| Wireless networks using 802.11 have made it simple to | | | | system ID's its called a SSID or Service Set Identifier, |
| connect multiple devices to your home network.This | | | | its very simple to locate this information on the Internet |
| can also make your data availiable anywhere, even | | | | for default SSID's I recommend changing this to |
| outside your home.To set this up all you need is a | | | | something hard to guess. |
| broadband connection connected to a wireless router | | | | Use alphanumeric's to make it even harder to |
| or a WAP Wireless Access Point. Your home | | | | guess.Use encryption to protect your network. WEP |
| computers should have wireless access cards installed | | | | or Wireless Encryption Protocol is not secure, I have |
| or if your using a laptop a PCMCIA wireless card. Intel | | | | cracked my own network with a Linux machine |
| Centrino is great for wireless, I personally use it. I like | | | | running Kismet. WEP's keylength is only 40 bits, once |
| the fact that I did not have to purchase additional | | | | you collect enough data from packets its only a |
| hardware.When you set up your wireless router or | | | | matter of time for a determined cracker.Instead use |
| WAP your signal is broadcast. This broadcast usually | | | | WPA which is WI-Fi protected access. This is more |
| goes further than your home or business. People like | | | | secure.Configure your router to block incoming |
| to drive around finding unsecured wireless access | | | | outgoing traffic you do not use. Consider blocking Port |
| points. This is known as Wardriving, some hackers | | | | 23 Telnet and Even FTP.Router manafacturers have |
| even mark spots on the sidewalk to let other hackers | | | | default passwords which I find many home users do |
| know your home or business is offering free Internet | | | | not change. CHANGE THEM!Invest in a software |
| service, or worse yet access to your data.This is not | | | | firewall and keep your system up to date. In the month |
| to scare you but make you aware.Diasble | | | | of October 2005 there have been several |
| broadcasting so people cannot you your wireless | | | | security flaws listed by Microsoft. Keep Informed. |
| network.Your routers come with pre-configured | | | | |