Wireless Secure Network

Wireless network connectivity has gaining a significant popularity since 2005. Not only our computers, laptops but also various handheld devices and gaming consoles are all equipped with wi-fi and are being extensively used everywhere. However, huge amount of data, flying over the air raise an important fear factor, that's to say security. There has been pretty much ongoing introductions about how to secure a wireless network, but only a few specifications have been very successful so far. In order to secure wireless network connections, all transmission must be encrypted by using both hardware and software specifically designed for this purpose.

Secure wireless networks are built through implementing several password protection techniques at the router side, where devices with wi-fi connectivity get access to either connect to the internet or their local area network. With the help of a pre-determined password, data to be transmitted is encrypted first before leaving the device and then decrypted using the same password scheme at the other node within the wireless network. Thus, allows no one to interfere with the flying information around. But, not all encryption methods are enough for securing wireless networks to some extent but, it's always better than having none.

Today's wireless routers are all capable of encrypting and securing wireless networks with their built in protection methods. Namely, WEP (aka Wired Equivalent Privacy) is the most commonly used encryption technique used worldwide. It is very well knows for its simplicity to function, but also lacks several security measures if outsider really want to hack inside the WEP enabled wireless network. Passwords can be 5 to 13 characters long in WEP enabled networks. However, with the introduction of WPA (aka Wi-Fi Protected Access), which is also as popular as WEP in routers, providing a promising security against intruders is possible, but again not enough alone. WPA is also prone to experienced intruder access, even though it has more complex algorithms to encrypt data.

Beside these simple encryption methods, more secure options are also available but they may require special license fees and/or special hardware, which may be costly for home and soho (small office & home office) users. For instance 802.11i protocol is knows as the perfect protection formula for wireless networks but requires special hardware sold separately. Otherwise, in order to stick to the cheapest (or to the totally free) option, users should take extreme precautions together with their WEP or WPA protected wireless networks.

For instance restricting access to known MAC Ids (Identification number of a network card, which is unique for every device but can be spoofed though) can act like a stone wall for intruders. Also hiding wireless session name helps outsiders to stay away at first glance. Installing specifically built firewall and anti-virus software act like additional barrier inside your wireless network against hackers and viruses which may find a way and get inside your network not by means of wireless but through your internet connection.

In order to increase wireless network security both for home and business networks, common security precautions should be applied. It makes life easier to use automatic IP assignments but static IP usage increases security by forcing the intruder to guess the inside network architecture. Hence, can act like an extra pain for attackers. Using simple passwords while implementing WEP/WPA encryption should always be avoided. And also routers in usage should also be password protected. In fact most of the wireless routers operate with built in password but they are all predictable. Access the router from outside means, accessing your vessels also. Last but not least, internet traffic should also be monitored and port forwarding must be made very carefully. Opening a port in the router and forwarding the traffic to a non secured computer inside a wireless (or wired) network is nothing more than leaving your backdoor open while sleeping.