Wireless Network Security

Drive around your neighborhood sometime with your wireless enabled laptop and see just how many unsecured wireless networks are available to log onto. In most cases you'll find a lot. Why is this? Some people don't know any better, they're just thrilled that they were able to set up their wireless network themselves. Some don't care, they feel that its not a big deal. Others know that they should and intend to get around to it, but like most things we should do, never do it. Bottom line if you don't mind your neighbors using your connection and possibly slowing yours down and the idea of strangers accessing your computer and network doesn't bother you then enabling wireless security is just not a concern. For the rest of you though if you have a wireless network you need to take the time, read the instructions in your manual and get it done.

There are two main ways to go with wireless security, WEP and WPA.

WEP (Wireless Encryption Protocol ) is "ok" for the average user. It keeps the neighbors out and most drive by stalkers looking for an unsecured connection. This protocol can be hacked though by hackers using free tools that are widely available if you know where to look.

WPA is a randomized pre-shared key of at least 10 characters and would take half-a-million years to crack. (Note: A random key means that it shouldn’t be a word that exists in any dictionary (hackers have extensive dictionaries that include all common passwords, English words, nicknames, and misspellings of words. This is called a “dictionary attack.”) A random key is a meaningless mix of lower- and uppercase letters and numbers, and sometimes special characters like punctuation, depending on whether your router supports it).

Never use words, birth dates or even misspelled common words or names.

Disable SSID broadcasting and set a password for accessing your router's configuration screens.

Encrypting your wireless network is not as complicated as it may seem on the surface and is an important step of your your wireless setup. If you just don't feel confident doing it yourself then you should call a knowledgeable installer to do the job for you.

Wireless network installations and securing is just one of the many services that we provide for our clients. Check us out at www.davtechsolutions.com and give us a call to set up your wireless network securely.