Wi-Fi not working?

Here are fixes to the most common connection issues


Although we now enjoy much faster internet speeds and improved Wi-Fi reliability in comparison to years past, Wi-Fi technology isn’t perfect. Here are some common problems you might encounter while using Wi-Fi and how you can fix them.

Slow internet speed

If you’re experiencing slow internet speeds, try plugging your laptop directly into your router with an Ethernet cable. Then, test your internet connection speed using a site like speedtest.net. If the test shows slow internet speeds, then the problem is most likely with your internet service provider rather than your router. In this case, you should reach out to them for help.

If that’s not the problem, other devices or nearby networks could be overcrowding the wireless channel you’re currently using. You can fix this by changing your router’s channel through the router’s settings. This varies among brands, so it’s best to check your router’s manual or online FAQs.

If you still encounter slow internet speeds, try resetting your router to its factory settings. Most Wi-Fi routers have a reset button that can be held down with a paperclip. Press the button for 30 seconds and your router should return to its default settings. Configure your router, and check if your internet speed improves.

If all else fails and your internet is okay when plugged in, your router might have irreparable hardware issues. In this case, it may be time to invest in a new one.

Some devices can’t connect to the Wi-Fi network

If your devices are having trouble connecting to the Wi-Fi network, try restarting them. If that doesn’t work, you can also try resetting your Wi-Fi router.

If the steps above don’t solve the problem, you can try deleting the network from your devices. To do this on an iOS or an Android device, simply click on the Wi-Fi network name and then hit “Forget This Network.” You’ll have to find the network again on your devices and enter the password just like when you first set them up. This step should allow the rest of your devices to connect to your Wi-Fi.

Random connection drops

Wi-Fi connections that drop whenever you use the microwave are a common issue. It’s caused by routers having trouble with the 2.5 GHz frequency or from using an old microwave with shielding problems.

Connection drops can also be caused by interference from other networks or devices. For example, your neighbor’s router could be interfering with your signal, resulting in dropped connections. Changing your router’s channel to one that is less congested can help resolve this problem.

You can connect to the Wi-Fi network but there’s no internet

If your devices can connect to the Wi-Fi network but can’t access the internet, try unplugging the router for 30 seconds and then plugging it back in. If there’s still no internet, connect your laptop directly to the router using an Ethernet cable.

If you can access the internet through a direct connection, your router might have some hardware issues. If you still can’t access the internet even if you’re directly connected to the router, it could be an internet outage. It’s best to get in touch with your internet provider to fix this issue.

If you need help troubleshooting your Wi-Fi router, give our experts a call today.

This entry was posted in General Articles C, Hardware and tagged 2022December12Hardware_C, Internet connection, office Wi-Fi, router, Wi-Fi fixes, Wi-Fi issues, Wi-Fi speed. Bookmark the permalink. Both comments and trackbacks are currently closed.

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Watch out! Android Flubot spyware is spreading fast

Posted: April 28, 2021 by Pieter Arntz

Using a proven method of text messages about missed deliveries, an old player on the Android malware stage has returned for an encore. This time it seems to be very active, especially in the UK where Android users are being targeted by text messages containing a link to a particularly nasty piece of spyware called Flubot.

Warning from the National Cyber Security Centre

On its website, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) warns about the spyware that is installed after a victim receives a text message that asks them to install a tracking app, because of a missed package delivery. The tracking app is in fact spyware that steals passwords and other sensitive data. It will also access contact details and send out additional text messages in order to further the spread of the spyware.

Network providers join in

Apparently, the problem is so massive that even network providers have noticed the problem and some of them, including Three and Vodafone have also issued warnings to users over the text message attacks.

Three urges victims that have installed the spyware:

You should be advised that your contacts, SMS messages and online banking details (if present) may have been accessed and that these may now be under the control of the fraudster.

It goes on to tell victims that a factory reset is needed or you will run the risk of exposure to a fraudster accessing your personal data.

Branding of the text messages

Most of the reported messages pretend to be coming from DHL.

example of a smishing message
DHL example

But users have also reported Royal Mail and Amazon as the “senders.” Readers should be aware that it isn’t enough to simply watch out for messages from one or two senders though. If the campaign proves successful for the criminals running it, it will evolve and change over time and they will likely try other tactics.

History of Flubot

These types of smishing (SMS phishing) attacks are on the rise the last few years. Previously, Flubot has been noticed operating a fake FedEx website targeting Android users in Germany, Poland, and Hungary in basically the same way. By sending text messages with a parcel tracking URL that led to malware downloads. Initially they operated in Spain (with Correos Express as the sender), until some arrests were made there which slowed the operation down for a while. It would not come as a surprise if the continued success will lead the Flubot operators to target the US next.

Infection details

Malwarebytes for Android detects the several Flubot variants as Android/Trojan.Bank.Acecard, Android/Trojan.BankBot, or Android/Trojan.Spy.Agent.

As we pointed out the initial attack vector is a text message with a link that downloads the malware. The package names often include com.tencent and have the delivery service’s logo as the icon. During the install the malware will show you misleading prompts to get installed and acquire the permissions it needs to perform the actions it needs. These permissions allow it to:

  • Send messages to your contacts
  • Act as spyware and steal information

Depending on the variant, Flubot can also:

Don’t click!

Unless you know exactly what to look for to determine whether a message is actually coming from the claimed sender, it is better not to click on links in unsolicited text messages. Which is always solid advice, but when you are actually expecting a parcel, the message may not count as unsolicited in your mind.

Our first impulse is often to click and find out what’s up. At the very least, we should stop and ask if the message and the URL stand up to scrutiny. If you think the message is genuine, it is still best not to click on the link, but instead search for the vendor’s website and look for its parcel tracker.

If you did not click the link, simply remove the message from your device so you do not click it by accident in the future.

If you have clicked the link but then stopped because you were suspicious of the fact that it initiated a download, well done. You stopped in time.

If you did download the malware, scan your device with a legitimate Android anti-malware app. If it can’t disinfect your phone, you will need to perform a factory reset to remove it. If you do this, there is a possibility you will lose more than just the malware, unless you have made backups.

You should also change any passwords you stored on the device, and any you entered on the device after the infection began, because they may have been compromised by the spyware.

Finally, if you used the device for online banking, check your bank balances and contact your bank so that they can stop or correct any fraud that results.

Stay safe, everyone!

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Why Business Continuity Fails

Why business continuity plans fail

By EDITOR | Published: OCTOBER 28, 2020

Even the best managed IT services provider (MSP) can overlook certain business continuity plan (BCP) details. This is why businesses should always be on the lookout for the following pitfalls of BCP to ensure that the plan works as it should.

Over-optimistic testing

The initial testing attempt is usually the most important, because it’s when MSPs can pinpoint potential pain points in the recovery plan. However, they usually test the system in full, instead of in phases. This can cause MSPs to overlook specific points, with too many factors overwhelming them all at the same time.

Insufficient remote user licenses

MSPs give remote user licenses to businesses so that employees can access a remote desktop software when they need to, like when a disaster strikes. However, a provider may only have a limited number of licenses. In some cases, more employees will need access to the remote desktop software than a provider’s license can allow.

Lost digital IDs

When a disaster strikes, employees will usually need their digital IDs so they can log in to the MSP’s remote system while the office system is being restored. However, digital IDs are not automatically saved when a desktop is backed up. So when an employee uses their “ready and restored” desktop, they are unable to access the system with their previous digital ID.

Absence of a communications strategy

MSPs often use email to notify and communicate with business owners and their employees when a disaster happens. However, this form of communication may not always be reliable in certain cases, such as during spam intrusions.

Instead, you can use emergency communication applications such as AlertMedia or Everbridge. These programs automate necessary actions such as sending out mass notifications, sharing information, and mobilizing teams to prevent operational disruptions, so your MSP can easily notify you in case of any disaster.

Backups that require labored validation

After a system has been restored, IT technicians and business owners need to check whether the restoration is thorough and complete. This becomes an arduous task when the log reports are not easy to compare. This usually happens when MSPs utilize backup applications that don’t come with their own log modules and have to be acquired separately.

These are just some reasons why business continuity plans fail. While you should trust that your MSPs will secure your systems, it is important for business owners to be involved with any process that pertains to your IT infrastructure. Just because you believe something works doesn’t necessarily mean that it actually does. If you have questions regarding your business continuity plan, get in touch with our experts today.This entry was posted in Business, General Articles C

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Speed up Windows Update

Are your Windows 10 updates taking too long? Here’s what you need to do

By EDITOR | Published: FEBRUARY 8, 2021

Windows 10 users are well aware that installing updates can take a long time. We hear users complaining about it all the time. Why are Windows 10 updates so slow, and what can users do to speed things up? Here’s our take.

Windows 10 updates take a while to complete because Microsoft is constantly adding larger files and features to the operating system. The biggest updates, released in the spring and fall of every year, take upwards of four hours to install if there are no unexpected glitches. The process takes even longer if you have a fragmented or nearly full hard drive.

In addition to the large files and numerous features included in Windows 10 updates, internet speed can significantly affect installation times. This is especially true if your office network is overburdened by multiple people downloading the update at the same time.

However, if you still experience slow speed even when there aren’t simultaneous downloads, then it’s likely that there is a problem that is preventing the installation from running smoothly.

When you experience slow updates, try the following:

1. Free up storage space and defragment your hard drive

Windows 10 updates often take up a lot of hard drive space, so you need to make room for them to speed up the installation. This means deleting old files and uninstalling software you no longer need.

You’ll also want to defragment your hard drive, a process that organizes how data is stored on your hard drive so it can create, open, and save files faster. Defragmenting a drive is as easy as pressing the Windows button and typing Defragment and Optimize Drives. From there, just select the hard drive, click Analyze, and if the drive is more than 10% fragmented, press Optimize.

2. Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

If faulty software components are causing installation problems, Windows Update Troubleshooter may be able to fix the issue and decrease download and install times. Simply press the Windows button and type Troubleshoot Settings. That will open a new window with an option for Windows Update.

3. Disable startup software

Before your update begins, you should also disable third-party applications that might cause disruptions. To do this, press and hold Ctrl + Shift + Escape to access the Task Manager. In the window that opens, click the tab labeled Startup. This will show you all the apps that have permission to open themselves when you log in to Windows 10. Right-click any apps that aren’t important and select Disable (don’t disable Microsoft tasks) to speed up the update installation process.

4. Optimize your network

Sometimes, a faster connection is all you need. Consider upgrading to a fiber optic connection or purchasing more bandwidth from your internet service provider. It’s also a good idea to use bandwidth management tools to make sure sufficient network resources are reserved for things like Windows 10 updates, rather than bandwidth hogs like Microsoft Teams or YouTube.

5. Schedule updates for low-traffic periods

Massive updates with long installation times are unavoidable sometimes. So instead of installing them during the day, schedule them for after hours when your computers and office network aren’t in use. Go to Settings > Update & Security and specify when you prefer updates to be installed.

If you need help with any of the tips above, we’re always here to help. Call us today to meet with our Windows specialists!

Posted in General Articles A, Windows | Tagged , , , , , , , ,  | Comments closed
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Your Work From Home Project is not Sustainable!

Let’s have a “Real Talk”. The Coronavirus (Covid-19) has impacted us in ways we never thought imaginable. Our communities, our economy, our ability to travel and how we’re able to work. Coronavirus has introduced mass work from home, whereas before we maybe had a handful of employees working a handful of days remotely. Do you think your company is able to maintain and withstand an ongoing Work from Home model and still maintain your company’s confidentiality, integrity and security of your data? Business managers are currently utilizing a makeshift, short-term approach for working remotely that lacks safety and security. Employees have decreased their productivity with a lack of resources to work, Managers and Directors lack insights into their employees’ day to day work-related activities. Teams are hesitant to move forward with current solutions due to increased security concerns. Planning for the future requires a forward-thinking plan!

Woman Writing on Her Notebook

Do you have a Continuity Plan in place already, maybe something for a Disaster Recovery or a full outage? Do you recall the last time your company reviewed and updated this plan? Does it still hold up to today’s Working Day? If not, it may be time to sit down and redesign your Disaster Recovery for our modern-day issues such as remote work, data redundancy, and data recovery.

What would happen if you had a set of employees who work with critical company systems and they were unable to perform their daily functions due to not being able to work at the office, or even remotely since they can’t reach your companies Server Drives? Do you have a plan in place to continue your company’s day to day tasks that can be accomplished from anywhere?

At this point in time, we’re all asking ourselves the same questions; Do we wait for the virus to settle and things to “return to normal” or do we act now? Let me ask you this, can things return to what was formerly “normal” or do you think it’s time to expand what you company, and your employees are capable of?
The thing is, there is not a quick fix that can cover all types of companies with a simple new work model. It’s a lot more complicated than that, since each company has so many variables such as how many employees they have, do they have field operations, satellite offices, security protocols. One thing we know for sure is during this time the last thing we want to do is make compliance more difficult, or your employees’ jobs even harder to accomplish during this trying time.

With that all being said a good solution is remote access for your employees if you haven’t done such already. It’s one thing to send your employees home with a work issued laptop where they can perform most of their daily tasks but you also risk them not having access to files, programs, shared drives, etc. from their home network. We here at CloudColorado have rolled out a few different models of Work from Home for our clients, the two biggest being Cloud Desktops (Virtual Hosted Desktops), as well as Remote Desktop Connection (RDP software) so that our users can have the same experience from home as they do at the office.
Let’s delve into Cloud Desktops: the benefit of these is that your user can use ANY device (yes, this includes their home computers, tablets, and even smart phones) to access their virtual cloud desktop. This means that they can access any/all applications, data, shares, and printers from any computer anywhere they are. They inherit the same security and permissions that they would have in the office domain. It’s great for companies who find themselves that need to scale depending on projects or seasons but it also gives your employees a fantastic opportunity to have consistency when at the office or at home without having to worry about software updates or missing critical data. By rolling out Virtual Cloud Desktops you no longer need to worry about full hard drives, upgrades, updates, maintenance. That is all handled for you on the back end and we here at Cloud Colorado would be more than happy to set up a quick demonstration or even spin up a Cloud Desktop of your own to try out!

If spinning up a new cloud environment seems a bit daunting at this time with everything going on, we also recommend providing to your users means to remotely access their work computer from home. We offer solutions which allow users to securely sign into their portal and access the computer sitting at their work desk from the safety and comfort of home. This enables your employee to never be without their daily work, programs, shares, and office printers. They simply access it all from home so the next time they’re in the office they pick up right where they left off the day previously as if they’ve been there the whole time.

The most beneficial part of both of these solutions is SECURITY. You are not risking your company’s data from going missing by issuing a laptop for your user to take home and potentially misplace. Your data remains safe on your servers, whether those be Cloud Servers or Physical Servers at your office. You can also save time and money by having your employees work from their personal systems.

Call CloudColorado today! We’ll help you get started!

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