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?
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Current thread:
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- <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)
