by Sharon Brook

Created on: July 20, 2009

Computers contain sensitive information that the user needs to keep confidential. If the user is part of a network which is hacked into by people with a malicious intent, all the information that is there on the computers that make up the network is vulnerable to theft or manipulation.

Start your network security with a router

Routers will generally have network security options which could enable you to change the configuration to enhance security. A router will have default settings that are widely known. Leaving these settings untouched is an open invitation to hackers. So one of the first things you need to do is to revise the default settings and put in network ID, user names and passwords that are all your own. Random combination of characters are the best as long as they avoid personal information that is widely known.

There is a feature called MAC address filtering on most routers. Each device that is connected to the network will have its own MAC address which is a series of numbers and letters. If you enable the MAC address filtering, then only devices that are on the list will have access to the network.

See that your router accepts only static IP addresses that are confined to the IP addresses that you enter manually. In this way no dynamic IP addresses are acceptable to the router and devices not listed with it will be denied entry.

Firewalls as part of network security

A firewall is like a border guard who permits people to enter only after they show the required identification. So use a personal firewall to restrict the entry to your network and also give you information when there is an attempt to enter your network or contact the computers in it. You will also be alerted to requests made by any spyware already there on your computer.

Malicious software

Networks are at risk from spyware or malware that some antivirus software find difficult to detect. So you need to install software that will detect such programs and delete them before they infect your network. So do not skimp on this and install the best such software for better network security. Good software will be able to detect virus and any spyware or malware and also allow you to change security features so that you have better control.

Online threats

You need to exercise the same caution that you would on a personal PC while opening e mails or attachments. If the sender is not known to you just delete the mail with the attachment. It is better than being sorry later. Ensure that all users of the network have this same discipline. Change your passwords for all devices on the network and your router every two or three months.

When you access your network through external computers, this can also be a risk as these computers may record your keystrokes and make your network vulnerable to its being accessed by people who have access to these key loggers. If you are using a wireless transmission to log onto your network it is doubly at risk, as anyone nearby can gain access to the information you use to access your network. Also make it a point to remove any browsing history that is created on the computer you have shared, so that it is hidden from the next user.

If you are in the habit of downloading music or software that is unauthorized, you are at risk when you are making this download as hackers use these sites to install spyware on to your network and computers. Restrict your downloading to sites you can trust and virus scan archives before opening them.

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