Enable WEP or WPA Encryption To Protect Your Wireless Network

Enable WEP or WPA Encryption To Protect Your Wireless Network. Modern routers do a fine job of protecting your law office or home from intruders coming in over the Internet. The built in Network Address Translation (NAT) routes traffic to internal locations that are not visible to the world at large. However, if you have a wireless router, the traffic coming in and going out is visible to anyone with a wireless adapter and within physical range of your network. You may be familiar with WEP encryption, which is an older, and now obsolete form of encrypting the wireless signals. The more recent WPA encryption system is much stronger, and, although it can be cracked, requires a much more sophisticated attacker. Having WEP encryption is like closing the door to your house, and locking it with a door knob lock. WPA is like having several deadbolts, and an armed guard. No security is foolproof; however, you need to activate WPA at least. What kind of Internet security are you using at your law firm? Are you using any?

Comments

[Phil Cahan]

I spent a while in a town that had quite a few small law firms (1 to 5 attorneys). I was astonished to find out that at least 1/3 of the firms with wireless networks were not secured as this article wisely suggests. This is not just good for your own computing safety but an open network can also expose you to professional responsibility violations - confidentiality of your clients' information, etc. If your network is open to snooping, so probably is the data on your computers!

[Chris Bumgarner]

Although WEP and WPA are better than nothing, I would not recommend using them. I would strongly recommend using WPA2 encryption instead. It is much more secure than its predecessor. My rule is that I use WPA2 or I don't use wireless.

[Jim K]

I agree with Chris B. WEP is better than leaving the connection open, but just barely. Even a moderately skilled script-kiddie with basic tools available for free can crack a WEP key in 30 seconds to several minutes. There are videos all over the web on how to crack WEP. Also, while you are setting your security, be sure to turn off the remote/wireless administration and change the password on the Admin account on the router from the default. Otherwise, said script-kiddie may take control of your router anyway.