Securing Wireless Fidelities Against Infidels

<br /> <p>Wireless internet has become the hippest form of going online. It is very convenient and it affords its users extreme mobility as it is also compatible with mobile gears and gadgets. However, wireless networks are very vulnerable to intruder attacks especially if you don't have it secured. With most American homes subscribing to wireless internet, the more important is it to secure these networks and the computers connected to it, using different levels of security.</p><p><b>Level 1: Encryption</b></p><p>Encryption technologies scramble data and communications over the network which makes your information unreadable to people who might try to hack into the system. These encryption technologies come in the form of passwords or passphrases that you have to key in before you will be allowed to connect to a certain network. WEP/WPA security ensures that only persons who know the passphrase will be able to connect to the network and take advantage of its internet connectivity.</p><p>When creating passwords for your network, avoid using your phone number, birth date or anything that might contain easily guessed information about yourself. Creating strong passwords is the key to protecting your network from potential threats.</p><p><b>Level 2: SSID Broadcasting</b></p><p>By default, the default name of your network is your router's brand. This network name is also known as the SSID. Having them disabled will protect you from hackers, identity theft criminals and other people with malicious motives who might hack into your network.</p><p>Disabling your SSID will make your network "invisible." No one will detect that your network is open so if there are any hackers around scanning for networks that they want to victimize next, they will not scan yours.</p><p><b>Level 3: Pre-set password and username on router's configuration page</b></p><p>Each router page has its own username and password. By default, the username is "admin" and the password is either "admin" or "password." This is one pass code that is universal to all router brands. Of course, any hacker or criminal will definitely know these pass codes so if they are able to connect to your network, they can tweak the configuration page of your router and this can render your network or router, unusable.</p><p><b>Level 4: Firewall settings</b></p><p>Your router has its own firewall that is built in within the system. This firewall prevents other people from accessing your network and the computers connected to it. You can adjust your firewall settings to allow all applications in your network to get online, or adjust it specifically for your settings to allow only specific applications to connect. Your operating system, depending on its version and brand, may also have its own firewall settings which can also help secure your network.</p><p><b>Level 5: Anti-virus and anti-spyware software</b></p><p>It cannot be emphasized enough how important it actually is to protect your computer from viruses, spywares and malwares. Thousands of these malicious programs are created everyday and if you don't update your security software, chances are, you will still be prone to being infected because virus definitions are not updated in your computer.</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> <p>Tina L. Douglas is a well established author on the topic of identity theft.</p><p>For more advice and information on <a href="http://5identitytheftprotection.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_new">identity theft protection</a>, just click on the link.</p> <br />

Securing Wireless Fidelities Against Infidels

Wireless internet has become the hippest form of going online. It is very convenient and it affords its users extreme mobility as it is a...

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