Are you 100% on that?

[quote author=“TruthSeeker”]
Is that kinda like reverse psychology hacking? 8)

LOL yes that’s it :D

That’s not true at all. The admin of the wireless network has no more power to do this than anyone else connected to that network. Unless you need it, disable file sharing and enable the Windows Firewall or any aftermarket firewall on the wireless network adapter and you will be fine.

That’s not true at all. The admin of the wireless network has no more power to do this than anyone else connected to that network. Unless you need it, disable file sharing and enable the Windows Firewall or any aftermarket firewall on the wireless network adapter and you will be fine.

You mean all that protection really works? :shock:

[quote author=“rec”]
But the idea is great. Maybe I should open up my WLAN to public   :D

That’s pretty much what the free WiFi hotspots are doing. I was thinking about talking to my neigbors and seeing if they’d like to share a connection.

ISP’s can get anal about this stuff.. but I guess what they don’t know won’t hurt them.

Just to be clear. They don’t have full access to your HD unless you let them. It’s much more complicated than that. Here’s a few things to consider.

1. Since you seem to have access to an unprotected/unencrypted wireless network, you do run the risk of someone sniffing your packets openly. A sophisticated hacker could possibly read the contents of these packets and possibly get unencrypted usernames/passwords that you’re using when using the net.

2. If you’re running Windows XP (which you must be since it’s a TR) then someone could possibly see your “shared directories”. By default, XP separates your shared directories from your main files. If you’re running NTFS with permissions, it’s harder for someone to access your drives unless they know your username and password. If you turn off sharing altogether then you’re pretty safe here. By default, your C and D drives are not viewable from other systems on a network unless you specifically enable it.

3. Another way someone could get access to your system is via open ports on your system. Running at least Windows XP’s built-in firewall will help secure your system. A program like ZoneAlarm is even better with more security.

4. You’ll also want to make sure your Windows XP has all of the latest available patches and it wouldn’t help to update your antivirus while you’re at it. Of course, if you’re infected already then it might be too late.

here is an interesting post on zonealarms about the other end of the problem!  should be interesting to see what advice he gets there.  it seems like if everyone and thier brothers/sisters are setting up wireless hotspots in the states then piggybacking will just become a way of life considering the lastest (complexity) in technology.  I know that home wireless networks can be ade secure, ie require handshaking of some sort, but the problem is normal beings on the planet don’t understand this crap, and software wonks developing security programs can’t write in plain english, and even if they could people can’t read anymore.  so it makes for an interesting situation!

from zonealarms lab forum:
Hi, I installed ZA (Free Version) just now. I know virtually nothing about firewalls.
BUT - I installed it because I have a cable modem and Intel Wireless Gateway which allows my Laptop to get out to the internet using a Linksys wireless modem card.

Problem——Last Saturday, my neighbor had the GALL to complain to me that he couldn’t get out to the internet and was wondering if I had turned off my Wireless Gateway! When I asked what he meant he said “I’ve been piggybacking on you system for about 6 months. I get a nice strong signal. Today I can’t get out.” I told him Yes, I had turned it off to move it, but it would be back up later today. Geeeeez.

When I got the Wireless Gateway, their were constant problems with encryption and access, so Intel advised me to just turn off encryption. Will ZA protect me from my neighbor using my Gateway and from potentially wandering around on my laptop??? Or, must I also do something else.?? Please advise. Thanks, Harvey

for more, see  

I knew it wasn’t hacker-proof.  Thanks gr00vy0ne.  It looks like you need to emply a lot of protection to at least frustrate a hacker enough to leave you alone.  Right?

WLAN always is kind of a security risk.
But enabling Encryption and Mac-Filters helps to make things more secure.
I think there is now way to absolutely secure a Wireless Connection.
But is anything around Computers 100% secure

[quote author=“gr00vy0ne”]
2. If you’re running Windows XP (which you must be since it’s a TR)

Don’t agree with you on that Linux runs just fine  

rec

Don’t get too paranoid (a little is good). It’s got a lot to do with how worthwhile it is to hack you. If you do a few simple things you’ll be pretty much safe from everyone except the government.

The latest issue of PC Magazine has a reasonably comprehensive series of articles on security. Thanks to linc, you may still be able to get your own free subscription:

https://www.zdmcirc.com/zdmcirc/promo/mcafee/index.html

I don’t know if it really takes a lot of work to keep yourself especially if you use common sense.

In its current form, it’s true. No wireless network is truly safe unless it’s using some very special form of proprietary technology. Future versions may be more inherently secure but today’s 802.11b/g/a have holes.

As mentioned, you can protect yourself by enabling encryption, mac address filtering, and firewalling. Of course, the case of the original poster is different. He’s the one piggybacking.

So, if you’re going to use an unsecure connection then you’ll have to face the possible consequences that come with that type of connection and use common sense on what kind of stuff you want to access.

My main point was that just because you are using an unsecure connection does NOT automatically mean that someone has full access to your hard drive. Even on a unsecure wireless connection, the main router itself may have a SPI-enabled firewall that keeps the outside world type hackers at bay and keeps your system from directly contacting the internet. You would actively have to open up some sort of virus/trojan horse program in order for something bad to happen (in most cases).

The unsecure wireless connection can only be hacked by hackers within the vicinity of the wireless access point.

It’s not hacker-proof, but you can lock it down enough to minimize risk. The biggest risk on any PC is that thing pounding on the keys, setting weak passwords and downloading trojans and spyware.

I’ve set up a wireless network at home couple of months ago, but restricted it so that I could only access it from desktop, TR3, and clie NX80.
But, I guess, if you end up on somebodies network, use it!!!

not sure if it’s legal to discuss this ... how easy it is to crack WEP? Is there any tools that can do this?

It’s not hacker-proof, but you can lock it down enough to minimize risk. The biggest risk on any PC is that thing pounding on the keys, setting weak passwords and downloading trojans and spyware.

Excellent! And absolutely 100% true.    What’s up with those pounding things anyways?