When Internet first arrived, the connection came courtesy of dial-up and then finally broadband cable. Thanks to Internet connections like ADSL, broadband & cable, and fiber-optic, high-speed Internet became available to consumers. After high-speed came wireless Internet, better known as wifi. Home and corporate users use wifi to "split" their Internet connection and offer it to multiple computers and devices at their location. A great benefit is that this is done without the need to run new wiring or cables. Wifi also offers incredible ease-of-use but sometimes there's a major drawback: security issues.
We present this guide to offer you the same tips that information technology insiders use to protect their places of business as well as their homes. When possible, we do what we can to not pander to the "computer literate" and make things as easy as possible. Of course, if you have any questions, concerns, or would like to speak to one of Our Experts on how to make your wifi more secure, please contact us at: 1.888.889.0522. Our hotline is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
1. Use the latest in wifi encryption and avoid the now insecure types.
Encryption is what disguises the information being broadcast across the air. When you connect to a wifi device, the password you enter is the key that unlocks the encryption and allows you to securely access the wireless network. Ensure that the network you connect to is taking advantage of the latest in wifi encryption: WPA or WPA2 (Wireless Protected Access or Wireless Protected Access version 2). The original wifi encryption standard, WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy, ironically, is not as secure as its wired counterpart) was broken by hackers. If you are using WEP at your home or office, change your settings, and ensure you are set to use WPA/WPA2 encryption.
2. Use a "strong" password (or PSK, Pre-Shared Key).
The longer the password, the stronger the key. The minimum requirement for WPA/WPA2 is eight characters, however, we recommend you use at least ten. Just as you are recommended with your website, social networking, and other passwords, your PSK should contain a variety of characters, numbers, and symbols. Once you set your password to something UNIQUE, write it down in a safe place so it can be retrieved in the event that you lose or forget your password.
3. Change your wireless network's default password and name (or SSID).
When your wireless router (that's the box that delivers the wireless Internet signal) is unpacked and plugged in, it has default settings that allow for easy, immediate use of the device. This is great when you're in a hurry but just as we were told growing up to "never rush," the same can be applied to all tech devices. The default names and passwords are the same on ALL devices of that brand and this means that you, Our Experts, hackers, bored teenagers, or anyone else will have that name and password.
Set the wireless network's name to something unique and something that won't easily identify who is using it. Sometimes, hackers can determine what type of data is being broadcast on the network if the wifi network's name contains something that reveals the information (i.e. if you are a doctor's office and your wifi name is: PATIENTSWIFI, then anyone with a computer will know that the wifi network is connected to a doctor's office, thus adding a possibility to a computer break-in).
Just as we mentioned in step two, change your password and make it something UNIQUE. Again, use a mix of letters, numbers, symbols, and capitalize them at random. Be sure to write this info down and store it in a safe place.
4. Keep your wireless router's firmware (or software) up-to-date.
Wireless router manufacturers do what they can to ensure their products are safe and reliable, however, not all bugs are worked out before they are released and, more so, hackers often work hard to try and find bugs and exploits to break in to wireless networks. When these bugs or exploits are discovered, the wireless companies quickly release updates to patch the "hole" left by the bug.
Many routers have settings built-in that allow updates to automatically be applied when they become available. Consult your operator's manual to see if this is the case for your router. If not, you may need to manually update and this can be done by accessing the router's administration page (again, check your manual for the exact details on how to reach this).
5. Enable secure "guest wifi access."
One feature that is new among the latest series of wifi devices is the ability to have two wireless networks: one to be used by regular people such as your family or coworkers, and another for guests. When you enable a guest wifi network, you don't have to give out the password to your wireless network and you can also guarantee that your network will remain protected when a guest signs-on.
Generally, a guest wifi network is a wireless network that broadcasts Internet only. This means that the guest connecting can freely access the Internet but not the files or services offered on the network. This is perfect for anyone who wants to keep their data safe or doesn't want to give out their valuable wifi password to strangers.
6. Ensure your family and coworkers practice good security standards.
It's not easy to memorize all the useful points and tips of good security practices but there are a few that anyone can take advantage of and more-so, that everyone should know. These include:
- 1. Ensure the wifi drivers (the software that talks to the hardware) are up-to-date.
- 2. Avoid connecting to untrusted or unknown wifi networks.
- 3. Regularly remove unused wifi networks from the "Preferred List of Networks."
- 4. Disable "Ad-Hoc (PC-to-PC) Connection Mode."
- 5. Turn off your desktop or laptop's wifi adapter when not in use.
These are five easy tips that everyone should know and remember if you want to keep your data safe and your identity protected.
7. Perform simple, regular wifi security audits.
A security audit, what? This one is a lot easier than it sounds. You simply need to check the list of wifi-connected devices (devices being anything that can connect to the wireless network, such as a smart phone, laptop, game console, TV, anything that uses a wireless connection to access the Internet) and ensure that everything listed is something you are aware of or own.
If you see a name on the list that doesn't look familiar or perhaps see a young person parked in their car with their laptop, these could be attempts to wrongfully access your wireless network and cause you problems. Should a mysterious name appear on the list, change your wireless network name and password and ensure that all authorized users change the information on their devices as well.
These seven tips are ones used by security Professionals to ensure their networks remain secure and stop unauthorized intruders from accessing their private data. Should you have any questions or would like assistance in upgrading or improving your secure data, or would just like to speak to one of Our Experts, please feel free to call us toll-free at: 1.888.889.0522
