Wireless network security

Security… Why?

Making your wireless network secure is necessary; otherwise, it is “open.” Because there is no need to be physically plugged in to your modem, your close neighbours or anyone nearby using a laptop may be able to access your connection from outside your home, which means they would have access to the contents of your computer!

If other people use your Internet connection, it will also increase your Internet usage, which might result in additional charges on your bill.

How to secure your wireless home network

The Wireless Home Networking modem allows you to do several things to protect your home network, including:

1- Use encryption

Encryption, which transforms information into unreadable text, can be used to scramble data on your wireless network, so only computers that have what’s called an encryption key can read your communications. The Home Networking modem supports both common levels of WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption—64 bit and 128 bit—as well as WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access), a more secure encryption standard*.

It is recommended that you change your encryption key regularly. If someone manages to learn your key, they will be locked out again when you change it.

Find out how to set up your encryption key, depending on your modem:

2Wire 2701 modem

Speedstream 6520

Speedstream 6300

* No service provides absolute protection.

2- Use a firewall

The Home Networking modem from Bell has a built-in NAT (Network Address Translation) firewall, which acts like a barrier to help prevent unauthorized access to your home network. NAT is a process that masks your computer’s real IP addresses, making it difficult for hackers to access computers in your home network.

3- Change the default administrator password

By default, you obtain a password to log in to your router. For security reasons, however, you should assign a new one to protect your router against hacker attacks.

When you change the default password on your wireless router, make sure it’s not too easy to guess, like your first or last name.

Discover how to change the default administrator password, depending on your modem:

2Wire 2701 modem

Speedstream 6520

Speedstream 6300

4- Change the default system ID

Today, most wireless devices come with a default system ID called the SSID (Service Set Identifier) or ESSID (Extended Service Set Identifier).

Because hackers can easily find out the default identifier for any wireless equipment, it’s a good idea to change yours to something unique (that means no variations of your first or last name).

Learn how to change the default system ID, depending on your modem:

2Wire 2701 modem

Speedstream 6520

Speedstream 6300

5- Get anti-virus software

When several computers have Internet access in your home, it becomes more important to guard against computer viruses. Each computer connected to your home network should have up-to-date anti-virus software installed to help protect against harmful computer viruses. Check our help section for tips to surf safely and a list of tools you need to protect your computer—including MSN Premium and Sympatico Security Services, ideal all-in-one protection for your computer.