Despite the numerous wireless networking successes that include the well-known flexibility, affordability and productivity gains, it has become apparent that this freedom comes at a price.
What is actually stopping your neighbour from accessing your network and going through personal files and documents? What stops them from invading your privacy in the comfort of your own home or privacy of your business?
The misconception is that you`re probably more at vulnerable as a result of your Internet connection then you are from your wireless LAN access. This couldn`t be further from the truth; intruders can fairly easily access your LAN over the air.
Fortunately there are several technologies you can consider to ensure the confidentiality of your data.
In the home environment you have a variety of simple security procedures like enabling WiFi Protected Access (WPA), which provides strong data protection by using encryption, strong access controls and user authentication.
By enabling WPA Personal you are protected from unauthorised network access by using a setup password. When WPA Enterprise is enabled for small businesses, network users are verified through a server. WPA utilises 128-bit encryption keys and dynamic session keys.
Another simple way is to secure your wireless LAN through MAC Address-based Access where the routers and access points have the ability to control the clients that use them. The MAC address is a unique number tied to the physical network adaptors so no two adaptors will ever have the same address.
The router or access point can be configured to accept only certain MAC addresses while filtering out the rest. MAC address access is like blocking a call on a cellphone: if any computer with an unknown MAC address tries to connect, the access point will not allow it.
For a large organisation this can be very time-consuming as well as inconvenient for its users; however, for enthusiasts who have their own wireless LAN at home, using a MAC filtering technique is a very effective method to stop unauthorised access.
Many other security technologies have been developed and are still being developed to improve the security of wireless networks.
It is an ongoing challenge; however, in the end it is up to user decide on the level of security that is needed. Undoubtedly it is difficult to implement a 100% secure system but implementing a high-level security solution is a good start.
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