Wireless Surfers At Risk!!

Wireless networking has experienced an enormous increase in popularity over the last two years. The necessary hardware is widely available to consumers, it is very affordable, and relatively easy to install. Having a wireless connection gives the user the convenience of taking a computer anywhere in the house, and not have to worry about running wires through walls and under floorboards to make connections. It is a great technology that offers many benefits. However, a wireless network needs to be properly secured as it poses a number of extremely serious risks and dangers if left wide open, which many users are totally unaware of.

PC PAL™, the home computer support specialists, recently conducted a small survey of residential wireless networks in Central Solihull using a Digital Hotspotter (wireless network detector to you!). Of the 100 networks detected, a phenomenal 78 were found to be wide open! This leaves the owner of that network vulnerable to all kinds of nasties such as:

Hackers / criminals who can access any of the information on your computer and even steal the details of your passwords used for online shopping or banking!
Viruses – most of us have experienced the havoc these can wreak inside our beloved PC!
Data corruption – this could potentially render your PC totally useless and your precious data potentially lost forever.
Free-loaders – the name given to anyone who uses your network to surf the Internet free of charge. Your network can be transmitted as far away as 20m and so anyone with a wireless-enabled laptop can simply hop on and surf away! This can not only slow down your own surfing experience but render you liable for the information they are accessing – be that child pornography or criminal hacking activity. It is not uncommon for such criminals to free-load off other networks to avoid detection themselves.
How Do I secure My Network?

Leaving security off is not an option but getting it working can be a tricky. There are 4 or 5 types of security settings which need to be set independently. People need to read the manual which comes with their router very carefully. Examples of these settings include:

Default Passwords - believe it or not most wireless network routers come with their security settings switched off as default! People need to check their settings and if necessary enable the security.
Lock-down your router - all routers come with their own default password, usually ‘password’ and this needs to be changed straight away.
If you get stuck with your settings or would like a PC PAL™ HealthCheck to put your mind at rest call us on 0121 705 0010 or log on to www.pcpal.co.uk for full details of all of our services.

Safe Surfing!