Having a Wireless networks are a great way to share files, printers, and your Internet connection to any computer in your home. With the use of wireless network adapter installed on your portable computer, you are no longer tied to your desk and have the mobility to use your computer anywhere. You can communicate with friends, read the news, and surf the Web anywhere you can receive a wireless network signal. See steps on How Setup Your Home Wireless Network.
But there are some risks. Since Wireless networks don't stop at the walls of your home. Yes, In fact, it often extend more than 300 feet from your wireless router considering some of new technologies nowadays. If you are living in an apartment, dorm, or condominium, you may have dozens of neighbors who can access your wireless network. If you live in a house, your neighbors and even people on the street or the house accross the street can may be able to connect to your network.
Here are the common implications why you should consider reading this article on "Computer Tips: How to protect your wireless network"
1. Slowdown your Internet performance. Imagine you are just checking a website and and the other one on the network is downloading movies and other stuffs. It divides your bandwidth or in simple terms your internet connection speed. A website that would load in instant will we loading for 30 secons or more. Thats not good, right? Not to consider when you are opening more than one webpages.
2. Others can Share and access computers and spread dangerous software. Since other can access your network it is also possible that they can also access your shared files and could infect your computer also with virus and spywares. Other can also Monitor the Web sites you visit, read your e-mail and instant messages as they travel across the network, and copy your usernames and passwords. Send spam or perform illegal activities with your Internet connection.
How to protect your wireless network
Protecting your Network is like protecting your self from theft and other outside threats. You can protect your wireless network by using the same method banks use to protect your password when you log on to their Web sites: encryption. Yes, Encryption scrambles data on your wireless network so that only computers that have the encryption key can read your communications.
Here are some wireless encryption:
64-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Protection). This is the original wireless encryption standard, it is now outdated. The main problem with it is that it can be easily "cracked." Cracking a wireless network means defeating the encryption so that you can establish a connection without being invited.
128-bit WEP. An updated, more secure version of the original WEP. However, skilled attackers can still crack 128-bit WEP in a few hours or less, giving them access to your network.
WPA-PSK (also known as WPA-Personal). A more secure alternative to WEP, but because it is newer, it is not as widely supported. Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 supports WPA, so this type of encryption is the best choice if you plan to connect only Windows XP computers to your wireless network. However, if you have wireless devices that don't support WPA, such as media extenders or wireless cameras, you'll have to use WEP on your network instead.
You might also see the security method called "WPA-Enterprise." As the name suggests, this method of network encryption is designed for business use. Setup for WPA-Enterprise is more complex than for other types of encryption, and it requires special network infrastructure.
WPA2. The newest type of wireless encryption, WPA2 provides the highest level of encryption available. WPA2 encryption should be your first choice if your wireless router and all of your wireless computers and devices support it.
Even though one type of encryption may be better than another, any type will dramatically improve your network's security by making you a more difficult target.
Can wireless encryption be "cracked"?
The short answer is, "Yes". Any encryption can be cracked. An individual with knowledge of computers and networking, and who is willing to spend a few hours researching free "hacking" tools, can crack encryption in a few hours (or less). However, most users who want to connect without authorization lack the expertise to crack wireless encryption, even relatively weak 64-bit WEP. In a crowded neighborhood with numerous unprotected networks, anyone looking for a free connection will likely choose the unprotected network rather than spend the time to crack your wireless encryption. Therefore, even WEP encryption offers better protection than not having encryption enabled at all.
Wireless security tips
Here are some tips to keep your data safe when using wireless networks:
1. If you use WEP encryption, change your encryption key once a month. If someone manages to learn your key, they will be locked out again when you change it.
2. Don't connect to unprotected wireless networks—it's possible for someone to monitor your Internet usage and even record your passwords.
3. If you do connect to an unprotected wireless network, don't visit a Web site that requires a password unless the Web site is encrypted. To find out if it's encrypted, look for a lock symbol in the lower-right corner of your browser.
4. SSL secured Web site icon
5. If you use WPA-PSK to encrypt your network, set a long passphrase of at least 20 random characters. Better yet, use the full 63 characters by typing a sentence you can remember—just don't make it something that's easily guessed, like a line from a movie.
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