There is no way to guarantee complete security on a wireless network. However, there are precautions you can take to help minimize security risks when you use a wireless network.
• Whenever possible, only connect to wireless networks that require a network security key or have some other form of security, such as a certificate. The information sent over these networks is encrypted, which can help protect your computer from unauthorized access. When you view available wireless networks in Connect to a Network, you’ll see text indicating if a wireless network has security enabled or not.
• Before you connect to a network provided by a wireless Internet service provider (ISP), such as a public network in a coffee shop or airport, read the privacy statement carefully and make sure that you understand which files, if any, are saved to your computer and what type of information the network provider collects from your computer.
• If you connect to a network that is not secure, be aware that someone with the right tools can see everything that you do, including the websites you visit, the documents you work on, and the user names and passwords you use. Make sure that you don’t work on any company-sensitive information or visit password-protected areas of your business network while you are connected to that network.
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Written by Jason on June 18th, 2008 with no comments.
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Wireless hotspots are changing the way people work. These wireless local area networks (LANs) provide high speed Internet access in public locations as well as at home and require nothing more than a notebook PC with a wireless card. From coffeeshops to restaurants, airports to hotel lobbies, hotspots are ubiquitous. They are the de facto connection method for travelers and remote workers to access the Internet, their e-mail, and even their corporate networks.
Hotspots range from paid services, such as T-Mobile or Boingo, to free connections at your local coffee shop or library. But they all have one thing in common: These are all open networks that are vulnerable to security breaches. And that means it’s up to you to protect the data on your PC. Here are a few tips to make working in public locations more secure.
1. Try to choose more secure connections. It’s not always possible to choose your connection type—but when you can, opt for wireless networks that require a network security key or have some other form of security, such as a certificate. The information sent over these networks is encrypted, which can help protect your computer from unauthorized access. The security features of different networks appear along with the network name as your PC discovers them.
2. Make sure your firewall is activated. A firewall helps protect your mobile PC by preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to your computer through the Internet or a network. It acts as a barrier that checks all incoming information, and then either blocks the information or allows it to come through. All Microsoft Windows operating systems come with a firewall, and you can make sure it’s turned on.
To activate the Windows XP Firewall
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. display:none
2. In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections. display:none
3. In the Network Connections window, under Network Tasks, click Change Windows Firewall Settings. display:none
4. In the Windows Firewall dialog box, on the General tab, ensure that On is selected. display:none
To activate the Windows Vista Firewall
1. Click Start and then click Control Panel. display:none
2. In Control Panel, select Network and Internet. display:none
3. Under Windows Firewall, click Turn Windows Firewall on or off. display:none
4. Ensure that On is selected.
3. Monitor your access points. Chances are, there are multiple wireless networks anywhere you’re trying to connect. These connections are all access points, because they link into the wired system that gives you Internet access. So how do you make sure you’re connecting to the right one? Simple by configuring your PC to let you approve access points before you connect.
Configure Windows XP Access Points
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. display:none
2. In Control Panel, double-click Network Connections. display:none
3. In the Network Connections window, right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then click Properties. display:none
4. In the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box, on the Wireless Networks tab, make sure that the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings check box is selected. display:none
5. Under Preferred networks, make sure that the name of the network that you want to connect to is highlighted, and then click Advanced. display:none
6. In the Advanced dialog box, click Access point (infrastructure) network only, and then click Close. display:none
7. Click OK. display:none
Configure Windows Vista Access Points
Windows Vista takes the guesswork out of connecting to hotspots because you are automatically prompted to approve new connections. In addition, after you approve a connection, you assign it a profile for future use.
4. Disable file and printer sharing: File and printer sharing is a feature that enables other computers on a network to access resources on your computer. When using your mobile PC in a hotspot, it’s best to disable file and printer sharing because when enabled, it leaves your computer vulnerable to hackers. Remember, though, to turn this feature back on when you return to the office.
Disable file and printer sharing in Windows XP
1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel. display:none
2. In Control Panel, click Security Center. display:none
3. In the Security Center window, click Windows Firewall. display:none
4. In the Windows Firewall dialog box, click the Exceptions tab. display:none
5. On the Exceptions tab, under Programs and Services, clear the File and Printer Sharing check box and then click OK. display:none
Disable file and printer sharing in Windows Vista
1. Click Start and then click Control Panel. display:none
2. In Control Panel, select Network and Sharing Center. display:none
3. Under Sharing and Discovery, turn File Sharing and Printer Sharing to off.
5. Make your folders private. When the folders on your mobile PC are private, it’s more difficult for hackers to access your files.
To make a folder private in Windows XP:
1. Click Start, and then click My Computer. display:none
2. In the My Computer window, double click the drive where Windows is installed, and then double click Documents and Settings. display:none
3. Double click your user folder, right-click the folder that you want to make private, and then click Properties. display:none
4. In the Properties dialog box, on the Sharing tab, click Do no share this folder, and then click OK. Repeat the steps above for each folder that you want to make private. display:none
To make a folder private in Windows Vista
Windows Vista not only makes folders private by default, but it also requires passwords for shared folders. As a result, you’re already covered! But if you want to double check, simply right click on the folder in question, and select Properties. On the Security tab, you can review the set permissions.
6. Encrypt your files. You can protect your files further by encrypting them, which requires a password to open or modify them. Because you must perform this procedure on one file at a time, consider password-protecting only the files that you plan to use while working in a public place.
7. Consider completely removing sensitive data from your notebook PC. If you’re working with extremely sensitive data, it might be worth taking it off your notebook PC altogether. Instead, keep it behind the corporate firewall and use your company’s VPN to access it when necessary. This way, you have multiple safeguards in place.
A few simple precautions can help make working in public places more secure. And by selecting the best connections and adjusting settings, you can enjoy productive and safe work sessions no matter where you are.
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Written by Jason on May 19th, 2008 with no comments.
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Why upgrade? Chances are you have bought something online with a credit card, used internet banking, or dealt with confidential information on your computer. If you use a wireless router with anything less than WPA2 encryption, your information may not be as secure as you think.
“WPA2 security is definitely worth the modest amount of effort required to set it up. The original WPA security standard can be cracked with relative ease unless you use a passphrase that is longer than 20 characters and is not merely composed of words that can be found in a dictionary.” [Quote from the PC World article: Wireless Tips: Your Wireless Network Needs a Security Update]
1. Check current devices for compatibility. Your router and wireless network card may already support WPA2; Google your devices and find out. If they do, download the latest drivers for your wireless network card and update the firmware on your wireless router (very easy to do, but follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully).
If your devices don’t support WPA2, and the security of the information transferred over your network is important to you, consider buying a wireless network card and router that support WPA2. Most recent wireless devices have WPA2 as standard.
2. Download the WPA2 Hotfix for Windows XP. This threw me when I was setting up my network. You need to download this hotfix or WPA2 will not work. It’s that simple. The hotfix is #KB893357 available from the Microsoft Web site.
3. Set a strong password for both network key and wireless router. What’s the point of all this if you set a one word password? So make it greater than 20 characters, consisting of numbers, uppercase and lowercase letters, and obscure characters such as @ and &. Randomize it — be creative. Get your pets to walk on your keyboard. Just don’t be predictable. Pretend you’re Jack Bauer and this is a matter of national security.
4. Don’t bother with MAC filtering or Hide SSID. They add little or nothing to your security. Unless you have a specific reason for doing so, activating them generally only makes your life more stressful.
5. Use TKIP & AES encryption when selecting the encryption settings on your wireless router and on your computer; select WPA2-Personal with TKIP & AES encryption. This is a very high level of security for today’s standards.
HOT TIP: WPA2 Personal is the one to use unless you run a large enterprise.
BONUS TIP: Use the Windows Wireless Assistant built into Windows rather than the one your wireless network card came with. It generally works with less conflict and generally uses less system resources. It’s one less “Yet Another Program That Wants To Load At Startup.”
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Written by Jason on May 5th, 2008 with no comments.
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The first thing that you will have to make a decision on while planning out your home network is will your network will be wired or wireless. The notion in each case will stay put the same where in all your computers will join up to a central router, which will talk the connections to your ISP from side to side a cable or a DSL modem.
It is a frequent fact the wireless home network provides much more expediency than wired networks. They do not necessitate cabling and permit users to move from one room to another with freedom. But wired networks are more secure and dependable and if you can use again the existing phone lines or the electrical wiring, then the cost of installing new cables are reduced radically.
Wired Home Network
In the case of wired networks, the entire set up is known as Local Areas Network (LAN) wherein small bundles of cables are used which is available in every room of your house. These cables can be used for a phone line or a computer connection. More often than not, a minimum of one Ethernet cable is required in a room. A standard pack of wire contains four cables:
1. A coaxial cable for a television
2. A coaxial cable which will provide input from a DVD player
3. Cat5e Ethernet cable for a computer
4. Cat5e Ethernet cable for a phone
The cables lead to a common area where the phone lines can be split and the computer ports can be patched to a panel with jacks. Now, each computer is patched with a short Ethernet cable into the network router to gain access to the Internet.
Wireless Home Network
In the case of wireless networks, the entire system is known as Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) or Wireless Fidelity (WiFi). This type of network has gained such immense popularity over the last five years, that now a wireless node at a coffee place is a common thing. The most common factor that affects the range of your wireless network at home is the wireless access point placed inside the house, the materials used in the construction of the house and any other physical obstructions between your devices the node.
Home Computer Networking Tips
You have to decide on the kind of network that you want for your house depending on the various pros and cons with each type. Below is some home computer networking tips that will help you make the system more robust and secure:
1. Assign static IP addresses to each of the computer. Ensure that you set up a private IP address range to prevent your computers to be directly accessible from the Internet.
2. Set the ‘Auto Connect to wi-fi’ option off. You computer may accidentally connect to a neighboring network, which can pose severe security threats.
3. Ensure that you have changed the default username and passwords for the administrator accounts, especially if you are using a Wi-Fi system. The hackers can easily access your network from outside the building and can hack into your system as all routers come with standard passwords.
4. Ensure that the firewall on all the computers and routers is turned on. Revoke rights that can allow the users to set the firewall off. Installing additional personal software on each computer will help you make your system more secure.
5. Enable MAC address filter on your network. You will also have to provide MAC address to all your computers to turn the filtering on. A MAC address is very difficult to fake and increases the security of a network tremendously.
6. Use a non-standard channel for your wireless network which will make it difficult for your hackers to access your network.
7. In case you have a wireless network setup, then change the default SSID immediately. Also, ensure that you have disabled the SSID broadcast feature on your network router.
8. Network should be turned off when not in use. Turning it on and off frequently is not a feasible solution, however when the network will not be required for an extended period of time, it can be turned off.
9. Enable and use Wired Equivalency Frequency (WEP) which will help encrypt all the data exchanged over your router.
You will require networking your home computers for a home-based business or simply for the convenience of connecting all you home PC and laptops in your house together. You can choose a wired or a wireless network weighing all the pros and cons. But ensure that you stay your network secure from malicious users and viruses.
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Written by Jason on May 4th, 2008 with no comments.
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The following guide allows you to wirelessly sync an iPhone with Amarok in Ubuntu 7.10, including adding, editing and playing songs and playlists.
Note :- it requires a jailbroken iPhone.
Step1 :- Set up the iPhone
On your iPhone:
Click Settings ? General and set Auto-lock to Never. This will ensure the iPhone keeps the WiFi connection open.
Click Settings ? WiFi and select your WiFi network. Click the Static button and change the IP Address to something outside the dynamically assigned range of your network. For example, if your wireless router normally assigns 192.168.1.1 - 192.168.1.5, try 192.168.1.10. This will ensure your iPhone is always contactable at the same address for syncing.
Open Installer.
Click on All Packages ? OpenSSH ? Install.
Click All Packages ? BSD Subsystem ? Install
Step2 :- Set up Ubuntu
A third party source provides the ipod convenience package needed to properly mount and unmount an iPhone or iPod Touch, and for gtkpod users, a newer gtkpod that’s required for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
First you need to edit the /etc/apt/sources.list file
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
add the following line
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ipod-touch/ubuntu gutsy main
Save and exit the file
Update the source list
sudo aptitude update
Install the ipod-convenience and amarok packages
sudo aptitude install ipod-convenience amarok
When asked, enter the IP address of your iPod Touch or iPhone that you selected earlier. When asked for a folder to mount your iPod Touch or iPhone, either leave the default of /media/ipod or another folder if you prefer - just remember to use that folder name for rest of this guide. The package will make the folder for you.
Step3 :- Set up Amarok
Click Applications ? Sound and Video ? Amarok
When you first open up Amarok:
Click Settings ? Configure Amarok.
Choose Media Devices.
Hit Add Device.
Select Apple iPod Media Device for the plugin type.
Point it at your mount point, /media/ipod.
Back in the main app, click the blue cog icon called Configure Device just above the iPhone or iPod Touch. For Pre-Connect Command, add iphone-mount, for the Post-Disconnect Command, add iphone-umount
Click Connect. After entering your password, your iPhone or iPod touch should now appear in Amarok.
You can now add, edit, and delete music to the iPhone like any other device. Just drag the music files into Amarok, and hit Transfer to move them to your iPhone. When you’re done, stop any music playing from the iPhone and click Disconnect.
Music should show now up in the iPhone immediately.
Note: If music doesn’t show up immediately this may be due to a bug recent BSD Subsystem packages missing the killall command. If so, you can download killall for iPhone, move the ‘killall’ file to /usr/bin/on your iPhone, and enable the execute permission.
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Written by Jason on April 23rd, 2008 with no comments.
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Updates and service packs do not serve as exclusive methods of adding functionality to Microsoft’s operating system. In this regard, feature packs are designed to enhance a Windows platform with various components and features on top of the standard releases that are part of a product’s lifecycle. Case in point: Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless made available as of April 16. This is Microsoft’s way of delivering added functionality to Windows Vista on top of the recently released Service Pack 1.
“This software update includes the following components or features that improve wireless support in Windows Vista: Bluetooth version 2.1 support, Unified Pairing user interface, Windows Connect Now updates. Some of these features may work with existing hardware. However, you must have new hardware to take advantage of the new functionality,” Microsoft revealed.
The Redmond company released Windows Vista Service Pack 1 to manufacturing on February 4, 2008. At this point in time, Vista RTM users have access to all 36 language versions of SP1 through Windows Update and the Download Center with the company planning to drop the service pack via Automatic Updates any day now. However, the proximity between SP1 and the Feature Pack does not mean that the extended wireless capabilities have been added to the service pack.
In fact, the Vista Feature Pack for Wireless is an addition to SP1, requiring the service pack in order to install. “This update is compatible with all versions of Windows Vista. It can be installed only on a computer that is running Windows Vista Service Pack 1,” Microsoft stated. However, the company does plan to add the components launched through the Feature Pack for wireless to the next full product release of Windows Vista. The company did not disclose any additional details on its future plans related to Vista.
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Written by Jason on April 21st, 2008 with no comments.
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