Summary
You home wireless network may be more susceptible than you thought to hackers and prowlers. Newer wireless devices are certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a nonprofit industry standards group, and they use security protocols called WPA or WPA2.
Original source:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-ybwifi27jun27,0,5085589.story?coll=sfla-business-front
Details
Increasingly, people are installing wireless, or "Wi-Fi," networks in their homes for the convenience of remote access to the Internet.
Prices are falling rapidly for wireless access points and wireless routers, which enable you to connect remotely with the Internet.
Also, most late-model laptops come with Wi-Fi capability built in.
Finally, most people would rather not have to run new network cables in their homes so that multiple computers can access the Internet.
But now more than ever, it's important to make sure that the information stored in your computer is secure.
The "Wired Equivalence Protocol" (WEP) security feature provided on early wireless devices already has been compromised.
Newer wireless devices are certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a nonprofit industry standards group, and they use security protocols called WPA or WPA2.
For an easier and faster setup, most people would rather "plug and play" than use the security features on their wireless networks.
Wi-Fi products usually have their security turned off by default so that users can get them up and running with little fuss.
They may not even have a password required for administration of the network.
If you have financial information stored in your computer or if you use online banking and money management tools, not securing your Wi-Fi leaves your network wide open to computer hackers.
They can easily connect directly to your network and capture account names, numbers and passwords, or penetrate the computers connected to your
network.
Buy equipment that provides WPA or WPA2 security capability.
Older equipment may be upgradeable to WPA, so check your manufacturer's Web site.
Change the admin password, and block or change your network name.
Use MAC address filtering if your network equipment supports it.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health author and award-winning journalist with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He has authored more than 1,800 articles and dozens of reports, guides and interviews on natural health topics, and he has authored and published several downloadable personal preparedness courses including a downloadable course focused on safety and self defense. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2010, Adams launched TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural health video site featuring videos on holistic health and green living. He's also the founder and CEO of a well known email mail merge software developer whose software, 'Email Marketing Director,' currently runs the NaturalNews email subscriptions. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and pursues hobbies such as martial arts, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening. He's also author of numerous health books published by Truth Publishing and is the creator of several consumer-oriented grassroots campaigns, including the Spam. Don't Buy It! campaign, and the free downloadable Honest Food Guide. He also created the free reference sites HerbReference.com and HealingFoodReference.com. Adams believes in free speech, free access to nutritional supplements and the ending of corporate control over medicines, genes and seeds. Known on the 'net as 'the Health Ranger,' Adams shares his ethics, mission statements and personal health statistics at www.HealthRanger.org
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Friday, July 15, 2005
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