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How to Secure Your Home Wireless Network?

Mee — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:05:21 +0000

Wireless networks at home and offices are in trends these days, primarily due to ease in connectivity, portability and decreasing prices of wireless devices.

Wireless networks come with plenty of advantages; however they may turn into a privacy nightmare if not properly configured.

These days, you can easily get wireless internet signals in your vicinity, or particularly on main roads. Usually, these wireless networks are left with open access while anyone can use them (and all their resources, including but not limited to: printer, internet, etc) even without permission.

This may go horrible, if intruder starts accessing your private folder/files that are intended to be shared with another computer at home/office. Even worst, this may bring you legal consequences if intruder uses your network (your IPs) for illegal means.

Most common misuse of wireless networks is war chalking (to steal bandwidth from vulnerable wireless networks).

Improper Configuration: Usually, it is observed that wireless routers are never configured. They are just bought and put live in a network, just like any other plug and play device.

It should be kept in mind that due to wireless in nature, your network is not secure as it was in case of wired network. Hence, wireless routers are supposed to be configured at first use, unlike network hubs and switches.

No Firewall Protection: For first line of defense with limited protection, most of the Wireless routers come with built-in firewalls. However, it is observed that firewall configuration on wireless routers is ignored. It must be enabled to put fence between public internet and your private computer machine.

WEP (Wireless Equivalent Privacy) or commonly referred as Wireless Encryption Protocol: For newbies, WEP is the password to lock or otherwise unlock your home/office wireless network by authorized users only.

You can enable WEP and firewall by accessing the admin panel of your wireless router. Please check your device manual or manufacturer to find out url address of admin panel.

Usually, if connected, you can access admin panel by entering this id in any web browser: http://192.168.0.1 or http://192.168.1.1 – here you will be asked for username/password, which is usually admin/admin.

You must change this password as well, enable firewall and apply WEP.

Advanced Security Setup

It must be noted here that WEP is crack able. Experts prefer to use WPA instead of WEP because of its vulnerability.

WPA came into existence after weaknesses were found in WEP. For elementary understanding, it is enhanced and much improved form of WEP. It basically safeguards the integrity of message by encrypting it.

WPA-PSK is the mode used for home users for providing strong encryption and is capable of changing encryption keys automatically after precise number of packets transmitted.

It encrypts network using 256 bit key. However, weak pass phrase are still vulnerable to hackers and other flaws like QOS have been discovered and can be overcome by applying some treatment to wireless settings.

Other Random Tips:

Limit wireless radio frequency (or coverage) by limiting it within home premises. It will avoid getting wireless network discoverable other than your premises. (Optionally available in wireless routers).
Disable remote assistance.
Enable Intrusion detection.
Keep wireless router control panel access password protected.
Frequently monitor and check device connected to wireless network.

Final Thought:

It never ends here; wireless networks are still vulnerable but by using up-mentioned methods will at least minimize any vulnerability within your network. If your broadband provider has setup your home wireless network, ask them to keep these aspects in practice while setting it up.

Disclaimer: Please be informed that, Author is not responsible for any tips/purchase / sale /exchange/loss/Price Quotation/ decision made or you may brick your device; after reading this article.

PTA is Holding a Seminar on 3G Mobile Phone Technology

Mee — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 15:05:51 +0000

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is holding a seminar with the alliance of HUAWEI on 2nd August, 2010 in Karachi to inculcate the stakeholders on importance of 3G mobile phone technology. The seminar would stress on various aspects of 3G Mobile Broadband services and 3G spectrum auctions in Pakistan.

The subject of seminar is “Demand for 3G and beyond”. Secretary IT, Naguibullah Malik, would be the chief guest on this event. IT & telecom industry experts, CEOs of telecom companies, representatives of chamber of commerce and media men will also attend the event.

During the seminar speakers of national and international fame will focus on the benefits of 3G to: businesses, education, government, national economy, urban/rural public, local software houses and local contents development. They will also draw attention to the importance of high-speed infrastructure in accomplishing the benefits. Live Mobile –TV and 3G call scenarios would be demonstrated and a signing ceremony of MoU for infrastructure sharing between PTA and cellular operators of Pakistan will also take place during the event.

Introduction of 3G services would result in great reimbursement to the national economy. Pakistan’s exchequer is already earning more than Rs. 100 Billion a year in the form of taxes from Telecom sector. Improved usage will further increase tax figures.

Zong Gives Away Prize to KPO Winner

Mee — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 13:34:53 +0000

ZONG’s Keep Phone On (KPO) reward program received an overwhelming
response from the consumers.

The first KPO lucky draw took place in which
one lucky winner received a motorcycle for keeping his phone on. Picture
shows Farman Iqbal Khan, CSC Manager Peshawar handing over the key to
Attaullah Khan of Kark.

Warid Launches Email to SMS Service

Mee — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:20:35 +0000

Warid has offered SMS Email that enables its customers to send & receive emails 24/7 on mobile phone without having to connect to the internet.

Through this service, customers can get emails instantly from popular email accounts such as Yahoo, Hotmail and Gmail directly on their cell phones as SMS messages.

This service manages up to 5 email accounts and can be used on all handsets. All new e-mails will be pushed to mobile phone instantly as e-mail alerts; customers can read these e-mails in detail and reply to them immediately!

Key Features:

Warid SMS Email will enable you to check and reply to emails regardless of the handset type.
The Emails shall be pushed as SMS alerts.
The service shall support all popular Email services including Hotmail, Yahoo and Gmail.
You will also be provided with a web account at which you can manage your email accounts.
The service shall be available for both Warid Postpaid and Prepaid users.

How to Register & Add Email Address:

To subscribe to the Warid SMS email service kindly follow the steps mentioned below:

Send “Sub” to 2200 via SMS
You will receive a Thank you message for subscribing to Warid SMS Email along with an additional message for options of adding email accounts, “Yahoo, Hotmail and Gmail”.
Reply to the SMS choosing the desired email service by sending ‘1’, ‘2’ or ‘3’ at 2200.
Once you receive a confirmation message, reply with User ID and Password. Example:
Once the username and password has been verified, your account will be configured against the respective Warid number.
You can also confirm the verification status of the email account by signing into the SMS email web portal.

Subscription through Web:

In order to subscribe the service online kindly follow the below mentioned procedure:

Click here to Register.
Enter your Warid number in the following format 92321XXXXXXX and click on “Submit” to get subscribed. You will receive a message on your mobile to register for this service from 2200.
In order to retrieve the password against the web portal via SMS, click on “Retrieve password by SMS” located on the homepage.

Charges:

Monthly subscription charges: Rs 25+tax
Per SMS Charges: Charges of Rs 0.50+tax

Terms & Conditions:

A customer can add up to 5 different email accounts from Hotmail, Yahoo and Gmail.
However, there will be only one default email account, which will be used for composing emails. Moreover other recipients will receive e-mails from that particular email address.
Monthly subscription fee: Rs. 25+tax
Requesting full email/replying/forwarding via SMS will be charged Rs.0.5+tax/SMS
A customer can add up to 5 different email accounts from Hotmail, Yahoo and Gmail.
The service is available for both Warid Postpaid and Prepaid users.
Primary email account will be the first email account that customer has selected.
Primary email will be used as default for all new emails being composed.
For replying emails same account will be used on which customer has received the email.

Note for Gmail Account Users

In case you have configured your Gmail account, you are requested to follow the below mentioned procedure:

Go to your Gmail Inbox
Click on “Settings”
Click on “Forwarding and POP/IMAP”
Check “Enable POP for mail that arrives from now” option
Click on “Save changes”

Service Commands:

Composing an email: To compose an email write COMPOSE and send it as an SMS to 2200
Replying an email: To reply to an email write Reply and send it as an SMS to 2200.
Forwarding an email: To forward an email write Forward< recipient’s email address> and send it as an SMS to 2200.
Enabling email alerts: To enable email alerts write “Enable” and send it as an SMS to 2200.
Disabling email alerts: To disable email alerts write “Disable” and send it as an SMS to 2200.
Getting Help: To view all available commands against the SMS Email, type “Help” and send it as an SMS to 2200.
Status Check: To check the status of your subscription type “Account” and send it as an SMS to 2200.
Delete an E-mail Account: In order to delete an e-mail account, simply send “Delete” to 2200. You will receive an SMS with configured for you on your mobile number. Reply with desired e-mail account to be deleted.