Is your home wireless or Wifi network safe from hackers? Maybe not if you are still using the old WEP encryption. Newer standards are harder to crack but many people still have older routers using WEP encryption. A hacker could use a common program that is called Aircrack or another called Airsnort to monitor your wireless network. After some time, in as little as ten minutes in some cases, the hacker could obtain your WEP key.
While these programs are not user friendly for the average computer person, anyone with some knowledge of Linux could, with some practice use such a program. I am writing this not to encourage people to do such a thing but instead to make the average homeowner and computer wireless network user realize that their network may be vulnerable if they are still using WEP encryption. You should see if an upgrade is available to your router or consider buying a newer WPA enable model. A hacker could be freeloading off of your network, or worse using a packet sniffer to retrieve your login names and passwords. Consider placing your router in a location that does not broadcast very far if you don't need it to. Don't place it in a window or high on a shelf but instead in a low place or inside a drawer. Just so you have a wireless signal throughout the home but are not broadcasting Wifi all over town. There are antennas that can pick up a wireless network up to ten miles away, yours if it is not protected.