I am frequently asked, How do I secure my wireless network?
Your initial step to setup a wireless home network is to understand the different types of hacks. My objective is to give you basic information on the different types of risks:
Information Gathering
Step one is for the hacker to get an overview of the potential targets in the neighborhood. At this point, the hacker will only gather public info like the name of your network and if you have security setup. The entire step takes place with a click of the mouse and large volumes of information can be recorded in minutes. With a secure wireless network, often the hacker will just move on to an easier target.
Sniffing
Now it's time for him to begin compiling data anything that is not encrypted will be downloaded. Of course, the wireless signal expands past your four walls. An individual may be taking a copy of every piece of data you are sending or receiving right now from a car parked a block away! To simply the process, the hacker will segment the easy date from the hard. If your network is not secure, at this point the hack is already completed. Everything they need, they will already have. A properly setup wireless home network will not allow this type of attack. Your data will be safely encrypted.
Vulnerability testing
Armed with the data from the previous steps, they now go in for the kill. Much like the other steps, this is done with automated tools. Open ports and out of date patches will all be logged. If discovered, the hacker my make use of the info immediately or come back at a later date.
Game Day
Even tiny problems offer plenty of opportunity to a good hacker. The hacker can now take his time and exploit the network. With tools like password crackers and individual can steal the data and take weeks, months or years to crack it. However, with hundreds of simultaneous operations going on in the comfort of their own home, I'm sure they're not in any real big hurry.
