Malke wrote:
> Dave T. wrote:
>
>> Hi group,
>>
>> I just set up a home wireless network (first time) and in the process
>> some security questions came up.
>>
>> I am using a 2wire gateway provided by AT&T. It has a firewall internal,
>> and all 3 of my machines have windows firewall functional. In order to
>> make the wireless connection, I was required to enter the Passkey number
>> from the gateway, but I was given the choice to connect to 2 other
>> networks which I assume belonged to neighbors. The signals were weak,
>> but I tried one and was able to piggyback to the ‘net with no problem.
>> My question is, how do I know that the neighbors are not able to connect
>> to my network? Should I care? Would they be able to hack into my
>> machines, and if so what should I do about it?
>
> Good question, Dave T. Wireless is in the air and if you don’t properly
> secure your wireless network, then someone sitting outside your house (or in
> your neighbor’s house) can use your network and its bandwidth and get into
> your computers.
>
> Here is general information about setting up a wireless network securely:
>
> Have a computer connected to the router with an ethernet cable. Examples
> given are for a Linksys router. Refer to your router manual or the router
> mftr.’s website for default settings if you don’t have a Linksys. Open a
> browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox and in the addressbar type:
>
> http://192.168.1.1 [enter] (this is the router’s default IP address, which
> varies from router to router so check your manual)
>
> This will bring you to router’s login screen. The default username is left
> blank and the Linksys default password is "admin" without the quotes. Enter
> that information. You are now in the router’s configuration utility. Your
> configuration utility may differ slightly from mine. The first thing to do is
> change the default password because *everyone* knows the default passwords
> for various routers.
>
> Click on the Administration link at the top of the page. Enter your new
> password. WRITE IT DOWN SOMEWHERE YOU WILL NOT LOSE IT. Re-enter the
> password to confirm it and click the Save Settings button at the bottom of
> the page. The router will restart and present you with the login box again.
> Leave the username blank and put in your new password to get back into the
> configuration utility.
>
> Now click on the Wireless link at the top of the page. Change the Wireless
> Network Name (SSID) from the default to something you will recognize. I
> suggest that my clients not use their family name as the SSID. For example,
> you might wish to name your wireless network "CastleAnthrax" or the like.
> 😉
>
> Click the Save Settings and when you get the prompt that your changes were
> successful, click on the Wireless Security link which is right next to the
> Basic Wireless Settings link (where you changed your SSID). Most computers
> purchased within the last 4 years have wireless hardware that will support
> WPA2-Personal (also called WPA2-PSK). This is the encryption level you want.
> If your wireless hardware is older, use WPA. Do not use WEP as that is
> easily cracked within minutes. So go ahead and set the Security Mode to
> WPA2-Personal. Do that and enter a passphrase. For example, you might use
> the passphrase, "Here be dragons, beware you scurvy dogs!". The passphrase
> is what you will enter on any computers that are allowed to connect to the
> wireless network. WRITE IT DOWN SOMEWHERE YOU WILL NOT LOSE IT.
>
> At this point, your router is configured and if the computer you were using
> to configure the router is normally going to connect wirelessly, disconnect
> the ethernet cable and the computer’s wireless feature should see your new
> network. Enter the passphrase you created (exactly as you wrote it with all
> capitalization and punctuation) to join the network and start surfing.
>
> Malke
> Dave T. wrote:
>
>> Hi group,
>>
>> I just set up a home wireless network (first time) and in the process
>> some security questions came up.
>>
>> I am using a 2wire gateway provided by AT&T. It has a firewall internal,
>> and all 3 of my machines have windows firewall functional. In order to
>> make the wireless connection, I was required to enter the Passkey number
>> from the gateway, but I was given the choice to connect to 2 other
>> networks which I assume belonged to neighbors. The signals were weak,
>> but I tried one and was able to piggyback to the ‘net with no problem.
>> My question is, how do I know that the neighbors are not able to connect
>> to my network? Should I care? Would they be able to hack into my
>> machines, and if so what should I do about it?
>
> Good question, Dave T. Wireless is in the air and if you don’t properly
> secure your wireless network, then someone sitting outside your house (or in
> your neighbor’s house) can use your network and its bandwidth and get into
> your computers.
>
> Here is general information about setting up a wireless network securely:
>
> Have a computer connected to the router with an ethernet cable. Examples
> given are for a Linksys router. Refer to your router manual or the router
> mftr.’s website for default settings if you don’t have a Linksys. Open a
> browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox and in the addressbar type:
>
> http://192.168.1.1 [enter] (this is the router’s default IP address, which
> varies from router to router so check your manual)
>
> This will bring you to router’s login screen. The default username is left
> blank and the Linksys default password is "admin" without the quotes. Enter
> that information. You are now in the router’s configuration utility. Your
> configuration utility may differ slightly from mine. The first thing to do is
> change the default password because *everyone* knows the default passwords
> for various routers.
>
> Click on the Administration link at the top of the page. Enter your new
> password. WRITE IT DOWN SOMEWHERE YOU WILL NOT LOSE IT. Re-enter the
> password to confirm it and click the Save Settings button at the bottom of
> the page. The router will restart and present you with the login box again.
> Leave the username blank and put in your new password to get back into the
> configuration utility.
>
> Now click on the Wireless link at the top of the page. Change the Wireless
> Network Name (SSID) from the default to something you will recognize. I
> suggest that my clients not use their family name as the SSID. For example,
> you might wish to name your wireless network "CastleAnthrax" or the like.
> 😉
>
> Click the Save Settings and when you get the prompt that your changes were
> successful, click on the Wireless Security link which is right next to the
> Basic Wireless Settings link (where you changed your SSID). Most computers
> purchased within the last 4 years have wireless hardware that will support
> WPA2-Personal (also called WPA2-PSK). This is the encryption level you want.
> If your wireless hardware is older, use WPA. Do not use WEP as that is
> easily cracked within minutes. So go ahead and set the Security Mode to
> WPA2-Personal. Do that and enter a passphrase. For example, you might use
> the passphrase, "Here be dragons, beware you scurvy dogs!". The passphrase
> is what you will enter on any computers that are allowed to connect to the
> wireless network. WRITE IT DOWN SOMEWHERE YOU WILL NOT LOSE IT.
>
> At this point, your router is configured and if the computer you were using
> to configure the router is normally going to connect wirelessly, disconnect
> the ethernet cable and the computer’s wireless feature should see your new
> network. Enter the passphrase you created (exactly as you wrote it with all
> capitalization and punctuation) to join the network and start surfing.
>
> Malke
Malke,
thanks for this. My router is not a linksys, its a 2wire but
configuration is similar enough that it was pretty easy to go through
it. It is pre-installed with a fairly hi bit strength password and the
config is such that I’m more confident now than I was. I tested it by
deleting the connection I had with my laptop, and tried to make a new
connection without the passkey and couldn’t find a way to do it. I was,
of course, still able to see the ‘net through my neighbors router. I
guess I will have to make the rounds to see who it is and let them know
that I don’t need to pay my ISP anymore! 8>)
Thanks again,
Dave T.
