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The Origin of Cisco Systems

The following account of the real origins of Cisco Systems, as opposed to the history often recounted in Cisco company literature, was written in 1999 by Tom Rindfleisch. Rindfleisch was Director of the SUMEX-AIM project (1973-1990), under which the software for a powerful Internet router system was developed and widely deployed at Stanford and elsewhere for research purposes. That code found its way, without approval from the original developers, to form the basis of the Cisco router. Tom Rindf

Best Internet Speed Tests for August 2025

Ever wonder whether you're getting your money's worth when it comes to your internet speeds? Taking an internet speed test is a quick way to find out. Whether you're experiencing lag during gaming, streaming or Zoom calls; you're testing the connection strength in different rooms; or you're unsure just how fast (or slow) your internet really is, a speed test can give you answers in minutes. These tests are quick, easy and free. Why should you take an internet speed test? There's nothing more an

The Kremlin’s Most Devious Hacking Group Is Using Russian ISPs to Plant Spyware

The Russian state hacker group known as Turla has carried out some of the most innovative hacking feats in the history of cyberespionage, hiding their malware's communications in satellite connections or hijacking other hackers' operations to cloak their own data extraction. When they're operating on their home turf, however, it turns out they've tried an equally remarkable, if more straightforward, approach: They appear to have used their control of Russia's internet service providers to direct

Deal: Netgear 4G LTE Broadband Modem turns mobile data into your home internet

Digital nomads will know the struggle of having reliable internet. Well, for those constantly on the move, the most common internet solutions are either Starlink or cellular data. And we’re not referring to just using your smartphone hotspot feature. It’s often better to have a dedicated mobile data device like the Netgear 4G LTE Broadband Modem (LM1200), which is currently on sale for a mere $19.99! Buy the Netgear 4G LTE Broadband Modem LM1200 for just $19.99 ($30 off) This offer is available

The Kremlin's Most Devious Hacking Group Is Using Russian ISPs to Plant Spyware

The Russian state hacker group known as Turla has carried out some of the most innovative hacking feats in the history of cyberespionage, hiding their malware's communications in satellite connections or hijacking other hackers' operations to cloak their own data extraction. When they're operating on their home turf, however, it turns out they've tried an equally remarkable, if more straightforward, approach: They appear to have used their control of Russia's internet service providers to direct

Starlink Is Set to Receive Billions in Federal Subsidies but Analysis Says It Can’t Handle the Traffic

Key takeaways A new X-Lab analysis indicates Starlink can only support 6.66 households per square mile before speeds drop below FCC broadband minimums (100/20 Mbps). Currently, only 17% of Starlink users currently meet FCC broadband speeds, yet altered BEAD program rules could direct significant federal funds to Starlink as the lowest-cost option. While Starlink greatly improves internet access and quality for rural Americans, experts worry about its long-term viability for widespread broadban

Frontier Fiber Internet Review: I Compare Plans, Pricing, Speed and Availability

Unavailable in Provider unavailable in 90001 Edit . . . Starting at $50 Or call: Or call to learn more: (877) 980-4136 Frontier Fiber rating 7.2 /10 CNET Score We score internet providers for speed, value and customer care. Our data sources include the FCC, J.D. Power, The American Customer Satisfaction Index and extensive in-house research. Read more How we calculated our rating 7.2 / 10 SCORE Speed 7/10 Value 7.5/10 Customer Care 7/10 Pros Wi-Fi router rental included in the price Wi-Fi route

What's the Difference Between Megabits and Megabytes? Here's What You Need to Know

Knowing how your home internet works may rely on understanding these two key terms: Megabits and Megabytes. Internet terminology is often maddeningly confusing. Case in point: Megabits and megabytes. Both refer to units of digital information, but the difference is subtle enough to cause plenty of confusion. Knowing the difference between the two terminologies can make all the difference when picking out an internet plan or figuring out how quickly you can download a file. Don’t worry -- we’ll c

Verizon Fios Internet Review: Examining Plans, Pricing, Speeds and Availability

Unavailable in Provider unavailable in 90001 Edit . . . Starting at $50 Or call: Or call to learn more: (855) 379-7064 Verizon Fios home internet rating 7.6 /10 CNET Score We score internet providers for speed, value and customer care. Our data sources include the FCC, J.D. Power, The American Customer Satisfaction Index and extensive in-house research. Read more How we calculated our rating 7.6 / 10 SCORE Speed 7.5/10 Value 7/10 Customer Care 8/10 Pros All Verizon Fios plans are 100% fiber, wit

Yes, Starlink Is Now Much Cheaper: Here's the Catch

If you live in a rural or remote area, you likely already know how difficult it is to get a good internet connection. Most rural internet providers are devastatingly slow and typically expensive. Starlink's standard plan has become a lifesaver for those without decent rural internet options, but the hefty up-front cost of equipment, $349, and the monthly rate of $120 make Starlink an unaffordable option for many families in rural areas. Now, if you've been looking for a chance to try Starlink,

New Speed Test Data Reveals the Nation's Fastest Internet Service Provider

There's been a lot of talk about internet speed lately. From various company taglines -- "Don't take slow for an answer" -- to the latest news about Japan's internet data transmission record, it's all about the speed. Just recently, Ookla released its Speedtest Connectivity Report for the first six months of 2025, and AT&T Fiber topped the list as the country's fastest fixed internet service provider. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) What does that mean? Does it

Internet Archive joins federal library system as official repository for government documents

What just happened? Non-profit organization Internet Archive was founded by Brewster Kahle in 1996, as a digital library conceived to provide free access to digital knowledge via the internet. Now, the IA is getting yet another noteworthy "upgrade" thanks to an official federal designation promoted by a US Senator. The Internet Archive was recently designated as an official "federal depository" library for the state of California. Senator Alex Padilla made the designation in a letter sent to Sc

Internet Archive is now a US federal depository library

The Internet Archive has become an official U.S. federal depository library, providing online users with access to archived congressional bills, laws, regulations, presidential documents, and other U.S. government documents. U.S. Senator Alex Padilla designated it as such in a July 24 letter to the Superintendent of Documents at the Government Publishing Office, which oversees the Federal Depository Library Program that coordinates a network of over 1,150 such libraries. "Through its Democracy

Despite Starlink’s Improved Speeds, It Still Misses the FCC’s Broadband Standard

Starlink is nearly twice as fast as it was two years ago, according to a recent report from the speed test site Ookla. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Median download speeds from the satellite internet provider have steadily ticked up over the past few years, going from 53.95 megabits per second in 2022 to 104.71Mbps today. That’s an impressive feat considering Starlink added about 5 million customers over the same period and recently passed the 6 mi

Internet and TV Bundle Prices Are Rising. Here's How to Trim Your Costs

You're not alone if you've noticed your TV and internet bills going up recently. Internet and TV bundles increased for the first quarter of 2025, recent J.D. Power data shows. Surprisingly, unbundled internet bills saw a slight decrease. Finding ways to cut back on monthly bills can feel nearly impossible, especially when there's a price increase every few months. But it's possible. Here's more on J.D. Power's findings and what CNET experts recommend to help lower your TV and internet bills. T

Xfinity vs. Verizon Fios: Which Provider Offers the Best Internet for Your Home?

Is Verizon Fios or Xfinity better? Verizon Fios and Xfinity are some of the top providers nationwide, and while both offer competitive internet services and price guarantee of up to five years, CNET picks Verizon Fios as the better provider overall --largely due to its 100% fiber network, straightforward pricing and promotional offers. The two providers advertise comparable download speeds, but Verizon Fios can deliver symmetrical (or close) upload speeds and superior reliability over a fiber-

Hurricane Season Is Here: Here's What Really Happens When Your Internet Goes Out

Internet and power outages often linger briefly after big storms pass through, making it difficult to check in on loved ones. But sometimes, those internet networks can take much longer to repair. Over 974,000 homes and businesses experienced power outages after Hurricane Helene swept through rural mountain communities on Sept. 27. It was a hurricane that no one in the western Carolinas could have expected, a “one-in-1,000-year" storm worsened by prior rainfall and the region's rugged mountainou

New Speed Test Results Reveal the Fastest Internet Service Provider in the US

There's been a lot of talk about internet speed lately. From various company taglines -- "Don't take slow for an answer" -- to the latest news about Japan's internet data transmission record, it's all about the speed. This week, Ookla released its Speedtest Connectivity Report for the first six months of 2025, and AT&T Fiber topped the list as the country's fastest fixed internet service provider. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) What does that mean? Does it tell

Should you use iCloud Private Relay? Here’s how it works

9to5Mac is brought to you by Incogni: Protect your personal info from prying eyes. With Incogni, you can scrub your deeply sensitive information from data brokers across the web, including people search sites. Incogni limits your phone number, address, email, SSN, and more from circulating. Fight back against unwanted data brokers with a 30-day money back guarantee. If you’ve never heard about iCloud Private Relay, it is basically a privacy feature that Apple released in 2021 as part of the iCl

Echelon kills smart home gym equipment offline capabilities with update

A firmware update has killed key functionality for Echelon smart home gym equipment that isn't connected to the Internet. As explained in a Tuesday blog post by Roberto Viola, who develops the "QZ (qdomyos-zwift)" app that connects Echelon machines to third-party fitness platforms, like Peloton, Strava, and Apple HealthKit, the firmware update forces Echelon machines to connect to Echelon’s servers in order to work properly. A user online reported that as a result of updating his machine, it is

Internet Archive is now a federal depository library

While documents stored on microfiche or microfilm are easy to copy, they aren’t easy to access. The GPO has been moving toward digital preservation since 2016 and runs an online database of government records, and in recent years, it has ramped up efforts to digitize the Federal Depository Library Program. Participating libraries have largely pivoted to the GPO’s digital approach, but digitizing countless physical documents is a massive undertaking — one that the Internet Archive has experience

In-Flight Wi-Fi Is Getting a Boost on These Starlink-Enabled Airlines

Sluggish airline internet might become a thing of the past. For the last 20 years, airline internet has been notoriously unreliable, but Starlink is changing the game with significantly faster speeds. In fact, the latest reports show it's already twice as fast as its in-flight competitors. Starlink-equipped planes achieve superior internet speeds due to its fleet of almost 8,000 low-Earth orbit satellites, which operate much closer to Earth than the geostationary satellites used by competitors

Internet Archive Is Now a Federal Depository Library

While documents stored on microfiche or microfilm are easy to copy, they aren’t easy to access. The GPO has been moving toward digital preservation since 2016 and runs an online database of government records, and in recent years, it has ramped up efforts to digitize the Federal Depository Library Program. Participating libraries have largely pivoted to the GPO’s digital approach, but digitizing countless physical documents is a massive undertaking — one that the Internet Archive has experience

Home Internet, Simplified: Here's Everything You Need to Know (but Were Too Afraid to Ask)

The best internet connection is one you don't ever notice, and while we use the internet for everything these days, most of us don't know the first thing about our internet plan beyond the bill. As broadband experts, we've come a long way in terms of reading broadband nutrition labels, deciphering ISP-marketing jargon and learning how to boost our own home networks. In this article, we'll give you the rundown on how your internet works and how to pick the best possible plan. But if you take awa

Internet Archive is now an official US government document library

The US Senate has granted the Internet Archive federal depository status, making it officially part of an 1,100-library network that gives the public access to government documents, KQED reported. The designation was made official in a letter from California Senator Alex Padilla to the Government Publishing Office that oversees the network. "The Archive's digital-first approach makes it the perfect fit for a modern federal depository library, expanding access to federal government publications a

You Can Now Get Starlink for Just $15 a Month in New York, but There Are Still Some Hurdles

Starlink has brought high-speed internet to millions of rural Americans for the first time. It’s also one of the most expensive internet service providers in the country. So, how is it available in New York for just $15 a month? If Starlink wants to sell internet in the state, it has no choice. That’s thanks to the Affordable Broadband Act, a New York state law passed in January. However, customers will still have to pay $349 upfront for Starlink's equipment kit. That might be an insurmountable

Inter-Planetary Network Special Interest Group

IPNSIG was founded in 1998 by Vint Cerf and researchers within academia and NASA/JPL. We are now a full Chapter within the Internet Society, known as the Interplanetary Chapter. We work to extend terrestrial networking into solar system space, which is consistent with the Internet Society’s objectives to grow the internet to unpopulated areas, and connect the unconnected domain—and to ensure that even in space, “The Internet is for Everyone”.

I've Used T-Mobile 5G Home Internet for Years: Here's What I Love and a Few Things I Can't Stand

Albuquerque, New Mexico: home of flavorful green chiles, 300 days of sparkling sunshine, the premier International Balloon Fiesta... and achingly slow internet. Of the top 100 cities in the US, Albuquerque ranks in the bottom quarter, according to data from Ookla. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, the same company that owns CNET.) Home internet was a two-horse race in Albuquerque for years: CenturyLink DSL and Xfinity cable. I spent decades on DSL, watching my internet speed tests march

I Tried Orb, a New Internet Speed Test. It Might Be the Best I've Ever Used

Internet speed tests aren't just for people who obsess over their internet speeds. When my friends or parents are experiencing an inevitable home internet slowdown, I recommend always starting with a speed test. I've tested and used dozens of internet speed tests. The market is pretty saturated with them. Ideally, the best internet speed test diagnoses your bandwidth blues as simply as possible -- no ads, no extra features you can't make sense of, and no slowing down your Wi-Fi. Speed tests are

New Speed Test Results Reveal AT&T Fiber as the Fastest Internet Provider in the US

There's been a lot of talk about internet speed lately. From various company taglines -- "Don't take slow for an answer" -- to the latest news about Japan's internet data transmission record, it's all about the speed. Today, Ookla released its Speedtest Connectivity Report for the first six months of 2025, and AT&T Fiber topped the list as the country's fastest fixed internet service provider. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) What does that mean? Does it tell us