Are people just dumb?

Do people not realise that with a wireless network they are broadcasting information.

 

Some one else has set up a new wireless network near where I live. I have no idea where it is, but I can just pick it up. There is nothing they can do about that, however, it is unsecure. No wep or any of the many security, not even MAC addess filtering.

 

I was surfing on thier internet for quite a while.

 

Obviously some one didnt read the instructions because I have never seen a wireless product which doesnt expalin and give instructions on how to add security to the network.

They didnt even have a fire wall as I could see their hard drives.

 

Stuart

The problem is that security is 'off' by default to make it easier for the general public.

Who reads the instructions anyway - I don't !

Are people just dumb?

Do people not realise that with a wireless network they are broadcasting information.

 

Some one else has set up a new wireless network near where I live. I have no idea where it is, but I can just pick it up. There is nothing they can do about that, however, it is unsecure. No wep or any of the many security, not even MAC addess filtering.

 

I was surfing on thier internet for quite a while.

 

Obviously some one didnt read the instructions because I have never seen a wireless product which doesnt expalin and give instructions on how to add security to the network.

They didnt even have a fire wall as I could see their hard drives.

 

Stuart

 

 

Hi you seem to know a lot about the net, maybe you can help me im on bt broadband and i have a sweex modem, it has 1 computer connected by wire and 1 connected by wireless, it runs fine and fast for about 4 hours and then begins to slow right down, it doesnt matter if there is only 1 computer online or 2, if you switch the router(modem?) off for a few hours it seems to be fine again, any advice would be appreciated

Are people just dumb?

 

 

I was surfing on thier internet for quite a while.

 

 

ChrisC was doing the very same with someone in his street, was going on for some time too.

yep, I went netstumbling on the way to work a while ago. picked up 18 hotspots - 13 of which were totally open. One guy had even set his SSID as his house number and street name!!!! :(

whats really shocking is a major superstore has no encryption either - I logged on to the router *Guessed* the password (admin)!! and had access to all their tills!

Now on an organisation that large you wonder which donkey set it up!!!

Now on an organisation that large you wonder which donkey set it up!!!

 

Duffer? :rofl:

Go into the technology section of selfridges in the Bullring (B'ham) and I managed to access all sorts of information by *guessing* the username and password (Not going to broadcast it in case i get sued) including the tills.... madness! Gotta love wi-fi enabled laptops though ;)

The problem is that security is 'off' by default to make it easier for the general public.

Who reads the instructions anyway - I don't !

 

 

You cant have the security settings on by default. You have to set your settings and the router settings the same. If you dont know what the router settings are, you cant log on to it to change the settings. ;)

Thanks ! This thread just reminded me to turn back on my Wireless security since I disabled it last week when doing some testing.

 

Luckily I live in the middle of the sticks where they've only just discovered Colour TV's let alone computers with wireless internet access.

 

Im not that clued up on Security, as I work in a different Area of I.T.....I use Mac address security.......does this offer acceptable levels of security ?

If you use MAC address filtering then it is pretty secure as it is very difficult to fake or synthesize a MAC address. Although possible you would have to really know what you are doing and people with this kind of knowledge don't generally go for home user's hard drives as family photos and UT save games are of no interest ;)

And no, i do not know how to fake MAC addresses before anyone asks :tongue:

You can clone a MAC. It is possible, but to do that they will have to know what MAC addresses are allowed through in the first place.

ok, thanks guys. Safe enough for my needs.

You can clone a MAC. It is possible, but to do that they will have to know what MAC addresses are allowed through in the first place.

Yeah i guess thats one very importamt point i missed out :slap: D'oh

You can clone a MAC. It is possible, but to do that they will have to know what MAC addresses are allowed through in the first place.

 

No way! depends if I am willing to give D&A:D;) You won't find my address either as I have the club mail sent to a PO box;)

No way! depends if I am willing to give D&A:D;) You won't find my address either as I have the club mail sent to a PO box;)

 

:rofl: :rofl:

Hi you seem to know a lot about the net, maybe you can help me im on bt broadband and i have a sweex modem, it has 1 computer connected by wire and 1 connected by wireless, it runs fine and fast for about 4 hours and then begins to slow right down, it doesnt matter if there is only 1 computer online or 2, if you switch the router(modem?) off for a few hours it seems to be fine again, any advice would be appreciated

 

Thats seems like BT problem I would say.

 

Broadband users share a connection to the main ISP server or local router.

ASDL, only a few can share the connection. Sharing I mean the whole street sharing the same line to the server, not you sharing the internet.

Cable however can take a lot more people sharing. If the max number of people that can share the connection is getting close, it will effect the speed of the connection.

 

It wouldnt surprise me if BT have a system of slowing down the connection of people who have been on the longest to stop them using it.

If you use MAC address filtering then it is pretty secure as it is very difficult to fake or synthesize a MAC address. Although possible you would have to really know what you are doing and people with this kind of knowledge don't generally go for home user's hard drives as family photos and UT save games are of no interest ;)

 

 

Oh no it's not. Due to the way XP works you can change your active MAC address by a registry change ! I have a hackers application that does it in seconds.

 

You also need to bear in mind that hackers are far more interested in acquiring personal information these days, ie something thats useful in creating a fake ID.

 

And if your wireless access point is 'open' then you may be liable for the nefarious activies of the naughty people who choose to use it !

 

And just for Stuart it is possible to enable security by default. There are many ways, some good some bad. But Bufalo do it using the AOSS system.

:bow: You are obviously far more knowledgeable than me on this, so thanks. I'm guessing you work in an IT role then? I suppose i would know what i was talking about if my employer paid me more but like they say, pay penuts get :smw: !

Oh no it's not. Due to the way XP works you can change your active MAC address by a registry change ! I have a hackers application that does it in seconds.

 

You also need to bear in mind that hackers are far more interested in acquiring personal information these days, ie something thats useful in creating a fake ID.

 

And if your wireless access point is 'open' then you may be liable for the nefarious activies of the naughty people who choose to use it !

 

And just for Stuart it is possible to enable security by default. There are many ways, some good some bad. But Bufalo do it using the AOSS system.

 

...but the Hacker would still need to know the MAC addresses of the machines currently only allowed access on my network...and without that info he would not be able to gain access ?

 

...although presumably a skilled hacker can gain access to anything if he tried hard enough...but for my personal needs (Home office use, small village)..Mac address security is fine ?

 

As I have an in-car computer, with WIFI, I have tested my Wireless network range (based on the hardware I have)...and it seems to be about as far as my driveway....so Hacker would have to park right outside my house, or be my immediate neighbour to get access)

:bow: You are obviously far more knowledgeable than me on this, so thanks. I'm guessing you work in an IT role then? I suppose i would know what i was talking about if my employer paid me more but like they say, pay penuts get :smw: !

 

Trust me What Mr P don't know about IT security is not worth knowing;)

...but the Hacker would still need to know the MAC addresses of the machines currently only allowed access on my network...and without that info he would not be able to gain access ?

 

...although presumably a skilled hacker can gain access to anything if he tried hard enough...but for my personal needs (Home office use, small village)..Mac address security is fine ?

 

As I have an in-car computer, with WIFI, I have tested my Wireless network range (based on the hardware I have)...and it seems to be about as far as my driveway....so Hacker would have to park right outside my house, or be my immediate neighbour to get access)

 

If you have a laptop with a wireless card and some sniffer software then you can see the source mac address of all traffic that's whizzing through the air. I then spoof your address and I'm on your network. You probably still have default access control on your router, so I login change the config so that I have a permanent route in and if I'm feeling malcious I lock you out just for the hell of it. Feel better now ? ;)

 

 

Oh, and as for the distance, have you not heard of the aerial made of a Pringles can ? Should increase the range of use up to 100m easy. In fact some Polish geeks, with the aid of an old home satellite disk could join a wireless network from 80km away (or was it 80 miles - can't remember)

If you have a laptop with a wireless card and some sniffer software then you can see the source mac address of all traffic that's whizzing through the air. I then spoof your address and I'm on your network. You probably still have default access control on your router, so I login change the config so that I have a permanent route in and if I'm feeling malcious I lock you out just for the hell of it. Feel better now ? ;)

 

Crikey......now I wish I had'nt given you my home address when I subscribed to this forum ;) :rofl:

Oh, and as for the distance, have you not heard of the aerial made of a Pringles can ? Should increase the range of use up to 100m easy. In fact some Polish geeks, with the aid of an old home satellite disk could join a wireless network from 80km away (or was it 80 miles - can't remember)

 

I thought that was a joke..until I found :

 

http://verma.sfsu.edu/users/wireless/pringles.php

Trust me What Mr P don't know about IT security is not worth knowing;)

 

 

If only that were true. It may be my job, but some of the people who work for me are REALLY smart !

 

One of the members of our group works part time for the US Military and some of the hacking stories, that he can tell me about, are pretty interesting

Here it is :- http://classes.weber.edu/wireless/