The introduction of Wi-Fi has created a plethora of chances for thieves. Wireless security is the deterrence of unauthorized users from accessing and stealing data from your wireless network. To be more specific, wireless security protects a Wi-Fi network from unwanted access. Only a minor flaw in your home Wi-Fi network can provide criminal access to nearly all devices that use that Wi-Fi. Access might cause issues with bank accounts, credit card information, kid safety, and a variety of other concerns. Within this article are pertinent recommendations to assist you in protecting your home Wi-Fi network from illegal access.

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Wireless Security – From A to Z –
Types, Threats, To How to Secure
What is Wireless Security?
Wireless security is the deterrence of unauthorized users from
accessing and stealing data from your wireless network. To be
more specific, wireless security protects a Wi-Fi network from
unwanted access.
Wireless security, which includes encryption techniques and
other security procedures to secure data carried over Wi-Fi
networks, is critical in our internet-obsessed age.
The introduction of Wi-Fi has created a plethora of chances for
thieves, and Wi-Fi security is one of the primary preventive
measures to aid in the reduction of cybercrime.
Now that we've introduced the notion of wireless security let's go
a step further and look at 'what is a wireless network?'
What Is a Wireless Network, often known as Wi-
Fi?

2. Wireless networks are a popular residential, business, and
telecommunications network option. A wireless network is a
network of computers that applies Radio Frequency (RF) links to
connect network nodes.
People frequently ask, "What is a wireless network?" because,
while they exist almost everywhere people work and live, how
they work is often a mystery. Similarly, many people mistake all
wireless for Wi-Fi, and many would-be astonished to learn that
the two are not identical.
Yes, both use radio frequency (RF). Still, while both use RF,
there are many different types of wireless networks across
various technologies (Bluetooth, ZigBee, LTE, 5G). In contrast,
Wi-Fi is specific to the wireless protocol defined by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in the 802.11
specification and its amendments.
Now that we've established the fundamental foundation of a
network let's look at the many forms of wireless network
connections.
Wireless Security – Wireless Network
Connection Types
Local Area Network (LAN)
A local-area network (LAN) is a computer network that operates
only at one location, such as an office building. It can link a wide
range of components, including computers, printers, and data
storage devices.

3. LANs are made up of components such as switches, access
points, routers, firewalls, and ethernet cables to connect
everything. The most well-known wireless LAN is Wi-Fi.
Personal Area Network (PAN)
A personal-area network is a network centered on a single
individual's devices in a single place. Computers, phones, video
gaming consoles, and other peripheral devices may be found in a
PAN. They are widespread in private residences and modest
office buildings. Bluetooth is the most widely used wireless PAN.
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
A metropolitan-area network is a network of computers covering
a city, a small geographical region, a company or college
campus, or both. The size of a MAN is one element that
distinguishes it from a LAN. A LAN is often comprised of a single
building or region. Depending on the organization's demands, a
MAN can cover many square kilometers.

4. Large corporations, for example, may employ a MAN if they have
a large campus and need to handle critical components such as
heating and ventilation and electrical systems.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
A wide-area network encompasses a broad area, such as a
whole city, state, or nation. The internet, in reality, is a WAN. A
WAN, like the internet, can comprise smaller networks such as
LANs or MANs. The most well-known wireless WANs are cellular
services.
In today's business environment, these numerous forms of
wireless networking are critical for keeping workers linked to the
internet. Wi-Fi, however, is highly vulnerable to hackers. This is
where the requirement for strong wireless security comes into
play, as provided by wireless security protocols.
Security Protocols for Wireless Networks
Wireless networks are becoming more prevalent in both
enterprises and residences. Most mobile devices now have a
wireless network that is affiliated with the device's brand or
carrier. Public hotspots may also be found at restaurants, coffee
shops, and airports, to mention a few. Public hotspots allow us to
catch up on work or communicate with pals online more easily.
Wireless networks' fundamental problem is their lack of security.
There are, however, procedures that you can implement to boost
wireless security and secure your data from hackers and
criminals.
Wireless security protocols fall into four categories. Each protocol
has a different function and strength. The Wi-Fi Alliance, which
promotes wireless technology and interoperability, created these
standards.
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
In September 1999, WEP was recognized as a Wi-Fi security
standard after being designed for wireless networks. WEP has
several well-known security flaws, and it is also easy to crack and
difficult to configure.

5. WEP is not the best solution for safeguarding your network, and
as a result, different wireless security methods have been
developed. The Wi-Fi Alliance formally abandoned WEP in 2004.
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
In 2003, WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) was created. Its creation
was in response to weaknesses discovered in the WEP protocol.
The creation of WPA was intended to supplement WEP's security
temporarily.
It provides better (128-/256-bit) encryption than WEP by utilizing
the Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP), which dynamically
alters the key that the systems utilize. TKIP prevents hackers
from generating an encryption key similar to the one used by the
secure network.
WPA was a considerable improvement over WEP, but because
the main components were designed to be deployed via firmware
upgrades on WEP-enabled devices, they still relied on
compromised parts, making them subject to infiltration.
WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2)
WPA2, often known as WPA2-Personal, is today's default
algorithm.
The WPA2 protocol was first implemented in 2004. The use of
AES was the most significant enhancement of WPA2 over WPA
(Advanced Encryption Standard).
The US government recognizes AES for encrypting top-secret
material. Thus, it is sufficient for protecting residential networks.
The biggest weakness of a WPA2 system at this moment is when
an attacker already has access to a protected Wi-Fi network and
can acquire access to specific keys to launch an attack on other
devices on the network.
The security recommendations for known WPA2 vulnerabilities
are primarily relevant to enterprise-level networks and aren't
particularly useful for smaller residential networks.
WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3)

6. WPA3 ushers in the first significant enhancements to wireless
security in 14 years.
One of the most critical responsibilities in cybersecurity is
protecting Wi-Fi from hackers. As a result, the launch of the next-
generation wireless security standard WPA3 warrants your
attention: It will not only make Wi-Fi connections safer, but it will
also safeguard you from your security flaws.
Begin by considering how WPA3 will safeguard you at home. It
will expressly limit the damage caused by your sloppy passwords.
WPA2 has a fundamental flaw in that it allows hackers to use an
offline dictionary attack to guess your password. An attacker may
guess your credentials as many times as they want without being
on the same network, cycling through the whole dictionary — and
beyond — in pretty rapid order.
By using a new key exchange mechanism, WPA3 will guard
against dictionary attacks.
The other advantage comes in the case that your password is still
hacked. WPA3 now enables forward secrecy, which means that
any communication that passed through your transom before an
outsider obtained access will remain encrypted. They can also

7. decode outdated communication with WPA2.
WPA3 is compatible with WPA2 devices to encourage wider
deployment. However, it should be noted that the WP3 protocol
may only be used with routers manufactured in 2019 or after.
Continuing our exploration in the world of wireless security, let's
now look at the threats to your wireless network.
What are the Potential Threats to Your Wireless
Network?
The hazards of an unprotected wireless network are the same,
whether it is a household or commercial network. Among the
dangers are:
Password Cracking and Decryption
Password cracking and decryption is an ancient approach that
uses what is known as a "brute force assault." This attack is
based on trial and error, hoping to guess right finally. However,
hackers can use various tools to speed up the process.
Piggybacking
If you do not secure your wireless network, anyone with a
wireless-enabled computer within range of your access point can
use it.
An access point's normal interior broadcast range is 150–300
feet. This range can extend up to 1,000 feet in the open air.

8. As a result, if your area is densely populated or if you live in an
apartment or condominium, failing to secure your wireless
network may expose your internet connection to a large number
of undesired users. These users may engage in unlawful
activities, monitor and collect your online traffic, or steal personal
information.
Wardriving
Wardriving is a type of piggybacking.
A wireless access point's broadcast range can make internet
connections available outside your house, even as far as your
street.
Savvy computer users are aware of this. Some have created a
pastime of driving through towns and neighborhoods with a
wireless-enabled computer—sometimes outfitted with a large
antenna—searching for unprotected wireless networks.
This is referred to as "wardriving."
Evil Twin Attacks
An attacker acquires information about a public network access
point and then configures their machine to imitate it in an evil twin
attack.
The attacker generates a stronger broadcast signal than the
authorized access point, and unwary users connect to the
stronger signal.
Because the victim connects to the internet through the attacker's
system, the attacker may easily access any data the victim
transmits over the internet using specialized tools.
Credit card numbers, login and password combinations, and
other personal information may be included in this data.
Before using a public Wi-Fi hotspot, always validate the name
and password. Doing so ensures that you are connected to a
reliable access point.
Wireless Sniffing

9. Many public access points are not secure, and the data they
transmit is not encrypted. Not being encrypted can jeopardize
meaningful conversations or transactions.
Because your connection is being broadcast "in the clear," bad
actors may be able to get valuable information such as credit
card information and passwords by using sniffing tools.
Ensure that all of the access points you connect utilize at least
WPA2 encryption to bolster your wireless security.
Unauthorized Computer Access
An unprotected public wireless network paired with unsecured file-
sharing might allow a hostile individual to view any folders and
files you mistakenly shared.
When connecting your devices to public networks, make sure you
disable file and folder sharing. Allow sharing only on authorized
home networks and only when it is absolutely required to
exchange stuff.
When not in use, make sure to turn off file sharing. Turning it off
will help prevent an unknown attacker from accessing the files on
your device thus jeopardizing your wireless security.
Shoulder Surfing
Malicious actors can easily look over your shoulder while you
type in public places. They can steal important or confidential
information just by monitoring you.
Screen guards that keep shoulder-surfers from viewing your
device's screen are inexpensive. Be conscious of your
surroundings when accessing sensitive information or entering
passwords on tiny instruments, such as phones.
Man-In-The-Middle Attacks
A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack is a particularly hazardous
sort of cyber assault. A hacker infiltrates a private network by

10. mimicking a rogue access point and stealing login credentials.
The attacker installs hardware that masquerades as a trustworthy
network, such as Wi-Fi, to mislead unsuspecting victims into
connecting to it and providing their credentials.
MITM attacks may occur everywhere because devices will join
the network with the strongest signal and connect to whatever
SSID name they recall.
Now that we have reviewed the potential risks to your wireless
network let's explore steps to wireless security of your home Wi-
Fi network.
How Do I Secure My Home Wi-Fi?
Almost every household member uses laptops, PCs, cell phones,
and tablets to access it.
Only a minor flaw in your home Wi-Fi network can provide
criminal access to nearly all devices that use that Wi-Fi. Access
might cause issues with bank accounts, credit card information,
kid safety, and a variety of other concerns.
The following suggestions might assist you in protecting your
home Wi-Fi network from illegal access.
1. Modify the name of your home Wi-Fi network.
The first step towards the wireless security of your home network
is to modify the SSID (service set identifier). The SSID identifies
the network.
Many manufacturers assign a default SSID to all of their wireless
routers. In most situations, it is the name of the company.

11. When a computer with a wireless connection searches for and
shows nearby wireless networks, it publicly identifies each
network that broadcasts by its SSID.
This increases the likelihood of a hacker entering your network.
It is preferable to alter the network's SSID to something that does
not reveal any personal information to deter hackers from
threatening your wireless security.
2. Change default passwords.
To make setup easier, most network equipment, including
wireless access points, come with default administrator
passwords that are pre-configured. Because these default
passwords are easily acquired online, they give only a limited
level of protection.
Modifying default passwords makes it more difficult for attackers
to access a device. Using and changing complicated passwords
with regularity is your first line of defense in securing your device.

12. 3. Make use of the most recent WPA network encryption.
As we just mentioned in the last section, there are a few Wi-Fi
security types that you may use for your home Wi-Fi. Make it a
point always to use the most recent version that is available.
If your router only supports Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
protection, you should consider replacing it because it is likely
obsolete in other respects as well.
WPA is okay; WPA2 is much better and probably the most recent
version that most routers today can use, and it's okay. WPA3 is
the most current version available, but not all routers can use it;
make the transition if feasible to fortigy your wireless security.
You can alter the Wi-Fi encryption in your router options, which is
the same page to update your password.
4. Ensure your router is up to date.
Before installing a new router or updating an old one, check the
manufacturer's website to see if a more current iteration of the
software is available for download.
To ensure that you are aware of the most recent version, register
your router with the manufacturer and sign up for updates. If you
got your router through your Internet Service Provider (ISP), such
as Verizon or Comcast, contact them to see if they send out
automatic updates.
5. Create a guest network.
Many routers allow you to create a guest network with a unique
name and password. It's a wise security precaution for two
reasons:
1. Having a second login ensures that fewer individuals know
your primary Wi-Fi network password
2. If a guest (unknowingly) has malware on their phone or tablet,
it will not get onto your primary network and your devices.
6. Ensure that you have a solid firewall.
A "firewall" is a program that protects computers against
malicious invasions.

13. Wireless routers often include built-in firewalls; however, they are
sometimes provided with the firewall disabled. Make sure to turn
on the wireless router's firewall.
If your router lacks such a firewall, make sure you install a
reliable firewall solution on your system to monitor for
unauthorized access to bolster your wireless security.
7. Maintain Commercial-grade antivirus software.
Install and maintain your virus definitions up to date using
commercial-grade antivirus software. Many antivirus systems
now include tools for detecting and protecting against spyware
and adware.
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Sophos Home Premium uses the same powerful artificial
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track of application activity on your own home computer network.

14. It monitors whether the software programs on your computer
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