Secure your wireless router

Most students living in apartments or in the dorms use a wireless router to use the internet without wires. But having a wireless router may be dangerous as all the information you send over the internet can be seen more easily. They also provide hackers easier access to your computer. Here are some tips to secure your wireless router:

• Change Default Administrator Passwords (and Usernames): At the core of most Wi-Fi home networks is an access point or router. To access the settings for the routers, manufacturers provide web pages that allow owners to enter their network address and account information. These web tools are protected with only a default username and password (easily known to hackers), so you should change the login credentials immediately.


• Turn on WPA / WEP Encryption: All Wi-Fi equipment supports some form of "encryption." Encryption technology scrambles messages sent over wireless networks so that they cannot be easily read by humans. Several encryption technologies exist for Wi-Fi today. Naturally you will want to pick the strongest form of encryption that works with your wireless network. Note: Not all Wi-Fi devices on your LAN may support the highest encryption possible, so confirm with the manufacturer of the product as to which setting you should use.


• Change the Default SSID: Access points and routers all use a network name called the SSID. Manufacturers normally ship their products with the same SSID set. For example, the SSID for Linksys devices is normally "linksys." True, knowing the SSID does not by itself allow anyone to break into your network, but it is a start. More importantly, when someone finds a default SSID, they see it is a poorly configured network and are much more likely to attack it. Change the default SSID immediately when configuring your LAN.


• Enable MAC Address Filtering: Each piece of Wi-Fi gear possesses a unique identifier called the "physical address" or "MAC address." Access points and routers keep track of the MAC addresses of all devices which connect to them. Many such products offer the owner an option to key in the MAC addresses of their home equipment, that restricts the network to only allow connections from those devices. Note that this feature is not as powerful as it may seem. Hacker software programs can fake MAC addresses easily.


• Disable SSID Broadcast: In Wi-Fi networking, the access point or router typically broadcasts the network name (SSID) over the air at regular intervals. This feature was designed for businesses and mobile hotspots where Wi-Fi clients may come and go. In the home, this feature is unnecessary, and it increases the likelihood an unwelcome neighbor or hacker will try to log in to your home network. Fortunately, most Wi-Fi access points allow the SSID broadcast feature to be disabled by the network administrator.


• Do Not Auto-Connect to Open Wi-Fi Networks: Connecting to an open Wi-Fi network such as a free wireless hotspot or your neighbor's router exposes your computer to security risks. Although not normally enabled, most computers have a setting available allowing these connections to happen automatically without notifying you (the user). This setting should not be enabled except in temporary situations.


• Assign Static IP Addresses to Devices: Most home networks grativate toward using dynamic IP addresses. DHCP technology is indeed quick and easy to set up. Unfortunately, this convenience also works to the advantage of network attackers, who can easily obtain valid IP addresses from a network's DHCP pool. Turn off DHCP on the router or access point, set a fixed IP address range, then set each connected device to match. Use a private IP range (like 10.0.0.x) to prevent computers from being directly reached from the Internet.


• Enable Firewalls On Each Computer and the Router: Modern routers contain built-in firewall capability, but the option exists to disable them. Ensure that your router's firewall is turned on. Additionally, consider installing and running personal firewall software on each computer connected to the router for extra protection. ResComp's BeSecure CD includes an excellent firewall.


• Position the Router or Access Point Safely: Wi-Fi signals normally reach to the exterior of a home. A small amount of "leakage" outdoors is not a problem, but the further this signal reaches, the easier it is for others to detect and exploit. Wi-Fi signals often reach through neighboring homes and into streets, for example. When installing a wireless home network, the position of the access point or router determines its reach. Try to position these devices near the center of the home rather than near windows to minimize leakage.


• Turn Off the Network During Extended Periods of Non-Use: The ultimate in security measures, shutting down the network will most certainly prevent outside hackers from breaking in! While impractical to turn the devices off and on frequently, at least consider doing so during travel or extended periods offline. Computer disk drives have been known to suffer from power cycle wear-and-tear, but this is not a concern for broadband modems and routers.