The Shocking Truth About Wireless Networks

A couple of months ago I purchased my firstMost of the settings in these pages should be left
wireless enabled laptop. As I switched it on andas they are if you don't know what you are
began setting it up I was shocked when I realizeddoing. You can usually choose between different
that my laptop had found and connected to mytypes of security, such as WEP, 802.1 or WPA.
neighbours wireless modem and I was able toThere are different opinions as to, which is best, I
freely browse the internet and download datapersonally use WEP. If there is an 'enable WEP
using his modem and internet connection. If Iwireless security' check box or similar you must
were a hacker it would not be difficult for me tocheck it. You will then need to make up a cipher
hack in to his computer using this connection tokey using hexadecimal digits, which consist of
his network.random numbers from 1-9 and letters from A-F. I
The Shocking Truthrecommend a minimum of 128 bit encryption
The shocking truth is that many wireless networkwhich will need a 26 digit key. If you wish to use
users out there, and you could be one of them,256 bit encryption your key will have to be 58
are not securing their wireless modems at all. Thisdigits long. Input this key into the form provided
is further confirmed by a television program Iand make a note of it for setting up your other
saw in which a television presenter drove down acomputers. As stated above you will now need to
street until he found a signal from an unsecuredapply any changes made and restart your router.
wireless router being used in a nearby house. He3. Configure Your Wireless Enabled Computers.
then hacked into this mans computer andAfter setting up the above encryption on your
recorded his entire Internet activity includingwireless network you will then need to input your
websites visited, items purchase, holidays booked,new cipher key into each wireless computer that
passwords and even credit card details. When theyou want to connect to the network. Your other
unsuspecting computer user was confronted withwireless enabled computers will search for any
the information gathered about him he waswireless network it can find and then ask if you
understandably upset. He had been sold thewould like to connect. If you attempt to connect
modem with security software by a high streetto a newly set-up encrypted network it will ask
store that had told him that this would provideyou for the cipher key. Input the cipher key you
adequate security. They were wrong!made up in the previous section and click 'connect'.
How to Secure Your Wireless NetworkWhen doing this for the first time it may take a
Although every wireless router is different and willwhile for the new configuration to take effect so
have its own instructions these can sometimes bebe patient before trying to use it. The next time
hard to follow, the steps below will help to guideyou boot up your wireless computer it will
you through the process.connect automatically.
Set Up Your Modem Password.4. Install Internet Security Software.
Every router can be set-up by using yourWhether you have a wireless network or not, it is
browser to access it by typing in its IP address.essential nowadays to protect you computer by
This IP address can be found in your routerusing good quality internet securities software.
instructions and will be something like this:Purchasing this from a reputable security
When you have input this address into yourcompany is recommended to ensure that your
browser and pressed enter you will be taken to asoftware is kept up to date with the most recent
login page where you must input the user namevirus signatures. If you are not up to date, an
password. By default the router will have aunrecognised virus will not be stopped by the
generic password which you will also find in yoursoftware. It is not advisable to use a free
instructions. Login using the default details andanti-virus service as these do not provide
then navigate to the 'change password' pageadequate protection and are a false economy.
where you can change it to your own secretSecurity software will also detect and block any
password.attempt to hack into your computer via the
If you do not do this, a hacker could gain accessinternet or local network. Recommended internet
using the generic password. After any changessecurity software companies are - Norton,
have been made you must apply the changes andMcAfee and others.
restart your router. Your instructions will tell youConclusion.
how to do this.In short then, following the above procedures will
2. Configure Your Router for Data Encryption.make it very difficult for the would be hacker to
Login to your router as outlined above anduse your wireless network to gain access to your
browse to the security page where you cancomputer. I also strongly advise you to read your
set-up your security type and input a cipher key.wireless router manual thoroughly.