Broadband Guide

Wireless broadband security essentials

Friday 18 May, 2012

By Duncan Heaney

Wireless internet allows you to connect to your home broadband no matter where you are in the house - you can even surf the web in your garden. However, you do need to take steps to secure your wireless network.

What if I don't protect my wireless network?

If your wireless network is left open, any passing user with a Wi-Fi-enabled device - such as a laptop or even just a smartphone - could simply access your broadband by parking up outside your house.

While this won’t cost you money, it could slow down your connection. An unsecured wireless network also leaves your connection wide open to hacking, allowing users to access your personal information, bank details and even see what web pages you’ve been visiting.

However, that shouldn’t put you off Wi-Fi. These risks are easily eliminated by encrypting data and setting a password. There are a number of different options available, most of which take just a moment to set up:

WEP - Wired Equivalent Privacy

WEP, or Wired Equivalent Privacy, encrypts data before it is sent over the internet, providing greater security and privacy. If you have set up WEP security on your wireless router, anyone wanting to gain access to your network will have to enter a password before they can get online.

However, WEP security is not the most secure form of wireless encryption available, and is relatively easy to crack. But if you have an older computer or modem, you might have to settle for WEP security rather than the latest encryption methods - which is still far better than leaving your wireless network completely unsecured.

WPA - Wi-Fi Protected Access

WPA and WPA2 are the latest methods of wireless broadband encryption and are far harder to crack than the older WEP codes. However, this type of encryption is not backward compatible with all types of hardware so check which type of encryption you should be using before you set up your security.

Wireless Key Generator

Use our free Wireless Key Generator to create unique, hard-to-crack encryption keys and keep your broadband safe and secure.

Simply press F5 or refresh the page to create a unique 64bit, 128bit or 256bit WEP key, or a 64bit, 128bit, 256bit and even 504bit WPA key for even better security.

Access control

To take your wireless security to the next level, you could even create an access list of the computers that are allowed to connect to your network. This means that as well as needing the password to access your wireless connection, each user’s PC would also need to be on the access list. Check your router’s manual for details of how to set up an access list.

Wireless isolation

Wireless isolation allows you to make your PC invisible on your network by hiding the name of your signal service set identifier (SSID), preventing other users from being able to access information on your computer, even if they have hacked into your network. Wireless isolation is built in to some routers but must be enabled by the user - check your router instructions for details on how to do this.

Secure your wireless internet and speed up your connection

Am I protected?

To find out whether or not your wireless broadband is secure, scan for available wireless networks on your computer. Your own network should appear in the list, which is often identified by a name and number - for example, SKY5678 - or a name you chose when you set up your wireless, such as My Broadband.

You should be able to tell which network you're connected to, but if you are unsure which one is yours, look for a label on your router or contact your ISP. If your network is secure, there will be a padlock next to its name on the screen. If there is no padlock, you need to take action.

Setting up wireless security

If your wireless network is not secured, then you will need to set up passwords to encrypt data before transmission and prevent outside users from accessing your broadband connection.

We recommend WPA and WPA2 over WEP encryption, as these are far more difficult to hack.

To change your WEP or WPA passkey, you need to go into your router settings using the IP address listed in your router’s manual.

This local address usually starts with 192.168 and is followed by either a 0 or 1 and a number between 1 and 255. Enter this number into your web browser to access your router settings and look for Wireless Options, and then Security Options.

When you have found the password option, simply type - or copy and paste - your new chosen access key into it. Once you have changed the access key, you will need to make sure you enter it on each machine on your network, so that you can connect wirelessly. You should also make a note of your passkey in case you want to connect or reconnect any devices at a later date.

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