Wireless Networks:
Do you know what the follow terms are, SSID, WEP encryption, MAC address filtering?
If you don't and are currently running a wireless network, go unplug it. All three terms have to do with securing your wireless network from outside intrusion or wireless freeloaders. Wireless networks are so common and unprotected that it is not unusual to be able to connect to 2 or 3 wireless networks sitting at your kitchen table. If people can gain access to your network they can gain access to your files.
Steps to secure your wireless network:
There are many different manufactures of wireless products. The administration setup may differ between products but the key aspects of securing your network are the same. Consult your instruction manual if you need more specific information.
Every wireless access point (AP)/wireless router administration application is a little different. Here are the key steps to securing your router.
1) Change your Admin password. To gain access to the administration user interface you must enter in a password. The password is the same on every unit shipped from the manufacture. Not changing it would be like taking the doors off to your house.
2) Change your SSID name.
The SSID is the name assigned to your wireless network. In order to gain access to your network, an intruder has to know its name. Most access points and routers SSID are preset at the factory and are the same on every unit.
To change you SSID open up the configuration program that was provided with our access point, and change the SSID to something completely unique and obscure. We recommend that you not use anything too obvious, such as your hardware manufacturer's name, or words like "default," "wireless," "802.11," "network," "home," or anything else that may be easily guessed after just a few tries.
When completed with all your security setup, including WEP and MAC filtering disable your SSID. This will stop the router from broadcasting your SSID. Having the SSID enabled makes setup easier. Just make sure you turn it off when complete.
3) Enabling WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is required if to stymie would-be wireless freeloaders. WEP isn't 100 percent secure, but cracking the encryption technology isn't a trivial exercise. In fact, it presents more trouble than most common bandwidth thieves are willing to wrestle with. The setup procedures on a wireless router can differ among manufactures so your manual maybe helpful when configuring WEP.
First things first: If your access point and your Wi-Fi card support 128-bit encryption, use 128-bit encryption. A 128-bit key can indeed be cracked, but even under perfect circumstances, a cracker will have to sniff packets from your wireless network for six or more hours in order to get enough data to generate a WEP key. And we repeat: That's in an ideal situation. It can actually take days or longer to sniff enough packets to crack a 128-bit key.
Of course, a 128-bit key won't help you if it's just 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 1111 11. Interfaces for entering keys will differ from access point to access point. Some APs require that you enter the key in hexadecimal, while others prefer plain ASCII text. Luckily, the Windows wireless control panel lets you enter your key in either format, so make sure you enter the key in the same format in both places! When you create your key, remember that hex keys can include the digits 0 through 9 and A through F. ASCII keys can be any letter of the alphabet or any number. For maximum security, avoid repetition or any kind of pattern.
4) Most access points (AP)/wireless router are able to deny wireless access to unknown computers. You see, each network card has a unique number assigned when it's manufactured. This "MAC address" is a 12-digit code, and no other piece of network hardware will share the same code. By telling your wireless LAN to grant access only to network cards that have known MAC addresses, you can prevent unknown users from gaining entry.
Each AP will handle MAC address filtering differently, so you'll need to consult your instruction manual. Just remember, any time you want to add a new authorized user to your wireless LAN, you'll have to get the MAC address, go into your access point's configuration screen, and manually enter it.
Using all 4 security practices will insure that your wireless network is safe from outside intrusion. If your wireless network is sluggish and you have not done the above steps, it's probably little Timmy next door busy downloading MP3's from your network. It won't be so funny when the record association comes knocking with a lawsuit for illegally downloading music?
Advantages of a Home Network:
Many households now use more than one computer. Even if it's only a PC and laptop, setting up a local area network (LAN) to connect your computers increases their usefulness in a number of ways:
File sharing: files can easily be passed between computers, and important files and documents can be backed up to a different computer.
Printer sharing: all the computers in a network can be set up to share a single printer, so that files no longer have to be swapped from one computer to another.
Shared internet connection: all members of the household can access the internet at the same time without having to buy multiple accounts (NB: dial-up connections are likely to be extremely slow over a shared connection).
Multiplayer games: many popular computer games support "LAN mode" where people can play together using networked computers (NB: a wireless network may be too slow to support LAN gaming).
Wired or Wireless?:
There are two basic types of home networks: wired and wireless. Wired networks have been around the longest, but wireless networking is becoming increasingly popular. Both have distinct advantages and disadvantages over the other.
Wired (ethernet) Network: A wired network consists of two or more computers connected together by ethernet cables. It is often referred to as an ethernet network. Ethernet cables are also called RJ-45 cables and are similar to a standard phone cable, using copper and/or fibre optic cabling.
Wireless Network: A wireless network uses radio waves and/or microwaves to send data between computers. It is often referred to as Wi-Fi, which means Wireless Fidelity, and is based on the 802.11 wireless standard.
Many people prefer wireless networks because of the increased mobility and freedom to work anywhere within the network's range. This is particularly useful for laptop users. With wireless technology, there is no need to have cables running around the house. Wireless networks are also easier to set up than ethernet, and easier to expand when you want to add more computers. However, an ethernet system is currently cheaper than wireless and faster. Standard data transfer is 100 Mb per second, compared to 54 Mb per second for wireless. Greater range is possible on an ethernet network (depending on cable length and type). Wireless networks are also susceptible to interference from weather, other wireless devices, or obstructions like walls, which do not affect ethernet networks.
Hardware:
Although two PCs can be directly wired to each other using a crossover cable, ethernet networks usually also need central devices like hubs, switches, or routers to accommodate more computers. Wireless networks require a central device called the access point. The access point must be installed in a central location where wireless radio signals can reach it with minimal interference. Although Wi-Fi signals typically reach 100 feet (30 m) or more, obstructions like walls can greatly reduce their range.
Router: A router is the most important piece of hardware in a home network. Its function is to route data between all the PCs on the network and to connect your computers and broadband/cable modems together. This allows all your PCs to browse the internet at the same time. A router also adds a level of security between your computers and the internet, protecting you against hackers and other online threats. Most routers have built-in software that provide anonymity on the internet.
Hub: A hub is used to connect PCs to a network, either through ethernet cabling or via Wi-Fi. A hub transmits the data it receives to all the connected ports.
Switch: A switch is a type of hub that controls the way in which multiple devices use the network so that each can operate more efficiently. Rather than sending data to all the ports on the network, a switch transfers data to the receiving port only. As prices fall, switches are replacing hubs as a preferred device.
Combined switch/routers: are becoming increasingly popular as they combine the functionality of a router and switch in a single unit.
Network Interface Card (NIC): An interface card is used to connect your computers to network devices such as a switch or hub. The card can be wireless or attached to a network cable. It is installed internally on a desktop PC or slotted into a Type 2 PCMCIA slot on a laptop or PDA.
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