There was a time when computers weren’t something ordinary people could afford. Back then, only the rich could buy them and the only networks in the world were those run by governments or large companies. Today, the picture is most certainly different. An average family’s home can have a network of computers owned by each family member and their Internet connections are fast and topnotch. Some families even use wireless computers and though cost is no longer an issue, information security definitely is.
What makes wireless networks sensitive sometimes is the fact that signals can go everywhere and are very hard to detect. This makes hackers very happy then, because now, they can hack any wirelessly connected computer and very easily at that. There’s no need to install Trojans or keyloggers. They just have to connect to that wireless network with their own laptop and start stealing information from those that are already connected. This is why wireless security should never be taken for granted. Imagine having a close neighbor connecting to your network without your permission. The risks are always there but it doesn’t mean wireless networking is bad altogether.
In fact, only unsecured wireless networks can be a headache which means as long as you secure yours, you shouldn’t have any problem. If you’re not exactly technically savvy, you might think it’s some complicated task that needs an expert to do. On the contrary, you can do it on your own and quite simply.
First off, because networks run on ID’s, you need to secure your own network’s ID so unauthorized access is prevented. Laptops will come with a default SSID (Service Set Identifier) or ESSID (Extended Service Set Identifier). If you don’t customize it, you can expect hackers to come prying in because it’s actually very easy for them to research on the default identifiers for each wireless computer manufacturer. This is why it’s extremely important that you change you SSID or ESSID into something unique to you.
Then you need to disable Identifier Broadcasting so you don’t get to announce to the whole world that you’ve got this wireless network that just about anyone out there could hack into. A manual that comes with your device will have instructions for this.
The third step in securing your wireless network is to enable Encryption so only authorized people able to access your information. There are actually two types of encryption you can use – WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). For maximum security, it’s better to go for WPA which provides stronger protection than WEP which has many flaws and is quite easy to crack.
Firewalls are, of course, basic to every Internet security campaign, whether wired or wireless, so check your manual and set up your firewall to block unwanted traffic. Anti-virus software as well as anti-spyware and anti-adware should also be installed and updated regularly to ensure maximum protection.
As a final step, change your default password into some unique to you. Refrain from using birth dates and anniversaries which are pretty easy to crack. The most secure password could be a random combination of letters, characters and numbers.
As a general online security measure, an IP hiding software just might be very helpful. Because it allows you to surf with fake a IP address, you don’t leave a trail for hackers to follow back to you. This way, you keep these unwanted elements at bay and you simply enjoy the added freedom to your Internet activities.
By: Brad M Smith
Posts Tagged ‘Signals’
Setting a Home Network System
February 10th, 2010
A Home network system come in two basic types. These are cabled (or wired) or wireless. Whichever type home network system you opt for, you basically find out that they both will have some of the same types of equipment, although the specifics will differ between the two.
For any two parts of the network to talk to each other, there has to be a route between them. In a wired network, this is done by physical means – the cables (generally cat 5 or Ethernet cables). These cables come in lengths varying from a few feet to hundreds of yards long. There is a limit to how long a cable can be before a router or a switch must be put in between cables; however, this is a lot longer than most people setting up a home network will need to be concerned with.
With a wireless network, you can’t see the path between components, but they are no less real. Instead of cables, radio waves carry data. Though they may be affected by interference, just as a radio or TV signal, this is almost never an issue in a home network, almost never. Be aware though that metal inside your walls, microwaves, solar flares and the like can interfere with a wireless signal. Even walls can reduce the strength of a wireless signal.
When setting up our home network, you’ll need some equipment to send and receive the signals that will be carried, whether by radio or cables. A network interface card (or NIC), typically an Ethernet card is one component that you will need. These are common and very inexpensive and come in different range of speeds, anywhere between 10MB and 1 GB. The speeds depend on the card you use – a 802.11g wireless network works at 54MB per second, while a 802.11b network runs at 11MB per second. As prices keep dropping, the lower speeds are becoming less commonly seen.
A network interface card can be either cabled or wireless. The cards in two different devices on a network are hardly ever connected directly by cables, but rather are connected to a switch or a router.A switch is a simple device; it’s like a box with ports for the Ethernet cables to connect to. They are extremely inexpensive and work well for networks which don’t need an internet connection. Routers are more commonly used these days though; sometimes multiple routers will be used by home network builders.
A router does exactly as the name implies; it directs network traffic. It performs this function by means of IP addresses and software created for sending and receiving data between devices. Routers can be either wireless or cabled. Each can be found in many different models from different manufacturers. There are different built in software’s with different functionality; some feature antivirus software built in. These routers differ in their number of ports (which decides how many devices can be plugged in to the router). There is also a difference in the speeds at which they operate; they may not run at the speed they are rated at. For instance, a router rated at 54MB may actually run at 6MB.
There are other components which will be part of your home network, such as a cable, DSL or satellite modem for internet connection. The devices listed above are what you’ll need to get started though with the basic set up of your home networks system..
By: Joseph Nyamache
