Taken from PCWorld Magazine, April 2012 Edition

By default, wireless routers and access points have security turned off. Without the security enabled, anyone nearby can leach off your wireless Internet, see where you’re browsing, capture your passwords to some websites, and possibly gain access to your PCs and files. Some models help you turn security on via a wizard during initial setup or recommend using buttons or PINs; others require you to enable it manually via the router’s Web interface.

But even with Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 enabled, hackers can exploit vulnerabilities to crack your Wi-Fi security. Here’s how to combat these weaknesses. If your router supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), it is vulnerable.  The best answer is to turn that feature off.  If you cannot turn it off, then consider upgrading the firmware for your router.  Each router has different ways to complete these tasks, so check out your manual for instructions.

If you have done these things and are still worried about someone hacking into your wireless connection, consider hiding your SSID (essentially making your wireless connection invisible) or using MAC addressing.  There is no way to completely protect your wireless connection except to turn it off when you are not using it… but that is not convenient.