beginners guide to Wireless networking security

[wonderlust]

I found this article and thought it may be of interest to those starting out setting up Wireless Security.

http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/wireless-security.ars

I don't agree with the SSID bit, If someone really wanted to hack a wireless network they are more likely to strat with one that has it's SSID broadcast than one that doesn't surely?

[monkey56657]

Since the article is for beginners it could cause a great confusion if they disabled the SSID broadcast. This is perhaps why they advise to leave it broadcasting. HOWEVER the SSID of networks can be picked up when monitoring wireless 'traffic' signals regardless of whether it is being broadcast or not.

[wonderlust]

Ture,

IMHO, especially around where I live, there are too many networks broadcasting!

[monkey56657]

Until around 3 months ago there were none others from my house now there are around 10 I can pick up :lol:

[wonderlust]

yeah, I have the same issue, I am only running wireless in the house so that I can browse the web (usefull for checking out films on IMDB) and pick up email on my phone.

[monkey56657]

That said im sure the neighbours are even more annoyed with me as I've got three up n broadcasting lol.

[wonderlust]

stealing all the available channels eh? :D

[cleggypdc]

There are surprisingly a lot of wireless networks on my street which are all WEP encryption. All's it takes is my in my car with my eee and airsnort, and about 30 seconds spare time. I wish that BT would secure their boxes with some WPA, but i suppose that then WPA would take less time to crack as there would be more WPA encrypted traffic.

[cleggypdc]

Oh and as far as security goes, just use WPA and filter by MAC address. If you are doing some online banking though i would never use wireless, good ol wires for me :)

[wonderlust]

There are surprisingly a lot of wireless networks on my street which are all WEP encryption. All's it takes is my in my car with my eee and airsnort, and about 30 seconds spare time. I wish that BT would secure their boxes with some WPA, but i suppose that then WPA would take less time to crack as there would be more WPA encrypted traffic.

tut tut don't get caught prison beckons :D

[cleggypdc]

lol, i haven't done it on anyones but my own wireless network. I'm a curious student doing it for the LULZ :D

[chatters]

There are surprisingly a lot of wireless networks on my street which are all WEP encryption. All's it takes is my in my car with my eee and airsnort, and about 30 seconds spare time. I wish that BT would secure their boxes with some WPA, but i suppose that then WPA would take less time to crack as there would be more WPA encrypted traffic.


Bt have their own FON service, its great you get a seperate channel from your standard wireless, which is completely open. If your a BT FON user you can use any BT FON connection for free, if you agree to set it up on your router. I think every isp should be like this

So no need for jail, or airsnort :D

http://www.btfon.com/

[wonderlust]

lol, I must admit, I have used open wireless networks that weren't my own, but this is getting harder as people are finally getting the security message.

Though i use a Mobile phone not a laptop, it's a little less obvious :D

[monkey56657]

I had the cheek to change the IP range used on one of my neighbours routers..so that my static IP would work on either on my network and theres :lol:

[wonderlust]

lol, I am not that bad, but for friends and family I set up WPA and MAC address of course I add my phone to the access list :D