The Essentials of Wireless Security

With wireless networks proliferating it is becomingstolen bandwidth could be put. In a worst case
more important than ever that sufficient securityexample a paedophile cruising around the area
measures are put in place. And yet many people,could spot the chalk marking and connect to the
especially those new to the technology orcompromised network. Without the knowledge of
computers in general, are just not aware of thethe network owners they could connect to any
dangers of not properly securing a wirelessmanner of illegal sites, with no record of their
network.passing traceable to them. Because the trail would
Typically 'normal' users of products such asstop cold at the door of the person who has
wireless routers dismiss any security concerns asprovided them with the free access.
only really being applicable to commercial concerns.Of course this is a very worst-case example, and
After all, who would be interested in a small localas such very unlikely. Even in today's climate of
set-up of two, maybe three computers? Youmoral decrepitude this sort of occurrence would,
may be surprised. There are many horror storieswe hope, be extraordinarily rare. But hopefully it
circulating about unsecured wireless networks, andwill help drive home the point that securing your
unfortunately there is a grain of truth in most ofnetwork should be taken very seriously indeed.
them.But what can you do to protect yourself?
The most common form that a danger to aI would recommend that all wireless networks
private network can take is known as variouslyshould make use of the WEP (Wired Equivalent
as 'War-driving', 'war-walking', 'war-flying' orPrivacy) encryption option which comes as
'war-chalking.' This involves an unscrupulous personstandard with almost all routers and base stations.
literally driving, walking or even flying around in anAlthough turned off by default this feature is
attempt to find an unsecured wireless network.absolutely essential. Utilising either 64-bit
Once one is found a nearby wall is commonlyencryption, which creates a 64bit encryption
'chalked', indicating to any other passer-by thebased on a 40-bit key with a 24-bit initialisation
presence of a ripe target. The name itself isvector, or 128-bit encryption which makes use of
taken from the act of 'war-dialling', a term coineda 104-bit key with a 24-bit initialisation vector, a
by the film 'WarGames', where random telephonesecure password is created. This password should
numbers were dialled in the hope of finding aonly be given to known and trusted wireless
computer on the other end of the line.devices, blocking access to any interloper. This,
If a network is found, then the potentialalthough not secure against dedicated crackers,
consequences can range from the fairly innocuousprovides a more than adequate protection to
to the criminal. At the very lowest level adissuade the nosy or the vast majority of
third-party can connect to the network andwar-drivers.
access the Internet connection from the router. IfToo few people enable this basic protection, or
the legitimate owner of the network is on aare even aware it exists. However in some
capped service this can consume a considerableregards protecting your network can be as
chunk of their bandwidth, leading to extra chargesessential as your childhood inoculation against
being levied for resources which they nevertetanus. So please, take just a few minutes of
realised were being used. Of far moreyour time to configure your WEP encryption, and
consequence are some of the uses to which thisto help protect yourself.