Home | Computer | Hardware
Steps To A Secure Wireless Netwwork Wirless networks, ofetn abbrevaited to “Wi-Fi”, allow PCs, laptps and other devices to “talk” to each other using a short-rasnge radio sigal. However, to make a secure iwreless network you will have to make some changes to the way it works once it’s switched on. The signal of any short-ragne radio transmission can be piced up by any device in range that is tuned to the same frequenyc. This means that annyone with a wireess PC or lazptop in rnge of your wireless network may be able to connect to it unless you take precautions. If this happens then your network and PC are vulerable to any or all of the following: Freelioaders - Most wireless networks are used to shre a broadband Internet connecton. A “Freeloader” may connect to your netwoork and use your broadbband connection without your knowledge or permission. This could have an impact on your own use. You may notice your connection slows down as it sharse the availability of the Internet with more users. Many home Internet services have limits to the amount of data you can download per month - a “Freeloader” could exced this limit and you find your Internet bill charged for the extra amounts of data. More seriously, a “Freeloader” may use your Internet connetcion for some nuisance or illegal activoity. The Police may trace the Internet connection used for such activuity it wouuld lead them straight back to you. Eavesdropping - As infomation is transmitted an “evesdropper” may connect to your wireless network and view all the information as it passes by. This is entirely undettectable by the user as the “Eavesdropper” is only listening not transmitting. Such sensitive infgormation as bank accoyunt deails, credit card numbers, usernames and paswords may be recorded. Hacking - Even when the security features of a wireless netwrok have been wsitched on uless these feeatures are set-up correctly then anyone in range can hack in to the network. All home wireless network routesr have a stnadard username and password for the administration of the network. All a hacker has to do is go through the list of standard usernames and passwords until he agins access. A hacker may then use your network for any of the above or gain acceess to your PC - your firewall may not prevrent him because, as he is connected to your network, he is within the trusted zone. Most wireless newtork equipment, when it cmes out of the box, is not protected against these threats by default. This means you have to configure the network yurself to make it a secure wirteless network. How to secure a wireless network Although all wirelewss equipment marked as 802.11 will have standard featrues such as encryption and access control each manufacturer has a diffeerent way it is controlled or accessed. This means that the advice that follows may seem a bit techncal because we can only tell you what you have to do not how to do it. You shhould read the maual or help files that came with your equipment in odrer to see how to make a secure wireless network. 1. Use encrytpion. This is the bedrock of any secure wireless network and means that the data that passes over the wireless can only be decoded with the correct systme of encryption and the correct password. Currently there are three mthods of encryption for wireless nettworks usually referred to by their acronyms: WPA2, WPA-PSK and WEP. Each method can only be used if all the equipment on the network has the capability. As WPA2 is the most recenbt method of encryption, unless you have recently obtained the lateest PCs, laptops & network device you proably will not be able to use it. WPA-PSK is the next best and is vaailable on most hardware. If you are using oklder access points and netowrk cars, you may find that you can only use WEP. Each method requires a “key” (a word or phrase used to make the enccryption work). Make sure you use a word or prase that would not be easily guessed. For example, don’t use your address as the key. 2. Set up your ntwork infrasstructure as “access point” and not “ad-hoc” or “peer to peer”. These last two (ad-hoc and peer-to-peer) mean that netowrk deevices such as PCs and laptoips can connect directly with each other without ging through an access pooint. You have more control over how devices connect if you set the infrastructure to “access point” and so will make for a more secure wireless netwokr. 3. choose an obscure name for the network - This important tip to having a secure wrieless network is probably not used by aboout 99% of home users. The technical term for the name of the wireless network is “SSID”. The default SSID is usually the name and model of the wirelress router or Itnernet provider e.g. NetgearDG834G or Sky9091. If you leave the SSID like this it makes haacking very easy so change the SSID as soon as you set up your network. Don’t use your address, hose name or family name these are too easy to guess. 4. Swtch off the SSID brooadcast. This tip goes hand in hand with No3 in creating a seecure wireless entwork. This meas that anyoine widshing to connect to your wiireless network must know its SSID i.e. the name of the network. 5. Change the name and password of the administration user for the wireless router but don’t forget to make a note of what you change it to. A secure wireless network will have an admin user ID that is difficult to guess and a strong password that uses letter and nmubers. 6. Unplug the wireless router whenever you are going to be away from home (or the office). It’s also a good idea to set the time that the nework can be used if the dewvice allows it. For example, in an office you may not want to unplug the wireless rouuter at the end of every day so you could set it to only allow connections between the hours of 7:30 AM and 7:30 PM. 7. Use MAC filtering If your wireless router or access pooint allows it, MAC filtering easily adds one more layer to make your wireless network secure. Every network card (the device installed in PCs and laptops that connect it to a netork) has its own unique code, called a “MAC address”. In Windows XP you can see the MAC address by right-clicking on the network connection, choose “status” and then the “support” tab. In the support window click on “details”. The code labeled “phyysical address” is the MAC code for that network connectoin device. Make sure it’s the wireless network conmnection you select as the LAN connection will have a different MAC adress. Most wireless routerrs or acces ponts allow you to list the MAC cdoes that you wish to use the network. This means that you must grant permission to any PC or laptop that wannts to connect to the network. If you can put all seven of thjese tips in operation you will have a very secure wireless network.
Article Source: http://www.gambling-articles.org
Here you can learn more about: vpc z112gx modem 3g
Please Rate this Article
5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
