Tips to keep your wi-fi secure and stop unauthorized access of your wireless network

In many countries, now it is illegal to use and provide free wi-fi network with out having the detailed information of the user. There had been cases that your wifi network might be involved in some unlawful act without your knowledge. Now with the new wi-fi 802.11n, one can access your network up to 750 meters in range.

Providing free wireless may:

• Increase your Internet bill if you exceed the data limit.
• Slow down your internet speed.
• involve you (without your knowledge) to some illegal activity.
• Hack you PC and data.

It is important to make your wi-fi system secure, following are the tips:

• Set password to access your network,
• Turn on WPA/WEP encryption. This ensures that data pacjets between you PC/laptop and an access point is not readable.
• If possible set PEAP authentication
  
• Change default admin passwords for access points.
• Enable MAC address filter. Each wireless device (wi-fi or bluetooth) has a unique MAC address (for eg 00-00-00-00-00-00), by giving access to selected MAC address, you can stop the unauthorized access of your wireless network.
• Disable the SSID broadcast. You will know that there is a network, but other can't find it..
• If possible, turn off the access point, if you are not using the internet.
• Weekly monitor usage of the access point and check if there is unauthorized access.

Immediately report the cyber police if you find that something is wrong, it might be possible that your wireless might be used for something which is against law, like drug selling, hacking other PCs, web servers or might be sending mails for terrorist activities.