Wireless broadband connecting has become quite popular because of its simplicity and ease of accessing the internet. Unfortunately, it leaves us open to serious security breaches whereby our information and transactions might be threatened. That utility truck parked across the street from your house could very well be an internet thief using a mobile device to tap into your wireless network in order to download pornography or perform other activities that he wouldn't want traced back to his own computer. A spammer might connect to an unsecured network in your home or a free Wi-Fi hotspot, get an IP address, connect to an open mail relay somewhere on the internet, then send out a million emails and they could look like they came from your internet connection. You need to keep in mind that anyone driving past your home can see your wireless network and might even be able to access it. The intrusions and disruptions that they can cause might bring about some problems with law enforcement officials and/or your Internet Service Provider. Wireless networks have loosely defined boundaries that allow other computers to pick up your signal and use it without your knowledge. When intruders access your network they can rather easily steal your confidential information and illegally download your files. Alright, before you get too upset, there are some simple options available for you to help keep your wireless network safe. Install and update anti-virus and anti-spyware software on a regular basis Run a full virus scan on your computer regularly Turn your network off when you're not using it Wireless routers send out a beacon called the Service Set Identifier (SSID), which help your wireless devices such as laptops connect to the Internet. The main purpose of SSID is to broadcast wireless signals and invite available devices within range to connect to them. Most wireless broadband access points and routers make their SSID public. While this makes it easier to connect to the network, it also announces to everyone that you are using a wireless network. Disabling this broadcasting prevents others from easily knowing that you are using a wireless network. You can keep some of the outsiders away by changing your SSID settings. If a device does not know a network's SSID, it will not be able to connect. So, if you change your SSID settings, only the people who know the SSID will be able to connect to your wireless network. To enhance your safety it is best to allow only specific computers to access your wireless network. You can change your router's login and password to be different from the default settings. Most routers come with a name of "default" which is very easy for hackers to figure out. Change your router's pre-set password for administration and make sure that it is strong enough. The stronger the password the tougher it will be for the hackers to crack. If you're using your home phone number, stop right now and go change it to another number! This is just too easy to crack. It's a good idea to try to place your wireless router as close as possible to the center of your home or office. This ensures that the signal will be strong throughout your home or office and reduces the chance of the wireless signal getting leaked. You should turn on your encryption to avoid any intrusion from outsiders. This will prevent the router from giving access to any wireless devices unless they provide the specified password. It will also encrypt any communication between your computer and router so that no one will be able to see what goes on. Choose the strongest encryption method that is compatible with your computer settings. If you have a choice, use Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) as it is stronger than Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). These are a few suggestions for secure wireless networking. However, every router is different so for enhanced security you can refer to the manufacturer's manual. It can provide you detailed and customized instructions to keep your wireless network safe from intruders. If you need help, call in the professionals to help...it'll be worth it.
access point vs router
Niciun comentariu:
Trimiteți un comentariu