Improving the security of communications networks
Wireless security is often considered a topic for technical experts, but the truth is that everyone who uses a wireless network should know basic security tips so that they do not become a target for hackers when using Wi-Fi. Wireless security is an important topic because when you use an unsecured wireless network, almost anyone can intercept your Internet traffic.
Security and protection in communications networks
Communications security is a critical issue today, as the transmission of sensitive information over communications networks has become increasingly common. Protecting this information is essential to ensure privacy and avoid potential attacks and vulnerabilities.
It is important to keep in mind that communications security is not only the responsibility of communications service providers but also of users. It is necessary to adopt security measures in communications, such as using strong passwords, updating software, and properly configuring network devices.
Wireless network security: It prevents unauthorized access or damage to computers using wireless networks. Now companies and individuals are gradually using wireless technology for important communications that they want to keep private and secure, such as e-commerce transactions, email, and sending other corporate data. At the same time, as wireless platforms mature, become more popular, and store valuable information, hackers are increasing their attacks on these new targets. Security mechanisms in wireless networks are essential to protect data integrity and provide security, access control, authentication, quality of service, user privacy, and service continuity. They also play a crucial role in protecting the functionality of the wireless network.
The most important protocols used in wireless network security.
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy): As its name suggests, WEP is designed to provide the same level of security as wired networks. Wired Equivalent Privacy Protocol provides security to a wireless network by encrypting data. If the data is accessed, it will be unrecognizable to the system that compromised the data, because it is encrypted. However, systems on the authorized network will be able to identify the data because they all use the same encryption algorithm. Systems on a WEP-secured network can usually be authorized by entering the network password. However, WEP has many known security flaws, is difficult to configure, and can be easily broken. It is not difficult to break, and using it reduces the efficiency slightly.
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access): PA is a security protocol designed to create secure wireless networks. WPA handles security keys differently and users are allowed in a way that provides better security than WEP. For encrypted data to work, both systems at the beginning and end of the data transfer must use the same encryption/decryption key. WPA uses the temporal key integrity protocol (TKIP), which dynamically changes the key used by systems. Thus preventing hackers from creating their own encryption key to match the key used by the secure network. WPA also implements something called the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) for authorizing users. Instead of verifying the identity of computers based only on the MAC address, WPA can use many other methods to verify the identity of each computer. This makes it more difficult for unauthorized systems to access the wireless network.
WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access version 2): A2 is an improvement to the WPA protocol. One of the most important changes between WPA and WPA2 was the mandatory use of AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) algorithms and the introduction of CCMP as an innovation of TKIP. Currently, the primary security weakness of the actual WPA2 system is obfuscated (which requires the attacker to actually have access to the secure Wi-Fi network to access certain keys and then attack other devices on the network). As such, the security implications of known WPA2 vulnerabilities are almost entirely limited to enterprise-level networks and merit little practical consideration to home network security.
How to change the name of your virtual home network
The first step in securing your home network is to change its name. Your network name is known as SSID, which stands for Service Set Identifier. If you open the list of Wi-Fi networks on your laptop or smartphone, you'll find a list of nearby SSIDs. Routers broadcast SSIDs so neighboring devices can find any available networks.
SSIDs can be up to 32 characters long. Manufacturers typically create virtual SSIDs by combining the company name with random numbers and letters. It's a good idea to change your SSID name for the following reasons:
A non-generic name may also keep away network attackers or hackers because it shows that your router is managed more carefully than routers that use default generic names.
Change the SSID so that it does not reveal the brand or model of your router. Avoid an ID that includes any personal information, such as your name, address, or phone number. It's a good idea to give your SSID a nice name, one that won't attract the attention of hackers searching for Wi-Fi networks in your area.
Use a strong password for your router
Wireless routers usually come preset with default passwords. Hackers can guess this, especially if they know your router manufacturer. Therefore, change your password as soon as possible to help secure your home router. You can usually do this by connecting to the router's management interface through a web browser, and the address should be the router's default IP address found on the bottom label or in the setup guide.
A strong password is at least 12 characters long, preferably longer, and contains a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. To ensure the security of your home network, it is best to change the password regularly, i.e. every six months or so.
Enhanced Wi-Fi network encryption
Encryption is an important aspect of any protected Wi-Fi setup. Most wireless routers come with an encryption feature that is usually turned off by default. There are four types of Wi-Fi security schemes commonly used to secure transmissions so that only the user's device and Wi-Fi router can read the contents of the transmission.
Which:
- Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
- Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
- Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA 2)
- Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA 3)
- WPA 2 and WPA 3 are the best options for anyone looking for how to secure a Wi-Fi network because they are newer and more secure. While older versions of WPA and WEP are vulnerable to brute force attacks.
How LDI solutions can enhance network security?
LDI Solutions is a company specializing in providing network security solutions. Network security is an essential aspect of any organization's IT infrastructure. It is the practice of protecting computer networks from unauthorized access, theft, or damage. With the increase in cyber attacks, network security has become a top priority for businesses of all sizes.
