#The Scenerio :
It may be hard to imagine, but just a mere 20 years ago, the Internet was nothing more than a novelty. Today's laptops and mobile devices give us access to friends and endless entertainment practically anywhere via WiFi, 3G and 4G technologies.
*What's another name for Wi-Fi?
802.11 networking
Wi-Fi is also referred to as 802.11 networking. No matter what you call it, it's pretty flexible as far as Internet connections go: It requires no wires.
#Understanding WIFI :
A wireless network is comprised of a broadband Internet connection from a DSL(Digital Subscriber Line), cable or satellite modem. You attach the modem to the wireless router, which distributes the signal and creates a network.
*A wireless network uses ___ waves to transmit signals.
radio
Like cell phones, TVs and radios, a wireless network uses radio waves to transmit signals. Communication across wireless networks is pretty comparable to two-way radio communication.
#The Problem:
Is your wireless network running slowly? Do you have intermittent losses in Internet access and you can't figure out why?
*What device sends and receives radio signals in a wireless network?
router
Your computer, smartphone and other gadgets communicate with the wireless router using radio signals.
#The Solution:
First, take a breath. In all likelihood, no one is stealing your Internet.Tons of things could cause a slow connection. Your Internet service provider might be having issues or is overloaded with traffic. Your WiFi router might be experiencing interference from other electronics, or simply be having trouble penetrating the walls and furniture of your home to get a wireless signal to your computer.
#1 The Password !
There's only one thing you need to prevent 99.9 percent of wireless squatters from using your Internet connection: a password.
*At what frequencies do Wi-Fi radios make transmissions?
2.4 GHz or 5 GHz
Wi-Fi radios transmit signals at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. These high frequencies allow the signal to carry more data.
#2 The Address
With WPA2 security enabled, it's unlikely anyone will ever piggyback on your network. But there's an easy way to spot squatters: Since every device connected to your network has a unique IP address and MAC address, you can easily see a list of connected devices -- often listed as "clients" -- on one of the settings pages for your wireless router.
*Which short-range wireless standard is used for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs)?
802.15
The wireless standard used for WPANs is 802.15 -- it's also commonly used for Bluetooth technology.
#3 Invisible!!
Want to make absolutely sure no one's going to figure out your password and worm their way onto your network? You have a few options. Your router can hide its SSID, meaning it won't show up for anyone searching for connectable networks. The address will have to be entered manually. You can also set up a wireless MAC filter to "whitelist" devices you own, disabling access for anyone else.*You can change the settings on your wireless router through a Web interface. One option you can change is channel. What channel do routers use by default?
6
Routers use channel 6 by default -- if you live in an apartment complex and your neighbors are using this same channel, you can sometimes get some interference. In addition to changing the channel, other settings you may wish to change include the name of your network and your router's security options.
#The Truth:
Smartphones changed everything, didn't they? A few short years ago, we hoarded WiFi like a precious commodity.Well, once we got smartphones with omnipresent data connections, we calmed down a bit. WiFi is now so ubiquitous that you don't have to worry too much about you neighbors leeching off of you -- they've probably got WiFi, too. We don't need to find hotspots when we've got 3G and 4G on our phones.
