Protect Your Wireless Network

[Bora Bora]

hi,
Can anyone tell me how i can secure my wireless internet so that nobody else can feed of my internet some password protection that secure the connection from unauthourised access.
Can anyone offer any advice?

[SpearMan]

Limited signal coverage:

Limit the strength of your wireless network so it cannot be detected outside the bounds of your home or office.

Turn off SSID broadcasting:

A Service Set IDentifier (SSID) is a code attached to packets (bits of information) on a wireless network that is used to identify each packet as part of that network. When SSID broadcasting is enabled on a wireless network, this network can be identified by all wireless clients within range. Conversely when SSID broadcasting is disabled, the wireless network is not visible (to casual users) unless this code is entered in advance into the client’s network setting.

WPA/WEP encryption:

Encrypted communication will protect confidential information from being disclosed. If the traffic over the wireless network is encrypted, an attacker must decrypt the password before retrieving information transmitted over the network. There are two encryption schemes available: Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). In practice, only one of them can be used at a time. Regular changing of the encryption key may also help to protect the network. Whenever possible, WPA should be used as WEP can be decrypted by hackers equipped with special software.

[Itronix]

Secure your wireless router or access point administration interface :
Almost all routers and access points have an administrator password that's needed to log into the device and modify any configuration settings. Most devices use a weak default password like "password" or the manufacturer's name, and some don't have a default password at all. As soon as you set up a new WLAN router or access point, your first step should be to change the default password to something else. You may not use this password very often, so be sure to write it down in a safe place so you can refer to it if needed. Without it, the only way to access the router or access point may be to reset it to factory default settings which will wipe away any configuration changes you've made.


Reduce your WLAN transmitter power:
You won't find this feature on all wireless routers and access points, but some allow you lower the power of your WLAN transmitter and thus reduce the range of the signal. Although it's usually impossible to fine-tune a signal so precisely that it won't leak outside your home or business, with some trial-and-error you can often limit how far outside your premises the signal reaches, minimizing the opportunity for outsiders to access your WLAN.

[ChrisUlrich]

when you create a wireless internet connection, your asked if you want to enable a sercure wireless connection, then you can either make up your own, or have it make one for you. either way, click on your wireless connection icon and check for wireless connections in the area. when yours appears, it will tell you if it is a secure connection or not.