New to Wireless Stuff

[brawleyman]

I am new to this wireless networking stuff. I just bought a wireless G network card and got in installed on my computer and it can recognize a couple of wireless networks in the neighborhood. I know that the "g" is 54mb 2.4ghz and can reach about 124feet. I have not set up a network or anything on it yet, but I am going to hook up to an existing network.

Do I need to do any encrypting or anything on my computer? Are people able to get into my computer when I do not have a wireless network set up yet? Would people be able to get into my computer when I am on the network? When I am on a network or create my own and somebody tries to get into it, can I tell who it is or if anybody is feeding off my signal? I just need to find out how safe it is having a wireless card in my computer.

 

[JackMDS]

When Encryption is On No one would get into your Network.

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.

My New Wireless does not work - http://www.ezlan.net/wireless.html

Wireless Basic Configuration - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Config.html

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

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

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: brawleyman
I have not set up a network or anything on it yet, but I am going to hook up to an existing network.

What is the nature of the existing network? Is it a private network with good encryption such as WPA or WPA2? If not, then you're going to be adding a significant vulnerability. Anything less than WPA can be easily cracked and observed, so in theory someone could be looking at all the traffic going across the network. WPA also needs a long randomized passkey for greater effectiveness.

Https / SSL provides a measure of security, but isn't always used.

You should also have a firewall in use as a matter of course.

 

[brawleyman]

There is a firewall enabled and it is WPA2. I also have AVG Anit-Virus and Spyware installed for security. I hope that will be enough. I just want to make sure that my compy is secure and that no one can access the network through my computer. Thanks guys!