Steps to Ensure Your Wireless Network Security

Wireless network security should be your first priority as your setting up a router. An unsecured wireless network is an open invitation to trouble. Your neighbors, nearby businesses, even a stranger parked out in the street can access your network if it's not secured.

Wireless Networking Security Basics

Securing your wireless network is easy with these tips:

• Don't leave defaults. Your router or access point is set up via a Web page that connects directly to the device. If you haven't done so already, change the administration username and password. Hackers that know the login defaults will have an easy time configuring your network to be an open book.
• Get cryptic. Wireless network equipment can scramble the data that passes between computers on the network. Make sure to turn on the strongest encryption that all of your computers will support. It is crucial that all computers use the same type of encryption, or they won't be able to communicate with each other. WPA and WEP are common encryption standards.
• Be picky. All network cards and hardware have unique identifiers called MAC addresses. Your router can be configured to only allow access to certain MAC addresses through a function called MAC Address Filtering. Turn this on and input the MAC addresses of all the network devices (cards, access points, etc.) that should have access to your wireless network. To find the MAC address of your wireless card, use the following procedure:
  • From the Windows Start menu, select Run
  • Type in the command cmd and press return
  • In the new window, enter the command ipconfig /all
  • The MAC address (sometimes called the physical address) will be listed as a series of letters and number in the form-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX
  • Record the MAC address and close the window
  • Note: you can add the MAC address of visiting PCs, but don't forget to remove them from you filter list later.
• Wall yourself in. Make sure that firewall wireless network security software is enabled on all computers and routers in the network. Firewall software is designed to block unauthorized access to hardware. This is added level of security is a simple step toward a more secure network.