| There is no doubt that wireless technology | | | | the way of security, but it is additional |
| has evolved the way we communicate. With the | | | | security nonetheless. Hackers love easy |
| popular 2.4 GHz frequency being unlicensed | | | | targets, so every layer of security you add |
| and inexpensive, people all around the world | | | | makes it more difficult for them to break in, |
| have been able to do things that were nothing | | | | and thus acts as a deterrent. That being |
| short of impossible in the past. While this | | | | said, use the following security measures on |
| may be the case, the same also applies to | | | | your personal AP: |
| hackers; wireless technologies have allowed | | | | |
| them to not only penetrate the impenetrable, | | | | 1.) Hide your SSID broadcast. Your SSID is |
| but also break into personal networks with | | | | simply the name of your AP. Without it, |
| blazing speed (as in minutes and even seconds | | | | hackers will not know the difference between |
| if the wireless network's access point [AP] | | | | your AP and other ones in the vicinity. |
| is completely unsecure). | | | | |
| | | | 2.) Change the name of your SSID. This may |
| So what can happen if someone breaks into | | | | not sound like much but, the name can tell a |
| your network? Well for starters, it acts as a | | | | hacker a lot about your AP. Using the default |
| gateway for hackers to break into your | | | | name probably means you are also using the |
| system. On top of that, they can install | | | | default password, which can easily be found |
| sniffers (which allow them to steal such | | | | on the internet. |
| things as passwords and other sensitive | | | | |
| information), adware, spyware, trojans, | | | | 3.) Use MAC address filtering. A MAC address |
| viruses, worms, backdoors, rootkits, and | | | | is simply an address burned into each |
| other malware as well as pursue wireless | | | | wireless card. Using this filtering means |
| jamming attacks, encryption attacks, DoS | | | | that only the entered MAC addresses can |
| attacks, and other various attacks. In short, | | | | access your AP. |
| given enough time, the sky is the limit on | | | | |
| what a hacker could do when they get inside | | | | 4.) Enable Encryption. Use the WPA or WPA2 |
| your AP. | | | | (if available) security mode as well as the |
| | | | AES algorithm. This makes it way more |
| At this point, many may say to themselves | | | | troublesome for hackers to eavesdrop your |
| "Well, I have nothing of value on my | | | | communications. |
| computer, so I don't care if they hack into | | | | |
| it". This couldn't be any farther from the | | | | 5.) Use both hardware and software firewalls. |
| truth. If hackers compromise your computer, | | | | Chances are there is a firewall embedded |
| they'll turn it into something called a | | | | right in your AP, so make sure it is enabled |
| "zombie" (in other words, their slave), which | | | | as well as firewalls on the networked |
| will do anything the hacker wants it to. This | | | | computers. |
| could be anything from helping crack (or | | | | |
| decipher) passwords, to breaking into | | | | 6.) Keep learning about new wireless security |
| websites, to even breaking into other | | | | threats. Technology keeps evolving, so it is |
| computers. | | | | in your best interest to research computer |
| | | | protection articles and other related news |
| Here's the kicker: if the hacker uses your | | | | sources. |
| computer to break into something and gets | | | | |
| caught, guess who faces the consequences? | | | | 7.) Invest in computer security tools. While |
| Well, it was your computer that did the | | | | it is important to use layered security on |
| attacking, so it will be your fault, no | | | | your AP, it is even more important to do the |
| matter if you knew about the attack or not. | | | | same for your computer in case the hacker |
| Whether it leads to fines or even jail time, | | | | breaks through. |
| you are stuck with a mess trying to prove | | | | |
| that you are innocent, all while the hacker | | | | When it comes to wireless networks, |
| carries on with his life and pursues more | | | | deterrence can be one of the most powerful |
| targets. | | | | things working for you, providing you |
| | | | implement a Defense in Depth methodology like |
| Knowing about the consequences that can come | | | | described above. With the large amount of |
| from insecure AP's, there are many things you | | | | weak and insecure AP's that are live today, |
| can do to prevent outsiders from trying to | | | | layered security will play a vital role in |
| break in. Ideally, you'll use a "Defense in | | | | whether or not outsiders try to break into |
| Depth" methodology, which means setting up | | | | your wireless network. In the end, taking the |
| multiple layers of security to try and deter | | | | time to secure your AP now could be the |
| hackers from breaking in. Now, some of these | | | | difference of legal repercussions or identity |
| things discussed will not really add much in | | | | theft down the road. |