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    in Networking

    NBN received almost 10,000 performance complaints for HFC from February to May

    Image: Chris Duckett/ZDNet
    The company responsible for the National Broadband Network has informed the Senate it has seen plenty of complaints about its HFC network. “From Feb 2021 to May 2021, NBN Co received a total of 9,970 speed-related/ performance-related faults after which it investigates the actual cause and determines the appropriate resolution of the ticket,” NBN Co said in response to Senate Estimates Questions on Notice. There are around 2.5 million cable connections on NBN’s network, with the company previously saying 97% of connections were able to access speeds of 250Mbps, and 58% were able to get over 500Mbps. By year-end, the company wants 94% of its cable connections to be capable of over 500Mbps. In other responses, the company filled in a little detail from its recent appointment performance declines. According to its most recent monthly progress report, NBN reported its right first-time installation metric recovered to 78% after falling to a low of 74% in May. Similarly, the meeting agreed fault restoration times metric bounced back to 74% after dropping to 70% the month prior. Both metrics had previously been in the high 80% or 90% range. “This metric has been impacted by some unexpected challenges following the recent implementation of a new appointment scheduling system,” the company said in a note attached to the report.

    “NBN Co is working closely with phone and internet providers and delivery partners to have these issues resolved as soon as possible.” Responding to the Senate, NBN said in April 8.9% of all scheduled appointments were missed compared to 5.8% in May 2020. “A missed appointment refers to where a technician did not attend the premises within the agreed appointment window, as per the service level schedule,” NBN said. “In many of these cases the technician turns up earlier or later than the stipulated time and still completes the job on the day. The number also includes some cases where bad weather restricted the ability to complete the job.” NBN also revealed it cancelled over 15% of appointments in April, 30,184 of 195,622 appointments, and almost 14%, or 27,790 of 199,742, appointments in May. The company said it was common for appointments to be cancelled when a line resumed service and the appointment was no longer needed, which included situations such as a mass outage due to a fibre cut, or other core network issues. “When a technician calls a customer on approach of an appointment, the customer may cancel the appointment as their service is working,” NBN added. “Sometimes the issue resolves by itself, i.e. the customer may have replaced some of their hardware like the modem which was causing the issue.” The company recently spelled out how its ServiceMax Go (SMAX-Go) app for technicians interacts with its ServiceNow, ServiceMax, and Oracle back-ends, as well as the cost of some of the system. “The cost to develop the ServiceMax (includingSMAX-Go app) component of the system architecture to support the new field contracts under Unify was AU$13.3m total, over FY19, FY20 & FY21,” NBN said. “SMAX-Go went live in Victoria and South Australia on 14 April 2021, followed by New South Wales, Tasmania and Australian Capital Territory on 28 April 2021. The app is yet to go live in Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland.” During a hearing in May, NBN said the problems experienced by technicians when the app launched in NSW had arisen because the system was overloaded. “What happened, when literally it was rolled out in New South Wales, the platform went down and we then had, due to literally the doubling of our workforce on the system, we then add the issues around the functionality where it wasn’t syncing properly, so therefore it caused a poor experience,” COO Kathrine Dyer said. Dyer said the software was hit by a trio of factors: A two-day platform outage that hit NBN and technicians; it wasn’t syncing; and it was updating its functionality. In response to a question on whether the system had run over budget, NBN replied the system now fell under its business as usual maintenance and support. “The Unify project was initially due to be delivered in December 2019; however, to avoid seasonal impacts delivery was deferred to May 2020, which was further impacted due to COVID-19 with revised delivery to February 2021. Under Unify, NBN Co launched its Internal Field Workforce in July 2020, followed by a September 2020 launch of its network module,” NBN said in its most recent responses. Elsewhere, NBN said as of 11 June 2021, 1,156,061 premises were ready for service within its brownfields full fibre footprint, and the company purchased almost 60,000 kilometres of copper cable by June 16. “A common misconception seems to be that this copper is replacing existing copper in the legacy network. In fact, this material is necessary to create short connections to new and upgraded components in the network,” it said. “For example, close to 40% of this volume is for specialised copper cable used in the FttC network construction for short extensions of lead-in cables to the FttC DPU location. Copper is also required to connect the local network into new FttN nodes, which are then connected with new fibre to the exchange.” Related Coverage More

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    in Information Technology

    Facebook shuts down NYU misinformation study, sparking outrage

    Facebook is facing significant backlash from lawyers and professors at two New York universities after the platform shut down a study being done on political ads and the spread of misinformation. New York University (NYU) and Columbia University released a statement on Wednesday condemning the decision by Facebook, which decided to shut down the accounts of New York University researchers Laura Edelson and Damon McCoy Tuesday evening.In a statement, Edelson said they had been negotiating with Facebook for months over a research tool called Ad Observer. The tool is part of work of NYU Cybersecurity for Democracy, where Edelson is lead researcher and a Ph.D. candidate in computer science at New York University Tandon School of Engineering.Ad Observer is a browser plugin that gave Facebook users the chance to share “limited and anonymous information” about the political ads they see on a daily basis. The tool also allows researchers and reporters to look through political advertising trends on Facebook in their states.”Yesterday evening, Facebook suspended my Facebook account and the accounts of several people associated with Cybersecurity for Democracy, our team at NYU. This has the effect of cutting off our access to Facebook’s Ad Library data, as well as Crowdtangle,” Edelson said.”Over the last several years, we’ve used this access to uncover systemic flaws in the Facebook Ad Library, to identify misinformation in political ads, including many sowing distrust in our election system, and to study Facebook’s apparent amplification of partisan misinformation. By suspending our accounts, Facebook has tried to shut down all this work.” Edelson added that Facebook had effectively cut off access to more than two dozen other researchers and journalists who get access to Facebook data through our project, including work measuring vaccine misinformation with the Virality Project and other partners.

    Facebook did not respond to a request for comment, but Facebook product management director Mike Clark released a blog post accusing the university of studying political ads “using unauthorized means to access and collect data from Facebook” that was in violation of the website’s Terms of Service. “We took these actions to stop unauthorized scraping and protect people’s privacy in line with our privacy program under the FTC Order. The researchers gathered data by creating a browser extension that was programmed to evade our detection systems and scrape data such as usernames, ads, links to user profiles and ‘Why am I seeing this ad?’ information, some of which is not publicly-viewable on Facebook,” Clark said. “The extension also collected data about Facebook users who did not install it or consent to the collection. The researchers had previously archived this information in a now offline, publicly-available database.”Clark corroborated what NYU said, writing that the two sides had been negotiating since Facebook sent both Edelson and McCoy a cease-and-desist letter last fall demanding they stop using the tool. Facebook wanted the two to take down all of their previous research as well. Clark said they told NYU the tool was against their Terms of Service before they even deployed it in the summer of 2020. He compared the research project to “scraping,” a widespread problem many social media sites now face from cybercriminals and political actors who abuse privileges to steal troves of data from sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. In April, information belonging to 553 million Facebook users was posted online following a scraping incident.

    The researchers also turned down an attempt by Facebook to give them data collected by the social media platform itself on political ad targeting data from the 2020 US election. Facebook has set up internal programs similar to Ad Observer. “We made it clear in a series of posts earlier this year that we take unauthorized data scraping seriously, and when we find instances of scraping we investigate and take action to protect our platform,” Clark said, arguing further that the violations of privacy outweighed the research’s value.  “While the Ad Observatory project may be well-intentioned, the ongoing and continued violations of protections against scraping cannot be ignored and should be remediated.”Edelson said the work they were doing to “make data about disinformation on Facebook transparent” was “vital to a healthy internet and a healthy democracy.”She added that Facebook is “silencing” the two because they were calling attention to the platform’s issues dealing with misinformation in political ads, which has become a sensitive topic for the social media giant. “Worst of all, Facebook is using user privacy, a core belief that we have always put first in our work, as a pretext for doing this,” Edelson said. “If this episode demonstrates anything it’s that Facebook should not have veto power over who is allowed to study them.”McCoy pointed out that Facebook made this decision right as it is facing widespread backlash from the US government for the spread of COVID-19 vaccine disinformation. Last month, President Joe Biden made waves when he said Facebook was “killing people” through COVID-19 misinformation. McCoy also criticized Facebook for citing privacy violations considering advertisers “consented to making their ads public.”The two noted that reporters across the country used the tool to write about the 2020 election and that Facebook waited months to shut down their accounts. Hours before their accounts were shut down, they told Facebook they were “studying the spread of disinformation about January 6 on the social media platform.”The researchers’ lawyer, Seth Berlin, called it “remarkable” that Facebook would argue political advertising is private considering its purpose and disputed the platform’s claims that the Ad Observer team collect private user information. “Facebook’s primary justification for trying to shut down this important research simply doesn’t hold up,” Berlin said.  More

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    in Information Technology

    Black Hat: This is how a naive NSA staffer helped build an offensive UAE security branch

    BLACK HAT USA: What began as an incredible job offer for a naive, young security analyst turned into an explosive case of former US experts unwittingly helping a foreign service create an offensive security branch.

    Known as Project Raven, a team of over a dozen former US intelligence operatives was poached with promises of job roles that seemed too good to be true — only for them to participate in activities on behalf of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that were, at the least, dubious.  Project Raven, as previously reported by the New York Times and Reuters, involved the clandestine surveillance of other governments, militant groups, human rights activists, journalists, and other parties of interest to — or, critical of — the monarchy.  One of these operatives was David Evenden, a former offensive intelligence analyst, member of the Navy, and now founder of StandardUser LLC who once worked for the US National Security Agency (NSA).  At Black Hat USA in Las Vegas, Evenden described his time working for the UAE, a story that has also previously been covered extensively in the Darknet Diaries podcast.  After working for the NSA for roughly three years, in 2014, a recruiter from CyberPoint, reported to have been vetted by the US government, approached Evenden with a new career opportunity.  He was told he would be involved in security work in Abu Dhabi and would be helping to tackle terrorist activity and reduce the workload on government agencies in his homeland, as part of a wider defense agreement with the United States. 

    “It was all above board and we all felt confident in what we were doing,” Evenden said. As noted in “This is how they tell me the world ends,” penned by Nicole Perlroth, the overarching contract was known as Project DREAD — or Development Research Exploitation and Analysis Department. Perlroth writes that Project DREAD relied “heavily” on subcontractors including CyberPoint as well as the “dozens of talented former NSA hackers like Evenden.”The security specialist explained that upon arrival, two back-to-back briefings were set up. The “cover” story, in a purple folder, was that he would be working on defensive measures. However, in the following meeting, a black folder was issued.  The black folder revealed that Evenden would be working with NISSA, the UAE’s NSA counterpart, in offensive security, surveillance, and collecting data on targets of interest — and this was never to be acknowledged to the general public.  If this wasn’t a red flag, the use of a converted villa for operations — as well as the promise of a tax-free lifestyle and a lucrative salary — should have tipped Evenden off to something not being quite right.  For the first few months, reconnaissance was performed to combat terrorism, such as pulling data from the Twitter API, keyword analytics, and computational deltas of social media chatter.However, while originally told he would be working on behalf of the US and allies, the operative said in Darknet Diaries that it wasn’t long before CyberPoint was hacking “real and perceived” Emirati enemies on behalf of its clients, rather than terrorist operatives. ISIS was one of the first groups in scope, but this eventually turned to everyone from civil rights activists to journalists and individuals criticizing the UAE on Twitter. “We then began to get questions about following the money,” the security expert said, adding that the group was then asked to gain access to Qatar to see if there was any cash being funneled to support the Muslim Brotherhood — and when told that they would need to hack the country’s systems, permission was granted. Intel submissions then started to deviate — such as requests made for the Qatari royal family’s flight plans. It was the moment that emails belonging to Michelle Obama landed on his PC, in 2015, that changed the game. The emails related to the former First Lady’s team and a trip to the Middle East to promote the “Let Girls Learn” initiative.  “This was the moment I said, “We shouldn’t be doing this. This is not normal,” Evenden told Perlroth.In late 2015, a local entity, DarkMatter, took over the Project Raven operation. The group was allowed to perform offensive operations against foreign organizations, and operatives were told to join or go home. “People who are loyal to the United States are not going to do that, so we jumped ship and moved home,” Evenden said. Another member of the team was Lori Stroud, a cybersecurity specialist who had previously worked for the NSA. A request from DarkMatter reportedly came in to target a US journalist, and once Stroud voiced her concerns, she was promptly removed from the project. Speaking to Reuters, Stroud said that at that moment, she became “the bad kind of spy.”The red flags Evenden missed can be taken as a lesson to other security professionals considering a move abroad, and he has some advice to give — in the hope that others do not make the same mistakes. “Vet your leadership — that’s one of the main things I learned out of this,” Evenden commented. “If you get those hairs standing up on your arms, you need to step back [and] make sure you have an exit strategy — whether or not an organization provides you with one, you need one, too.” Previous and related coverage Have a tip? Get in touch securely via WhatsApp | Signal at +447713 025 499, or over at Keybase: charlie0 More

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    Best internet service provider in San Antonio 2021

    San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States, so it’s no surprise it is on the cutting edge of the latest internet technology. There are about five internet providers in San Antonio offering widespread, dependable coverage throughout the city. San Antonio also continues to actively expand its fiber broadband infrastructure in an effort to reach the entire city.With several solid options to choose from, it can remain a challenge to make the choice that works best for you. Your decision will come down to price, speeds, and customer support needs. We researched San Antonio internet providers to help breakdown this decision for you.The best San Antonio internet providers: summed upAT&T InternetSpectrum InternetEarthlink InternetDefining traitBest for fiber-optics connectionNo data capsBest customer support featuresConnection typeDSL Fiber OpticDSLDSL Fiber OpticDownload speeds (Mbps)100, 300, 1,000200, 94015, 30, 80, 100, 200, 1,000Prices starting at$50/month$49.99/month$49.95/monthContract length12 months12 months12 monthsData cap1 TB/month; Unlimited for 1,000 Mbps plansUnlimitedUnlimited

    Best for fiber-optics connection

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    With attractive perks like a large mobile hotspot network, AT&T remains San Antonio’s largest internet provider. Customers can take advantage of the company’s national AT&T WiFi hotspot network as a part of their internet plan. There are also promotional signup offers, such as waived activation fees for online orders, speed upgrades, and visa gift card offers. Current AT&T mobile customers can benefit from discounts of up to $10 on their internet service.Fiber-optics in some cities is hard to come by. So if your neighborhood has fiber, that’s good news – the nation averages about a 38% coverage area for fiber-optic internet. Bexar County in San Antonio boasts an impressive 61.43% fiber coverage area, which means you can benefit from the lightning-fast internet speeds and technology if you live in the fiber area. If you’re lucky enough to live in an AT&T fiber-optics area, and you want fast speeds, then AT&T internet is the way to go.Price: $50 to $70 per month, plus $10/month equipment fee and no activation fee when purchased onlineSpeed and Data: 100, 300, or 1,000; 1TB per month for Internet 100 and 300 plans with overage charges; unlimited data for Internet 1,000Plans/Packages: Internet 100, 300, or 1,000Contract Options: 12 months

    View Now at AT&T

    Best data plans

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    Our top pick is Spectrum, which provides internet service to most of San Antonio. With no data caps and a free internet modem, as a customer, you can save tons of money each year, unlike the requisite data cap and equipment fees of other companies. With Spectrum’s no data caps, you can use as much of your speed without an overage charge with any plan. You must be on the high plan (1,000+ Mbps) with AT&T to avoid the extra charge.In addition to phone and internet services, they also offer San Antonio residents free home WiFi and free access to Time Warner WiFi hotspots with 24/7 customer support. There are three internet plans for you to choose from, including the Standard, Ultra, and Gig Internet Plans. A free Security Suite is available with your Spectrum plan to protect your devices with available parental controls. They even offer a contract buyout option to help you escape another internet contract.Price: $49.99 per monthSpeed and Data: 200 Mbps or 940 Mbps; unlimited dataPlans/Packages: Spectrum Standard, Ultra Internet, or Gig Internet PlanContract Options: 12 months

    View Now at Spectrum

    Best customer support

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    Around since the mid-1990s, Earthlink is one of the most flexible internet providers in San Antonio. There are a host of internet plans available so you can purchase the right internet speeds for your household with up to 1 Gbps power. Internet plans can also include up to 8 email addresses for your household using EarthLink’s premium email servers. Automatic virus and spam protection are also available.Of all internet providers, Earthlink answered our call the fastest with the shortest wait time of all providers at less than 25 seconds. There is online support, as well as round-the-clock support with 24/7 customer service, which many customers appreciate. However, pricing can quickly get expensive with all of the extra fees, such as installation, equipment rental, and cancellation fees.Price: $49.95 to $99.95 per month, plus $69.95 installation cost, $6.95/month equipment rental, and up to $200 in cancellation feesSpeed and Data: 15, 30, 80, 100, 200, 1,000 with unlimited dataPlans/Packages: HyperlinkTM internetContract Options: 12 months

    View Now at Earthlink

    How we found the best internet providers in San Antonio

    With several providers to choose from, this is how we determined the best provider for San Antonio, Texas.Coverage. As some of the largest internet companies in the country, these three companies provide some of the most widespread and reliable coverage in San Antonio. Other internet providers limit their services to just a few small portions of San Antonio.Value. Internet speeds in San Antonio go all the way to 1,000 Mbps, giving residents a wide choice of internet speeds and pricing. Despite these speeds, pricing remains roughly the same for monthly premiums. However, watch out for additional costs: EarthLink and AT&T both charge monthly equipment fees you won’t find at Spectrum.Customer Satisfaction. J.D. Power offers customer service ratings for top industry providers, with AT&T taking top honors with near-perfect scores across the board. Spectrum receives a rating of 3 out of 5 for the southern region of the country, while Earthlink and AT&T remain unrated. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) also shows AT&T at the top of the list, second only to Verizon. Earthlink was unlisted.

    Who is the best internet provider for me?

    These are our top three picks for internet providers in San Antonio, but the best provider for you will depend on several details. Where you live will determine what services are available to you. There are many things you should consider when choosing an internet provider, such as the available packages and costs. For example, Earthlink offers many different internet speed packages up to 1000 Mbps. Not only çan speed vary, but the price of your internet can differ, too, from $49.95 to almost $100. Sometimes, a company will feature a special deal or savings program you can use to receive higher internet speeds at a low price.

    What is DSL and fiber optic internet?

    Fiber optic internet is a revolutionary new process that uses light to transfer data. In doing so, it offers lightning-fast speeds, especially when compared to traditional DSL, which uses a telephone line. DSL internet usually provides no more than 6 Mbps, while fiber-optic is capable of providing up to 1,000 Mbps.

    How do I choose an internet package?

    To find the right internet package for you, you must first see what is available in your area. You can visit each provider site and input your zip code to determine what services are available at your home. The number of people in your household also affects your plan, because the more users and devices there are, the higher your internet speed needs to be. Gaming and streaming content will require more power than a household with a single user who surfs the internet occasionally.

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    Volume of cyber intrusion activity globally jumped 125%: Accenture

    A new report from Accenture has found that for the first half of 2021, the volume of cyber intrusion activity is up 125% globally compared to last year.Accenture said the report is based on their work with clients recovering from incidents. They attributed the increase in intrusions to web shell activity, ransomware incidents and supply chain attacks. While the US (36%) led the way as it usually does on the list of most targeted countries, the UK (24%) and Australia (11%) were not far behind.Consumer goods and services companies faced the highest number of attacks among Accenture’s customers, followed by organizations in the manufacturing industry, banking and hospitality. Robert Boyce, who leads Accenture’s Cyber Investigations, Forensics & Response business globally, said organizations are only protecting their core corporate systems and leaving themselves vulnerable to attack through third parties and other supply chains they are part of. Any subsidiary or affiliate also needs to be secured, Boyce said. “Industries that previously experienced lower levels of cyberattacks during the pandemic — such as consumer good & services, industrials, travel & hospitality, and retail — should reevaluate their cybersecurity posture as increased consumer activity in these industries present renewed opportunities for cybercriminals,” Boyce added. 

    Ransomware dominated the report’s section on malware, with the now-defunct REvil/Sodinokibi group accounting for 25% of attacks seen by Accenture’s team. Accenture’s insurance industry customers were targeted most often by ransomware groups making up 23% of all ransomware targets. Consumer goods and services companies as well as telecommunications companies were targeted heavily as well. The report also made clear what their main targets are. The report found that 54% of all ransomware or extortion victims were companies with annual revenues between $1 billion and $9.9 billion.The researchers also found that there has been a rise in the number of backdoors, droppers and credential stealers being used by cybercriminals in the first half of 2021.  More

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    in Information Technology

    Bob had a bad night: IoT mischief in a capsule hotel takes neighborly revenge to the next level

    BLACK HAT USA: Researchers have revealed how security vulnerabilities could be exploited to compromise hotel Internet of Things (IoT) devices — and take revenge on loud neighbors.

    IoT devices are now commonplace both in businesses and in the home. These internet and often Bluetooth-connected products range from security cameras to smart lighting; fridges that monitor your foodstuffs, pet trackers, intelligent thermostats — and in the hospitality space, IoT is also employed to give guests more control over their stay. These services are sometimes offered through dedicated apps and tablets, allowing the management of lights, heaters, air conditioning, televisions, and more. However, the moment you network IoT and hand over control to third parties, you may also give individuals the keys to a digital kingdom — and the ability to cause mischief, or worse. Vulnerabilities in IoT devices vary. They can range from hardcoded, weak credentials to bugs that allow local attackers to hijack devices; remote code execution (RCE) flaws, information-leaking interfaces, and to a lack of security and firmware updates — the latter of which is a frequent problem in legacy and early IoT products. Speaking at Black Hat USA, Las Vegas, security consultant Kya Supa from LEXFO explained how a chain of security weaknesses were combined and exploited to gain control of rooms at a capsule hotel, a budget-friendly type of hotel offering extremely small — and, therefore, cozy — spaces to guests, who are stacked side-by-side.Supa was traveling and checked in to a capsule hotel abroad. When they arrived, guests were issued an iPod Touch. The capsules contained a bed and curtain for privacy, as well as a ventilation fan. The technology in use included NFC cards for each floor, the option to mirror a device screen on the curtain, and on the iPod Touch, guests could control the lights, ventilation fan, and change the position of the adjustable bed via an app.

    The app was connected via either Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. A neighbor, “Bob,” kept waking Supa up by making loud phone calls in the early hours of the morning. While Bob had agreed to keep it down, he did not keep his promise — and the researcher set to work since he needed his sleep, especially during his vacation. The first thing Supa did was to explore his room, finding an emergency light installed for safety reasons; a Nasnos automaton center for use in controlling products in case the iPod Touch was lost; an electric motor used to manage the incline of the capsule’s bed; and a Nasnos router, hidden in the wall. If you connected to the router via a smartphone, it was then possible to control other devices on the network, and this was the setup the hotel chose to use.It was not possible to exit the app or turn off the iPod Touch, and Apple’s Gateway software was in use to stop the device from being tampered with, and so a passcode was required for any other action. To circumvent these protections, Supa was able to drain the battery and then explore the iPod Touch’s settings. He found that two networks were connected — the hotel Wi-Fi and the router. To retrieve the router key, Supa targeted WEP, a protocol that has been known to be weak for years. Access points, each being one of the bedrooms, were found. Supa inspected the traffic and found weak credentials in place — “123” — and you can guess the rest. By using an Android smartphone, the iPod Touch, and a laptop, the researcher created a Man-in-The-Middle (MiTM) architecture and inspected the network traffic. No encryption was found and he created a simple program to tamper with these connections, allowing the researcher to seize control of his bedroom through his laptop. Now, it was to be determined if the key would be applicable for the other bedrooms. Supa downloaded a Nasnos router app and reverse-engineered the software to see how the Wi-Fi key was generated, and while this investigation failed, he was able to find that packets were sent via UDP port 968, and a lack of authentication meant he was still able to secure Wi-Fi keys. Only four digits in each key appeared to be generated differently, confirmed via a dictionary attack, and so a quick exploit program later, Supa had control of each bedroom’s smart features. 
    Kya Supa
    Now that he could “control every bedroom,” and Bob was still there, Supa then tampered with the lights of different bedrooms until he found the right one. He created a script that, every two hours, would change the bed into a sofa and turn the lights on and off. The script was launched at midnight. We can probably assume Bob did not enjoy his stay.”I hope he will be more respectful in the future,” Supa commented. While this case is amusing — although, not for Bob — it does also highlight how a single access point can be used to tamper with and hijack IoT devices: and this goes for the home, too. While intelligent technology can be convenient, we need to be aware of the potential security ramifications, too.The hotel and Nasnos were both contacted afterward, and the hotel has since improved its security posture.  Previous and related coverage Have a tip? Get in touch securely via WhatsApp | Signal at +447713 025 499, or over at Keybase: charlie0 More

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    Best internet service provider in El Paso 2021

    If you’re a resident of El Paso, you’re in luck: as the 20th largest city in the U.S., El Paso has multiple internet service providers (ISPs) competing for your business. Finding the best one for your own particular needs requires some research — starting with this review.  You can choose from DSL, cable, satellite, and fiber options for your service, depending on where you live and how you use the internet. We’ve selected the best options for each type of connection to help you choose from a range of service plans.   AT&T Spectrum Viasat Defining traitBest package dealBest for speedBest satellite coverage Connection typeFiber, DSLCablesatellite Download speeds (Mbps)Fiber: 300 – 940Mbps; DSL: 50 – 100Mbps100 – 940Mbps12 – 100Mbps Prices starting at$40$49.99$70 Contract length12 months12 months24 months, or optional no-term contract option Data cap1TBNo data capsDepends on plan

    Best package deals

    AT&T

    AT&T fiber-optics is only available in about 25% of households in El Paso.  You’ll need to talk to a customer service rep to see if fiber is available at your home. But never fear: AT&T’s DSL coverage goes anywhere there is a phone line, and unless you are a hard-core gamer, most will be satisfied with the download speeds. In an industry not known for stellar customer service, AT&T ranks high. It’s number two on the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) list, just one point behind Verizon Fios (which is not available in El Paso), so chances are your interactions with reps will be good ones. AT&T offers some very attractive packages: bundling TV with your internet will actually cost you less than the stand-alone internet for your first year. Price: $40-$70, plus equipment and installation feesSpeed and Data: download speed 25 -1000Mbps — 1TB dataPlans/Packages: add TV for a total cost of $39.99 – $54.99 for one yearContract Options: one-year commitment

    View Now at AT&T

    Best for speed

    Charter Spectrum

    Unless you’re one of the few who can access a fiber-optic connection through AT&T, it’s worth looking at Spectrum for the speed and reliability of its cable network. Spectrum advertises speeds of up to 940Mbps, more than enough for a multiple-device household or hard-core gamer, and according to the FCC, it meets that goal nearly 75% of the time. Spectrum’s prices are comparable to others in this market, and it offers a few nice perks you don’t often see: no data caps, meaning your connection won’t get throttled with heavy use. The company also stands out with its loose contract requirements: price guarantee and no contract.  Even better, if you’re stuck in a contract with another ISP, it will supply up to $500 to help you get out of it. The only issue we could find was some mediocre rankings for customer service. J.D. Power ranks Spectrum near the bottom of its list, and ACSI gives it 59 points, below the industry average of 62.Price: $45Speed and Data: download speed 100 – 940Mbps — no data capPlans/Packages: Bundle internet with 125+ TV channels and unlimited nationwide calling for $99.97/month for 12 months Contract Options: no contract, but prices are good for one year

    View Now at Charter Spectrum

    Best satellite coverage

    Viasat

    Although satellite internet technology can’t give you the speed of, say, fiber-optic cable, there are times when it’s your best option. For those living on the outskirts of El Paso or in pockets where cable, DSL, and fiber don’t reach, Viasat offers plans that can give you reliable internet access — but at a price. Viasat’s four monthly plans are not priced as competitively as AT&T or Spectrum, but the company offers reliable internet with top speeds comparable to DSL and cable. Viasat plans should be more than enough speed and data for most internet users. You can also find TV and phone bundling options.  Price: $50 – $200/monthSpeed and Data: 12 – 100Mbps; after reaching monthly data allowance, you will experience slowdownsPlans/Packages: Add DIRECTV for $35/monthp & phone for $19.99/monthContract Options: 24 months, unless you choose a no-contract option, which requires a $300 non-refundable payment

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    How we found the best internet providers in El Paso

    When looking for the best internet service providers in El Paso, we assessed several things. Of course, we looked at the speed and reliability of the connections. We also compared plan prices to see if there were any hidden gems to unearth. Lastly, we reviewed online customer reviews and customer service rankings to see which ISPs were doing the best job there.Coverage: All our winning choices offer nearly universal coverage in the El Paso region, except for AT&T’s fiber network. Although only a quarter of El Paso’s homes are currently wired for fiber, you can have comparable speeds with extensive coverage with non-fiber options. Our top choices offer coverage that extends well into the El Paso suburbs and beyond.Value: In considering value, there are several things to keep in mind: range of speeds, package perks, contract lengths, and data caps. AT&T has a slight edge over the competition for value in our ranking, especially if you bundle additional services with your internet. It’s worth noting, however, those tempting introductory prices usually go away after the first year, and probably don’t provide a complete picture of what you’ll be paying when you factor in taxes, equipment rentals, and installation fees.Customer Satisfaction: The ISP industry historically has not excelled in customer satisfaction reporting. Consumer Reports, in its Customer Service rankings of 22 leading industries, placed internet providers fourth from the bottom. We looked at customer satisfaction ratings from the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), J.D. Power, and assessed our choices against industry averages. 

    Who has the cheapest internet in El Paso?

    We found AT&T to offer the best options, price-wise, but only by a hair. Since your circumstances and needs are unique, you may find another ISP has plans better suited to your situation.

    What is the best type of connection: DSL, cable, satellite, or fiber-optic?

    It depends on what you’re looking for. Fiber-optic, the newest technology, has the potential for the highest speeds. If cost is your biggest concern, DSL and cable are your best choices for reasonably-priced plans. If you’re worried about serviceability and left without options due to where you live, satellite offers the ability to connect even if you’re in a rural area or out of the reach of most networks.

    Is it better to buy or lease my modem and router?

    Most providers offer monthly leasing fees in the $10 range — and that can add up, especially considering you can purchase both from Best Buy or Amazon for under $100. But keep in mind if anything goes wrong with your router or modem and you’re leasing, your provider will replace the defective item. If you bought it, you’re out of luck.

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    AT&T vs. Cox: How these two internet providers stack up

    Both AT&T and Cox offer , phone, and cable TV packages. They’re two of the largest providers in the country, which means both might be available in your area. But which one is better and how should you choose?Below, we offer an in-depth review of vs Cox, analyzing the companies’ strengths and weaknesses, available packages, and pricing so you can find the best fit for your needs.AT&T vs Cox overviewAT&TCox J.D. Power Rating*4/53/5Bundles withInternet, Satellite TV (), and PhoneInternet, Cable TV, and Phone# of states serviced2119Speed range5 – 1000Mbps10 – 1000MbpsInternet type, FiberCableOther No internet data cap when bundling, 190+ TV channels, included Wi-Fi RouterInternet data cap of 1TB/mo, 140+ TV channels, rented equipment starting at $9.99 per monthPrice range$30 – $90$20 – $120Contract length1 year2 years*Average of different regionsData current as of 1/27/2020Internet TypeAT&T and Cox deliver internet services in several ways. Cox’s cable internet is usually faster than AT&T’s DSL. Still, you’re sharing bandwidth with neighbors who are hooked on the same cable line, which could affect your internet speed, especially if you live in a high-rise building or busy neighborhood. Meanwhile, AT&T Fiber offers speeds up to 1000Mbps, and you don’t have to share it with neighbors.FeaturesIf you stream movies and use a lot of bandwidth, an AT&T bundle may be better than a Cox bundle. AT&T does not include internet data caps when bundling, while Cox Wi-Fi caps you at 1TB per month. Additionally, AT&T offers added value by including a Wi-Fi Gateway Router for free, while Cox equipment starts at $9.99 per month. You might be able to save a few bucks with Cox if you own a Cox-compatible router/modem and you don’t need unlimited broadband.Contract LengthAT&T’s contract length is one year vs Cox’s two-year term. If you’re not familiar with the companies and don’t have solid recommendations from a friend or neighbor, you may be safer sticking with AT&T’s one-year contract, so you have the option to switch in a shorter period of time.Speed packagesAT&TCox J.D. Power Rating*4/53/5Bundles withInternet, Satellite TV (), and PhoneInternet, Cable TV, and Phone# of states serviced2119Speed range5 – 1000Mbps10 – 1000MbpsInternet type, FiberCableOther No internet data cap when bundling, 190+ TV channels, included Wi-Fi RouterInternet data cap of 1TB/mo, 140+ TV channels, rented equipment starting at $9.99 per monthPrice range$30 – $90$20 – $120Contract length1 year2 yearsCox is a better deal than AT&T at the lower end, with compromises like data caps and shared cable service that can reduce speeds depending on how many people are online at the time.

    Cox’s top tiers are more expensive than comparable AT&T plans, making AT&T a better choice for the fastest speeds, especially since the company will not cap your data usage if you bundle your services. Plus, AT&T offers free and modems.Bundling optionsIf you use a lot of internet data, then AT&T’s bundles are ideal as the company doesn’t cap internet usage with bundled services. And unlike most providers, you don’t need to add a residential phone plan to get the best deals.AT&T Uverse internet pairs with satellite through DIRECTV, a favorite in our best TV providers review. You get about 50 more channels through AT&T Uverse than through Cox’s cable TV service, although satellite TV comes with its challenges. Inclement weather and very cloudy days can interrupt satellite transmission, while cable television is directly wired and unaffected by weather.The AT&T Uverse internet/ TV bundle offers free installation (normally a $99 cost), no activation fee ($35 in savings), no equipment fees, and three free months of premium channels. However, you must sign a one-year contract to get these perks.Cox’s best deals come from its Triple Play internet, cable TV, and phone service bundles. However, the bundles don’t offer the same value as AT&T bundles. The two lowest Cox tiers include a modem, but you have to sign up for a two-year contract. Make sure you understand the promo pricing, as you’ll get the promo rate the first year and the regular rate for the second year. Cox charges between $25 to $50 for installation and various fees for tech support visits.So, which is right for me?AT&TCox J.D. Power Rating*4/53/5Bundles withInternet, Satellite TV (), and PhoneInternet, Cable TV, and Phone# of states serviced2119Speed range5 – 1000Mbps10 – 1000MbpsInternet type, FiberCableOther No internet data cap when bundling, 190+ TV channels, included Wi-Fi RouterInternet data cap of 1TB/mo, 140+ TV channels, rented equipment starting at $9.99 per monthPrice range$30 – $90$20 – $120Contract length1 year2 yearsHow to compare internet companiesStart with what’s available in your areaBefore deciding on what type of bundle you want, check the availability in your area. Most cities are limited to only a couple of internet and TV providers.What are your priorities?Determine what you need most. Do you prioritize a good selection of TV channels, or do you prefer to watch TV through streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu? Do you only use the internet occasionally to check emails, or are you on it all day? Answering these questions will help you decide whether you’d prefer a TV provider that offers internet or an internet service provider (ISP) with additional TV services.Figure out your need for speedWhile fiber, DSL, and cable internet offer similar maximum speeds, several factors can affect the speed on a daily basis. For example, too many neighbors using a cable internet service at once can dramatically reduce your speeds, making DSL or fiber-optic a better choice.The faster the speed, the happier your household will be when several devices are using your home Wi-Fi. Here’s a breakdown of the FCC’s speed guide on how much speed is ideal according to your usage.AT&TCox J.D. Power Rating*4/53/5Bundles withInternet, Satellite TV (), and PhoneInternet, Cable TV, and Phone# of states serviced2119Speed range5 – 1000Mbps10 – 1000MbpsInternet type, FiberCableOther No internet data cap when bundling, 190+ TV channels, included Wi-Fi RouterInternet data cap of 1TB/mo, 140+ TV channels, rented equipment starting at $9.99 per monthPrice range$30 – $90$20 – $120Contract length1 year2 yearsDon’t forget about your data useMultiple devices streaming HD video will use a lot of data, which is an issue with Cox because the company caps monthly data at 1TB. If you’re a light-to-medium internet user, then 1TB per month should be enough. However, if you think you’ll use more, then go with AT&T, which offers unlimited data.Don’t assume the lowest monthly price is the cheapest$20 a month sounds great, but what are the hidden costs? Answer the following questions to determine your overall costs:What is the installation fee?Do you have to pay for equipment monthly?How long does your promotional monthly price last? (Some promotions make you sign a two-year contract but only offer the promo price the first year.)What will your monthly price be after the promo is over?Do you have to pay for tech and service visits?How much are early cancellation penalties? More