att wireless users

[itwontletmein]

if you don't have a password on your router you need one. i work out of my truck and can go on line just about everywere i am. yesterday my laptop picked up a dozen unsecured connections.

 

[Colorado04]

Re: att wireless users

Another way to help secure your WiFi network is to not broad cast your ESSID. If they can't see you, they are less likely to try to connect. Of course, there is alway the exception. If someone really wanted to get connected, they would have to make an investment in equipment, software and time beyond just turning on a WiFi enabled computer on and searching for availible networks.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: att wireless users

I don't understand why everybody is so afraid of people using your internet connection. It doesn't hurt. And the chances of somebody actually connecting to your network are extremely slim. I've had an open, and high power wireless network for 6 years now, I couldn't care less if the neighbors try to connect. It's not like I'm hiding nuclear secrets...

There are much more important things in life to be worried about.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: att wireless users

Another way to help secure your WiFi network is to not broad cast your ESSID. If they can't see you, they are less likely to try to connect. Of course, there is alway the exception. If someone really wanted to get connected, they would have to make an investment in equipment, software and time beyond just turning on a WiFi enabled computer on and searching for availible networks.

What investment? They already have the equipment..wireless NIC. Software? Simple , freely available software can 'see' a so called 'hidden AP" no problem.

Bottom line , forget about hiding your SSID, you can be 'seen' . Forget about using just MAC filtering, that info is transmitted with every packet you send and can be sniffed easily. Your MAC can be spoofed in 10 seconds or less.

Best bet is to enable the built-in security features of the router , use STRONG pass phrases in WPA etc. BTW, connecting to a unprotected router without prior consent is illegal. Just because someone has an open router does not give consent to connect to it. In simple terms , it's stealing.

 

[itwontletmein]

Re: att wireless users

becuse it uses your address not theres you tell the cops it wasent u looking at that

 

[ZmOz]

Re: att wireless users

becuse it uses your address not theres you tell the cops it wasent u looking at that

Simply tell the court you had an open router and show them the logs that prove somebody else was using it. Do you think starbucks is responsible for anything their customers look up? No.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: att wireless users

I'm kinda like ZmOz, however I did secure mine just so that there's no chance of thru-put being effected by someone else.

 

[ndemge]

Re: att wireless users

I live in the partial boonies.... i can't even get a signal in my own shed... for someone to leach off me, the have to be within 20' of my house. so mine is unsecured.


If I lived in a subdivision with neighbors, it would be locked down, becuase I like having shared drives in tthe house with shared printers and music.

 

[itwontletmein]

Re: att wireless users

hey i was just puting it out there. might be someone here that did'nt know how far and how easy it is

 

[Plainsman]

Re: att wireless users

I hide the SSID and use MAC adrress. I beleive that even the small things help to harden your secutiy. If you know a lot about routers and confguring them great, but the average user doesn't and they really don't want to. So to give someone a tip that may help their security, in my book, is a good thing.
And if you don't care who hops on, all the power to you, I do care.
If someone wants on your network bad enough, they are going to get on it, but if you make it more difficult, most will try to find something easier. It's like the little lock on your front door, it's not going to stop a determined person, but will turn most away.

just my .02

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: att wireless users

Wow i just hooked up wireless and had to do an 24 didget password to finish the hook up.

 

[technostingray]

Re: att wireless users

There are much more important things in life to be worried about.

For example?

 

[ZmOz]

Re: att wireless users

For example?

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: att wireless users

There are much more important things in life to be worried about.

For example?

Whether an airplane can take off from a conveyor belt?