Networking & wireless: Poll: How safe is your home wireless network?
- 9/4/09 12:53 PM
Poll: How safe is your home wireless network?
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 9/4/09 12:53 PM
If you have a home wireless network, as far as security goes, how safe would you consider it?
Super safe. (What makes you so sure?)
Relatively safe. (What made you vote on this, rather than super safe?)
Not really safe. (What makes you say that?)
Not safe at all. (Why are you still using it?)
I have no idea (Are you concerned?)
Poll response = relatively safe
by rkurtzcpa - 9/4/09 4:22 PM In reply to: Poll: How safe is your home wireless network? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
My Poll response = relatively safe, due to using WPA level security rather than WPA2. This is mainly due to including one older laptop with wireless card that we have not yet been able to get logged onto four PC + printer home network under WPA2, although it easily logs in when just WPA level is invoked.
Our network consists of Comcast Docsys 3.0 cable modem at Ultra service level, D-link DIR655 gigabit N level router, 2 direct wire desktops running XP and gigabit NIC's, 1 new laptop with internal G wireless running Vista Basic, 1 older laptop with internal B wireless running XP and one shared HP all-in-one printer with direct connection to router.
Poll response = relatively safe
by CSpiridon - 9/4/09 5:04 PM In reply to: Poll response = relatively safe by rkurtzcpaHello,
There is no way to secure a wireless network at the commercial prices.
The network is secure only for the regular user. Any professionals can sooner or later access your wireless network. This is because the wireless itself suppose a sufficient wide area in which can be detected by any RF receiver in that band of frequency. After that, it is a problem of decrypting the data, which can take more or less time depending on how powerful is the computer that process this data.
Using powerfull encryption codes like in military or government wirelless communication is too expensive. For someone who really is concern w/ the wirelless security, my advice is do not use it. Network by wires, well shielded. Personally I use wirelles because is more flexible, I can move my laptops anywhere in the house.
If I'd like a more secure connection, than I could use my desktops that are wired to my network.
How safe is your home wireless network?
by Bruce Pattinson - 9/4/09 4:31 PM In reply to: Poll: How safe is your home wireless network? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Totally unsecured. But you have to come at least half way up my driveway to even get a week connection. So I am not at all worried about it. If I was anywhere else I would have it secured.
I doubt that there's such a thing as super-safe. . . .
by jthelw - 9/4/09 4:53 PM In reply to: Poll: How safe is your home wireless network? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
It probably is an issue of our browsing habits rather than network status, but why do we get occasional Trojans, malware and spam?
On the other hand, since we password-protected the home network, no more nosy neighbors are online with us.
Safe?
by chf_2258 - 9/4/09 5:35 PM In reply to: I doubt that there's such a thing as super-safe. . . . by jthelwI think of it like my house when I say relatively safe. If someone really wanted to get in they probably could but the chances of someone hacking my particular network and causing damage are probably slim at best. Just like I don't wear protective headgear when I go for a walk (even though there is a chance I may get hit by a car), I probably won't pay for the same firewall, let's say, a bank might.
WPA2 Baby!
by Goshifter - 9/4/09 5:33 PM In reply to: Poll: How safe is your home wireless network? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I still say relatively safe only because my passcode isn't exceptionally secure. But I figure WPA2 should keep the wireless sniffers out.
Save enough?
by alaskaadmin - 9/4/09 5:42 PM In reply to: Poll: How safe is your home wireless network? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I think my WPA2 PSK with AES encryption with a 32 symbol/letter -cap and lower-/number/non-dictionary password makes it pretty secure. Am I right? Could someone hack into that?
Not really safe at ALL!
by Doc_sean - 9/4/09 5:45 PM In reply to: Poll: How safe is your home wireless network? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
WOW! How safe is it ... I can sum that up real fast "NOT". The reason is simple. My comp crashed a few years ago (running Win 98) and went down for the count. While a friend of mine dropped by with his IS/IT tools to my home. He needed a better connection than my old dial-up. He set up his company wireless, looking for a signal. Next he asked me on how many college students around me (college town)? "Never mind, I found one with a weak link that I can hack in on."
A) That student lost his signal for a few hours.
B) And me old comp was repaired via USB link hook-up wireless laptop
C) And no, your Wi-Fi is NOT safe.
Safe enough for my needs.
by sbill - 9/4/09 8:24 PM In reply to: Poll: How safe is your home wireless network? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have my wireless router secured with basic WEP encryption, simply to keep neighbors and other "casual users" from logging on and using my internet connection. I do not have the computers networked to each other; only for the purpose of sharing broadband internet, so it's not clear what anyone could "get" by hacking into it other than free internet access.
I live in a large apartment complex with many unsecured wireless networks available, so it's highly unlikely that someone would try to hack into mine when they can log on to many others without exerting any effort.
super secure
by nbahn - 9/4/09 8:36 PM In reply to: Poll: How safe is your home wireless network? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use wpa-psk (with a very secure password) and I have mac filtering enabled.
Super Secure
by steelburner - 9/5/09 10:50 AM In reply to: super secure by nbahnI have 128-bit WEP encryption going, but the real stopper is MAC address filtering. I only allow one MAC address to enter the wireless network ... my wife's laptop which she uses for e-mail and non-financial stuff.
WEP Vs. WPA
by nbahn - 9/5/09 2:14 PM In reply to: Super Secure by steelburnerhttp://compudent.blogspot.com/2006/09/wireless-wep-vs-wpa-vs-wpa2.html
It is generally agreed that WEP is a poor substitute for WPA. Strongly suggest that you look into upgrading to WPA or -- even better yet -- WPA2.
Not So Safe
by oliverrp - 9/4/09 8:44 PM In reply to: Poll: How safe is your home wireless network? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Bellsouth (ATT) modem/router only works with WEP. Sucks bigtime.
not really safe
by jonquilmcd - 9/4/09 9:30 PM In reply to: Poll: How safe is your home wireless network? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
In terms of wireless security alone, my network is not really safe or not safe at all. Or it's really safe... it depends on how you look at it. There's no password protection or MAC address binding... it's completely open. But I share my connection with a couple of neighbors and there's no one else around to worry about. The rest of my network security is tight so I don't have to worry about anyone gaining access to the router.
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