How to secure a wireless network

More and more people are choosing wireless networks. This is because they are cheap, convenient, easy to install and extremely mobile. However, there is a downside to going wireless. A wireless network can transmit far outside the building. Because of this, people within the range of transmission can easily tap into your network and look at all the information passing through the network.

Even scarier is that people do not seem to be doing much to secure their network. In addition, there is no reason for it. Securing your network can be done in a few easy steps.

• Control Your Broadcast Area. Start by placing your AP's (access points) far away from outer walls and windows and adjust your signal so it is weakest in these locations. However, this might not be enough. Experienced hackers may be able to pick up a leak with snooping equipment.

• Lock Each Access Point. Change the default settings on your AP's. Specifically, change the administrative default password, as people are likely to know this password.

• Use 128-bit WEP. Breaking into the WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is merely an inconvenience for experienced hackers. Still, it provides some level of deterrence.

• Use SSID's wisely. Like your password, change the default Service Set Identifiers (SSIDs) for your AP's and make wise choices – do not use your things such as your business name.

• Limit Access Rights. Not everyone needs to have access to the network. Once you decide who should be granted access, allow AP access only by those who have wireless cards with MAC addresses only.

• Limit the Number of User Addresses. Only assign as many addresses as you have people in your building. This way, if someone in the building can't log in, you will know that someone is hacking.

• Authenticate Users. Install a firewall that supports VPN connectivity and make users log on as if they would with dial-up.

• Use RADIUS. This also requires users authenticate themselves.