Talking to strangers in a crowded room where everyone wants something from each other is a true nightmare, and at times it’s the most direct path to career development. But there is another way to network—from behind a computer screen.

Over the years, I've accumulated a bunch of Ethernet cables. I've kept a stash of cables of different lengths in a box - you'd be surprised how handy a 10 metre cable can be - as well as some short ones of just 25 centimetres and various in-between lengths. Here's how to tell what ethernet cables you're using and why it matters.

If you've ever gotten a job or a gig because someone "thought of you," you've benefited from networking. Good networking doesn't require anything slimy or selfish. It requires that you define yourself. And that means paying more attention to how you act when you meet or catch up with people.

Free wi-fi is a windfall, especially if you're working from the library or airport, or if you just want to save data on your phone or laptop. Still, you do have to care about security when you're out and about. Here's how to surf safely, on any device.

When you meet people, especially a lot of people at once somewhere like a networking event, it can be hard to remember their names at first. Here's an easy exercise that will help you to retain this information.

As technologies go, Wi-Fi has moved ahead quite quickly. We went from the first mainstream wireless networking option, 802.11b running at 11Mbps in the 2.4GHz band to the current 802.11ac that offers up to 1Gbps over dual frequency bands in less than 15 years. But another new standard, dubbed Wi-Fi 6 presumably because 801.11ax isn't good for marketing things that are new, will increase performance almost five-fold. Why should you care?

The harsh truth: A goal will start to dissipate when stuck inside a brain for too long. To move from that comfortable space of “I wish I could do it” to the thrilling realm of “Holy heck, I’m actually doing it”, it needs to be put out there. Spoken aloud. Shared with trusted friends. Given legs.

I used to hate unsolicited email, until I got unsolicited texts, calls, Twitter DMs, Facebook messages and LinkedIn invitations. Now I think email is the most polite way to reach a stranger directly. In that vein, I recommend this thorough guide to finding anyone’s email address.

Networking is an often tedious part of career-building. There's one thing everyone has in common, though: a need to eat. To get better at networking, focus on the food.

When you hear the phrase, "It's all who you know," what do you think of?Influential people who can open a door for your career? Friends in high places who can throw you a bone? I think it's time we look at the phrase differently.

It's annoying when you run out of Ethernet ports on your router. That, or when you have a home entertainment centre and want wired connections for all your devices, but you don't want to string a bundle of Ethernet cables from your living room to wherever your router happens to be.

You’ve been meaning to respond to someone for a while now. Actually, it’s past the acceptable amount of time to answer, so you let it go. And go. It’s eventually been so long you assume you will never be able to make contact with this person again — until you need something.

Android: If you’ve updated to Android 9 Pie, you may have noticed that your smartphone will now automatically turn on your Wi-Fi connection — if you’ve turned it off — when you’re near familiar network with a strong signal. This feature, which debuted in Android Oreo, is now flipped on by default in Android Pie.

If you're sick of suffering from poor Wi-Fi connections or slow streaming speeds in your house or brick-lined apartment, that one router tucked away in a corner may not be capable of effectively covering your home. In that case, you may need not just a new router, but a new type of router.

Psst, women reading this: Have you ever suspected that you, and other female co-workers, end up doing a lot of thankless, annoying tasks around the office because no one else will? Well, you do, and you should stop.

Whenever you meet someone at a networking event that you’d like to chat with again, the question arises: How?

When it comes to getting your life in order or going for the next promotion, you probably rely on your friends or family members for support, advice and encouragement. But as Meg Joy writes in The Defining Decade, you're better off reaching out to an old coworker or networking acquaintance if you really want to broaden your horizons and get ahead.

You might know what a virtual private network (VPN) is, but the odds of you actually using one are low. You really should be using a VPN -- ultimately, you may end up seeing it as just as vital as your internet connection. We'll tell you why, explain how to choose a VPN provider and list five that are worth considering.

Mesh networking has become increasingly popular as people try to improve wireless coverage at their homes and offices. But it's been challenging to deploy as you've needed to choose a brand a stick to it as gear from different vendors didn't work together. But that's set to change as the WiFi Alliance establishes a new, software-based standard that will enable cross-manufacturer interoperability.