Planning Your Wireless Network

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Additional Security Tips

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Security Tips

Keep wireless routers, access points, or gateways away from exterior walls and windows.

Turn wireless routers, access points, or gateways off when they are not being used (at night, during vacations).

Use strong passphrases that are at least eight characters in length. Combine letters and numbers to avoid using standard words that can be found in the dictionary.

Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks

Cisco wants to make wireless networking as safe and easy for you as possible. The current generation of Cisco products provide several network security features, but they require specific action on your part for implementation. So, keep the following suggestions in mind whenever you are setting up or using your wireless network. Also, see “Setting Security Precautions on the Cisco WVC2300” on page 97.

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 to prevent intruders:

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 learns 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 mind about the SSID:

Do not broadcast it

Make it unique

Change it often

Cisco PVC2300 and WVC2300 Internet Video Cameras with Audio Administration Guide

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Cisco Systems WVC2300 Additional Security Tips, Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks, Planning Your Wireless Network