wifi security

Is there an easy way to tell if any of my neighbors are using my wifi? I have always thought I kind of protected it with some sort of passwords when I set it up 3 or 4 years ago, but now I am not so sure--sometimes it just seems so much slower than at other times. And I do not remember enough about the issues involved to figure it out.

A desktop has a wireless DSL modem hard-wired into it, and it always seems to run fine. I have a laptop that connects via a Dell 1350 WLAN Wireless card. The laptop is very inconsistent internet performance-wise.

TIA.

KeepOnTruckin

 

you can check your dhcp leases. always a good way to see what addresses you have out.

 

How would I do that?

 

if you log into your router via web access you might see something like dhcp settings. if you look around you should find the area. once youre in that you might see something along the lines of 'dhcp leases' or just 'leases'. web interfaces are a little different for each brand as far as the layout goes, but similar settings and whatnot.

youd be checking to verify your IP addresses are the only ones leased out. you can check what ips you are using by running an ipconfig from command prompt from each computer you have connected. if you have more leases out than computers you own youll know someone is using your connection.

if youre not sure how to get on the web interface post back and ill help out

 

There can be number of reasons why your laptop is slowing down not related to your wi fi, it could be just full of junk.

here is a simple way to clean out the junk, it is perfectly safe and used by a lot of members.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=106650

The issue relating to your Wi fi, if you still have your original set up disk just slip it into the laptop and re-set it with a WPE or WPA password the WPA is better and can not be cracked very easily.

 

I have done all the clean-up procedures. The logs are clean, I have toggled Restore, and I have upgraded the firewall, malware and AV programs.

I am on Verizon DSL with Westell Discover Better Broadband interface. There are all kinds of logs, statistics, LAN, WAN, Wireless, etc., etc. I am sure very little of it is relevant to me, but I obviously enabled the Wireless. I presume that somewhere in some logs/histories, there would be something to indicate if anything has used my connection, other than my own wireless laptop. But I do not know what to look at.

KeepOnTruckin

 

have you tried resetting the router.

i must admit i have never seen this but on the home page are several models (what's yours?)

 

The modem is a Westell VersaLink Model 327W. It was given as part of a Verizon promotion went I first connected to DSL. I have very limited knowledge of network-type stuff, as I basically plugged it in, spent a couple of minutes on the phone with Verizon tech-support, and I was up and running.

When I get into the network configuration settings (note: I am unsure if this is the correct verbiage) re: wireless, I see:

Wireless operation: Enabled
Network Name (SSID): 04Zxxxxxxxxx (I believe it is a designation of my wireless-connected laptop)
Channel: 6 (1-11 is available to choose from)
Mode: mixed (available also include 11b only, 11b+, and 11g only)
4 X Support: Disabled

(There is then a button for advance configuration and a lot of stuff comes up that I do not understand and that I likely left on default settings.)

Then come Privacy Settings (same page):

Authentication Type: Open System (Shared Key also available)
WEP Security: Disabled
Key Select: Key 1 (Keys 2,3,and 4 also available)
Key 1: ****** (Which I presume is a password that I likely put in???)


Key 2: 64 Bit
key 3: 64 Bit
Key 4: 64 Bit

(Under each above is an area for what would likely be a password)

Then:

Key Mapping Table: When the button is hit, one can apparently put in additional copmuter or other setting, enabled or disabled, in the following form: 1X:2x:3Y:4C:3T. I recall attempting but failing to have a wireless hand held PDA connect, and never really havig any consistency in doing so.

Then:

Hide SSDI: Enabled
MAC Address Filtering: Enabled
MAC Flter Table: (When I hit the button, various designations are in there, including the laptop, and a couple that were meant to be the PDA, but which, as I stated, never seemed to work right)


All in all, can you tell from what I have written if it is likely that neighbors or drivebys can easily connect to my little network?

In another matter, there is also a configuration button/menu for a Firewall, which is set to "Low Only known security holes are protected". Also included is high, Medium, None, and Customized Settings.

I understand that the Windows Firewall is not highly thought of. Does the fact that the configuration options of my modem appear to include a Firewall mean that I can just live with the Windows Firewall, and not bother to find something different?

Thanks.

KeepOnTruckin

 

well it says wep is disabled so by the looks of it youre not using any wireless security. however i noticed it says your ssid broadcast is off which is good. if you have it to pick up the signal by default, its good practice to turn the ssid broadcast off. people can still pick up the signal if they have wireless network sniffing software like netstumbler.

look into getting some security enabled for your wireless. WEP isnt good and can be cracked quite easily if the person knows what theyre doing. for your average neighbor, it works just fine. also, keep the ssid broadcast off.

as far as people using your wireless, its entirely possible. only way youre going to know for sure though is if you check your dhcp leases.

windows firewall doesnt really hold much regard as being secure enough. however, when youre going through a router, software firewalls arent really necessary. theyre good, but not needed. when you have your wireless on, you should have some kind of software firewall installed on all computers on your network to prevent unauthorized wireless users from looking through your computer.

 

1) Re: the DCHP Leases: What sort of logs/histories, or whatever, should I be looking for to find this info? Is there any other terminology that it might be listed under. I kind of assume that the information is available to me somewhere.

2) Re: the firewall: With the wireless on, would the desktop that is NOT on wireless, but rather, plugged/wired directly into the cable modem be at risk? Further, is a computer only at risk only if "sharing" is set, or is it at risk anyway?

KeepOnTruckin

 

The info is available. However, I don't use a retail home router so I can't really direct you. Check in LAN settings or even google your router to see if you can find some kind of user guide. You'll be able to find many relatively simple ways to secure your network by reading up on google sites.

Yes, if someone is using your wireless, they can have full access to your computers wireless or wired. Shared folders is only one way to get in someones computer, and if there is someone using your wireless to do harm to your network chances are they know other ways as well. networks are always at risk when there are holes as big as unsecured wireless signals.

Try doing what bill was talking about as well. 8 times out of 10 slowness is caused by junk. follow bills advice and clean out your computer and also apply some kind of wireless security.

 

How about I try to set my wireless up as if I am only now activating it for the first time, with security in mind? My post of 09-02-08 at 12:58 lists the various settings available to me.

Can someone recommend settings that can reasonably assure the network's security re: 1) outsiders logging on and using my connection, and, 2) outsiders being able to hack into my computers? Then, I assume I will need help getting my own wireless laptop to log on.

Thanks.

KeepOnTruckin

 

wifi security/starting over

To try and secure my wireless network, I have enabled WEP security on the Westell 327w router/modem (whatever it is). I can no longer get online with my Dell laptop/wireless card, which, I guess, is good. Maybe the neighbors and/or drive-bys can't either.

What steps should I now take to try and get the wireless Dell to be able to connect?

Thanks.

KeepOnTruckin

 

No good. See my post of 9/2, 12:58, to see the kinds of settings I have to choose from. I set a key on the Westell wireless configuration, but have no clue how or where to put the info into the Dell wireless network set-up stuff.

 

Well, now it connects, but I do not understand how. I set key 1 at a 128 bits, putting in a "password"??? But the laptop has no corresponding password put into it that I know of, so how does the network know my laptop from any other?

 

There are systems that do not work well with WEP if passphrase is used.

In such case the solution is the set manually an Hex key in the Router, and paste the Hex key to the Wireless client.

http://www.ezlan.net/faq.html#wep
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