Andrew Parker
Although it’s convenient to use laptops, cellphones and other devices wirelessly, adequate security measures should be enabled to prevent unauthorised access. In the past, it was easy to control physical access to wired networks, but today’s wireless networks can broadcast a signal far beyond the walls of a home or office. Anyone in the vicinity can potentially access a poorly-secured network. If you think there is any chance you’re using an insecure wireless network, I recommend you consult a professional for advice, as you could be opening your internet connection and your computer to unwelcome attention.
Wireless network connections are secured using authentication and encryption. The authentication bit happens when a computer, cellphone or similar device first tries to access the wireless network – basically, the router is checking whether the device trying to connect has provided the correct credentials, just as an ATM checks your PIN before allowing you to access your bank account.
If the wireless network is a publicly-accessible hot spot, such as coffee shops and airports, then the initial authentication requirements may be somewhat reduced or even disabled, for easy access. In a home or office, wireless authentication should be secured with at least a “key”, which is just like a password. Even better than a password, is a “passphrase” – a password longer than the six to eight characters that people use. “nomoretroublepleasemrwireless” is preferable to a short password. Substitute numbers for letters and add capital letters and symbols as in ‘‘N0M0reTr0ublePleasemrW!rele$$’ For more, see the website www.tinyurl.com/strongpwguide.
After a wireless router authenticates you, it will provide you with access to its network or the internet. It needs to constantly ensure that whatever you’re doing cannot be seen or understood by anyone else who happens to be connected to the same wireless network you’re using. This process is called encryption. You need to ensure you use strong wireless encryption. Wireless authentication and encryption methods are specified in standards which define the protocols, methods and rules for securing wireless connections. Wireless networking has three established security standards. The oldest standard is WEP or Wired Equivalent Privacy. WEP security can be hacked into, within minutes. Its successors Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) or WPA2 should be used.
E-mail any questions to online@intech.co.za
Next week, I’ll show you how to check the security settings and standards on your wireless network.
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