Securing Your Home Router

If you have a broadband connection to the Internet, you probably have what is called a router, or residential gateway. This is a small device that allows you to use more than one computer with your Internet connection.  It may be built into your DSL or cable modem.

If you don’t already have a router, you might want to consider getting one.

Why?  Because, as well as allowing you to have multiple computers online at the same time, routers help protect your computer from attack.  Like the trap in your toilet’s drain, a router is a one-way valve between your computers and the dirty outside world.

Routers are often combined with wireless network access points. Wireless networks (or “WiFi”) have become extremely popular in the past couple of years, and with good reason.

While wireless aren’t always as fast as wired networks, they can be much more convenient. Almost all new laptop computers (and many desktop machines) come with wireless network cards built-in and add-on wireless cards are readily available in any consumer electronics store.

But there are two big problems with wireless connections.  Security and theft.

If you’re not careful, it can be easy for someone else to see what you’re doing: which web sites you visit, maybe even read your e-mail or your instant messages.

People can also use your Internet connection without your knowledge. It might be generous and community-spirited to share your bandwidth with anyone and everyone, but you could run into problems if someone commits a crime – such as fraud, or harassment, or breaking into someone else’s computer – using your connection.

It might be difficult to prove that it wasn’t you who was up to no good.

What can you do about these problems? Turn on the wireless encryption feature of your router. This takes care of both issues.

Unfortunately, this can be rather a daunting task. You’ll probably need to read the documentation for your router, for the wireless network card in your computer, and for your computer’s operating system.

Ugh.

Encryption comes in many forms.  If you can, you should use WPA or WPA2. These will provide the best protection.. WEP, an older standard, is not particularly secure, and should only be used as a last resort.

Finally, be aware that sometimes there are simple ways to keep things safer for you and everyone else in cyberspace:

• If you’re not using your Internet connection, disconnect it. Turn off your router before you turn in for the night.
• Use encryption on wireless networks.
• Keep up on your operating-system updates.
• Finally, keep an eye open for unsavory looking characters with laptop computers parking their cars in front of your house for hours at a time. Having your bandwidth stolen could be the least of your worries

Written by David Ripley from Indiana University’s Global Research Network Operations Center