... we have left it unsecured, that is, no password to access it. I know this means that someone near by can use our connection, but what are the dangers of this, if any?
A question about wireless internet connection....
by Gregor 20 Replies latest jw friends
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R.Crusoe
I once saw a program where a guy outside in a car used his laptop and showed online the residents booking their 2weeks holiday abroad. He new their property was vacant and when! I'm not sure what else he gleaned!
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Finally-Free
Someone could use your connection to download child porn, and you could find yourself the subject of a police investigation. I heard of it happening here in Toronto.
Also, someone knowledgable could use the connection to access your computer.
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TD
What's the rest of your security like?
There are way more dangers than just someone piggybacking on your connection. Once a wireless connectin is established, their computer is assigned a local IP by your router (Assuming DHCP is enabled) Once a technically savvy individual gains this much of a toe-hold into your network, there's all kinds of fun they could have.
In addition to somebody doing something illegal with your connection, a prankster could lock you out of your own router just for fun. They could examine the contents of your hard drives. They could create accounts for themselves on your machines, establish remote desktop connections, send email out as you, etc. etc.
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RisingEagle
A couple of observations on the topic I've also wondered about are:
There is an encryption key that each computer has to have when attempting to log onto the the wireless connection. A relative of mine that has one told me that the model of the wireless modem (is it a modem?) along with the serial number of the modem is the key. If that is true wouldn't a hacker have to have access to the modem (in other words, have access to the inside of your house) to get those pieces of information?
Is it actually possible for a hacker just to drive down a neighborhood street and log onto any unprotected (or non-password encrypted) wireless network? When we had a recent icestorm here in Okc and the power was out, I was jonesing pretty bad for some JWD so I went to the local library parking lot and logged into their network. Does that work for any wireless network?
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R.Crusoe
My thoughts may be flawed but this is some of what I think I know - about hard wired connections!
I have many suspicions about such things but know not what the best course of avoidance is. You may even have a regular worker for the telephone exchange rig a dual connection to an address known to have a broadband connection. UK lines have 6 core flex and only 2 are used so piggybacking any connection to the vacant wires of another is simple if you know how and the boxes are on the street so a guy in a reflective jacket wouldn't be suspected even if it was in his free time! Networks of friends could aquire password even from those working at the office dept - I recall a reported incident where lots of stuff like that became public - likely burned to a disc or whateva by an office employee.
Even cable in some areas is easily piggybacked and some places have every houses cable running inches below soil level in a pvc sleeve - easy enough to link if you know how!
So I wouldn't know how someone could avoid being 'set up' if well connected people decided to go ahead!!
Inside a house its supposed to be safer than wireless to hard wire a connection but using a fixed wire on a laptop keeps breaking connectivity everytime its moved around which is why many choose the wireless alternative!
I hear about some folks who use the wireless internet of locals whenever they wish and never pay a penny for it! They have no idea and I'm not sure if they ever will!!
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wunce_wuz
I will make the assumption that most, if not all wireless devices offer the same features. Make your password and SSID as long as possible. use letters (upper and lower case), numbers, and other characters (#$%^&*). If you can add your wireless MAC address to a MAC address filter do that also. If it is possible to turn the beacon off, do so. Change password and SSID periodically.
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TD
There is an encryption key that each computer has to have when attempting to log onto the the wireless connection. A relative of mine that has one told me that the model of the wireless modem (is it a modem?) along with the serial number of the modem is the key.
It sounds like they may have confused the administrator credentials for the device with the wireless security.
Wireless routers and access points have default admin passwords (Which most people don't bother to change.) that vary by make and model For example, the default credentials for most Linksys devices is Username <blank> Password <admin>
That is a different layer of security than the wireless encryption itself. Wireless security follows industry standard protocols
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Dogaradodya
Excuse me but I'm just dropping this bomb so I can be a Jedi in 100 days and be able to start Star Wars.
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