Linksys G. I think I'm being robbed.

I'm sure that I haven't blown my ISP's 50GB monthly limit either for 3 months in a row. We have new neighbours, don't know if there's a teenager there and can't go accusing either.

It's my fault for not securing my router off the bat. What's the quickest/easiest way to secure the router first, I can hunt down the rest. Thanks all.

 

Thanks Tim. Mofo was costing me $50/month extra!!!:mad I'm glad it didn't cost me an arm and a leg too though!:-D

Next step, WEP or WAP? I have no idea.:confused Also, my main machines are hard wired, the laptop is the only wireless device.

 

I had to hard reset the router before I could get into it. I put a password in there other than 'admin'.:-o Can I make a wish list of who I will allow to connect?

 

WEP can be broken in minutes. WPA2 with AES encryption should be used. You can go to grc.com and get a key. Use the 63 printable ASCII characters hashed down to 256 binary bits and use that for your WPA2 key.

https://www.grc.com/passwords.htm

In the Linksys router you should have Mac Filtering under the Wireless section. There you can add the MAC addresses of the computers accessing the network. Anybody else would not be able to get on. I would also disable remote access on the router. Only the computer connected directly would be able to access and change router settings. Changing the broadcast SSID to something other than the linksys default may be a good idea also.

Here is a pdf explaining the procedure of MAC filtering.

http://ptgmedia.pearsoncmg.com/images/1587201364/appendix/1587201364appB.pdf

 

Thanks tgell. Obviously my ISP coudn't do a thing as it's not their modem. I'm going to ask them for the URL's that I supposedly visited.

 

[QUOTE='tgell]WPA2 with AES encryption should be used. You can go to grc.com and get a key. Use the 63 printable ASCII characters hashed down to 256 binary bits and use that for your WPA2 key.
[/QUOTE]How and where would I enter this humongous password on the laptop? I had entered a simple PW in the router and the laptop subsequently got locked out.:confused Did I mention that I hated networking?:-D

 

I feel your pain Augie, I have had my router hacked twice in the last year and although they did catch the culprit i have resorted to hard wiring my system and laptop.
What i have done is use TP link powerline adapters http://www.google.com/search?hl=&q=....,cf.osb&fp=64cc341210afddf1&biw=1664&bih=837

it just means that i need to use the laptop close to any power outlet in the house.

 

I don't remember how to get to it, but in your router you should be able to get the IP's of the machines connected to your router. Maybe write down your machine's IP's and check your router all along, make sure nobody unauthorized is on your net.

As said above, password and don't broadcast SSID is a great start. Some also let you adjust the range of your wireless. If you just use your laptop fairly close to the router, you might try reducing the wireless output.

 

Which router augie? WRT-54g? What version?

 

That's the one. v8.00.2

 

Is this XP or Windows 7? Sorry for the late reply.

Edit: If it is Windows 7 and you have broadcast SSID enabled, click on the wireless icon in the system tray and then right click your wireless network and select properties. It is under the security tab.

 

So, to access the router, (192.168.1.1), you have changed the router's username and password?

To set up wireless security, the network key (passphrase) has to be input into the router and when you try to connect wirelessly, you should have a pop up to enter it there. WPA2 is the strongest and maybe change key every 3 to 4 months if you use the long character key and suspect the neighbor of being more than a casual interloper.

Disabling broadcast of the SSID (network name) will not stop a determined hacker. Either reduce power as suggested in the router configuration or remove antenna when you will not be using the wireless connection.

MAC filtering should be for "Allow Only" and again this can be spoofed by a determined hacker.

Depends on your thoughts about the usage. If the basic steps take care of the problem, then it was probably a "casual" hacker. If the usage does not go down, then more extreme measures should be looked at as BILL has suggested.

Linksys information - http://homesupport.cisco.com/en-us/support/routers/WRT54G

 

LOL, I just got an e-mail from my ISP that I was pirating 'Kung Fu Panda' of all bloody things!:mad Going to phone them up on Monday but I doubt I can do anything according to them if the third party wants to sue me.

(*^#^&^$

I think I'm going to use Bill's solution of going through the mains, it seems the easiest to accomplish with my limited knowledge.