Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that allows devices such as computers (laptops and desktops), mobile devices (smart phones and wearables), and other equipment (printers and video cameras) to interface with the Internet. It allows these devices–and many more–to exchange information with one another, creating a network.
Internet connectivity occurs through a wireless router. When you access Wi-Fi, you are connecting to a wireless router that allows your Wi-Fi-compatible devices to interface with the Internet.
Wireless network security primarily protects a wireless network from unauthorized and malicious access attempts. Typically, wireless network security is delivered through wireless devices (usually a wireless router/switch) that encrypts and secures all wireless communication by default. Even if the wireless network security is compromised, the hacker is not able to view the content of the traffic/packet in transit. Moreover, wireless intrusion detection and prevention systems also enable protection of a wireless network by alerting the wireless network administrator in case of a security breach.
Some of the common algorithms and standards to ensure wireless network security are Wired Equivalent Policy (WEP) and Wireless Protected Access (WPA).
Wi-Fi is not an acronym; it is a brand name created by a marketing firm that’s meant to serve as an interoperability seal for marketing efforts.
How does Wi-Fi work?
On the technical side, the IEEE 802.11 standard defines the protocols that enable communications with current Wi-Fi-enabled wireless devices, including wireless routers and wireless access points. Wireless access points support different IEEE standards.
Each standard is an amendment that was ratified over time. The standards operate on varying frequencies, deliver different bandwidth, and support different numbers of channels.
What is a wireless access point?
A wireless access point (AP) allows wireless devices to connect to the wireless network. Having a Cisco wireless network makes it easy to bring new devices online and provides flexible support to mobile workers.
What a wireless access point does for your network is similar to what an amplifier does for your home stereo. An access point takes the bandwidth coming from a router and stretches it so that many devices can go on the network from farther distances away. But a wireless access point does more than simply extend Wi-Fi. It can also give useful data about the devices on the network, provide proactive security, and serve many other practical purposes.
What is a wireless router?
Wireless routers are commonly found in homes. They’re the hardware devices that Internet service providers use to connect you to their cable or xDSL Internet network.
A wireless router is sometimes referred to as a wireless local area network (WLAN) device. A wireless network is also called a Wi-Fi network.
A wireless router combines the networking functions of a wireless access point and a router
What is a desktop Wi-Fi router?
The most common way for users to connect to the Internet wirelessly is with a desktop wireless (Wi-Fi) router. These routers look like small boxes with multiple short antennas to help broadcast the signal throughout a home or workplace. The farther a user is from the base Wi-Fi router, the weaker the signal. So multiple wireless routers, called range extenders, usually are placed throughout the workspace. Wi-Fi range extenders, placed in an array, boost or extend Internet coverage.
What is a mobile hotspot?
A mobile hotspot is a common feature on smartphones with both tethered and untethered connections. When you turn on your phone’s mobile hotspot, you share your wireless network connection with other devices that can then access the Internet.
What is portable Wi-Fi hotspot?
A portable Wi-Fi hotspot is a mobile hotspot obtained through a cell phone carrier. It’s a small device that uses cellular towers that broadcast high-speed 3G or 4G broadband signals. Multiple devices, like iPads and laptops, can then connect wirelessly to the device, which in turn seamlessly connects to the Internet where ever you travel. Similar to a cell phone, the portable hotspot’s monthly cost is based on the data usage plan you select. A portable Wi-Fi hotspot is a more reliable way to access the Internet than searching for static public Wi-Fi hotspots.
Internet has been useful to mankind both at home and in their offices,people use internet for research work ,projects and assignments,organizations and institutions uses internet for different purposes.However,despite the benefits of internet in this 21st century, there is need for carefulness so as to prevent the online criminals from hacking your wireless network.To forestall this the following steps are to be taken
Internet Security tips — to help you protect your wireless network
Here are some simple steps you can take to protect your wireless network and router:
- Avoid using the default password
It’s easy for a hacker to find out the manufacturer’s default password for your wireless router — and then use that password to access your wireless network. So it’s wise to change the administrator password for your wireless router. When you’re deciding on your new password, try to pick a complex series of numbers and letters — and try to avoid using a password that can be guessed easily. - Don’t let your wireless device announce its presence
Switch off SSID (Service Set Identifier) broadcasting — to prevent your wireless device announcing its presence to the world. - Change your device’s SSID name
Again, it’s easy for a hacker to find out the manufacturer’s default SSID name for your device — and then use that to locate your wireless network. Change the default SSID name of your device — and try to avoid using a name that can be guessed easily. - Encrypt your data
In your connection settings, make sure you enable encryption. If your device supports WPA encryption, use that — if not, use WEP encryption.
Change Your Router Admin Information Regularly
Do you remember the time when your router arrived, and you went through the initial setup procedure? If so, you probably also remember that you had to input an admin login and password, right? Let us guess: the login name was “admin”, and the password was also “admin”, correct? We thought so. You see, most routers have the same default admin login name and password, which means that just about anyone could walk right up to your router, connect to it using an ordinary Ethernet cable and mess with the settings. While this is less likely to happen to regular home users, it’s something business owners can’t afford to take lightly. As soon as you can, change the default login credentials for something more secure.
2. Set Up Strong Encryption
WiFi encryption is your main defense against hackers looking for a quick and convenient way how to hack WiFi passwords. Unencrypted wireless communication can be captured, analyzed, and abused. The basic level of WiFi protection is WEP encryption. While better than nothing, there are many easy-to-follow online tutorials out there that can teach virtually anyone how to hack a WiFi password on a WEP-encrypted network. You should always use at least WPA + TKIP encryption. Ideally, configure your router to use WPA2 + AES encryption for a bulletproof security.
3. Keep Your Router Updated
Your router has a complex operating system which isn’t immune to software bugs. A particularly nasty software bug could even allow a hacker from the other side of the world to remotely infiltrate your network and steal your personal information. While most routers these days update automatically, some require you to manually trigger the update process. It’s a good idea to set a reminder on your smartphone to check for available updates at least once a month.
4. Hide Your WiFi Network
The name of your WiFi network is actually called SSID, or Service Set Identifier. You can connect to a WiFi network even if it doesn’t broadcast any SSID, but you’ll need to know the network’s address. As such, hiding your WiFi network by not broadcasting any SSID is an effective way how to prevent the neighborhood kids from using your home WiFi network to hone their hacking skills.
5. Reduce Your WiFi Range
We understand that most people would rather extend the range of their WiFi network than reduce it, but, sometimes, it makes sense to limit the range to a small area. If you’re, for example, living in a small apartment, there’s no reason to broadcast your WiFi across the entire block, giving more people than necessary the opportunity to hack it. A WiFi analysis tool such as NetSpot can help you determine the current range of your network, and you can then turn down the Transmit Power Control on your router to adjust it.
6. Enable MAC Filtering
Every WiFi-enabled device has a unique identifier called the physical address or Media Access Control (MAC) address. You can set your router to only communicate with certain MAC addresses, preventing everyone else from connecting to your network. Just keep in mind that MAC filtering isn’t bulletproof because it’s easy to change the MAC address on most devices, making them appear as other devices.
7. Avoid Open Public Networks
As convenient as public WiFi networks are, you should be very cautious when connecting to one. Not all public WiFi networks respect the privacy and security of their users, and some public networks may even be set up by hackers who want to lure in unsuspecting victims to steal their passwords and bank accounts. Only connect to verified, trustworthy public networks and always disable automatic WiFi connecting.
If can follow these rules,your wifi is protected and secure
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