How do I Secure My Wireless Network

WPA/WPA2 in Win98? Uh-huh...

vsharma72 wrote:
How do I Secure My Wireless Network
The question, how do I secure my wireless network, needs to be answered
in a stepwise manner. What I mean to say is that, before answering how
to secure wireless network, we need to understand the reason, as to why
should a wireless network be secured? Let's take a look at the various
reasons, which make securing a wireless network of utmost importance.

Why do I Need a Secure Wireless Network?
You need a secure wireless network, because you don't want some unknown
person to break into your computer system and extract important
information. Wireless networking is indeed very susceptible to computer
hacking. Yes, an open wireless network is as good as inviting
unauthorized people to join your network and sharing your resources. It
allows people an unauthorized access to all the infrastructure, that you
have connected to your system. For example, if you have connected a
network printer, then the person who has connected to your wireless
network in an unauthorized manner, gets an access to the same. He can
also access the hard disk backup system, that you have designed for the
network. Even worse, the person can get a full access to the Internet
access, that you are using in the network. How serious can this problem
become? It means that an unknown person can access any number of
unauthorized sites and download any unauthorized and illegal stuff,
send objectionable mails and what else. I hope, this gives you a
clearer understanding and an explanation as to why do we need to set up
secure wireless network?

How do I Secure My Wireless Network?
Well, the two basic ways of securing the wireless network, are the WEP
(Wireless Encryption Protocol) key and the WPA (Wireless Protected
Access) key. First of all, let us take a look at the simplest way to
set up secure wireless network. To do so, you have to login into the
router base station. The process is simple in most of the cases, by
just typing in the IP address 192.168.1.1 at the address space of your
web browser. On doing so, you will get a window displayed on the web
browser, with the wireless security option. Click on the wireless
security feature and select WEP or WPA key. Now, you can set a password
out here. Once you enter the password or pass phrase, it automatically
generates the hexadecimal keys, which can be used for logging into the
network.

However, it is always advisable that you use the WPA key. WPA and WPA2
protocols are far more secure than the WEP. They have a way of
dynamically changing the generated keys, which makes hacking the WPA
keys nearly impossible. However, if you are using an old router, this
option may not be available to you. In such cases, you can use 128 bit
WEP keys. Always use a strong and long password for encryption
purposes. If the process of logging into your router setup does not
work, then simply connect the router using a USB connector to your
computer. On doing so, you can have access to the same options.

When you want to set up secure wireless networks in Windows XP, you can
simply do so during the wireless network setting up procedure. When you
give the name of your wireless network or SSID in the 'Wireless Network
Setup Wizard' you can simply specify that you want a network key and you
can also check that you want a WAP key instead of a WEP key. In the next
dialog box you can type in the WAP key and select the option for storing
the option in a USB flash drive. The wireless network connection wizard
will then prompt you to enter the flash drive. Once you plug in the
flash drive, all the wireless network security options will be written
onto your USB flash drive. If you are using a laptop computer with
Windows XP installed in it, you can simply plug in the USB flash drive
at the USB port. You will be prompted to install the network settings
into your computer and you have to simply press OK. In case of a
desktop and router configuration, switch on your router and plug in the
USB flash drive. It will take approximately 40 seconds, and your secured
wireless network will be setup.

Another way of securing a wireless network is by the use of VPN(Virtual
Private Network). There are various companies that provide this service.
Using a VPN, means allowing your encrypted data to flow through secured
tunnels, provided by the service providers. There are various VPN
service providers and you can connect with any of them to get a secured
wireless network.

The processes mentioned above are the easiest and simplest way to
answer the question, how to secure wireless network. Many of us do not
take these simple necessary steps. We feel that setting up a firewall
is enough to secure our wireless network connection. But the answer is
no. Setting up a firewall can protect your computer from being
infiltrated, but it has no restriction on someone who is trying to
access your wireless network. So, follow these simple steps and enjoy a
secured wireless network.

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
WPA/WPA2 in Win98? Uh-huh...

Not without a supplicant/driver and devices that support it....

Apparently, 9X got another 2K+ general posting... presumable it also
appeared there....


vsharma72 wrote:
How do I Secure My Wireless Network
The question, how do I secure my wireless network, needs to be answered
in a stepwise manner. What I mean to say is that, before answering how
to secure wireless network, we need to understand the reason, as to why
should a wireless network be secured? Let's take a look at the various
reasons, which make securing a wireless network of utmost importance.

Why do I Need a Secure Wireless Network?
You need a secure wireless network, because you don't want some unknown
person to break into your computer system and extract important
information. Wireless networking is indeed very susceptible to computer
hacking. Yes, an open wireless network is as good as inviting
unauthorized people to join your network and sharing your resources. It
allows people an unauthorized access to all the infrastructure, that you
have connected to your system. For example, if you have connected a
network printer, then the person who has connected to your wireless
network in an unauthorized manner, gets an access to the same. He can
also access the hard disk backup system, that you have designed for the
network. Even worse, the person can get a full access to the Internet
access, that you are using in the network. How serious can this problem
become? It means that an unknown person can access any number of
unauthorized sites and download any unauthorized and illegal stuff,
send objectionable mails and what else. I hope, this gives you a
clearer understanding and an explanation as to why do we need to set up
secure wireless network?

How do I Secure My Wireless Network?
Well, the two basic ways of securing the wireless network, are the WEP
(Wireless Encryption Protocol) key and the WPA (Wireless Protected
Access) key. First of all, let us take a look at the simplest way to
set up secure wireless network. To do so, you have to login into the
router base station. The process is simple in most of the cases, by
just typing in the IP address 192.168.1.1 at the address space of your
web browser. On doing so, you will get a window displayed on the web
browser, with the wireless security option. Click on the wireless
security feature and select WEP or WPA key. Now, you can set a password
out here. Once you enter the password or pass phrase, it automatically
generates the hexadecimal keys, which can be used for logging into the
network.

However, it is always advisable that you use the WPA key. WPA and WPA2
protocols are far more secure than the WEP. They have a way of
dynamically changing the generated keys, which makes hacking the WPA
keys nearly impossible. However, if you are using an old router, this
option may not be available to you. In such cases, you can use 128 bit
WEP keys. Always use a strong and long password for encryption
purposes. If the process of logging into your router setup does not
work, then simply connect the router using a USB connector to your
computer. On doing so, you can have access to the same options.

--
MEB
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