How to Create a Secure Internet Connection
[ad_1]
When you’re out in public looking for WiFi service, an unsecured connection is what you need. However, in your home or business, it’s imperative that you create a secure Internet connection to ensure that the activities you perform online are private.
Risks of Unsecured Network
A lack of security leaves you vulnerable many potential risks. If other people can gain access to your network, they may utilize your bandwidth or download allowances. If this occurs, you may incur additional usage fees as you attempt to use your own system for your purposes.
It’s also common for people to place a number of computers onto a home system, enabling the transfer and sharing of information back and forth between internal systems. Someone jumping onto your system would also have access to this data. Email messages, data stored on computers, and browsing history could be accessible to a hacker infiltrating your system.
Router Tips
Data transmits continually between your computer, devices, and router. To ensure that you have a secure Internet connection and that this data remains private, you must encrypt the router. You have several encryption options. Older and less secure encryption is called wireless encryption protocol (WEP). Choosing this option is better than nothing; however, there are better options. Instead of WEP, choose wireless protected access (WPA or WPA2) for more secure connectivity. After choosing the encryption, set a strong password that combines both numbers and letters. While special characters can be effective for setting strong passwords, many routers do not support them. Choose the maximum length possible for your password to guarantee optimal safety.
Create a new name for your network. Never use the default network name that came preinstalled on your router. You will also need to create another password for your router. Choose a different combination of numbers and letters for the router password.
Additional Safety Measures
* Restrict access to your home structure so that only specific devices and computers can log on to the network. By doing this, other users who are not on your list will not be able to access the system. Every device or computer that connects to the Internet has a network adaptor. Every network adaptor has an identifying number called a media access control (MAC) address. Add the MAC addresses of every device that should have access to your system into the software that accompanies your router. If you cannot determine the MAC addresses, the router may provide them for you when you connect a device or a computer for the first time. Copy the number and enter it into the software to enable future connections.
* It’s also effective to turn off your wireless connection overnight or any other time when you are not using it.
* Use only web browsers that are up to date with latest settings, firewalls, and virus protection to protect your browsing activity.
Once you have set up a secure Internet connection, you can feel confident in your network’s stability and safety. Don’t forget to keep your computer and device operating systems up to date, also, for optimal safety.
[ad_2]
Source by Andrew Stratton
