Wireless Security Guidelines

when online using wireless, attackers can steal the password or install the malware codes into
the network. User can avoid this type of risk by following some guidelines.
Guidelines of the wireless security include:

-Limit  the  strength of  the  wireless  network 
so  it  cannot  be  detected  outside  the  bounds  of your home . Anyone with a wireless-enabled computer within range of your wireless access point can hop a free ride on the internet over your wireless connection. The typical indoor broadcast range ofan access point is 150 – 300 feet.  So, ifyour neighborhood is closely settled, or if you
live in an apartment or condominium, failure to secure your wireless network could potentially
open your internet connection to a surprising number of users.

-Turn off Service Set Identifier (SSID) broadcasting. So other people around the range cant detect or saw your SSID.
 
-Choose  Wi-Fi  Protected  Access  pre shared key(PSK) instead  of  WPA  which  can  be  hacked  into  using  special
software

-The encryption key must be changed often .

-Change your wireless network's ID. Your network name is also known as a  (SSID) . When you rename your network, you should choose a name that won’t be easily
guessed by others.

-Changing the administrator’s passwords as well as the usernames of the wireless network devices
such as access points . Be sure to change your administrator password to one that is long,
contains nonalphanumeric characters (such as #, $, and &), and does not contain personal information (such as your birth date).

-Disabling SSID broadcast
A Windows XP computer which has a wireless card installed will automatically go into detect mode if it is turned on; if it receives a beacon packet, it will use the SSID information to attempt to set up a connection to that access point. Although this makes it very easy to set up a wireless network, it also means that anyone with a wireless card could connect to the access point. If the system is reconfigured into ‘Closed Mode’, then the access point no longer broadcasts beacon packets. In this mode, the SSID information has to be entered into the configuration of the wireless card so it can send the necessary connection request to the wireless access point and establish a connection

-Ensuring that the router firewall protection is enabled

-Positioning router or access point properly so that there will be no leakage of this wireless signals

 -Turning off the identifier broadcasting mechanism in the wireless routers

 -Checking whether the wireless devices are configured properly by the IT department
Your internet service provider may provide information about securing your home wireless
network. Check the customer support area of your provider’s web site or contact your provider’s
customer support group.

 -Checking the wireless devices for configuration or setup problems regularly