I my home network safe??

[x26]

Hi all,

I'm an oldtimer but just setup a new home network:

3 desktops(2 w/ xp 1 w/ vista)
2 laptops(1 xp 1 vista)

how do i tell if its safe from thieves??

i have turbotax and other personal stuff i need to protect

Thanks in advance

 

[x26]

Oh btw

4 or wired 1 laptop is wireless

all connected by dir-655

 

[Rottie]

If you set up your router with NAT turn on and check WPA or WPA2 with strong passphase (password) for both laptop and router. Set up MAC address from your laptop on the router to allow laptop to use internet.
Get a basic firewall program (such as free MS firewall or ZoneAlarm) to protect incoming and outgoing from hackers.

JackMDS will be here with you shortly he will be happy to give you more details than me.

Good luck

 

[JackMDS]

Hopefully you are using a Router.

Internet -Basic protection: http://www.ezlan.net/firewall.html

Then you install Software Firewall, AntiVirus, and Anti Spyware programs on each computer.


Assemble Freeware Security suit for Internet Connection: http://www.ezlan.net/security.html

Then you log to safty Web Sites and read about what is safe to do and what Not while you are surfing and using email etc.

http://www.microsoft.com/small...wart_online_thugs.mspx

As for Wireless (this is concerns any Wireless whether you have Internet or Not).

From the weakest to the strongest, Wireless security capacity is.

No Security
MAC______(Band Aid if nothing else is available).
WEP64____(Easy, to "Brake" by knowledgeable people).
WEP128___(A little Harder, but "Hackable" too).
WPA-PSK__(Very Hard to Brake ).
WPA-AES__(Not functionally Breakable)
WPA2____ (Not functionally Breakable).

Note 1: WPA-AES the the current entry level rendition of WPA2.

Note 2: If you use WinXP and did not updated it you would have to download the WPA2 patch from Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/893357

The documentation of your Wireless devices (Wireless Router, and Wireless Computer's Card) should state the type of security that is available with your Wireless hardware.

All devices MUST be set to the same security level using the same pass phrase.

Therefore the security must be set according what ever is the best possible of one of the Wireless devices.

I.e. even if most of your system might be capable to be configured to the max. with WPA2, but one device is only capable to be configured to max . of WEP, to whole system must be configured to WEP.

If you need more good security and one device (like a Wireless card that can do WEP only) is holding better security for the whole Network, replace the device with a better one.

Setting Wireless Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html

The Core differences between WEP, WPA, and WPA2 - http://www.ezlan.net/wpa_wep.html