How can I make my wireless network more secure?

 

Select the most secure wireless security method and encryption type.

For your wireless security settings, it is recommended that you select the WPA2 and WPA (PSK) wireless security method using TKIP and AES encryption for the most secure wireless network.

To see what wireless security settings you have applied on your router, start a Web browser. In the location or address line of your Web browser, type 192.168.2.1 and log in using the user name and password for the router. Your wireless security settings are displayed under Security on the Status page.

 

Restrict devices that are allowed to connect to the router.

Why?

Restricting your wireless network to only specified devices means that any other wireless devices within range of your network will not be allowed to connect, even if they crack your user name and password. This protects the computers on your network, and also assures that all the bandwidth on your network is available to your devices.

How?

Use MAC Address filtering to restrict the devices that can connect to your wireless network. The Media Access Control address (MAC address), is a unique identifier that is assigned to computer hardware (desktops, laptops, routers, gaming consoles, etc.). Your router can use this identifier to allow only specific devices, or even deny a specific device if you have noticed another user connected to your wireless network.

 

Password Security

To protect your wireless network, use the following rules for guidelines on creating a strong password:

  1. The Wireless Ndx Router lets you set a password up to 15 characters long. The most secure passwords are usually between 8 and 15 characters long.

  2. The router will allow you to enter a space or other punctuation in your password.

  3. Use a mixture of upper (A through Z) and lower (a through z) case letters.

  4. Adding numbers 0 through 9 to a password increases security.

  5. Use ASCII symbols, such as ~ ! @ # $ % & ^ *, etc, to further increase the security of your password.

 

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