| Technology, particularly computer and internet, has | | | | 2. Change default user name and password. Router |
| changed a lot in a very short span of time. Before, | | | | manufacturers have a universal user name and |
| internet was only used by elite corporations and huge | | | | password (across all brands) that you can use to |
| firms but nowadays, they can be accessed at home. | | | | open the configuration page of the router and make |
| Networking was a concept that was exclusively for | | | | changes. Immediately when you set up your wireless |
| the use of IT professionals but with the latest | | | | home network, you need to change this default user |
| improvements in computer interface, these | | | | name and password so that you can be sure that |
| functionalities can now be easily set up at home by | | | | even if someone hacks into your wireless network, |
| individual users. | | | | they will not be able to make any changes. This way |
| Most homes nowadays have multiple computers. The | | | | you not only protect your computers and network, you |
| most practical way of having all your computers | | | | are also protecting your identity against identity theft. |
| connected to the internet is through a router and a | | | | 3. Disable SSID broadcast. SSID is your network name. |
| wireless home network. This fourth article in the series | | | | Often, the default SSID of your router is the |
| will share how you can secure your wireless home | | | | manufacturer's name. On default also, this network |
| networks thereby shielding you and your family against | | | | name is broadcasted meaning when you open your |
| the dangers of identity theft. | | | | laptop's wireless function, it will automatically pick up the |
| Secure your wireless home networks. | | | | signal that it detects from your wireless home network |
| There are various ways on how you can secure your | | | | as it is broadcasted. "Sniffers" are people who detect |
| wireless networks. Here's how: | | | | wireless signals and they work closely together with |
| 1. Set up WEP/WPA Encryption. Most routers that are | | | | computer hackers. Disabling SSID broadcast can |
| being shipped nowadays come with default | | | | protect your network from sniffers and you can sleep |
| configuration page that allows its users to easily make | | | | well knowing that no one knows that you do have a |
| changes with their wireless computer networks. The | | | | wireless network at home. |
| first step in securing your wireless home networks | | | | 4. Enable MAC filtering. Each computer that you |
| against identity theft is to set up a WEP/WPA | | | | connect to your network has its own MAC number. |
| encryption. In layman's terms, this encryption is a | | | | With MAC filtering, you are simply registering each |
| password which you need to key in before you can | | | | MAC number of your computers to your router so |
| connect to your wireless network. Tip: do not use | | | | that it will only give internet access to those computers |
| passwords that are easily guessed and whenever | | | | whose MAC numbers it recognizes. This is another |
| possible, use a combination of both letters and | | | | form of security encryption that can significantly help |
| numbers. | | | | you fight computer hacking and identity theft. |