| Connecting your home and office computers | | | | and wireless routers have built-in firewalls. |
| with a wireless network sure makes things | | | | They are not the most technically advanced |
| convenient ...BUT the very feature that makes | | | | firewalls, but they help create one more line |
| them so popular is also their biggest | | | | of defense. Read the manual for your hardware |
| weakness! Anyone with the knowledge can | | | | and learn how to configure your router to |
| intercept your signal and gain access to your | | | | only allow incoming or outgoing traffic that |
| network if it is not secure. The technicians | | | | you have approved. |
| at offer the following six easy steps to | | | | |
| wireless security for your home or office. | | | | 5. Change the Default Administrator Password: |
| | | | This is just good practice for ALL hardware |
| 1. Change the System ID: Devices come with a | | | | and software. The default passwords are |
| default system ID called the SSID (Service | | | | easily obtained and because so many people |
| Set Identifier) or ESSID (Extended Service | | | | don't bother to take the simple step of |
| Set Identifier). It is easy for a hacker to | | | | changing them they are usually what hackers |
| find out what the default identifier is for | | | | try first. Make sure you change the default |
| each manufacturer of wireless equipment so | | | | password on your wireless router / access |
| you need to change this to something else. | | | | point to something that is not easily guessed |
| Use something unique- not your name or | | | | like your last name. |
| something easily guessed. | | | | |
| | | | 6. Patch and Protect Your PC's: As a last |
| 2. Disable Identifier Broadcasting: | | | | line of defense you should have personal |
| Announcing that you have a wireless | | | | firewall software such as Zone Alarm Pro and |
| connection to the world is an invitation for | | | | anti-virus software installed on your |
| hackers. You already know you have one so you | | | | computer. As important as installing the |
| don't need to broadcast it. Check the manual | | | | anti-virus software, you must keep it up to |
| for your hardware and figure out how to | | | | date. New viruses are discovered daily and |
| disable broadcasting. | | | | anti-virus software vendors generally release |
| | | | updates at least once a week. You also must |
| 3. Enable WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy): WEP | | | | keep up to date with patches for known |
| encrypts your data so that only the intended | | | | security vulnerabilities. For Microsoft |
| recipient is supposed to be able to read it. | | | | operating systems you can use Windows Update |
| As with all security measures there are ways | | | | to try and help keep your computer current |
| around it, but by using encryption you will | | | | with patches. |
| keep the novice hackers out of your systems. | | | | |
| It is best to use 128bit rather than 40bit | | | | Following these steps will insure that |
| encryption (it is exponentially harder to | | | | hackers and hitchhikers don't surf on your |
| crack). | | | | wireless network, or more importantly, these |
| | | | steps help block unwanted access into your |
| 4. Restrict Unnecessary Traffic: Many wired | | | | computer network, and your valuable data. |