Is your WiFi Internet Connection OPEN or SECURED?

This is a concern as many internet users do not check if their wireless internet is secured or open.
Many wireless broadband internet users did not know that their wireless internet access signal can extend beyond their boundary or house walls and out on the streets? Did you know that your next door neighbor and anyone parked nearby within your wireless signal range can open their laptops and see your wireless signals. Connect to it, browse the net or even do illegal activities on the net using your signal. They can also change your wireless router interface settings if it is open.

Routers and broadband modems have pre-installed user name and passwords known to every hardware and software engineer. They are easy to guess based on the SSID of your wireless signal. One a wireless signal is detected and connected, knowing its IP address is very easy. Jumping from one IP address to another and tracking its router just takes a few seconds.

More over, a hacker can be sitting in one city and can visit another cities modem through individual or groups of peoples connection. Once the hacker gets to this modem, viewing the source code revels the modem or router's user name and password for him.

Some internet security reseachers have roamed all around some of the cities and they found many wireless internet connects open without security enabled with the same SSID. These are mainly due to hardware vendors use the same SSID to install your connections. The password is usually "admin" or "password" for most routers such as Cisco internet broadband routers and Huawai.

Sending spam emails through these hacked accounts have been a common feature in recent times. The user email is genuine.

My suggestion for many wireless intenret broadband users for securing their network are as follows:

1. Most importantly, change the default user name and password of your internet router components. To do this is simple, it depends on what device you are using. You can use your internet IP address on your web browser to do this. example, type in http://192.168.1.1 on your web browser and press enter key from your keyboard. Please refer to your broadband internet router manual for correct IP address, user name and password.

2) It is very important and vital to restrict network for connections

3) Install WEP or WAP password for user authentication and security purposes.

4) Never broadcast you SSID key unless need to do so.

These suggestions will surely help individual users to prevent crime over the internet. Hackers searching for open WiFi connections will not be able to send emails using your accounts. Any crime committed by them will not be your responsibility.

Please do feel free to add any comment/s that you think might be useful to readers.
Many thank you.