What is an Access Control List (ACL)? An Access Control List is a list, stored on a network router, of allowed devices on a network. This list determines which devices are allowed to connect to the network and which devices are not allowed. Using such a list, a wifi administrator (or home user) can block unauthorized access to their network.
Access Control Lists are designed using a wireless router. A network hub device will not work. A network hub allows all dealings to pass both ways; it does not filter any dealings. A router filters dealings, you can block dealings in either direction or re-route dealings. A router could be a basic router (ie. NetGear, Linksys) from any electronics store, an advanced router (i.e. Cisco Router) or a server/workstation designed as a router. A router stores information in its ACL and supported that information, directs dealings in and out of a network.
This screen shot shows the Access Control List of a NetGear Router. This list has one device listed. If the Access list was turned on, only this device could access the wireless network. You can build an ACL on a router and chose to not implement access filtering, but if you spent the time to build the list, power besides use it. There are more devices today, that can access a WiFi network than few years ago. Such devices are Smart Phones, Gaming Systems, Laptops, Tablets, etc.
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Most routers are pre-designed to broadcast their SSID (the name of your wifi network) and allow any dealings to connect. Most users are now acquainted securing their wifi networks by adding a network access password. This helps secure their network but it is possible that some hackers could find your network password. Adding an Access Control List will help to further reduce unauthorized access by adding a second layer of defense. An access list stores the MAC address of the device. If the computer attempting to access the network is unlisted on this list, they will not be allowed to access the network. There are some hackers who are able to hi-jack a valid MAC address, so there aren't any 100% secured systems but some security is better than none at all. One extra security we could add (after implementing ACL), would be to disable SSID broadcast. This will cause some problems with some WIFI devices automatically connection the wifi network, but its worth the security.
Review your specific router's manual for the correct way to configure your specific router. We will discuss SSID broadcast in a future post, subscribe the blog for alerts on future posts.
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