The best wireless routers are extremely popular, but when it comes to secure networks, are users taking the right measures to protect their wireless connection? The consequences of not having the correct safe guards in place can be very serious, whether it’s prone to hacking or slow and dropped connections. Good security definitely is crucial to protect any wireless networking user.

With the explosion of broadband, the widespread usage of the internet has grown immensley. It is typically common for households to have more then one computer. It is also common for people to have gadgets, netbooks, and laptops and want to access the internet from anywhere in their home. A wireless router allows members of these households to connect to the internet simultaneously, and it enables people to access the internet without the need to be physically connected to a cable.

It is important for consumers to fully comprehend the need to protect their wireless connection. Unfortunately, all too often people don’t set passwords or any encryption on their network settings. This means that anyone within range can access the internet or their computer from their wireless router. The following is just some of the consequences of this:

• ID theft
• Copying bank details as the user types them (key stroke logging)
• Viewing illegal sites
• Stealing bandwidth
• Changing or deleting files

It is typically very easy to set up proper security settings on a wireless router. Consumers are advised to follow the manufacturers instructions, as they may vary depending on the model.

The first thing that all consumers should do is to set a different username and password to the default. This should be something personal that others will not be able to guess.

These days, most wireless routers have built-in encryption. This should always be turned on. If the wireless router and devices are built to the wireless B standard, then the encryption should be set to WEP. If the router and devices are the newer wireless G standard, then the encryption should be set to a more powerful WPA. Setting the encryption will prevent anyone else from access the wireless router without the encryption key. This is a very powerful security measure and is almost impossible for an intruder to get around.

Some wireless routers come with MAC address filtering. This means that only computers and devices that are specified can access the wireless router. Turning on MAC filtering offers another layer of protection.

Failing to protect a wireless router from hackers and intruders can lead to very dire consequences. But putting the correct security measures in place is very straightforward. Always follow the manufacturers instructions. Ensure a personal username and password is set. Turn on encryption and add the encryption key to each computer and device. Set MAC filtering if available.