- Use
encryption on your wireless network
using the strongest encryption scheme supported by your wireless router
and client computers. Use
WPA2-Personal if possible. At a minimum use WPA-Personal.
- Use a long random ASCII key longer than 25-characters. I recommend the use of an online key generator to generate a long random ASCII key. Here is an example 63-character random ASCII key which can be saved to a flash drive for later use or to give to guest clients that you allow to connect to your home wireless network: S3JYtUK<-s'sIztyK82'-#86^DFzzw=7\B7)g.*s0PX6rm},sZ?>2TX'@q&x:G+
Personally I use
WPA2-Personal [WPA2-PSK (AES)] and a 63-character random ASCII key
to protect my
wireless network at home.
The real key to good
security is to use strong encryption...
Connecting to wireless networks with Windows
Vista
Connecting to Wireless Networks with Windows Vista: The Cable Guy, April 2006
Windows XP
The New Wireless Network Setup Wizard in Windows XP Service Pack 2: The Cable Guy, June 2004
Windows Wireless Networking
Wireless Networking from Microsoft TechNet
Laptop guidance - Firewall and network configuration for public wireless hotspots
Vista
Make sure the Vista wireless network type is configured as Public. The following table is from this Cable Guy article.
| Behavior for the Public Location Type |
|
For the Public location type, the
assumption is that the computer is directly connected to the
Internet and therefore exposed to incoming malicious traffic
from the Internet. Because of a possible hostile networking
environment, the following default settings are automatically
configured for networks with the Public location type: • Windows Firewall is turned on • Network discovery is turned off • All forms of file and printer sharing are turned off, including file sharing, printer sharing, public folder sharing, and media sharing If you change these default settings, they will be applied to every network with the Public location type. |
Windows XP
Run a software firewall on your laptop and have it configured for Don't allow exceptions. That way the laptop is protected from incoming probes all the time which is particularly important at public wireless hotspots. The following screen shot is from a Windows XP SP2 computer running the Windows Firewall.
