Using my neighbor's wireless connection.

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Sampson
  • Start date Start date
J

John Sampson

I just noticed that my laptop has been using some other wireless connection
in the neighborhood. This is my wife's email and surfing toy and that is it
so I am not concerned but rather curious. All I could tell is there was an
internet connection from a system outside my network but could not see any
drives or files. I only have one folder set up to share and it is empty. Is
there any chance the other guy is aware of the connection and can see other
machines on my LAN?

Now that I have become aware this can happen I have always checked and
notice sometimes there are other connections available but have encryption.
I guess only the other guy and my self have open connections it seems.

I guess the questions would be is it illegal to be connected in this way
and what are the chances that my neighbor is aware of this connection and
how can I tell if he has access to my network. I can see his IP on Zone
Alarm but have no other way to tell if he has access.

Thanks for any comments and suggestions.
 
Hi

Always use Wireless security, otherwise.

When you are successfully connected to someone else's Wireless you become
part of his/her Network, depending on your computers' setting the other
person might be able to gain access to your Drives/Folders.

If you leave your Wireless Router/Access Point unsecured, it is the same
story, a stranger that joins your connection become part of your Network.

What to do? On the road when you have to use open public Hotspots you can
protect yourself by using Software Firewall that is set to block all LAN
(local) traffic.

Jack (MVP-Networking).
 
Hi
Always use Wireless security, otherwise.

When you are successfully connected to someone else's Wireless you
become part of his/her Network, depending on your computers' setting
the other person might be able to gain access to your Drives/Folders.

If you leave your Wireless Router/Access Point unsecured, it is the
same story, a stranger that joins your connection become part of your
Network.
What to do? On the road when you have to use open public Hotspots
you can protect yourself by using Software Firewall that is set to
block all LAN (local) traffic.

Jack (MVP-Networking).
Click to expand...
I just took another look at the setup I have. I had disabled wireless
function in the router and have it hard wired. I remember now as I have not
touched the system in a year or so. I can't figure out how she was getting
connected to the wireless network now that I think about it. Maybe there was
something configured itself some how. The last time I used it was in the car
testing out a GPS receiver and remember seeing countless wireless
connections as we drove all over. Could something get reconfigured that
would allow these changes?

Thanks for any hints.

John
 
Hi
If you disabled the Wireless (and hopefully test it with your Laptop to make
sure that it is Not working). Then the only way to Start the Wireless it
again is by using a wired connection, or if the Router has remote management
capacity through the Internet, and it is On and not strong password
protected.
In addition many Wireless Router default is Wireless On, so if the Router
was Reset was used, the Wireless would be On again.
Jack (MVP-Networking).
 
Hi
If you disabled the Wireless (and hopefully test it with your Laptop
to make sure that it is Not working). Then the only way to Start the
Wireless it again is by using a wired connection, or if the Router
has remote management capacity through the Internet, and it is On and
not strong password protected.
In addition many Wireless Router default is Wireless On, so if the
Router was Reset was used, the Wireless would be On again.
Jack (MVP-Networking).
Click to expand...

The problem was the wire was loose because that tab was broken. Sometimes
it would connect to the wireless from next door after is looked for the
wired connection. I ran another cable and all is well.

Thanks.

John
 
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