Wi-Fi for free!!

[Steve_Perry]

Just another warning, I doubt most members here would need it as most of you work in IT anyways...

Seems a neighbour close to me has decided to join the wireless age. They've bought themselves a Linksys WRT54G wireless router and it's been live for the last week or so now. They have absolutely no security enabled and they haven't even changed the default login for the router or the default IP address. I've just logged into their router and all is set as from the box.

Yipee, I could have free broadband internet!! if I was so inclined Looks like I'll make some discreet enquiries and advise them of the error of their ways.

Wireless routers should carry a network health warning!

S.

 

[Spinal]

Lol... where do you live?

I have set up a wireless router about a week ago... But its well cordoned off from my wired network (they bot separately pass through an old pc converted into a linux-firewall... no cross talking allowed) and considerng how insecure wi-fi is anyways, I didn't bother too enable wep... the ip address is default (well, 192.168.0.1); but the password isn't... so probably not me huh

Anyways, if you're ever around and see a network named "Salmon" and feel like surfing the net, feel free

Michele

p.s. I think my point is that there really isn't a point in enabling wep, if someome wants in; they will get in! The safest way is to make sure nothing that needs encrypting goes over the ethers....

 

[syfaphonetic]

lol I put a word document in my neighbours shared music file section using his wifi on his netgear router hehehe

 

[Thmsshaun]

Used to think I could find my way around a computer blind folded. Then I cam on this site and when it comes to networking I am somewhere back in the past.

Need to start reasearching and dragging myslef up to date.

So on that note I am now running a 2MB broadband connection and my partner has just got her laptop so what is the easiest way of networking the two computers I would say wireless would be the best.

Proably answered half my own question there.

 

[syfaphonetic]

wireless is great if it is built in on lappie

then obviously you need a wireless router - or if you use a normal adsl modem then a plug in wifi adaptor for your pc.......

me? i use wifi for me mobile when im at home - lappie wirelessly connects to the router which means all 3 can access each other - but for file transfer i still think wired is best and most reliable.

wifi lappie plus wifi router and hardwired pc = nice setup

you thinking along those lines?

 

[syfaphonetic]

and if your misssusssusssssssss'sss lappie isnt wireless..... man what a fffaffff!!! I would rather get a long cable and connect that way

 

[Thmsshaun]

802.11 b/g Wireless LAN

 

[syfaphonetic]

802.11b can handle up to 11 megabits per second (although 7 megabits per second is more typical, and 802.11b may fall back as low as 1 or 2 megabits per second if there is a lot of interference). 802.11a and 802.11g can handle up to 54 megabits per second (although 30 megabits per second is more typical).

 

[Thmsshaun]

So in short does that laptop have what I require and what do I need for my PC is at as simple as a wireless router?

 

[syfaphonetic]

in short..... if it says wifi and has the figures you typed up there then - I would buy a wifi router and make sure you have a lan pci card in your pc... then all will connect

 

[syfaphonetic]

router should come with a rj45 cable to connect your pc to it.

 

[Thmsshaun]

Sorted then I will look into it. Got untill around May next year to sort it anyway

Thanks for the info

[HIJACKTHREAD]End Hijack[/ENDHIJACK]

 

[Steve_Perry]

Used to think I could find my way around a computer blind folded. Then I cam on this site and when it comes to networking I am somewhere back in the past.

Need to start reasearching and dragging myslef up to date.

So on that note I am now running a 2MB broadband connection and my partner has just got her laptop so what is the easiest way of networking the two computers I would say wireless would be the best.

Proably answered half my own question there.

If you want to go the wireless route, then two options spring to mind.

1.) Buy a wireless router and a wireless card for your PC and your partner's laptop PC if she needs one. As part of your wireless setup, turn off SSID broadcasts and for goodness sake enable security, don't bother with WEP, instead use either WPA-AES or WPA-TKIP. Also change the default IP address and login/password settings for your router.

2.) Leave your PC hardwired to your broadband modem and install a wireless card. Then activate ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) on your PC within Windows under your network properties tab so that your partner's laptop PC can access the internet via your desktop.

Personally I prefer option 1 as the router will have a hardware firewall and NAT so that should hopefully make for a more secure network.

S.

 

[Thmsshaun]

Thanks Steve

 

[scotth_uk]

Also need to remember that using a neighbours connection can carry serious penalties:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4721723.stm

Secure yours, and don't use theirs. And remember that there is no better security than a physical cable connection.

 

[mark.t]

If you want to go the wireless route, then two options spring to mind.

1.) Buy a wireless router and a wireless card for your PC and your partner's laptop PC if she needs one. As part of your wireless setup, turn off SSID broadcasts and for goodness sake enable security, don't bother with WEP, instead use either WPA-AES or WPA-TKIP. Also change the default IP address and login/password settings for your router.
2.) Leave your PC hardwired to your broadband modem and install a wireless card. Then activate ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) on your PC within Windows under your network properties tab so that your partner's laptop PC can access the internet via your desktop.

Personally I prefer option 1 as the router will have a hardware firewall and NAT so that should hopefully make for a more secure network.

S.

for us less techno minded how do we do this and could it go in ...how to... to help other members

regards mark...

 

[Flyer]

for us less techno minded how do we do this and could it go in ...how to... to help other members

Depends on the router ... I have a Linksys WAG54G and the steps are:

1. Open browser
2. Type in router address, eg. 192.168.1.100. This will take you to the router setup pages.
3. Click on Wireless.
4. Change the [Wireless Network Name (SSID)] to something other than the default, linksys.
5. Disable the [Wireless SSID Broadcast] option.
6. Click on [Wireless Security]
7. Select a [Security Mode]: WEP, WPA PSK, WPA Radius (I use and am content with WEP, but that's for another thread )
8. Select a level of [WEP Encryption]: 64bits or 128bits.
9. Click on [Wireless Network Access]. You can restrict access to certain computers. You need the MAC address of the network card of each computer (Start > Run > cmd > ipconfig/all > [physical address]); no other computer will be allowed access (someone could use MAC spoofing, but it's unlikely someone would be that bothered).
10. To change the IP address of the router: click on Setup > Basic Setup. Got to Network Setup > Router IP and change the [Local IP Address] in the following ranges:

192.168.x.x
172.16.x.x
10.x.x.x

11. To change the router username and password: click on Administration > Management. Go to Gateway Access > Local Gateway Access and change the [Gateway Username] and [Gateway Password]. Also important to disable [Remote Gateway Access] if you don't need access to the router from elsewhere on the internet.

Steve, it's a by-product of the 'plug-n-play' culture

 

[fuzzer]

Also need to remember that using a neighbours connection can carry serious penalties:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4721723.stm

Secure yours, and don't use theirs. And remember that there is no better security than a physical cable connection.

ohhh kay .....

I don't see how this would wash tho , surely if some moron is broadcasting a signal then its fair game ...

now if someone is broadcasting a signal and i sit outside in a car with a nix box sucking in packets to break the wep , then fair doos...

 

[Steve_Perry]

Also need to remember that using a neighbours connection can carry serious penalties:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4721723.stm

Secure yours, and don't use theirs. And remember that there is no better security than a physical cable connection.

Eep! Thanks for the heads-up Scott.

for us less techno minded how do we do this and could it go in ...how to... to help other members

regards mark...

As Flyer has already posted, it depends on the model of wireless router but essentially all routers have a set-up page that is accessed by a web browser on a local network PC. You point your browser to the local IP address of the router and you can make changes to its settings by filling in web forms. The instructions should be in the router's manual. Again as Flyer has mentioned you browse the set-up sections and enable wireless security (all routers have this disabled by default, usual choices are WEP or WPA), disable SSID broadcasting, and change default settings such as IP address and admin login password.

Steve, it's a by-product of the 'plug-n-play' culture

True, but imagine the chaos that could be had by criminals and hackers etc. A bit like buying a house and not knowing how to lock the front door.

S.