Q87-WPC54GV3Wireless-G Notebook Adapter

A Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. ® Model No. Notebook Adapter Wireles s -G WPC54G V3 Us er Guide WIRELESS GHz 2.4 802.11g with SpeedBooster Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Copyright and Trademarks Specifications are subject to change without notice. Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. Copyright © 2004 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. This User Guide The User Guide to the Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster has been designed to make understanding networking easier than ever. Look for the following items when reading this guide: In addition to these symbols, there are definitions for technical terms that are presented like this: Also, each figure (diagram, screenshot, or other image) is provided with a figure number and description, like this: Figure numbers and descriptions can also be found in the "List of Figures" section in the “Table of Contents”. This exclamation point means there is a caution or warning and is something that could damage your property or the Adapter. word: definition. This checkmark means there is a note of interest and is something you should pay special attention to while using the Adapter. This question mark provides you with a reminder about something you might need to do while using the Adapter. Figure 0-1: Sample Figure Description WPC54GS-UG-40220NC BW Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction1 Welcome1 What’s in this Guide?2 Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network4 Network Topology4 Roaming4 Network Layout5 Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Notebook Adapter6 The LED Indicators6 Chapter 4: Software Installation and Configuration7 The Installation Procedure8 Chapter 5: Hardware Installation12 Connecting the Adapter12 Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor13 Accessing the WLAN Monitor13 Link Information13 Site Survey16 Profiles17 Creating a New Profile18 Appendix A: Troubleshooting30 Common Problems and Solutions30 Frequently Asked Questions31 Appendix B: Wireless Security34 Security Precautions34 Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks34 Appendix C: Windows Help37 Appendix D: Glossary38 Appendix E: Specifications45 Appendix F: Warranty Information46 Appendix G: Regulatory Information47 Appendix H: Contact Information49 Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster List of Figures Figure 3-1: Front Panel 6 Figure 4-1: The Setup Wizard’s Welcome Screen 7 Figure 4-2: The Setup Wizard’s License Agreement 8 Figure 4-3: The Setup Wizard’s Wireless Mode Screen 8 Figure 4-4: The Setup Wizard’s Ad-Hoc Mode Screen 9 Figure 4-5: The Setup Wizard’s WEP Screen 9 Figure 4-6: The Setup Wizard’s WPA-PSK Screen 10 Figure 4-7: The Setup Wizard’s Check Settings Screen 10 Figure 4-8: The Setup Wizard’s Congratulations Screen 11 Figure 5-1: How the Adapter installs into your notebook 12 Figure 6-1: Link Information 13 Figure 6-2: More Information-Network Settings 14 Figure 6-3: More Information-Network Statistics15 Figure 6-4: Site Survey 16 Figure 6-5: Profiles 17 Figure 6-6: Importing a Profile 17 Figure 6-7: Exporting a Profile 17 Figure 6-8: Creating a New Profile 18 Figure 6-9: Enter Profile Name 18 Figure 6-10: Wireless Mode for New Profile 19 Figure 6-11: Ad-Hoc Mode Settings 19 Figure 6-12: Netowork Settings 20 Figure 6-13: Wireless Security for New Profile 21 Figure 6-14: WEP Setting for New Profile 21 Figure 6-15: WPA-PSK Settings 22 Figure 6-16: TKIP Settings 22 Figure 6-17: WPA RADIUS Settings 23 Figure 6-18: Encryption Type 23 Figure 6-19: EAP-TLS Authentication 24 Figure 6-20: EAP-TTLS Authentication 24 Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Figure 6-21: EAP-MD5 Authentication 25 Figure 6-22: EAP-PEAP Authentication 25 Figure 6-23: EAP-LEAP Authentication 25 Figure 6-24: RADIUS Settings 26 Figure 6-25: EAP-TLS Authentication 26 Figure 6-26: EAP-TTLS Authentication 27 Figure 6-27: EAP-MD5 Authentication 27 Figure 6-28: EAP-PEAP Authentication 28 Figure 6-29: LEAP Authentication 28 Figure 6-30: TKIP Settings 29 Figure 6-31: EAP-TLS Authentication 29 1 Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Chapter 1: Introduction Welcome Thank you for choosing the Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster. With this Adapter, your wireless networking experience will be faster and easier than ever. Like all wireless products, the Adapter allows for greater range and mobility within your wireless network. This adapter communicates over the 54Mbps 802.11g wireless standard, which is almost five times faster than 802.11b. But since they share the same 2.4GHz radio band, the Adapter can also communicate with the widely used 11Mbps 802.11b standard. PCs equipped with wireless cards and adapters can communicate without cumbersome cables. By sharing the same wireless settings, within their transmission radius, they form a wireless network. The included Setup Wizard will walk you through configuring the adapter to your network's settings, step by step. Then just slide it into your notebook's PC Card slot and enjoy network access with your notebook computer, while retaining true mobility. Once you're connected, you can keep in touch with your e-mail, access the Internet, and share files and other resources such as printers and network storage with other computers on the network. At home, you can surf the web or use instant messaging to chat with friends while sitting out on the patio. Your wireless connection is protected by up to 128-bit WEP encryption. You'll also be able to connect with any of the growing number of public wireless hotspots springing up in coffee shops, airport lounges, hotels and convention centers. And as those hotspots upgrade to the new high-speed Wireless-G standard, you'll be ready to take advantage of the increased speeds. Get conne…

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5 Chapter 2: Planning your Wireless Network Network Layout Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Network Layout Linksys wireless access points and wireless routers have been designed for use with 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g products. With 802.11g products communicating with the 802.11b standard and some products incorporating both “a” and “g”, products using these standards can communicate with each other. Access points and wireless routers are compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g adapters, such at the PC Cards for your laptop computers, PCI Card for your desktop PC, and USB Adapters for when you want to enjoy USB connectivity. Wireless products will also communicate with the wireless PrintServer. When you wish to connect your wired network with your wireless network, network ports on access points and wireless routers can be connected to any of Linksys's switches or routers. With these, and many other, Linksys products, your networking options are limitless. Go to the Linksys website at www.linksys.com for more information about wireless products. 6 Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Notebook Adapter The LED Indicators Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Chapter 3: Getting to Know the Wireless-G Notebook Adapter The LED Indicators The Network Adapter's LEDs display information about network activity. PowerGreen. The Power LED lights up when the Adapter is powered on. LinkGreen. The Link LED lights up when the Adapter has an active connection. Figure 3-1: Front Panel 7 Chapter 4: Software Installation and Configuration Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Chapter 4: Software Installation and Configuration The Wireless Wireless-G Notebook Adapter Setup Wizard will guide you through the installation procedure. The Setup Wizard will install the WLAN Monitor and driver, as well as configure the Adapter. Insert the Setup Wizard CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. The Setup Wizard should run automatically, and the Welcome screen should appear. If it does not, click the Start button and choose Run. In the field that appears, enter D:\setup.exe (if “D” is the letter of your CD-ROM drive). On the Welcome screen, you have the following choices: Install - Click the Install button to begin the software installation process. User Guide - Click the User Guide button to open the PDF file of this User Guide. Exit - Click the Exit button to exit the Setup Wizard. NOTE:You must run the Setup Wizard to install the software before installing the hardware. Figure 4-1: The Setup Wizard’s Welcome Screen 8 Chapter 4: Software Installation and Configuration The Installation Procedure Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster The Installation Procedure 1. To install the Adapter, click the Install button on the Welcome screen. 2. After reading the License Agreement, click the Next button if you agree, or click the Cancel button to end the installation. 3. The Setup Wizard will ask you to choose a network mode. Click the Infrastructure Mode radio button if you want your wireless computers to network with computers on your wired network using a wireless access point. Click the Ad-Hoc Mode radio button if you want multiple wireless computers to network directly with each other. In the SSID field, enter the SSID of your wireless network. The SSID must be identical for all devices in the network. The default setting is linksys (all lowercase). Click the Next button. Figure 4-2: The Setup Wizard’s License Agreement Figure 4-3: The Setup Wizard’s Wireless Mode Screen NOTE:Network SSIDs should be unique to your network and identical for all devices within the network. 9 Chapter 4: Software Installation and Configuration The Installation Procedure Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster 4. If you chose Infrastructure Mode, go to Step 5 now. If you chose Ad-Hoc Mode, select the correct operating channel for your network. Then, select the Network Mode from the drop-down menu. Click the Next button, and go to Step 5. Click the Back button to change any settings. Channel - The channel you choose should match the channel set on the other devices in your wireless network. If you are unsure about which channel to use, select the default channel (Channel 6). Network Mode - Select Mixed Mode, and both Wireless-G and Wireless-B computers will be allowed on the network, but the speed will be reduced. Select G-Only Mode for maximum speed, but no Wireless-B users will be allowed on the network. 5. Select the type of security you want to use: 64-bit WEP, 128-bit WEP, or WPA-PSK. All devices in a network must use the same type. WEP WEP - To use WEP encryption, select 64-bits or 128-bit characters from the drop-down menu, and enter a passphrase or WEP key. Passphrase - Instead of manually entering a WEP key, you can enter a passphrase in the Passphrase field, so a WEP key is automatically generated. It is case-sensitive and should not be longer than 16 alphanumeric characters. This passphrase must match the passphrase of your other wireless network devices and is compatible with Linksys wireless products only. (If you have any non-Linksys wireless products, enter the WEP key manually on those products.) WEP Key - The WEP key you enter must match the WEP key of your wireless network. If you are using 64-bit WEP encryption, then the key must consist of exactly 10 hexadecimal characters. If you are using 128-bit WEP encryption, then the key must consist of exactly 26 hexadecimal characters. Valid hexadecimal characters are “0” to “9” and “A” to “F”. Transmit Key - The default transmit key number is 1. If your network’s access point or wireless router uses transmit key number 2, 3, or 4, select the appropriate number from the Transmit Key drop-down box. Authentication -The default is set to Auto, where it auto-detects for Shared Key or Open system. Shared Key is when both the sender and the recipient share a WEP key for authentication. Open key is when the sender and the recipient do not share …

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14 Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Link Information Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Clicking the More Information button displays more information about the Adapter’s connection, as shown below: Wireless Network Status The Networks Settings screen provides information on your current network settings. Wireless Network Status Status - The status of the wireless network connection. SSID - This is the unique name of the wireless network. Wireless Mode - The mode of the wireless network currently in use is displayed here. Transfer Rate - The data transfer rate of the current connection is shown here. Channel - The channel to which the wireless network devices are set. Encryption- The status of the security feature. Authentication - This is your wireless network’s authentication method. Network Mode - The wireless mode currently in use. IP Address - The IP Address of the Adapter. Subnet Mask - The Subnet Mask of the Adapter. Default Gateway - The Default Gateway address of the Adapter. DNS - The DNS address of the Adapter. DHCP Client- This displays the status of the DHCP client. MAC - The MAC address of the wireless network’s access point. Signal Strength - The Signal Strength bar indicates the signal strength. Link Quality - The Link Quality bar indicates the quality of the wireless network connection. Figure 6-2: More Information-Network Settings 15 Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Link Information Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Click the Statistics button to go to the Network Statistics screen. Click the Back button to return to the initial Link Information screen. Click the Save to Profile button to save the currently active connection to a profile. Wireless Network Statistics The Networks Statistics screen provides statistics on your current network settings. Transmit Rate - The data transfer rate of the current connection.(In Auto mode, the Adapter dynamically shifts to the fastest data transfer rate possible at any given time.) Receive Rate - The rate that data is received. Packets Received - This shows the packets received by the Adapter, in real time, since connecting to the Wireless Network or since the Refresh button was last pressed. Packets Transmitted - This shows the packets transmitted from the Adapter, in real time, since connecting to the Wireless Network or since the Refresh button was last pressed. Bytes Received - This shows the bytes received by the Adapter, in real time, since connecting to the Wireless Network or since the Refresh button was last pressed. Bytes Transmitted - This shows the bytes transmitted from the Adapter, in real time, since connecting to the Wireless Network or since the Refresh button was last pressed. Noise Level - This is your wireless network’s authentication method. Signal Strength - This shows the Adapter’s IP Address. Driver Version - This shows the version of the Adapter’s driver. Signal Strength - The Signal Strength bar indicates the signal strength. Link Quality - The Link Quality bar indicates the quality of the wireless network connection. Click the Back button to return to the initial Link Information screen. Click the Status button to go to the Network Status screen. Click the Save to Profile button to save the currently active connection to a profile. Click the Refresh Stats button to refresh the screen. Figure 6-3: More Information-Network Statistics 16 Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Site Survey Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Site Survey The Site Survey screen displays a list of infrastructure and ad-hoc networks available for connection in the table on the right. This table shows the network’s SSID, Channel, and the quality of the wireless signal the Adapter is receiving. You may click SSID, CH (Channel), or Signal, to sort by that field. SSID - The SSID or unique name of the wireless network. CH - The channel upon which the network broadcasts. Signal - The percentage of signal strength, from 0 to 100%. Site Information For each network selected, the following settings are listed: SSID - The SSID or unique name of the wireless network. Wireless Mode - The mode of the wireless network currently in use. Channel - The channel to which the wireless network devices are set. Encryption- The status of the encryption security feature. MAC - The MAC address of the wireless network’s access point. Refresh - Click the Refresh button to perform a new search for wireless devices. Connect - To connect to one of the networks on the list, select the wireless network, and click the Connect button. Figure 6-4: Site Survey 17 Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Profiles Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Profiles The Profiles screen lets you save different configuration profiles for different network setups. The table on the right displays a list of infrastructure and ad-hoc networks available for connection This table shows the network’s profile name and the wireless network’s SSID, as set in the connection profile. Profile Information For each profile selected, the following are listed: Wireless Mode - The mode of the wireless network currently in use. Transfer Rate - The Adapter is set to Auto mode, so it will dynamically shift to the fastest data transfer rate possible at any given time. Channel - The channel to which the wireless network devices are set. Encryption- The status of the encryption security feature. Authentication - The authentication setting for the network. Connect - To connect to a wireless network using a specific profile, select the profile, and click the Connect button. New - Click the New button to create a new profile. See the next section, “Creating a New Profile,” for detailed instructions. Edit - Select a profile, and click the Edit button to change an existing profile. Import - Click the Import button to import a profile that has been saved in another location. Select the appropriate file, and click the Open butto…

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23 Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Creating a New Profile Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster WPA RADIUS features WPA used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router.) WPA Radius offers two encryption methods, TKIP and AES, with dynamic encryption keys. It offers five authentication methods: EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, EAP-MD5, EAP-PEAP, and LEAP. Click the Next button to continue and the screen in Figure 6-19 appears. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. Select the type of algorithm, TKIP or AES, for the Encryption Type. Click the Next button to continue. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. Figure 6-17: WPA RADIUS Settings Figure 6-18: Encryption Type 24 Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Creating a New Profile Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Figure 6-19: EAP-TLS Authentication Figure 6-20: EAP-TTLS Authentication The screen in Figure 6-20 appears next. Select the Authentication Method from the drop-down menu. The options are described below. EAP-TLS Enter the Login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field. From the Certificate drop-down menu, select the certificate you have installed to authenticate you on your wireless network. Select Validate server cerificate to make sure that the certificate for the server is valid. Click the Next button to continue. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. EAP-TTLS Enter the Login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field. Enter the password of your wireless network in the Password field. Select Validate server cerificate to make sure that the certificate for the server is valid. Select the TTLS Protocol from the drop-down menu. Click the Next button to continue. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. 25 Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Creating a New Profile Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster EAP-MD5 Enter the Login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field. Enter the password of your wireless network in the Password field. Click the Next button to continue. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. EAP-PEAP Enter the Login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field. Enter the password of your wireless network in the Password field. Select Validate server cerificate to make sure that the certificate for the server is valid. Then, select the Peap Inner EAP from the drop-down menu. Click the Next button to continue. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. LEAP Enter the Login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field. Enter the password of your wireless network in the Password field. Click the Next button to continue. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. Figure 6-21: EAP-MD5 Authentication Figure 6-22: EAP-PEAP Authentication Figure 6-23: EAP-LEAP Authentication 26 Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Creating a New Profile Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster RADIUS RADIUS features WPA used in coordination with a RADIUS server. (This should only be used when a RADIUS server is connected to the Router.) It offers five authentication methods: EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, EAP-MD5, EAP- PEAP, and LEAP. Click the Next button to continue and the screen in Figure 6-19 appears. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. The screen in Figure 6-26 appears next. Select the Authentication Method from the drop-down menu. The options are described below. EAP-TLS Enter the Login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field. From the Certificate drop-down menu, select the certificate you have installed to authenticate you on your wireless network. Select Validate server cerificate to make sure that the certificate for the server is valid. Click the Next button to continue. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. Figure 6-25: EAP-TLS Authentication Figure 6-24: RADIUS Settings 27 Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Creating a New Profile Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster EAP-TTLS Enter the Login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field. Enter the password of your wireless network in the Password field. Select Validate server cerificate to make sure that the certificate for the server is valid. Select the TTLS Protocol from the drop-down menu. Click the Next button to continue. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. EAP-MD5 Enter the Login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field. Enter the password of your wireless network in the Password field. Click the Next button to continue. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. Figure 6-26: EAP-TTLS Authentication Figure 6-27: EAP-MD5 Authentication 28 Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Creating a New Profile Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster EAP-PEAP Enter the Login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field. Enter the password of your wireless network in the Password field. Select Validate server cerificate to make sure that the certificate for the server is valid. Then, select the Peap Inner EAP from the drop-down menu. Click the Next button to continue. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. LEAP Enter the Login name of your wireless network in the Login Name field. Enter the password of your wireless network in the Password field. Click the Next button to continue. Click the Back button to return to the previous screen. Figure 6-28: EAP-PEAP Authentication Figure 6-29: LEAP Authentication 29 Chapter 6: Using the Wireless Network Monitor Creating a New Profile Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster 7. The Confirm New Settings screen will appear next showing the new settings. To save the new settings, click the Save button. To edit the new settings, click the Back button. To exit the Wireless Network Monitor, click Exit. 8. The Con…

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32 Appendix A: Troubleshooting Frequently Asked Questions Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster maintain contact with the wireless network even when not actually transmitting data. Achieving these functions simultaneously requires a dynamic RF networking technology that links access points and nodes. In such a system, the user’s end node undertakes a search for the best possible access to the system. First, it evaluates such factors as signal strength and quality, as well as the message load currently being carried by each access point and the distance of each access point to the wired backbone. Based on that information, the node next selects the right access point and registers its address. Communications between end node and host computer can then be transmitted up and down the backbone. As the user moves on, the end node’s RF transmitter regularly checks the system to determine whether it is in touch with the original access point or whether it should seek a new one. When a node no longer receives acknowledgment from its original access point, it undertakes a new search. Upon finding a new access point, it then re-registers, and the communication process continues. What is ISM band? The FCC and their counterparts outside of the U.S. have set aside bandwidth for unlicensed use in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band. Spectrum in the vicinity of 2.4 GHz, in particular, is being made available worldwide. This presents a truly revolutionary opportunity to place convenient high-speed wireless capabilities in the hands of users around the globe. What is Spread Spectrum? Spread Spectrum technology is a wideband radio frequency technique developed by the military for use in reliable, secure, mission-critical communications systems. It is designed to trade off bandwidth efficiency for reliability, integrity, and security. In other words, more bandwidth is consumed than in the case of narrowband transmission, but the trade-off produces a signal that is, in effect, louder and thus easier to detect, provided that the receiver knows the parameters of the spread-spectrum signal being broadcast. If a receiver is not tuned to the right frequency, a spread-spectrum signal looks like background noise. There are two main alternatives, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) and Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS). What is DSSS? What is FHSS? And what are their differences? Frequency-Hopping Spread-Spectrum (FHSS) uses a narrowband carrier that changes frequency in a pattern that is known to both transmitter and receiver. Properly synchronized, the net effect is to maintain a single logical channel. To an unintended receiver, FHSS appears to be short-duration impulse noise. Direct-Sequence Spread- Spectrum (DSSS) generates a redundant bit pattern for each bit to be transmitted. This bit pattern is called a chip (or chipping code). The longer the chip, the greater the probability that the original data can be recovered. Even if one or more bits in the chip are damaged during transmission, statistical techniques embedded in the radio can recover the original data without the need for retransmission. To an unintended receiver, DSSS appears as low power wideband noise and is rejected (ignored) by most narrowband receivers. dsss: Frequency transmission with a redundant bit pattern resulting in a lower probability of information being lost in transit. ism band: radio bandwidth utilized in wireless transmissions. spread spectrum: wideband radio frequency technique used for more reliable and secure data transmission. 33 Appendix A: Troubleshooting Frequently Asked Questions Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Would the information be intercepted while transmitting on air? WLAN features two-fold protection in security. On the hardware side, as with Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum technology, it has the inherent security feature of scrambling. On the software side, WLAN offers the encryption function (WEP) to enhance security and access control. What is WEP? WEP is Wired Equivalent Privacy, a data privacy mechanism based on a shared key algorithm, as described in the IEEE 802.11 standard. 34 Appendix B: Wireless Security Security Precautions Wireless-G Notebook Adapter with SpeedBooster Appendix B: Wireless Security Linksys wants to make wireless networking as safe and easy for you as possible. The current generation of Linksys products provide several network security features, but they require specific action on your part for implementation. So, keep the following in mind whenever you are setting up or using your wireless network. Security Precautions The following is a complete list of security precautions to take (at least steps 1 through 5 should be followed): 1. Change the default SSID. 2. Disable SSID Broadcast. 3. Change the default password for the Administrator account. 4. Enable MAC Address Filtering. 5. Change the SSID periodically. 6. Use the highest encryption algorithm possible. Use WPA if it is available. Please note that this may reduce your network performance. 7. Change the WEP encryption keys periodically. Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks Wireless networks are easy to find. Hackers know that in order to join a wireless network, wireless networking products first listen for “beacon messages”. These messages can be easily decrypted and contain much of the network’s information, such as the network’s SSID (Service Set Identifier). Here are the steps you can take: Change the administrator’s password regularly. With every wireless networking device you use, keep in mind that network settings (SSID, WEP keys, etc.) are stored in its firmware. Your network administrator is the only person who can change network settings. If a hacker gets a hold of the administrator’s password, he, too, can change those settings. So, make it harder for a hacker to get that information. Change the administrator’s password regularly. SSID. There are several things to keep in m…

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