A question we are often asked by our trial law clients is, “How are you guys always connected/online?”. In the past, as WiFi technology trudged along (often mired in red tape over the telecom industry’s desire for dictatorial control over consumer usage), BNI operatives in the field have had to resort to, at best, spotty connections to quickly research or transmit documents. Our attorney clients have contacted us from, literally, the courthouse steps requesting last minute information that had to be accessed fully and immediately.

In the past, we’ve recommended free WiFi enablers, such as WiFi Radar and, while Wi-Fi Radar will do in a pinch, every investigator (and trial lawyer) should be prepared for the unexpected need for field connectivity with a practical, small-sized, hi performance WiFi connector such as the Alltel UTStarcom UM150AL. You don’t even need a wireless card or a cumbersome external device. Alltel’s UTStarcom UM150AL connects to current USB ports and can support Windows or Mac platforms.

We’ve tested this model while traveling (at the posted speed limits, of course) in various vehicle models, inside buildings (particularly those with no cell phone or laptop allowed signs) and in congested urban areas as well as on McDonald’s Farm (Athens, NY). Alltel’s UTStarcom UM150AL has effectively come through in each setting.

For $49.99 it’s also cost convenient to have online connection security in your pocket.

BNI Operatives: Street Smart, Net Savvy.

Be Safe,

Lina

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In the next several weeks, our faithful readers will begin to notice major updates to this site. We will be posting proprietary content, allow for interactive sections and be covering user-determined topics. As we continue with these upgrades, from time to time, we will republish a particularly popular Bulletin. This week, we’ve checked with the NYC DOT and updated the camera (still and video) locations throughout the 5 boroughs of New York City.

Manhattan

Streaming Video Camera Locations

2 Ave @ 36 St-Midtown Tunnel
2 Ave @ QBB (btwn 59 & 60 Street)
5 Ave @ 42 Street
6 Ave @ 34 Street
8 Ave @ Columbus Cr
Amsterdam Ave @ 178 Street
Bowery @ Canal Street
Broadway @ 46 Street
Brooklyn Bridge @ Centre Street
FDR DR @ Catherine St

Still Image Camera Locations

2 Ave @ 125 St
5 Ave @ 23 Street
5 Ave @ 49 Street
6 Ave @ 42 Street
6 Ave @ 49 Street
6 Ave @ Canal Street
7 Ave @ 125 Street
7 Ave @ 145 Street
8 Ave @ 34 Street
8 Ave @ 42 Street
8 Ave @ 110 Street
9 Ave @ 34 Street
11 Ave @ 42 Street
Amsterdam Ave @ 181 St
Broadway @ 169 St
Central Park S @ Columbus Cr
Central Park W @ 96 St
Church Street @ Vesey
E 57 Street @ QBB (btwn 1 & 2 Ave)
E 63 Street @ QBB (btwn 1 & 2 Ave)
FDR Dr @ 36 Street
FDR Dr @ 78 Street
FDR Dr @ 96 Street
FDR @ 135 St
FDR @ 155 St
FDR Dr @ Old Slip
Henry Hudson Pkwy @ 72 St
The Holland Tunnel
The Lincoln Tunnel
Riverside Dr @ 135 St-H Hudson Pkwy
Riverside Dr @ 153 St-H Hudson Pkwy
Trinity @ Brooklyn Battery Tunnel
West St @ Canal St
West St @ The Intrepid
West St @ Murray St

For other boroughs, please visit: http://nyctmc.org

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This week’s focus on online banking came about as an article topic via a close BNI friend, Dan Tuczinski, of Tuczinski, Cavalier, Gilchrist & Collura (www.tcgclegal.com).

Online banking is fantastic for those pressed for time, which would be every attorney client we know. The common features that every online banking institution offers are:

* Transactional
- Electronic bill presentment and payment
- Funds transfer between a customer’s accounts
- Investment purchase or sale
- Loan applications and transactions, such as repayments

* Non-transactional
- Bank statements
- Site browsing (e.g.: locate branches, services explanations…)

Features commonly unique to business banking include

* Support of multiple users having varying levels of authority
* Transaction approval process
* Wire transfer

Most Internet-based banking sitesoffer personal financial management support, such as importing data into accoumting programs Quicken, Microsoft Money or TurboTax.

Our experiences with online banking security varied as we tested numerous banking sites. Regarding account access security, authorized HSBC account holders must utilize a single password issuing device. Occasionally, it became mildly annoying to locate the device (meant to be attached to a keychain) but otherwise, this small device delivers powerfully as it randomly issued six-digit passwords at each click. Bank of America offers a completely Internet-based two step login which requires the viewer to select, and then identify at each access attempt, a security image. If the correct selected image is viewed, then the user can proceed to the next step – the actual password log in. (Mozilla’s Firefox browser can be somewhat taxing if you’ve opted for cache-clearance at the end of each session. The B of A login then requires, as it’s first step, prior to image identification and password submission, the user to select the State in which the account was opened. Several smaller banks (such as Trustco) require the standard account user name and password but we preferred the extra security layer offered by the larger institutions as mentioned above.

And, although all online banking transaction information, including the password, is encrypted, encryption alone does not guarantee that hackers won’t access a customer’s PC. The favored tool of many hackers is intercepting the keyword as it is typed in (keylogging). To help dissuade hackers from attacking your account, we suggest that our clients use password manager Roboform (www.Roboform.com) when participating in online banking. Roboform memorizes your passwords and can be set to randomly change them at intervals on your choice. The program is intuitive, easy to use and does not contain any hidden spyware.

Finally, elect the same time each day to access your account(s) as transaction posting varies from bank to bank and by transaction type.

Stay safe,

Lina

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