Is WEP encryption enough???

[yoda313]

Hello,

I finally got a wireless G router so I can play xbox live downstairs.

Now I setup a 128bit WEP encryption with the 26 character key code. Is that sufficient????? I only use the wireless function when I play xbox. I use it as a passthrough for my dsl modem when I'm not playing xbox. I don't have a laptop adapter yet so I don't need it to broadcast constantly.

I noticed in the configuration menu for the dlink dl-524 router that you can turn off the radio broadcast. Now it would be a bit of a pain to switch it on and off for playing the xbox but I don't need it to broadcast a signal 100% all the time - just for the xbox.

Is the WEP enough or should I ALSO disable the radio transmission while I'm not playing?????

Thanks.

Kevin

[Capmaster]

You should at least enable MAC address filtering. That way it'll only connect to a station that has pre-approved hardware addresses

[yoda313]

Hello,

Ok I'll have to look into that.

I saw a little about the MAC in the setup screens for both the router and the xbox. So I have to match those two just like the WEP encryption???

Kevin

[tekkieman]

Turn off WEP and let it broadcast! There's nothing that personal on your systems (other than your porn). Look how happy you've been since getting your DSL. Share the wealth with your neighbors!

[yoda313]

Turn off WEP and let it broadcast! There's nothing that personal on your systems (other than your porn). Look how happy you've been since getting your DSL. Share the wealth with your neighbors!

Hello,

:P :P :P :P

I can just imagine what a speed hit I'd take if I left it open - 300k isn't much to share



Kevin

[Capmaster]

Hello,

Ok I'll have to look into that.

I saw a little about the MAC in the setup screens for both the router and the xbox. So I have to match those two just like the WEP encryption???

Kevin

The manager app for your wireless adapters/cards will tell you the MAC address. You need to get those and enter them in one of the security subscreens of your router. Most let you add a text description so you can glance at it and see which ones you've added. Here's ours:

[yoda313]

Hello,

Thanks cap

I'll fool around with the mac this week (no not that mac TGPO! :P :P).

Kevin

[shelbyGT]

Okay, my dad has a linksys router set up wirelessly to his laptop. He doesn't have it encrypted or passworded or anything and i don't know the first thing about it. I am assuming that if I tell him to RTFM, that it will be in there and that a newbie such as my dad can follow it?

I would go and look for myself, but he's 2 states away and I was only there for one day on Xmas, so networking wasn't my priority.

[rallynavvie]

MAC addresses are easy to spoof. I went warring at my girlfriend's apartment. Of the dozen or so available two had no security, four had WEP, two had WEP and MAC filtering, and then only one had WPA with some more garbage on it. The ones with MAC filtering enabled were more fun since I got to figure out how to spoof one of their computers' MAC addresses temporarily to add my real MAC address. WEP was awfully easy to bypass by brute force. The funny thing is we learned how to do this at work in a technology seminar

Right now from what I've read the most secure is 802.11a (less traffic on newer technology) with WPA-PSK, and disabling SSID broadcasting when not adding computers. I think it odd that people use wireless in apartments or even townhomes and stuff. Isn't it pretty easy to run cable there? I've got wireless in my house because I'm afraid it'll fall apart if I start drilling holes. At my cabin I did the wiring myself to every room, using only a proxy wireless AP for roaming with my laptop by the beach. I figure if there's anyone war-driving out there they'll be pretty easy to spot just standing there in the woods miles from everywhere with a laptop. In fact now I've come up with an interesting skit to film

[yoda313]

Hello,

So here's the deal - if it's easy to crack this protection why set it up in the first place???




Actually I think I'm pretty safe. I need to setup the mac address for sure. BUT I TURN OFF my computer at night. Should I also turn off my wireless router so there is no leakage at all???? I'm trying to cover all the basics here...

Kevin

EDIT - I think I'll start turning off the radio transmission while I'm using just the pc. That way that should limit any possibility of vulnerability in my system. Then I'll be sure to have the pc off while I'm playing xbox live so bandwidth is all anyone could access if it all - not the data on the pc. That's what I use my new wireless router for - the xbox not a laptop so leaving it on all the time is kindof a waste.....

[rallynavvie]

You just have one computer right? Do you have the PC plugged into the wired ports on the router? Also which brand of router is it? Make certain to change the login and password for the router at least. I wonder if gaming bridges support WPA. I never thought of that.

[yoda313]

Hello,

It's a dlink 524 wireless g router. I set the password and the WEP. The Gaming adapter DOES support WEP and is configured for it.

I just have the one pc connected to the wired port on the router. The xbox is connected via the wireless router.

I figure if I disable the broadcast of the router while I'm just on the PC that should be fine.

Also I'll have the PC OFF while I'm playing the xbox (saves power too ).

Kevin


PS - What is WPA?????

[pacmania_2001]

There's a program out there, cant remember the name of it, that creates hundreds of fake AP's so that anyone who trys to connect has to go through all these fake AP's before hitting your real AP.

Haven't tried it myself but looks like an interesting way to discourage war drivers.

[yoda313]

Hello,

AP's??? Do you mean IP'S????????

Thanks for all the help - new to this wireless stuff.

It WORKS but I want it to be SAFE

Kevin

[pacmania_2001]

AP = Access Point.

Basically your router is a wireless access point.

[yoda313]

AP = Access Point.

Basically your router is a wireless access point.

Hello,

Oh ok...

How about the firewall in the router itself??? How should I best optimize it for protection????

Is there a "SUPER BLOCK" mode that is self configuring or what??? Should I check out dlink's website for basic settings?

Thanks.

Kevin

[tekkieman]

Should I check out dlink's website for basic settings?

Thanks.

Kevin

Gee, I don't know...do you think you should RTFM???? :P

[ViRaL1]

You've PROBABLY already done this, but if you haven't....MAKE SURE you change your default router password. Locking the door is nice, but you still shouldn't leave the money out on the floor.

[yoda313]

You've PROBABLY already done this, but if you haven't....MAKE SURE you change your default router password. Locking the door is nice, but you still shouldn't leave the money out on the floor.

Hello,

Yep changed the logon password.

I AM going to turn off the transmission while I'm on the PC only. That way it will act as a wired router only.

Then I'll have the PC OFF while I'm playing XBOX LIVE so the only possible theft would be bandwidth and not data

Kevin

[yoda313]

Hello,

I think I'm comfortable with turning off the router broadcast when I'm online with the pc only and back on for XBOX LIVE. It's a little bit of a hassle but that way it's land locked and not accessible while the pc is being use (other than the internet of course - but that's what a firewall is for ).

So I'll get into the habit of having the broadcast ON for XBOX LIVE but the PC OFF. And then switching the broadcast OFF while I'm surfing the net.

That seems to be an excellent way to SECURE the wireless broadcast - is to not have one while I don't NEED one

Kevin

[tekkieman]

You really don't have any need to broadcast. Any device that knows the SSID can connect. It doesn't need to broadcast unless the gamimg adapter can't have the SSID entered manually.

[Goober57]

There's a program out there, cant remember the name of it, that creates hundreds of fake AP's so that anyone who trys to connect has to go through all these fake AP's before hitting your real AP.

Haven't tried it myself but looks like an interesting way to discourage war drivers.

Is this the program?

http://www.astalavista.com/?section=dir&cmd=file&id=2547


_____________________

[pacmania_2001]

Looks like the one.

[yoda313]

You really don't have any need to broadcast. Any device that knows the SSID can connect. It doesn't need to broadcast unless the gamimg adapter can't have the SSID entered manually.

Hello,

Really????

How??? Doesn't the wireless radio HAVE to be on to send the signal????

Kevin

[Capmaster]

I've noticed that when I turn the radio function off, Windows XP constantly pops up a little notice above the taskbar that says "Wireless network Connection Enabled" or something like that. It happens every time there's an exchange between the two devices, and it drives me nuts having to constantly "X" it out of there, so I leave radio enabled all the time.

It also seems to really slow it down with radio turned off :P

[yoda313]

I've noticed that when I turn the radio function off, Windows XP constantly pops up a little notice above the taskbar that says "Wireless network Connection Enabled" or something like that. It happens every time there's an exchange between the two devices, and it drives me nuts having to constantly "X" it out of there, so I leave radio enabled all the time.

It also seems to really slow it down with radio turned off :P

Hello,

Really????

Haven't noticed any pop up notice yet. Than again I've only done it for a day or two...

Also, my receiver is unplugged to save power - (the game adapter that is).


I'll have to check the speeds with the radio off but doesn't it just act as a standalone wired router when the transmitter is disabled?????

Kevin

[Capmaster]

I've noticed that when I turn the radio function off, Windows XP constantly pops up a little notice above the taskbar that says "Wireless network Connection Enabled" or something like that. It happens every time there's an exchange between the two devices, and it drives me nuts having to constantly "X" it out of there, so I leave radio enabled all the time.

It also seems to really slow it down with radio turned off :P

Hello,

Really????

Haven't noticed any pop up notice yet. Than again I've only done it for a day or two...

Also, my receiver is unplugged to save power - (the game adapter that is).


I'll have to check the speeds with the radio off but doesn't it just act as a standalone wired router when the transmitter is disabled?????

Kevin

Not surprising since you probably have different hardware than I do. I'm using a WAP and not a router. Perhaps the handshake is different.

[yoda313]

Hello,

Not surprising since you probably have different hardware than I do. I'm using a WAP and not a router. Perhaps the handshake is different.

Could be. It's a dl-524 Wireless G router by Dlink. I've been very happy with it so far

Kevin

[tekkieman]

You really don't have any need to broadcast. Any device that knows the SSID can connect. It doesn't need to broadcast unless the gamimg adapter can't have the SSID entered manually.

Hello,

Really????

How??? Doesn't the wireless radio HAVE to be on to send the signal????

Kevin

In some wireless routers, the transmitter is always on. All the broadcast option does is to broadcast the SSID (wireless network name) for those receivers that are searching for networks to connect to. If you already know the name (mine was NETGEAR by default), you don't need to have it broadcast, you manually enter it, then that is the only one it will connect to.

[yoda313]

Hello,

tekkieman - thanks I'll have to check that out more. I thought disabling the "wireless radio" in the setup would turn it off the transmission completely

Kevin