The Right to Access the Internet

The Right to Access the Internet

In this article I want to address the concept of "digital rights", a term which describes those human rights that allow individuals to access, use, create, and publish digital media, or to access and use computers, other electronic devices, or communications networks. 

Per Wikipedia, the term is particularly related to the protection and realization of existing rights, such as the right to privacy or freedom of expression, in the context of new digital technologies, especially the Internet.

It's the law (elsewhere)
Especially of note: The right to internet access is recognized as a right by the laws of several countries. I go further than this right to propose that affordable broadband internet should be a right in the United States. 

Local issues
Here are some related questions for my readers in Hamakua Hawaii to ponder and ask their elected officials about - at the county, state, and federal level. I know these types of issues are relevant in rural communities elsewhere in our country too.

State-sponsored WiFi
Why is government-provided WiFi not available in every town in Hawaii, such as in downtown Honokaa? This would benefit locals and especially tourists who seek information on local attractions but who may get poor cell data service, like in downtown Honokaa. I would extend this request for service to the Waipio Valley lookout and other tourist attractions where visitors could learn in their own language about an attraction and appreciate it more deeply - and get safety advisories about access, including off-limits areas. 

Neighbor out of luck
Why does Hawaiian Telcom have limited DSL internet service in Hamakua? I know of properties where the residents have Hawaiian Tel phone service but cannot get broadband internet. Case in point: my next-door neighbor. We both have Hawaiian Tel phone service, and I have DSL internet, but Hawaiian Tel won't provide DSL to my neighbor. What is this, cold war-era communist Europe? It's a 21st century disgrace. I'm embarrassed for Hawaiian Tel. 

Powerline broadband anyone?
Here's another related question: Why - if Hawaiian Telcom refuses to provide broadband internet in areas where they ARE providing phone service - can't Helco provide internet service? There is a technology called broadband over powerline (BPL). It is a service where customers get high-speed internet connections through their standard electrical outlets. Users simply plug a power line modem into any socket; there is no need for additional special wiring. 

Tablets for the library
On another note, why do our public libraries not provide tablets for patrons to check out in the library for reading e-books, browsing the web, watching movies on, etc.? There are also some useful learning apps for tablets that children could make use of while mom/dad read the paper. It seems a grant could be applied to make this happen, perhaps from ultra-rich Apple Inc. High school kids seeking community service hours could even volunteer time tutoring seniors and younger children on such devices.     

If we, through our elected representatives, don't push for investments in widely available and affordable internet service and device access we certainly don't merit a reputation as a modern and technologically advanced nation, no matter what marvels Silicon Valley produces. 

Thanks for reading!
-Sam

No Power = No Internet = Desperate Times!

No Power = No Internet = Desperate Times!

For those of my readers in Hamakua Hawaii who experienced the Honokaa-area power outage the week of February 10, 2019 you felt the pain of losing access to electricity-dependent devices, appliances, and machines. In our case, we had no power for a week!

We are located right on that strip of highway between Honokaa and Paauilo where several of the power poles were destroyed by high winds and tree branches. We greatly appreciate the efforts of Helco, Isemoto and others for working 24/7 to restore power asap, even in the pouring rain. Would have baked them cookies, but alas, no stove! 

Home camping
A week without power was "interesting". It was like camping at our house. No hot showers, no appliances, no lights at night, etc. We made do with a "navy showers" and showering at a friend's house, using our camping stove, ice for the fridge, and plenty of flashlights. Compared to the lives of millions of refugees around the world our experience was trivial of course. 

Internet Withdrawals
The real problem for me as a home-based IT tech was no power or Internet. I had to make use of WiFi at Starbucks, McDonald's, client offices, my cell phone's hotspot, and the public library. The Honokaa public library has a charging station for laptops and devices, which is a much-appreciated service. The librarian even served coffee to patrons who used the library during the power outage. Now that's aloha!

I was feeling the withdrawals of not having easy access to TV news and weather, and to Netflix - it was interesting to see in me that mental twitch of addiction. One night my wife and I watched a DVD on her laptop. Then her battery died so we switched to mine, which has no speakers, so we used subtitles. Desperate measures for desperate times. 

Community counts
The beauty of not having power is to see what we take for granted, to witness community support, and to be resourceful in getting work done - as in my case hopscotching between WiFi services. I caught up on some reading on my Kindle at night (it had a charge because I rarely use it), and went to be earlier, which is always a good thing. We also enjoyed a meal with our neighbors, prepared on a propane camping stove. 

Routine upended 
I played catch-up with all kinds of computer-related stuff the day after power was restored, streamed a Netflix movie, had a hot shower, and we made meals on the kitchen stove again. The access to Internet and my computers was missed during the outage. But what I found the most unsettling was the change to my daily routine. It wasn't just one thing - it was the overall disruption and uncertainty. 

Resiliency training
The power outage was a good opportunity for resiliency training. Goodness knows what's coming down the pike for humanity in the years to come. I'm certain of this at least: we'll all need to be more flexible, resourceful, and community-oriented. In essence, that's what civilization is all about.  

Thanks for reading!
-Sam

Be Careful When Using Wi-Fi

Be Careful When Using Wi-Fi

What's the issue?
Whether you are connecting to Wi-Fi (wireless networking) with your laptop, tablet, or smartphone... whether at home, at work, or in public... be aware that your privacy and security are vulnerable to hackers.

To clarify, Wi-Fi is not used when connecting to your cell provider's data network. It is accessed most commonly from a wireless router at home, work, or in a public setting.

Why care?
Wi-Fi is not a secure transmission medium, even when encrypted. This means information you exchange across the wireless network is not secure--your confidential information. This includes casual websurfing, email use, and e-commerce.

To illustrate, when connecting to Wi-Fi at Starbucks (via the Google network there), you are presented with this snippet from their terms of use: "You understand that This Wi-Fi... is not inherently secure and that wireless communications may not remain private or free of interception or access by others. We will not be liable to you or any other party for any lack of security that may result from your use of This Wi-Fi..."

Google is making it crystal clear that Wi-Fi is not inherently secure and that you are responsible for your own security. This applies anywhere you are using Wi-Fi, especially outside of your home or business network, which hopefully you have already secured--that is, reduced, not eliminated, the risk of hacking by using the best encryption available. 

How to best protect yourself when using Wi-Fi?
Without getting too technical, a best practice is to only use Wi-Fi when connected via a VPN (Virtual Private Network). One program providing this type of protection is Hotspot Shield by AnchorFree. They offer free and paid versions. 

After you install their program, whenever you connect to Wi-Fi, you can run the shield to access the Internet via a secure, encrypted tunnel (VPN). 
You can obtain the Hotspot Shield software here. 

When should you do it?
Any time you connect to Wi-Fi do so via VPN. If you can't, be very careful about what you do online. For example, avoid banking, shopping, and any sites that require password login. 

Where can you learn more on this topic?
You now know what to do as a user of Wi-Fi. In addition, here are some best practices for setting up Wi-Fi at your home or office.

Who can help?
If this all seems too technical but you are concerned and want to be better protected, you may want to hire an IT consultant. This is an especially good investment if you are responsible for data security in an office environment. 

In Sum
Wi-Fi is wonderful technology. It gives us access to online resources in diverse locations worldwide. However, we must reduce the security risks when using it so we don't get taken advantage of, which is increasingly common.  

Thanks for reading. You're feedback is appreciated!

Aloha, Sam

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