| Wireless networks, often abbreviated to
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| | method can only be used if all the
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| "Wi-Fi", allow PCs, laptops and other
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| | equipment on the network has the
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| devices to "talk" to each other using a
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| | capability. As WPA2 is the most recent
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| short-range radio signal. However, to
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| | method of encryption, unless you have
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| make a secure wireless network you will
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| | recently obtained the latest PCs, laptops
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| have to make some changes to the way it
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| | & network device you probably will not be
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| works once it's switched on.
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| | able to use it. WPA-PSK is the next best
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| The signal of any short-range radio
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| | and is available on most hardware. If you
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| transmission can be picked up by any
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| | are using older access points and network
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| device in range that is tuned to the same
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| | cards, you may find that you can only use
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| frequency. This means that anyone with a
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| | WEP. Each method requires a "key" (a word
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| wireless PC or laptop in range of your
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| | or phrase used to make the encryption
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| wireless network may be able to connect
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| | work). Make sure you use a word or phrase
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| to it unless you take precautions.
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| | that would not be easily guessed. For
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| If this happens then your network and PC
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| | example, don't use your address as the
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| are vulnerable to any or all of the
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| | key.
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| following:
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| | 2. Set up your network infrastructure as
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| Freeloaders - Most wireless networks are
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| | "access point" and not "ad-hoc" or "peer
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| used to share a broadband Internet
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| | to peer". These last two (ad-hoc and
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| connection. A "Freeloader" may connect to
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| | peer-to-peer) mean that network devices
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| your network and use your broadband
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| | such as PCs and laptops can connect
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| connection without your knowledge or
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| | directly with each other without going
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| permission. This could have an impact on
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| | through an access point. You have more
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| your own use. You may notice your
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| | control over how devices connect if you
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| connection slows down as it shares the
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| | set the infrastructure to "access point"
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| availability of the Internet with more
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| | and so will make for a more secure
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| users. Many home Internet services have
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| | wireless network.
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| limits to the amount of data you can
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| | 3. choose an obscure name for the network
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| download per month - a "Freeloader" could
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| | - This important tip to having a secure
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| exceed this limit and you find your
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| | wireless network is probably not used by
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| Internet bill charged for the extra
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| | about 99% of home users. The technical
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| amounts of data. More seriously, a
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| | term for the name of the wireless network
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| "Freeloader" may use your Internet
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| | is "SSID". The default SSID is usually
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| connection for some nuisance or illegal
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| | the name and model of the wireless router
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| activity. The Police may trace the
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| | or Internet provider e.g. NetgearDG834G
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| Internet connection used for such
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| | or Sky9091. If you leave the SSID like
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| activity it would lead them straight back
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| | this it makes hacking very easy so change
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| to you.
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| | the SSID as soon as you set up your
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| Eavesdropping - As information is
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| | network. Don't use your address, house
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| transmitted an "eavesdropper" may connect
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| | name or family name these are too easy to
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| to your wireless network and view all the
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| | guess.
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| information as it passes by. This is
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| | 4. Switch off the SSID broadcast. This
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| entirely undetectable by the user as the
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| | tip goes hand in hand with No3 in
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| "Eavesdropper" is only listening not
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| | creating a secure wireless network. This
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| transmitting. Such sensitive information
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| | means that anyone wishing to connect to
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| as bank account details, credit card
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| | your wireless network must know its SSID
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| numbers, usernames and passwords may be
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| | i.e. the name of the network.
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| recorded.
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| | 5. Change the name and password of the
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| Hacking - Even when the security features
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| | administration user for the wireless
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| of a wireless network have been switched
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| | router but don't forget to make a note of
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| on unless these features are set-up
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| | what you change it to. A secure wireless
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| correctly then anyone in range can hack
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| | network will have an admin user ID that
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| in to the network. All home wireless
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| | is difficult to guess and a strong
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| network routers have a standard username
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| | password that uses letter and numbers.
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| and password for the administration of
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| | 6. Unplug the wireless router whenever
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| the network. All a hacker has to do is go
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| | you are going to be away from home (or
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| through the list of standard usernames
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| | the office). It's also a good idea to set
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| and passwords until he gains access. A
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| | the time that the network can be used if
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| hacker may then use your network for any
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| | the device allows it. For example, in an
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| of the above or gain access to your PC -
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| | office you may not want to unplug the
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| your firewall may not prevent him
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| | wireless router at the end of every day
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| because, as he is connected to your
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| | so you could set it to only allow
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| network, he is within the trusted zone.
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| | connections between the hours of 7:30 AM
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| Most wireless network equipment, when it
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| | and 7:30 PM.
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| comes out of the box, is not protected
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| | 7. Use MAC filtering If your wireless
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| against these threats by default. This
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| | router or access point allows it, MAC
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| means you have to configure the network
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| | filtering easily adds one more layer to
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| yourself to make it a secure wireless
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| | make your wireless network secure. Every
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| network.
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| | network card (the device installed in PCs
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| How to secure a wireless network
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| | and laptops that connect it to a network)
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| Although all wireless equipment marked as
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| | has its own unique code, called a "MAC
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| 802.11 will have standard features such
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| | address". In Windows XP you can see the
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| as encryption and access control each
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| | MAC address by right-clicking on the
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| manufacturer has a different way it is
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| | network connection, choose "status" and
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| controlled or accessed. This means that
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| | then the "support" tab. In the support
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| the advice that follows may seem a bit
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| | window click on "details". The code
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| technical because we can only tell you
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| | labeled "physical address" is the MAC
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| what you have to do not how to do it. You
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| | code for that network connection device.
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| should read the manual or help files that
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| | Make sure it's the wireless network
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| came with your equipment in order to see
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| | connection you select as the LAN
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| how to make a secure wireless network.
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| | connection will have a different MAC
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| 1. Use encryption. This is the bedrock of
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| | address. Most wireless routers or access
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| any secure wireless network and means
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| | points allow you to list the MAC codes
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| that the data that passes over the
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| | that you wish to use the network. This
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| wireless can only be decoded with the
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| | means that you must grant permission to
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| correct system of encryption and the
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| | any PC or laptop that wants to connect to
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| correct password. Currently there are
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| | the network.
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| three methods of encryption for wireless
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| | If you can put all seven of these tips in
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| networks usually referred to by their
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| | operation you will have a very secure
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| acronyms: WPA2, WPA-PSK and WEP. Each
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| | wireless network.
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