Wireless Security

Leaving your wireless network unsecure can be an open door for neighbors or mobile attackers searching for wireless networks to break into.

More and more home users are rushing to setup their wireless networks, so they can sit by the fireplace, in bed or in the garden whilst browsing the Internet.

But what about security, why don't we bother to protect our wireless networks. Some users don't know how to, some don't know the dangers behind not protecting a wireless network and some are so exicited that all they want is to do is access the Internet on their new wireless network ASAP.

Leaving your wireless network open can mean:

1) Neighbours accessing your network and slowing down the connection for you and even accessing your personal information.

2) Some people even use open wireless networks to access the Internet and then use stolen credit cards to purchase goods from different websites over your Internet connection. When the police investigate, the crime will be tracked down to your Internet IP address even though you did not know anything about it.

3) Once on to your wireless network, a hacker can access your machines hard drive and steal your information.

4) There is more dangers, but these should be enough to get you thinking.

Securing your wireless network

The easiest way to secure your network is to enable WEP on your wireless router. Access the Security section of your wireless router and enable WEP. Then setup a strong pass phrase or key.

Enabling WEP will secure your connection but if someone really wanted to gain access to your network they could by using sniffing software that would be able obtain you pass key from the signals being sent from your machine to your wireless router and back.

You could secure your wireless network further by disabling SSID broadcast. This would stop your wireless network name from being broadcasted and your wireless network would be invisible.

If you wanted to make your wireless network even stronger you could setup MAC filters and add your computers MAC code into your wireless router which would mean that only your computer would be able to access this machine. Your MAC code can be obtained by:

1) Clicking start
2) Clicking run
3) Typing cmd and clicking ok
4) Type ipconfig /all and press enter

Your MAC code is the physical address which is unique. Type this code into the filter area of your router and apply settings.

It is always best to purchase a wireless router with a built in firewall. You should also have firewall software installed on your machine.

If you follow the steps above you will have a very strong wireless network.

If you require further info please post here and I will be happy to help.

Thanks