Wireless internet is incredibly convenient for those who wish to connect several computers to one network without running a spider web of cables all over the place. Wi-Fi has also made the lives of laptop users indefinitely easier by allowing convenient internet access everywhere from coffee shops to hotels and everywhere in between. However, this advancement in networking and internet connectivity is not without its risks.
Most of us have been guilty of hopping on to someone else's wireless network before. There is no real harm in it, especially if you're just checking your email or doing simple tasks. However, leaving your network open not only invites strangers to consume your bandwidth, it also makes your network vulnerable to those people who might not necessarily be looking to conduct strictly "harmless" activities. That's also something to consider when using an unsecured wireless network, whether it be that of an establishment like a coffee shop or simply one that you find in your area; there may be someone else on that network looking for personal information that gets transmitted. For this reason, it is not recommended that you do any online banking or give out any sensitive personal information over an unsecured network.
When setting up a wireless network for your home or office, it is imperative that you secure your network. This can easily be accomplished and most wireless router installation guides will walk you right through it. You'll need to "lock" your wireless network with a password. This way, when unauthorized users in your area detect your network, they will be unable to gain access to it.
So how does a secured network protect you? Well, the first line of defense of your Wi-Fi network is encryption, the process of encrypting data that is transmitted between your PC and your router. By default, most routers are shipped by the manufacturer with encryption turned off, so be sure to enable it when you're setting up. The fact they generally arrive with the option turned off is probably the cause of so many unsecured networks flying around. Many people, especially those less technically inclined, simply set it up with the default settings and never thing twice about it.
Older routers use WEP, or Wireless Encryption Protocol. This system is more or less considered to be outdated and relatively easy to crack, thus it should be avoided. It may be worth upgrading to a more recent wireless router for the sake of your network's security. Look for a wireless router that offers WPA (Wireless Protected Access) or better yet, WPA2. The pass keys that are used by WPA and WPA2 change dynamically, making them virtually impossible to hack. When creating your network key, it is strongly recommended to use a random mix of letters and numbers to ensure the maximum amount of security.
Some people make the mistake of thinking that since their router has a firewall in place to prevent access to their PC that they do not need a secured wireless network. It's true that the firewall within your router blocks access to your PC from the internet, but it does nothing to restrict people that access your network. In other words, someone that is in range of your Wi-Fi signal would not need to use the internet to hack into your computer, because they could simply use your unsecured wireless network to gain access. Many home routers on the market today are capable of sending a signal that will easily reach the end of your block, and there are a slew of tools available online for an unscrupulous hacker to use to view every piece of data that you transmit through your network.
When using public Wi-Fi access points use great caution. In some cases, predatory cyber criminals set up Wi-Fi networks in close by areas to legitimate ones and give them a similar or identical name to trick people into logging on. For instance, someone could be living next door to a Starbucks and name their wireless network "T-Mobile" to trick Starbucks patrons into using their network to transmit potentially private data. For these reasons, it's best to always assume that information you transmit in these public places is accessible, and refrain from transmitting any sensitive personal information.
