Plug & pray? A layered security system can help keep your wireless system safe.

• Author: Gaby, Bob
• Position: Technology

Have you gone wireless? It's not as complex as you may think. It's easy to install--simply plug and play--and cheap. A two-user wireless network can be purchased and installed for as little as $200. Not only will this impress your friends and family, you'll increase your productivity and gain access anywhere and anytime within your home or office.

On the flip side, what many wireless users don't realize is that going wireless can compromise their network's security.

The truth is, hacking into an improperly configured wireless system is a piece of cake ... like shooting fish in a barrel ... like taking candy from a baby. You get the point. Hackers roam the streets with notebook computers, wireless access cards, high-gain antennas and global positioning systems looking for unsecured access points. Known as "war driving," this new breed of hacker looks for free Internet access, access to confidential data and a new network to compromise.

A wireless network essentially provides the world a public entrance to the programs and data on your network--unless you have taken appropriate network security steps. We've all heard the saying that it's better to give than receive, but freely exposing your network resources to the outside world is going a bit too far.

You can significantly reduce your risk of being hacked by taking a few simple steps. Keep in mind, however, that no access point will ever be 100 percent secure. Rather, the steps you take hopefully will encourage would-be hackers to look for an easier, less secure network to compromise.

SEVEN STEPS TO SECURE COMPUTING IN A WIRELESS ENVIRONMENT

(1) Change the default administrator password for the access point. This should be obvious, but there are hundreds of access points for which no thought has ever been given to changing a password. Passwords should be at least 10 characters, include upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters, such as exclamation points or the pound symbol.

(2) Change the SSID. Each access point in a wireless network is programmed with a unique identifier known as a Service Set Identifier (SSID). It's also sometimes referred to as an Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID). Most access points come preconfigured with the manufacturer's name as the SSID. To access the network, client computers must present the correct SSID to the access point.

The SSID is a 32-character unique identifier attached to the header of packets sent over a wireless network (WLAN)...