Secure wireless home networking.
This concerns the common goal of setting up a wireless home network that resists hacking attemps. At present this can be a somewhat difficult undertaking.
First, a look at why we want to do this. Second, why it is difficult. Finally, looking for solutions.
If you connect your home computer to the Internet, you have a home network. DSL and cable modems are increasingly popular. They are pretty quick and pretty cheap. Wireless networking allows your laptop computer to move from room to room while staying online, and allows placement of desktops (almost) wherever you want in your residence, without as much concern to put them close to the DSL or cable modem.
Unfortunately, wireless networking creates new ways for your computer network to be hacked or eavesdropped upon. An unsecured wireless network allows any computer within range to have a direct pathway to hacking your computer. Additionally, unscrupulous neighbors and ‘wardrivers” in cars parked outside can connect to your wireless network and use your Internet connection as if it were there own. If they wish to, they could commit crimes using your Internet connection, such as by transferring child pornography. The authorities can trace the illegal activity to your home network. You would have difficulty presenting evidence that a wardriver or a neighbor was the guilty party.
Furthermore, your network activity can be eavesdropped upon. While it is not usually a problem if a nosy neighbor reads your e-mail to Aunt Minnie, real problems are created if you bank online, shop online, or ever upload to a web site your personal information, such as your Social Security Number. Identity theft has become a major crime problem. (*)
Security is a difficult challenge generally. If you do create a secure home wireless network, you still could become a victim of identity theft if someone goes through your garbage, for instance. If someone is determined, they can just break into your house and steal your computers. Nevertheless, it is better to shore up one area of vulnerability than to do nothing.
For the above reasons, many people want a secure home wireless network.
Industry has propagated several different secure wireless standards. Most of them have major holes. Methods such as SSID hiding and MAC filtering just don’t work. (†). WEP can be cracked in minutes. (‡)
A good solution is WPA (WPA-PSK) using a random key and a somewhat random SSID. (§) According to Steve Gibson and George Ou, that makes passphrase cracking too long of a process to make it worthwhile for crooks to try to break into your wireless network. Of course, ambitious criminals could simply burglarize your dwelling instead.
The best solution is the new 802.11i standard. This uses WPA2. It can also use a preshared key, and adds AES encryption. The 802.11i standard does require more processing power on the WAP or home wireless router than typical consumer devices have. For example, my consumer-grade D-Link DI-624 (rev C) is firmware-upgradeable to support WPA2. Nevertheless, when I attempt to use that feature, the D-Link keeps dropping the connection. As explained by Barb Bowman, your WAP needs a chip to handle the AES encryption/decryption functions so the other silicon onboard won’t be overloaded. (**) Only a small number of WAPs are certified to be 802.11i-compliant. (††) These tend to be expensive.
In time, the price on 802.11i-certified WAPs should come down to a reasonable level. Until then, WPA-PSK as described above is the best option for home secure wireless networking. For now, when shopping for wireless networking equipment, it is a good idea to price-compare your intended purchase with items that are 802.11i-certified.
With all this trouble, it makes one wonder if rewiring the home for Ethernet with Cat 5, 5e, or 6 would really be such a bad idea. (‡‡)