| People have more flexible time due to wireless | | | | point to a hard to guess name. Setup your |
| network. Thanks to the invention of wireless. | | | | computer device to connect to this SSID by |
| People can now work from home while taking | | | | default. |
| care of their kids or doing house works. No more | | | | 4. Setup router/access point not to broadcast the |
| stress from traffic jam anymore. Is this great? | | | | SSID. The same SSID needs to be setup on the |
| Well, there is something you should realize. | | | | client side manually. This feature may not be |
| Working from home while using a wireless local | | | | available on all equipment. |
| area network (WLAN) may lead to theft of | | | | 5. Block anonymous Internet requests or pings. |
| sensitive information and hacker or virus infiltration | | | | On each computer having wireless network card, |
| unless proper measures are taken. As WLANs | | | | network connection properties should be |
| send information over radio waves, someone with | | | | configured to allow connection to Access Point |
| a receiver in your area could be picking up the | | | | Networks Only. Computer to Computer (peer to |
| transmission, thus gaining access to your | | | | peer) Connection should not be allowed. |
| computer. They could load viruses on to your | | | | Enable MAC filtering. Deny association to wireless |
| laptop which could be transferred to the | | | | network for unspecified MAC addresses. Mac or |
| company's network when you go back to work. | | | | Physical addresses are available through your |
| Believe it or not! Up to 75 per cent of WLAN | | | | computer device network connection setup and |
| users do not have standard security features | | | | they are physically written on network cards. |
| installed, while 20 per cent are left completely | | | | When adding new wireless cards / computer to |
| open as default configurations are not secured, | | | | the network, their MAC addresses should be |
| but made for the users to have their network up | | | | registered with the router /access point. Network |
| and running ASAP. It is recommended that | | | | router should have firewall features enabled and |
| wireless router/access point setup be always | | | | demilitarized zone (DMZ) feature disabled. |
| done though a wired client. | | | | All computers should have a properly configured |
| You can setup your security by follow these | | | | personal firewall in addition to a hardware firewall. |
| steps: | | | | You should also update router/access point |
| 1. Change default administrative password on | | | | firmware when new versions become available. |
| wireless router/access point to a secured | | | | Locating router/access point away from |
| password. | | | | strangers is also helpful so they cannot reset the |
| 2. Enable at least 128-bit WEP encryption on both | | | | router/access point to default settings. You can |
| card and access point. Change your WEP keys | | | | even try to locate router/access point in the |
| periodically. If equipment does not support at least | | | | middle of the building rather than near windows to |
| 128-bit WEP encryption, consider replacing it. | | | | limit signal coverage outside the building. |
| Although there are security issues with WEP, it | | | | There is no guarantee of a full protection of your |
| represents minimum level of security, and it | | | | wireless network, but following these suggested |
| should be enabled. | | | | tips can definitely lessen your risk of exposing to |
| 3. Change the default SSID on your router/access | | | | attackers aiming at insecure networks. |