Home Networking: The Missing Manual

Securing Your Wireless Network

From the beginning, wireless networks have suffered from poor security. All that data flying over the airwaves is tempting prey for determined snoops on the hunt for personal information like passwords, credit card numbers, and your mother's maiden name.

If you live out in the country and your closest neighbor is miles away, you might not worry so much about eavesdroppers, unless the cows in the field next door have wireless laptops and a bone to pick with your backyard grilling habits. But if you live in a high-rise or other densely packed living quarters, things are different, since it's much easier for criminals, neighbors, or any combination of the two to try to pick up stray signals from vulnerable wireless networks.

Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can—and most definitely should—take to protect your personal information. While no level of security will completely protect you, you can put up enough of a defense to deter casual and intermediate intruders.

Figure 3-9. Enter the PPPoE user name and password that your ISP gave you.

The Language of Security

One reason many people hesitate to batten down their home network is the intimidating thicket of terminology and choices awaiting them when they enter the world of wireless security. And unfortunately, as of now, there's no such thing as a simple solution (the equivalent, say, of a home alarm ...