Author Login | Popular Articles | RSS Feeds | Sitemap

Home | Communications | Broadband-internet


Vulnerable to Attack

By: Marc Jenson

Security is a growing concern for people everywhere. Protecting the car, home and person is slowly becoming even more of a priority for many Americans. Citizens all over the country are spending hundreds to thousands of dollars securing all their possessions. However, most of these people tend to overlook one huge gaping security hole at both their home and office. This hole provides would be thief's and misfits with access to some of your most vital data. People are exposing their information daily, as if they were driving around town with their wallet on the top of their car. And, the most intriguing part of this problem is, how easily it can be fixed.

If you haven't figured it out yet, the overlooked vulnerability I'm referring to is the wireless router. It sits there blinking it's green lights looking innocent and playful. Who would guess that this device provides malicious hackers with access to your computer and ultimately your information. Even old routers with the security activated are a weak defense against experienced criminals. The tools needed to crack an old routers security is readily available to a knowledgeable hacker. In a conference last year, the FBI managed to crack an old routers security in 2 minutes with tools they found online.

It's so important to patch up any vulnerabilities in your home or office network. I recently moved into a new home, and I made an amazing discovery as I set up my wireless router. Most of my neighbors also had wireless internet. Out of the 5 or 6 networks available to my computer only 2 had any kind of protection. On one network I was even able to get onto the families computer and if I had wanted to I could have looked at any file. It was a complete shock to me how careless people are with their networks. Lots of people believe that their computers security is enough. They think that it's not a big deal if someone jumps on their network to surf the web. They don't understand that there are loads of people out there trying to get their sensitive information.

In my office it's the same story. I currently have 4 networks showing up on my airport display. Out of those 4 only 2 have their security turned on. A breach like that, at an office, is a gross error on someone's part. At an office your not only storing your own sensitive data but data on your employees and clients as well. It's unacceptable for any company to allow this kind of oversight.

The problem is most people don't realize how easy it is to turn on the security in their router. For most routers all you have to do is get into the administration page and turn it on. The thing to remember is that all routers are different so make sure to read any documentation sent with the device. Also, it's important to note that if you have a choice between WEP and WPA go with WPA. WEP has proven to be really easy to hack, and while WPA isn't completely unbreakable it is a bit more secure. Another good tip is to turn off SSI broadcasting on your router. By following these two suggestions you've just made your router a hard target. This means most hackers probably won't bother with your router, but will turn on your neighbors who haven't been as wise.

Don't be fooled by the false sense of security one often gets using the internet. We've all heard about the scams and vulnerabilities and yet must of us do little to protect ourselves. It's hard to be concerned when the perpetrators are not breaking into our homes or cars. These criminals are so much more subtle, we don't even know when they are there on our computers. Looking into our lives and stealing our information. It's important to know that these people are out there, and that there's steps we can take to protect ourselves from their malfeasance. So start now, and go turn on your router security.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

About the Author:
Powercode provides secure wisp billing and hotspot billing.

Tags: , , , , , ,
| Print | Ezine Ready | |

Please Rate this Article

Recent Broadband-Internet Articles

  • dllhost.exe By: Isabelle Lucas - The development of science and technology has brought in many changes in the life of the common people. Nowadays you won’t find a single family who does not own a computer or a laptop. But only having a desktop computer or a laptop is not enough. To operate the computer or the laptop you have to install software. This software is provided by many companies but the most common name that is heard nowadays is Microsoft Company.
    Tags: communications, broadband-internet, dllhost.exe
  • Getting Your Music Mastered Online By: Roberto Bell - If you want to give your music the final polish and professional edge to stand-out in the marketplace, then you need quality mastering. Mastering is last stage before your music is ready for the world to hear. It does far more than simply increase the loudness as many are aware of. It adds punch, clarity, and fine-tunes your music into the perfect sound. Many musicians are aware of the importance of mastering. It can sometimes make or break the success of your music.
    Tags: communications, broadband-internet, imastering, emastering, cd
  • Is Googling Making You Smarter or Dumber? By: Melanie Hudson - 80% of web active humanity uses Google search engine every day. The question arises – is googling making you smarter, dumber or nothing of that? Usually we use search engines to find information on the worldwide web. Therefore search engines are fantastic tools that help us get to the sources of information we need. While the information itself surely makes you learn new stuff, the process of finding that information remains to be a waste of time. What do we mean by “Waste of time”?
    Tags: communications, broadband-internet, google, search engine, internet
  • Computer Online Training Courses By: Ronald W. Firquain - After computer training you may have a degree or a certificate but you still do not have a certification that is recognized by Microsoft. Also the content of this kind of learning are based on the term. And the other method of learning videos can be also through correspondence courses. Anyone can approach these lessons but for certain special courses some special educational qualifications are essential. Ask for extra, spare equipment can even be included for your class room.
    Tags: communications, broadband-internet, computer lessons, correspondence courses, classroom education
  • Speedy Rural Internet Access At Your Doorstep By: Dana Dana - Learn More About Various Internet Service Options Internet service options are available in various ways including wireless and wire line Internet connection. Cellular Internet, Cable Internet, WiMax, and satellite are some of the most opted Internet service options. While looking at various options for a high-speed Internet service, there are generally two broad categories of the broadband access including the wireless and the wired one. The wired broadband further includes Cable and DSL Internet. On the other hand, the wireless broadband includes cellular, WiMax and satellite Internet service.
    Tags: broadband-internet, satellite, internet, hughes net, hughesnet
  • Laptop Data Recovery By: Roberto Bell - A laptop has gradually assumed the role of a mobile office and a pocket diary that is a guardian of one personal and professional outline. Sometimes, due to a technical or perfunctory mishap, the Laptop becomes the criminal of one life by going dead and all of a sudden one feels as if ones life line has been detached. regrettably, when the laptop goes dead and silent there is a lot more that goes deceased and quiet along with it.
    Tags: broadband-internet, computer, computer tips, technology
  • Calling India from your mobile phone? Here is how By: David Herrmann - Do you wish to make calls to India at rates which you could dream in your dreams? You can indeed make them with Goobercall. This cell phone software offers some wonderful features which makes it very convenient to call numbers in India for just a couple of cents without any hidden charges or cross network charges. For the first time you will enjoy further cheaper rates through GooberCall. The good news is that there are various options for you to call India.
    Tags: communications, broadband-internet, india calling card, mobile calls, save on international calls
  • 3 Reasons the iPhone 3G bags you a brilliant broadband deal By: Shirley Stevens - As the iPhone 3G is linked exclusively to O2 Broadband, there are huge advantages to owning one - not least that you'll put yourself in line for arguably the best broadband deals currently available. Here's three reasons why bagging an iPhone 3G could be the best broadband decision you ever make: 1.
    Tags: communications, broadband-internet, iphone 3g, wifi, gps
  • Beginner's Guide to Mobile Broadband By: Shirley Stevens - If you thought that mobile broadband was something to do with surfing the web on your mobile phone, you're very wrong. Mobile broadband allows you to have immediate web access on either your computer or laptop from wherever you are, be it at home, at the airport, on the train or halfway across the Pennine Way. Instead of the cables or wires needed for standard broadband, mobile broadband is powered by the 3G mobile network, hence the name.
    Tags: communications, broadband-internet, mobile broadband, 3g mobile network, vodaphone
  • 5 Basic Rules of Good Web Design By: Micrositez - When designing your website, great care should be taken to ensure every last detail of the site performs at an optimum level and actually serves its purpose. Here are five simple rules of good web design that anyone would do well to remember when considering building or designing a new website. 1) Don’t use flash intros Flash intros are still commonly seen as the first pages many web visitors view when they arrive at a website.
    Tags: communications, broadband-internet, bath web design, web design bath, bath web designers

Today's Hot Articles

Comments

Search Ebay

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Add to Google
ArticleSnatch Authors:
Member Login Sign Up Submit Articles Learn More Submission Guidelines Top Authors
For Publishers:
Most Popular Articles Ezine Notifications Article RSS Feeds Terms of Service
For Everyone:
Blog About Us Link to Us Contact Us New Stuff Link Directory Privacy Policy Sitemap Resources
Our Sites:
Free Magazines Book Your Hotel Stay Free MySpace Tools Massive Video Collection MJE Sales, LLC Blog MyWorldPlus Discounts Freedom Rocks MJE Sales, LLC
Stay and Watch a Video:
Click here to submit your free, permanent ads to TheFreeAdForum.com!

Submit Your link to the Open Link Directory Project

Copyright 2005-2008 MJE Sales, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Proud member of the ArticleCkr Search Network Search Network!
ArticleSnatch.com is free for both publishers and authors to use and is supported entirely from advertising revenue.
Use of our service is protected by our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.