| When one thinks about home security, they | | | | 2. Turn off SSID Broadcasting |
| ususally think of taking measures like installing | | | | Your wireless network needs to have a unique |
| alarms, deadbolts, and window locking devices. But | | | | name to distinguish it from other wireless |
| if you have a wireless computer network like | | | | networks. The Service Set IDentifier is always |
| many American homes, your personal data (credit | | | | set to broadcast by default. Once again this is |
| card numbers and banking information) could be | | | | done to make it easy to connect to your wireless |
| open to hackers. | | | | network for the first time. By broadcasting the |
| When you first purchase and turn on your | | | | SSID, you are making it easy for hackers to |
| wireless router, the router manufacturer makes it | | | | connect to your network. So consult your users |
| dead simple to connect your wireless devices. Out | | | | manual and find out how to change your SSID to |
| of the box, your wireless router is unsecured. | | | | a unique name, and turn off the SSID Broadcast |
| Given that most wireless routers have a range of | | | | feature. |
| around 100 feet, if your neighbours have wireless | | | | 3. Enable WEP Encryption |
| devices, they can connect just as easy as you | | | | Wireless Encryption Protocol (WEP) is a |
| can. Even worse, hackers can drive past your | | | | technology that will encrypt all traffic that goes |
| house with a $29 wireless network detector and | | | | over your wireless network. By default, your |
| discover and connect to your unsecured network! | | | | router will have WEP turned off, meaning that all |
| The good news is that you can perform 4 very | | | | of your personal data is transfered across you |
| basic steps to secure your wireless network and | | | | wireless network in plain text. Once again, this is |
| prevent hackers from gaining access to your | | | | an easy target for even the most inexperienced |
| data. You will need to consult the manual for your | | | | hacker. Enabling WEP is very easy, and should be |
| wireless router to perform the actual tasks | | | | enabled as soon as you possibly can. |
| described here. | | | | 4. Setup a MAC Address Filter |
| 1. Reset the router's password | | | | Finally the most advanced tip offered here is to |
| There are only a handful of wireless router | | | | setup MAC address filtering. Every computer |
| manufacturers and each one uses a common | | | | wireless adapter has a unique id called a MAC |
| default password. Linksys uses '1234' and Netgear | | | | Address. You can tell your router to only allow |
| uses 'password'. Any hacker will try these | | | | access to devices with a particular MAC address. |
| passwords first to gain access to your network. | | | | This is probably the most effective step you can |
| So change the password to prevent hackers | | | | take to secure you wireless network. |
| from accessing your data. | | | | |