Government Technology
Government Technology: State & Local Government News Articles

Atlanta Residents Not Using Available Wi-Fi, Says Survey



Print
Comment
Atlanta Skyline West

Jun 25, 2008, News Report

Residents of the Atlanta metropolitan region are not using Wi-Fi hotspots, even though the city is the fourth highest metropolitan area for Wi-Fi availability and the highest rated "wired" city in the nation, according to a survey from Trend Micro Incorporated .

The study, which surveyed over 500 Atlanta residents on their Internet usage habits and attitudes toward cyber-surfing safety, found that very few of them are taking advantage of available Wi-Fi within the Atlanta region. While all survey participants responded that they use the Internet on a regular basis, less than 20 percent take advantage of the city's ubiquitous Wi-Fi networks.

The study also found that 52 percent of Atlantans surveyed think viruses are a major threat to their computers. Those participating in what would normally be considered risky online activities (such as browsing Web sites, making online purchases, visiting social networking sites and banking online) are more concerned with viruses even though they are more easily preventable than Web threats.


With a comprehensive Internet security product, most online activities can be relatively safe. Trend Micro offers the following tips in looking for the right consumer security product:


-- Make sure the security product offers a strong protection against Web threats such as bots, Trojans, Web downloaders and keyloggers, any of which can lead to identity and data theft.


-- Look for an anti-spyware feature that is designed to remove adware and spyware that marketing and advertising companies dump on computers to covertly spy on surfing habits and collect market data. These programs can also slow down computer performance.


-- A security product should also have firewall capabilities -- a cyber-barrier that keeps destructive elements and intrusions away from the network. It inspects all network traffic passing through the system, guarding it from viruses, hackers, spam and other Internet threats.


-- Viruses can still do damage so a product should also have an antivirus feature that's consistently updated. Viruses are constantly mutating and the only way to protect a computer is with an up-to-date antivirus software program.


"Atlanta residents have a great opportunity to safely use the Internet from a variety of public locations and can take more advantage of it," said Carol Carpenter, vice-president of consumer marketing at Trend Micro. "The proper security protection against viruses and Web threats will help everyone, including Atlantans, confidently utilize their city's Wi-Fi offerings."


About Trend Micro:

 


If You Liked This Article, You May Also Like...

Related Products and Services


Latest Government Technology News


Industry Solutions for Government

Read real world deployments of technology in government from our sponsors.

View All Industry Solutions

Marketplace



This section
brought to you by:


Communications and Interoperable Technology Survey

Emergency Management magazine invites you to participate in our Communications and Interoperable Technology Survey. Our 11 questions are very brief and should only take 5 minutes of your time.

Complete our survey now, and enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Dispatch Operations and Interoperability

Webinar: A New Era in Public Safety Wednesday, December 10, 2008 from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm PST/2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST


A New Era in Public Safety BlackBerry® smartphones running on Sprint networks deliver a wide range of applications that are transforming public safety operations.


Hurricane Preparedness Tips When a hurricane hits, are you prepared to keep in touch?


Case Study - Morris County, New Jersey The Morris County Communications Center upgraded to a new trunked radio system with the benefits of a cellular network, extending coverage beyond county lines


Case Study - Iredell County, North Carolina Spanning over 570 sq miles, it became imperative that the Iredell County Emergency Communications, Operations and Management extend it's communications systems to enhance reliability, security, and coverage.


Case Study - City of Anaheim, California The City of Anaheim saw an opportunity to leverage existing GST and partner with nearby cities to enhance safety operations through data interoperability.


Case Study - Charlottesville, Virginia Fire Department Taking advantage of a range of interoperability solution, the Charlottesville Fire Department has achieved a network that can serve as backup to their existing public safety network.


Sprint ERT Go-Kit with GST Optima Rapid, interoperable communications for emergencies, drills and field exercises.


Optimal Interoperability Until recently it was not possible to cost effectively connect commercial networks to LMR systems. Improvements in communications technology have resulted in greatly enhanced operational capability and have reduced the log-term cost of communications system ownership.


Multi-agency interoperability for Public Safety Establishing cross-agency, real-time situational awareness is critical to effective incident management as well as daily resource management.


Video


DHS Grant Links

DHS Grants and Assistance Programs Link to overview of available grants administered by The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)


Fact Sheet: Fiscal Year 2008 Preparedness Grants Major changes in funding and focus for 2008 DHS grant programs


Remarks on 2008 Homeland Security Grant Guidance DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA Administrator David Paulison


$1.8 billion in DHS Homeland Security Grant Program Awards


Funding Public Safety Communications Whether you are a law enforcement agency, looking for funding to support an interoperable communications solution or a school, seeking to improve communications between building administrators, grants may provide the funding you need to implement a robust, scalable communication system.


Yes! I would like more information about Sprint's dispatch operations and interoperability solutions.