| Wireless networks have become common place | | | | SSID of the wireless to connect to it. This |
| now pretty much every where you go. Setting | | | | security measure will stop your basic war driver |
| up wireless networks is now easy, cheap, and can | | | | from picking up your wireless network. This along |
| be put pretty much anywhere you want. With | | | | with configuring WEB which is listed below will |
| most wireless access points nowadays you can | | | | significantly increase your security. |
| simply plug it in and you are setup for wireless | | | | 4. Enable 128-bit WEP |
| which makes them very convenient. But with the | | | | Wireless signal by default is sent over the air in |
| convenience that wireless adds, it also comes | | | | plain text, which means that someone with a |
| some security risks and vulnerabilities. With a few | | | | listening device (sniffer) can pickup wireless |
| simple tricks and configurations you can make | | | | transmission between the computer and the |
| your wireless safe and secure for your home | | | | access point. By enabling and configuring 128-bit |
| network. | | | | WEP you are now encrypting the information you |
| 1. Change all default settings on your access point | | | | are sending over the air. 128-bit WEP has to be |
| All wireless access points no matter which | | | | configured on the wireless access point and it also |
| manufacture they come from have default | | | | has to be configured the exact same way on the |
| settings on them and if you leave them anyone | | | | wireless computer you are connecting to the |
| who has access to the documentation of that | | | | access point. |
| access point can gain access to it. The two | | | | 5. Enable MAC address filters |
| primary default settings you want to change on | | | | If you have configured numbers 3 and 4 then |
| your access point is the admin password and the | | | | enabling MAC address filtering is probably not |
| SSID. Changing these two default settings | | | | needed but it is still an option to help increase |
| dramatically increase the security on your access | | | | security. Almost all access points now a days |
| point. | | | | come with MAC address filtering. These filters |
| 2. Know your broadcast range | | | | allow you to input the MAC addresses of the |
| Location, Location, Location. Where you place | | | | wireless cards that are allowed to connect to the |
| your access point in your house or office | | | | access point and will deny any other wireless |
| determines where you can pick up signal. You | | | | devices that attempt to connect. |
| obviously want to keep the signal confined within | | | | 6. Disable DHCP on your router or access point |
| your office or house so the worst place to put an | | | | Disabling DHCP on your router/server/access |
| access point in near a window facing the road. By | | | | point means that you will have to manually set all |
| doing that you send a wireless signal out toward | | | | computers IP addresses. By disabling DHCP you |
| the road for anyone driving by to pick up. The | | | | are requiring someone to know your IP scheme |
| best place to put an access point in relation to | | | | to actually connect to your network. This is not a |
| security is as close the middle of the house or | | | | huge security measure but it adds another layer |
| office. | | | | of inconvenience for the person attempting to |
| 3. Turn off SSID broadcast | | | | access your network. |
| Wireless access points are usually setup by | | | | Security is an ongoing process that continues to |
| default to broadcast their SSID which tells anyone | | | | change and evolve. By implementing some of |
| in range that there is a wireless network nearby. | | | | these recommendations you can significantly |
| By disabling this feature you have to know the | | | | increase your security and protection. |