Secure your wireless network!

This is the start of many small writings about security:

Secure your wireless network

Having an unsecured wireless network can allow anyone within range to access your network or use your internet connection. They could use up your download allowance (possibly resulting in excess usage fees), intercept and read your email or, more seriously, use your account to access illegal content or undertake criminal activities.

If you are using a wireless connection to connect to the internet, or between other computers in your home or business (a wireless network), make sure you can protect your connection.

The access point makes itself known to other wireless devices (like the wireless card in your computer) by broadcasting an identification number (SSID). Computers that have a wireless card, and have permission to access the wireless frequency, can use this connection.

Because wireless networks do not require a wire between a computer and the internet connection, it is possible for anyone within range to intercept the signal if it is unprotected.

If you use a wireless network:

• Change the default SSID and administration username and password.
• Turn off your SSID broadcast.
• Turn encryption on and use the strongest encryption option available.
• Restrict access so that only specific computers or devices can access the network.
• Turn off remote access.
• Turn off your wireless connection when you are not using it.

Change the default SSID and administration username and password

Wireless hardware and software usually comes with a default digital name - your service set identification number (SSID) – and default administration username and password set by the manufacturer. These are standard names and passwords that any person with the intention of accessing your wireless connection is likely to know.

Change the SSID, if you can, to something unique (that does not include the brand name of the router) and set a strong administration password on your wireless network.  Brenda and I once helped a library that was being used and was seeing a lot of porno coming in and out of the library computers! We found out theoir wireless router was set to the defalt of ADMIN and then kids outside would park close and surf and surf! We changed the password to a very hard one and guess what the hijacking of the signal stopped!!

Restrict access so that only specific computers or devices can access the network

You should restrict access to your wireless network to specific computers that you nominate.

Every computer connected to your network uses a network adaptor. Each one of these has a unique 12-digit identifier called a MAC (Media Access Control) address. To give specific computers permission to use your network, add their MAC addresses to the wireless network through the wireless software settings.

The MAC address of a computer can sometimes be found on a sticker attached to the computer. Alternatively, most wireless routers can tell you the MAC address of the computers connecting to them. ( we were just at a dentist office and this subject came up and the smart operator told another woman as to why only certain people had access and not everyone!

Some information from Stay Smart.................

More to come from Joe Rossini!

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