Securing Wireless Network

So, let me state it ab initio. I hate my neighbors, especially that ugly-looking guy who claims to be a tech-savvy. I was happy for I got a Wi-Fi connection for my Mac, but sadly, didn't have enough technical know-how regarding the same. All I knew was that, wireless technology is no less than magic to my laptop, for I don't need to squander time disentangling connectivity cables anymore, and that I can enjoy surfing the Internet anywhere and everywhere in my house. However, what made me infuriated and fuming was the fact that the guy in my neighborhood feasted on my Internet connection by accessing the wireless networking from his own house every now and then. Reason: My wireless network wasn't secured. In other words, I didn't have it password protected.

Needless to say, I rushed to my Internet provider, and learned the importance of securing one's wireless networks, not only as a result of secondary usage, but also because it would keep my system safe from getting my data captured by hacking veterans who can sniff information on wireless networks easily. Think about it, isn't securing your networks as important as locking your car in a public parking? That's it. And to know how to secure your wireless network on your system, latch into the following tips and tricks. Some easy steps to secure a wireless network are, indeed, helpful, for I've seen it first hand.

Securing a Wireless Network on a Mac / PC

If you're a proud owner of the Apple Mac or any computer that runs on a Windows operating system for that matter, wireless security becomes a must-have due to critical unauthorized access and excessive virus and malware attacks. Hence, if your wireless network is not secured, here are the steps you can follow to secure it:

1. First and foremost, connect to the Internet, and type the following address - 'http://192.168.1.1'. This will get you a screen containing your router's default configuration settings. Since, the default password would be blank, put a string of alphanumeric characters as your password.
2. Your second step would be changing your SSID (Service Set Identifier) which is the network name. Here again, an alphanumeric code would be the perfect network name. When you've changed the SSID, turn the SSID broadcasting of so that your wireless router will not be visible to anyone on the network. Note that, as per the default settings, your wireless router is turned on, making it visible to all within the range.
3. Following that, you need to switch on your encryption, which is otherwise, switched off by default. Basically, there are three encryption methods, namely, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), and WPA 2. Setting your encryption to WPA 2 would help you secure your network totally, if your system owns the relevant wireless cards that support it. After you've selected WPA 2, open the wireless security page on your router's configuration, and enter a pass phrase in order to gain access to the network. This pass phrase could be anything - a string of alphanumeric characters is the safest.
4. If you are using a MAC, then it has a unique MAC address which can be added to access the control list in the configuration settings of your router. Hence, after you add your device to the access control list, only your MAC would be able to connect to the connection. This enhances the security of your wireless Internet access, as it limits the number of devices that can avail the connection benefits that you're paying for.
5. Lastly, keep your router firmware updated with the latest software that are available on the websites of manufacturers. This helps in fixing the various problems that any router can face at any time.

That's how you go about wireless network security on a Mac and for Windows. Securing a wireless network on Windows 7 or Windows Vista follows a similar process. All you need to do is, reduce your signal range a bit, in case you're living in a small apartment where there are opportunities for many others to gain access to your wireless Internet access.

If you know even a bit about the process of network security, you have an idea of how easily are wireless networks vulnerable to virus attacks and hacking. What's more, you wouldn't want a second party to access your wireless network without your permission. Hence, this is, by far, the best way to avoid unnecessary blockage and hindrances to uninterrupted Internet access at high speed.