3 Ways You Can Stop Hackers From the Start
Identity theft, stolen bank information, and credit card fraud can all be traced back to one reason in several instances - inadequate wireless security. Nowadays, most homes use wireless Wi-Fi for everything from laptops to iPads, smart phones to GPS's.
If you don't take careful precautions to ensure the security of your wireless connections, you could leave yourself open to hostile hacker, spam, and virus programs that could steal your information, money, and security. Here's how to stop them:
1. Use Encryption
Encryption has proven to be one the most effective methods of securing the privacy of your wireless networks. Basically, encryption scrambles all information you send and receive over the internet into a unique code only accessible to you, rendering hacking and infiltration nearly impossible by outside sources.
Many wireless routers now come with encryption turned off, so it's up to you to turn it on. Using Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) has proven to be the most effective form of encryption. Don't assume your computer isn't a target for illegal and criminal programs - it is.
2. Limit Who Can Access Your Network
Another great step you can use to ensure your wireless security is creating a list of exactly who can use your network. Every system able to access wireless internet has a Media Access Control(MAC) address; configuring your wireless connection to only allow certain MAC's access to the wireless connection adds another solid step to preventing unauthorized usage.
However, some hacker systems can "mimic" a specific MAC, so it's wise to have more security layers on top of this. Each security wall you create makes it that much more difficult for would-be hackers to overcome and infiltrate.
3. Personalize Security Settings
Many security companies like ADT create routers, computers, and wireless systems with pre-determined passwords and default names for security settings, which aren't difficult to research for hacker programs.
Changing your computer's default password, your router's pre-set security settings, and adding basic anti-virus/anti-spyware firewalls to your system can greatly decrease chances of hostile programs infiltrating your computer.
Maintaining secure Wi-Fi usage, browsing the internet securely, and setting up strong wireless security are all in within your reach. At the bottom line, using common sense and wise internet usage is the best form of wireless security available.
Be aware that public Wi-Fi isn't always secure, be sure to watch and safeguard all important financial/personal information accessible on your device, and remember - it's only as safe as you make it.
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