Wireless Network Security
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The Importance of Wireless Network Security |
If you have
not yet been introduced to all of the beauty and wonder of wireless
networking, you are certainly missing a lot! In the old days,
I remember having a 100' internet cable that I could drag around my
house to make my laptop computer into something portable.
When I realized how ridiculous that was, I entered the world of
wireless connectivity. How incredible it was!
I could hit 'print' from the patio, and by the time
I went to the office, my document was waiting for me! I later
found that files could be shared between the two computers... That
certainly made my portable life much easier!
However, with this new-found facility, it is important to remember
that there are 'bad-guys' out there. Yes,
most people are good people, but bad things could possibly
happen with an unsecured wireless network. Unfortunately,
MOST wireless networks are unsecure -- or -- are
missing one of the THREE elements of wireless network security.
Your wireless router (the thing with the antennas and green lights)
is the wonderful tool that lets you use your laptop computer as you
wander around your house and your yard. It lets you do office
work while relaxing at the pool (not IN the pool!). It lets
you have three or four computers -- and just one printer. Your
wireless router can be your friend!
However, if not configured correctly, it can let other people access
your data and your internet connection. You may say
"So What?! I don't care if other people use my internet
connection!"
You should most
definitely care.
If these people drive by in a car and realize that you have an
unsecure connection, they could either simply check their email ---
OR, they could be doing something very sinister and illegal.
Your wireless signal is connected to Your internet account,
Your name, Your address, and Your life! It's just
like letting anybody in the world use your telephone... you wouldn't
do that, would you?! People could conduct VERY illegal
activities, and these illegal activities would be traced back to
YOU.
I could definitely go on and on, but I would just like to
stress that you should DEFINITELY secure your wireless internet
connection. Your wireless router has the capability to do (at
least) these three things.
- Block SSID Broadcast. SSID stands for 'Service Set
IDentifier.' It sends out a signal saying "There's
Free Internet Over Here!" If somebody drives by and
sees this, there is a good chance that they could log in to
the router and change its settings. This would be bad.
If you 'Block the SSID Broadcast,' there will still be free
internet broadcasting, but an amateur would not be able to
find it!
- MAC-ID Filter. Every wireless device (an iphone, a
laptop, a wireless printer, etc.) has an identifier built in
to it called a MAC address. You can set your wireless
router to ONLY allow certain MAC addresses. This means
that if I drive by your house, I might be able to see 'Free
Internet Over Here,' but I can't get on to your system
because I am not on the MAC list.
- Wireless Signal Encryption. There are at least
three versions of wireless encryption. In increasing
levels of security, they are: WEP (Wired Equivalency
Protocol), WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access), and WPA-2 (Wi-Fi
Protected Access 2). There are at least three
protocols because the earlier two have been cracked... Bad
guys have figured them out.
Always remember ... if a bad guy REALLY REALLY wants to get into
your system, he or she will probably find a way. However, if
you employ these three security measures, it will make it very
difficult for them!
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