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	<title>AGW Technologies</title>
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	<description>Smart Home Tech, Audio Visual and IT for Cornwall</description>
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		<title>Understanding LED bulbs and the challenges of dimming them</title>
		<link>https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/blog/understanding-led-bulbs-and-the-challenges-of-dimming-them/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[AndyWhite]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2018 20:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://agwtechnologies.co.uk/?p=750</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[  For decades dimming a light was a really simple process. Incandescent and halogen bulbs provided a smooth and wide range of dimming, from very low to very bright, using standard mains dimming rotary switches. This dimming technology was relatively cheap, easy to fit, and a smooth flicker free dimming experience was guaranteed. However, the [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-753 alignleft" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Incandescent-Bulb.jpg" alt="" width="147" height="196" />  For decades dimming a light was a really simple process. Incandescent and halogen bulbs provided a smooth and wide range of dimming, from very low to very bright, using standard mains dimming rotary switches. This dimming technology was relatively cheap, easy to fit, and a smooth flicker free dimming experience was guaranteed.</p>
<p>However, the inefficiencies of incandescent and halogen bulbs has driven the rise of LED lighting technology. <strong>The average incandescent bulb has a lu</strong><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-752 alignright" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Dimmer-Switch.jpg" alt="" width="168" height="168" /><strong>minance efficacy of between 10 &#8211; 20%,</strong> that means as little as 10% of the energy used produces a visible light, the other 90% is used generating heat. That’s a lot of wasted energy! So it’s no bad thing really that these inefficient light sources are slowly being removed from sale.</p>
<p>This is where the humble LED comes into its own. Having been around for many years, usually as the little red dot on your electronic device, lighting manufacturers sought to advance this technology in order to make it a commercially viable light source to replace the old in<img decoding="async" class="wp-image-754 alignleft" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/LED.jpg" alt="" width="178" height="178" />candescent and halogen bulbs. Early lights were very expensive and unreliable, but manufacturers have been advancing commercially available LED lights for many years now, which has brought the cost down significantly and increased the reliability exponentially, meaning we can now expect to pay £7-£10 for a good quality LED bulb which should last for around 20,000 hours. In comparison an incandescent bulb might only last for 1000 hours of use.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-756 alignright" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/GU10.jpg" alt="" width="151" height="151" /></p>
<p><strong>LEDs use far less energy to produce an equivalent level of light</strong>, so a 5w LED can potentially produce the same light output as a 60w incandescent which is clearly a big reduction in energy usage. However LEDs still only have a luminance efficacy of 40 – 50 % which means even though it might only be consuming 5w of energy, 50% of that energy is still being lost as heat.</p>
<p><strong><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-755 alignleft" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Exploded-LED.png" alt="" width="189" height="296" />There are other complexities</strong> as well, which had to be overcome to make LED lights viable for the mass market, not least the fact that LEDs are low voltage DC (Direct Current) devices, and our homes run on a 230v AC (alternating current) power system. So there’s a lot going on in that little LED bulb or driver to take the mains voltage and covert it not only to low voltage, but also from AC to DC. It’s definitely far more complex than passing mains voltage through a tungsten wire, which is exactly how incandescent and halogen bulbs work.</p>
<p><strong>Another issue which faces LED bulbs is the colour of the light they produce</strong>. We are all very used to the yellowish white an incandescent bulb gives out, and as that light is dimmed the light becomes more yellow and even goes into an orange hue when dimmed really low. This light profile is very comforting to us as human beings, and actually plays into our circadian rhythm as it’s similar to the way the sun changes its colour and light intensity as it goes down.</p>
<p>In the main we’ve never really had to worry about the colour of our lights as it’s always been the same and we haven’t had a choice. But with LED we now have this notion of colour temperature, so when you go to buy an LED bulb it might say Warm White 2700k, or Cool White 5000k. The colour measurement is all based on the colour of hot metal using the kelvin scale, which is what the k stands for, 5000 &#8211; 6000k is generally perceived to be the colour of natural day light depending on where you live, and 2700k is around the same as an undimmed incandescent bulb. So you now get to choose the colour of your light as well as the brightness. Some people see this as a positive thing for LED and others just think it’s adding complexity to something which was very simple.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-757 aligncenter" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Kelvin-Scale-1024x319.jpg" alt="" width="931" height="290" /></p>
<p><strong>We now have cost effective, high q</strong><strong>uality LED bulbs, which use a fraction of the energy our old bulbs used to, they last 20x longer and we can pick the colour temperature to suite our needs. Problem solved right, no need to worry about inefficient incandescent or halogen bulbs anymore? </strong></p>
<p>Not quite! Whilst it’s true that LED is definitely great for replacing traditional mains voltage bulbs which don’t need to be dimmed. There are further complexities in replacing low voltage bulbs such as MR16 type spot lights, and when it comes to dimming LED bulbs this can be whole world of pain!</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-764 alignleft" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/MR16.jpg" alt="" width="193" height="162" />Let’s start with low voltage MR16 spot lights, as these have been installed in their millions around the country, and are essentially a low voltage version of a GU10 spot light. Whilst you can buy very good quality LED MR16 bulbs, this is only half of the story. All MR16 bulbs have a transformer (or driver) which takes the 230v AC mains voltage and converts it to 12v AC low voltage, the issue when it comes to converting these lights to LED, is in the drivers ability to operate an LED bulb. Time and again people have issues with the bulbs not working at all or them only working for a short period of time before going pop. This is mostly due to the fact an old driver will have a minimum load requirement to make it work, this isn’t a problem with one or <strong><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-765 alignright" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Driver.png" alt="" width="219" height="193" /></strong>more 50w or even 30w halogen bulbs attached, however you change all those bulbs to 4w LED equivalents, now the driver doesn’t have enough current draw to make it work properly, this either means the lights will just not work, or it will over drive the LED bulbs which will make them go pop after a few hours of use, <strong>this is usually accompanied by lots of humming or buzzing to further add to the problem. </strong></p>
<p>As a rule of thumb if you have an old electronic transformer, this will likely have a minimum load requirement and will be problematic if you change to LED bulbs. If you have older magnetic transformers these don’t tend to need a minimum load and cope much better with replacement LED bulbs. You can usually tell what type you have just by looking at what’s written on the top if you can get to the transformer. However the best option to ensure smooth operation is to replace older transformers with new LED drivers specifically designed for the job, that way you can ensure no flicker, humming, buzzing or short life issues with your new MR16 LED bulbs.</p>
<p><strong>Now to dimming</strong>, as described at the beginning of this article, dimming used to be a very simple job with incandescent and halogen bulbs. In general this would be achieved through a rotary dimmer switch by using leading edge based dimming, which cuts up the electricity supply to the bulb 50 times a second giving the dimming effect. This dimming technology works flawlessly with Incandescent and halogen bulbs, providing a dimming range from barely on to full brightness, without any flicker at any level.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-763 aligncenter" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/mains-dimming.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="181" /></p>
<p>Then we bring dimmable mains voltage LED into the equation, and this starts to play havoc with our once perfect dimming technology. First things first, not all LED bulbs are dimmable, you need to make sure that the LED bulb you have contains the technology required to be dimmed. Providing the bulb is dimmable, we than have the challenge that not all dimmable LED bulbs are compatible with a traditional leading edge dimmer switch, and in turn most leading edge dimmers require a minimum load to work properly. So by changing all your bulbs to LED on your old dimmer you might actually find that when dimmed the bulbs flicker and buzz and just generally don’t dim very well.</p>
<p><strong>So what’s the answer?</strong> In general a trailing edge dimmer switch will help significantly with dimming mains LED bulbs, but you need to be careful when picking a dimmer switch. All dimmer switches have a load rating; 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 watts etc. However this rating is for an incandescent load and not an LED load, to get the correct LED load you need to divide the maximum load by 10, this is because of the very high inrush current required by LED bulbs. So for example a 250w trailing edge dimmer will be rated for up to 25w of LED bulbs. <strong>Good news then, replace all your dimmers with trailing edge and you’re good to go?</strong> Not quite! Even with a trailing edge dimmer you still aren’t guaranteed flicker free dimming all through the dimming range and this is to do with how the mains dimming signal is converted by the bulb to something the LED understands. Higher quality bulbs tend to be better at it than cheaper ones.</p>
<p><strong>Another challenge with dimming mains LED bulbs</strong> is their low level dimming performance. In general most common mains LED bulbs will not dim below 10% and in a number of cases won’t dim below 30%. This can be a significant problem when you’re trying to create an ambience in a room. The other challenge is colour temperature. An LED bulb in general will maintain it’s colour temperature as it dims down, this is something that can be quite disconcerting to people having been used to the way an incandescent bulb becomes more yellow and even orange as it dims, leading to a dimmed LED not feeling as warm and comforting as a dimmed incandescent bulb.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-761 alignleft" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Dim-to-Warm.png" alt="" width="199" height="151" />How do we get around this little problem? Well from a colour temperature perspective a number of manufacturers now make a range of bulbs which change their colour temperature as they dim down (dim to warm), trying to mimic the good old incandescent bulb. This definitely helps improve the dimming effect, but often the colour temperature at the lower end is far too orange, still it’s a step in the right direction. In terms of the low level dimming there isn’t an easy answer to this as it’s a limitation of the LED bulb itself, manufacturers are constantly improving the dimmability of their bulbs but I’m not sure mains dimming LED will ever give the same performance as the old incandescent bulbs.</p>
<p>Is that it then, are we stuck with worse dimming now with LED? In terms of mains dimming the answer at this time is yes, although technology is moving forwards all the time. <strong>However there is another way!</strong> Low voltage dimming is the best way of dimming LED lights. There are a number of low voltage dimming options available, but these really need to be planned into a lighting design and aren’t always that easy to retrofit. That being said if you are having a major renovation or building a new house then you should definitely be considering installing a lighting system which uses low voltage dimming technology.</p>
<p>There are a number of different low voltage dimming options on the market, the most common ones are 0 – 10v, DALI (digital addressable lighting interface) and DMX 512. The one thing all these technologies have in common is their ability to provide smooth flicker free LED dimming, and with some, the ability to dim to the low levels an incandescent bulb was capable of. So let’s take a quick look at the options and their benefits:</p>
<p><strong>0 – 10v</strong></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-759 alignleft" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/0-10.png" alt="" width="203" height="130" />0 – 10v is an analogue dimming system, which uses a DC low voltage signal (1v – 10v) to tell the bulb what dimming level to use.  The system requires 2 extra control wires which go from the switch to the driver or light fitting, the 2 low voltage control wires must be kept separate from the mains cables to ensure there is no interference or inductance. The dimming range is very good when compared to mains dimming and is also a lot smoother, however the minimum level of dimming that can be achieved is 10% (or 1v), anything below this is considered off.</p>
<p>This technology is relatively inexpensive and is easy to design into a new project or renovation.</p>
<p><strong>DALI</strong></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-760 alignleft" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/DALI-1024x819.png" alt="" width="198" height="158" />DALI or Digital Addressable Lighting Interface is a very flexible and adaptable lighting technology. This is a digital dimming technology allowing for up to 255 different levels of dimming. The system uses an extra 2 wires the same as 0 – 10v however this time the 2 control wires can be run in the same cable as the mains voltage. The dimming range of a DALI system is exceptional, and is as good as an old incandescent bulb and dimmer. The other benefit of DALI is that each light can have its own address on the system, meaning you can change the configuration of the lights as the room or your needs change.</p>
<p>As an example if you had 8 spot lights in the ceiling, in a traditionally wired or even 0-10v wired system all lights might come on, go off and dim down together, and if you ever wanted to change this that would require physical rewiring of the lighting. With an individually addressed DALI lighting system each light can be programmed, so you can change how the lights are grouped together through software rather than physical rewiring. This can save a lot of mess and provide infinitely more flexibility in lighting design when compared to traditional lighting.</p>
<p>DALI is more expensive than traditional or 0 – 10v lighting and does need to be designed into a project or renovation early on. It will also usually be connected to a lighting control system.</p>
<p><strong>DMX 512</strong></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-762 alignleft" src="https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/DMX.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />DMX 512 actually comes from the entertainment industry, and is used to control complex lighting systems, like those used in theatres and music concerts. Its primary use in the residential lighting space is to control the colour of lights. It’s a digital dimming technology and has all the same benefits of DALI, with the added bonus of being able to control the colour of the light by mixing red, green and blue LEDs to create nearly any colour you can think of.</p>
<p>DMX 512 can be very expensive and has to be designed into any project at a very early phase. It’s unlikely a whole house would be wired in DMX 512, instead it is usually used to control statement lighting in certain areas where colour or movement control are required.</p>
<p><strong><u>Conclusion</u></strong></p>
<p>Whilst the introduction of LED lighting has undoubtably been a very good thing in terms of saving energy, it has brought with it some other complexities which we just didn’t have to think about with the humble incandescent bulb. This added complexity can be frustrating and bewildering to people who just want to achieve something which used to be so simple.</p>
<p>There is help at hand though! By contacting a company like AGW Technologies who understands LED lighting technology, we can guide you through the jargon and complexity, and deliver you a high performance lighting system which is both energy efficient and simple to use. So why not give us a call to find out what we can do for you.</p>
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		<title>5 Reasons to Invest in Home Automation</title>
		<link>https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/blog/5-reasons-to-invest-in-home-automation/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[AndyWhite]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Nov 2018 15:55:47 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://agwtechnologies.co.uk/?p=734</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[A Home Automation System Can Save You Time. Eradicate small daily tasks that you probably do without ever realising which, compounded over a day, week, month or year, is at the cost of the time you could be doing something you really enjoy. How long does it take to open all the blinds and curtains [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>A Home Automation System Can Save You Time.</strong></p>
<p>Eradicate small daily tasks that you probably do without ever realising which, compounded over a day, week, month or year, is at the cost of the time you could be doing something you really enjoy.</p>
<p>How long does it take to open all the blinds and curtains each morning as the household wakes up? Maybe a few minutes? If we do that every day, then by the end of the week it’s a much more significant number and then if we extrapolate that to a yearly figure, the question should be asked: “Would I rather spend that time engaging with my family before they go to school or work for the day?”</p>
<p>We all lead busy lives but just a few minutes for some can change the direction of their entire day. Our home automation control systems can be programmed so that all the blinds or shades in a property can be opened at a predetermined time before or after sunrise/sunset using the astronomical clock, meaning you won’t ever have to open another blind again in the morning.</p>
<p><strong>Remote Access Gives You Peace Of Mind.</strong></p>
<p>Picture this. You’ve bundled the kids into the car to drop them off at school or nursery before heading off to the station to catch the train that usually grants you a seat all the way into work, allowing you the comfort to browse the internet, read a book, or send some business emails.</p>
<p>For a moment the thought crosses your mind “Did I lock the front door?”  Or “switch all the lights and televisions off?” One of the best features of having a connected home is that you have control over every connected device in your home from anywhere and at any time, through the use of an app on your smartphone. You can check which lights were left on and if the doors are locked from the comfort of your seat on the train heading into work.</p>
<p><strong>Improved Home Security.</strong></p>
<p>Through the implementation of lighting control, network connected video cameras, motion sensors and a control system, your home is considerably more secure than just having the deterrent of a loud alarm going off if a window is broken.</p>
<p>A control system can schedule for lights to come on and off within the property at predetermined or random times to give the impression to the outside world, that someone is home even when they are not.</p>
<p>A control system can also send you an image to your email address if it detects motion in part of the property when the alarm is activated. This imagery can then be forwarded to law enforcement authorities notifying them that a crime is taking place and they can send someone to investigate.</p>
<p><strong>Bespoke System Tailoring</strong></p>
<p>We’ve probably all experienced it in some way that we learn how to use technology the way the manufacturer built their system rather than a bespoke system built around the way you live your life.</p>
<p>Let’s say you wanted to watch a movie after a long day at work or looking after your children. You may have to pick up at least three or four remote controls in order to get the correct movie up on screen ready for you to watch. You might then want to dim the lights to a cosy brightness that will allow you to be fully immersed in the film. You might also want to close the blinds and turn the heating up slightly.</p>
<p>These are lots of different processes and procedures that would have to be executed manually before you can sit down to relax. A control system with one button press can get you straight to the movie selection screen while it takes care of all the other processes. Just sit back and relax.</p>
<p><strong>Increase The Value Of Your Home Through Technology.</strong></p>
<p>We speak with estate agents and property professionals all the time, and they all tell us that having a home automation system in your property will raise its value when the time comes to sell. Imagine being able to list all the benefits outlined already to a potential buyer? Never mind the fact that in the early days it’s incredibly fun to get used to and after a small period of learning, it becomes embedded in the way you live. This could be a huge differentiator compared to a property that may be similar in size, finish and location but doesn’t have a home automation control system. In fact, properties over a particular value are expected to have a control system installed and maintained.</p>
<p>Credit to Rich Coleman at Luxe Smart Homes</p>
<p><a href="https://www.luxesmarthomes.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.luxesmarthomes.co.uk</a></p>
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		<title>VPNFilter: New Router Malware with Destructive Capabilities</title>
		<link>https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/news/vpnfilter-new-router-malware-with-destructive-capabilities/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[AndyWhite]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 26 May 2018 13:33:41 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://agwtechnologies.co.uk/?p=625</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Unlike most other IoT threats, malware can survive reboot. A new threat which targets a range of routers and network-attached storage (NAS) devices is capable of knocking out infected devices by rendering them unusable. The malware, known as VPNFilter, is unlike most other IoT threats because it is capable of maintaining a persistent presence on [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<header>
<h1 id="page-title" class="blog-post__title">Unlike most other IoT threats, malware can survive reboot.</h1>
</header>
<div>
<p>A new threat which targets a range of routers and network-attached storage (NAS) devices is capable of knocking out infected devices by rendering them unusable. The malware, known as VPNFilter, is unlike most other IoT threats because it is capable of maintaining a persistent presence on an infected device, even after a reboot. VPNFilter has a range of capabilities including spying on traffic being routed through the device. Its creators appear to have a particular interest in SCADA industrial control systems, creating a module which specifically intercepts Modbus SCADA communications.</p>
<p>According to new research from Cisco Talos, activity surrounding the malware has stepped up in recent weeks and the attackers appear to be particularly interested in targets in Ukraine. While VPNFilter has spread widely, data from Symantec&#8217;s honeypots and sensors indicate that unlike other IoT threats such as Mirai, it does not appear to be scanning and indiscriminately attempting to infect every vulnerable device globally.</p>
<p><strong>Q: What devices are known to be affected by VPNFilter?</strong></p>
<p>A: To date, VPNFilter is known to be capable of infecting enterprise and small office/home office&nbsp;routers from Linksys, MikroTik, Netgear, and TP-Link, as well as QNAP network-attached storage (NAS) devices. These include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Linksys E1200</li>
<li>Linksys E2500</li>
<li>Linksys WRVS4400N</li>
<li>Mikrotik RouterOS for Cloud Core Routers: Versions 1016, 1036, and 1072</li>
<li>Netgear DGN2200</li>
<li>Netgear R6400</li>
<li>Netgear R7000</li>
<li>Netgear R8000</li>
<li>Netgear WNR1000</li>
<li>Netgear WNR2000</li>
<li>QNAP TS251</li>
<li>QNAP TS439 Pro</li>
<li>Other QNAP NAS devices running QTS software</li>
<li>TP-Link R600VPN</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Q: How does VPNFilter infect affected devices?</strong></p>
<p>A: Most of the devices targeted are known to use default credentials and/or have known exploits, particularly for older versions. There is no indication at present that the exploit of zero-day vulnerabilities is involved in spreading the threat.</p>
<p><strong>Q: What does VPNFilter do to an infected device?</strong></p>
<p>A: VPNFilter is a multi-staged piece of malware. Stage 1 is installed first and is used to maintain a persistent presence on the infected device and will contact a command and control (C&amp;C) server to download further modules.</p>
<p>Stage 2 contains the main payload and is capable of file collection, command execution, data exfiltration, and device management. It also has a destructive capability and can effectively “brick” the device if it receives a command from the attackers. It does this by overwriting a section of the device’s firmware and rebooting, rendering it unusable.</p>
<p>There are several known Stage 3 modules, which act as plugins for Stage 2. These include a packet sniffer for spying on traffic that is routed through the device, including theft of website credentials and monitoring of Modbus SCADA protocols. Another Stage 3 module allows Stage 2 to communicate using Tor.</p>
<p><strong>Q: If I own an affected device, what should I do?</strong></p>
<p>A: Users of affected devices are advised to reboot them immediately. If the device is infected with VPNFilter, rebooting will remove Stage 2 and any Stage 3 elements present on the device. This will (temporarily at least) remove the destructive component of VPNFilter. However, if infected, the continuing presence of Stage 1 means that Stages 2 and 3 can be reinstalled by the attackers.</p>
<p>You should then apply the latest available patches to affected devices and ensure that none use default credentials.</p>
<p><strong>Q: If Stage 1 of VPNFilter persists even after a reboot, is there any way of removing it?</strong></p>
<p>A: Yes. Performing a hard reset of the device, which restores factory settings, should wipe it clean and remove Stage 1. With most devices this can be done by pressing and holding a small reset switch when power cycling the device. However, bear in mind that any configuration details or credentials stored on the router should be backed up as these will be wiped by a hard reset.</p>
<p><strong>Q: What do the attackers intend to do with VPNFilter’s destructive capability?</strong></p>
<p>A: This is currently unknown. One possibility is using it for disruptive purposes, by bricking a large number of infected devices. Another possibility is more selective use to cover up evidence of attacks.</p>
<p><strong>Q: Do Symantec/Norton products (Win/Mac/NMS) protect against this threat?&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>A: Symantec and Norton products detect the threat as Linux.VPNFilter.</p>
<p><em><strong>Acknowledgement:</strong></em> Symantec wishes to thank Cisco Talos and the Cyber Threat Alliance for sharing information on this threat in advance of publication.</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE:</strong> Netgear is advising customers that, in addition to applying the latest firmware updates and changing default passwords, users should ensure that remote management is turned off on their router. Remote management is turned off by default and can only be turned on using the router&#8217;s advanced settings. To turn it off, they should go to www.routerlogin.net in their browser and log in using their admin credentials. From there, they should click &#8220;Advanced&#8221;&nbsp;followed by &#8220;Remote Management&#8221;. If the check box for &#8220;Turn Remote Management On&#8221;&nbsp;is selected, clear it and click &#8220;Apply&#8221; to save changes.</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE May 24, 2018:</strong> The <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-actions-disrupt-advanced-persistent-threat-28-botnet-infected" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FBI has announced</a> that it has taken immediate action to disrupt the VPNFilter, securing a court order, authorizing it to seize a domain that is part of the malware&#8217;s C&amp;C infrastructure.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Linksys is advising customers to change administration passwords periodically and ensure software is regularly updated. If they believe they have been infected, a factory reset of their router is recommended.&nbsp;&nbsp;Full instructions can be found here.</p>
<p>MikroTik has said that it is highly certain that any of its devices infected by VPNFilter had the malware installed through a vulnerability in MikroTik RouterOS software, which was patched by MikroTik in March 2017. Upgrading RouterOS software deletes VPNFilter, any other third-party files and patches the vulnerability.</p>
<p><strong>UPDATE May 25, 2018:</strong> QNAP has published a <a href="https://www.qnap.com/en/security-advisory/nas-201805-24" target="_blank" rel="noopener">security advisory on VPNFilter</a>. It contains guidance on how to use the company’s malware removal tool to remove any infections.</p>
<p>Credit: Symantec Security Response Team</p>
<p>https://www.symantec.com/blogs/threat-intelligence/vpnfilter-iot-malware</p>
</div>
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		<title>Control4 Announces the Release of the CA-1 Automation Controller</title>
		<link>https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/news/control4-announces-the-release-of-the-ca-1-automation-controller/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[AndyWhite]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Feb 2018 14:31:23 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://agwtechnologies.co.uk/?p=594</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Control4 Announces the Release of the CA-1 Automation Controller Priced at £365 MSRP, the CA-1 enables new opportunities for Control4 dealers to offer smart home experiences to a broader market via home builders, MDU developers, and hotel operators. Control4&#160;Corporation (NASDAQ: CTRL), a leading global provider of smart home solutions, announces the immediate availability of the [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Control4 Announces the Release of the CA-1 Automation Controller</h2>
<h3>Priced at £365 MSRP, the CA-1 enables new opportunities for Control4 dealers to offer smart home experiences to a broader market via home builders, MDU developers, and hotel operators.</h3>
<p><a href="http://www.control4.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Control4</a>&nbsp;Corporation (NASDAQ: CTRL), a leading global provider of smart home solutions, announces the immediate availability of the Control4® CA-1 Automation Controller. The CA-1 enables Control4 Dealers to provide an orchestrated smart home experience for homeowners interested in lighting, temperature control, and security. &nbsp;At £365 MSRP, the new controller is designed to appeal to homebuilders, MDU developers, and hoteliers, giving them a way to differentiate with the inclusion of the most sought-after smart home experiences.</p>
<p>“The emerging range of smart locks, thermostats, lights, and cameras available today have certainly raised consumer awareness for the promise of the smart connected home,” said Martin Plaehn, Chairman and CEO, Control4.&nbsp; “Homeowners as well as home builders and building developers are looking for more than a just collection of independent smart devices. Our new CA-1 and industry-leading Control4 OS delivers that needed capability and customer experience – orchestrating all of the smart devices in a home.”</p>
<p>“Demand for home automation is growing and home buyers expect smart experiences in the houses we are building,” said Vincent Grabowski, Vice President of Construction from Saddle-Tree Homes in Colorado Springs. “But if we just add individual smart devices here and there, the homeowner experience quickly becomes disjointed or incomplete. Control4 and its new CA-1 provides a far more comprehensive solution and cohesive connected home experience – and at a price-point that fits all of our homes.”</p>
<p>Tailored specifically for smart home projects that desire lighting, comfort, and/or security, the CA-1 Automation Controller includes Ethernet, WiFi, Zigbee and Serial communication, leveraging the large Control4 database of thousands of 3<sup>rd</sup> party devices to ensure easy integration and interoperability. Using the optional Z-Wave module, sold separately, enables the CA-1 to be compatible with a selected set of Z-Wave control devices including door, window, water, flood, and temperature sensors and electrical outlets and dimmer outlet modules. The CA-1 also features Power-Over-Ethernet (PoE) so it can be installed virtually anywhere with a single network cable.</p>
<p>“The CA-1 utilizes the industry-proven Control4 platform and broad device ecosystem so our dealers can immediately succeed with the skilled resources and expertise that they already have,” added Plaehn. “This is not a dialed-down version of the Control4 OS nor a compromise; this is a new category of automation controller designed to meet the connected home demands of home builders, building developers, and their buyers.”</p>
<p>Expanding the Control4 controller lineup, the CA-1 complements the entertainment-focused EA Series controller line, used in projects of all sizes and complexity. Using the CA-1, home builders and homeowners can now consider starting with smart lighting, safety, and security via Control4.</p>
<p>The new Control4 CA-1 comes in white for discrete wall, closet, and shelving installations. The CA-1 is available and shipping today, globally, at £365 MSRP with a two-year warranty.</p>
<p>For more information on Control4 visit <a href="http://www.control4.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.control4.com</a>.</p>
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		<title>Meltdown and Spectre Intel Processor Vulnerabilities: What You Need to Know</title>
		<link>https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/news/meltdown-and-spectre-intel-processor-vulnerabilities-what-you-need-to-know/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[AndyWhite]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 24 Jan 2018 10:27:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://agwtechnologies.co.uk/?p=588</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[Microsoft, Linux, Google, and Apple started rolling out patches addressing design flaws in processor chips that security researchers named Meltdown and Spectre. Here’s what you need to know about these flaws: What are Meltdown and Spectre? Meltdown, designated as CVE-2017-5754, can enable hackers to gain privileged access to parts of a computer’s memory used by [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Microsoft, Linux, Google, and Apple started rolling out patches addressing <a href="https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/02/intel_cpu_design_flaw/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">design flaws in processor chips</a> that security researchers named Meltdown and Spectre. Here’s what you need to know about these flaws:</p>
<h3><strong>What are Meltdown and Spectre?</strong></h3>
<p><a href="https://meltdownattack.com/meltdown.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meltdown</a>, designated as CVE-2017-5754, can enable hackers to gain privileged access to parts of a computer’s memory used by an application/program and the operating system (OS). Meltdown affects Intel processors.</p>
<p><a href="https://spectreattack.com/spectre.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Spectre</a>, designated as CVE-2017-5753 and CVE-2017-5715, can allow attackers to steal information leaked in the kernel/cached files or data stored in the memory of running programs, such as credentials (passwords, login keys, etc.). Spectre <a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/01/meltdown-and-spectre-every-modern-processor-has-unfixable-security-flaws/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> affects processors from Intel, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Advanced RISC Machine (ARM).</p>
<p>Modern processors are designed to perform “<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/critical-intel-flaw-breaks-basic-security-for-most-computers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speculative execution</a>.” This means it can “speculate” the functions that are expected to run, and by queuing&nbsp;these speculations in advance, they can process data more efficiently and execute applications/software faster. It’s an industry technique used to optimize processor performance. However, this technique permits access to normally isolated data, possibly allowing an attacker to send an exploit that can access the data.</p>
<h3><strong>What’s the impact?</strong></h3>
<p>Intel processors built since 1995 are reportedly affected by Meltdown, while Spectre affects devices running on Intel, AMD, and ARM processors. Meltdown is related to the way privileges can be escalated, while Spectre entails access to sensitive data that may be stored on the application’s memory space.</p>
<p>The potential impact is far-reaching: Desktops, laptops, and smartphones running on vulnerable processors can be exposed to unauthorized access and information theft. Cloud-computing, virtual environments, multiuser servers—also used in data centers and enterprise environments—running these processors are also impacted.</p>
<p>It’s also worth noting that the patches that have been released for Windows and Linux OSs can reportedly reduce system performance by five to 30 percent, depending on the workload.</p>
<p>Google’s <a href="https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.com/2018/01/reading-privileged-memory-with-side.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Zero</a> has proof-of-concept (PoCs) exploits that work against certain software. Thankfully, Intel and Google reported they have not yet seen attacks actively exploiting these vulnerabilities so far.</p>
<h3><strong>Are they fixed?</strong></h3>
<p>Microsoft issued a <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4056892/windows-10-update-kb4056892" target="_blank" rel="noopener">security bulletin</a> and <a href="https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-us/security-guidance/advisory/adv180002" target="_blank" rel="noopener">advisory</a> ahead of their monthly patch cycle to address these vulnerabilities in Windows 10. Updates/fixes for Windows 7 and 8 will be deployed on the January Patch Tuesday on January 9. Microsoft also issued recommendations and best practices for <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4073119/windows-client-guidance-for-it-pros-to-protect-against-speculative-exe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clients</a> and <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4072698/windows-server-guidance-to-protect-against-the-speculative-execution-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">servers</a>.</p>
<p>Google has published mitigations on the infrastructure/products that may be affected (YouTube, Google Ads, Chrome, etc.). They also released a <a href="https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2018-01-01" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Security Patch Level</a> (SPL) for Android covering updates that can further limit attacks that may exploit Meltdown and Spectre. A separate security update for Android will also be released on January 5. Note that patching on Android is fragmented, so users need to notify their OEMs for their availability. Nexus and Pixel devices can automatically download the update.</p>
<p>Apple’s macOS has been <a href="https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/02/intel_cpu_design_flaw/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> patched in version 10.13.2, while 64-bit <a href="https://developer.arm.com/support/security-update" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ARM kernels</a> were also <a href="https://lwn.net/Articles/740393/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">updated</a>. VMWare also <a href="https://www.vmware.com/us/security/advisories/VMSA-2018-0002.html?ClickID=cxvespvwpwfkk7izpsf7xfiqklqewesaenea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issued</a> its own advisory. Mozilla, whose team <a href="https://blog.mozilla.org/security/2018/01/03/mitigations-landing-new-class-timing-attack/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> that browser-based attacks may be possible, addressed the vulnerabilities with Firefox 57.</p>
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		<title>Customising the Smart Home: How Control4 is putting the power into homeowner’s hands</title>
		<link>https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/news/customising-the-smart-home-how-control4-is-putting-the-power-into-homeowners-hands/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[AndyWhite]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Jan 2018 09:37:58 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://agwtechnologies.co.uk/?p=586</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[In the past few years, we’ve seen a growing divide in the smart home market, centred around the fundamental differences between mass-market smart devices and professionally installed home automation systems. And as one-off smart devices grow smarter and more feature rich, not to mention more popular, that gulf has only gotten deeper. In short, homeowners [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In the past few years, we’ve seen a growing divide in the smart home market, centred around the fundamental differences between mass-market smart devices and professionally installed home automation systems. And as one-off smart devices grow smarter and more feature rich, not to mention more popular, that gulf has only gotten deeper.</p>
<p>In short, homeowners have been forced to choose between the autonomy provided by standalone smart devices on the one hand, and the robustness, sophistication, and extensive device support of professional automation systems on the other.</p>
<p>Until now, that is.</p>
<p>When &gt;&gt; Then, a new feature of Control4’s 4Sight subscription services, bridges that gulf and gives homeowners the best of both worlds: the freedom to enhance, edit, and add to the automated events in and around their home, combined with the reliability, extensive device support, and unparalleled customer service that only a professionally installed automation system like Control4 can deliver.</p>
<p><strong>So, what is When &gt;&gt; Then, exactly?</strong></p>
<p>Simply put, it’s a slick and intuitive browser-based interface that asks homeowners a very simple question: “When X happens, how would you like your smart home to respond?” For example, by navigating just a few simple screens, a homeowner can set straightforward commands like “When I press the top button on the keypad in the kitchen &gt;&gt; Then play my favourite Spotify playlist,” or “When the sun rises &gt;&gt; Then turn on the kitchen lights.” Schedules and triggers can also be set to activate multiple automated events, for example; “When it is 6:00 p.m. &gt;&gt; Then turn on living room lights, lock the front door, and tune the television to channel 246.” With over 10,500 supported third-party consumer electronic devices in the Control4 ecosystem, the options for customisation are nearly limitless.</p>
<p>And the personalisation options aren’t merely limited to devices in and around the home; homeowners can also quickly and easily set up triggers that send push notifications to their smart phones as well. Parents might choose to receive a pop-up alert when their kids unlock the front door at the end of the school day, for example, or when the living room TV is turned on.</p>
<h2><strong>“When &gt;&gt; Then also means they won’t have to deal with frequent, time-consuming truck rolls or service calls from customers who merely want to tweak personal settings here and there.”</strong></h2>
<p>It’s exactly the sort of personalisation that Control4 homeowners and dealers alike have been requesting for quite some time. But getting it right was no easy task. It required a very intuitive, yet flexible interface: one that allowed for rich customisation without the need for the homeowner to have any experience or expertise in programming. Getting it right also meant designing a personalisation environment that allows homeowners to see what sort of programming their dealers have already done for the device or devices in question, but in such a way that they don’t have to worry about undoing, breaking, or interfering with professionally programmed, automated events.</p>
<p>Having his or her work protected from hands-on homeowners isn’t the only benefit for Control4 dealers, of course. When &gt;&gt; Then also means they won’t have to deal with frequent, time-consuming truck rolls or service calls from customers who merely want to tweak personal settings here and there. This leaves dealers with more time to focus on the bigger picture: installing and programming new home automation systems and performing major overhauls and upgrades for existing customers.</p>
<p>In short, Control4’s new “When &gt;&gt; Then” functionality gives homeowners the ability to tweak their homes to fit their lifestyles and needs, secure in the knowledge that they can fall back on the support and expertise that a Control4 dealer-managed system offers. It represents freedom, but also a safety net. It unlocks personal customisation capabilities for one of the most advanced control solutions on the market, in a way that virtually anyone can comprehend. And best of all, it allows homeowners to tinker and experiment, without fear that they’ll do any lasting harm to their advanced home control and entertainment solution.</p>
<div></div>
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		<title>New Security Vulnerability in Most WiFi Enabled Devices!</title>
		<link>https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/news/new-vulnerability-in-most-wifi-enabled-devices/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[AndyWhite]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Oct 2017 13:17:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://agwtechnologies.co.uk/?p=579</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[The wi-fi connections of businesses and homes around the world are at risk, according to researchers who have revealed a major flaw dubbed Krack. It concerns an authentication system which is widely used to secure wireless connections. Experts said it could leave &#8220;the majority&#8221; of connections at risk until they are patched. The researchers added [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>The wi-fi connections of businesses and homes around the world are at risk, according to researchers who have revealed a major flaw dubbed Krack.</div>
<div></div>
<div>It concerns an authentication system which is widely used to secure wireless connections.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Experts said it could leave &#8220;the majority&#8221; of connections at risk until they are patched.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The researchers added the attack method was &#8220;exceptionally devastating&#8221; for Android 6.0 or above and Linux.</div>
<div></div>
<div>A Google spokesperson said: &#8220;We&#8217;re aware of the issue, and we will be patching any affected devices in the coming weeks.&#8221;</div>
<div></div>
<div>The US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (Cert) has issued a warning on the flaw.</div>
<div></div>
<div>&#8220;US-Cert has become aware of several key management vulnerabilities in the four-way handshake of wi-fi protected access II (WPA2) security protocol,&#8221; it said.</div>
<div></div>
<div>&#8220;Most or all correct implementations of the standard will be affected.&#8221;</div>
<div></div>
<div>Computer security expert from the University of Surrey Prof Alan Woodward said: &#8220;This is a flaw in the standard, so potentially there is a high risk to every single wi-fi connection out there, corporate and domestic.</div>
<div></div>
<div>&#8220;The risk will depend on a number of factors including the time it takes to launch an attack and whether you need to be connected to the network to launch one, but the paper suggests that an attack is relatively easy to launch.</div>
<div></div>
<div>&#8220;It will leave the majority of wi-fi connections at risk until vendors of routers can issue patches.&#8221;</div>
<div></div>
<div>Click the link below for more info</div>
<div></div>
<div>(Credit BBC News)</div>
<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41635516" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41635516</a></p>
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		<title>Get Surround Sound in Your Living Room—Without the Mess of Wires</title>
		<link>https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/news/latest-news-2/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[innuvo_web]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Oct 2017 20:00:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://agwtechnologies.co.uk/?p=108</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[There&#8217;s nothing like the shake, rattle and rumble of a movie soundtrack to make you feel as though you’re in the middle of the action. That’s true whether the sound in question is a hail of explosive spears whizzing by in “Mad Max: Fury Road” or the lush score that immerses you in the intrigue [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>There&#8217;s nothing like the shake, rattle and rumble of a movie soundtrack to make you feel as though you’re in the middle of the action. That’s true whether the sound in question is a hail of explosive spears whizzing by in “Mad Max: Fury Road” or the lush score that immerses you in the intrigue of “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” Enjoying the same sonic experience in your living room, however, has typically required living with a big, honking A/V receiver and a mess of wires.</div>
<div></div>
<div>It took a while, but the wireless revolution has finally found its way to the home theater: WiSA, a new, ridiculously easy-to-use technology lets you conveniently position speakers all around your living room for optimal sound. The amplifier is gone, and so are the pesky wires you once needed to run to each speaker.</div>
<div></div>
<div>A system like this is a huge step up from a soundbar, the elongated speaker-packed box that tries to fire sound every which way. Always a compromise, even the best soundbars can’t deliver the realism that discrete speakers can. While Sonos, a company known for masterminding whole-home wireless audio products, has for years offered a setup that combines a soundbar and wireless rear-channel speakers, even that falls short of true surround sound.</div>
<div></div>
<div>New WiSA systems from Bang &amp; Olufsen, Klipsch and newcomer Enclave Audio deliver the real deal. All support five to seven speakers (plus a subwoofer) that each has its own built-in amplifier and wireless receiver. Rather than having to snake an audio cable across the floor (or hiring someone to pry up your floor boards to run wires under the floor), you’ll only need one cable for each speaker: a power cord. And because the speakers establish their own Wi-Fi network instead of using yours, they can deliver high-resolution audio data without mucking with your Netflix stream.</div>
<div></div>
<div>At the heart of every WiSA system is a command center. This could be a small stand-alone box (as it is in the Klipsch setup below), or it could be built into the TV (the approach Bang &amp; Olufsen takes) or the center-channel speaker (Enclave Audio’s strategy). To this hub, you connect your Blu-ray player, Apple TV, Sky box or whatever you’re hunkering down with for the night. What’s great is that, when the speakers are powered up, the components just start talking to each other. Menus displayed on a TV allow you to tweak settings, and the remote controls have an on/off button that will put all the speakers into sleep mode, awaiting a wireless wake-up call.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The setups here can handle movie-theater-quality Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound (automatically switching modes, depending on your source material). But you don’t have to be a cinema nerd to justify investing in a system. For example, if you’d rather not dedicate five speakers in your home solely to movie watching, you can divvy the rig up: Keep two of the speakers in your bedroom to listen to music, but on movie nights, bring them out into the living room to serve as the rear-channel speakers that are so crucial to creating the surround-sound effect.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Why not give AGW Technologies a call to understand more about how to free yourself from the wires but still maintain a high quality surround sound experience.</div>
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		<title>Eight Reasons To Automate Your Home</title>
		<link>https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/news/latest-news-3/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[innuvo_web]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Oct 2017 20:18:51 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://agwtechnologies.co.uk/?p=110</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[You’ve heard about home automation and are wondering what all the fuss is about? If you’re like most people, you don’t do things without a good reason. Just why should you automate your home? Here are 8 good reasons: 1. Make tasks more convenient: Many tasks that are repetitive in nature can be accomplished automatically [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You’ve heard about home automation and are wondering what all the fuss is about? If you’re like most people, you don’t do things without a good reason. Just why should you automate your home? Here are 8 good reasons:</p>
<p>1. Make tasks more convenient: Many tasks that are repetitive in nature can be accomplished automatically or with fewer steps using home automation. Instead of turning off or dimming four different lights when you want to watch a movie, home automation allows you to accomplish this task with one button.</p>
<p>2. Save money on utilities: Utilities can amount to hundreds of pounds per month. Home automation can turn off lights or lower the thermostat automatically when you aren’t using them and easily lower your utility bills by 10% to 25%.</p>
<p>3. Increased home safety: Many accidents happen in the home because of poor lighting. Home automation can automatically turn lights on in closets, stairways, and other dark places when you enter and decrease the chance of accidentally tripping or running into things.</p>
<p>4. Home security: Although home security is a priority for everyone, high installation cost or monthly monitoring charges make security systems cost prohibitive for many homeowners. Home automation provides an inexpensive solution to home security.</p>
<p>5. Good for the environment: In a time when we are all becoming more environmentally aware, home automation provides a good solution to help preserve our natural resources.</p>
<p>Home automation products can reduce power consumption and automatically turn off lights and appliances when they aren’t in use.</p>
<p>6. Peace of mind: Never again worry about your home while you’re away. Using home video cameras and an Internet connection, you can check on the status of your home or kids from anywhere in the world using a PC or web-enabled phone.</p>
<p>7. Learning experience for children: Technology is here to stay and the more your children learn about upcoming technology the better prepared they are for the future. Turn your home into a classroom, as your home automation projects become a learning experience for your children.</p>
<p>8. Something the whole family can enjoy: A family that plays together, stays together. Although home automation is all of the above, most of all it’s a lot of fun for the entire family. You will find home automation will bring the family closer together as everyone learns about the technology’s capabilities together.</p>
<p>So why not give AGW Technologies a call to find out how home automation can help to enhance your life and save you money.</p>
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		<title>How Well is Your Router Protecting Your Devices?</title>
		<link>https://agwtechnologies.co.uk/news/latest-news-1/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[innuvo_web]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Oct 2017 21:20:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://agwtechnologies.co.uk/?p=105</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[In a world where more and more things are now connected to our home networks, how well are they protected from the bad guys? The Internet of Things or IoT is a hot topic and is creating a world where anything that has a plug can also be connected to the internet. This affords us [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In a world where more and more things are now connected to our home networks, how well are they protected from the bad guys? The Internet of Things or IoT is a hot topic and is creating a world where anything that has a plug can also be connected to the internet. This affords us a fantastic opportunity to make life easier and more convenient, but it also means we increase our likelihood of being hacked and our devices being used against us. You can&#8217;t install virus scan software, firewalls and anti malware software on your Nest thermostat or on your SMART TV, so how do you protect your tech in the IoT world?&nbsp; You might be thinking that my router has a firewall so I&#8217;m well protected, but unfortunately the firewall in your standard router is no longer good enough to fully protect you in this new and ever changing world of connected devices. If you are&nbsp; tech savvy you might also think if you have a state full packet inspection firewall (SPI) then that is offering you good protection.</p>
<p>Unfortunately standard routers, even ones with SPI are no longer good enough to fully protect all your connected devices. Fortunately though the security world has started to wake up to the need for better protection for home users and their devices, this has led to the development of next generation secure routers which are specifically designed for IoT world and use firewall technology which has been developed and perfected in the enterprise corporate world over many years. Well known security companies like Norton and Bitdefender have already released a new &#8220;secure&#8221; routers to the market and more are on the way. AGW Technologies has the knowledge and expertise in network security and the next generation secure home routers, so why not give us a call and find out how we can ensure all your devices have the maximum level of protection from would be hackers.</p>
<p>Want to know more, click on the links below:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38415067" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-38415067</a></p>
<p><a href="https://uk.norton.com/core" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://uk.norton.com/core</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/bitdefender-box-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/bitdefender-box-2/</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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