Another Computer Question

[SnowRidge]

There are far too many people using scare tactics when it comes to wireless. Remember, any online purchases and other financial transactions use the https protocol which is encrypted.

Those people would include most authorities on the subject. The https encryption is good, but it can be defeated by key logging software. Encrypting the wireless provides an additional layer of security. Layered security is a very basic concept.

While there are readily available hacking tools, unlike 10 years ago, the majority of hackers aren't doing it just to see if they can do it. That's old news and not a challenge for today's hackers.

No, it isn't, but those hacking tools are used by today's script kiddies, who may also be war driving. Script kiddies are a major problem.

If you're really paranoid, get an AP and use wireless cards that support WPA2 encryption.

So, is it all the people who would rather not be vulnerable and use WPA that are paranoid, or is it only those using WPA2 that are paranoid? Never mind, those of us who would rather not be compromised will secure our networks with some form of WPA, if at all possible, even in the face of being labeled paranoid.

It might also be a good time to bring up the fact that wireless home network security can directly impact enterprise security, a concept which is taught in all the security courses -- or at least should be.

Businesses and government can take great steps to secure their facilities, but it can all be undone if one of their employees logs into his work network from home. All a knowledgeable attacker has to do is sniff the employee's home network for his work login ID and password, if the employee's wireless is not secured, or is poorly secured, and he can then bypass the enterprise security at his leisure.

Of course, it doesn't have to be a wireless issue at all. If someone gets past the firewall or exploits some other vulnerability and installs a key logger, it's Katy bar the door.

That ought to comfort people reading this who log into work from home.

 

[MikePA]

I now understand why Inspector507 doesn't offer electrical advice anymore.

 

[MossRoad]

Any of you ever see that Dilbert cartoon...

"I SUMMON THE VAST POWER OF CERTIFICATION.

 

[Soundguy]

I now understand why Inspector507 doesn't offer electrical advice anymore.

Yep.. same reason I stopped offering CE advice online..

You try to make a basic presentation for a limited scope project, and then you get steam rolled because your plan was not all encompassing and mil-spec... etc.

Soundguy

 

[Inspector507]

I now understand why Inspector507 doesn't offer electrical advice anymore.

Yep . Of course my experience and knowledge is always available by PM or e-mail.

 

[Soundguy]

I don't even go there.. my 'universal' advice is now to " Hire an engineer in your area.. pay him to look over your physical site, and at your plans.. then pay him for his advice."

Soundguy

 

[MossRoad]

At my job I get frequent requests to work on people's home computer for money. I will not do it. I can only imagine someone that I marginally know messing up their files, then asking me to look at it, then blaming me for it when the repair does not work. No thanks.

But I will offer suggestions as to what they can look for, etc... but will always stress that they need to backup their personal files before touching the machine.

 

[Tig]

Snowridge, have you played with the cantennas at all? I had access to some sophisticated design software and facilities but was unable to get satisfatory results. The goal was to beam wifi out to an ice fishing shack.

 

[tallyho8]

This is the cantenna my son installed at my home. His house is on my property 600 feet from mine and he shares my high speed internet connection. There is no other home in the direction my antenna is facing for over 500 miles so we probably took a lot of security precautions for nothing. He says this system is working better than when he had cable connected directly to his house.

 

[Tig]

600 feet is decent range. To get to the fish I need to be about a kilometer or two out. Many sites claim they get 2Km from a pringles can. Maybe I'll experiment a bit more.