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