| Although it is relatively easy for SOHO
| |
| | your WLAN is not so openly available to
|
| (Small Office/Home Office) and home users
| |
| | intrusion.
|
| to set up their own Wireless networks,
| |
| | 3. Configure WPA or WPA2
|
| the default settings on a WAP (Wireless
| |
| | To authorize access to your Wireless
|
| Access Point) usually come with no
| |
| | network you should choose a security
|
| security configured.
| |
| | setting of WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected
|
| As a result, if you leave these settings
| |
| | Access Pre-Shared Key) or better yet
|
| as they are, then this WLAN (Wireless
| |
| | WPA2-PSK if available.
|
| Local Area Network) you are creating can
| |
| | Although Windows XP supports both of
|
| leave you open to hackers who want to
| |
| | these security methods, you still need a
|
| compromise your computer and/or steal
| |
| | wireless adapter that supports WPA as
|
| information from it.
| |
| | well.
|
| As a result it is essential that you take
| |
| | NOTE: WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is
|
| the necessary steps to secure your
| |
| | the earlier attempt to secure wireless
|
| Wireless network.
| |
| | connections and it is not secure enough.
|
| Why do you need wireless security?
| |
| | If this is all your WPA has to offer then
|
| In a traditional wired network you need
| |
| | you should either upgrade the firmware on
|
| to have physical access to the network.
| |
| | it, if this will then give you WPA, or
|
| You either need access to a cable that is
| |
| | purchase a newer device.
|
| already connected to the LAN, or be able
| |
| | You also need to choose a password for
|
| to attach a cable to say a patch panel or
| |
| | WPA-PSK. Like your SSID, this too needs
|
| switch port that will create a new
| |
| | to be complicated and so not easy to
|
| physical connection for you.
| |
| | guess.
|
| With a wireless network, however, you
| |
| | 4. Restrict access based on MAC
|
| have a radio signal that permeates the
| |
| | authentication
|
| very air around us. Because of the
| |
| | Your wireless network adapter has a
|
| broadcast nature of WLANs, it is far
| |
| | physical address called a MAC (Media
|
| easier to access this sort of network,
| |
| | Access Control) address. You can take
|
| especially when the signal is usually
| |
| | advantage of this by configuring your WAP
|
| powerful enough to emanate outside of a
| |
| | to only allow access to those MAC
|
| building and so potentially provide
| |
| | addresses you want to give access to your
|
| network access to those outside.
| |
| | network and so restrict which computers
|
| Another benefit of a cabled network is
| |
| | can get connected.
|
| that the transfer of data between
| |
| | Although a MAC address can still be
|
| computers remains within the wires
| |
| | spoofed, this is yet another obstacle to
|
| themselves. Contrast this with a Wireless
| |
| | deter the casual hacker.
|
| network, in which the data is now easier
| |
| | 5. Change the administrator account
|
| to intercept and/or corrupt.
| |
| | password
|
| As a result you need to secure your
| |
| | Your WAP will come with a standard
|
| wireless network in the following ways:
| |
| | administrator account and password. So
|
| - Request user authentication to prevent
| |
| | anyone who has bought the same device
|
| unauthorized access to your network.
| |
| | will know what these are.
|
| - Use data privacy to protect the
| |
| | Change the password to one that is not
|
| integrity and privacy of the data being
| |
| | easy to guess and if possible change the
|
| transmitted.
| |
| | name of the administrator account as
|
| How do you secure your Wireless network?
| |
| | well.
|
| 1. Change the SSID
| |
| | Summary
|
| When you configure your WAP change the
| |
| | A Wireless network is a great way to get
|
| default SSID (Service Set IDentifier). Do
| |
| | Internet access without having to lay
|
| not pick something that easily identifies
| |
| | down cabling, but out of the box these
|
| you, like your name, street address, etc.
| |
| | are completely insecure.
|
| Instead pick something complicated that
| |
| | With the threat of hackers, viruses and
|
| is difficult to guess and is made up of a
| |
| | spyware unlikely to go away you must
|
| mixture of letters and numbers e.g.
| |
| | secure your Wireless network if you want
|
| m6jvUm9mHuQfA4h5tgCH
| |
| | to keep your computer and the data on it
|
| 2. Disable SSID broadcasting
| |
| | safe.
|
| In addition, make sure your WAP is not
| |
| | Follow the 5 recommendations above and
|
| configured to broadcast your SSID.
| |
| | you can enjoy being able to surf the
|
| Although this is not a secure method of
| |
| | Internet in safety.
|
| protecting your network, it does mean
| |
| |
|
