Security over the Wireless Connection

Wireless connection is very common nowadays. We use this type of internet connection at home, offices, resorts, coffee houses and offices. You can’t help but wonder how secure you are when connected to this type of connection. In reality, no computer network is 100% secure. Constantly, no computer network is truly protected because it is always possible for snoopers to view any internet traffic and even possible to inject unwanted traffic as well. Yet, some networks are made and manage more strongly than others. The question is, how secure are you when you are connected wirelessly?

Wireless connection utilizes radio signals that broadcast through the air and in nature easier to intercept. Signals from wireless LAN – local area network pass through exterior walls and into in close proximity. But, technology experts have closely examined the network security due to the open-air nature of wireless connections. The practice in connecting to a nearby unsecured network has accelerated the birth and advances of wireless security protocols.

Our current understanding holds that wireless network is safe enough to use in a majority of homes and many businesses. This is due to the security feature like 128 bits WEP “wired equivalent privacy” is a protocol that adds security to WLAN. This type of encryption gives WLAN the equivalent privacy protection similar to wired connection. Originally, WEP used 40 bits encryption, having key length 40 bits and 24 additional bits that are generated from system data -64 bits in total. However, research found out that 40-bits encryption can easily be decoded, as a result vendors now utilize 128-bits encryption, having a key length of 104 bits and not 128 bits. Another protection feature for WLAN is WPA better known as Wi-Fi Protected Access. This technology improves on the authentication and encryption feature of WEP. It is better said that WPA was designed by the networking experts in response to the shortcomings of WEP.

Now that you understand the very basic in protecting your wireless connection, it’s imperative that you exercise precautions when connecting to the network. Consider changing the routers admin username and password. When you first set up your wireless router in the graphic user interface you will be prompted to log in using the universal username and password, here you can change it since hackers and network experts can easily change this if you don’t.

Turn on WPA or WEP. The encryption of WEP and WPA will scramble messages sent over the networks, so this cannot be easily read by hackers and networking experts.

Change SSID. Routers have default network names so if you change this it’s an additional security. For instance, your neighbor knows that you are using Netgear router then it’s a start in breaking and understanding your security.

Turn off the network when not in use. Shutting down your network in the best security measure, this prevents hackers from getting into your system while you are away.

Router Positioning place your router in the center of your home rather than in your windows. This way there is a less outflow of signal. The further the signal reaches the bigger the possibility of network exploits.

Turn on your router Firewall. Router has a built in firewall, make sure to turn this, on since there is also an option to disable this.