Wireless Network

How Can I Increase My Wireless Network Security?

Many people that set up a home wireless network make the mistake of rushing through the job in order to get their Internet up and running as quickly as possible. This is a risky path to take as numerous security problems can result, and today's Wireless Network doesn't always help the situation since configuring some security features can be time consuming and also a little difficult to understand. There are some easy steps that you can take to improve the security of your home wireless network.

At the core of most Wireless Network systems is an access point or router. In order to set these pieces of equipment up, manufacturers provide Web pages that allow you to enter network information to begin the configuration. These web tools are protected by a login screen, and the logins that are provided are simple and well known to hackers. Changing these immediately is the first step to better wireless security. You can also turn encryption on while setting up your network. Encryption technology scrambles the messages that are sent over the Internet so that it cannot be easily read by others. You will want to pick the strongest form of encryption that will work with your network.

Access points and routers all use a system that's called SSID or a Service Set Identifier. Typically, manufacturers ship all of their products with the same SSID set and while it's true that knowing what the SSID is will not automatically allow your neighbor to hack into your Wireless Network, it is a weak point in the security so change the default SSID immediately when configuring your network.

Finally, connecting to an open Wi-Fi network, such as those found at popular "hot spots" or even your neighbors router, also poses security risks to your own computer. Most computers have a setting that's available, allowing these connections to happen without notifying you - the user. These settings should never be enabled on your computer, so check to ensure that it is not. Don't forget to enable firewalls on all computers on your network as well as the router. Firewalls are simply barriers that keep destructive forces away from your property. Following these simple tips can help you keep your Wireless Network secure at all times.