So, you’ve taken the plunge and set up a home wireless network. You’re undoubtedly enjoying the freedom of untethered computing, but now what? Well, it’s time to tweak your network to increase its performance and its security. Read further to find some simple and effective ways of doing just that.

Control Access and Disappear From View
Unless you’re a completely selfless soul, you probably don’t want just anyone hopping on to your wireless network and using your bandwidth without your permission. There are several things that you can do to add extra security.

Firstly, change the way that your wireless router encrypts data. There are two popular encryption schemes: WEP and WPA. By default, many browsers use WEP encryption which is easy to crack. WPA is a lot stronger.

If possible, use WPA to encrypt your network. Sometimes, it just isn’t practical to use WPA.  In my house, we use notebook computers exclusively. My wife’s laptop computers runs Windows XP, and my main laptop runs Linux. The wireless systems on both handle WPA quite nicely. But, until recently, I also had another laptop running XP, which could not connect to a WPA-encrypted network, even with an operating system update that was supposed provide WPA support. It didn’t. If that’s your situation, and you have to use WPA, change your password regularly. And also hide your SSID.

The SSID is a way in which your router identifies itself. Remember that your router is like a radio transmitter, and the SSID is its call sign — instead of, say, radio station KBZT your router will identify your network as yournetworkname. However, you can turn the broadcast of the SSID off by logging into your router. The instructions for doing this will vary from router to router. And while turning off the SSID broadcast won’t make your wireless network any more or less secure, it will discourage people from trying to hop on. What you can’t see you can’t get to …

Boosting the Signal
Not all routers are created equally. Some can send a strong and steady signal far and wide. Others have a signal which peters out after 30 feet or so. This becomes an issue when you use your wireless devices all over the house.

In positioning your router as in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. The router needs to be in as open area as possible, away from as many obstructions as practical. Keeping the router in a closet or behind any other closed door will weaken the signal. If you live in a two- or three-story house, put your router somewhere on the second or third floor. If you live in a bungalow, apartment, or condo, try putting the router on top of a bookshelf. I know of at least two people who have actually put their routers in their ceilings. Once you get over seeing a pair of antennae sticking out like fangs, you realize the boost you can get.

Also, keep the router at least two or three yards away from electronic devices such as computer monitors, microwaves, or a cordless phone. These devices pump out radio waves that can interfere with the signal from a wireless router, and the closer the router is to them then the greater the interference.

Don’t discount the interference from other wireless networks in your neighborhood. Often, people don’t change the default SSID and channel on which their wireless routers transmit. When that happens, it’s like two radio stations trying to transmit on the same wavelength — one signal will fight the other and they’ll both suffer.

If that’s you, then use a wireless utility to check the SSIDs of any networks in your vicinity. Here are a few things you can do: In Windows, right click on the wireless network icon in the system tray and then click View Available Wireless Networks. Or, use a tool like NetStumbler.

In MacOS, click the AirPort Status icon. Or, use a tool like MacStumbler.  Under Linux, install wifi-radar or wicd. If you notice any SSID that is the same as yours, log into your router and change the SSID. Also, consider changing passwords and channel settings.

To boost router signals try using a wireless range extender. As the name implies, an extender is a device that acts as a kind of relay, boosting the output of a weak signal. The extender picks out the signal, and then gives it an extra push. How much further an extender will push the signal out depends on the extender itself, the strength of the original signal, and how far away from your router the extender is.

Well, there you have it. A few tips to help secure your local network, and a few tips to help boost your signal strength.

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