SECURING A HOME WIRELESS NETWORK FROM POTENTIAL HACKERS

Hi guys,
This new post embodies four different categories, beneficial to anyone out there who uses the internet and they are as follows;

SECURITY MEASURES TO BE IMPLEMENTED ON A WIRELESS NETWORK TO ENSURE A SAFE AND RELATIVELY SECURED NETWORK.

Since wireless signals can be accessed by anyone within range, including your next-door neighbor, the ramifications of unsecured home networks are great. By usurping your Internet signal, the speed by which you can connect is decreased  as the signal is shared with other computers (or mobile devices). The use of your signal can also open a pathway for hackers using programs that can gain personal information from your computer or insert malware onto your system. You can ensure your home network is protected in several ways.


Changing  the Username and Password

 Since most router manufacturers want to make it as easy as possible for the home user to set up a wireless network, default passwords are available on the manufacturer’s web site as well as many places on the Internet. Check in any documentation that came with your router or download the documentation from the web site. To access your wireless router, follow these steps: 1. Determine the default username and password for your model router. 2. Type 192.168.1.1 into the address bar of any web browser. 3. Enter the default username and password to open your router’s interface. 4. Find the administrative section that displays the username and password. The image you see will be different, depending on the router brand you are using. 5. Change both the username and the password, according to the instructions on your router. Ensure your password contains symbols, uppercase and lowercase letters, and numbers. The best ones contain at least 8 characters, and 13 is even better. Also, consider changing the password every 60 to 90 days to be more secure. 6. Save the changes.

Changing the Network Name 

Changing your SSID helps in several ways. First, it makes it easy when connecting new devices to an available wireless network. Some families have one network for the parents
and another for cell phone or laptop connection. Even if outside scanners find your network, they cannot join without the appropriate password. To change the name, open the router administrative window as described earlier and find the location of your wireless name, as shown here.

Applying Media Access Control Filters

 Most wireless routers provide a way with which you can add, or whitelist, the devices that connect to your wireless network. Consider listing the media access control (MAC) addresses of the most commonly connected devices, such as smart phones. Each device has its own address, and you can list those addresses in your router’s MAC filter.

 Enabling Strong Encryption

Ensure that your router is set to Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) rather than the older WEP setting.

Other Options 

You have a couple other options, discussed here: Ensure that your router has the latest updates. Go to your manufacturer’s web site and download the latest firmware. • Use “anti Wi-Fi” paint on one of the walls. However, since this special paint has chemicals that absorb radio signals, do not paint this type of paint in the entire room.