08/31/07

Dear Brainstorm, Is it true when my neighbor says she can see and use my wireless Internet connection? – Linda in Durango
 
Dear Linda: It might be. Home and office wireless networks have become extremely popular over the past few years because many people enjoy the freedom of being able to access the Internet from any area of their home or office without having to drag along a network cable wherever they go. Your wireless network may be broadcasting your connection beyond the boundaries of your home or office making it available for neighbors to access with their wireless capable computer. The typical range of your wireless network is usually less than 300 feet in any direction from your wireless modem. If your nearest neighbor is 300 feet or more away the likelihood that they are able to access your network is very minimal.
  
Keep in mind that it is not crucial that you secure your wireless network to continue enjoying your Internet service, we offer this information only as an option for your own peace of mind in the event that you have security concerns about your connection. If your modem or router does not have wireless capability, or if you have turned off the wireless function of your modem or router, you can disregard this security information.

The single most effective way to secure your wireless connection from unauthorized use is to activate the Wired Equivalent Privacy feature built into your wireless modem. WEP, as it is commonly called, is easy to set up. Once it is turned on your wireless network will only allow someone to connect to it if they know the password you have specified. Some wireless modems come with this feature turned on by default, and you may already have this protection in place. WEP does secure your network with a password, but don’t worry about having to remember yet another password because after the first time you connect to your WEP secured wireless network your computer will remember the password for you and you won’t have to enter it again (just like your email program remembers your email password for you).

If you are using a 2Wire brand DSL modem that you acquired from Brainstorm Internet or Qwest you are most likely already WEP protected because these modems arrive to you with WEP already turned on. If you are using an ActionTec branded DSL modem that you acquired from Qwest, your modem most likely arrived to you without WEP security enabled. For easy step by step instructions to enable and use WEP on your ActionTec wireless DSL modem please click the following link: http://www.gobrainstorm.net/support/actiontecwep.htm If you are using a Linksys, D-Link, Netgear or any other brand of modem or router that you acquired on your own, you should have received detailed documentation with it that will instruct you how to enable WEP on your particular piece of equipment.

No network can ever be 100% secure from outsiders, but just by taking the simple steps outlined above you will make your wireless network much more secure, protect your personal data from prying eyes and keep uninvited guests from enjoying a free ride on your Internet connection.

As always, thank you for choosing Brainstorm Internet. It is our pleasure to serve you and we will continue striving for new ways to improve your Internet experience. If there is a specific tech support related topic that you would like us to address in our weekly tech tip we welcome and invite you to email us your suggestion.

Your Brainstorm Internet Team

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