Subj : Re: For Trouble re Home Network Security
To   : alt.tv.farscape
From : Trouble
Date : Wed Sep 07 2005 15:14:43

From Newsgroup: alt.tv.farscape

Nick wrote:

> TNW7Z7Z7Z12345 wrote:
 
>> Cut/altered a little from my original post --

>> My router is the Airport Extreme Base Station.  I have the wireless
>> network closed, encrypted (only WEP though, not WPA) plus have the
>> OSX software firewall on in my laptop.  So I assume my laptop is
>> relatively safe.

> As for the wireless settings, you should be fine with a wep key. 
> Anyone trying to get in would have to be within 150 feet of your 
> airport and then they would also need to know the wep key to gain
> access.

If they are within 150 feet they can sniff enough packets to brute force 
the WEP key, and guess the SSID. They'd also be able to determine the MAC 
address of the card allowed in, and could spoof the MAC address of their 
card to be allowed in once they got the WEP and the SSID.

However that is usually a determined attacker, MAC, WEP, and non-bcast 
SSID will keep joyriders, and wardrivers off the network. 

> If you want additional security you can also turn off the broadcasting
> of your network id.

This is what I thought TNW meant by closing the wireless network.

-- 
"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise.
Seek what they sought."
--Basho

.