ensuring top security for my BB connection

aurora_borealis_2

Hi,

I have wireless broadband (NTL) at home and, since yesterday, a laptop and security fob that will allow me to access the secure drives at work.

After the training and dire warnings of my responsibilty in keeping the network secure, can you help me check that my BB is as protected as can be.

I don't even know where to start.

:beer:

albertross_2

To be secure, it needs to be encrypted, preferably with wpa-psk (not wep). and preferably with a long 63 character password.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2471408&postcount=37

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=2471410&postcount=38

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=121274

MadCowMan

Sounds like you have a VPN connection with a secureID card to access it. so the connection in itself is pretty bullet proof ( 1 time only passcodes and a reasonably heavily encrypted connect at that )

If Security is of paramount issue.I'd personally not use wireless at all unless you absolutely *have* to have it.

Also , switch your router off when you aren't using it. Best security I know of. (if its not there , you can't connect to it )

aurora_borealis_2

Yes, I have a random number generator fob.

The IT man scared me with tales of prosecution. I usually work from a mac at home so will have to use my windows laptop to go through albertross' links.

thomas01155

Is mac address security good enough?

gavinp

thomas01155 wrote:

Is mac address security good enough?

No, because MAC addresses are broadcast unencrypted so take a few seconds to defeat if you know what you are doing...

http://www.softpedia.com/get/Network-Tools/Misc-Networking-Tools/Mac-Makeup.shtml

MAC filters, hidden SSIDs and WEP are all worth forgetting - use WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK with a 63 character password.

Thanks

Gavin

amcluesent

I use VPN/SecureID to login to remote service at work.

To increase security, I run a completely standard XP SP2 in VMWare Player and initiate the VPN tunnel from within the virtual machine and use Word, IE etc. in the virtual system. Works fine, and would be exceptionally difficult for anything on the host PC to get into the virtual machine and them onto the company systems, so I can install games etc. without worry.

I also have the usual h/w firewall/NAT on the broadband router, Sygate firewall and AVG on the host PC and the company supplied anti-virus and firewall running on the virtual machine and keep documents in a TrueCrypt vault with a long pass-phrase. That's military grade security! :beer: