How Safe is Your Home's Wireless Computer Network?

This is a non-technical account about how vulnerable your wireless computer network may be. Actually, I've known about it for several years and was reminded when I read a recent account of a person that was having computer difficulty, called on a computer tech support person and discovered that she had been using her neighbors wireless Internet connection for months unbeknown to either of them.

I am astonished and frankly a bit frightened by the number of households in our community that have a wireless computer network that is easily accessible simply by a person driving down the street. In urban areas, I can imagine thousands of computers that that are vulnerable. In fact, while conducting some research for this article, I discovered that it appears as if data stolen from corporate computers is often attributable to an insecure wireless computer network.

Our son, who is employed in the high tech world and computer savvy, set-up our wireless computer network. During the course of doing it, he provided me with the information necessary to do it myself. Of course I didn't understand a word of it, but I nodded, was fascinated by his knowledge and skill and in a few moments with routers located in a couple of areas (those little flashing lights are cool!) we were ready to go.

During the few moments that he was engaged in establishing our wireless network, he did provide some information that I fear is unknown to many people.

Actually, he said we probably would not need to pay for our Internet access through the local cable company because there are certainly several neighbors that already have wireless home networks. He demonstrated by showing that the neighbor next door as well as across the street and to the rear of our home all had wireless networks and with two out of three he was able to access the Internet. Wow! I asked him if it was possible to view what was on their computers and he said sure, but it would take a few moments and besides, it was illegal and he wasn't interested.

Obviously, I wanted us to be protected and he assured me that by not using the default settings on the network and with the establishment of some simple computer protocols, no one would have access to our network. He went on to explain that when people install their home networks themselves, they frequently fail to protect themselves because they use the default settings. I asked him if it was widespread and he said yes and agreed to show me.

Later that afternoon, we went to a densely populated condo community and sat in the parking lot with a laptop. There were dozens of networks that were available and allowed us to access the Internet. Some he said were protected, but most were not. Later I read a report that said as many as 70% of home wireless networks are insecure and accessible to hackers.

Most people don't know how to go about accessing information from a home computer network if they were to gain entry through a poorly protected system. However, it only takes one hacker to intrude and steal data.

I suspect that there are many households in densely populated areas that are using a neighbor's Internet access. Even when our wireless network was established, my son looked at the data and said "Look at this, your computer is picking up the network next door." He quickly changed a password and pronounced the problem solved. Interestingly, he also changed the neighbors network password so they would not be vulnerable and we told them. I don't think they really understood, but they thanked us.
There are several ways to provide additional security for wireless home networks. Probably the simplest is to insure that you have changed the default password. If you are computer savvy, you have probably already done this, if not I suggest you insure your "computer techie" has provided you with adequate protection.

Sometimes I watch boxing on television and the words the referee uses as he briefs the combatants is, "Protect yourself at all times." I suspect those words apply to many of life's endeavors and they certainly are applicable to wireless home networks. Ya'll be careful out there!