If someone has access to your computer, there are many ugly things they can do. There are the obvious, like letting someone get your tax returns, i.e., your social security number, watching what you are doing, checking out your checking account, and taking personal items off of your computer. There are other villainous things someone using your wi-fi can do. Like the Buffalo, NY man reported on here, http://bit.ly/kaMaWm, your life could be temporarily or permanently destroyed.
If your wireless network in your home isn’t password protected and set with WPA security you run a risk of having someone, “borrow” your internet connection and/or your computer. Some have been caught sitting in the street or in some cases in the woods behind houses stealing networking.
If you have not secured your wireless router it is not very hard. If you have never done it before make sure you have your instruction manual with you; however, you may not need it.
Additionally, you may lose your wireless connection during this process. So, print these instructions before you start and keep them handy.
These are generic instructions, but with most modern routers all you do is open your browser. Then type in your router’s IP address. Oh nooooo! That sounded scary but it is not that bad. Just type in http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 into your address bar and press the enter key. One of those will most always work to log you into your router’s control screen. If they don’t work check your router’s manual or go to the manufacturer’s web site. There is a way to find out manually too; but we won’t go there today.
Next, you will need to enter your router’s username and password. If you don’t know it, check your manual. Every router has a default username and password. If may be admin or administrator for the username and nothing for the password, which is how others can easily log into your system.
First, change your password. This is usually found under a Basic setting area. If you don’t see it there look around, you can click on anything you see. Just do not make changes unless you know what it will affect.
The Wireless settings are what you need to find. Look for the network name or SSID. Here you need to change your network name from the default. Name your network whatever you like. Make it something easy for you to remember.
There will also be an encryption setting somewhere in this area. Make sure you enable that option. You should choose the WPA-PSK or WPA2 which are the same thing but named differently in different routers.
Next week we will finish this up so don’t make any changes yet if you are following these directions.
