how do I secure my Wi-Fi network

[Qa]

I want to switch my network from cable to wireless. But
with all the talk of unauthorised people able to access
wireless networks to log on, I'm concerned as to how
secure wireless networking really is. Can wireless
networking be set in a way to prevent unauthorised access
to any of aspect of the network, including internet and
most of all file sharing? How do I go about it? Any ideas
of good, simple websites? Thanks

 

[Jerry]

Try searching Google.

 

[Philip Herlihy]

The older standard, 802.11b (11Mb/s) has an encryption scheme called WEP,
which uses keys of either 64bit or 128bit (stronger). WEP is always off by
default, and most folk don't turn it off, which is why some of them get
hacked. WEP isn't proof against a highly skilled, determined and patient
hacker if you send a lot of data over your links without rotating the keys
now and then, but such people won't be interested in investing that much
time and effort in the likes of you and me unless we have something they
really want. Even then, WEP is enough of a barrier that they would be
likely to consider getting access by some other method, including physical
access to a machine. So, unless you have something valuable to hide, turn
on WEP and you'll be way beyond the "low-hanging-fruit" category. Rotate
the keys every month (depends on data volumes, so may be more often) and
you'll be very difficult to hack. (Most configurations allow for the
storage of four keys which you can then select one by one).

The later standard, 802.11g, supports something called WPA, which is
designed to be much harder to crack, even by experts. I bought a set of kit
which supports it (US Robotics) so that I'd be familiar with it in case a
paranoid customer demanded it, but I don't use it myself as I want to be
able to connect up my PDA, which is 802.11b.

I'd advise buying 802.11g kit anyway, as it has higher bandwidth (54Mb/s)
and better range. Of course, if you're really paranoid, range might not be
an advantage! The older kit (802.11b, and that's what it'll be if it
doesn't specify) is getting very cheap now.

 

[Sooner Al]

You might be interested in this article by Barb Bowman, MS-MVP...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_03july28.mspx

--
Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the mutual benefit of all of us...
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