How to protect your home network from security threats

Computer jargon has become a part of our daily life and not only at work but at home too. If you configure your home computer network you probably know all about wireless cards, routers and firewalls. Most computer components are easy to install and learn to configure, making it possible to create a home network safe and secure. An Internet connection may mean connectivity for each computer in the house.

However, you must ensure that your network is safe from hackers and viruses that can destroy your computer and result in loss of irreplaceable data. Start reading the manual of each product of the network has since typically go into great detail on the security configurations. But there's still more you need to know.

Router Ports

The first thing to do is rename the standard account and password as it is likely quite common and would be easy to find. Router ports are substantially the numbers of network that is used by some applications to distinguish trafficking. For example, port 80 is used for web browsing and is the standard for HTTP.

In order to make sure your ports you may want to give dynamic IP addresses and purchase a static IP address. This means that you can specify which IP addresses generating traffic leaving the network. This is particularly important if you have a wireless network as someone next door to the potential to use the network to get onto the Internet. By specifying which IP addresses can do so youíre preventing this from happening. This is particularly important if you live in a condo because someone elseís network is surprisingly easy.

Port 80 should be configured to accept all incoming traffic. Some companies specify which IP addresses can enter the network, but this is very time consuming and labor intensive. You will also need to open port 25 for outgoing mail (SMTP) and 110 for incoming mail if you use a desktop email program.

Once you have your router configuration as described above youíre essentially good to go. There are some extra settings that may need to cover yourself with what ftp ports, but this may leave the network open to attack.

Wireless Networks

If you have a wireless network, about the security one step forward and lock it. If you have an unsecured network anybody within range can access the Internet through the connection. Not only this can seriously slow down access to the Internet, but it is dangerous to have someone browsing and downloading who knows what in your name. Manuals for most wireless network to explain in detail how to configure the wireless security....