How Secure is a Wireless Network?

Wireless introduces an extra security risk along with the convenience of moving about freely. The risk is due to your data being broadcast through the air. Saavy computer users that come close to your wireless antenna can tap in — just as if they had physically tapped a computer cable.

Because of the extra risk, it is very important to use security on wireless networks.

If you have no security it is easy for your neighbors to use your Internet connection for free. (This is known as piggy-backing.) With a little more knowledge, they might be able to access your files or destroy your computers.

WPA is very secure, and is available for most current NETGEAR equipment. There's a simple version for home users, and a more complicated version for network administrators with many computers. How Does the New WPA Security Compare to WEP? has a good overview.

Guide to Internet Security describes 17 things you can do — many quite simple — to make your computers far more secure than the typical network.

Doc: N100682.asp Aug. 26, 2005