7 steps to secure your WiFi

1. Lock your WiFi with a password: - both login name and login password.
2. Configure your device for MAC recognition and authentication. Once it is MAC trained, no one else can log in
3. Keep a log of all wifi accesses and inspect the log regularly

Thanks for posting it on Toostep, Sharad.

Thanks Mr. Nohar for adding some more useful things..

Sharad I am adding some more useful steps for securing WiFi network :

There are people that drive around neighborhood residents and commercial buildings looking for “open” WiFi access points (they call this “wardriving”). With programs like NetStumbler & Kismet, it’s easier than you probably may think.
But there's also a potential legal liablity if someone uses your wireless network for illegal porn or some other "bad" activity. 
Thieves pass-by locked cars in favor of an unlocked door. Wardrivers will pass-by a secured wireless network in favor of the many selections of open wireless networks!  True, a good hacker (given time) can still penetrate your "secure" wireless network; but by following these SEVEN steps, you can better protect your wireless network! 
Connect to your wireless router/access point. Most people have not changed the default settings. So click on these links and see if you connect! (If not, check your manaual (and email ME the other IP Addresses!))

D-Link/Linksys Routers: http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1

D-Link/Linksys Access Points: http://192.168.0.30 or http://192.168.1.245 

Netgear: http://www.routerlogin.net

Don’t broadcast your SSID (Service Set Identifier). By default, most routers & access points send a short message repeating the network's name. Anybody who lives (or drives) nearby can detect you wireless network’s name and connect! 

To ease the initial setup, leave the SSID Broadcast turned ON until the wireless network is working. Then later disable the SSID broadcast within your router/access point software. You will no longer be “announcing” that you have a wireless network.

Rename the SSID. Don't simply use your personal or company’s name; it’s easier for a person or program to “guess”. To make this a harder value to “guess”, make this a very long (complex) value!

Pick a secure password for your router and/or access points. Most people already know the default username and passwords! :-) 

D-Link: Username = "admin", Password is blank
Linksys: Username is blank, Password = "admin"
Netgear: Username = "admin", Password = "password"


Turn-on the router and access points’ encryption. I don’t really care if it slows down your wireless network; this is for your protection! Besides maybe it’s time to upgrade to faster equipment anyways.

There are two standards of encryption - WEP & WPA: 

WEP: The older Wired Equivalent Privacy is the least secure method of the two. Although the 128bit key is stronger then the 64bit, they’re both still better than nothing. You set the WEP key manually – so please don’t pick a simple key like “11111111”, “10101010”  or “12345678”  

NOTE: There's even a fricken' screen saver program that will crack a 40bit (aka 64bit) encryption while your computer "rests"  


WPA: The other method is called WiFi Protected Access which uses a 256-bit key that constantly changes, so it’s a bit harder to hack – it’s also trickier to configure.


If possible, first select WAP, followed by 128WEP then lastly 64WEP -- in all cases, enable the best type of encryption you have available to you!

Turn-on the router or access point’s firewall – yes, I’ve seen this (mistakenly) turned-off!

Enable Media Access Control (MAC) Filtering. Media Access Control is a unique number assigned to every network hardware (your comptuers, router, network printer). This "MAC Address" number is usually printed directly on your wireless card or computer.

To determine your computer's MAC Address: 
Start --> Settings --> Control Panel --> Network Connections --> Double=click on Local Area Connection --> Click on the Support Tab --> Press the Details button to view your Phyiscal Address


MAC Filtering is simply a list of MAC Address typed into your router determining which computers are allowed to connect to your wireless network!

You should also lock-down the computers connected to your Wireless Network!
If possible, turn-off  or limit File & Print sharing.

Securely password protect your shared files.

Securely password protect your programs (i.e. Quicken, Outlook PST files)

Securely password protect all users – especially the Administrator account.

Turn-on the computer’s firewall as well.

Ensure that ALL SOFTWARE is up to date.

Thanks for sharing this info sharad... I had already secured my wifi network.... 

A lot more simpler step would be to change in your log-in id and password especially if your Wifi connection is situated near public areas. But anyway which way, one has to be aware at all times because the hackers are always one step ahead of the security experts. Simple things like switching of your router when not in use and using different password / log-in id's could help mitigate the problem to an extent.

THANKS SHARAD IT'S A USEFULL INFORMATION .

Thanks Dr. Ali fro referral. An useful information.

Thanks for sharing Good information....Keep it up Sharad Ji..

Thanks,Mr Sharad and Mr Natteraja for sharing a very critical information.i think with season of Hackers on rampage and pouncing on sites, breaching one's pass word is not so difficult task for them.

Thanks Dr.Ali Ahmad for sharing the valuable information.
 

Thanks Sharad, great information..

Thanks for sharing Mr Sharad.

Good information. Thanks for sharing.

It reminds us of an idiom "stitch in time saves nine"!  Excellent and timely information.  Our Mother Earth is not safe - human beings are threatened from all sorts - beasts are safe in dense cover than mankind!

Thanks Sharad for this useful information.

Very useful information, Sharad....!

Oh..Lots of useful information.. Good work Sharad.. keep it up !!

Thanks Sharad for a good information.