Wireless Router and Security: A Step-by-Step Guide

Setting up a wireless router is simple. In essence, turn your cable or DSL modem off and your wireless router. Then you connect the router to the modem with a cable, and return to a modem. You have done more or less. The wireless network wizard on your computer takes over the router and your ISP no special requirements, off-you-go, you’re on the Internet.

disabled for an easy installation and configuration, manufacturers ship wireless routers with all security. Therein lies the problem. If you do not take other measures to secure the router, and a surprising number of people do not, your network is wide open to all passersby and strangers. It is as if you hung a sign: “The door is open. Please come and help.”

The problem is not using that foreigners in a position to your router to monitor access to the Internet, but without further protection, the hacker the ability and sniff out information you send and receive on your network. Malicious attackers can even come to your internal network, change access to steal your hard disks and, or delete files on your computer.

The good news is that it is relatively easy to secure your wireless router. Here are three basic steps you should take.

1st Password protect access to the internal configuration of the router

To access the internal configuration of the router, open a browser and access the router configuration URL. The URL will be specified in the instructions. The location of the D-Link and Linksys routers, two major manufacturers of wireless routers are http://192.168.0.1 http://192.168.1.1 and in each case.For Linksys routers, leave the username blank and type “admin” (without the quotes) into the password field and press ENTER. To change the password, just click the Password tab and enter your new password.

For other routers, please contact your manual. Alternatively, you can search the Internet using the default connection “concept”. Do not be surprised to be found on a number of pages of lists of the default settings for connections to many routers, also rare.

2nd Change the default SSID (Service Set Identifier)

The SSID is the name of a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). All wireless devices on a WLAN use SSIDs to communicate with each other.

Router with standard default SSIDs. For example, the default for Linksys routers, not surprisingly SSID “Linksys”. As you can see if you are not the default settings of the router’s SSID to a potential intruder with a few common SSIDs from major manufacturers armed to your wireless network can be found easily.

To change the SSID, click the Wireless tab. Find an item is selected entry SSID. It is near the top. Enter a new name for the network. Do not use something like “My Network. Use a name that is either difficult to guess.

3rd Disable SSID Broadcast

Wireless-enabled computers use network discovery software to automatically search for nearby SSIDs. Some of the most advanced software asks the SSIDs of nearby networks and even their names appear. Therefore, changing the name of the network contributes only partially to secure your network. To avoid being discovered, the name of your network, you must disable SSID broadcast.

In the same screen that you changed the name of your network, you will see options for SSID broadcast. Select “Disable SSID” to your network invisible. Now save all your settings and close the meeting.

Since your wireless network is now invisible, you need to configure your computer to your wireless network to connect to the new name. Start Windows XP by clicking on the Wireless icon in the Notification Area and proceed from there.

With these three steps, your network is now the fundamental security. However, if you keep sensitive information on your computer, you can secure your wireless network even further. For example, you can

- Change the channel your router uses to send and receive data on a regular basis.
- Restrict devices that can connect to the router by filtering out MAC (Media Access Control) address.
- Use encryption such as WEP and WPA.

Like most things in life, safety is a compromise between cost (time, money, inconvenience) and benefit (ease). It is a personal decision that you make. But for most home use, offering three basic steps as well as WEP / WPA security is a solid enough.

Turn on encryption is a two-step process. First, you configure your router to use encryption using an encryption key of your choice. And then, configure your computer to use with the key. The actual process of configuring the router for encryption varies from router to router. Please consult the router manual.

There are even stronger methods to ensure safety. A strong and robust security method is RADIUS (remote authentication dial In User Service). Using RADIUS requires additional equipment and software. However, there are companies that offer RADIUS security as a subscription service. The costs are reasonable and falls.

Therefore, for example, if you are a business in your wireless network and confidential data running on your computer such as credit cards, and a number of users accessing your network, you should consider RADIUS. As the service sector for RADIUS is dynamic and growing, an Internet search using terms like “RADIUS subscription” or “RADIUS service” is probably the best way to find one.