Important Information for
Wireless Products
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Linksys wants to make wireless networking as safe and easy for you
as possible. So, please keep the following points in mind whenever
setting up or using your wireless network. |
1. Performance.
The actual
performance of your wireless network depends on a number of
factors, including: |
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In an Infrastructure environment, your distance from the access
point. As you get farther away, the transmission speed will
decrease.
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Structural interference. The shape of your building or
structure, the type of construction, and the building materials
used may have an adverse impact on signal quality and speed.
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The placement and orientation of the wireless devices.
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2. Interference.
Any device
operating in the 2.4 GHz spectrum may cause network interference
with a 802.11b wireless device. Some devices that may prove
troublesome include 2.4 GHz cordless phones, microwave ovens,
adjacent public hotspots, and neighboring 802.11b wireless LANs. |
3. Security.
The current
generation of Linksys products provide several network security
features, but they require specific action on your part for
implementation.
While the following is a complete list, steps A through E should,
at least, be followed: |
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Change the default SSID.
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Disable SSID Broadcasts.
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Change the default password for the Administrator account.
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Enable MAC Address Filtering.
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Change the SSID periodically.
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Enable WEP 128-bit Encryption. Please note that this will reduce
your network performance.
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Change the WEP encryption keys periodically.
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For information on implementing these security features, please
refer to the User Guide. |
4. Security Threats
Facing Wireless Networks
Wireless
networks are easy to find. Hackers know that in order to join a
wireless network, wireless networking products first listen
for "beacon messages". These messages are unencrypted and
contain much of the network’s information, such as the network’s
SSID (Service Set Identifier) and the IP Address of the network PC
or access point. One result of this, seen in many large cities and
business districts, is called “Warchalking”. This is one of the
terms used for hackers looking to access free bandwidth and free
Internet access through your wireless network. Here are the steps
you can take: |
| Change
the administrator’s password regularly. With
every wireless networking device you use, keep in mind that
network settings (SSID, WEP keys, etc.) are stored in its
firmware. Your network administrator is the only person who can
change network settings. If a hacker gets a hold of the
administrator’s password, he, too, can change those settings. So,
make it harder for a hacker to get that information. Change the
administrator’s password regularly. |
| SSID.
There are
several things to keep in mind about the SSID:
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Disable Broadcast
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Make it unique
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Change it often
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Most wireless networking devices will give you the option of
broadcasting the SSID. While this option may be more convenient,
it allows anyone to log into your wireless network. This includes
hackers. So, don’t broadcast the SSID.
Wireless networking products come with a default SSID set by the
factory. (The Linksys default SSID is “linksys”.) Hackers know
these defaults and can check these against your network. Change
your SSID to something unique and not something related to your
company or the networking products you use.
Change your SSID regularly so that any hackers who have gained
access to your wireless network will have start from the beginning
in trying to break in.
MAC Addresses.
Enable MAC Address filtering. MAC Address filtering will allow you
to provide access to only those wireless nodes with certain MAC
Addresses. This makes it harder for a hacker to access your
network with a random MAC Address.
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| WEP Encryption.
Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is often
looked upon as a panacea for wireless security concerns. This is
overstating WEP’s ability. Again, this can only provide enough
security to make a hacker’s job more difficult.
There
are several ways that WEP can be maximized:
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Use the highest level of encryption possible
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Use a “Shared” Key
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Use multiple WEP keys
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Change your WEP key regularly
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Implementing encryption will have a negative impact on your
network’s performance. If you are transmitting sensitive data over
your network, encryption should be used.
These security recommendations should help keep your mind at ease
while you are enjoying the most flexible and convenient technology
Linksys has to offer. |
