A friend visited yesterday and we were doing some work, she tells me that my internet connection is not secure -- help- does this mean someone can hack into my computer, and can anyone tell me how to make it secure. This was the connection I was given when I joined up with my broadband server.
Many thanks:)

Are you referring to a wireless internet connection?

As who set it up for you. My wireless network comes up as unsecure but I use MAC address filtering which means only computers that the wireless router knows about will be given access to the internet. I am sure someone will come on and say that you cxan get round that etc but it's secure enough for me!

Ok thanks, its wireless connection and I followed the disc provided to set it all up, just did what I was told, cos I aint an expert if you havent gathered. My norton comes up with a warning if any programmes are trying to access my internet without my knowledge and I have to approve or dissapprove. Its just that my friend said that people could sit outside in a car and possibly hack into my computer because the system is not a secure one.

As who set it up for you. My wireless network comes up as unsecure but I use MAC address filtering which means only computers that the wireless router knows about will be given access to the internet. I am sure someone will come on and say that you cxan get round that etc but it's secure enough for me!

Yeah, I think something called a "man in the middle" attack can get around MAC filtering. Maybe worth protecting your network :)

Ok thanks, its wireless connection and I followed the disc provided to set it all up, just did what I was told, cos I aint an expert if you havent gathered. My norton comes up with a warning if any programmes are trying to access my internet without my knowledge and I have to approve or dissapprove. Its just that my friend said that people could sit outside in a car and possibly hack into my computer because the system is not a secure one.

Get rid of Norton and no it wont tell you if someone is usiong your brroadband, just if someone is trying to accress your computer.

I use a combination of WEP and MAC filtering. No doubt someone will know a way to get round both, but it keeps out the casual user.

WEP- MAC filtering ??????
Der -
Sorry chaps, I did say I was thick, and I did mean it!

Get someone in to sort it for you then ;)

Plenty of folks here are capable of sorting for you, some might even do it for nowt!

WEP- MAC filtering ??????
Der -
Sorry chaps, I did say I was thick, and I did mean it!

Let the friend who told you it is insecure, secure it for you. Obviously they know a bit about the subject.

Let the friend who told you it is insecure, secure it for you. Obviously they know a bit about the subject.

Or even better.... ask the friend if they would mind sorting it for you :thumbsup:

(sorry, I get fed up with family + friends assuming I'm on call 24/7 for IT support!)

WEP- MAC filtering ??????
Der -
Sorry chaps, I did say I was thick, and I did mean it!

Where do you live?

wifi will never be safe :P

I use a combination of WEP and MAC filtering. No doubt someone will know a way to get round both, but it keeps out the casual user.

ROFL! It's been a few years since I dabbled in these things, and haven't ever tried circumventing MAC filtering, but....

I did once hack *ahem* my own connection. Set it up with WEP encryption. Downloaded a free brute force tool. Took less than 3 minutes to force into the connection.

Wired Equivelant Protection my ass.

Listen up people. Dont use WEP. How many websites are out there telling you the same - DONT USE IT! Better still, get some good old fashioned cat 5 out and have a proper lan.

</rant>

ROFL! It's been a few years since I dabbled in these things, and haven't ever tried circumventing MAC filtering, but....

I did once hack *ahem* my own connection. Set it up with WEP encryption. Downloaded a free brute force tool. Took less than 3 minutes to force into the connection.

Wired Equivelant Protection my ass.

Listen up people. Dont use WEP. How many websites are out there telling you the same - DONT USE IT! Better still, get some good old fashioned cat 5 out and have a proper lan.

</rant>

Like I said...
it keeps out the casual user

Anything is better than nothing. It was a while ago I got it all set up, I'll have to double check encryption it uses now though I did my research when I chose the router and set it up so it might not be a WEP setup at all...

*goes off to find router capabilities* :)

If anyone wants to waste time and effort hacking my router just to get free internet, please feel free. Otherwise just knock on my door and i'll let you log on.
The risk to home users is insignificant.

If anyone wants to waste time and effort hacking my router just to get free internet, please feel free. Otherwise just knock on my door and i'll let you log on.
The risk to home users is insignificant.


Completely agree with this, so what that someones just wants to use your internet conection, big deal

Completely agree with this, so what that someones just wants to use your internet conection, big deal

Sure thats not a problem but what about when there on your network, its very easy to place tracking software and keyloggers on networks that are open. Maybe something to consider... :thumbsup:

If anyone wants to waste time and effort hacking my router just to get free internet, please feel free. Otherwise just knock on my door and i'll let you log on.
The risk to home users is insignificant.

*sits outside willman's home downloading child porn on his connection*
Could even plant the files on your pc if you want.

A friend visited yesterday and we were doing some work, she tells me that my internet connection is not secure -- help- does this mean someone can hack into my computer, and can anyone tell me how to make it secure. This was the connection I was given when I joined up with my broadband server.
Many thanks:)

If you're still having difficulties I'm available...ish.

As who set it up for you. My wireless network comes up as unsecure but I use MAC address filtering which means only computers that the wireless router knows about will be given access to the internet. I am sure someone will come on and say that you cxan get round that etc but it's secure enough for me!

It is trivial to get round MAC filtering but the biggest issue here is that you will be sending and receiving a large amount of your data in plaintext - SMTP traffic, HTTP traffic, POP3/IMAP4 traffic, MSN conversations among others - not all of these will be issues as you may use an encryption layer with your mail but still, you'll be leaking a lot of information that is trivial to capture. With how easy it is to set up WPA you'd be daft not to, it'll keep out the casual hacker as long you change your SSID from the default to something distinct.

1st thing to do, enable encryption between yourself and the router.
2nd thing, disable SSID broadcast, so it cannot be found easily unless you know what your network is called.
3rd enable MAC filtering
4th enable firewalls and anti intrusion if you have it, software and on router.
This is about as secure as wireless can be without using certificates, encryption is a must or anyone in range can see what data your sending between your pc and router... including internet banking etc........ be careful folks!

Thank you for replies, I have been on holiday for a week so the buggers couldnt get onto my connection if they had wanted to!
Still catching up!

Why not have it wired instead of wireless.It should solve your problem.

MAC filtering is not really securing your router, also WEP is not very secure either as its easily hacked with tools such as Kismac.

If your setting up wireless security you need to use WPA2 ideally which is practically uncrackable.

Hope that helps

chris