How does one protect their computers from wireless network snoops? There are two essential technologies that are available to help combat and lock those snoops out. They are: WEP and WPA address filtering. This is the primary line of defense against them.
The WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) is one of the most known security elements when it comes to wireless routers. The WEP essentially shuffles information as it channels through the air connecting the computer and the router.
This will require setting up what is called a WEP key. A WEP key will be an individualized code that you will come up with to put into the computer and the router. Snoops are not able to access anything if the WEP is on, which that is the hope and theory of it anyhow. The WEP has a great attribute when it comes to bandwidth repelling, but unfortunately a studied hacker can break the code by using specific software.
Wi-Fi Protected Access or also known as WPA is the most recommended choice when it comes to the security of your wireless. WPA is by far stronger at keeping snoops out than the WEP is. Experts still caution that it can be hacked as well, but with much more difficulty and a lot of time and patience. WPA also utilizes a specified code, but it also has a passphrase as well. A passphrase should be a simple sentence or an easy set of worlds that would be hard to figure out.
Whichever one a consumer chooses, it is important to have sufficient security to protect their information.