Primary Response Air Cover – Secure Wireless Connections Primer

An informed wireless user is a safe wireless user

Establishing the right security profile for a mobile system dictates that a user understands what threats a mobile system may encounter. Mobile devices that are connected via wireless networks have an additional threat vector that is not present in systems connected to a hard-wired network. The ability of wireless hackers to access, infect and sometimes control systems continues to grow. This particular problem cannot be protected by antivirus or other software that looks for specific signatures of a software threat that is resident on the system. Wireless hackers can get into a system and wreak havoc by bypassing legacy prevention software to inject malicious code, hi-jack the wireless connection for malicious purposes, or simply take over the machine as if it were their own. The only way to prevent these attacks from occurring is by protecting the wireless configuration of the system to remove the possibility of hackers breaking into the system. Primary Response Air cover provides that protection regardless if you are at home, at work or on the road by assessing the wireless risk level and instructing the user on how to configure the system to minimize the risk level.

Basic Components of a Wireless Connection

Laptop or Mobile Computer – most laptops or mobile computers manufactured today include the ability to connect without a network cable via wireless signal to an access point. This connection is based on the IEEE standard 802.11/a-g interface. Older mobile computers may have a PCMCIA card that provides wireless connectivity. These connections can work on a system that has both a wireless and a wired network connection (network cable or telephone wire). You may have a desktop PC at home and also a mobile computer. Both computers can connect to the Internet, the desktop PC via wire and the mobile computer via wireless.

Access Point (AP)– an access point comes in different configurations and functionality. Some contain only a wireless antenna that picks up the signal from the mobile computer. Some are both a wireless antenna as well as a broadband connection. The AP is typically configured through an Internet browser configuration utility. These are accessed by entering a URL similar to http://192.168.0.1 . This address may vary by manufacturer (Netgear, Linksys, D-Link and others), so always check your access point documentation in order to configure your access point appropriately.

Cable/DSL/Satellite Modem– these can be separate devices to the Access Point. The modem is used to connect your PCs, PC network or access points to the Cable/DSL/Satellite carrier network. The access point may be integrated into the modem to eliminate the need for one or the other in your hardware configuration.

Internet Connection– your Internet connection is the cable, DSL or Satellite connection you use in order to connect with your service carrier to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Your carrier may have recommended or even installed the modem that converts your PC network cable data transmission for communicating over the cable, DSL or Satellite connection you have installed. Carriers are companies like Cox and Comcast for cable, Verizon, Sprint or AT&T for DSL service and Direcway for Satellite connections. All of these carriers provide different levels of service to meet the diverse needs of consumers.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) – the ISP is your gateway to the Internet. This service can be provided by the carrier simply by using their services for your Internet connection. You may also decide that you would rather use a full service ISP like Earthlink or AOL to be managing your connection experience because of their ability to provide you additional services like photo management, parental controls and security software to protect the personal identity and asset information that reside on your PC or mobile computer's hard drive.

Wireless Security Considerations

Although most have heard about protecting their computers from viruses, spyware, spam and adware, there are also other threats that are initiated by wireless hackers attempting to access the wireless connection between mobile computers and access points. Yes, any mobile computer that has a wireless connection to an access point is susceptible to being hi-jacked, infected with malware or even taken over for malicious purposes. Primary Response Air Cover is designed to keep users informed of the risk level, show how to manage that risk level and notify the user should an intruder attempt to intercept signals or try to attach to personal mobile computers. Primary Response Air Cover will help to protect personal identities and all of the information critical to your digital lifestyle.

Mobile PCs are designed to be, well, mobile. In providing this service and flexibility, travelers have found the convenience of carrying around their laptops has become a necessity; even when traveling on vacation. Employers, coffee shops, airports, hotels, resorts and even municipalities are building wireless access points for the convenience of their employees, customers, visitors and citizens. In doing so and as the ubiquity of these networks expands, more and more will be exposed to the threats of the wireless criminal. Primary Response Air Cover gives users the ability to set up multiple profiles that satisfy the wireless connection requirements at home, at work or away.

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