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Wireless at home, hotels, shops, restaurants and even coaches, free Wi-Fi is advertise in many public places! Few years ago it was very easy to gain wireless access, Internet, everywhere because many didn't really care about security at all. WEP (Wireless Equivalent Privacy) was at its early days, but then it was not applied by default by routers manufacturers. Many individuals, corporation, or governments have seen their computers, files and other personal documents hacked into or stolen. So wireless everywhere improves our lives, reduce cabling hazard, but securing it is even better. Below is an outline of useful Wireless Security Settings and tips. 1. Change your SSID (Service Set Identifier). The SSID is the name of your wireless network that is broadcasted over the air. It can be seen on any computer with a wireless card installed. Today router software allows us to broadcast the SSID or not, it is our choice, but hidden SSID reduces chances of being attacked. 2. Do not broadcast your SSID. This is a cool feature which allows the SSID to be hidden from the wireless cards within the range, meaning it won't be seen, but not that it cannot be accessed. A user must know the name and the correct spelling, which is case sensitive, to connect. Bear in mind that a wireless sniffer will detect hidden SSIDs. 3. Make sure your firewall is turned on. A firewall is a system built to protect computers and routers from hackers and unauthorized access. Do not assume it is ON by default, always double check your computer and the router. 4. Never write down the SSID or Password on top of the router, the hackers could be within your cubical. Having seen the router's security details allows him full access. 5. Always change the router's login details, User Name and Password. 99% of routers manufacturers have a default administrator user name and password, known by hackers and even published on the Internet. Those login details allow the owner to access the router's software in order to make the changes enumerated here. Leave them as default it is a door wide open to anyone. 6. Change your wireless security key from WEP (Wireless Equivalent Privacy), to WPA-PSK (Wireless Protected Access Pre-Shared Key) or better. Never keep the original key shipped with your router, change it. 7. Configure MAC Address Filtering. A MAC Address, Media Access Control Address, is a physical address used by network cards to communicate on the Local Area Network (LAN). A MAC Address looks like this 08:00:69:02:01:FC, and will allow the router to lease addresses only to computers with known MAC Addresses. When the computer sends a request for a connection, its MAC Address is sent as well. The router then look at its MAC Address table and make a comparison, if there is no match the request is then rejected. Finally, wireless has become easy to set up. All the changes we have seen can be done through a web interface, and many are explained in the router's handbook. Protect your wireless and do not use someone else's, as it is against the law. In the event that your network card fails, you could Change MAC Address and continue to use software that is dependant on your network card's MAC address.
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MAC address, Change MAC Address, software, Mac, computer,
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