Understanding Wireless Security - NETGEAR WGT624 Reference Manual

108 Mbps Wireless Router WGT624 v4 Reference Manual

Understanding Wireless Security

Warning: Indoors, computers can connect over 802.11g wireless networks at a
maximum range of up to 300 feet. Such distances can allow for others outside
of your immediate area to access your network.
To protect your network from unauthorized access, use the security features of your wireless
equipment.
WGT624 v4
Figure 2-2
There are several ways you can enhance the security of you wireless network.
• Restrict access based on MAC (Media Access Control) address. You can restrict access to
only trusted computers so that unknown computers cannot wirelessly connect to the
WGT624 v4. 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.
2-6
v1.2, July 2007
Wireless Settings and Security