Set Proper Encryption for your Wireless Network

Wireless networks are wonderful, and the introduction of tablets and smartphones have made them a virtual necessity in almost every home.  However, they do have flaws, and they must be properly maintained in order to be secure.

With a wired network, your router will send internet traffic down the proper line, and only your computer will receive traffic intended for it.  With a wireless network, the router broadcasts data through the air, and any device with a wireless receiver can read the data as it is sent.  If someone is sitting in a car outside your house, they can use a laptop and free software to see everything your wireless router is sending.

While there is no reasonable way to shield someone from seeing your wireless data, you can use encryption to make the data mean nothing to a snooper.  In fact, you should not enter a password, social security number, or credit card number on a wireless network that is not using a secure method of encryption.  There are three methods of encryption available on most wireless routers:  WEP, WPA, and WPA2.

While WEP encryption is better than broadcasting everything without encryption, it is extremely insecure and should be avoided.  Security researchers have shown that it is possible to crack WEP encryption very quickly, sometimes in less than a minute.  If someone cracks your encryption, having encryption enabled is no better than having no encryption at all.

WPA encryption was developed to overcome WEP's shortfalls.  While it is not considered as secure as WPA2, it is still considered to be secure enough for the majority of traffic a home or small business will produce.  However, unless you have a router or devices that can only use WPA encryption, there is no reason not to use WPA2.

If you have a router or device that only supports WEP, then it is definitely time to upgrade that device.  Using WEP compromises the security of every device on your wireless network.  If they support WPA, then use that setting, but you should still make plans to upgrade.

If you don't know what type of encryption your router is using, click on the wireless icon in the bottom corner of your computer, and then hover over your network name.  This will bring up a few of your network's settings, including the encryption method.  If you want to change it, you will need to access your router's control panel.  The exact process will depend on your router.  Check your documentation or look at the manufacturer's website.