O/T: Wi-Fi Security

[Martin Keene]

I'm looking at purchasing a Wireless router in the near future (SWMBO has got a Wii... ) and I'm getting slightly concerned about the security of them.

How secure are they, when using a keycode, and what sort of technology is required to break the keycode? i.e. is any lowlife likely to have access to it, or is it only going to be professionals?

TIA

Martin

[Barry Ashcroft]

Click

[Martin Keene]

Got a model number so I can have a look at the specs mate?

[Barry Ashcroft]

Only thing I can find on the box is part noF5D7633uk4A

I'll bring it to Stonleigh if you want bud

[Martin Keene]

Is this it: CLICKY

£40 at Stoneliegh?

[Barry Ashcroft]

That's the one  

Sold to the funny looking chap with the weird car

[peterg]

Having used Linksys and Belkin products and had some problems, we bought a Netgear DG834G Wireless Router and it's been brilliant, totally reliable and easy to set up.

On the security front, you need to ideally set it to use WPA2 PSK rather than WEP which is relatively easily cracked...

Set up a WPA key which is long and complex (ie a mixture of numbers and letters and preferably upper and lower case, eg. something like this "N05fer4tu154LUn4t1cbUt50meofH15pr0PHec1E5c0meTRue")

Next, set the router to only allow certain MAC addresses (the ones of your family's PC/laptops obviously)

and finally, switch off broadcasting the Network ID so people in the street don't know where the router is and whose it is....

[ChrisG]

As long as you actually set up the encryption, then most wireless routers these days have sufficient security to prevent the casual man in the street from getting on your network, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. The the stories you hear in the papers etc are where people don't set them up and leave them wide open.

You can pick up wireless modem/routers brand new for about £40-50 now from Ebuyer, Dabs, Novatech etc (sorry Barry!), just make sure its got a built in ADSL modem (some are just routers so can't do the ADSL connection bit), and make sure its a well supported brand, such as Netgear / Linksys / Belkin / D-Link / Zyxel so if you get into trouble there is likely to be others on support forums with the same setup that can help.

Chris

[Barry Ashcroft]

No offence Chris there are cheaper ones available I agree but mine has been chipped for performance  

[ChrisG]

Having now seen which one you're selling, £40 is a fair deal especially if you need 108Mbit WLAN, I was just going on the original ad you linked to which didn't give much info

[DerekJ]

As long as you actually set up the encryption, then most wireless routers these days have sufficient security to prevent the casual man in the street from getting on your network, so I wouldn't worry about it too much.

I Agree.

WPA is best but ONLY works with XP onwards (I think).

WEP is good enough for Win2k systems to keep the average war-driver out.

If someone wants to hack in with WEP set up then it's possible, but why bother if the guy doen the road's router is wide open.

In the settings set "broadcast ID" (I cant remember what the exact wording is) to OFF. That way the average punk can't see the router when passing by.

On price...

The more expensive jobbies are either extended range or higher speed. 802.11N is comming in now that brings you up to wired speeds with good reception.

Hope this helps

DJ

[DMMS]

Two other important factors.

1.  Change your WPA key regularly.  At least once a month.

2.  Make sure the firmware of your router is kept up to date.

No security is completely infallible, but the harder you make it for a hacker the more likely it is that they will move on to easy prey.

[JimNoble]

Also, don't forget to change the AP's admin password from the default (which can be googled...)

Jim

[WilliamB]

To stop causual hackers and passers by WEP is fine, but WPA is better.

WEP is crackable quite easily but it is time consuming to do.

Forget about only allowing certain MACs, it's way too easy to spoof MAC addresses to get access and do braodcast your Network ID.

Proper hackers can easily get past hidden Network IDs and MACs, casual passer bys it makes no difference as long as you have encryption. That will be sufficient to stop them.

It's just like car security. A pro will nick your car regardless it's the little casual scrotes you want to stop.

The big plus to broadcasting your id is that others can see your network and which channel you are using and therefore avoid interference. As wireless gets more popular, especially in dense residential areas signal interference is a problem and hiding your network id really increases the chances of someone picking the same channel as you and causing problems.

Just make sure you are using at least WEP and preferably WPA to cover yourself from all but the most determined.

[mr-rad]

One of the guys I work with has just done an ethical hacking course specifically covering wi-fi. He came back gobsmacked at how easy it is to do with the right software. As has been said you can keep the average man out but not the pro.