Keeping neighbors at bay

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

MAC filtering is easy. You basically enter the MAC addresses of your
wireless devices into your router's firmware via its web interface. Each
wireless device you have has the MAC address printed on the back or bottom
of the unit. Set the router to accept connections from the devices
(addresses) you've entered and deny connections from those that do not.
Unless your neighbors are hard core hackers, MAC filtering should easily
keep them out.

I've got the MN-700 "G" Microsoft router and really like it. Super easy to
configure, has great range, and never gives me problems. You can get one for
under $40 from various places on the net. Some Office Depot stores might
still have some in stock on clearance for $37.

"Scott" <scott4508@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7e0af77f.0405261722.10b07152@posting.google.com...
> I'm sure this is an easy question, I just couldn't find an answer in
> here. How do you keep your neighbor from using your printer,
> internet, etc? I know about WEP and changing passwords, etc...but is
> there like a whitelist of approved MAC addresses or something that I
> can set up to only allow on the network? Is my only option changing
> passwords and checking a WEP box? Also, should I just get a Microsoft
> router since they are cheap? Does G provide that much better range
> for the money? Are 2.4 phones a big interference issue? Thanks

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

someone forgot to add disabling SSID broadcast.

MAC Filter
WEP (256 bit if possible) or WPA
Disabling SSID Broadcast
Not using "default" or "linksys" as your SSID

Yes I know that each of these things are bypassable by someone who has
enough time, but by using a combination of things you can get it as secure
as possible.

If your network is THAT important, run ethernet and don't use wireless



On Wed, 26 May 2004 20:38:07 -0600, Harold Starr wrote:

> Do you want much better range?
> How big is your house anyway?
> Do you want more neighbors or fewer neighbors to try to hack in? 2.4
> phones can be an issue. So was my 900 mhz phone. G is better security, and
> faster
> Yes you can set up MAC addresses, but that too can be hacked. I think you
> should let your neighbor use your printer. If you dont like that idea,
> there are ways to attach a footer message on every page that says what an
> ass he is! That will discourage him!
>
>
>
> "Scott" <scott4508@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:7e0af77f.0405261722.10b07152@posting.google.com...
>> I'm sure this is an easy question, I just couldn't find an answer in
>> here. How do you keep your neighbor from using your printer, internet,
>> etc? I know about WEP and changing passwords, etc...but is there like a
>> whitelist of approved MAC addresses or something that I can set up to
>> only allow on the network? Is my only option changing passwords and
>> checking a WEP box? Also, should I just get a Microsoft router since
>> they are cheap? Does G provide that much better range for the money?
>> Are 2.4 phones a big interference issue? Thanks

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

It's not so much that my information is secret and nobody can see
it...it's just that I naturally have the feeling that I don't want
anyone looking at stuff that isn't supposed to be doing so. So MAC
filtering, WEP, etc is all boxes you check or options you enable in
the software? Sorry, I don't have the router yet.

Also I heard that range was better on a G than a B. Faster connection
isn't really needed to me because my internet connection is slower
anyway. My house is fairly large and there may be several walls for
the connection to travel to at some times. Are phones only an issue
when they are in the direct path between you and the router or is the
whole room the phone is in basically worthless? Thanks

Jeff <news@mottie.com> wrote in message news:<pan.2004.05.27.05.21.52.668000@mottie.com>...
> someone forgot to add disabling SSID broadcast.
>
> MAC Filter
> WEP (256 bit if possible) or WPA
> Disabling SSID Broadcast
> Not using "default" or "linksys" as your SSID
>
> Yes I know that each of these things are bypassable by someone who has
> enough time, but by using a combination of things you can get it as secure
> as possible.
>
> If your network is THAT important, run ethernet and don't use wireless
>
>
>
> On Wed, 26 May 2004 20:38:07 -0600, Harold Starr wrote:
>
> > Do you want much better range?
> > How big is your house anyway?
> > Do you want more neighbors or fewer neighbors to try to hack in? 2.4
> > phones can be an issue. So was my 900 mhz phone. G is better security, and
> > faster
> > Yes you can set up MAC addresses, but that too can be hacked. I think you
> > should let your neighbor use your printer. If you dont like that idea,
> > there are ways to attach a footer message on every page that says what an
> > ass he is! That will discourage him!
> >
> >
> >
> > "Scott" <scott4508@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:7e0af77f.0405261722.10b07152@posting.google.com...
> >> I'm sure this is an easy question, I just couldn't find an answer in
> >> here. How do you keep your neighbor from using your printer, internet,
> >> etc? I know about WEP and changing passwords, etc...but is there like a
> >> whitelist of approved MAC addresses or something that I can set up to
> >> only allow on the network? Is my only option changing passwords and
> >> checking a WEP box? Also, should I just get a Microsoft router since
> >> they are cheap? Does G provide that much better range for the money?
> >> Are 2.4 phones a big interference issue? Thanks

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

"George" <George@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
news:qZadndEM5a2yRyjd4p2dnA@adelphia.com...
>
> "Lucas Tam" <REMOVEnntp@rogers.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns94F5E98536E43nntprogerscom@140.99.99.130...
> > scott4508@hotmail.com (Scott) wrote in news:7e0af77f.0405261722.10b07152
> > @posting.google.com:
> >
> > > but is
> > > there like a whitelist of approved MAC addresses or something that I
> > > can set up to only allow on the network?
> >
> > Yes, you can setup a MAC filter on some APs.
> >
> > Best is to use a combination of:
> >
> > WPA security
> > MAC Filter
> > Windows Security
> >
> > WPA or WEP encrpytion would delter all but the most hardcore hackers.
>
>
> But it is a neighbor who has lots of time to exploit insecure wireless. If
> the OP wants security he may want to rethink using wireless and get a
couple
> Ethernet cables.
>
>
> > --
> > Lucas Tam (REMOVEnntp@rogers.com)
> > Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
> > http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/
>
>
Turn off routers DHCP and use static addressing, use anything other than
192.168.0.x or 192.168.1.x

Might make it a little harder for them ?

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

On 27 May 2004 05:28:32 -0700, scott4508@hotmail.com (Scott) wrote:

>It's not so much that my information is secret and nobody can see
>it...it's just that I naturally have the feeling that I don't want
>anyone looking at stuff that isn't supposed to be doing so. So MAC
>filtering, WEP, etc is all boxes you check or options you enable in
>the software? Sorry, I don't have the router yet.
>
>Also I heard that range was better on a G than a B. Faster connection
>isn't really needed to me because my internet connection is slower
>anyway. My house is fairly large and there may be several walls for
>the connection to travel to at some times. Are phones only an issue
>when they are in the direct path between you and the router or is the
>whole room the phone is in basically worthless? Thanks
>
Phones are an issue all the time not just "in the path".
Personally my 900mhz phones work fine.
The other problem with letting your neighbor have access is the RIAA.
If your neighbor does ANYTHING illegal it will be your door the people
knock on!! Porn, KIDDIE porn, illegal song downloads, even too much
usage on your cable.

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

gary <pleasenospam@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> SSID-disabling and MAC filtering don't add any value. Each can be defeated
> trivially, with a minimum amount of effort on a hacker's part. It doesn't
> hurt to use them, but without encryption they just give a false sense of
> security. I recommend any form of encryption, to address privacy and access
> issues, combined with a good wifi firewall.

I would argue that disabling SSID *does* hurt because doing so makes the
cooperative use of unlicensed radio spectrum more difficult and
encourages the use of Wi-Fi sniffing software.

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

On Wed, 26 May 2004 20:38:07 -0600, "Harold Starr" <dd@sodfa.net> wrote:

>Do you want much better range?
>How big is your house anyway?
>Do you want more neighbors or fewer neighbors to try to hack in?
>2.4 phones can be an issue. So was my 900 mhz phone.
>G is better security, and faster
>Yes you can set up MAC addresses, but that too can be hacked.
>I think you should let your neighbor use your printer. If you dont like that
>idea, there are ways to attach a footer message on every page that says what
>an ass he is! That will discourage him!

How will that discourage HIM when it will print in YOUR house?

Duh.

Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)

In article <YbWdnd6s5-ELySjd4p2dnA@comcast.com>,
Harold Starr <dd@sodfa.net> wrote:
> How big is your house anyway?

My b/g router (USR8054) has a range which extends much past my house; my
house would have to be truly huge to contain it. (Or have chicken wire in
the external walls.)

> 2.4 phones can be an issue. So was my 900 mhz phone.

OTOH, mine's not, and neither is my microwave oven, so YMMV.

> G is better security, and faster

The "faster" bit may not matter for Internet access, as 802.11b is probably
faster than your connection anyhow. (11 Mbps = 1.373 MBps, and I typically
get about half that max, with near 100% signal strength. Keep in mind
802.11 is half-duplex and ethernet is full.) Of course, if you're concerned
about internal traffic, b/g matters.

--
-eben ebQenW1@EtaRmpTabYayU.rIr.OcoPm home.tampabay.rr.com/hactar

A: Because it looks dumb and is hard to read.
Q: Why is top-posting wrong? -- from lots42@xxx.com