More and more people have a wireless network at home. Wireless networks allow you to walk between rooms in your house, stay connected to the Internet and have your e-mail account working as you carry your lap top around. You also have easy access to checking financial data, downloading files or even shopping online. Unfortunately, many people rush through setting up their wireless home networks to get their Internet connectivity as soon as possible. Without setting up the proper security systems, this can leave your home network open to a number of security issues and problems. Threats to a wireless network are growing day by day as hackers continue to become more sophisticated. You may not realize it, but your easy to use Windows-based system is easy for a hacker to crack into. A hacker can sit in a car across the street from your home and, with the correct components installed in their laptop, can gain access to your personal banking username and password or company's network on a day that you are telecommuting.
Fortunately there are a number of security steps you can take to stop a hacker from gaining access to your wireless system and using it for malicious computer activities, including:
- Turn on encryption software;
- Change the default password needed to access your wireless system;
- Change the default service set identifier [SSID] network name;
- Disable file and print sharing if not needed;
- Enable a firewall on both your system and your router;
- Have email filtering in place; and
- Have a virus scan program running all times.
In order to ensure a safe wireless connection, you should have all of the following security protections in place when you first turn on your wireless system:
- ENABLE ENCRYPTION ON YOUR SYSTEM. All wireless systems support some kind of encryption. This will scramble messages sent over a wireless network so that they cannot be easily read by others.
- CHANGE ROUTER SETTINGS IMMEDIATELY. At the core of home wireless systems is a router or access point. This tool comes loaded with a simple default username and password. These are all well known by hackers and should be changed during the set-up process.
- CHANGE THE DEFAULT SSID WHEN SETTING UP YOUR SYSTEM. Routers and access points all use a network name called the SSID. Manufactures use the same SSID on all their shipped products. These should also be changed during the set-up process.
- DO NOT SHARE FILES BETWEEN MACHINES, NOR SHARE PRINTING CAPABILITY. Many home wireless systems may have two or more lap tops or PCs connected together, which can create another way a hacker can access your network. If you do not share files and printing capabilities between machines at home you may defeat a hacker.
- DO NOT DISABLE YOUR ROUTER FIREWALL. Your wireless system has a firewall on both your lap top and your router. Most routers come with a firewall. Make sure the firewall on your router is turned on.
- SET YOUR SPAM FILTERS TO ON. E-mail filtering is an automatic review of incoming e-mail against a set of defined criterion and stops it from arriving in your account. This type of filtering is often part of e-mail systems.
- HAVE VIRUS SCAN RUNNING ALL THE TIME. A virus scan program is something you need if you are going to have a wireless system. Norton Anti-virus and McAfee are two systems in use on wireless systems. Some internet service providers will also include virus protection software to their users.
Remember, a secure home wireless network not only ensures your personal information is protected, but also ensures the security and protection of your company's network and information.