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Wired & Wireless Broadband - 2
If you PC or laptop is already wireless enabled, then skip this bit and move on to the other stuff about wireless broadband, and especially security.
Wireless Adaptors
Assuming your PC or laptop is NOT wireless enabled (note the use of the word ENABLED, not CAPABLE. Some PC's and laptops are advertised as wireless capable, this a lot different from being wireless enabled. The fact is that most computers are capable of adopting wireless. In other words, enabled PC's have a built-in wireless card, and do not require any additional hardware.
The router will 'broadcast' your broadband signal to any wireless receiver within its range. To receive the signal you will need another bit of software and a lump of hardware called a network adaptor. There are broadly three types.
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| PCMCIA network adaptor | USB network adaptor | PCI network adaptor |
Generally speaking the first one is for notebooks/laptops and fits in the standard 32-bit CardBus slot on your laptop. If you are unsure what that is, have a look at a slot in the side of your laptop that probably has a plastic insert in it with an annoying 'reject' button next to it that keeps popping out!
The second adaptor is for both laptops and desktops and fits into a spare USB slot. The third one is for desktops only, and fits into a spare PCI slot at the back of the computer.Make sure when you are fitting one of these that you install the software first, then when instructed to do so, insert the adaptor. With the PCI adaptor you will have to open up the desktop and insert the adaptor into the PCI slot (generally the lower white slots). If you don't have room take out the dial-up modem as you won't need this anymore!
Once fitted, and the computer re-started, the adaptor will detect your network and Windows will tell you so. Click the 'bubble' that has now appeared in the bottom right-hand side of the screen and 'log in'. If you have password protected your network, you will of course have to enter the password to continue.
If you elect to use the adaptor manufacturers software to log in, this will be via an icon now placed on your desktop screen. Again, it will detect your network (assuming you are within range!) and let you log in.
Signal Strength
Don't expect the network to be available all the time, and in all locations in your home/office. Sometimes the signal will be 'dropped' for no apparent reason, you will just have to log in again. Secondly, the further away from the router you go, the weaker the signal. There are products available from all the major manufacturers (Belkin, Netgear, LinkSys, Buffalo, D-Link, US Robotics etc.) that can boost the range of your network signal.
More Security Tips
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Though your new wireless network allows you to have the freedom to surf the Internet anywhere in your house, it's also good news for your close neighbours, because some of them can now surf the Internet for free! Unlike a wired network, where you need to have physical access to a network point in order to gain access to the network, a wireless network extends beyond the four walls of your house. |
Most wireless access points and routers provide a Web-based configuration program for configuring the wireless access point. Below are some guidelines for 'securing' your wireless network:
1. Change the default SSID:
To improve the security of your home wireless network, change the SSID to a different name than the default. The SSID can be accessed from within these products' Web-based or Windows-based configuration utilities. Common examples of pre-defined SSIDs are simple names like 'wireless,' 'netgear,' 'linksys,' or "Belkin54g'. An SSID can be changed at any time, as long as the change is also made on all wireless clients.
2. Disable SSID broadcast:
By default, most wireless access points will broadcast the SSID to all wireless devices. This would allow anyone with a wireless network card that can detect the SSID you use to gain access to your network. This feature of Wi-Fi network protocols is intended to allow clients to dynamically discover and roam between WLANs. In a home Wi-Fi network, roaming is largely unnecessary and the SSID broadcast feature serves no useful purpose.
3. Use MAC address filtering:
MAC filtering is the process of configuring an access point with a list of MAC addresses that will be allowed or not allowed to gain access to the rest of the network via that WAP. Only MAC addresses that have been registered with the wireless access point are able to gain access to your network. You can usually locate the MAC address of your network card on the device itself.
4. Always change the default user name and password for your wireless access point:
Guessing the default user names and passwords for the wireless access points is a common practice for hackers to gain access to networks.
5. Turn off DHCP:
Consider setting the wireless router to assign static IP addresses to the machines on your home network and turn off DHCP.
6. Refrain from using the default IP subnet:
If you turn off DHCP, consider changing the IP subnet. Many routers use 192.168.1.0 for the network and 192.168.1.1 as the address for the router. It is easy for people to guess the IP addresses used and illegally gain access to the network.
7. Enable WEP:
Probably the most important thing to do! It is disabled by default. WEP is not considered totally secure, but it is free and will provide an initial barrier. Purchase network adapters and access points that support at least 128-bit WEP. Some network adapters may only require a driver upgrade to increase to 128-bit encryption.
If you have a WEP password in place on your Wi-Fi network already, you've taken a significant step toward protecting it from intruders. But WEP can be easily cracked: Tools are available that allow even unskilled attackers to crack the code and access your network in a matter of minutes. WEP is still helpful, since most aspiring wireless-network hijackers are not dedicated enough to take the time to break in, but to be safe you should use WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) or its successor, WPA2. These encryption types resolve the weaknesses of WEP and provide much stronger protection.
Log in to your router's console and find the wireless-security settings. There, enable encryption and select either WPA or WPA2. Enter a password, save the settings, and restart your router - and you'll start surfing more safely.
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