Wifi Security

bodhi

bodhi

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I have bt broadband with a wireless router and was wondering, how do you set up security so that some thieving git cant sit on my door step with his laptop and use my connection? Im sure there must be some simple encryption program that does it?

Cheers
Bodhi
 
You'll have to go to your wireless router's setup and enable one of the security methods there - WEP or WPA. IIRC, WPA is better, but not everything supports it.

Just be sure it isn't open to the world :)
 
As ian says go with WPA encryption if possible.

64bit/128bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption has a problem, the wireless data is encrypted and decrypted using a key. When wireless network devices authenticate with the router, access point etc, the full key is sent unencrypted across the air, once authenticated encryption is enabled.

The problem being is that if someone is sat outside your house with a wireless enabled laptop and a packet snifing tool, he/she will be able to see the key as clear text, they will then be able to gain access to your network.

With 64bit/128bit Wireless Protected Access (WPA) it's a different story, WPA uses Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) which is basically when a client is being authenticated the key is sent and hidden if many different packets. Making it extremely difficult for a hacker to obtain your encryption key.

One other technique to secure your wireless network is to use Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering, most routers and access points now support this feature. Never heard of a MAC address? Every Network Interface Card (NIC) or network device has a unique MAC address, it enables network hardware like routers to obtain the devices Internet Protocol (IP) address. Example MAC Address, 09:00:07:A9:B2:EB.

MAC address filtering works by creating a list of your network adapters MAC address' on the router or access point. When a computer tries to access your wireless network if it ain't on the list it ain't getting in!

So, with WPA and MAC address filtering, your clients will need a key and will need to be on the list.

There isn't a wireless or wired network anywhere that is completly secure, if somebody has the mind and the skills to get in then they will, eventually. But at the end of the day all home user's need to be worried about is if that thirteen kid next door can see my porn collection!

J
 
Techy said:
MAC address filtering works by creating a list of your network adapters MAC address' on the router or access point. When a computer tries to access your wireless network if it ain't on the list it ain't getting in!

J
Click to expand...

Does MAC address filtering wear a black suit with waistcoat and hold a clip board?!!

DO you need special programs which come with the router. Im at work so cant check, but i thought i say a tab in device manager or something which gave a choice of security protocols which could be used? Maybe i dreamt that!!

Bodhi
 
Most routers now come with MAC address filtering.

This is nothing to do with setting security protocols on your computer, thats different.

J
 
Techy said:
Most routers now come with MAC address filtering.

This is nothing to do with setting security protocols on your computer, thats different.

J
Click to expand...

So should i not change anything on the computer then? Is that just a waste of time?
 
The only thing your changing on your computer is the encryption key, which you can either enter on the wireless adapters properties or just enter it when requested when you connect to the network.

J
 
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