LateralAccessDevice

About LAD

LateralAccessDevice (LAD) is a commercial-grade downloadable appliance that turns a computer chassis into a high-performance, multi-purpose Internet / network management tool that combines a SIP server and VoIP PBX, routing and switching, multi-dimensional firewalling, network monitoring, access control, packet capture, DNS, NAT and a host of other applications into one easy to use, integrated, high-security package. Incorporating LateralFirewall and LateralDNS technologies, LAD is a superior tool for routing, managing, monitoring, securing and controlling your network, whether at home, in the office or anywhere else. Now supporting Wi-Fi 2.4Ghz and Wi-Fi 6E for both 5G and 6G wireless networking.

A Little Background

LAD traces its origins back to a proprietary system designed to intercept packets at rates of millions of packets per second, process them in real time and store them in a database. This system, in turn traces its roots back to a unique real-time operating system with database that was built entirely from the ground up for speed, accuracy and security and was able to process staggering quantities of data in real time.

Built on our experience in developing other IPCopper products — network appliances that would be placed at network chokepoints to intercept, process and examine network packets in real time with graphs and reports — LAD allows you to capture and examine every single packet, even the malicious ones. It also comprises the tools to address the malicious packets, as well as manage a computer network (including Wi-Fi), network users (including Wi-Fi), SIP telephony with VoIP PBX, blacklisting and DNS.

The LAD platform serves to bring together all the useful tools for internet communications, including networking, telephony and more. It was built on a one-of-a-kind proprietary, data-driven operating system, designed to operate and deliver results in real time. Encryption is an integral part of this system, meaning it is really fast at processing data, encrypted or plain.

The benefits of the integration of telephony, web, DNS, Wi-Fi, security and routing include the simplicity of operation it offers the user. And due to its efficiency in design, LAD is able to run on very low cost x86 hardware, while still delivering superior results. While not all hardware is supported, it is easy to obtain hardware compatible with LAD. Hardware aside, LAD is very fast and practical — faster hardware simply makes it faster yet.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind

• When you change your password, write it down and keep it in a safe place.
• While you can connect your computers and other devices to LAD via a switch, you will get the most out of its functionality when you connect them all directly (see examples of how to connect LAD to your computers, other devices and Internet source).
• You may run LAD with its default settings or configure it as you wish. A few examples:
  • By default administrative access is locked to the local network, meaning that LAD's user interface cannot be accessed from the Internet.
  • By default LAD records all the network traffic that passes through in full.
• Using LAD's packet capture features are very handy in case you experience a "break in" or network abnormality, as it provides the digital fingerprints, footprints and whatever other "prints" may be needed for examination, troubleshooting or forensic investigation.
• The larger the HDD, the longer LAD can retain data before the oldest gets overwritten by the newest, and the longer "lookback" period you will have. Why should you care about how far back you can see the data? Read this article on the usefulness of packet capture data.
• To familiarize yourself, you may want to take a look at the devices LAD found on your network and identify them (that way if your smart fridge starts conspiring with your entertainment system, you won't be caught flat-footed).
• If you use gadgets like video cameras and similar network-connected devices, consider disabling or limiting their access to the internet so they can’t get up to mischief when you’re not looking.
• Many devices actually only need a few types of communications, rather than full Internet access, in order to fulfill their function. In fact, most devices don’t need any access to the Internet, unless they are uploading or downloading data. Even then they typically only need access to a few specific places, not the whole world wide web. In practice it is a really good idea to limit where they can go to only those specific Internet locations that you really need them to access.

Enjoy!