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How secure is your network? With more and more traditional wired networks being replaced by wireless technology, security has become a major concern. Scan for wireless networks in a busy neighbourhood and it’s likely that at least a few will be totally open, while others will not be secured as well as they should be. Luckily there are few easy steps you can take to avoid being on that list.
Setting your Router Password
This one is simple. Change the password on the router itself. If anyone gains access to your network, keeping your original router password will allow them to modify or lock you out of your own network, forcing a factory reset. The default password for most routers isn’t unique, and a list is available online. All a potential hacker needs is your model number.
WPA, not WEP
Network security uses a lot of jargon and acronyms which can sound a little overwhelming. Two of the most important you’ll need to learn are WPA and WEP. Both are forms of ‘encryption’, a way of making your password harder to crack. WEP is much easier to crack, so if your hardware can use WPA or WPA2, use it. If not, WEP is better than leaving your network wide open, and for those with older hardware it might be the only choice. In this situation, changing your password on a regular basis will achieve the highest level of protection.
MAC Filters
Another acronym! Whether or not to use MAC filters will depend on your personal setup. A MAC address is a number unique to a single network card, and a filter will set your router to only allow access to specific MAC addresses. This is a good method to use if you have one or two computers and don’t tend to use many other wireless devices. It can take some time to set up and you’ll have to do it for every single device you own to make it effective, including wireless devices like iPods. MAC filters are not fool proof and hackers can fake MAC addresses to gain access, but it’s another form of protection they’ll have to bypass first.
Adjust Your Router Settings
Depending on your router, there are a number of simple settings that can be changed to ensure higher security. Modern routers often come with the ability to change transmitting power, so that your network only reaches as far you need it. It’s not an exact science and it does take some tweaking depending on the size of your property, but it can narrow down where people can access your network to the point where they would have to be in your own garden to be able to log-on. You can also check your remote administration setting. It allows you to change router settings over the internet but as very few users will ever use this feature, check to make sure it’s switched off unless you absolutely need it.
Hide Your Network
Your network name is used to identify your own network in a list when you scan for networks on your computer. It’s very convenient, but anyone in range can do exactly the same thing. Once your network is identified, it can become a prime target for hackers. The good news is you don’t have to appear in that list. You’ll normally find this option under ’SSID Broadcast’ or ‘Name Broadcast’ on your router. If you turn it off, you’ll have to enter your network name in manually, but it’s rare you’ll have to do that very often. Programs exist that can find your wireless network even with the option off, but it’s a quick and easy way to hide from casual searchers.
Don’t Panic!
Looking through this list, it’s easy to think that there aren’t many ways to totally secure your network from harm, but if you follow these tips and use the best encryption setting your hardware provides, you shouldn’t have any problems. As always, the more modern your hardware and software are, the more protected you’ll be. However, even without the newest hardware you can still take sensible steps to make it much harder for hackers to access your network. Anyone could break into your house if they were dedicated enough, but that doesn’t mean you should leave the front door unlocked.
If you are about to renew your broadband package, remember that there are many cheap broadband deals available that include a decent WiFi Router/Modem into the deal, so be sure to compare your options in this regard, rather than simply renewing your existing contract.
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