Top 4 Threats to Your Wireless Network

If you are like most online business owners that are using a wireless network, you are likely unaware of the potential dangers to both your business and the safety of you and your customers data. In this article, I'm going to discuss 4 different threats that you must be aware of when it comes to operating a business over a wireless network.

Many think that if they have the latest router, combined with the latest in security software, they are all set and having nothing to worry about. Unfortunately, that's not the case. Any type of equipment or security measures you take only act as deterrents. If someone really wants to break into your network, they'll come up with a way to do so. The good news is that most hackers will go after sites that have lax security procedures.

The top 4 threats to your wireless network that you need to be aware of include:

1. Sniffing

This type of threat involves hackers that use software programs called sniffers that are able to scan the traffic on a network. All the hacker that has this software has to do is use it in areas with many networks until they lock onto an unsecured wireless network.

2. War Driving

With this threat, the hacker only needs a wireless device - such as a laptop or PDA. They simply drive around until they pick up an unprotected wireless signal from homes our businesses. These people will record your wireless id information, along with your physical address and post it in online databases so that others will know where there is an unsecured network, ripe for the taking.

3. Evil Twin

In this threat, your access to a legitimate wireless access point is blocked. Then, without your knowing it, you're redirected to a second access point that is managed by a hacker. Any information you transmit is accessible to the hacker. Keystrokes are also able to be captured, which means any passwords you type in are now in the hands of the hackers. This type of threat is most common in public access points, such as restaurants and airports.

4. Wi-fishing

This is similar to the evil twin threat in that it takes you to what looks like a safe access point. By utilizing common SSIDs of public Wi-Fi spots, your computer will automatically connect to the hacker's network. Same situation with the evil twin set up - the hacker can grab all of your information that you type in while connected to their network.

Needless to say, the real threat with these and other wireless network threats is that the risk to your bottom line is in danger. While some hackers only do what they do to see if they can do it, or to be a simply annoyance, thieves that get involved in wireless threats are not of the harmless variety. They can cost you plenty.

Warren has been writing articles and producing how to courses online since 2005. He specializes in online business issues and currently operates a number of websites in a number of different niches. You can check out his latest website here: Youth Motorcycle Helmet featuring the Full Face Helmet.

Internet Filter Programs and IP Changer

Do you think that just because you have installed Internet filter programs you can now freely and safely browse the internet and disregard other security measures such as the use of an IP Changer? Well, you are thinking wrong. While Internet filters surely have their advantages, they still have that one disadvantage that can be your computer system's downfall in the future or loss of privacy on the internet. That is that Internet filters are far from providing complete protection or being hundred percent reliable. By incorporating other internet security features and by browsing anonymously with the help of IP Changer a software program, that also encrypts your data sent over the internet you will be able to browse the internet more securely and privately.

Internet filters, or web filters, are also known as content-control programs or software, which control the kinds of content that can be accessed by a user. The software or program is especially designed to restrict specific websites or content that the user sets to block beforehand.

Internet filtering programs are now being used at various levels of the community. The government, for example, uses more sophisticated programs to restrict access to the confidential records. Companies use it to control the sites that their employees can have access to or not. Schools also use it to block sites that may influence their students dangerously, as do parents with their children. Even individual users can use it for their own purpose, to block off sites that are deemed dangerous for the computer system.

The main purpose of the content-control software is to prevent people from viewing sites and content that can be harmful or just plain objectionable for the owner. Companies, for example, may want to restrict their employees from venturing to websites not related to their work. These websites may not be harmful, but as they distract the employees from their work at hand the company may deem it necessary to block these websites.

Another purpose of the Web filters is to protect the users from dangerous and corrupting sites. Students and children are especially being protected from these sites, which is why Internet filters are growing in usage at homes and schools. But as stated above, these Internet filters are not entirely reliable. It is especially not going to be of any help if the sites not included in the filter can be accessed by malicious users to the children.

We can also look at it in the same way we look at spam email filters. Spam filters help in sending useless spam emails to the spam section but we still see a spam email in our inbox from time to time. As it was said, it really is not a hundred percent spam filtered or protected system. Internet site and content filters are the same? They are not fool proof.

Furthermore, you need the protection of a complete internet security software that includes, firewall, anti virus, anti spyware anti phishing and anti malware features. After these security features are in place you have to realize that you still can't browse the internet totally securely. You are still vulnerable to sophisticated hackers and cyber criminals that can find your IP address and hack into your computer to steal your personal and financial information. You are very vulnerable to identity theft. If you are using wireless networks to access the internet you have to take a whole range of security measures including data encryption to be safe on the net.

This is why in order to achieve a higher level of protection, changing your IP addresses will provide that extra and most important level of security. IP Changer is software that directs your internet connection through different anonymous web servers that have their own IP addresses. IP changer thus can frequently change that IP address as well. This way your real IP address is hidden and allows you to surf the internet anonymously. Some IP Changers come with high level encryption capabilities further protecting you and your sensitive data over the internet.

Thus by browsing anonymously, you are able to protect yourself and your kids from sites and content and malicious users who can get through the filters and other security features you had before. Your privacy and sensitive financial and personal information is much safer now than ever before if you use IP Changer.

Having learnt some important information about a new technology that uses and IP Changer to make wired and wireless networks safer and more secure go to http://www.change-ip-proxy.com to get an in depth information about the technology and systems that will best help you to enhance the security of your networks.