Ensuring your wi-fi connection is not being used by a neighbour!

aliEnRIK

Decado23 wrote: »

I'm not sure that's entirely accurate - disabling SSID broadcast (and changing the SSID) would instantly make it more difficult to make unauthorised connections. It's possible this information can be sniffed but this would require a certain amount of technical knowledge. IMO - will stop the casual neighbourhood wifi hijack, will not deter a determined hacker.

Mac address filtering can be set up to prevent any connection except from authorised devices - again, someone with the right knowledge may be able to determine an allowed MAC address and then spoof it.

In general security in depth, with multiple layers should be your aim - It's nigh on impossible to create a 100% guaranteed secure connection. You just need to make breaking in enough of a pain in the bum that people will go looking elsewhere instead.

Completely agree with that

stirlo_2

thanks everyone!

(although i'm afraid robredz, your answer made no sense to me at all! all that techno-talk!


my next question would be - how can I find out on my computer if I have trojans or programmes using up my bandwidth? Is there a way of checking exactly which programmes are using the internet connection at any time? I think that would quickly answer who or what was causing the problem!

aliEnRIK

Which router do you have?

The vast majority have the ability to tell you WHAT theyre connected to at any given moment (So if say ONLY yours was connected but it said you had 2 connections then clearly someone is using it)

MAC filtering should pretty much stop anyone else using it, but use WPA encryption, change the routers username and password, make sure the hardware firewall is turned on and switch off SSID

aliEnRIK

stirlo wrote: »

thanks everyone!

(although i'm afraid robredz, your answer made no sense to me at all! all that techno-talk!


my next question would be - how can I find out on my computer if I have trojans or programmes using up my bandwidth? Is there a way of checking exactly which programmes are using the internet connection at any time? I think that would quickly answer who or what was causing the problem!

Download MALWAREBYTES
http://www.download.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?part=dl-10804572&subj=dl&!!!!!button
UPDATE and QUICK SCAN

and also SPYWARE DOCTOR
http://www.download.com/Spyware-Doctor-Starter-Edition/3000-8022_4-10704508.html
UPDATE and SCAN

If your using XP I would REALLY recommend a decnt firewall too as the inbuilt one is c*ap

http://www.download.com/PC-Tools-Firewall-Plus-Free-Edition/3000-10435_4-10625321.html
(Untick everything else it tries to install)

Conor_3

If you log into your router, there should be a page that tells you what devices are attached (or in other words connected) to it. If there's only you online in your house and it lists more than one device, then someone else is freeloading.

WEP is easily cracked - 20-30 seconds -so I'd be using WPA.

stirlo_2

...and how do I 'log in' to my router to see what devices are attached?

the router is the thompson one supplied by *be broadband, and Im using vista

espresso

stirlo wrote: »

...and how do I 'log in' to my router to see what devices are attached?

the router is the thompson one supplied by *be broadband, and Im using vista

Try entering 192.168.1.254 into your browser.

The default user is ‘Administrator’ and the default password is blank.

aliEnRIK

whats the EXACT model of the router?

exup

usually you log into your routers browser acess page by typing in the router address in the address bar of whatever browser program you run (usually explorer)
Most times this would mean typing in 192.168.1.1
this will usually present you with a login page before you can access the router setup.

If the address is different then the above - (it will be in your router manual)
you can try going to
START > RUN > type in cmd and press enter
then when the small black window pops up type in msconfig
This will display your computers IP address (something like 192.168. etc etc)
a default gateway (192.168 . . ) and a subnet mask (255.255.255.0)

The default gateway is the address you need . and if you type this address into your browser address bar - it will take you to your login screen as explained above

espresso

exup wrote: »

you can try going to
START > RUN > type in cmd and press enter
then when the small black window pops up type in msconfig
This will display your computers IP address (something like 192.168. etc etc)
a default gateway (192.168 . . ) and a subnet mask (255.255.255.0)

The default gateway is the address you need . and if you type this address into your browser address bar - it will take you to your login screen as explained above

:doh:

The OP is using Vista!

:rolleyes: