wilkes

Another big way to protect your information is to not reply to any email asking to give you millions of dollars from some dead guy's bank account.

Point taken on the distance. I do agree that if someone wanted to capture info from 100 different people, they would have to go sit in 90 different driveways to do it, as opposed to some of the neighborhoods you see elsewhere that cant fit a lawnmower between the homes...

Can't do just MAC filtering without everything else as well. Your computer screams its MAC address at me with every packet, unencrypted. And its easy to clone a MAC address...

True

ANY 12 year old can figure it out.

But if you are only 2 like fin it is above your head.

thats one reason not to use WPA or WEp security and go full strength since 99% of wifi routers have this built in and just MAC filter teh MAc addresses so only you and your computers can access it

umm....no it's not. Low skill - it can be done with an iphone or ipod touch or android based phone, just driving through your hood. It can be done with a $75 laptop from 6 years ago with a decent wifi card/antennae.

Stealing this information is no longer a 'hi tech' crime. If my mother can figure it out, ANY 12 year old can figure it out.

DaddyP, usually the people doing the identity theft are not just logging on to your Wifi. Most of that is either very high tech stuff with people hacking into your bank's system and stealing info, or more low skill with your waitress using a card scanner and stealing your account info.

Around here most people live too far apart for a neighbor or passer by to get on your wifi. Or at least that was the case before the stronger N routers. The problem of strangers using your wifi is usually more of a problem in city neighborhoods.

That's kind of scary. I always worry about that. I have seen a few people on here say that people have hacked into their account and I always think it's probably bs but then I wonder well what if a neighbor used your ISP without your knowledge and it looked like it was coming from your computer...but then I always think nah they would need your user ID and password to post as you. It sounds like it is possible for someone to do this if they were sneaky enough. (I was recently thinking about this because a poster last week claimed that they didn't make a thread and that someone hacked their account and Jason confirmed that it had come from their ISP so it had to be someone in their house logging into their ID)

Anyway it concerns me. I don't want people reading my stuff or seeing my bank account. If you don't mind I would like to get your help to do what you said. I will check the router on Sunday and post the brand. I know your probably busy over the holidays and I won't be online for the next couple of days. Thank you both for your advice.

Daddy P, you can configure the laptops/routers so that even though you have to have a password to connect, it's a one-time deal - you never have to enter it again unless you replace or add another computer to the network. So you may already be secured.

What brand router do you have? We can send you easy to follow documentation on how to check/change your encryption settings. Any crappy WEP is better than wide open.

If someone is on your unencrypted wireless network, wireshark will let them see EVERY packet you send, in a fairly easy to read format. Other tools such as Firesheep lets them just connect and wait. As soon as you log onto specific websites, they will get a new icon to click on that lets them log into Facebook, many banking sites, gowilkes, other websites as you, they dont even need your password.

Daddy P
There are a couple of things you can do.cisco makes a program called Cisco Network Magic Pro 5.5 you can run it for free. its the easiest one I know of. IF you pay for the program and you have a linksys router network set ups are made a little simpler.

OR you can run wireshark. wire shark is not easy but it is extremely powerful.

Turn on the highest amount of encryption that both your router and your wireless adapters can support. WPA2 is a good choice if everything supports it.

Aunt Flo how do they see your passwords and stuff? Is there anyway to make sure your neighbors aren't stealing internet service from you? We have a wireless router and modem from charter. We don't use any passwords to connect to internet...it just automatically connects when we turn laptops on. We know nothing about computers so can you tell me what to do to make sure no one is stealing it? I wouldn't mind it except for you saying they can see passwords and what you type. I wouldn't want someone seeing bank accounts or passwords.

BTW - you do know they can see almost anything you do on the internet, right? They can see your user IDs, your passwords, every website you visit and for how long, what text you enter into forum posts, etc...

buy the neighbors an N router. It works a lot better than the G ones. We did that and it works great.

Grand am, what make/model is your wireless adapter? We can check to see how much transmit power it has. If it's known to be on the low side, a replacement may correct it.

Another option may be buy the neighbor a new router. Most consumer grade routers have the radio turned down so commercial users will buy pro grade stuff. But the Buffalo routers have their radios cranked up. Ive seen one in a basement cover almost an entire 12,000 sq ft house.

Wait, you're only 100 feet from their router? My 4 year old wireless G router can easily punch through my walls in the underground basement where it is, all the way out to the street where it still gets 50%. running the alternate firmware to boost the output, it gets 80% there.

Have you tried a different wireless NIC in your PC? Have a friend with a USB dongle that you can try to see if it gets better reception? May be a lot easier that what we've proposed already..

I see I got way above someone's head.

Do it my way no do it my way

Flo -

Fins -

grand am -yes you can