Implementing Appropriate Wireless Security - NETGEAR RangeMax NEXT WNR854T Reference Manual

RangeMax NEXT Wireless Router Model WNR854T Reference Manual

Implementing Appropriate Wireless Security

Note: Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11b/g wireless networks at a range of
several hundred feet. Such distances can allow for others outside of your
immediate area to access your network.
Unlike wired network data, your wireless data transmissions can be received well beyond your
walls by anyone with a compatible adapter. For this reason, use the security features of your
wireless equipment. The RangeMax NEXT Wireless Router provides highly effective security
features which are covered in detail in this chapter. Deploy the security features appropriate to
your needs.
WNR854T
Figure 2-1
There are several ways you can enhance the security of your wireless network:
• Restrict access based on MAC address. You can restrict access to only trusted computers so
that unknown computers cannot wirelessly connect to the WNR854T. MAC address filtering
adds an obstacle against unwanted access to your network, but the data broadcast over the
wireless link is fully exposed.
• Turn off the broadcast of the Wireless Network Name SSID. If you disable broadcast of the
SSID, only devices that have the correct SSID can connect. This nullifies the wireless network
'discovery' feature of some products such as Windows XP, but the data is still fully exposed to
a determined snoop using specialized test equipment like wireless sniffers.
• WEP. Provides data security. WEP Shared Key authentication and WEP data encryption will
block all but the most determined eavesdropper.
2-2
v1.0, 2006-04
Wireless Configuration