| When you buy a wireless router it is not | | | | 3) Turn off SSID broadcasting |
| secure and its default configuration will | | | | |
| allow unwanted users that are in the vicinity | | | | By default, a wireless router's SSID is |
| of your router to connect to the internet and | | | | broadcast so anyone in the vicinity of your |
| "steal" your wireless router internet | | | | wireless router can see that it. SSID |
| connection. They could also gain access to | | | | broadcasting can be turned off thus making |
| your PC and steal files and folders of data. | | | | your wireless router virtually invisible. |
| Manufacturers leave the configuration "open" | | | | |
| so that the user can easily set up the router | | | | 4) Enabling Encryption |
| and get it up and running quickly. However, | | | | |
| there is a risk if the router is not secure. | | | | This is switched off by default. There is a |
| | | | choice of WEP, WPA and WPA2. Currently the |
| Accessing Your Wireless Router's | | | | latest encryption method is WPA2 so use this |
| Configuration | | | | where possible. Both your wireless router and |
| | | | wireless PC adaptor must be configured to use |
| To gain access to your wireless router | | | | the same encryption. |
| settings and configuration menu then connect | | | | |
| to the router either wirelessly or via a | | | | 5) Mac Address Control |
| Ethernet cable. Open a web browser and type | | | | |
| either: or | | | | All hardware has a unique MAC address |
| | | | associated with it, including your PC adaptor |
| 1) Change Admin password | | | | card. This MAC address can be added to access |
| | | | control list in the wireless router. Only |
| Most wireless routers ship with a blank | | | | devices added to the router's access control |
| password. It is essential that this is | | | | list are allowed to be connected. |
| changed else a potential hacker could get | | | | |
| into your router configuration and lock you | | | | 6) Update router firmware |
| out of your own hardware. | | | | |
| | | | It is recommended that the latest router |
| 2) Change The Network Name (otherwise known | | | | firmware is downloaded from the |
| as the SSID) | | | | manufacturer's website and installed in the |
| | | | router. This will hopefully fix any bugs that |
| The default network name is usually made up | | | | have been found for your router and also help |
| of the name/model of your wireless router. | | | | with any known security flaws in the router |
| This information gives a head start for a | | | | itself. |
| hacker and makes it easier for them to break | | | | |
| into your network. Don't rename it to | | | | 7) Backup settings |
| something like your surname or house name as | | | | |
| this unnecessarily exposes personal | | | | Finally, backup all router settings. If you |
| information. Rename it to an alpha-numeric | | | | reset the router back to its factory default |
| string - this can be up to 32 characters | | | | settings for whatever reason, your |
| long. | | | | configuration can later be easily and quickly |
| | | | restored back into the router. |