How can I secure my home network?

Question

How can I secure my home network?

Answer 1

if its wired you dont need to, if its wireless then a simple wep key should make it secure as you will need this code to access it for the first time.

If you want to limit certain users within your network you need to set permitions on shares.

Answer 2

Control Panel > Network And Sharing Center And There Should Be Stuff About Home Network There

Answer 3

I assume you mean wireless because there's nothing to secure in a wired network.

1. Change the web-admin password of your router (even if it's wired this is good) so not anyone can get into the config page.

2. Change the default SSID (name) and don't use something that identifies you, your location, or your brand of router to outsiders (e.g. "Home", "Cox.net", "My Network", "Wireless", etc).

2. Enable WPA-PSK, WPA-PSK2, or if those aren't supported MINIMUM of WEP128. Refer to the manual or call the manufacturer for directions.

3. Don't hide the SSID. It just makes your life harder and it's easily found out anyways.

4. Don't bother with MAC filtering, if someone can crack your security they probably know how to spoof your MAC address which will circomvent the filtering.

5. Don't use static-IP, it just makes your life harder. Anyone with the slightest knowledge about networking knows how to use a static IP.

The reason you don't want to identify your router's brand/location/owner:

1. Default passwords and settings are available online. Knowing the brand makes it easier to bypass these.

2. Knowing where it is makes it easier to get a stronger signal while staying away. This gives the attacker an advantage of getting a strong signal and being hidden.

3. Knowing who owns it makes guessing your password easier. Most people use names, dates, and other personal info for passwords (bad practice) and if they know you they probably know the things you would use for a password.

I also like to put a piece of masking tape on top of the router and write the SSID and web-config password (maybe encryption key too) so I can't forget them if it's one I don't usually use, or if I'm setting it up for someone else so they can't misplace it.  This doesn't bother me security-wise because if someone can get to the router, they can plug a wire in and use the network without knowing the wireless key...it's not as if I'm posting it for all the world to see.