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Home or public network

Tags:
  • Wireless
  • Routers
  • Security
  • Wireless Network
  • Windows 7
Last response: in Wireless Networking
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February 26, 2014 1:39:46 PM

Hi,

I have just switched to Virgin broadband (that's not the issue) and am connecting all my devices to the internet via wifi. I have no problems seeing the internet or connecting to my wifi printer. What I really want to know is, should I tell my windows 7 PC it's on a public network. Currently it is configured as a home network and the router is part of that network. I don't want to have a wired connection to the router as I've buried the PC in a cupboard. I use the router as a dhcp server and use the default ip address range 192.168.x.x etc. I am worried about security and others connecting to my home network. I have changed all router passwords and changed the ssid, I have also turned off wps.

TIA.

Grozzie

More about : home public network

a b F Wireless
a b $ Windows 7
February 27, 2014 2:14:38 AM

Home. Generally there's not a lot of security you lose, and it allows the actual reasons for having a network beyond just internet (file sharing, printing etc.).

Biggest thing with WiFi is to use a decent length (10 chars +) key and WPA2, with WPS off.

Sounds like you're set.
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a b F Wireless
February 27, 2014 7:32:03 AM

The "public" WiFi selection in Windows isolates the computer from sharing with other devices on a public network, such as a coffee shop hotspot. So for an encrypted home connection, select the Windows "home" network.
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February 27, 2014 10:51:44 AM

Thanks for the above replies, as I have only one PC I don't need print or file sharing. Would it therefore be more secure if I told windows it was a public network. Also would it be advisable to UN-check all but tcp/ipv4 in the wireless network connection properties.
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a b F Wireless
a b $ Windows 7
February 28, 2014 1:37:14 AM

Not really more secure - you shouldn't have any foreign devices on your network anyway (because they can snoop on any network traffic, including unencrypted web traffic. Many android file viewers also come with SMB support, which could be useful.

I think that disabling QoS would break some stuff, though I'm not sure. There's really no point, though, and IPv6 support is growing. None of them are really a security risk.

Best way to secure your network is a nice, long, random WPA2 key.
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March 12, 2014 5:47:57 AM

Have only ever really dealt with wired networks but have turned everything off apart from ipv4. Not really sure how QoS works, is it application dependent. On wired networks you are able to side-band you connection for priority traffic at the gateway/router, which I assume is similar. With today's high speed broadband is there any need for QoS?.
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a b F Wireless
a b $ Windows 7
March 12, 2014 6:42:23 AM

It's generally not used for anything but VoIP, though some systems put IPTV over it too.
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