Windows XP Unwired

Guidelines for Securing a Wireless Network

Though your new wireless network allows you to have the freedom to surf the Internet anywhere in your house, it also is good news to your neighbors. With your newly set up wireless network, your neighbor can now surf the Internet for free!

Sharing Your Internet Connection with Your Neighbors

Many ISPs prohibit this, and there have been cases of ISPs sending cease-and-desist orders to customers who shared their network access in a large metro area. Another concern is liability: if a malicious hacker uses your Internet connection to attack another site, you’ll be among the first people who have to answer questions about the attack. On the other hand, if you want to leave your access point open (such as in a coffee shop), I suggest you give your wireless network a nice friendly SSID and perhaps even put the appropriate Warchalking (http://www.warchalking.org/) symbol outside your house!

Unlike a wired network, where you need to have physical access to a network access point, wireless networks extend beyond the four walls of your house.

Most wireless access points and routers provide a web-based configuration program for configuring the wireless access point. The following are some guidelines for securing your wireless network:

Disable SSID broadcast

By default, most wireless access points will broadcast the SSID to all wireless devices. Anyone with a wireless network card can detect the SSID you use and gain access to your network. This brings ...