Page 8 - Computer Power User - February 2017

Study: Average Broadband Speed

Continues Rapid Increase
The Federal Communications Commission released its latest
report on the performance of fixed broadband internet access
service and, for the most part, the news is good. Broadband
speeds available to the average consumer continue to increase
rapidly, and service providers are delivering speeds that meet
or exceed the speeds they advertise. But not everyone reaps
the benefits: average DSL speeds have only increased slightly
FTC Launches IoT Security Challenge in the past five years, and satellite speeds have remained
constant, according to the
It’s no secret that Internet of Things devices—all those “things” report, which looked at
that connect to the internet and provide information and services 2015 numbers. Since 2011,
with the goal of improving our lives—can be insecure. The folks at the median download speed
the FTC believe that private citizens are up to the task of making has almost quadrupled, the
those devices more secure and launched the IoT Home Inspector FCC reports, going from
Challenge. It will award a $25,000 top prize to the individual or 10Mbps in March 2011 to
team that develops the best tool to help protect consumers from 39Mbps in September 2015.
security vulnerabilities caused by out-of-date software on the IoT When looking at the speeds
devices in their homes. Contestants are encouraged to create a advertised by service providers,
tool with other valuable features such as addressing hard-coded, the FCC found that subscribers to fixed cable and fiber
factory default, or easy-to-guess passwords, according to the FTC. broadband experienced speeds that were 100% or better than
Tools could be physical devices, apps or cloud-based services, or advertised speeds, but the actual speeds experienced on satellite
dashboards or other user interfaces. To enter, you need a video technologies were, on average, slower than those advertised.
demonstrating how the tool would work, using either a prototype, Future launches of more advanced satellites should solve this,
mockup, or other means. Entries also need to include both an the FCC notes. The report also delves into latency and packet
easy-to-understand abstract explaining how the tool functions loss. Little surprise here, but subscribers to DSL, cable, and fiber
and a more detailed explanation. Find more information on the systems generally experienced low latency, while consumers using
competition at www.ftc.gov/iot-home-inspector-challenge. cable, satellite, and fiber systems had the least packet loss.

SITE SEEING

Google Spotlights 2016 In Search
global news should come as little surprise: the U.S. election
2016 saw many topics set new all-time highs in search interest, and Olympics ranked Nos. 1 and 2, with the top people
according to Google, adding that “some were expected, while searches including Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and
others were a bit more Michael Phelps. You can
surprising.” Overall, check out the complete list
Pokemon GO, iPhone 7, from Google at www.google
Donald Trump, Prince, and .com/trends/yis/2016, with
Powerball were the top five breakdowns by country. In
most-searched-for terms the United States, we love
in 2016. When it comes our green bean casseroles,
to the tech world, Apple which ranked as the top
dominated with three of recipe search (followed by
the top five terms (iPhone Brussels sprouts). We were
7, iPhone SE, and iPhone also fascinated by knowing
6S), but searches for Freedom 251 (heralded as the world’s about hurricanes Matthew and Hermine, learning how to play
most inexpensive smartphone) and Google Pixel came in at Pokemon GO, and finding out how old a dog is or how many
Nos. 2 and 5, respectively. The top searches for people and calories are in a Big Mac.

8 February2017 / www.computerpoweruser.com