Introduction to Cyber Security

Use most secure possible encryption: The first and most necessary step- use industry standard encryptions. The old (however generally used) WEP-Wired Equivalent Privacy, has been known to be broken. Even you use complex passwords it can be broken and decrypted within minutes or hours. WEP uses 40 bit or 128 bits RC4 ciphers to encrypt the channel.

Instead use secure protocols such as WPA 2 – Wi-Fi Protected Access- 2, which uses strong 128 bits AES ciphers and is typically considered more robust encryption strategy available.
Attacks mitigated: WEP Key cracking, Sniffing, Capturing/Eavesdropping

2. 
   Use Firewall: All the wireless routers come with built-in firewalls. Enable them with all the security features. You should block any anonymous ping requests and place restrictions on website browsing, if required. Define additional security policies and apply them.
   

Attacks mitigated: Fingerprinting, System compromise

3. 
   Have a monitoring system in place: There‟s a saying- prevention is better than a cure. If you are able to detect some suspicious activities before it penetrates your network, you can block them or take precautionary measures. Deploy WIPS/WIDS for monitoring suspicious activities.
   

Attacks mitigated: Scanning, DoS

4. 
   Don’t use default credentials: Every wireless router comes with a set of default username/password. Sometimes, people don‟t change them and keep using them for long time. Username and passwords are used by computers or other devices to connect to wireless router. If any hacker is able to guess them, he can connect to your network easily. Studies show that majority of users use the same combination of username/passwords as set by manufacturers. Some default username combinations are: admin/admin, admin/password or admin/ “ “.