| Running a business from home has its | | | | Setup router/access points so as to not |
| advantages, including no commute, a more | | | | broadcast the SSID. The same SSID needs to be |
| accommodating work schedule, fresh coffee and | | | | setup on the client side manually. This feature |
| home-cooked meals at any time you want. | | | | may not be available on all equipment. |
| But running a business from home using a home | | | | Setup your home wireless network router to |
| wireless local area network (WLAN) with your | | | | block anonymous internet requests or pings. |
| computer may lead to thievery of confidential | | | | On each computer having a wireless network |
| information and hacker or virus penetration unless | | | | card, network connection properties should be |
| proper actions are taken. As WLANs send | | | | configured to allow connection to Access Point |
| information back and forth over radio waves, | | | | Networks Only. Computer to computer (peer to |
| someone with the right type of receiver in your | | | | peer) connections should not be allowed. |
| immediate area could be picking up the | | | | Enable MAC filtering. Deny connection to wireless |
| transmission, thus acquiring access to your | | | | network for unspecified MAC addresses. MAC or |
| computer. | | | | physical addresses are accessible through your |
| Here is a list of things that you should consider as | | | | computer device wireless network connection |
| a result of implementing a home wireless network | | | | setup and they are physically written on network |
| setup used your business: | | | | cards. When adding new wireless cards / |
| Viruses could be loaded onto your laptop which | | | | computer to the network, their MAC addresses |
| could be transferred to the company's network | | | | should be registered with the router /access point. |
| when you go back to work. | | | | Your home wireless network router should have |
| Up to 75 per cent of home wireless network | | | | firewall features enabled and demilitarized zone |
| WLAN users do not have standard security | | | | (DMZ) feature disabled. Periodically test your |
| features installed, and 20 per cent are left | | | | hardware and personal firewalls using Shields Up |
| completely open as default configurations and are | | | | test available at Gibson Research Corp. web site. |
| not secured, but are made for the users to have | | | | All computers should have a properly configured |
| their network up and running ASAP. | | | | personal firewall in addition to a hardware firewall. |
| It is recommended that home wireless network | | | | Update router/access point firmware when new |
| router/access point system setups be always | | | | versions become available. |
| done though a wired client. | | | | Locate router/access points away from strangers |
| Always change the default administrative | | | | so they cannot reset the router/access point to |
| password on your home wireless network router | | | | default settings. Also, locate router/access points |
| access points to a secured password. | | | | in the middle of the building rather than near |
| Enable at least 128-bit WEP encryption on both | | | | windows to limit signal coverage outside the |
| card and access point. Change your WEP keys | | | | building. |
| periodically. If equipment does not support at least | | | | You should know that nothing is 100%. While none |
| 128-bit WEP encryption, consider replacing it. | | | | of the actions suggested above will provide full |
| Although there are security issues with WEP, it | | | | 100% protection, countermeasures do exist that |
| represents minimum level of security, and it | | | | will help. The good collection of suggested |
| should be enabled. | | | | preventative actions contained herein can help you |
| Change the default SSID on your router/access | | | | deter an intruder trying to access your home |
| point to a hard to guess name. Setup your | | | | wireless network. This deterrant then makes |
| computer device to connect to this SSID by | | | | other insecure networks easier targets for the |
| default. | | | | intruder to persue. |