MAC filtering in Router

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School

CDI College - Mississauga *

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Course

ESSENTIALS

Subject

Information Systems

Date

Oct 30, 2023

Type

docx

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Uploaded by nawalhoriya

MAC (Media Access Control) filtering is a security feature commonly found in many Wi-Fi routers. It allows network administrators to control which devices are allowed to connect to the wireless network based on their MAC addresses, which are unique hardware identifiers for network interfaces. Implementing MAC filtering can provide an additional layer of security for your Wi-Fi network, but it's not foolproof, as MAC addresses can be spoofed. Here's how to enable MAC filtering in a typical Wi-Fi router: 1. **Access Router's Web Interface**: - Open a web browser and enter the IP address of your router into the address bar. This IP address is typically something like "192.168.1.1" or "192.168.0.1." You can find this information in your router's documentation or on the router itself. 2. **Log In**: - You will be prompted to enter the router's username and password. If you haven't changed these credentials, they are often set to default values, such as "admin" for the username and "admin" or blank for the password. It's crucial to change these default login details for security reasons. 3. **Find MAC Filtering Settings**: - The location of the MAC filtering settings can vary depending on the router's manufacturer and model. Look for a section related to "Wireless Security" or "MAC Filtering" in the router's settings. The wording may differ, but it's typically found in the wireless settings area. 4. **Enable MAC Filtering**: - Enable MAC filtering by selecting the option to "Allow" or "Permit" devices based on their MAC addresses. 5. **Add MAC Addresses**: - You will need to enter the MAC addresses of the devices you want to allow on your network. Each device that connects to your Wi-Fi network has a unique MAC address. Enter these addresses one by one. 6. **Save Settings**:

- After adding the MAC addresses of your allowed devices, save your settings. The router will now enforce MAC filtering, only allowing devices with MAC addresses you've specified to connect. Keep in mind the following points when using MAC filtering: - **Limited Security**: MAC filtering is a basic security measure and can be easily bypassed by anyone with technical knowledge. MAC addresses can be spoofed, so it should not be your sole method of securing your Wi-Fi network. - **Maintenance**: Maintaining a MAC filter list can be cumbersome as you'll need to add or remove MAC addresses when devices are added or removed from your network. - **Inconvenience**: It can be inconvenient if guests or new devices need to connect to your network, as they won't be able to do so until you add their MAC addresses to the filter list. For stronger security, it's recommended to use more robust methods such as WPA3 encryption, a strong Wi-Fi password, and, if possible, a hidden SSID (Service Set Identifier) in conjunction with MAC filtering. This layered approach provides better protection for your wireless network.

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