October 2008 – The term Wireless Broadband is oftentimes confused with Mobile Broadband. While the later is an internet connection that runs through the mobile phone networks, thus being fully mobile, the former is simply a standard fixed line broadband connection with a wireless router. One of the main issues with Wireless Broadband in the home (WiFi) is security. Broadband gurus Broadbandchoices.co.uk can help consumers understand the risks, and thus protect themselves.
The Broadbandchoices.co.uk website is actually a comparison site, designed to help consumers decide what the best broadband deal is for them. Unlike some comparison sites, Broadbandchoices offer their readers a wealth of information about all things broadband.
One of the subjects they cover is:
Wireless Broadband Security.
According to Broadbandchoices, one of the most important things you can do to secure your WiFi network (and so your wireless broadband) is to enable either WEP, or WPA encryption.
WEP uses either 64bit, or 128bit encryption. This used to be the standard for WiFi encryption, but these days WEP is considered as an easy target for WiFi hackers.
WPA-PSK is said to offer a much more secure system, and is also reported to work with older routers. However, WPA2-AES encryption now offers the most secure encryption, but is less compatible with many older routers.
Double bolting the Wireless Broadband Door.
The next step would be to enable wireless isolation. This means setting your WiFi router to NOT broadcast the ‘SSID’ (Wireless network name)
This method is thought to help protect against the use of most WiFi scanning programs, such as netstumbler.
Maximum Wireless Broadband Security.
To make your wireless broadband connection even more secure, you could consider setting up MAC address filtering. MAC filtering allows you to set exactly which Radio Transmitters can connect to your wireless network. If you choose this option, you will have to log on to your router and add the MAC address of any further laptops/PCs that you wish to connect to your network.
It is advisable to have a spare USB wireless device allowed into the network, that you keep locked away in a secure location, just in case your existing WiFi device breaks! – This saves you the hassle of being locked out of your own network!
For more information on this subject, or to compare broadband packages visit Broadbandchoices.co.uk.
Suite 216
42 triangle west
Bristol
Bs8 1es
website: www.broadbandchoices.co.uk
