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Sure you delete your cookies and wipe the
Internet History clean from time to time. You ask your computer not to
remember passwords too, but you're still a target in two possible ways
that are as easy to fix as not touching hot things and putting on a seat
belt. Briefly, wireless networks
consist of three things: The signals, the broadcaster and the receiver.
Your Internet connection is the signal. Your modem feeds into the router
which acts as the broadcaster. The network adapter in your computer is
then the receiver. With those items, you can surf the Internet without
inhibitions; and with no passwords or hurdles for novice hackers to
stumble on, they can surf your computer without inhibition.
The open door, even for modest hackers,
is that broadcaster. It says, here I am! Your receiver is tuned in to
it. Other receivers can be tuned in to it from beyond your walls. Once
on the same router, they can query for other computers (that's YOU) on
that router. Your defense is simple but certainly not fool-proof for
real professional cyber evil-doers. When you set up your wireless
network, 9 times out of 10, you're asked to create a password so that
users may sign on it's often called a WEP.
This is not a busy-task to waste your
time. If a casual user with an infected computer shares your router,
your computer too will share in the joy of infection with zero hacking
required on the part of the casual user. They were just looking for a
free ride that you offered by NOT creating that WEP. You don't need a
hard word but definitely don't use an easy word that creates the
'key'...
The computers in the router and in your
lap will most likely do the rest. This is a one-time procedure UNLESS
your router is reset. To reset the router is to force it to forget
everything it knew. All your Internet Settings and magic high speed
Internet access numbers will have to be re-entered. A router is reset
internally or externally by pushing a button generally on the back. It's
labeled too.
Internal settings can be accessed by
entering the IP of the gateway which will soon be common knowledge. If
you've not placed a password there, anyone can change anything
especially that computer-savvy kid coming home from school who always
messes your stuff up as a thank you for room and board. Change the
default password to avoid the thanks. And in extreme cases, you can
physically HIDE the router to keep that reset button from being pushed
thereby defeating all your modest counter measures!
The strongest reason to employ any
simple safety here is to eliminate neighborly free-rides from machines
that may be infected. Like buckling up, ten seconds setting a router
with passwords can save you a lot of grief.
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