Top 10 tips for Wireless Home Security

A wireless home network brings many benefits - all the family can access the Internet simultaneously, you can use your laptop anywhere within the radius of a wireless network, freeing you from physical limitations, you do not have to string Cat-5 cable throughout your house (without holes in the wall, either!) - but also Wi-Fi network also brings its own set of security problems. The following recommendations provide a list of actions to be taken to improve your Wi-Fi network security.

1. Place the access point to the center position

Wi-Fi signals radiate from the router or access point, so that the access device positioned as centrally as possible to reach two goals. First, it provides Wi-Fi signal would reach all the areas in your home, and secondly, it will minimize the amount of signal leakage for their property. This is important to minimize the chance of drive-access to your system. If your signal can be accessed by anyone on the street, it can be detected and exploited by unscrupulous people, but if your network security is inadequate, they may even be able to gain access to confidential information.

2. The inclusion of the encryption scheme of the network

All Wi-Fi equipment supports some form, which makes the encryption of messages sent over the wireless network is less likely to be read by an external body. Available schemes vary with WEP encryption is weak (and old) and WPA - WPA2, and now - being stronger and better. You can not mix and match, although, as with all Wi-Fi devices on your network must use the same encryption scheme. WEP may not be as good as WPA settings, but remember that it is much better than no encryption at all.

3. Choose a new default user and administrator password

Access Points, or the router is the heart of your home Wi-Fi network. This comes from the factory with a default administrator usernames and passwords. Manufacturers set both the account username and password at the factory. Administrator account allows the user to enter the network addresses and information. Username often simply the word admin or administrator. Password is usually empty or consists of the word “administrator”, “public” or “password”. Hackers are well aware of such default, and if you do not change them, it represents a serious risk of the network is accessible on the baddie. Once you set up your access point or router to change the administrator username and password, and it’s a good idea to change them on a regular basis, say every 30 to 60 days.

4. Change the default SSID name

Manufacturers of Wi-Fi access points and routers, typically ship their products by default network name (SSID on). SSID stands for Service Set Identifier, which is a 32-character sequence that uniquely identifies a wireless local area network. In other words, the SSID name of your wireless network. To ensure that the mobile device to connect to a wireless network, he must know the SSID of the wireless network in question. If you connect your wireless router or access point, and leave the default SSID, it will not take long for the attacker to determine what is the SSID. Once you set up your access point or router, change the SSID to a unique name that will be difficult to guess.

5. Disabling SSID broadcasting

SSID broadcast of your access point or router is happening every few seconds, and is designed to allow users to locate, identify and connect to Wi-Fi networks. If you have a wireless device, this feature allows you to discover the network, which is in the range, and that their names. This is the first step in connecting to Wi-Fi network. This feature is not necessary in the home network, however, and this is undesirable because it allows outside organizations to detect your network’s SSID. It is strongly recommended that the home network users to disable this feature in order to improve the security of your Wi-Fi network.

6. Enable MAC-address filtering

The functionality of the known media access control (MAC) address filtering uses the physical computer hardware. Each computer has its own unique MAC-address. MAC-address filtering allows the network administrator to enter a list of MAC-addresses that can communicate on the network. It also allows the network administrator to deny access to any MAC-address is not allowed on the network. This method is very reliable, but if you buy a new computer or if visitors want to use your home network, you need to add a new machine MAC-address to the list of approved addresses.

7. Assigning a static IP-address of the device

Static IP-destination address (sometimes also called a fixed address) is an alternative to dynamic solutions (called DHCP) for Internet protocol networks. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is an Internet protocol for automatic configuration of computers using TCP / IP. DHCP can be used to automatically assign IP-addresses of devices connected to your Wi-Fi network .. Dynamic addressing is convenient. It also allows the use of mobile computers to more easily move between different networks. Unfortunately, this can work for hackers who can get the real IP-address from the network DHCP-pool. To avoid this possibility, disable DHCP on your access point or router and assign a fixed IP-address for each device in the network.

8. Including hardware and software firewalls in the network

Most routers these days contain a built-in hardware firewall capabilities, but it is also recommended that each computer (PC or laptop) connected to a Wi-Fi network must have a personal firewall installed. Software firewall protects your computer against penetration by scanning incoming messages and block suspicious traffic from entering the system. This will also prevent unauthorized outgoing messages that may prevent your system from Trojans send valuable information to the hacker.

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If Wi-Fi allows the device detects an open (ie, unsecured) Wi-Fi networks, such as free wireless point, or even neighbors unsecured network, it can connect automatically without notice to you. For example, on Windows XP computers with Wi-Fi connections is controlled by the operating system is called the “Automatically connect to non preferred networks.” Once connected, you can expose your system safe. Turn off all automatic connections, or at least allow the connection once you have been informed and approved the communication.

10. Shut down your network if you do not use

If Wi-Fi network is not enabled, hackers can not get to it. This is perhaps the best way to avoid security problems. Of course, if it is off, you can not use it as … However, consider disabling the wireless system in the rejection of the application, such as vacation, if you’re away from home on business, or any other times when you know you will not use it.