Unsecured wireless network no more secure than your local coffee shop

A: The simple answer to your question is yes. If you set up a wireless network and do not secure the wireless network, anyone with a computer with built-in wireless capability can connect to and use your network. There really is no difference between your wireless network and the one found at your local coffee shop.

Assuming you are not intentionally trying to share your wireless network with your neighbors, here are a few steps you can take to make sure your wireless network is more secure.

First, set up a security key for your network. This is fancy terminology for a password that all of your computers will need in order to connect to your wireless network. To set up a wireless security key, you will most likely need to use your Internet browser to go to your wireless access point’s administration page. Depending on your knowledge of your wireless access point, this may be as confusing as it sounds. If you’re in a pinch, give Noobie or the teenage kid next door a call and ask for help.

Next, make sure you don’t name your wireless network something that easily identifies it as your network. So rather than “JONES”, “SMITH” or “123BROWNSTREET”, trying using network names that don’t mean a lot to anyone else but you.

If you are really adventurous or just worried about the security of your wireless network, look into disabling the broadcast option on your wireless network. With broadcast turned off, your wireless network won’t even show up on the list of available networks for your neighbors. While this can make setting up a new computer on your wireless network a little more difficult, it should also help you sleep a little better at night, not worrying about the security of your wireless network.

This post was originally broadcast Friday, October 19, 2007 on Tech Talk with Noobie, a weekly radio show on WCBK 102.3 FM in Martinsville, Indiana. Tech Talk with Noobie airs every Friday between 11:30 a.m. and noon. If you have a question you would like Noobie to answer on the air, simply e-mail your question to .