Securing a Wireless Access Point or Router

In this short lab, you will learn how to secure your wireless network for home or business using a free online
wireless access point/router emulator. Most major manufactures of wireless routers and access points provide
a free online emulator so their customers can practice configuring and securing their at-home or business
wireless networks.
Students are free to use their personal wireless access point at home to complete this lab but do so at their
own risk. If your wireless router or access point needs to be reset, follow the manufactures instructions or findthe reset button on your device and hold it in for 3-5 seconds and then let go.
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If you don’t have or want to use your personal wireless router, use the following free online emulators to
complete the lab.
Configuring a Linksys E1200 emulator
Linksys E1200 WiFi router login and setup
Free online wireless router emulators
Best Practices for Securing Your Wireless Network
If the LED of your wireless router is continuously blinking and no one from the family is using the Internet at
home, someone else – possibly your neighbors – are using your Wireless (Wi-Fi) network. Use the following
steps to secure your wireless network.
Open your Wi-Fi network settings page or use one of the free online emulators.
You need to know how to access your wireless network settings. This usually can be done by typing
“192.168.1.1” in your web browser, then you need to enter the correct username and password given on the
router. The username and password are different for each router. You can find the username and password of
the router on Google as well if you lost the manual you get when you buy the router.
Create a unique password on your router
The wireless router comes with a default username and password needed to install and connect to the router.
Any password protecting your Wi-Fi network should be long and random, so a hacker can’t crack it. Changing
both access names and passwords will make it very difficult for anyone to gain access. A strong wireless
network password should be at least 20 characters long, including numbers, letters, and various symbols.
Change your SSID Network
SSID stands for (“Service Set Identifier”). It’s a unique ID that consists of 32 characters and is used for naming
wireless networks. It is just a technical term for a network name. Changing the SSID name of your network is a
good idea because others will know to which network they are connecting. You will find this setting under
“wireless setting” on your router setting page. Do not use any personal information for the SSID name.
Separate Your Home Wi-Fi Network from Your Guest Wi-Fi Network
If you wish to allow other people to use your Wi-Fi, it’s sensible to offer a guest network so they can connect to
the internet without getting access to your company’s or family’s network. You can buy a separate internet
connection with its own wireless access point. This is rarely necessary because many business wireless
routers have the capability of running two Wi-Fi networks at once – one is your main network, and another for
guests (often with the SSID “Guest.”)
Enabling Guest Access on Linksys E1200 Router
Enable Network Encryption
You need to encrypt your wireless signals to prevent other computers in the area from using your internet
connection. There are many methods of encryption for wireless settings Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), Wi-Fi
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Protected Access (WPA), Wi-Fi Protected Access Version 2 (WPA2). WPA2 has been the most secure method
for protecting your Wi-Fi connection since the mid-2000s.
Enable MAC authentication for your users
All your wireless devices have a unique MAC address, let it be your laptop or Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phone. You
can add MAC addresses of all your devices to the wireless router’s settings so that only the specified devices
can connect to your Wi-Fi network. You can limit the number of device access to your wireless network. This
prevents unwanted devices from accessing network resources.
Reduce the Range of the Wireless Signal
If your wireless router network has a high range, but you are staying in a small studio apartment, you can
consider reducing the signal range by changing the mode of your router to 802.11g (instead of 802.11n or
802.11b) or use a different wireless channel. You can also place the router under the bed or inside a shoebox
or wrap a foil around the router antennas so that you can somewhat restrict the direction of signals.
Use a Virtual Private Network
A VPN or virtual private network will help you stay safe and secure online while keeping all your stuff private. It
keeps your data hidden from prying eyes/ hackers by encrypting your data from one end to another. In theory,
hackers could access your network, and they’d still not be able to do any harm to your system, assuming that a
VPN is running permanently.
Upgrade router firmware
You should repeatedly check the manufacturer’s site to make sure that your router runs the latest firmware.
Proof of Lab Completion
Take at least three screenshots per lab. Provide a screenshot of the beginning, middle, and end of the lab
Paste the images into a Word document.
Reflection (Write a 100-150 word reflection on what you learned and took away from this lab option. How will
you apply what you have learned in the real world?) feel free to make any recommendations for changing the
lab