Netgear WGM124 User Manual download pdf (Page 22)

NETGEAR Wireless Router Setup Manual

4-2 Optimizing Wireless Connectivity and Security

December 2004

Implement 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 wireless 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 WGM124. 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 will block all but the most determined

eavesdropper.

• WPA-PSK. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) data encryption provides strong data security.

WPA-PSK will block eavesdropping. Because this is a new standard, wireless device driver

and software availability may be limited.

• Turn Off the Wired LAN. If you disable the wireless LAN, wireless devices cannot

communicate with the router at all. You might choose to turn off the wireless the LAN when

you are away and the others in the household all use wired connections.

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.

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Netgear WGM124 User Manual Page 22