| Drive up and down any neighborhood with a | | | | Encryption - This can potentially be the weak |
| Laptop and wireless network card and chances | | | | point of your Network, since wireless signals |
| are very good there is an unprotected wireless | | | | transmit over the airways. A hacker does not |
| network waiting for anyone to connect. Imagine | | | | need to be connected to the Network to steal |
| the hacker or your neighbor who has been using | | | | data. Use the highest encryption available. such as |
| your connection and possibly capturing all data | | | | WPA-Personal or WPA2 with a long pass phrase |
| being transmitted over the Network. Your Email, | | | | mixed with alpha,numeric and special characters. |
| Bank and Credit Card account information | | | | Ignore anyone who advises you to at least use |
| vulnerable and out in the open for anyone to | | | | WEP, which is a very weak form of encryption. |
| steal. | | | | WEP (wireless encryption protocol) is one of the |
| If this sounds like your home wireless network, | | | | earliest form of encryption and the easiest to |
| it's time you put security in place and lock out | | | | break. You will be at risk by not upgrading to a |
| unwanted guest. Beyond the oblivious security | | | | better wireless router, that offers newer |
| measures, changing and disabling SSID broadcast, | | | | encryption technology. If you run a home |
| turning off your wireless router when not is use, | | | | business, or use online banking, there is no excuse |
| these 5 tips will secure a home wireless network | | | | to protect your self by making a small |
| in layers, and give the boot to even the most | | | | investment for security. |
| seasoned professional. | | | | Tip #4 Enable MAC Filtering: A MAC (Media |
| Tip #1 - Do Not Use DHCP - Using DHCP is very | | | | Access Control) address is a unique identifier, |
| convenient, especially for intruders. DHCP | | | | similar to fingerprints for people. MAC's are |
| automatically hands out IP addresses to any who | | | | assigned during the manufacturing of a network |
| successfully connects to your Network. When | | | | device, such as a network card or Wireless |
| disabled, every computer or device must be | | | | adapter. Enabling MAC Filter allows you to control |
| manually assigned an IP address. All computers, | | | | which wireless-equipped Computers may or may |
| printers and devices on your network will need to | | | | not communicate with the Router depending on |
| be manually configured with static IP addresses. | | | | their MAC addresses and not allow any |
| The threat of just handing out access is | | | | Computers that have not been added to the list. |
| eliminated and you gain more control over who | | | | Tip #5 - Secure Your Computer - Gaining access |
| can connect to the network. | | | | to your home network from your router is not |
| Also consider changing the router local IP address | | | | the only entry point that exists. The sites you |
| to something other than 192.168.1.1 that most | | | | visit and protocols used, if not trusted, can be an |
| wireless routers are configured by default. Use an | | | | invitation to theft of identity. |
| address of 10.0.0.x for the router and for | | | | What do I mean by protocol? An example of a |
| assigning IP addresses to devices on your | | | | protocol is HTTP, HTTPs, FTP, etc. When creating |
| network. Changes to the defaults set by the | | | | username and passwords on websites such as |
| router manufacture will help keep intruders | | | | financial related sites should always use HTTPS. |
| guessing and keep them off the network. | | | | These sites may need to install Java applets or |
| Tip #2 - Change The Router Default Password - | | | | ActiveX controls which could contain malicious |
| While this may seems like the most logical task | | | | code that can create a backdoor into your |
| when setting up a wireless router, many people | | | | network remotely. |
| ignore changing the password. You will be | | | | Make sure the site is authentic by verifying the |
| surprised how many people think just using | | | | certificate used and never respond to emails that |
| encryption on their wireless network will prevent | | | | claim account information is needed. Avoid being |
| someone from gaining access to your router. | | | | tricked into thinking it is your financial institute or |
| With router vendors using well known default | | | | site where you made a credit card purchases. |
| passwords such as admin for Linksys, Dlink and | | | | Antivirus and Spyware software should always be |
| Netgear, encryption will not stop intruder access | | | | up to date as well as making sure your Computer |
| to the administration interface and gaining access | | | | has the latest patches installed. |
| to more than just your Network. | | | | Protecting your home today involves more than |
| Best practice is to change your password using a | | | | just deadbolts and alarms. With technology |
| complex password. If your name is Joseph, you | | | | creeping into your house in the form of wires, |
| can easily mix alpha, numeric, and special | | | | cables and airways, securing your personal data |
| characters to make a password you will never | | | | today involves, information, knowledge and good |
| forget such as J0s3ph!r0ut3r* | | | | common sense. |
| Tip #3 - Implement The Strongest Form Of | | | | |