| In November 2003, Toronto police arrested a | | | | Unfortunately, consumer routers are shipped |
| man in an upscale residential neighborhood. | | | | wide open. That is they have no |
| They noticed his car driving slowly the wrong | | | | preconfigured security. You, the homeowner, |
| way down a one-way street. Upon stopping the | | | | will have to configure the security setting |
| car, the police discovered the driver naked | | | | yourself. |
| from the waist down. What was he doing? | | | | |
| | | | Your wireless router and network interface |
| He was using his laptop to download and watch | | | | card (NIC) are the parts that actually talk |
| "kiddie" porn from the Internet! How? He | | | | to each other. Each of them has a MAC |
| was connecting to the internet using | | | | address. This is a unique number assigned to |
| unprotected wireless systems in the houses | | | | every NIC made, worldwide. |
| near the road! | | | | |
| | | | Using this MAC address, you set the router |
| Here is the problem, if someone were to | | | | security to talk only to certain other MAC |
| access the Internet and download illegal | | | | addresses. Therefore, if you have two |
| material, then disconnect and drive off; it | | | | laptops in your network, you add both MAC |
| would look like the homeowner did the | | | | addresses to your router security setup and |
| downloading. How hard would it be to | | | | any other MAC addresses are blocked. |
| convince the FBI that you were a victim? | | | | |
| | | | This security setup works well for keeping |
| This is not the only time this has happened. | | | | the average wireless user out of your system, |
| In a recent interview, attorney Joseph | | | | but a competent hacker can bypass it. A |
| Burton, of Duane Morris Law Firm, said, "Is | | | | technique called spoofing allows the hacker's |
| it possible a home owner can be liable for a | | | | computer to pretend to be one of your laptops |
| lack of security on a wireless network? Yes, | | | | and trick the system into letting him in. |
| if they are negligent in setting up | | | | |
| security." (Richard Shim, CNET News.com). | | | | To prevent this you would need to add |
| | | | additional layers of security. Keep in mind |
| According to research by the World Wide War | | | | though, every additional layer of security |
| Drive over 228,537 wireless access points | | | | adds to the burden of your network. It slows |
| were detected. Over 62% were totally open | | | | things down. |
| and unprotected! In San Antonio Texas, the | | | | |
| percentage of unprotected networks is | | | | Litigation seems to be a national past time |
| slightly higher. | | | | these days. Protect yourself and your family |
| | | | by taking some of the precautions listed |
| Some wireless access points can extend their | | | | above. If you feel you need the extra |
| coverage over 300 feet from the unit. Sure, | | | | protection offered by WEP or another |
| the farther away, the slower the connection, | | | | encryption scheme contact your locate |
| but even one mbps is faster than a dialup | | | | computer technician and have him configure it |
| connection. Add that to being untraceable | | | | for you. |
| and you have a pervert's heaven! | | | | |
| | | | This is an especially important decision for |
| Having a wireless network connection is a | | | | those who run their own business and use |
| great thing; the freedom it gives you is | | | | wireless products. How angry would your |
| priceless. With a few precautions, you can | | | | customer's be if someone stole their |
| secure your wireless connection and surf the | | | | information off your network and used it to |
| World Wide Web from the comfort of your easy | | | | open accounts in their name? |
| chair, bed or backyard. | | | | |
| | | | Identity Theft is only one possible outcome, |
| Conducting a casual site survey around your | | | | if your network contains patient data you |
| home will tell you a lot about your | | | | could be in violation of the Health Insurance |
| vulnerability. Do you live right up on the | | | | Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). |
| road? How far from your home, are your | | | | Then you would be dealing with the federal |
| neighbors? How far does your signal carry | | | | government! |
| from the wireless unit? | | | | |
| | | | Take the time to protect yourself and your |
| After answering these questions, you can | | | | family. Security does take a little time, |
| proceed to securing the wireless network | | | | but it could save you many problems down the |
| itself. | | | | road. |
| | | | |