How to Set Up Wireless Security
Wireless network technology allows you to create a computer network without using Ethernet cables. A wireless network device such as a wireless router, bridge, access point or switch provides access to computers and to the Internet just as a wired network device does but with increased flexibility. Wireless networks are not limited by the length of Ethernet cabling. The ease-of-access benefit of wireless networking also increases the ease with which unauthorized users can access your network. You can follow a structured procedure, however, to set up wireless security for your network.
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Instructions
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Change the default password on your wireless network device. Devices ship with a default user name and password and these values are widely known. Set up a new user name and password for your network device according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Select a security-optimized location for your wireless network device. For example, place your wireless device near the center of your home so that those inside the house can receive the broadcast but those outside cannot.
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Turn off the SSID broadcast. Wireless network devices broadcast an identifying name, referred to as an SSID, so that users can locate and connect to the wireless network. If the device does not broadcast its SSID, the wireless network is harder to find. Configure your wireless network device not to broadcast the SSID, according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Select and activate encryption. Encryption helps to prevent unauthorized users from reading the data being broadcast between your network device and the computers connected to it. Configure your network device for WPA encryption according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Restrict device access. A MAC address is a unique identifier associated with wireless networking devices such as computers, printers and cameras. Specify the MAC address of devices that you want to permit to connect to your network device in the device's firmware according to the manufacturer's instructions. Disallow connections from MAC addresses that you have not manually listed.
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Activate firewalls. If your wireless network device includes a hardware or software firewall, enable it according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Close open ports. Wireless client devices communicate with your wireless network device through communication channels referred to as ports, each having an assigned number. Close unused ports on your wireless device according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Secure client devices. Assign a password to user accounts for any computers that you allow to connect to your wireless network.
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