Netgear WNR834M User Manual download pdf (Page 22)

NETGEAR RangeMax™ NEXT Wireless Router WNR834M Reference Manual

3-2 Wireless Configuration

v1.3, May 2006

Implementing Appropriate Wireless Security

Unlike wired network data, your wireless data transmissions can be received well beyond your

walls by anyone with a compatible adapter. For this reason, use the security features of your

wireless equipment. The WNR834M router provides highly effective security features which are

covered in detail in this chapter. Deploy the security features appropriate to your needs.

There are several ways you can enhance the security of your wireless network.

• Restrict Access Based on MAC address. You can restrict access to only trusted computers so

that unknown computers cannot wirelessly connect to the WNR834M. MAC address filtering

adds an obstacle against unwanted access to your network, but the data broadcast over the

wireless link is fully exposed.

• Turn Off the Broadcast of the Wireless Network Name SSID. If you disable broadcast of

the SSID, only devices that have the correct SSID can connect. This nullifies the wireless

network ‘discovery’ feature of some products such as Windows XP, but the data is still fully

exposed to a determined snoop using specialized test equipment like wireless sniffers.

• WEP. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) data encryption provides data security. WEP Shared

Key authentication and WEP data encryption block all but the most determined eavesdropper.

Note: Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11b/g wireless networks at ranges of up

to 300 feet. Such distances can allow for others outside of your immediate area to

access your network.

Figure 3-1

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Netgear WNR834M User Manual Page 22