Wireless Network Security Part1 <=>Wireless Network Security part2

Encrypting the email

Encrypting e-mail and files on your system can help keep them secure. You can use freely downloadable software called PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) to encrypt the files on your hard drive, or the e-mail messages you send. You can download PGP at www.pgpi.org

Like WEP, PGP requires a key that you create to encrypt your data. Unlike WEP, PGP is a two-key system requiring a public key and a private key. You have a key that you make public by posting on a web site, for instance, or e-mailing to someone. You also have a private key, which you do not distribute.

The public key is used to encrypt messages for you. You use your private key so that you-and only you-can decrypt your messages.

Viruses and Your Network

Viruses can spread quickly over a network, so your best defense is to install antivirus software on each computer on your network.

Vendors such as McAfee and Symantec offer inexpensive (less than $40) antivirus software that can help keep your computers free of viruses.

• Be wary of attachments from people you don’t know. If you don’t know the person, don’t open the attachment. Some viruses can start to open themselves, usually in the preview window of your e-mail program. You can turn off the preview feature of your mail program, or press the Esc key when asked if you want to open or save the file. Then carefully delete the attachment.
• Today’s viruses often come from someone you do know, who has accidentally opened a virus thinking it is a safe file. Make sure you know what the document is you’re opening, even if it is from a trusted source.
• Worse, some viruses can “spoof” addresses, making it appear to have been sent from an address, when in fact it has been sent from a completely different address than the one you see. This is often done when the virus searches through an infected user’s address book and picks an address at random to use as the sender’s address.

Update your definition list often, your software’s list of viruses that are currently in circulation. Active viruses are sometimes said to be “in the wild.” Most antivirus software has automatic updating features that will connect over the Internet and download a current definition list. Make sure to use these features and get a new definition list often. Updating your list every 1-2 weeks will likely be sufficient. If you find that a computer on your network is infected with a virus, check the Symantec and McAfee web sites for a downloadable software fix.

Shut down your Internet connection by turning off your modem, and get to work cleaning up your computers.

Common sense is your best defense. If everyone on your network knows to be careful with attachments, you should be looking good.

Summary

Wireless networking by its nature requires more security than a wired networking technology, such as Ethernet. You can use some security methods, such as using a router and firewall to keep unauthorized users from gaining access to your network from the Internet. You can also use WEP or the latest security standards WAP/WAP2 to encrypt data over your wireless network. If you use a wireless router (such as Linksys wireless router; D-Link wireless router, or Belkin wireless router) you can set up the router to only allow network adapters that you select to have access to your network. Finally, make sure each machine on your network has antivirus software installed, and be diligent in downloading up-to-date lists of circulating viruses, or your software will be of little use.