NEW YORK – Increasingly, people are installing wireless, or “Wi-Fi,” networks in their homes for the convenience of remote access to the Internet.

Prices are falling rapidly for wireless access points and wireless routers, which enable you to connect remotely with the Internet. Also, most late-model laptops come with wi-fi capability built in. Finally, most people would rather not have to run new network cables in their homes so that multiple computers can access the Internet.

But now more than ever, it’s important to make sure that the information stored in your computer is secure. The “Wired Equivalence Protocol” (WEP) security feature provided on early wireless devices has already been compromised. Newer wireless devices are certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a nonprofit industry standards group, and they use security protocols called WPA or WPA2.

For an easier and faster setup, most people would rather “plug and play” than use the security features on their wireless networks. Wi-Fi products usually have their security turned off by default so that users can get them up and running with little fuss. They may not even have a password required for administration of the network.

If you have financial information stored in your computer, or if you use online banking and money management tools, not securing your Wi-Fi leaves your network wide open to computer hackers. They can easily connect directly to your network and capture account names, numbers and passwords, or penetrate the computers connected to your network.

Here are tips to help ensure that your W-Fi network is secure:

• Use wired rather than wireless networks if possible.

• Buy equipment that provides WPA or WPA2 security capability. Older equipment may be upgradeable to WPA, so check your manufacturer’s Web site.

• Always have the security features on your network enabled and configured properly.

• Change the admin password, and block or change your network name (SSID).

• Use MAC address filtering if your network equipment supports it.

• Install and enable firewalls.

• For more tips and information, go to www.wi-fi.org.

Reuse sports gear

NEW YORK – Sports equipment can be twice as much fun the second time around. You can get some great buys on used sports gear. Kids outgrow it before it’s worn out. Parents often give up on exercise gear when they see they can’t live up to their New Year’s resolutions for weight loss.

For real deals on exercise and sporting equipment search yard or garage sales, online lists, thrift stores or used-sports-equipment stores.

A good Web site is PlayItAgainSports.com, where you can search for stores in your area that sell used equipment for no more than half the original price.

When you are on the hunt for used sports equipment, keep in mind these tips:

• Know what you’re buying and how it should work, and look for unusual wear and tear.

• If you’re not familiar with the equipment, take someone with you who is, or don’t buy it.

• For any mechanical equipment, check the manufacturer’s Web site, general consumer reports and the Consumer Products Safety Commission for recalls. The CPSC Web site is www.cpsc.gov.

• When buying safety equipment, like ski bindings or bicycle brakes, you must take them to a reliable service center for inspection and tune-up calibration. Figure this cost into the price when you compare it with that of new equipment.

– Marshall Loeb

KRT