Security

Using Wireless Printers? Here’s How to Secure Them

June 27, 2019

With some reports estimating over seven million incidents of cybercrime and online fraud occurring in 2018, it would be a mistake to discount the risks associated with using a wireless printer.

After all, any time data is transmitted wirelessly, there is a chance it could be intercepted. When you think about all the sensitive information that is printed in your company, this threat may then seem quite real.

Try the following tips to minimize the risk of a security vulnerability associated with wireless printing:

Use WPA2
This security certification program essentially password protects your print job capabilities just as you would require login credentials to access wireless internet.

By controlling access to your wireless printers, you can also monitor who is printing what and detect when someone attempts to gain unauthorized access to your systems.

Keep Security Software Updated
Many printers come with some form of built-in security, but the installed version can only be effective for so long.

Regularly check for more updated versions of your printers’ security software and install them as they become available to be protected from the latest threats.

Use Data Encryption
Just as your emails and other document sharing methods are encrypted during transmission, you should make sure your printer data is encrypted as well.

This ensures that, if the information is intercepted by a nefarious third-party, they will not be able to decode the stolen data. This is especially important for printers you use to print checks.

Train Your Staff in Printer Protocol
No matter what measures you take to secure your wireless printers, they won’t be as effective if your staff doesn’t know how to properly use equipment or keep protection programs up to date.

Provide training to your employees about safe printing practices.

These tips don’t just apply to large businesses; the threat of a security breach through wireless printing systems can affect small businesses and even individuals just as easily.

With a little forethought and effort however, you can greatly decrease these risks to be able to print without fear.

Why It’s Important To Change Your Router’s Default Log-in

October 25, 2016

Mike Simonelli is a network technician for Tech Experts.

It’s a pretty common scenario: a small business wishes to add Wi-Fi to its existing network infrastructure. A quick trip to the nearest big-box store reveals several Wi-Fi capable routers or access points to choose from. Grabbing up the mid-priced model, the business owner heads back to the shop and uses the included Ethernet cable to plug the new device into an existing switch and, just like that, instant Wi-Fi.

There are a couple of concerns regarding the above scenario that the savvy business owner should be having. The first and most obvious: “I plugged it in and now everyone with a laptop has unrestricted access to my network.” How do you control who can connect to your Wi-Fi?

The answer is to enable a wireless security protocol on the router or access point. WEP is an acronym for Wired Equivalent Privacy (or Wireless Encryption Protocol) and it was designed to provide the same level of security as that of a hard-wired Ethernet connection.

Because wireless networks broadcast messages using radio waves, they are subject to eavesdropping. WEP provides security by encrypting the data to protect it as it is transmitted from one point to another. Almost all wireless devices will support WEP and instructions for enabling it on a particular device should be readily found in the documentation.

Enabling WEP will keep people without the correct password off your Wi-Fi and also prevent unauthorized eavesdropping of network traffic.

Another often overlooked concern is changing the default credentials that are needed to login and administer the new wireless device.

I can’t tell you how many times that I’ve connected to a wireless network and browsed to the default gateway I was assigned (normally something like http://192.168.0.1) and typed in “admin” and “password” on the login form that is presented and gained access to the router’s configuration.

The username “Admin” and the password “password” are typically the default credentials as they come pre-configured on Linksys routers, as well as some other brands.

If these credentials work, then potentially anyone can have unrestricted access to your router’s configuration. At this point, no wireless security protocol such as WEP will protect you since it can simply be turned off in the router’s administration interface.

Worse yet, an intruder can set his/her own password and change the admin password to something else. Once this happens, usually the only way to regain access to your own Wi-Fi network is to factory reset the device, which removes all of your configurations.

The bottom line – never leave a wireless device at its default settings when you connect it to your network. By taking the time to follow these simple guidelines, you will make your wireless device a worthwhile addition to your infrastructure, as well as making your network that much more secure.

If you have any questions during your router set-up or if you’d like to find out how to increase your office’s security using your current router, give Tech Experts a call at (734) 457-5000, or email support@mytechexperts.com. We’d be happy to help.

Is Someone Using Your WiFi? Here’s How To Find Out

April 30, 2015

There’s no doubt about the convenience of using wireless in your home or office. However, you don’t want just anybody hopping on your WiFi, using your network, and breaching its security. Having a unique password doesn’t mean you are immune to this problem.

If you ever notice that your connection is much slower than usual, it’s worth taking a peek at just how many devices are connected to your wireless network.

You can download and install a program aptly called “Who Is on Your WiFi” to know if there are other people connected to your hot spot who should not be. The free version is sufficient to detect intruders, but there are also paid versions with extra features like text notifications, audit logs, etc.

Once you install the application, all you have to do is follow the tutorial to run a scan of your network and review information about devices that are linked to your connection.

Initially, you may not recognize which MAC and IP addresses correspond with which device, but there’s an easy way to identify them. Turn off all of your devices, then turn them on one by one. If you only have one known device connected to your WiFi, and the “Who Is on Your WiFi” application is showing more than that device, it’s a safe bet someone is sharing your Internet connection. Take the appropriate measure of immediately changing your wireless password and only share it with family or designated individuals you want to have it.

For future scans, you can label each of your devices as something easily recognizable, such as My Phone or Dad’s Laptop, to facilitate the identification of intruders.

Tired Of Being Tied Down? It’s Time To Lose The Wires!

August 10, 2009

Security Tips For Your New Wireless Network

With the decline in the cost of wireless equipment and “point and click” configuration ability most newer equipment offers, more and more people are setting up wireless networks in their homes and businesses.

One key configuration that is often missed, though, is security of the wireless network.

Is the wireless connection you’re using secure, is your data in jeopardy, and is your identity safe?

You might be asking yourself “How do I secure my network, and what does it mean so say a wireless network is unsecure?”

If a network is classified as unsecure, it means that the network can be accessed without the need for a key, or password. You’ll find unsecure networks in a lot of public places, such as coffee shops and airports.

The problem is that once a user is connected to an unsecure network, it is possible they could access network resources such as files, folders, printers, etc. that are shared on your computer – many times, without you even knowing.

As you know, this could be a world of trouble if your confidential data is obtained by an unknown user.

A number of things can be done to ensure your wireless network is safe, network resources are protected, and your data is securely stored on your system.

Firewall
Software or hardware devices can be implemented, and are one of the first lines of defense, to prevent unauthorized access of your wireless network. Most wireless routers include basic firewall protection – it just has to be turned on when the unit is configured.

SSID
The SSID is the name of your network. Most routers come with a default SSID, which, if left that way, is a sign of a poorly configured network. This makes you an easy targets for hackers.

Password Changes
By default, wireless routers have a standard username and password that can be easily looked up on the web.

You should definitely set up your own username and password to access your wireless device’s setup screens, so hackers or unwanted Internet users can’t go into the settings on your router and make changes to your security settings.

Be sure to follow standard password security when coming up with the password for your wireless router – you don’t want hackers to be able to easily guess your password, and access your setup screens.

Signal Strength
Most routers allow you to set the signal strength of the network broadcast. Turning the signal down on your router lowers the chances of outsiders being in range of your wireless network.

Enable Encryption
This is one of the most important steps to securing your wireless network- require a key or network password in order to connect to the wireless network.

There are several types of encryption, the most common being WEP, WAP, and WAP2. Each provides a different level and method of network security. Any form of encryption is better than having an open wireless network.

Securing your wireless network plays a key role in the protection of your data, network resources, and overall privacy when you’re using a home or work network. It’s a quick and easy process, requiring just a few changes to the default setup. The peace of mind and convenience of wireless networking are worth the extra few steps.