Wireless Security Checklist

Wireless networks are extremely beneficial, but you must take some simple steps to protect them. Without taking the steps in this chapter, it is the equivalent of locking the front door and leaving all windows and back doors unlocked and standing open. It is pretty easy (and so critical) to add appropriate security. Here's a quick checklist to refer to:

• Change the password on the wireless router from the default (for example, admin).
  
  
• Change the SSID from the default (for example, linksys) to a random series of lowercase letters, uppercase letters, and numbers.
  
  
• Disable SSID broadcast on the wireless router.
  
  
• Enable WEP or WPA encryption on the wireless router and all wireless network adapters. Use the strongest encryption level that all devices support.
  
  
• Use a WEP or WPA passphrase that is a random series of lowercase letters, uppercase letters, and numbers.
  
  
• Disable ad-hoc wireless networking on all network adapters (applies to Windows XP).
  
  
• Disable auto-connection to nonpreferred networks on all wireless network adapters.