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<p>It was scary. He allowed me to see his computer monitor via mine. It was really wierd. I heard this type of programs can be sent via the typical innocent "blue" link. Like "Hey, click on this to see my pic." Or "Here you go. Click on this Redfin link to see the house."</p>
 
<p>Peteunk,</p>

<p>I think u're referring to "remote access" where you allow your IT friend to take control of your computer. What trooper was referring to is where someone can trick you into having access into your computer.</p>
 
Peter, I recently got <a href="http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16833127215">this DLink DIR 655</a> and am happy with it.



In addition to being concerned about criminals looking for open networks, you should be concerned about the kids of any neighbors around you. The RIAA loves suing people for downloading music over P2P networks. It sure would suck to have to pay for something someone else did.
 
<p>PeterUK,</p>

<p>Dlink, Netgear, and Linksys all have routers that will allow you to set up security (I recommend using MAC restrictions on top of the typical password) and all offer some form of Wireless-N standard in their routers. Make sure you upgrade your netowrk adapter too. I've used all three and can't really tell the difference between them.</p>
 
Awgee, it all depends on the software that comes with your router, but restricting a router to specific MAC addresses is relatively simple. If your router control software has a help function, try searching on "MAC address" and seeing what it tells you.
 
Wasn't there a CD that came with the router when you bought it? Although you can just plug in a router and be up and going, you need to configure the router to make your network secure, or even to do things like change the default password.





If you no longer have the CD, I'd recommend going to the manufacturer's website and look for downloads.
 
WINEX - Right now I just have the router that came with my Cox Communications internet service, but I am thinking of getting a wireless router so that I can ... well, I do not remember right now why I wanted the wireless router.
 
I use the Apple Airport Extreme router and it is pretty solid. This one is a little more expensive than most, but it has a couple of nice things about it. I am running mostly gigabit devices at my house and the wired ports on this router are gigabit (an overwhelming majority of routers are only 10/100). Since I am sending large video files all over my network the extra speed (when wired) is very handy. Also, I've found the router itself to be faster and more reliable than the Linksys model that it replaced.
 
<p>awgee-</p>

<p>Yes, it's pretty simple. Each piece of wireless equiptment that has a network adapter has a MAC address (not to be confused with any of Apple's Mac products) that is printed on the box, on a sticker, or in the hardware information on your PC. It's a 12-digit hexidecimal string of numbers that looks something like "00-B0-D0-86-BB-F7".</p>

<p>Think of the wireless router as your house. Each router has a user interface which can be accessed via something called the default IP address. Think of this like the front door to your house. Each MAC address is subordinate to this one, like doors to the bedrooms in your house. By typing in the default IP (front door) of your network, you can access the settings of your router and control the traffic that uses the front door in either direction. I'm sure IT pros are screaming at my oversimplification of a network; just back away from the keyboard and let it go.</p>

<p>Now... Cox, Comast, TimeWarner, and others contracted for routers that come with their own software. This is the gate at the entrance to their community, if you will. The software will prevent most things from taking over your network, but will also prevent you from doing other things with your network that most of us want to do... like MAC address security, for example. They do it to prevent you from running home-based servers and sucking up all the bandwidth. I highly recommend you get a regular cable modem and return any router they provided for you.</p>

<p>I did network set-up support for Nintendo when they introduced the Wii. I am confident that you can set it up with a brief review of the manual. The best thing about wireless networks is the freedom that wireless provides. Our router sits on the third floor, but the wireless allows my wife to work from her garden desk and enjoy the smell of fresh roses in the summertime, allows us to keep the Wii updated on the second floor, and allows me to surf the web on the first floor. With 5 computers in the house, running cables all over would really suck, as would being restricted in our choice of location of those boxes. I highly recommend getting a wireless router.</p>
 
<p><em>oh, and PeterUK.....secure that wireless connection. NOW. Criminals drive around with laptops looking for open sources such as yours.... they WILL hack and steal your personal banking information. Trust me on this one...I've investigated it. Firewall....now. please.</em> </p>

<p>Troop - you motivated me to get my wireless router up and running. I had it working awhile ago, but couldn't figure out how to add the secrurity to it, so I disconnected it and went old school with the direct access.</p>

<p>It's been on my to-do list for quite some time now. I can finally cross it off my list. Better yet, I can now bring my laptop to another room!</p>

<p>Now, I just need to figure out how to change the Mac Address on my router (thanks, Nude). Now I'll have to add that to my list. Does the to-do list ever get completely done? There's always something.</p>
 
<p>Nude,</p>

<p>Do you use any encryption protocol for your wireless connectivity? MAC Address can limit who can and cannot access your wireless hub, but it does not encrypt your data that is being thrown across the airwaves. </p>
 
blue, I used WPA-PSK with TKIP Encryption. Do you think this is enough? I'm still going to try and change the MAC address as a second layer of protection.
 
<p>blue,</p>

<p>I use PSK-TKIP with a very long key and I don't broadcast our SSID. If someone wants to watch porn with me, they are out of luck.</p>

<p>If I wasn't clear before, I recommend MAC restriction AND a password AND changing the default login of your router AND disabling your SSID broadcast. This way, your network won't be easily seen, won't be easily deciphered, can't be easily accessed, and can't be easily used by anyone else. If someone can get past all of that to access your network, you have a larger problem and should invest in a tinfoil hat.</p>
 
<p>CalGal,</p>

<p>Take the extra step that Nude took in securing the router. Unless the NSA knows of another way to break the PSK(AES) algorithm, brute force is the only currently known method in breaking that encryption, which makes the strength of your key the most important decision when it comes to your security. The immediate change should be changing of the default login name and password of your router. If you haven't done that yet, do it now. After that, make yourself a very random and long key that you can use for your network. For my personal preference, I still don't trust wireless lines when it comes to things like finances, so I end up using a hardline to my laptop when making such transactions. </p>

<p>I can just imagine Awgee sitting in front of his computer just scratching his head right about now.... </p>
 
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