Wireless Internet

Miroslav

I've read some of the sticky on wireless internet and will need the rest later, but a few questions...

Getting a laptop soon that will preferably be run wirelessly. I have a desktop, which is unlikely to be wireless enabled, so will this be an issue - i.e can I run one machine wired and one machine wireless on the same broadband connection and how much equipment/leads will I need to buy? - I have no router yet, just a modem.

So, whatever is easiest to connect up/best security/cheapest (although this is the least concern of the 3)

Getting the laptop will be the easiest thing - the making sure I have the right equipment/connections is the thing that worries this technophobe the most.

Any advice/links to advice would be most appreciated.

Thanks

tronator

Miroslav wrote: »

I've read some of the sticky on wireless internet and will need the rest later, but a few questions...

Getting a laptop soon that will preferably be run wirelessly. I have a desktop, which is unlikely to be wireless enabled, so will this be an issue - i.e can I run one machine wired and one machine wireless on the same broadband connection and how much equipment/leads will I need to buy? - I have no router yet, just a modem.

You will need a wireless ADSL router. First at all it's so much safer compared to your modem. With a (NAT) router you're already pretty much protected from attacks from outside. There is no real need for a [STRIKE]snake oil[/STRIKE]software firewall against threats from outside. The only danger is that you run out-of-date software with security holes or download and start malicious software with administrative rights.

Most routers have a few (4) network ports. You would need one of those and one Ethernet cable per computer. If you have more computers than network ports then you need additional hardware. On top of that you can run as many* wireless devices as you want at the same time.

*There is a restriction depending on your network range, but it's at least 253 pc's in total.

Miroslav

tronator wrote: »

You will need a wireless ADSL router. First at all it's so much safer compared to your modem. With a (NAT) router you're already pretty much protected from attacks from outside. There is no real need for a [STRIKE]snake oil[/STRIKE]software firewall against threats from outside. The only danger is that you run out-of-date software with security holes or download and start malicious software with administrative rights.

Most routers have a few (4) network ports. You would need one of those and one Ethernet cable per computer. If you have more computers than network ports then you need additional hardware. On top of that you can run as many* wireless devices as you want at the same time.

*There is a restriction depending on your network range, but it's at least 253 pc's in total.

Thanks.

Any ADSL router? I'm with AOL, but any router will suffice and I really don't need to add a firewall? I'm guessing Anti virus protection will be needed?

The plan is for 2 computers for now - 1 Desktop and 1 Laptop, but the desktop would not be wireless. I don't think we are planning on 253 in the near future

So my shopping list is ADSL Router & 2 Ethernet cables...

Thanks

tronator

Miroslav wrote: »

Any ADSL router? I'm with AOL, but any router will suffice

Pretty much. You should maybe check what speed your Internet connection is an whether the router supports it. The wireless part should support WPA/WPA2 encryption. I doubt that there are any routers available these days which don't support it.

Miroslav wrote: »

...and I really don't need to add a firewall? I'm guessing Anti virus protection will be needed?

Of course Antivirus. I'd recommend the free version of Avira. Other people here might recommend other software.

About the firewall you might hear other opinions here. If you think you need one, just keep the windows built-in firewall enabled. In short, a firewall which runs on the same computer is not really effective. If the programmer of a malicious software is good, he knows how to circumvent it. Also, most users don't understand all messages from the firewall and tend to click "ok" anyway. "Uh, dangerous connection to x.y.z on port 53 blocked. Good to have a firewall"

http://samspade.org/d/firewalls.html

If you follow the following advice you'll be pretty safe

- Use a router instead of a simple modem. Routers have a "firewall" called Network Address Translation in it. It means in simple terms, that a network packet can only reach your computer from the Internet if you (means the software you're running) have opened the connection from your computer, never the other way around.

- DON'T use the Administrator account or an account with administrative rights for your day to day work, let alone Internet browsing and Email. Create a separate limited user account. If you need to install software, right click on it and chose "run as Administrator" or login as Administrator and install it. If software doesn't run as limited user after installing then it's broken.

- Download software only from trustworthy sources, preferable from the programmer's website.

- Keep your software (Windows, browser, anti virus etc. up-to-date)

- Don't open attachments if you haven't requested them, even if you seem to know the sender.

- ... did I forget something?

harveybobbles

We have a desktop PC which is hard wired via a moden and wireless router and the OH's laptop runs wirless. and yes, we speak to each other on MSN. From the same room lol

Miroslav

Thanks Tronator for the advice. I'll bookmark this thread to come back to once the laptop and router is in place.

:rotfl: @ harverybobbles and his MSN arrangement

david39

You could consider a plug-in USB wireless connector for your desktop PC so that both computers would be wireless.

JasX

Also most ISPs are very forthcomming with a free router if you threaten to switch to someone else (as most give you a free one if you switch to them anyway)

Miroslav

david39 wrote: »

You could consider a plug-in USB wireless connector for your desktop PC so that both computers would be wireless.

Not too concerned about the desktop being wireless, but it's an option I would consider if it was easy to set up.

JasX wrote: »

Also most ISPs are very forthcomming with a free router if you threaten to switch to someone else (as most give you a free one if you switch to them anyway)

A bit cheeky, but could be worth a try. More concerned about setting up than a few £ at the moment, but if I feel in a cheeky mood, may attempt it

lindabea

tronator wrote: »

- DON'T use the Administrator account or an account with administrative rights for your day to day work, let alone Internet browsing and Email. Create a separate limited user account. If you need to install software, right click on it and chose "run as Administrator" or login as Administrator and install it. If software doesn't run as limited user after installing then it's broken.

I'm very intrigued with this comment. Why shouldn't I use the administrator account for internet browsing and email? Are there any risks in this which I'm not aware of?

JustPassingBy

lindabea wrote: »

I'm very intrigued with this comment. Why shouldn't I use the administrator account for internet browsing and email? Are there any risks in this which I'm not aware of?

I sit down at your computer. Using the most powerful account on the machine (administrator) I can now do anything: alter files; delete files; monitor files. All without your knowledge.

Actually, I don't have to be physically at your machine to do any of that because it's sufficient to be on the same network and operate remotely.

You could stop me in my tracks by using an unprivileged account but choose not to and rely instead on after the event detection techniques.