09-09-2011, 09:06 PM | #1 |
Ironworks Atomic Moderator
Join Date: January 7, 2001
Location: Virginia, U.S.A.
Age: 57
Posts: 9,005
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Wifi Info Question
Ok so my netbook has been slow and acting up. I live in a highrise so realize there are others out there that possibly may be tapping into my wifi. I really need to change my very easy password. It doesn't sound easy to do though so am waiting for a friend to help me re that soon.
My question is, when I click on my "network sharing" on my netbook, I seem to see others on my "Infrastructure". Example: When I look at my infrastructure I do not just see my Linsys router, but others, especially one Belkin. I do not have a Belkin router. Is this something to be worried about? Or is it just showing people that just are nearby in my apt. complex who are online? I'd show a screenshot but it is a Word doc and not sure how to post it here as an example. Just want to make sure nobody is spying on my wifi or my PC, who managed to figure out my too easy password. Any info would be appreciately greatly LOL, just to reduce my paranoia if nothing else. |
09-09-2011, 10:41 PM | #2 |
Elminster
Join Date: April 15, 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 451
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Re: Wifi Info Question
I'm pretty sure that when other routers come up, it's just because they're also wireless ones in close proximity to you. Same thing happens with ours.
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09-09-2011, 10:49 PM | #3 |
Ironworks Atomic Moderator
Join Date: January 7, 2001
Location: Virginia, U.S.A.
Age: 57
Posts: 9,005
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Re: Wifi Info Question
Cool, thanks Wolf Rider2, makes me feel better!
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09-09-2011, 11:04 PM | #4 |
40th Level Warrior
Join Date: July 11, 2002
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 11,916
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Re: Wifi Info Question
It's just other people near you. There's no need for you to worry. If their systems are unprotected it won't really affect you unless you find a way to use them, which I presume is not your intent.
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09-10-2011, 11:33 AM | #5 |
Mephistopheles
Join Date: March 21, 2004
Location: Cape Canaveral, FL
Age: 69
Posts: 1,443
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Re: Wifi Info Question
These other networks you see should also tell you whether the network is secured or unsecured. AAMOF your network should appear as an available network and it should be flagged as secure if you indeed have a password set up.
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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790), Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759. Iraq and Afghan fatalities: 6,855 and counting. Silence IS consent. |
09-10-2011, 11:39 AM | #6 |
Drow Priestess
Join Date: March 13, 2001
Location: a hidden sanctorum high above the metroplex
Age: 54
Posts: 4,037
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Re: Wifi Info Question
The number one thing you can do to secure your home wireless network is to turn off the SSID broadcast so your network doesn't show up on quick scans of available networks in the area. I also recommend using a WPA2 password; you can write this password down and sticky-note it to your computer because the only way someone could get to it would be to break in to your place.
There are other things you can do--MAC address filtering or limiting the IP address range given out by your router--and these take very little effort but they aren't intuitive unless you browse through all your router's configuration screens.
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Everything may be explained by a conspiracy theory. All conspiracy theories are true. No matter how thinly you slice it, it's still bologna. |
09-12-2011, 05:05 AM | #7 |
Elminster
Join Date: April 15, 2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 451
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Re: Wifi Info Question
LZ, seen any "interesting" names amongst those other routers? It can be quite amusing what people call them
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09-12-2011, 09:39 AM | #8 |
40th Level Warrior
Join Date: October 29, 2001
Location: Western Wilds of Michigan
Posts: 11,752
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Re: Wifi Info Question
Old thread here, LadyZ... basics of security without the details of how to do it
To fix that omission, open a web browser while connected physically to your router (ie with a wire) and go to the router's home page. For Linksys, the default is 192.168.1.1; Netgear is 192.168.0.1. Wander around the pages there and you can see the things you can change. If ever in doubt of whether or not you changed something, close your browser And if need be, you can hard-reset the router to factory defaults. In addition to the three things I listed in that link (broadcast SID, password, MAC Filter), I'd also change the IP address range from 192.168.0/1. Use an oddball number... not one ending in a 5 or 0. If someone's trying to sneak in, they'll either use a full scanner (in which case number doesn't matter) or they'll try "obvious" combinations... .5, .10, .50, .100, etc. Your goal should not be to make yours completely secure. Rather, you want to make it secure enough that they give up and try an easier target Feel free to PM me if you have any questions, or if you want to hook up on Skype, I can walk you through the steps. Doesn't take long.
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09-18-2011, 02:14 AM | #9 |
Ironworks Atomic Moderator
Join Date: January 7, 2001
Location: Virginia, U.S.A.
Age: 57
Posts: 9,005
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Re: Wifi Info Question
Hey Bungleau, may have fixed it, but not exactly sure. PM me your Skype ID (not just for help but I have so few on my Skype, I'd love to add anyone from here on there )
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09-18-2011, 02:17 AM | #10 |
Ironworks Atomic Moderator
Join Date: January 7, 2001
Location: Virginia, U.S.A.
Age: 57
Posts: 9,005
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Re: Wifi Info Question
Oh yes I've seen a few amusing names. So far the most amusing one was "FBI Surveillance Van"
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