One Step Ahead: Almanac Security Tips - 2013

Table of Contents (view all)

Spring Cleaning Your Office? Know What to Do with E-Waste
Keep Your Identity Safe When Filing Taxes This Year
Why use Penn+Box when Storing Data in the Cloud
Mobile Device Security - 3 Recommendations for Cloud Users (Hint: That's You!)
Be Aware of QR Code Risks
It’s Data Privacy Month: Update Your Facebook Privacy Settings and More
How Are You Celebrating Data Privacy Month?
Stay Secure while Working on Public Wi-Fi Networks
Protecting Your Finances During This Year's Holiday Shopping Season
Cloud and You
Security and Privacy Online Training & Tools
October: Free Secure Disposal of Paper and Electronics at Employee Resource Fair; NCSAM
Student Privacy - What Do I Need To Know? A FERPA Reminder
Top 10 Tips for Securing Your Smartphone or Tablet
Working Off Campus? Some Tips to Consider

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Tagged with security , home computing , wireless

Tuesday, April 3, 2007 - Almanac Vol. 53, No. 28

Securing your home wireless network

The affordability and ease of use of basic wireless access points (WAPs) has prompted many Penn users to set up "hot spots" at home. If you choose to set up your own wireless network, be aware of the following security issues and guidelines to prevent others from accessing your network and your data.

• Change the default passwords on all WAPs you use on your wireless network to strong passwords of your own choosing. This prevents intruders from taking control of your network by using published lists of manufacturers’ default account names and passwords or by simply guessing frequently used ones. Being in control of your own network is just as important as being in control of your own computer.
• Change the default  SSID, or "name" of each WAP to a unique name of your own  choosing.
• Disable  broadcasting of your network name (SSID) to make your network less visible  to unauthorized users.
• Enable and require the strongest encryption that your WAPs offer in order to encrypt traffic traveling across your wireless network. In many cases this will be 128-bit Wireless Encryption Protocol (WEP), but many units now offer a superior alternative, Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).
• Regularly check  for, and install, updated versions of the firmware for your WAPs and  software drivers for your wireless Ethernet adapters.
• Enable and require  MAC (Media Access Control) address filtering on each WAP. This will let you specify which individual computers may access the WAP, identified by  the unique MAC addresses associated with their Ethernet adapters.

For more information about securing home wireless networks, read the Guide to Information Security at www.upenn.edu/computing/security/brochure/brochure_current.html.