New computer system

[laughingwillow]

SO I just googled war-drivers.

The wife and I are both wpa capable, so that would potentially take tare of most concerns. But then again, unless malicious intent accompanies a war-driving foray, I'm all for open access.

Good question, windey. I've been slowly getting educated on wireless security, including the differences between mac and pc vulnerability.

I found a nice security link while googling the war-driver deal.

Tanks

lw

[TroutMask]

I've been slowly getting educated on wireless security, including the differences between mac and pc vulnerability.

When the signal is outside the computer, Mac and PC are all the same as far as the network is concerned.

We use WPA in our house just in case, but it would take a very bored (and probably trespassing) person to get on our wireless network either way.

-TM

[laughingwillow]

troutie: So, if'n the signal is captured outside a computer, to what extent is a network or individual computer systems vulnerable due to the tricksters actions in question?

Thank you for your moral and technical support.

lw

[Finbar]

//http://www.infoworld.com/articles/hn/xml/01/08/24/010824hnfreewireless.html

Parasitic gridz also called the "hippie" network. Hehe. This meanz that a system could be set up where net access iz free. Iz being done in several citiez. Anyone think they will get suspicious when there iz just one peep pain' fer net access? Hehe.

Them astronaut fellerz left a mirror on tha moon. So, one could use tha mirror ta bounce a signal off it and come down in some cornfield somewherez. Specially iffin' one user haz tha speedier cable access. Hehe.

//http://www.iss.net/wireless/WLAN_FAQ.php

//http://techdir.rutgers.edu/wireless.html

//http://www.macsecurity.org/

One of them linkz mentionz changin' tha default password. 63 character length possible. Use that. Wiff Mac, one can: highlight, drag-n-drop text to one'z desktop. No need to write down tha password. Close your eyez and type some letters. Open eyez and type a number thruout tha process. Repeat. Avoid using wordz in tha dicktionary.

There iz password generatorz out there. I would avoid them. They iz just algorithmz. So, yur password could be "predicted" iffin' a cracker knew which password generator you used. Remote possibility. I read where thiz guy figured out tha algorithm fer Kino in Vegaz. Placed bet in hiz room. Won. Went down ta collect. Only problem...he hit another winner. There iz a joke in Vegaz that, "nothin' ever hit in a Kino room 'ceptin' a erfquake." One winnin' number iz strange...two iz impossible in a short time frame. The igitz were arrested.

The guud thing iz that Mac is not used by the majority of peepz in tha world. Less numberz of attackerz.

I would be more worried about some pre-pub teen wiff too much time on itz handz. Specially iffin' it lived next door. 300 ft range of wireless technology. Thiz concern may be void iffin' bunker iz >300 ft deep.

Me thinkz yur wireless phone ghz iz tha same az tha wireless
puter. Causez interference when them wavez iz "in phase". Hehe. Smash phone.

Of course, the ASN(backwardz) can crack anythang. 'Ceptin' a certain stripper'z heart-o-stone. Hey, ASN jockeyz - can youz guyz crack telepathz yet? Also reefered to az tha No Stripperz Allowed.

Me thinkz I am headin' to Wall Skreet. Maybe I'll get some guud stock "tipz". Hehe.

Fin

[laughingwillow]

OK fin. I just smashed the phone. Now what? I can't get a dial tone, but the problem with the computer does appear to be fixed. You is a freaking genius, bro.

Btw, I'm still curious as to the access that can be gained to my computer hd by wardrivers. I'd just soon have the system set up to allow wireless internet access by anyone close enough ot participate without letting them in my hd. The hippie grid sounds like a swell idea to me.

Anyone care to educate me as to why it's dangerous or unadvisable?

Thanks.

lw

[laughingwillow]

ps fin: I'm never taking your country-assed advice again. What an id-jet you are! I made my last post and then realized that if smashing the phone made the computer work, naturally, smashing the computer would make the phone work, too. Well, I was duped. (And I thought you were a friend.) Now I'm guessign that the whole, "smash the phone to make the computer work" suggestion was nothing more than your way of getting back at me for getting a new computer before you did.

At least I still remember how to run this old machine.....

lw

[TroutMask]

LW, you can set up a firewall at the wireless router and/or at the computer level. There are a number of levels of security for the home user including the following:

1. Firewall at the router/wireless transmitter. This essentially makes all computers on the wireless network "invisible" to prying outside eyes. I use this on our Airport Extreme Base Station, routing specific ports to my G5 for Bittorrent. All other network Macs are invisible from outside the network and access to the G5 is only through bittorrent port.

2. Firewall at the computer. For even more security, you can run firewall software on your computer. For your Mac, go to System Preferences > Sharing and click on the Firewall button. Click "Start" and you have your own personal firewall. The area below that provides the ability to allow traffic on specific ports for the listed activities. If you click the "Advanced..." button, you can specify your Mac as stealth, returning no acknowledgement that your Mac even exists. For your PC, cross your fingers and pray. And whatever you do, don't connect to the internet or get email. Haha, just kidding. I'm sure there are plenty of firewall options for Windows, but that's beyond my experience.

If you enable wireless encryption (just give the network access password to whoever needs it) and enable at least one firewall you should be about as safe as you can be.

-TechGeek

[winder]

While they may not access your hard drive, they might down load or post material or order stuff that could get traced back to YOUR isp account.  Say certain seed types from Amsterdam or 9 year olds doing heavy petting donkeys undersides.

[laughingwillow]

LOL Thanks windey.

troutie: I enabled my ox firewall the other day, but have yet to do so for the router. Prolly the way to go. I like the idea of stealth mode.

Thanks guys.

lw

[laughingwillow]

Looks like I was already running stealth. Maybe it defaulted to that setting right out of the box?

Firewall logging is disabled. Is the log how one recognizes a wardriver visit?

lw

[laughingwillow]

I have wep enabled and password specific. (Did it last week.) But I don't remember giving laura the password to access the router wiht her pc and she's been on the net wireless all week....... Guess I'll have to ask her when she gets up. She'd prolly have a coniption if'n she caught me browsing her pc. And in that she has no worries. hehe

viva la difference

lw

[laughingwillow]

Hey, troutie.....

I'm trying to secure our network. When I go into the "sharing" files I see various capabilities to enable or vice versa. Any idea what I need to shut down in order to force the wife to use wep encripted password of my choice? Would you be so kind as to enlighten me a little on the subject?

Anyone else is welcome to participate, btw.

Thanks in advance.

lw

[TroutMask]

WEP password is set in the router/transmitter. You would need to connect to your router and turn it on. What kind of wireless router/transmitter are you using? Did it come with software or info on how to connect to it for configuration?

-TM

[laughingwillow]

Doh! I didn't mean wep, I meant wpa.

We are using airport extreme base station. When I go to preferences>sharing>internet>advanced, there is a page ot give wpa passphrase and to repeat. I did that. Then there is a page to enable web sharing. However, I get a warning that I may get shut down by my provider for activating. Either way, on or off, the wife is able to connect to what shows up as an unsecure apple router.

I doubt any neighbor has an apple router set up to provide her access. I must be missing something.

lw

[TroutMask]

WEP/WPA, either way it's set at the base station. Now that I know you're using an AEBS it becomes much easier.

Go to Applications > Utilities and open Airport Admin Utility.app. Double-click on your base station in the list (should only be one there) to open config. Click "Change Wireless Security..." to configure network security. That is where you set the security type and the password for other users to access the network.

Once you set this, AEBS will reboot and any computers without WEP configured and with the correct password will not have access to your wireless network. I assume your Mac's using an Aiport card, so it will be disconnected from the base station. If you aren't automatically prompted to enter a password click on the Airport icon in the top menu bar and select Other..., then select your existing network, set your Wireless Security and Password and you're done.

-TM