Wireless Internet Security
For all of the convenience they allow, wireless internet services also open up the danger of exposing computers to any other device that may be on the same network. Wireless internet security is generally not assured by the default settings for a network, and thus should be dealt with personally by the user. Knowing how people can gain access to your wireless internet and knowing how to stop them is an essential skill for a computer user.
The default username and password for wireless internet routers may give the average user the impression that a network is safe. The web pages through which these devices are accessed, however, are commonly broken into by hackers, so the user should always make a point of choosing new and unique login codes not already common knowledge online. In a related point, giving a unique name to a wireless internet network can also deter potential intruders. The default SSID (Service Set Identifier) is usually a generic name, such as “linksys” for a Linksys Device, and being left unchanged could signal that the owner has taken few measures to ensure wireless internet security. Simply giving the impression that a wireless internet network is protected against interference can be a viable strategy for discouraging malicious interference.
There are two methods for protecting the privacy of wireless internet information, WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). These tools encrypt the data streaming through the network, making it difficult for potential hackers to understand. Of the two, WPA is more effective, addressing the flaws found in WEP. The most important point, however, in enabling wireless internet encryption, however, is to select a setting shared by all of the devices plugged into a network.
Another issue of wireless internet security relates to the networks you choose to connect to. Connecting a computer to wireless internet routers in public places or belonging to neighbors can compromise its safety. Users might not willingly choose to do this, but they should be aware that the most computers have a setting allowing connections to be made automatically. Such functions should only be enabled on a temporary basis.
Wireless internet security is not only a matter of programming safeguards. Though the unfettered nature of wireless internet access might appear to make this a moot point, the physical location of a router is also relevant to the access that unwanted outside parties can enjoy to networks. Positioning a device near a window, for instance, raises the danger of a signal spilling out to nearby computers, whereas a location in the center of a home helps ensure that the wireless internet network remains private. Another physical technique for maintaining wireless internet security is simply to turn off the network for any extended periods when the user knows it will be unused.
Wireless internet owners should also be aware of the limitations of the security settings included with their router devices. For instance, Wi-Fi routers are equipped with unique identifiers referred to as the MAC address. Users can choose to restrict their network to devices with their own MAC, but hackers have been shown to possess the ability to quite easily fake this identifier.
