Lab 7.3.5 Configuring Wireless Security

Step 1: Plan the security for your home network 

a. List at least six security best practices that you should implement to secure your multi-function device and wireless network.

Jawaban : 1) Change default values for the SSID, usernames and passwords,2) Disable broadcast SSID, 3)Configure MAC Address Filtering, 4) Configure encryption using WEP or WPA, 5) Configure authentication ,6)Configure traffic filtering 

b. Describe what the security risk is for each item. 

Jawaban: 1) Passwords are changed to prevent neighbors or other people from logging in to your router. 2)SSID should be changed to a unique name. 3) SSID broadcasting is disabled so that the SSID name is not broadcasted to others in range of your network. 4) Encryption and authentication prevents hackers from gaining access to the network and intercepting messages. 5) MAC filtering keeps unwanted computers from associating with the AP

Step 2: Connect a computer to the multi-function device and log in to the web-based utility 

a. Connect your computer (Ethernet NIC) to the multi-function device (port 1 on the Linksys WRT300N) by using a straight-through cable. 

b. The default IP address of the Linksys WRT300N is 192.168.1.1, and the default subnet mask is 255.255.255.0. The computer and Linksys device must be on the same network to communicate with each other. Change the IP address of the computer to 192.168.1.2, and verify that the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0. Enter the internal address of the Linksys device (192.168.1.1) as the default gateway. Do this by clicking, Start > Control Panel > Network Connections. Right click on the wireless connection and chooseProperties. Select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and enter the addresses as shown below. 

c. Open a web browser, such as Internet Explorer, Netscape, or Firefox and enter the default IP address of the Linksys device (192.168.1.1) into the address field and press Enter. 

d. A screen appears, requesting your user name and password. 

e. Leave the User name field blank and enter admin for the password. It is the default password on the Linksys device. Click OK. Remember that passwords are case-sensitive. 

f. As you make the necessary changes on the Linksys device, click Save Settings on each screen to save the changes or click Cancel Changes to keep the default settings.

Step 4: Change the Linksys device password 

a. The initial screen displayed is the Setup > Basic Setup screen. 

b. Click the Administration tab. The Management tab is selected by default. 

c. Type in a new password for the Linksys device, and then confirm the password. The new password must not be more than 32 characters and must not include any spaces. The password is required to access the Linksys device web-based utility and Setup Wizard. 

d. The Web Utility Access via Wireless option is enabled by default. You may want to disable this feature to further increase security. 

e. Click the Save Settings button to save the information. NOTE: If you forget your password, you can reset the Linksys device to the factory defaults by pressing the RESET button for 5 seconds and then releasing it. The default password is admin.

Step 5: Configure the wireless security settings 

a. Click the Wireless tab. The Basic Wireless Settings tab is selected by default. The Network Name is the SSID shared among all devices on your network. It must be identical for all devices in the wireless network. It is case-sensitive and must not be more than 32 characters. 

b. Change the SSID from the default of linksys to a unique name. Record the name you have chosen: Student Dependant 

c. Leave the Radio Band set to Auto. This allows your network to use all 802.11n, g, and b devices. 

d. For SSID Broadcast, select the Disabled button to disable the SSID broadcast. Wireless clients survey the area for networks to associate with and will detect the SSID broadcast sent by the Linksys device. For added security, do not broadcast the SSID. 

e. Save your settings before going to the next screen.

Step 6: Configure encryption and authentication 

a. Choose the Wireless Security tab on the Wireless screen. 

b. This router supports four types of security mode settings:

• WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
• WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) Personal, which uses a pre-shared key (PSK)
• WPA Enterprise, which uses Remote Access Dial In User Service (RADIUS)
• RADIUS

c. Select WPA Personal Security Mode.

d. On the next screen, choose an Encryption algorithm.

 To secure a network, use the highest level of encryption possible within the Selected Security mode. The following Security Modes and Encryption levels are listed from least secure (WEP) to most secure (WPA2 with AES)

• WEP
• WPA
• TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol)
• AES (Advanced Encryption System)
• WPA2
• TKIP
• AES

AES is only supported by newer devices that contain a co-processor. To ensure compatibility with all devices, select TKIP. 

e. For authentication, enter a pre-shared key between 8 and 63 characters. This key is shared by the Linksys device and all connected devices. 

f. Choose a key renewal period between 600 and 7200 seconds. The renewal period is how often the Linksys device changes the encryption key. 

g. Save your settings before exiting the screen.

Step 7: Configure MAC address filtering 

a. Choose the Wireless MAC Filter tab on the Wireless screen. 

b. MAC address filtering allows only selected wireless client MAC addresses to have access to your network. Select the radio button to Permit PCs listed below to access the wireless network. Click the Wireless Client List button to display a list of all wireless client computers on your network. 

c. The next screen allows you to identify which MAC addresses can have access to the wireless network. Click the Save to MAC Address Filter List check box for any client device you want to add, and then click the Addbutton. Any wireless clients, other than those in the list will be prevented from accessing your wireless network. Save your settings before exiting the screen.

Step 8: Reflection 

a. Which feature that you configured on the Linksys WRT300N makes you feel the most secure and why? Answers will vary. The MAC address filter is a very restrictive method of controlling access.

Jawaban : MAC address filtering uses the MAC address to identify which devices are allowed to connect to the wireless network. When a wireless client attempts to connect, or associate, with an AP it will send MAC address information. If MAC filtering is enabled, the wireless router or AP will look up its MAC address a preconfigured list. Only devices whose MAC addresses have been prerecorded in the router’s database will be allowed to connect. 

b. Make a list of other items that could be done to make your network even more secure. Answers include configure MAC/IP filtering to control which type of traffic is allowed to flow on the network; disable unneeded services (Telnet, HTTP, TFTP, and so on).