How Do I Decide What Security to Use?

How Do I Decide What Security to Use?

Three main factors are:

How secure you want to be. Obviously, you want to be secure, but using security takes a little extra time, and often reduces performance.
How you connect to other computers and networks. These other devices may have configured their own security. If so, then your security needs to match theirs.
What security features are available. Newer equipment, and more expensive equipment has more security features, and better performance when using security.

Why are There So Many Kinds of Security?

To replace older methods
To match your security needs
To protect against different kinds of attacks

Can I Start with Limited NETGEAR Security?

Yes, unless you connect to a computer or network that has security already in place. As you get comfortable with the equipment, increase your security precautions.

Where Do I Start?

Turn on WEP or WPA. For background, see What is WEP Encryption for Wireless Network? and What's New in Security: WPA. For implementation, see the product manuals.
Disable SSID broadcast. Anyone with a wireless network interface adapter can usually see a wireless network’s SSID unless this broadcast is disabled. If the name is not broadcast, you would have to know the SSID (which is case sensitive) and enter that name into your wireless adapter’s network settings before being able to connect to the wireless network. This is probably the most basic thing you can do to protect your wireless network, but it is not foolproof as most network protocol analyzers can find the SSID.
Change the default password on your wireless router (and your access point, if you have one).
Users on small networks should consider MAC address filtering (aka Access Control List). Network devices have unique addresses. If you tell your equipment to only communicate with known addresses, other devices cannot easily get to your network. These addresses use numbers 0-9 and letters A-F, usually separated by colons. For example: 01:23:45:67:89:aF (These aren't case-sensitive.)

What's Next?

It's important to have some kind of plan. There's no point in locking the front door when the bedroom window is open. See Guide to Internet Security. Even if you don't have time to change everything now, know the basics.

Comparing Features

Now that you know about essential security, consider whether you have special needs:

Are you playing online games, for example Playstation or Xbox or an MMOG?
Do you want to stop people on your network from getting to certain Websites?
Do you want a record of when people go to certain Websites?
Do you want one or more computers on your network accessible from the Internet?
Do you need full access to another computer across the Internet?
Do you think your network is under attack?

If the answer is yes to any of these, then read the chapters on security in your manuals.

Doc: N101476.asp Sept. 22, 2004