Nowadays, we are seemingly surrounded by WiFi hotspots wherever we go in public: the library, the bookstore, even fast-food restaurants. Do we give wireless security a second thought and find out how secure these hotspots really are? According to most peoples’ experiences, not very secure. Public access of wireless Internet hotspots caters to all types of users: college students, parents, and business travelers alike. If people decide to use the Internet at these hotspots, the places hosting the WiFi hotspots and users alike should take precautions to protect the wireless network and the computers on it.
Use encryption to scramble communications over the network. If you have a choice, WiFi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2) is stronger than Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP).- Use anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a firewall.
- Most wireless routers have a mechanism called identifier broadcasting. Turn it off so your computer won’t send a signal to any device in the vicinity announcing its presence.
Read more about Wireless Security on OnGuardOnline.gov, a website maintained by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The video, below, is a short tutorial on how to secure your Wi-Fi network:
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