Community Newsletter: Q&A: 10/28/05 If a wireless network signal is available, can I use it?

People are Too Lazy! Here's a Great Solution!

It seems most routers come with all the information, but most people are too lazy to use the manuals. They just plug them in and start using them. It's impossible for ISP's and Router manufacturers to do this work for us.

Now I have a question for you. Because of problems our routers have in telling us who is actually connected through them. Yes, figuring out unwanted users, that are using ''IP's'' assigned by your router's ''DHCP'' is pretty straight forward. You just find the ones that don't belong and block their ''Mac'' address. Simple! a lot of times these can be people unaware that their device is set to automatically select the strongest signal and your router just happens to be the one.

By the way there's a great number of networking devices that are capable of over 1,000 feet and with amplified equipment they even reach a whole lot further (like in close to a mile). N-series routers and cards are a prime example and send and receive signals over 1,000 ft even with objects in the way (houses, cars, telephone poles, etc: In fact they use it to their advantage).

The difficulty for the average user is finding the real thieves who have an assortment of tools to hack your network (Brute Forcers, etc.), including your WEP, and other encryption techniques. Most of these kinds of people don't accidentally connect to your network and they certainly don't use your router assignment of their ip address. So they don't show up on your ''DHCP'' client list. Unless you have your own sniffing tools and an advanced knowledge of the criminal side of things, they remain invisible. With any of todays Wireless Routers you are really in the dark as to the connections using your router as not only a way onto the Internet, but also into your computer.

So what can be done to a router that manufacturers can start putting into their equipment to safeguard us? I think a sniffer of sorts with better pass-thru logging would certainly help. ICMP ping blockers are certainly not enough, and only help keep out mechanical hack sniffers in search of a dolt client. Most home ''Router Firewalls'' are inherently simple and weak. Especially since your generic Windows installation leaves 1000's of ports open by default and the included firewall is a toy even for the most inexperienced newb hacker.

I think one thing people themselves can start doing is either buying a hardware firewall to set ahead of their ''Router'' or simply convert their own discarded computer into a Linux firewall. There are many very small Linux Firewall specific OS downloads available. Some as small as 20 megs and are pretty much a startup and run kind of thing. Even a novice can run some of them. Configured ahead of your network it can give you a greater peace of mind and more safety. If you really look into it, most of the hardware firewalls are running a form of embedded Linux anyway.

Now I'm going to give you a little shocker to think about. Since everyone should know that Microsoft Windows will continue to bleed, with only cover ups to try and patch the cavernous holes. Stacking various costly add on firewalls and anti-virus software will be a never ending ordeal.

Why not wake up and make a change! In the final analysis an overall winning choice is to dump the ''Hole-lier Than Thou'' Windows Operating System in favor of the ''Breakfast of Champions'' Linux operating system (used by more IT professionals and corporations, than any Winblows version). Because in the next version of ''Windows'' the greatest ''Hacker'' of them all ''Bill Gates'' will have all the keys, along with a whole bunch of willing dolts to keep Under His Rule. Being the good Corporate Boy Scout he is, he'll gladly turn you in, to cover his own mis-deeds

''LINUX'' An Open Source Door to Your Future, Without Winblows Holes''!

Here is one of the many sites on the net that provide a ''Background Check'' of Mr. Gates and his hacking history: The 1st Year College Dropout!
http://www.mackido.com/History/Gates_a_Genius.html