| In previous articles, I describe how a wireless network | | | | Authentication - Stated as simply as it truly is, this level |
| functions, its advantages over a physically wired | | | | of verification is to make sure that a person trying to |
| network and the disadvantages. By implementing the | | | | access your network is someone that is authentic. |
| proper security settings and taking some preventative | | | | Only authorized users can gain access to your |
| action, you can limit unauthorized access to your | | | | network access point(s), your computers or your |
| network and minimize the downside of having an open | | | | Internet connection. |
| broadcast wireless network in your home or office. | | | | It should be noted that almost all wireless Internet |
| There is no way to prevent the propagation of the | | | | equipment is shipped from the factory with all of the |
| radio signal transmission of your wireless network | | | | security features turned off or disabled. This is good |
| from extending beyond your home or even your | | | | and bad. It is good in that these security features can |
| property lines. So you have to create a way to make | | | | make the initial installation, turn-up, testing and |
| it difficult for people to tune to your frequency of | | | | configuration difficult and add unnecessary complexity |
| transmitted signal and more significantly, create an | | | | in just getting the network up and running. The bad is |
| impenetrable security perimeter to prevent those tuning | | | | that most people, once they have the network up and |
| into your signals from decoding the content of the | | | | running, are thrilled with the fact that they not only did it |
| signal and allowing them to access the information. | | | | themselves, they immediately start surfing the Web |
| In other words, we really don't care if someone can | | | | from the bathroom or pool....just because they can! |
| detect and receive the transmitted signal from your | | | | They either forget to go back or they ignore the |
| wireless network? After all, how can you stop them | | | | warnings. This leaves the network wide open for |
| from receiving signals that are broadcast into their | | | | others to use. |
| home or car? What is important is the steps that can | | | | And before you say you want to leave it open for |
| be taken to secure the information contained in this | | | | your neighbors, think twice. While it is a noble thing to |
| broadcast and provide you with security on the air-link | | | | want to share with you neighbors, there are others |
| itself. | | | | that you might not want to have on your network. |
| The two methods for securing an air-link in today's | | | | More and more cases are reported each year where |
| wireless network environment consist of encryption | | | | a wireless network owner allowed others to access |
| and authentication. | | | | their network only to find that their network was used |
| Encryption - The first level of defense against hackers | | | | in illegal or unscrupulous activities. |
| and snoops, encryption uses a encrypted code | | | | So if you decide to leave your network open, make |
| (known technically as a cryptographic cipher) that | | | | sure that you have some level of authentication setup |
| scrambles your data into what seems to be gibberish | | | | for those you authorize and grant access to your |
| to anyone receiving it. Only those users with the | | | | network. |
| correct 'key' to unscramble this cipher will be able to | | | | In the next series, we'll discuss the types of encryption |
| accurately decipher (unscramble) this gibberish into its | | | | and authentication. |
| original form. | | | | |