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Wireless networking safe or sorry?

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2003 7:09 pm
by JAM
Girlfriend annoyed me to near death about not having networking upstairs, hence no internet access and so on, on that computer...

Cables couldn't used due to the layout. So I got myself a wireless router, and a bunch of cards (coughed up a kiddney when paying the bill, but...).

Works fine, no hazzle installing, easy to figure out yada yada. Then i noticed the encryption, WEP, settings and bumped those up to 128bit. I had to just because I could.

But how unsafe is it really, transfering data wireless. I have no clue, but it sounds that 128bit (and using an encryption key of my choise) is very, very safe. Is this an assumption or am I correct? I don't care enough to go investigating on my own but I was hoping that someone have some experience or thoughts to offer.

Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2003 7:17 pm
by m3mn0n
As long as the default network login/admin pass have been changed it's pretty tough to get in. Wireless networking is fairly new so a lot of the products out there are pretty sturdy when it comes to security and encryption.

But since it is internet connect that would be you biggest concern for data theft, rather than local signal hyjacking.

That's only from my experiences with it though. :)

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2003 3:12 am
by volka
Serveral conceptional faults were found in WEP, esp. the handshake is far from safe. There is an ever-growing community of WLAN hoppers making fun out of finding open or poorly secured access points (although most of them do not seem to intend to play tricks on your network). A "convention" took place here were I live about two month ago.
afaik a wep128-only accesspoint is no problem anymore if someone is determined to enter your network but you can cascade security mechanism to increase privacy (MAC-table, vpn, ...)

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2003 6:01 am
by qads
i use a wireless card, i didn't bother to use encryption, where i live its very safe lol..but after reading this i am little worried :? .

one question: would't encryption make things slower? i have to access my php server from my laptop and open a 5kb file over 11mb network connection takes about 3 secs atm 8O. if goes any slower i'll just go to sleep :P

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2003 8:29 am
by volka
hm, I can't really tell you, only so much: atm I'm working with a vpn-dialin and a friend sometime dials in on my box at the same time (also vpn) and I can't notice any difference in the systemload, the only limiting factor is my inet-connection ;)

Maybe you find some information at
http://www.intel.com/eBusiness/pdf/it/wp021306.pdf (which is clearly targeted at decision makers ;-) )
and http://www.drizzle.com/~aboba/IEEE/

I shouldn't read more of this because each week I have to force myself not! to buy a wireless kit. I really don't need it, no I really do ..not... can't.. live without it... argggh...

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2003 9:15 am
by qads
hmm...too much to read :?

my files should be safe cos my main computer uses a firewall, without me allowing the ip address to access the internet and the network, there is noting can be done :D.