MAC filters, implementing

[Jeff]

I have a working home wireless LAN between my desktop (Win 98 SE) and my
laptop (XP Home). I do not use a router as an access point, just 2 808.11b
cards.

I have been reading about wireless security and implemented WEP (I know its
problems) and a private non-specific SSID but have the following questions.

1. Is it possible to implement MAC filtering without a router in the system?
2. Does such a system (2 wireless 802.11b cards) broadcast its SSID and if
so, can this be disabled? How?

Trying to learn.

 

[DLink Guru]

MAC filtering cant be done in a AD-HOC Network. Your SSID is broadcast, but
in an AD-HOC network only 2 computers can be connected at any one time to
each other, so as long as your two computers are networked together, no one
else can connect to you.

Robert....

 

[Jeff]

Thank you.

What do I need to do to avoid the desktop from broadcasting when it is not
connected to my laptop? It has a PCI Dlink wireless card and my laptop is
not always on, therefore not always connected.

I do own a DLink router (which I am not using). Won't the Desktop continue
to broadcast its SSID even if I use a router to link it to the laptop?

I am obviously a novice .....

--

Jeff Stevens
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
(e-mail address removed)

 

[DLink Guru]

The only thing you can do to stop broadcasting the desktop SSID is to
manually disable the card when you are not using the network.

If you are using a router, the client cards no longer broadcast SSIDs, only
the router does. And if using a router you will be able to use WEP, and
maybe WPA, encryption for security. You could also use MAC filtering and
even Static IPs with a router to increase security a bit more. Plus using a
router your network connection will be more stable also.

Robert....

 

[Jeff]

Thank you.

--

Jeff Stevens
Email address deliberately false to avoid spam
(e-mail address removed)