Technology makes identity theft easier than ever before!
This page discusses some of the risks associated with wireless networks.
Wi-Fi hacking and identity theft is on the rise and knowing how to protect yourself is important:
Securing the router:
How to Secure the Wireless router can be found in the manual that came with the router. However, securing a wireless router is a simple task. Many times the instructions can be found on the Internet. The following settings should be changed when securing the wireless router. First step after logging into the wireless router, should be changing the default administrator password. The recommend password should contain a combination of at least 8 letters, numbers, and symbols. Do not use dictionary words. The second step involves assigning WPA or WPA2 to the wireless router. This will require a passphrase following the same rules as the password. Do not use the router password in the passphrase. The third step will be changing the default SSID. The SSID is the name that the router broadcasts, the SSID may also be hidden from broadcast. Finally I recommend placing the router in the center of the home. This will help to limit the area of reception to outside locations.
The risks involved by not securing a wireless network!
Hosting an unsecured WI-FI leaves a network open to all sorts of security threats such as DOS attacks, Identity theft, and sharing personal files openly. Hosting an unsecured network can also leave the registered owner of IP address facing criminal charges and law suits. By leaving Wi-Fi unsecured means anyone within signal range can gain access to the network, and use your IP address for hacking, downloading illegal materials, sending spam, or spreading malicious code leaving the person with the registered IP responsible. A Wi-Fi signal can reach 150 feet or more. Right now a person could be parked on the street somewhere viewing information from an unsecured WI-FI. The information could be used to make plans to burglarize a home, steal someone�s identity, gathering financial information, stealing files from a computer, or sending spam. By securing the router with a minimum of WPA will help to protect against these sorts of threats
Free Wi-Fi can be a friend or foe:
You just took vacation photos and cannot wait to share.
Following the steps below can help share those photos safer.
Turn Off file Sharing.
Enable Your Firewall.
Use SSL when possible.
Turn Off WI-FI When You're Not Using It.
Turn off automatic Wi-Fi connecting.
When it is necessary to use a public hotspot, following the recommendations above will help you to stay safe. When visiting websites using a public hotspot avoid websites that sends usernames, passwords, and delivers e-mails in plain text. Before entering any usernames and passwords check the security of the website. Many browsers will display a lock in the address bar when the connection is encrypted. When clicking on the lock it will display the encryption information in use by the website. By visiting sites that utilizes https:// the data is encrypted to and from the server. While it is still possible for snooping software to capture packets, those packets will be scrambled. For example, https://www.facebook.com login is encrypted with RC4_128 with SHA 1. This means a user could safely login into this website from public Wi-Fi. However, while Facebook may be safe to access on public Wi-Fi. Do not use public Wi-Fi to access highly sensitive information. Highly sensitive information should only be accessed on a secured private network. Public Wi-Fi should only be used only for casual web browsing not accessing financial records.
Can a WI-FI connection ever be truly secure?
While it is possible to secure a wireless router wireless to a certain extent. Wireless radio signals travels through the air, which makes it easier to intercept, when compared to wired networks. However, the point is not whether wired or wireless networks offer more security, but that any type of LAN or WAN connection that carries data between two or more devices can never be truly secure. The false sense of security can cause people to feel overly comfortable revealing private information. When accessing the Internet by a wired or a wireless connection the threats can seem endless. The truth is a truly secure network has never been built.
Follow the links below for further reading:
Securing a Linksys router  using public Wi-Fi  Is it Safe to Use Free Wi-Fi
using public Wi-Fi
Is it Safe to Use Free Wi-Fi
Are Wireless Networks Truly Secure
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