Wireless networks are a great way to share files, printers, and Internet connection to any computer in your home. With a wireless network adapter installed on your laptop, you are no longer tied to your desk. You can contact your friends, read news, and surf the Web where you can receive a signal from the wireless network.
Risks
Wireless networks do not stop at the walls of your home. In fact, wireless networks often offer more than 300 feet of your wireless router. If you live in an apartment, dormitory, or condominium, you may have dozens of neighbors who can not access your wireless network. If you live in a house, your neighbors and even people in the street may be able to connect to your network.
It's one thing to let a neighbor borrow your lawn mower, but you should think twice about allowing anyone to access your home network. There are several good reasons. People can connect to your wireless network is able to:
• Slow down your Internet performance.
• View files on your computer and the spread of malicious software.
• Monitor the Web sites you visit, read your e-mails and instant messages as they travel through the network, and copy your usernames and passwords.
• send spam or carry out illegal activities with your Internet connection.
By implementing security features on your wireless network, you can make it very difficult for uninvited guests to connect.
How to protect your wireless network
Most wireless networks are completely unprotected when first created them. However, in a few minutes, you can protect your wireless network using the same method banks use to protect your password when you connect to their websites: encryption. Encryption scrambles data on your wireless network so that only computers that have the encryption key can read your communications.
You have several choices for wireless encryption:
• 64-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Protection). The original standard wireless encryption, it is now outdated. The main problem with it is that it can be easily "cracked". Cracking a wireless network means defeating the encryption so you can connect without being prompted.
• 128-bit WEP. An updated and more secure WEP original. However, skilled attackers can still crack 128 bit WEP in a few hours or less, giving them access to your network.
• WPA-PSK (also known as WPA-Personal). A safer alternative to WEP, but because it is newer, it is not as widely supported. Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 supports WPA, so this type of encryption is the best choice if you plan to connect only Windows XP computers to your wireless network. However, if you have any wireless devices do not support WPA, such as media extenders or wireless cameras, you have to use WEP on your network instead.
You can also see the security method called "WPA-Enterprise." As its name implies, this method of network encryption is designed for professional use. The setup for WPA-Enterprise is more complex than for Other types of encryption, and it requires special network infrastructure.
• WPA2. A new type of wireless encryption, WPA2 provides the highest level of encryption available. WPA2 encryption should be your first choice if your wireless router and all your computers and wireless devices support it.
Even if an encryption type May be better than another, all types will significantly improve the security of your network by making you a harder target.
Tip: To learn the fastest and easiest way to protect your wireless network, read Set up a wireless network and follow the steps in the sections "Configure your wireless router" and "Connect your computers and peripherals." The article guides you through the process of configuring your network to use 128-bit WEP.
Wireless encryption can be "cracked"?
The short answer is "Yes". Any encryption can be decoded. A person with knowledge of computers and networks, and is willing to spend a few hours of research on piracy "free" tools, can decipher the messages encoded in a few hours (or less). However, most users who want to connect without authorization lack the expertise to crack wireless encryption, even relatively low 64-bit WEP. In a densely populated neighborhood of many unprotected networks, anyone looking for a free connection will likely choose the unprotected network rather than spending the time to break your wireless encryption. Therefore, even WEP encryption provides better protection than not having encryption enabled at all.
Safety Tips Wireless
Follow these tips to keep your data safe while using wireless networks:
• If you use WEP encryption, change your encryption key once a month. If someone manages to learn your key, it will be banned again when you change it.
• Do not connect to wireless networks unprotected, it is possible for someone to monitor your Internet usage and even record your passwords.
• If you are connecting to a wireless network unprotected, do not visit a website that requires a password unless the Web site is encrypted. To find out if it is encrypted, the search for a lock symbol in the lower right corner of your browser.
• If you use WPA-PSK to encrypt your network, put in a long sentence of at least 20 random characters. Better yet, use the full 63 characters by typing a sentence, you remember Just do not allow something that is easy to guess, like a line from a movie.
By John Lawrence
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