protecting your wireless network

[UncleMo]

After installing your router, do you need to go out and buy software to protect your access point so that no one can drive up next to your house to access your data on your PC? I saw something on TV once that showed how a guy can do this and how how Americans aren't protected.

[daflyboys]

Re: protecting your wireless network

I'm no network expert at all, but as long as you can get to your user control panel a la your browser and generate the codes and settings, you should be relatively okay. My understanding is that WPA is the better encryption to use. I suppose some nerd-of-the-week could try to figure out your code if given enough time, but most real world people will just leave it alone and see that it is a security locked connection.

[p_rushing]

Re: protecting your wireless network

make sure you setup the WPA key, then you can also set the number of connects to the number of devices you have connecting wirelessly so no one esle can get on even if they somehow break your WPA key

[Jgainsey]

Re: protecting your wireless network

I've been using a WPA key with out any problems for years. Also, when I lived in an apartment complex I would make sure to not broadcast my SSID. 95% of people aren't going to be able to use your connection if they can't see it. And there are even fewer people out there that would know the first thing about cracking a WPA key.

[fishepa]

Re: protecting your wireless network

Did your question get answered?

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: protecting your wireless network

Yeah, not broadcasting your SSID would probably be the most helpful and the easiest thing to do apart from the initial set up of your network name and password.

[mjb2124]

Re: protecting your wireless network

You're never going to be 100% protected, but using WPA2, not broadcasting your SSID and using MAC level authentication will help. Of course all of this can be breached using a sniffer (and it can be done pretty easily for those familiar with this and who have the right tools....I could probably hack most home networks in 20-30 minutes - and those are the secured networks), but I highly doubt anyone would be trying to breach a home network. There are larger fish to fry for war drivers (the name for those that drive around cracking wireless networks).

[MC Fatigue]

Re: protecting your wireless network

Just put your router's address into a browser and it should bring up a security page.

Do the encryption thing like people mentioned. I believe WPA2 is the most secure.

As for not displaying your SSID, I don't think that much is necessary. I've read reports that say to actually not do it. Because if you get disconnected from your network, you can inadvertently connect to another one and have your data flowing through them... So it's better to just leave it up so that if it happens, you can easily see your network name and reconnect without having to type junk in to find it. On top of that - anyone trying to hack your network will just have a program that will bring up your SSID anyway, so it doesn't really matter.

[UncleMo]

Re: protecting your wireless network

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make sure you setup the WPA key, then you can also set the number of connects to the number of devices you have connecting wirelessly so no one esle can get on even if they somehow break your WPA key

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I’ll look into seeing how to set the number of connects. Thanks.<o></o>
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I've been using a WPA key with out any problems for years. Also, when I lived in an apartment complex I would make sure to not broadcast my SSID. 95% of people aren't going to be able to use your connection if they can't see it. And there are even fewer people out there that would know the first thing about cracking a WPA key.

<o> </o>
I didn’t know there was an option not to broadcast it. When I tried to find an access point via the PS3, I noticed that I can see many neighbors access points, and I assume those are routers beaming a connection for some shady person to hijack. I’ll see how not to broadcast it – unless you meant broadcast as in tell people which one is yours.<o></o>
<o> </o>

Did your question get answered?

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<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->I wanted to wait for several answers to see what more than one person thought. I have several answers to my question as you can see, giving me a lot to think about and to act on. Thanks.
<o> </o>

You're never going to be 100% protected, but using WPA2, not broadcasting your SSID and using MAC level authentication will help. Of course all of this can be breached using a sniffer (and it can be done pretty easily for those familiar with this and who have the right tools....I could probably hack most home networks in 20-30 minutes - and those are the secured networks), but I highly doubt anyone would be trying to breach a home network. There are larger fish to fry for war drivers (the name for those that drive around cracking wireless networks).

<o> </o>
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->I appreciate this post. What are the goals of “war drivers” if they don’t want personal information. I mean think about it, they could look for passwords, websites you visit, pictures of your loved ones, etc, unless they are going after mega corporations and health institutions for mass financial and personal data.<o></o>
<o> </o>

Just put your router's address into a browser and it should bring up a security page.

Do the encryption thing like people mentioned. I believe WPA2 is the most secure.

As for not displaying your SSID, I don't think that much is necessary. I've read reports that say to actually not do it. Because if you get disconnected from your network, you can inadvertently connect to another one and have your data flowing through them... So it's better to just leave it up so that if it happens, you can easily see your network name and reconnect without having to type junk in to find it. On top of that - anyone trying to hack your network will just have a program that will bring up your SSID anyway, so it doesn't really matter.

<o> </o>
Thanks for this. I’ll figure out why my router’s address is – do you have a suggestion on finding out what my router’s address is?

[The GIGGAS]

Re: protecting your wireless network

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piggybacking_%28internet_access%29

Read that, especially the preventing section.

[mjb2124]

Re: protecting your wireless network

I appreciate this post. What are the goals of “war drivers” if they don’t want personal information. I mean think about it, they could look for passwords, websites you visit, pictures of your loved ones, etc, unless they are going after mega corporations and health institutions for mass financial and personal

I think about it this way... A war driver could sit outside your house and try to breach your home wireless network...maybe steal some passwords, financial information and take that. Or they could sit outside a corporation and try to steal financial information or even intellectual property (ie: think about how much money someone could get for the code to Microsoft's next operating system?). If I'm that guy, I'm going for the bigger payload which would be the corporation.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: protecting your wireless network

Oh the paranoia of people. Hackers not going to waste time on small fishes.

[The GIGGAS]

Re: protecting your wireless network

Oh the paranoia of people. Hackers not going to waste time on small fishes.

Doesn't hurt to at least put WPA on your network, though. At least close the door, instead of leaving it wide open.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: protecting your wireless network

True that......But I don't want people to be looking out their window and calling the cops for every car they see stopped outside their house longer then 2 minutes either LOL.

I could see people now, honey this car been sitting here for 3 minutes, I think it might be a war driver, call the cops and turn off the modem ! LOL

OMG my parents were like this when I first introduced them to the internet a few years ago. They thought the internet was full of hackers and porn.

[LionsFanNJ]

Re: protecting your wireless network

OMG my parents were like this when I first introduced them to the internet a few years ago. They thought the internet was full of hackers and porn.

To be honest, the majority of most people who aren't internet or tech savvy assumes this. Everyone i know who isn't on the net like that has that viewpoint.