Secure your router for a safe Wi-Fi connection

[Kalyan]

Secure your router for a safe Wi-Fi connection

Wi-Fi stands for 'wireless fidelity', a throw back from the audio terminology of 'high fidelity', though the phrase just signifies any network connection that is a wireless transmission-based connection. In simpler terms, think of it as a radio broadcast.

Except that instead of audio, Wi-Fi transmits data. The typical home user is likely to encounter it when she gets a broadband connection, which terminates into a router at home. In this case, the cable terminates into a Wi-Fi router.

A Wi-Fi router is like a mini broadcast station that broadcasts in all directions. It means anyone with a receiver can receive the broadband connection signal, use it, or also eavesdrop. Think of it like someone splicing a parallel instrument on your telephone line. Now, the rouge instrument can receive or make calls from your line—and for all practical purposes, it will seem to originate from your phone.

So does that make Wi-Fi connections insecure? The short answer is no. So how does one secure a Wi-Fi connection? To begin with, the problem lies with the plug-and-play nature of a typical Wi-Fi router. Most home usage routers are bought over the counter and the manufacturers configure it for novice usage. This means security configuration is non-existent. And most users don't bother changing the default configuration.

There are few simple steps that one can follow to make Wi-Fi connection safer. Firstly, read up the manual.

Secondly, change the default password for the administrator user of the router. You must because if that is compromised, then all advice that follows is pretty much useless. And don't put easily guessable passwords. So 'Linksys' or 'NetGear' is not a smart choice (these are names of the common routers). And while you are at it, enable the firewall on the device.

Thirdly, place your router closer to the centre of your home/office to prevent spillage of the signals outside of your physical premises. Some of it will still happen. That is unavoidable. Also switch off the router if you are not using it. Apart from security issues, someone could simply be 'stealing' your connection and you will have to end up paying for that data download. Now it gets a little technical.

Get to the wireless security setting page of your router administrative console. Once you are in this console, you have to do the following: Change default SSID or disable it altogether if not required. Turn on WPA encryption and use a strong password there as well. This step will encrypt all traffic passing in your wireless network.

Every network card has a unique address. To find that, simply type 'ipconfig / all' in your command prompt window. You will see a line called physical address followed by a series of 12 digits and alphabets separated by hyphens. Something looking like this: 00-RR-HH-67-54-HF. That is your laptop's physical address. Enter those addresses into the Wi-Fi router and configure it to accept connections only from those addresses. Be aware that all public Wi-Fi enabled spots like airports, hotels, etc are insecure. Use them for browsing, but be advised that using hotspots for financial transactions is very insecure.

If you follow the above steps, you should be alright. However, if you are looking for a more robust protection, then you need to call in the professionals. As they will tell you—these steps may stop a causal attacker—but for a professional, they are only deterrents.