Microsoft® Windows® XP Networking and Security Inside Out: Also Covers Windows 2000

Controlling Connections to a Wireless Access Point

Most wireless access points intended for use in homes or small businesses include a simple setup wizard designed to help you quickly configure your access point. That quick configuration is not guaranteed to be secure, however. Your first line of defense in securing a wireless network is to make it more difficult for outsiders to connect to the network. That's not an easy task. The antenna in a wireless access point can broadcast its signal hundreds of feet in any direction. That's bad news if you live in a densely populated apartment complex, but even if you have no neighbors within range of the access point, you could still be vulnerable. An enthusiastic community of "drive-by" hackers has turned ...