Got wireless?...A few things you shoud know

Coming from another thread on this subject. If you have a wireless hub/switch/router, you may be letting others in your neighborhood use your connection without your knowing it! That is, if you pulled it out of the box, plugged it in and did nothing else to set up the security features it has. People with compatible wireless network interface cards (most are the same these days) can access you wireless network if you don't have security features active. This means they can browse the internet and more. Harmless web browsing may not be so bad...but what if they get involved in illegal activities using your connection? The police will be at YOUR door :)

I might add, I suppose web browsing may not be all someone could do on your network. I would imagine if you have file sharing turned on (some people do, just to make it easy to transfer files between laptops and PC's on their home network, since they assume it's safe), someone that sneaks onto your local wireless LAN could possibly see those shares you have and therefor have access to anything in that shared drive or folder. So again...one more reason to secure yourself and your home wireless network.

So anyway, I'm not the expert on this...I just know it happens. Here's a couple links that may help.

Linksys - 4 steps you need to take: http://www.linksys.com/edu/page10.asp

Netgear - Wireless LAN security overview (PDF file): http://www.netgear.com/pdf_docs/WLAN_Security_Concepts.pdf

This message was edited Jul 30, 2004 9:13 PM

This message was edited Jul 30, 2004 9:19 PM