Other people using your Broadband (Panorama 15th March)

silkyuk9

On last nights Panorama the docomentry was about downloading music etc, however, what was more worrying to me is that it seems someone on a lap top sitting outside your home can acess your internet connection.

Now, im using a D-Link router but not using the wireless feature as my phone socket is right behind my pc.

How can i make precautions that no one can access my broadband other than me?

I dont want anyone sat outside my house tapping into my internet and changing settings etc and using my broadband.

This was alarming and i would like to know how i can prevent anything like this from happening to me.

kwikbreaks

If you don't use the wireless then turn it off via the router web interface. If you do use it make sure it is encrypted using WPA or preferably WPA2 using a long complex password of your choice.

To be really safe disconnect the antenna (if it is removable) and put the router in a metal biscuit tin.

To be really really safe buy a non-wireless router

Donnie

Change the Administrator password on the router from the Default supplied when it arrived.

Make sure you are using WPA2/PSK for wireless connections and use a random password, as generated here.

You can also block SSID broadcasting if you want to go a step farther, but the first two steps are quite enough.

fiddiwebb

Ah...the Digital Economy bill....welcome to "New China"

cit_k

also make sure your machine has the latest os/software updates, your anti-virus/malware etc is upto date, and security is kept an ongoing concern, or your machine could be compromised and form part of a botnet, meaning someone on the other side of the world could be using your broadband to send emails etc etc...

macman

silkyuk9 wrote: »

On last nights Panorama the docomentry was about downloading music etc, however, what was more worrying to me is that it seems someone on a lap top sitting outside your home can acess your internet connection.

Now, im using a D-Link router but not using the wireless feature as my phone socket is right behind my pc.

How can i make precautions that no one can access my broadband other than me?

I dont want anyone sat outside my house tapping into my internet and changing settings etc and using my broadband.

This was alarming and i would like to know how i can prevent anything like this from happening to me.

As Donnie said, as long as you change the Administrator default password on your router you should be quite safe.
Also change the SSID so it doesn't broadcast the make or model of the router.
Once those are secure, a hacker would have to break your wireless encryption to get in. It can be done, but not by the average hacker, as long as you are using WPA not WEP.

silkyuk9

kwikbreaks wrote: »

If you don't use the wireless then turn it off via the router web interface. If you do use it make sure it is encrypted using WPA or preferably WPA2 using a long complex password of your choice.

To be really safe disconnect the antenna (if it is removable) and put the router in a metal biscuit tin.

To be really really safe buy a non-wireless router

how do i do this, as i say im not using wireless connection.

JasX

In your case just disable wireless completly via the router's web interface should be suffieient.
(go into the router web interface by opening a web page, you'll need to type "192.168.0.1" or 192.168.0.0 ro something similar depending on brand)

Anyone wanting to use wireless DO follow the encryption advice above, will still leave you theoretically vulnerable so for the particularly paranoid hiding the SSID will make you as close to 'safe' as is practical without being too awkward

(tho you may find you switching it on from time to time to make connecting new 'stuff' easier)

silkyuk9

JasX wrote: »

In your case just disable wireless completly via the router's web interface should be suffieient.
(go into the router web interface by opening a web page, you'll need to type "192.168.0.1" or 192.168.0.0 ro something similar depending on brand)

Anyone wanting to use wireless DO follow the encryption advice above, will still leave you theoretically vulnerable so for the particularly paranoid hiding the SSID will make you as close to 'safe' as is practical without being too awkward

(tho you may find you switching it on from time to time to make connecting new 'stuff' easier)

I think the default password is ADMIN on my d-link dsl500 router, buy changing thre username is that a good option

bob_man_uk

kwikbreaks wrote: »

To be really safe disconnect the antenna (if it is removable) and put the router in a metal biscuit tin.

To be really really safe buy a non-wireless router

To be really really really safe, unplug your internet.

but i think thats just getting silly :rotfl:

Idiophreak

silkyuk9 wrote: »

I think the default password is ADMIN on my d-link dsl500 router, buy changing thre username is that a good option

Most routers I've used have had:
Username: admin
Password: admin

So I could, theoretically, hop on to your unsecured network, log in with those credentials, ban your devices from accessing your network, then change the admin password so you can't revert what I've done.

That's why changing the admin password is a really good idea

And as they say above - ensure wireless is disabled if you're not using it.