| Working from home has its advantages, including no | | | | Block anonymous Internet requests or pings. |
| commute, a more flexible work schedule and fresh | | | | On each computer having wireless network card, |
| coffee and home-cooked meals whenever you want. | | | | network connection properties should be configured |
| But working from home while using a wireless local | | | | to allow connection to Access Point Networks Only. |
| area network (WLAN) may lead to theft of sensitive | | | | Computer to Computer (peer to peer) Connection |
| information and hacker or virus infiltration unless | | | | should not be allowed. |
| proper measures are taken. As WLANs send | | | | Enable MAC filtering. Deny association to wireless |
| information over radio waves, someone with a | | | | network for unspecified MAC addresses. Mac or |
| receiver in your area could be picking up the | | | | Physical addresses are available through your |
| transmission, thus gaining access to your computer. | | | | computer device network connection setup and they |
| They could load viruses on to your laptop which | | | | are physically written on network cards. When adding |
| could be transferred to the company\'s network | | | | new wireless cards / computer to the network, their |
| when you go back to work. | | | | MAC addresses should be registered with the router |
| Up to 75 per cent of WLAN users do not have | | | | access point. |
| standard security features installed, while 20 per cent | | | | Network router should have firewall features enabled |
| are left completely open as default configurations are | | | | and demilitarized zone (DMZ) feature disabled. |
| not secured, but made for the users to have their | | | | You can test your hardware and personal firewalls |
| network up and running ASAP. | | | | using Shields Up test available at |
| It is recommended that wireless router/access point | | | | All computers should have a properly configured |
| setup be always done though a wired client. | | | | personal firewall in addition to a hardware firewall. |
| Change default administrative password on wireless | | | | Update router/access point firmware when new |
| router/access point to a secured password. | | | | versions become available. |
| Enable at least 128-bit WEP encryption on both card | | | | Locate router/access point away from strangers so |
| and access point. Change your WEP keys periodically. | | | | they cannot reset the router/access point to default |
| If equipment does not support at least 128-bit WEP | | | | settings. |
| encryption, consider replacing it. | | | | Locate router/access point in the middle of the |
| Although there are security issues with WEP, it | | | | building rather than near windows to limit signal |
| represents minimum level of security, and it should be | | | | coverage outside the building. |
| enabled. | | | | While none of the measure suggested above |
| Change the default SSID on your router/access point | | | | provides full protection as counter measures exist, a |
| to a hard to guess name. Setup your computer | | | | collection of suggested measures will act as a |
| device to connect to this SSID by default. | | | | deterrent against attacker when other insecure |
| Setup router/access point not to broadcast the SSID. | | | | networks represent easier targets. The author of this |
| The same SSID needs to be setup on the client side | | | | article ia a software developer, consultant and author |
| manually. This feature may not be available on all | | | | of numerous books. Visit his site for more infomation |
| equipment. | | | | about the Top Spyware Removal Software. |