Many homes today use wireless networks to share a broadband Internet connection, and to transfer files from one computer to another. While a wireless network is extremely convenient, it can also be a significant security risk. That's because in a wireless network, your data is broadcast over the air via radio waves, which makes it easy to access for anyone with a PC and a wireless adapter.
To keep outsiders from tapping into your wireless network, you can add wireless security to your network. This is done by assigning a fairly complex encryption code to all the PCs in your wireless network. In order to tap into the network, an intruder must know the code, which they won't if it's properly encrypted. Proper encryption increases their failure rate at breaking the code.
There are three primary types of wireless security in use today. All of these security protocols require the use of a network key, which is a type of encrypted password. This network key may be generated automatically by your network router or adapter, or you may have to specify the key by typing it yourself. The longer the network key, the greater the encryption -- and the more secure your wireless network will be.
The three type of wireless security include the following, with the most secure listed first.
WPA (WiFi Protected Access). This wireless security protocol provides the strongest level of protection. With WPA, network keys are automatically changed on a regular basis.
WEP 128-bit. WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy. There are two levels of WEP protection, the stronger 128-bit and the weaker 64-bit.
WEP 64-bit. This is the weakest level of wireless protection available. If you have an older laptop PC or wireless adapter, you may have to use this level of protection instead of WEP 128-bit or WPA.
If your wireless router and all your PCs support WPA encryption, you should switch to that method because it provides the strongest protection. Otherwise, choose either WEP 128-bit (preferred) or WEP 64-bit encryption.