Wi-Fi secure or broadcasting to the world?
With more and more of us using wireless routers (Wi-Fi) to enable us to connect to the Internet, the potential for identity fraud and credit card fraud also increases.
Just think about it, you are sitting at the keyboard of your desktop or laptop computer conducting your own private business or communication (email, live chat) with wireless Internet. You are in reality sending that data into the open air.
Think about it, would you open your windows and carry on, in a very loud voice, a private telephone conversation. During such a conversation you might mention private, personal information. Equally your telephone call might be one in which you are placing an order for something and you need to give your credit card details. Would you really be happy to continue such calls with your house windows wide open? You would not know who might be listening!
Well, if you are using a wireless (Wi-Fi) Internet connection without attending to its security then that is precisely what you might as well be doing!
Individual home networks can be attractive to hackers. Do you really want your neighbours stealing and using your Internet connection or bandwidth? Would you be happy for passers by, sitting in a car down the road, to have access to your hard drive and all the information it contains? Your hard drive will contain passwords, personal information, email addresses and, possibly, even bank and credit card information.
If you have not attended to securing your Wi-Fi Internet access security then all this information is freely available and you are a sitting target!
Even if no one steals your personal information the hi-jacking of your Internet access can be going on and you will not even know it. One extreme case came to light when police stopped a car in which the male occupant was semi-naked. The man was busy downloading child pornography using the hi-jacked Internet connections of unsecured home Wi-Fi systems. The worse part of this is that if police were to track the IP address of the computer to which such material was downloaded it could be your computer's unique IP address which shows up and you could be visited by the police!
Hopefully, your Wi-Fi Internet access is already secure but research shows 60% of wireless networks are not. If not, then here is a brief step-by-step guide to what you should be doing to make it secure:
The term "wireless security" may seem a contradiction in terms. After all, how can any data sent into the open air be secure? No network can ever be completely secure, but after you have implemented some basic security procedures, hackers and bandwidth thieves will look to choose an easier target.
1. Change your router's access name and password
2. Do not allow other users to piggyback onto your Wi-Fi connection - turn off peer-to-peer connections
3. Stop broadcasting your router's network ID
4. Turn on wireless data encryption
5. Periodically check router logs for route users
6. Use a strong firewall
7. Password protect your computers and files
8. Put your wireless network on its own subnet
9. Turn off wireless cards and routers when not in use
10. Be vigilant with all passwords - it is good to change them regularly
If you would like to talk about any of the security issues raised then send us an email. You may wish to make a comment via the Local News blog. If you need help and assistance checking or securing your Wi-Fi system contact a local computer company or let us have your specific question(s) and we will endeavour to assist.
Would you like to comment on what you have read? You can - simply click on the link below and share your thoughts now!
Burton Local News - 'Your' voice in the Community... let it be heard.