I have been doing quite a few router reworks. I’ve got a wireless G router from my DSL provider and Have had problems with someone in my neighborhood trying to get onto my router. They were trying everything. I wanted to give you some suggestions that would help you keep your secure and have some piece of mind!!
- Turn off Signal Identification (What your router name is)– By turning of the signal so no one can see the broadcast name will greatly make it harder for anyone to get onto your router.
- Change your router identification – Creating a unique router identification will also make it harder for anyone to guess router identification. Keep the identification something that is unidentifiable to the location where you live.
- USE WPA and not WEP – WEP has been cracked so if at all possible use WPA encryption and that too will make it harder for an unwanted guest.
- Use a Random Password Generator (Roboform an generate secure random passwords) [“Use one these promo codes to get it cheaper”] – By using a random password you prevent hackers from guessing the Network password of your WPA key.
- Change your Admin name account, if you can. – Some Admin accounts can be change to something else. The default admin is the most widely used one. Change it to something ONLY you will know. You will increase your security also that way.
- Change the default password and Use the Random Password Generator (Roboform) [“Use one these promo codes to get it cheaper”]– Same as tip 4 but the is a must every time I get a new router or have to reset my router.
- If your not expecting to have a lot of laptops on the network turn on Media Access Control filter – Preventing unauthorized computers from connecting to the wireless router helps you lock down the router!!
- Update your BIOS – If you have a flash bios on the router update that. There may be know vulnerabilities of old routers that hackers can use to gain access.
- Turn Router Firewall to Medium – They say having a hardware firewall is harder for any viruses and Trojans to get in or out. It also helps to prevent hackers from gaining access to the router.
- Back up your configuration – Some routers let you back up your current configurations in case you need to restore the configuration if you have to reset the router. This will make it easier to restore the router to your preferred specifications.
This isn’t all you need to do but this will get your going on the right track. If you want to check out the routers firewall. Go to GRC Shields up and do a battery of tests on y our connection. The more prepared you are the harder it is for a hacker/unwanted guests to get on your network. If you have any suggestions that you want to throw my way just post a comment or go to my About me page and email me!!
The one thing I don’t do is turn off the broadcast – it really does nothing to prevent hackers from try to hack into your network. Hackers use tools that can find the non-broadcasted wireless networks.
The main things someone needs to concern themselves with, as you mentioned in your post, is change the admin password, and ID if applicable, and setup WPA/WPA2 encryption instead of WEP.
You have put together a good list.
Your So Right about the hackers, but I tell people about turning off the broadcast. For several reasons.
(1) It can prove that if you ever do find the person using your network did so by hacking.
(2) Keeps the non-technical neighbors from trying to snoop and possibly taking up valuable wireless resources.
(3) Keeps the non-technical Snoopers from trying to snoop.
Yes the High tech snoopers will know how to do this but that is because they want to, they can even crap WEP or even WPA if they really wanted to. So no amount of security will prevent that, it is just a way to not give the non-technical snoopers/neighbors from trying to hack into your system. If you get my Drift. I will say people should also consider changing there ID of the broadcast because do you really want to let people know your name or Number, or even your address. Just some food for thoughts on this!!