81. Configure Remote Management
When you first installed and configured the WiFi router, it was necessary to attach a computer with a "wired" network card directly to the router. The configuration of the router was then handled from the directly attached computer. Using a computer that is "wired" to the router as the configuration console for the router actually makes good sense in terms of security because only the directly attached computer can be used to access the router's configuration, even if the router administrator's password becomes known by someone other than the administrator. However, sometimes you have to take a look at security practices and determine whether a particular practice has become an inconvenience rather than a security asset. You can configure your router for remote access, meaning that the router can be accessed by any computer or the Internet. You can choose to specify the IP address of the computer or computers that can access the router's configuration page remotely, or you can allow all computers to access the router's configuration. Of course, anyone attempting to log on to the router must provide the login name and the correct password. The router is actually accessed remotely by the "real" IP address that the router is provided by your Internet service provider (the router gets the IP address automatically when it's connected to the DSL router or cable modem). The complete IP address and the port number extension that must be typed into a web browser for access to the router over the Internet is actually provided on the configuration page where you set up remote access. The port number 8080 must be included with the IP address to make the connection to the router. So, if the IP address of the router is 192.168.1.1, I would type 192.168.1.1:8080 in my browser address box. I would then enter the login name and the password to access the router's configuration. Although remote access certainly can be useful in terms of sitting down at any computer and quickly configuring the router, it also opens up the router to another possible avenue of attack. If hackers "hijack" the router's configuration, they could change the password, allow "outlaw" computers to access your network, and turn off the WiFi radio signal feature completely, shutting down your network. So, you must decide whether remote access is a good thing or not. You certainly are not required to set up remote access if you think it will turn out to be more of a problem than a convenience. If you decide that the conveniences of accessing your router remotely outweigh the security concerns, follow these steps to configure your router for remote management: Configure Remote Management
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