Wireless Security.

The_YongGrand · 24th Feb 2006, 03:35 PM

So I bought a Wireless Adapter - but it is a 11MBPS and with WEP encryption. I don't know whether it could do with WPA - since if I buy a new Wireless Router I could be in big trouble because the network adapter doesn't support WPA.

I heard that Windows has software based WPA for wireless adapters without WPA. Is that true?

And in Wireless network system, with two computers and one server - could these wireless intruders outside enter the two client computers, or the server or both? If I have a good router, will it prevent the intruders from breaking into the system?

Adrian Wong · 24th Feb 2006, 11:28 PM

Umm.. I'm not really sure about WPA. But WEP should be fine for general wireless security.

I really wouldn't worry so much about intruders trying to break into your network here. Unless your computers store very sensitive information?

Dashken · 25th Feb 2006, 08:29 AM

Yeah, the most they would do are delete all your pink stuffs, mp3s, your projects and your Windows directory.

AAY · 25th Feb 2006, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_YongGrand

So I bought a Wireless Adapter - but it is a 11MBPS and with WEP encryption. I don't know whether it could do with WPA - since if I buy a new Wireless Router I could be in big trouble because the network adapter doesn't support WPA.

I heard that Windows has software based WPA for wireless adapters without WPA. Is that true?

And in Wireless network system, with two computers and one server - could these wireless intruders outside enter the two client computers, or the server or both? If I have a good router, will it prevent the intruders from breaking into the system?

Most wireless adapters you buy today should have support for WPA, but I guess you lucked out and got something pretty old. You don't have to use WPA but it can be quite a bit more secure than WEP.
A good router won't really help. If you're in a home environment and your neighbours aren't out to get you, you should be ok with WEP only. Of course if you're in a densely populated urban area with plenty of geeks, rethink your move

.

The_YongGrand · 25th Feb 2006, 09:09 AM

The Wireless Networking radius is all in my house and no further than that. I don't know how big is that radius for a simple 11MBPS wireless adapter, but I afraid that my next door neighbours could pick up my area as well. I don't know - I used WEP codes, but for every client I logged in, they already filled up the WEP code box. I thought I have to key in the WEP number everytime I access my network? They suddenly did that automatically.

goldfries · 26th Feb 2006, 01:39 AM

whether a router gets break in will depend on your setup.

just buy the new routers available, it's not a problem. if your adapter doesn't support, then can always use WEP.

but my Linksys 802.11b PCMCIA adapter and my Netgear 802.11b USB adapter worked well with my Linksys WRT54G on WPA signals.

Adrian Wong · 26th Feb 2006, 11:20 AM

I still prefer to filter by MAC address.

AAY · 26th Feb 2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian Wong

I still prefer to filter by MAC address.

Well, it's all a matter of what your ultimate goal is. Do you just want to stop the casual freeloader from using your 'net connection, or are you trying to keep your network data away from prying eyes? MAC address filtering will do the former, but is pretty horrible at doing the latter. If I were determined and had a little time to spare I could run a wireless card in promiscous mode and start analysing the packets it picks up being broadcast out of your AP/PC to learn the MAC address of your PC. All I have to do then is change the MAC of my adapter and and I'll be allowed on your network

.

Adrian Wong · 26th Feb 2006, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AAY

Well, it's all a matter of what your ultimate goal is. Do you just want to stop the casual freeloader from using your 'net connection, or are you trying to keep your network data away from prying eyes? MAC address filtering will do the former, but is pretty horrible at doing the latter. If I were determined and had a little time to spare I could run a wireless card in promiscous mode and start analysing the packets it picks up being broadcast out of your AP/PC to learn the MAC address of your PC. All I have to do then is change the MAC of my adapter and and I'll be allowed on your network

.

Ahh.. There should be a guide on this.

Well, I don't have really secret data so I'm not afraid of snoopers. Haha.. The big advantage of doing MAC filtering is the extra speed.

Then again, there's also that security issue...

24th Feb 2006, 03:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
The_YongGrand Super Active Join Date: 12 Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere in 甲洞... Posts: 2,365 Reputation: 852 Rep Power: 14	Wireless Security. So I bought a Wireless Adapter - but it is a 11MBPS and with WEP encryption. I don't know whether it could do with WPA - since if I buy a new Wireless Router I could be in big trouble because the network adapter doesn't support WPA. I heard that Windows has software based WPA for wireless adapters without WPA. Is that true? And in Wireless network system, with two computers and one server - could these wireless intruders outside enter the two client computers, or the server or both? If I have a good router, will it prevent the intruders from breaking into the system?

24th Feb 2006, 11:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 30,419 Reputation: 3147 Rep Power: 68	Umm.. I'm not really sure about WPA. But WEP should be fine for general wireless security. I really wouldn't worry so much about intruders trying to break into your network here. Unless your computers store very sensitive information? __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

25th Feb 2006, 08:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dashken Administrator! Join Date: 21 Apr 2003 Location: Penang Posts: 29,821 Reputation: 2162 Rep Power: 56	Yeah, the most they would do are delete all your pink stuffs, mp3s, your projects and your Windows directory. __________________ \| Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 @ 3.2Ghz \| ASUS P5B-E Plus \| G.SKILL 2x1GB DDR2 800 \| 6 HDDs (2TB+ only ) \| NVIDIA GeForce 7600GT \| Dell E248WFP 24" Widescreen \| Blog : Dashken's I-Blog Gallery : Dashken's I-Paintings

26th Feb 2006, 01:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
goldfries More Than Meets The Eye Join Date: 22 Jan 2003 Location: KL/PJ Malaysia Posts: 7,877 Reputation: 539 Rep Power: 18	whether a router gets break in will depend on your setup. just buy the new routers available, it's not a problem. if your adapter doesn't support, then can always use WEP. but my Linksys 802.11b PCMCIA adapter and my Netgear 802.11b USB adapter worked well with my Linksys WRT54G on WPA signals. __________________ no computer specs \| no photography gear list \| no userbars \| no quotes

26th Feb 2006, 11:20 AM	#7 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 30,419 Reputation: 3147 Rep Power: 68	I still prefer to filter by MAC address. __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

25th Feb 2006, 09:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
The_YongGrand Super Active Join Date: 12 Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere in 甲洞... Posts: 2,365 Reputation: 852 Rep Power: 14	The Wireless Networking radius is all in my house and no further than that. I don't know how big is that radius for a simple 11MBPS wireless adapter, but I afraid that my next door neighbours could pick up my area as well. I don't know - I used WEP codes, but for every client I logged in, they already filled up the WEP code box. I thought I have to key in the WEP number everytime I access my network? They suddenly did that automatically.

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