| Today, more than ever, home networks are | | | | to a lawsuit may use this as a way of getting |
| easier and less expensive to set up. At times, | | | | revenge. What a better way to get revenge than |
| however, the knowledge needed for building a | | | | to have your computer crash! |
| network is not accompanied by any guidelines on | | | | The solution is typically the same in either type of |
| how to secure them. In some cases, the | | | | network. Practice the same good habits you use |
| guidelines are simply ignored. No matter what the | | | | for Internet data sharing and magnify them. You |
| case, that is a data disaster just waiting to | | | | must make sure that each computer on the |
| happen. | | | | network has a password that is required in order |
| You may have a thing about being paranoid about | | | | to gain access to the system. Leaving a system |
| security. That is an excessive amount of concern | | | | unprotected to just save a few seconds of |
| that should be tempered. However, you should | | | | inconvenience at home will expose your entire |
| have a certain amount of caution. Security is | | | | network to unnecessary risk. |
| much like medical insurance. You may not need it | | | | One thing you want to do is change the password |
| very often, but when you do need it, chances are | | | | on your router often. The defaults for most of |
| you need it badly. If you don't have it you may | | | | the popular vendors' products are known by just |
| face dire consequences. | | | | about everyone who has the necessary skills to |
| Wireless home networks are becoming | | | | do harm. Make it harder for them to inflict |
| increasingly popular due to their lower cost and | | | | damage by following this simple step. Configure |
| flexibility. However, the wireless network is | | | | your wireless router according to the |
| particularly prone to security issues. In theory, | | | | manufacturers' instructions in order to prevent |
| someone that has a wireless enabled laptop can | | | | unauthorized access. Today, all wireless routers |
| just drive by your house, get into your space and | | | | use WAP to prevent drive-by's from accessing |
| tap into your network. It's not too much of a | | | | your system. |
| problem if all they do is steal a little bandwidth. | | | | Most adults today would be astounded by the |
| However, if they happen to be malicious and | | | | amount of computer knowledge a teenager has. |
| clever, they will be able to implant a virus into | | | | Most are well meaning, but some young people |
| your home network without you even knowing it! | | | | have not yet learned how to use a home |
| Using the Internet has similar risks. However, in a | | | | network securely. Some young people can |
| case like that you usually have to download an | | | | master the techniques, but they do not yet have |
| attachment from someone you don't even know | | | | the common sense or the wisdom to know how |
| to get infected. This scenario is easy to avoid. As | | | | to put these techniques into practice. |
| a rule of thumb, if you do not know who it is | | | | Treat your home network in much the same |
| from, do NOT open it. It could be a hacker with a | | | | way as you would treat your credit cards. You |
| virus. However, in the case of a wireless home | | | | wouldn't just hand you credit card out to a |
| network, you do not have to take any action to | | | | stranger would you? Moreover, you wouldn't tell |
| get infected. Even though you may be following | | | | that stranger your password would you? You |
| good Internet file sharing practices, you are still | | | | would be broke in no time! Do not provide |
| vulnerable. | | | | physical access or pass out information to anyone |
| Even if you have a cabled network, it is possible | | | | that you do not want to have access to it. This is |
| for someone to break in while you are away. | | | | often a short step from having them access your |
| Most of these incidents will revolve around stealing | | | | money. It is an even shorter step to your |
| property. But by infecting a computer a | | | | valuable home network as well as your data! |
| disgruntled employee, an angry person or a party | | | | |