User's Manual

Configuring the Wireless Network (Cisco RV180W)
A Note About Wireless Security
Cisco RV180/RV180W Administration Guide 59
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DRAFT - CISCO CONFIDENTIAL
Wireless Security Tips
Since you cannot physically prevent someone from connecting to your wireless
network, you need to take some additional steps to keep your network secure:
• Change the default wireless network name or SSID
Wireless devices have a default wireless network name or Service Set
Identifier (SSID) set by the factory. This is the name of your wireless
network, and can be up to 32 characters in length.
You should change the wireless network name to something unique to
distinguish your wireless network from other wireless networks that may
exist around you, but do not use personal information (such as your Social
Security number) because this information may be available for anyone to
see when browsing for wireless networks.
• Change the default password
For wireless products such as access points, routers, and gateways, you
will be asked for a password when you want to change their settings. These
devices have a default password set by the factory. The default password
is often admin. Hackers know these defaults and may try to use them to
access your wireless device and change your network settings. To thwart
any unauthorized changes, customize the device’s password so it will be
hard to guess.
• Enable MAC address filtering
Cisco routers and gateways give you the ability to enable Media Access
Control (MAC) address filtering. The MAC address is a unique series of
numbers and letters assigned to every networking device. With MAC
address filtering enabled, wireless network access is provided solely for
wireless devices with specific MAC addresses. For example, you can
specify the MAC address of each computer in your network so that only
those computers can access your wireless network.