Wireless Networking: Is it safe?

You already know that wireless networking is a great technology that offers countless benefits. After all, it’s readily available, easy to install and very affordable.

But, what you may not know is that this technology may also pose serious risks and dangers. You could be opening your personal information, files and integrity to outsiders if you don’t take the necessary precautions to secure the network.

Clear and Present Danger.

Many people assume that a firewall ensures complete online protection. This may be true for the internet, but not necessarily for wireless networking. In fact, a potential intruder could connect directly to your wireless network, bypassing your firewall and getting immediate access to personal information like financial data, tax records or even wills.

A potential intrusion could be as innocent as someone using your connection to the internet for free (and therefore slowing down your connection) to as harmful as distributing illegal material on the internet. Alarmingly, any illegal activity would be traced back to the original broadband account – your computer.

Proceed with Caution.

For the above reasons, it is important to use extra safety and security precautions when accessing your computer from a wireless location. Don’t save any passwords or personal identification numbers on your computer. For example, some websites and internet browsers offer to “remember” this information, but your best bet is to store it somewhere else.

Additionally, you can add some extra security features to your computer. Check out the easy steps for installation.

But most of all, just remember to have your wits about you while you cruise the information super highway. Because as you know, with great technology comes great responsibility. So go forth and go wireless.