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Take Control News/19-Sep-05

"Take Control of Your Wi-Fi Security" Released — Putting on my author hat for a moment, I’m delighted to tell you that I, with my co-author Glenn Fleishman, have written a new ebook about wireless network security for you. Ever since Glenn and I wrote the first edition of "The Wireless Networking Starter Kit" years ago, we’ve been going back and forth about wireless network security – who should worry about what, how much effort they should put into increasing security, what tools and techniques are actually effective, and so on. Honestly, I’ve always been on the side of leaving my network open and taking basic precautions to protect my systems, whereas Glenn prefers to lock his networks down tightly. I’m still less paranoid than Glenn, but after writing the section on how to perform a security audit, in which I set up a wireless network using some common approaches and then proceeded to use freely available tools to break into it and sniff data, I have an increased respect for the need for security on Wi-Fi networks.

The wireless network security audit is, in fact, the last major section of the ebook, which begins by helping you determine what your real security risks are based on your location, the desirability of your data, your liability if your network is compromised, and the amount of effort that would go into increasing security. Then it gets practical, discussing common ways of restricting wireless network access that are akin to those bathroom door locks that can be picked with a paper clip – they won’t keep out anyone who wants to get in – along with important new technologies that provide real security. Subsequent sections help you protect your systems from attack and viruses, and show you how to encrypt your data in transit to protect it from prying eyes anywhere, which is particularly helpful when you’re using insecure hot spots while traveling. Glenn also wrote a great section on securing small office wireless networks, complete with details on choosing VPN hardware and software, and on setting up 802.1X for secure Wi-Fi logins. You can read more about the ebook, download a free 31-page sample, and place an order at:

<http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/wifi- security.html?14@@!pt=TRK-0023-TB797- TCNEWS>

"Take Control of Your AirPort Network" Updated to v1.2 — Readers who want friendly real-world advice about how to set up and run a Wi-Fi network using Apple’s AirPort technology, or similar technology from third-party vendors, can now get the latest info from the 1.2 update to Glenn Fleishman’s "Take Control of Your Airport Network." Although this update is free, in many ways it’s quite significant: it covers changes in the AirPort world since February 2005, including new features associated with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. It also has changed or expanded coverage of setting a custom password for your base station, using Keychain Access, managing network profiles, using WPA Enterprise, and more. If you already own the ebook, click the Check for Updates button on the cover to download your free update. If you have the print version of this title, consult the Free Updates section on page xi.

<http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/airport.html? 14@@!pt=TRK-0008-TB797-TCNEWS>


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