For those of you out there who aren't too computer savvy, wi-fi and internet security can be confusing.  Not understanding internet security can result in identity theft or credit card fraud, so here’s a quick primer on the key things to think about when using your computer at home over a wireless network.

There are two main connections you need to consider when thinking about the security of your online communication with whatever website to which you’re connecting.  One is the connection between your computer and the wireless router and the other is the connection between your computer browser/application and the site or system your interacting with on the other side.

The next factor that applies to both of these connections is encryption.  Encryption is the basic concept in which only the two sides involved in the communication can send and receive information and understand it because it has been encrypted between the two.

Encryption for your connection with the wireless router is something you or whoever sets up your wireless router configures.  Today’s common encryption method is called WPA or Wi-Fi Protected Access.  Once configured, it makes it a lot harder for someone to intercept and then open up and read what it is that you’re sending to your wireless router and then out over the internet.

Encryption for your connection to a website appears in the URL bar (where you see http://www.IdentityTheft.com).  When you see a URL that stars with https:// (notice the “s” after http) you know you’re in a secure mode – the extra “s” stands for secure.  

Once you have the security configured for your wireless router and routinely watch to see when you’re on a secure website and about to enter a credit card number, you can know that it’s going to be much more difficult for someone nearby to gain access to your live wireless session and steal your information.  Now the likelihood that there’s a hacker and thief sitting outside of your house in the dark who’s cracked the necessary encryption to steal information is low.  Most identity theft comes from less technical ways to steal your information.  However, if you’re living in that 50 unit condo or apartment building and choose ignore basics for security, you’re leaving a door open for an unscrupulous person with the right technology to easily take advantage of the situation.