenetworksecurity #dnssinkhole #dnsblackhole #dnssecurity #dnssec #cybersecurity #virtualization #vhtforums #selfhosted #selfhosting

Pi-Hole is arguably one of the most popular ad-blocking solutions for home networks and home labs. Likewise, Ubuntu is one of the most popular Linux distros around. While Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is still in beta, let’s look at installing Pi-Hole on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and see what we need to do to get Pi-Hole installed. Install Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Server The first thing you need to do is install Ubuntu…

[i-like-eyes]

hi please ask me about my very sane crossover teen au i may have been developing for 2 years

[10bendog]

Cartoon Network Villains Bar

Even the bag guys need a place to unwind in between episodes. These guys are all regulars here, even if some of them often question why they come.

Would you go there if you could?

[cartoonbudartz]

May your holiday be an animated one!

[toonsforkicks22]

Bloo is no pal

(help I can’t stop drawing Doey)

[90s-2000s-barbie]

October 2, 2008

[boomerak3]

First 10 CN Characters as Smash Bros Characters (Excluding Link and Jiggly puff for reasons unknown) I’m still no where near done of doing everyone including the extras, try to guess who’s who I’m sure it’s pretty obvious

https://twitter.com/nicklauerart/status/1066004184389091329 Credit to the original designs and who made the concept first be sure to check them out as well, he’s very talented

[perpetualtoysruskid]

Cartoonnetwork.com nostalgia

[the-classic-dreamer]

Cartoon Network: Punch Time Explosion 2 👊