Securing Your Wireless Home Network
Despite all of the warnings about keeping our computers secure, millions of internet users still forget to secure one vital aspect of their system, which is their wireless home network. Leaving a network unsecured means that anyone in your neighborhood can get access to your internet connection. And this can have many implications.
First of all, with free access to your connection, a person can download anything they like, including large movie and music files on your dime. This means that should you exceed your monthly data cap, you will be the one responsible for paying it, even if you weren't the one who did all the downloading.
Being held responsible for someone else's repeated downloading activity could result in the suspension or complete termination of your internet account, which can be devastating if the internet is something you need to have access to on a daily basis.
How To Secure Your Network
The best way to stop illegal downloads using your internet account is to create and/or change the password on your home's wireless network. All routers have a URL that you can access in order to reach what is the administration panel of your router. This information can be found in your router's user manual.
Then, simply open your browser, log in and then navigate to the password section of your router. Once there, choose the 'change login password' or similar option.
SSID Broadcast
Another way you can secure your network is by disabling SSID broadcasting, which will remove your wireless network's name from the list of available networks when someone is scanning for one to access. This can also be done from your router's administration panel. Most routers will list the option as "Wireless SSID Broadcast" with a checkbox that allows you to enable or disable this feature.
Connecting To A Non-Broadcasted Network
If your networking setup involves no wires between your computer and router, you will need to do a little more configuring in order to connect your computer to a non-broadcasted network. However, it isn't difficult.
Simply enter the Network and Sharing Center on your computer, and then look to the left and click "Manage wireless networks". Then, click "Add". You will then have to choose to "Manually create a network profile". Enter in your network information, and be sure to check the boxes beside "Start this connection automatically" and "Connect even if the network is not broadcasting".
Securing Your Network Without a Password
It is possible to secure your network without the need to enter a password. This is done by gathering the MAC address of each device that is or will be connected to the wireless network. For computers, the MAC address can be found by opening the command prompt and entering "ipconfig /all". To find the MAC address on a wireless USB adapter, check the sticker that will usually be found on the device.
Once all MAC addresses have been collected, you will need to log into your router's control panel. You will find the ability to add MAC addresses in the "Advanced Settings" section of the control panel. But be sure to add the MAC address for the computer you are using to log into the control panel before you apply the filter for all MAC addresses. As soon as all of your desired devices have been added, the filter can be applied. Once this has been done, the password requirement can be removed.
Other Ways To Secure Your Network
You can also make your wireless home network more secure by disabling remote log-ins. Most routers will, by default, have this disabled. But it's still a good idea to confirm that the feature has been disabled. And you may want to check this once in awhile.
More security for your network can be had by disabling wireless administrating. This setting allows a wireless connection to use your router. Disabling this option forces anyone wanting to change router settings to connect with some kind of LAN cable. This way, no router hacking via wireless can occur.
First of all, with free access to your connection, a person can download anything they like, including large movie and music files on your dime. This means that should you exceed your monthly data cap, you will be the one responsible for paying it, even if you weren't the one who did all the downloading.
Being held responsible for someone else's repeated downloading activity could result in the suspension or complete termination of your internet account, which can be devastating if the internet is something you need to have access to on a daily basis.
How To Secure Your Network
The best way to stop illegal downloads using your internet account is to create and/or change the password on your home's wireless network. All routers have a URL that you can access in order to reach what is the administration panel of your router. This information can be found in your router's user manual.
Then, simply open your browser, log in and then navigate to the password section of your router. Once there, choose the 'change login password' or similar option.
SSID Broadcast
Another way you can secure your network is by disabling SSID broadcasting, which will remove your wireless network's name from the list of available networks when someone is scanning for one to access. This can also be done from your router's administration panel. Most routers will list the option as "Wireless SSID Broadcast" with a checkbox that allows you to enable or disable this feature.
Connecting To A Non-Broadcasted Network
If your networking setup involves no wires between your computer and router, you will need to do a little more configuring in order to connect your computer to a non-broadcasted network. However, it isn't difficult.
Simply enter the Network and Sharing Center on your computer, and then look to the left and click "Manage wireless networks". Then, click "Add". You will then have to choose to "Manually create a network profile". Enter in your network information, and be sure to check the boxes beside "Start this connection automatically" and "Connect even if the network is not broadcasting".
Securing Your Network Without a Password
It is possible to secure your network without the need to enter a password. This is done by gathering the MAC address of each device that is or will be connected to the wireless network. For computers, the MAC address can be found by opening the command prompt and entering "ipconfig /all". To find the MAC address on a wireless USB adapter, check the sticker that will usually be found on the device.
Once all MAC addresses have been collected, you will need to log into your router's control panel. You will find the ability to add MAC addresses in the "Advanced Settings" section of the control panel. But be sure to add the MAC address for the computer you are using to log into the control panel before you apply the filter for all MAC addresses. As soon as all of your desired devices have been added, the filter can be applied. Once this has been done, the password requirement can be removed.
Other Ways To Secure Your Network
You can also make your wireless home network more secure by disabling remote log-ins. Most routers will, by default, have this disabled. But it's still a good idea to confirm that the feature has been disabled. And you may want to check this once in awhile.
More security for your network can be had by disabling wireless administrating. This setting allows a wireless connection to use your router. Disabling this option forces anyone wanting to change router settings to connect with some kind of LAN cable. This way, no router hacking via wireless can occur.