Security Basics mailing list archives
home wireless router good practices for security
From: "Steve" <securityfocus () delahunty com>
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2003 13:32:39 -0500
So I went out and purchased a wireless router (Linksys 802.11b) for home since it was so inexpensive and actually less cost than the wireless access points I was trying to get via eBay. Got it home, installed my wireless network card (SMC), powered on the router, attached it to a port on my other wired linksys router, and boom it worked great. Then about 5 minutes after I sent an instant message to my neighbor (fellow IT friend) he was on my network. So I took the steps that Linksys recommends below, seems good (to me). Change the default SSID Disable SSID Broadcasts Change the default password for the Administrator account Enable WEP 128-bit Encryption Linksys also recommends these other measures, I have not implemented: Enable MAC Address Filtering Change the SSID periodically Change the WEP encryption keys periodically. My Questions: 1) Anyone know how much enabling 128-bit encryption will hurt my wireless performance? 2) Does setting the SSID for my wireless NIC then keep me from getting onto other wireless networks like when traveling? I ask since that setting was set to ANY before I changed it to the SSID that I set for my wireless router. 3) What else should I really do to protect my home network? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current thread:
- SecurityFocus new article announcement Kelly Martin (Dec 22)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- SecurityFocus new article announcement Kelly Martin (Dec 30)
- home wireless router good practices for security Steve (Dec 30)
- Re: home wireless router good practices for security Paul Kurczaba (Dec 31)
- home wireless router good practices for security Steve (Dec 30)