Wireless Internet access at home is convenient. However, you should take precautions to make your wireless use more secure.

According to the experts at the federal government-maintained Web site, OnGuard Online, you should make sure that your communications are encrypted.

There are two types of encryption, Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP).

While both types provide a level of protection, according to OnGuard Online, WPA is stronger, so you should use it if you have a choice.

If your wireless router has a mechanism called "identifier broadcasting," turn it off.

Identifier broadcasting sends out a signal to devices in the area announcing its presence. Since hackers might use the signal to home in on vulnerable wireless networks and those in your home don't need to be told of the network's existence, international broadcasting probably is best disabled.

Those at OnGuard Online also recommend that you use a good anti-virus and anti-spyware protection, keep a firewall service in place and turn your wireless network off when not in use.

You should change your router identifier from default to something only you know, and remember to configure the same unique ID into your wireless router and your computer so they can communicate.

Remember to change your router's pre-set password for administration. Only allow specific computers to access your wireless network.

For more information on how to secure your wireless network, read the wireless security section, available under topics at www.onguardonline.gov.

Opinions expressed solely are those of the writer. Joseph Pellicciotti is a lawyer, professor and associate vice chancellor at Indiana University Northwest.