User manual LINKSYS WMCE54AG

[. . . ] ® A Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. Dual-Band Dual-Band Media Center Extender 5 GHz 2. 4 GHz 802. 11a 802. 11g Wireless A/G User Guide WIRELESS Model No. WMCE54AG Dual-Band Wireless A/G Media Center Extender Copyrights and Trademarks Specifications are subject to change without notice. Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. Copyright © 2004 Cisco Systems, Inc. Other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. [. . . ] Use the highest encryption algorithm possible. Please note that this may reduce your network performance. Change the WEP encryption keys periodically. To ensure network security, steps one through five should be followed, at least. NOTE: Some of these security features are available only through the network router or access point. Refer to the router or access point's documentation for more information. Appendix B: Wireless Security Security Precautions 25 Dual-Band Wireless A/G Media Center Extender Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks Wireless networks are easy to find. Hackers know that in order to join a wireless network, wireless networking products first listen for "beacon messages". These messages can be easily decrypted and contain much of the network's information, such as the network's SSID (Service Set Identifier). Here are the steps you can take: Change the administrator's password regularly. With every wireless networking device you use, keep in mind that network settings (SSID, WEP keys, etc. ) are stored in its firmware. Your network administrator is the only person who can change network settings. If a hacker gets a hold of the administrator's password, he, too, can change those settings. So, make it harder for a hacker to get that information. Change the administrator's password regularly. There are several things to keep in mind about the SSID: 1. Change it often Most wireless networking devices will give you the option of broadcasting the SSID. While this option may be more convenient, it allows anyone to log into your wireless network. Wireless networking products come with a default SSID set by the factory. (The Linksys default SSID is "linksys". ) Hackers know these defaults and can check these against your network. Change your SSID to something unique and not something related to your company or the networking products you use. 26 Appendix B: Wireless Security Security Threats Facing Wireless Networks Dual-Band Wireless A/G Media Center Extender Change your SSID regularly so that any hackers who have gained access to your wireless network will have to start from the beginning in trying to break in. MAC Address filtering will allow you to provide access to only those wireless nodes with certain MAC Addresses. This makes it harder for a hacker to access your network with a random MAC Address. [. . . ] Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to You. This warranty gives You specific legal rights, and You may also have other rights which vary by jurisdiction. This warranty does not apply if the Product (a) has been altered, except by Linksys, (b) has not been installed, operated, repaired, or maintained in accordance with instructions supplied by Linksys, or (c) has been subjected to abnormal physical or electrical stress, misuse, negligence, or accident. In addition, due to the continual development of new techniques for intruding upon and attacking networks, Linksys does not warrant that the Product will be free of vulnerability to intrusion or attack. [. . . ]