I currently have 2 XP PC's on a home network accessing the internet through
a cable modem. They are all connected to a 4 port Microsoft router. The 2
computers are in the same room, so the network is wired. I would like to
add a 3rd computer to the network, except I would like it to be wireless due
to its distance from the other PC's. Is there an easy, inexpensive way to
add the 3rd computer via a wireless connection to my existing wired
network - hopefully through the router so all 3 computers can talk to each
other and share the common cable modem? The 3rd computer is running Windows
98. Thanks for your help.
Bill,
A Wireless Access Point (WAP), connected to one of the wired ports in your
router, will do what you need.
However, currently you can get wireless routers for about the same price as
WAPs. Compare the prices for wireless routers and WAPs at some of the online
chains for instance.
Best Buy <
http://www.bestbuy.com/>
Circuit City <
http://www.circuitcity.com/>
CompUSA <
http://www.compusa.com/>
Remember, if you connect your wired network (with shared data) to a wireless
network, you are opening up your shared data (and internet access) to your
wireless neighbors. Be careful. Get a WAP or router with security features -
and use them.
Change the router / WAP management password, and disable remote (WAN)
management.
Enable WEP / WPA. Use non-trivial (non-guessable) values for each. (No "My dog
has fleas").
Enable MAC filtering.
Change the subnet of your LAN - don't use the default.
Disable DHCP on the LAN, and assign an address to each computer manually.
Install a software firewall on every computer connected to a wireless LAN. Put
manually assigned ip addresses in the Local (highly trusted) Zone. Open the
following ports for file sharing, only in the Local Zone: TCP 139, 445; UDP 137,
138, 445.
Don't disable SSID broadcast - some configurations require the SSID broadcast.
But change the SSID itself - to something that doesn't identify you, or the
equipment.
Enable the router activity log. Examine it regularly. Know what each
connection listed represents - you? a neighbor?.
Use non-trivial accounts and passwords on every computer connected to a wireless
LAN. Disable or delete Guest userid, if possible (XP Home is a bad choice
here). Rename Administrator, to a non-trivial value, and give it a non-trivial
password. Never use the Administrator renamed account for day to day
activities, only when intentionally doing administrative tasks.
Stay educated - know what the threats are. Newsgroups alt.internet.wireless and
microsoft.public.windows.networking,wireless are good places to start.
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
