| Wireless hardware is so easy to set up
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| | MAC addresses of all the devices that
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| anymore that most people can simply plug
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| | connect it. Many offer the owner an
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| it in and start using their network
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| | option to key in the MAC addresses of
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| without giving much thought to security
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| | their home equipment that restricts the
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| issues. That doesn't mean hackers haven't
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| | network to only permit connections from
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| thought about them.
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| | those devices. Hacker software programs
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| One key issue is bandwidth theft. Anyone
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| | can fake MAC addresses easily.
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| can steal it from your wireless
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| | - Disable SSID Broadcast - The access
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| connection provided that they are close
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| | point or router will typically broadcast
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| enough to get a strong signal. This will
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| | the network name over the air at regular
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| ultimately slow down your internet
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| | intervals. This was designed for
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| connection. You'll also be responsible
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| | businesses and mobile hotspots where
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| for anything they online since you are
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| | people come and go. This feature is
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| their access point to the internet.
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| | unnecessary in your home, and it
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| Bandwidth theft isn't the worst part of
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| | increases the chances a hacker will try
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| leaving your wireless network insecure.
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| | to log in to your home network. Most
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| There is much worse things that can
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| | Wi-Fi access points allow the SSID
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| happen. A knowledgeable hacker can easily
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| | broadcast feature to be disabled by its
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| capture and view the contents of your
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| | network administrator.
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| wireless-network traffic. This includes
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| | - Do Not Auto-Connect to Open Wi-Fi
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| all of your e-mail messages and log-in
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| | Networks - Automatically connecting to an
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| passwords. They can also hijack your
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| | open Wi-Fi network like a wireless
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| online identity for nefarious purposes,
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| | hotspot exposes your computer to some
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| such as using your network and computers
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| | security risks. Although it's normally
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| to attack other systems.
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| | not enabled, most computers have a
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| By taking a few extra minutes to
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| | setting allowing these connections to
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| configure all of your network's security
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| | happen automatically without letting you
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| features, your computer should remain
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| | know.
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| safe. Here are ten of the best and
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| | - Assign Static IP Addresses to Devices -
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| easiest ways to keep your computer safe:
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| | Home networkers normally use dynamic IP
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| - Change Default Administrator Passwords
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| | addresses. This technology is quick and
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| (and Usernames) - The core of most Wi-Fi
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| | easy to set up, but it also works to the
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| home networks is the access point or
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| | advantage of network attackers, who can
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| router. Manufacturers provide Web pages
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| | easily obtain valid IP addresses from a
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| that allow owners to enter their network
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| | network's DHCP pool. Turn off DHCP on the
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| address and account information when
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| | router or access point, set a fixed IP
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| setting up the equipment. They are
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| | address range, then set each connected
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| protected with a login screen so only the
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| | device to match.
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| owner can do this. These provided logins,
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| | - Enable Firewalls On Each Computer and
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| however, are simple and well-known to
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| | the Router - Today's routers contain a
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| hackers on the Internet. Be sure to
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| | built-in firewall capability, but there
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| change these settings immediately.
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| | are options to disable them if you
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| - Turn on WPA / WEP Encryption - Wi-Fi
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| | choose. Make sure your firewall is turned
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| equipment supports some form of
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| | on and try installing and running
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| encryption. This technology scrambles
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| | personal firewall software on each
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| messages sent over wireless networks so
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| | computer connected to the router for
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| that they cannot be easily read by
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| | extra protection.
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| humans. Several encryption technologies
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| | - Position the Router or Access Point
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| exist for Wi-Fi today. Naturally you will
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| | Safely - Wi-Fi signals normally reach
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| want to pick the strongest type of
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| | outside of a home but that small amount
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| encryption that works for your wireless
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| | of "leakage" is not a problem. Just be
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| network. All Wi-Fi devices on your LAN
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| | aware that the further the signal
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| must share the identical encryption
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| | reaches, the easier it is for others to
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| settings in order to function properly.
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| | detect and exploit it. Your signal often
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| - Change the Default SSID - Access points
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| | times will reach through neighboring
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| and routers use a network name called the
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| | homes for example. When installing a
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| SSID. Manufacturers ship their products
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| | wireless home network, where the access
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| with the same SSID set. Though, knowing
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| | point or router is placed determines its
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| your SSID alone can't let anyone to break
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| | reach. Put them near the center of your
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| into your network, but it is somewhere to
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| | home rather than near windows to minimize
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| start. More importantly, when someone
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| | any leakage.
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| finds a default SSID, they see it as a
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| | - Turn Off the Network During Extended
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| poorly configured network and are much
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| | Periods of Non-Use - Shutting down the
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| more likely to attack it. Immediately
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| | network is the best in security and will
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| change the default SSID when configuring
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| | prevent outside hackers from breaking in
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| your LAN network.
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| | with certainty. This doesn't mean turning
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| - Enable MAC Address Filtering - Every
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| | it off and on at all time but, at least
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| single piece of Wi-Fi gear possesses a
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| | consider doing it when you know you won't
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| unique identifier called the MAC address.
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| | be home or offline for a long period of
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| Access points and routers keep track of
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| | time.
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