Complete Home Wireless Networking. Windows XP Edition

In this chapter...

• Firewalls

• Choosing a Hardware or Software Firewall

• Wireless Encryption

• Router Filters

• How to Encrypt Your E-mail and Other Data

• Viruses and Your Network

Security might be the last thing on your mind when setting up a wireless network. And while you might not see why anyone would want to go mucking around in your personal files, you don't want to leave your computers completely unsecured. As a general rule, you should employ a level of security that corresponds to the sensitivity of the data on your network.

Some reasons to secure your computer:

• Your personal financial data and medical history might be on your hard drive.

• Fast Internet connections aren't cheap, and you don't want to share your bandwidth with anybody who can drive by your home or office.

• You don't want someone churning out spam from your PC or from your e-mail address.

Wireless security is inherently easier to crack than wired networks because there's no need for a physical connection to your network. Data transfer occurs over the airwaves, and that makes accessing it easier.

You can take a few precautions to increase the level of security on your network. These tips are quick and painless, and they'll make your data safer.