Wireless Networking Question

[CBT]

I am currently running Windows XP Professional SP2. I have setup a
wireless network at home using a Linksys WRT54GX and everything is
fine. My laptop and another desktop connect fine. I am using WPA for
encryption purposes and that also works well. My question may or may
not be unusual, but here it is. My cousin lives across the street and
he is able to see my wireless router, but not access it. We have
discussed sharing the cost of the DSL connection and using my router
for both of us to access the internet. I trust my cousin, but we would
both be more comfortable if neither had any access to each other's
computer(s). What is the best way to allow only internet access using
the Linksys router while leaving our computers on the network
invisible to each other? Thanks for any advice/help.

 

[John R Weiss]

My cousin lives across the street and
he is able to see my wireless router, but not access it. We have
discussed sharing the cost of the DSL connection and using my router
for both of us to access the internet. I trust my cousin, but we would
both be more comfortable if neither had any access to each other's
computer(s). What is the best way to allow only internet access using
the Linksys router while leaving our computers on the network
invisible to each other? Thanks for any advice/help.

Give him your WPA access passphrase only after you change it to something you do
not use for any other purpose.

Use different workgroup names.

Ensure the Guest account is turned off.

Change the default share permissions so that "Everyone" is no longer allowed
access. Set up discrete access permissions for your users.

Make sure each user account has a password that will not be easily guessed by
the other person.

 

[CBT]

Thank you, John. Only my wife and I use the computers. How do I
globally change the default share permissions so that only she and I
have access?

 

[Chuck]

I am currently running Windows XP Professional SP2. I have setup a
wireless network at home using a Linksys WRT54GX and everything is
fine. My laptop and another desktop connect fine. I am using WPA for
encryption purposes and that also works well. My question may or may
not be unusual, but here it is. My cousin lives across the street and
he is able to see my wireless router, but not access it. We have
discussed sharing the cost of the DSL connection and using my router
for both of us to access the internet. I trust my cousin, but we would
both be more comfortable if neither had any access to each other's
computer(s). What is the best way to allow only internet access using
the Linksys router while leaving our computers on the network
invisible to each other? Thanks for any advice/help.

If you want to share service with your cousin, and keep both your LAN and his
separate, you need 2 more routers. Connect one router (the one that you have?)
to the DSL modem. You use a second, with its WAN connected to the LAN of the
first, and connect your computers to its LAN. Your cousin uses a third, with
its WAN also connected to the LAN of the first (though by WiFi), and connecting
his computers to its LAN.

Now, depending upon the distance and other physical factors, the quality of your
Internet service, and numerous other factors, the specific routers that you buy
must be carefully chosen. DSLR Forums helps folks like you every day, and
registration is free. Start with this article.
<http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,12649338>
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,12649338

 

[John R Weiss]

Thank you, John. Only my wife and I use the computers. How do I
globally change the default share permissions so that only she and I
have access?

Right-click on each shared drive or folder. Go to Properties | Sharing |
Permissions. Reset them so only your 2 user accounts have access.

Now go to the Security tab for each drive. Check the "...child objects..." box
and reset the file/folder access permissions to reflect your user accounts plus
Owner and System.