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IMPORTANT!!!
Click here for information you need to know when
connecting to free (public) wireless networks!!!
If your
at this page, it probably means you already have a
wireless network, or you are thinking about getting
one. That's great! Wireless networks
free your computer (both notebooks and desktops)
from having to be hard wired to the Internet.
But, just because you hook up your wireless router,
doesn't mean your safe! Yes, the
wireless router has a firewall, but you
have to protect that firewall, and all the
information you send and receive can be captured by
anyone within range of your wireless network.
So what are you supposed to do? There are
three things. Two are very important, and the
third is like a second lock on your front door.
First, you need to change the password of
your router.
Second, you need to encrypt all that
information that is floating around in the air.
Third, you can use a filter
that only allows certain computers to gain access to
your wireless network. Fourth, hide
your SSID
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Change the password on your wireless router:
All
new routers come set with default passwords, and
anyone who has set up a wireless router knows
these passwords. So change it! I
can't explain here how to do it, because you
will need to access your router, and they are
all different. If you do not know how to
access your router, call me! I can set
this up remotely.
-
Encrypt the information on your wireless router:
You can encrypt the information sent by your
wireless router by using "WEP" (wired equivalent
privacy) or "WPA" (WiFi Protected Access).
As I state on my Computer Security page, nothing
is 100% secure. But encrypting your
information is better than not doing it at all!
Once again, you have to access your router, and
I can't explain how to do it, but you can call
me and I can remotely do it for you.
-
Filtering (MAC Address) on your wireless router:
There are many ways to "filter" which computers
can use your wireless network and which ones
can't. The most common filter
is "MAC Address Filtering". Every
network card has a unique MAC address. You
can tell a wireless network these MAC addresses, and
only those computers that match exactly can gain access to
the wireless network. This is great for a home
or small office that doesn't have a lot of changes to
their network, i.e., new or old employees coming and
going. It's a nightmare to manage if you have
to add and remove MAC addresses all the time.
Again, this is something I can do for you.
-
Hide your SSID (Service Set Identifier)
If you
have ever connected your notebook to a wireless
network, you know how easy it is to "see" the
wireless networks around you. When you
"view available wireless networks" you are
looking at wireless networks within range of
your computer. Every wireless network
broadcasts its "SSID",or "name", ie, Linksys,
Default, Netgear. But, did you know you
can hide this SSID from others? It is a
simple set up in your router. All of the
routers are different, so if you would like to
do this to your router, call me. I can
help you. Note: This does not mean
that your wireless network is 100% safe.
The SSID can still be found, but not to the
average user (or wanna be hacker!)
Helpful Hint: Wireless Networks run on the
2.4GHz spectrum. Cordless phones can run on
the 900MHz, 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz spectrums. If
your are having problems staying connected to your
wireless network, check your cordless phone.
If it is a 2.4GHz phone, you will need to replace it
with a 900MHz or 5.8GHz cordless phone.
(900MHz phones are CHEAP!)
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