Changing the default administrator password and using WPA security protocols are effective ways to improve wireless network security. However, caution should be exercised with written passwords. Restricting SSID broadcast and using MAC filtering may not be as powerful as they seem.
There are a number of effective and fairly simple wireless security tips that can help a computer user better ensure that their wireless network is safe and secure. One of the simplest, yet easily overlooked, ways to immediately improve the security of a wireless network is to change the default administrator password for a hub or router. Devices that support Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security protocols are also much better protected than older devices that used wired equivalent privacy (WEP). There are some methods to improve wireless security, however, that aren’t necessarily as powerful as they might seem, such as changes to the Service Set Identifier (SSID) broadcast and using Media Access Control (MAC) filtering.
Wireless security refers to methods and practices used to enhance or establish a secure wireless network. Since wireless technology often allows multiple users to connect to a network, security protocols should be followed to ensure only authorized access to the network. One of the best ways to start building wireless security is for a computer user to change the default administrator password on the wireless router or hub that she is using. This default password is usually set as “default”, “password” or something equally useless to ensure security. By changing this password, a network becomes more difficult for unauthorized users to change.
Those looking to add more wireless security should also use a router or hub that supports WPA security protocols. Older devices often used WEP security measures, which were quite limited and could be cracked by a dedicated hacker in a very short period. WPA methods allow a system administrator to set a password for a network using any combination of numbers and letters, including uppercase and lowercase letters. As long as the administrator uses a password made up of fairly random strings of letters and numbers, WEP protocols can provide great wireless security.
However, caution should be exercised against anyone authorized to access such a network. Since passwords for administrators and network access can be complicated and difficult to remember, if created correctly, users tend to write them down. Once written down, these hard copies of passwords present new security risks and should be carefully reviewed.
There are also some wireless security methods that are often suggested, but they aren’t necessarily as powerful as they might seem. Restricting the SSID broadcast, for example, appears to help secure a network since a hub or router would not publicly broadcast the SSID for that network. However, hackers can easily find SSIDs for networks in other ways, so this is only to prevent casual users from finding a network. Using MAC filtering is also often suggested for wireless security, but this can easily be circumvented even by hackers using basic packet sniffing programs.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
