The Business of Broadband

Ahhh, nothing like a refreshing umbrellaed beverage while I’m lounging in my pool at my 9,000 sq ft. home checking my tweets on my iPad. When I awakened from my dream, I realized that I was asleep on my couch with my Dell laptop mini and a can of lukewarm Coca-Cola.

What’s the linking factor you ask?

Even though my dream was much more appealing, in reality, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy lounging in my imaginary pool or on my couch surfing the Internet if I didn’t have wireless connectivity. I can hardly remember the days of tripping over an Ethernet cable attached to my laptop, but with the modern conveniences of wireless and Wi-Fi connectivity, there are measures that must be taken to ensure that your customers’ wireless home networks are secure.

To Log In or Not To Log In

One of the first lines of defense in protecting a home wireless network is to change the default administrator username and password required to gain access to the wireless router or access point. Most wireless devices are accessible via web interface, and Google can be a hacker’s best friend in identifying the manufacturer’s default login credentials.

The login information should be immediately changed, but changing the password to fish123 will not benefit the wireless network’s security if  it’s common knowledge that the person owns a fish store. In other words, your customers will need to select  complex usernames and passwords to protect their wireless network. You may provide guidelines on setting usernames and passwords to allow your customers to understand the importance of selecting secure login information, or you can direct your customers to 24HourSupport.com.

Encryption is a Must

If your customers don’t particularly have a preference for acronyms, then now is the time to start throwing some out there like WEP and WPA especially if having a wireless home network is a necessity. WEP (wired equivalent privacy) and WPA (Wi-Fi protected access) are both standard encryption types available in wireless devices that allow information that is transmitted to be scrambled and not easily detected.

When enabled properly, they provide added security to a wireless home network, thus making a last minute shopping spree at Nordstrom’s very relaxing (even without the umbrellaed beverage). There have been debates over which encryption method is best suited for a home environment; however, whatever the preference, having some form of encryption is better than having none. Resources on the various types of encryption and how they are used can be helpful to your customers that seek the added security.

Don’t Broadcast Your SSID

The SSID is the network’s name and, as with the username and password for wireless devices, typically ships from the manufacturer with a generic SSID. Customizing the SSID can potentially ward off would-be hackers as this is a clear indication that someone is aware of the wireless device’s security features and may have taken measures to prevent access. It’s also a good idea to disable broadcast of the SSID. If a hacker roaming through your neighborhood can’t see your network SSID, then he will most likely roam on to someone else’s open ‘linksys’ network.

Educating your customers on wireless home network security practices does not have to be a difficult task, even when dealing with novice users. Your technical support team should be equipped to deal with the latest devices in wireless home networking and be able to guide your customers into effectively securing their networks. If resources and information are needed on wireless home security and other safe practices, please leave a comment, and we’ll be glad to provide assistance.