There are basically five steps are required to secure your wireless connection. The User Guide instructions that came with the wireless router you purchased contain detailed setup steps. Just be aware that if you do not follow these steps to secure your wireless network, you will be at risk:

1. Change the SSID to something unique for your home.

2. Disable SSID Broadcasts.

3. Change the default password for the Administrator account. Do not use a dictionary word or name. Use a combination of upper-case letters, lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters.

4. Enable MAC address filtering and enter all the MAC addresses of your network cards into the list so that only your devices can use your wireless network.

5. Enable WPA to secure your wireless connection.

For more information on securing your wireless network, read Hack Proofing Your Wireless Network (Syngress, ISBN: 1-92899-459-8).You can also look at the Wireless Benchmark from the Center for Internet Security on how to secure your Wireless Router: www.cisecurity.org/bench_wireless.html In addition, the wireless device that you have or that you purchase has instructions on the options that are available to secure your Wireless connection.

Wireless Antennas

If you need to extend the range or improve the wireless signal in your home, you can choose from several makers of wireless antennas that can be connected your wireless router to improve range and signal. For example, Hawking Technologies has a wide variety of wireless antennas to boost your signal within your home. For more information, visit www.hawkingtech.com and www.Linksys.com.