Wireless networks are great, but you need to take some precautions to ensure the security of your network. In a series of posts we are going to look at the most important steps you can take to ensure the security of your WiFi network.

Wireless networks enhance Internet access

In a number of previous posts we have had a look at the equipment you might need to set up a WiFi wireless network in your own home. See Wireless Networking Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 if you are interested in a quick refresher. One of the key messages of these posts is that having a wireless network will generally change and certainly enhance the way the whole family can access and use the Internet.

Secure the network

As the network is wireless this means that you effectively have the potential to access the Internet from anywhere in the house, but this freedom does mean you have to take a few extra steps to secure your network. These steps are especially important when setting up a wireless router such as the Netgear 54mbps wireless ADSL firewall router for the first time. All manufacturers will provide web based tools and setup wizards which allow a user to administer their device and apply the following suggested steps.

Step 1 - Change the default administrator login

A very important first step is to change the initial default and very simple administrator user name and password that is provided by the manufacture (these defaults are all well known and documented on the Internet), this is so that only you can login to the administration tools of your WiFi router.

More to follow in the next post ..