Same Name for Workgroup and Wireless Network Name (SSID)?

MadAd

Senior member
Oct 1, 2000
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Would there be any problems calling my Workgroup network name the same as my Wireless Network name (the ssid)?

Eg calling them both Madnet? It didnt seem to affect configuration, just wondering if theres something stupidly obvious im missing?

Thanks a lot for any help
 

imported_itr

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Mar 2, 2005
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no reason not to. however, lets say your friend comes over to your house and notices your workgroup name. he inputs the same workgroup name for his ssid on his laptop. now he has access to your internet. ;) unless of course, you have some other security settings enabled, mac address, WEP, WPA, etc.
 

TGS

Golden Member
May 3, 2005
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Originally posted by: itr
no reason not to. however, lets say your friend comes over to your house and notices your workgroup name. he inputs the same workgroup name for his ssid on his laptop. now he has access to your internet. ;) unless of course, you have some other security settings enabled, mac address, WEP, WPA, etc.


All of which, save for perhaps WPA are all give the false sense of security by using those features.
 

nweaver

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
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Originally posted by: TGS
Originally posted by: itr
no reason not to. however, lets say your friend comes over to your house and notices your workgroup name. he inputs the same workgroup name for his ssid on his laptop. now he has access to your internet. ;) unless of course, you have some other security settings enabled, mac address, WEP, WPA, etc.


All of which, save for perhaps WPA are all give the false sense of security by using those features.


Yes, cause those 'leet wireless hackers love to sit outside your house and hack your 128 bit WEP and MAC authentication. Get all your midget pr0n collection.


WPA is very nice, I won't dispute that. And any company should have multiple security layers. WEP encryption/Mac authentication is NOT enough for them. For the home user, eh, it's probably enough to keep your neighbors and casual war drivers out.
 

TGS

Golden Member
May 3, 2005
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Originally posted by: nweaver
Originally posted by: TGS
Originally posted by: itr
no reason not to. however, lets say your friend comes over to your house and notices your workgroup name. he inputs the same workgroup name for his ssid on his laptop. now he has access to your internet. ;) unless of course, you have some other security settings enabled, mac address, WEP, WPA, etc.


All of which, save for perhaps WPA are all give the false sense of security by using those features.


Yes, cause those 'leet wireless hackers love to sit outside your house and hack your 128 bit WEP and MAC authentication. Get all your midget pr0n collection.


WPA is very nice, I won't dispute that. And any company should have multiple security layers. WEP encryption/Mac authentication is NOT enough for them. For the home user, eh, it's probably enough to keep your neighbors and casual war drivers out.


WEP is fairly easy to break, and MAC filtering is pointless as it's fairly easy to spoof a mac. Certainly both will keep out the casual sniffer, but if you want security the casual sniffer is the least of you problems.

It would be akin to running security patches on a box and calling it safe. With known exploits covered, the casual script kiddie may be done, but an experienced cracked can get through other holes. Call me paranoid, but I'd use a firewall over mac restrictions any day.
 

nweaver

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
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How many pro hackers are going to go after a home box? What can you have on that box that is worth the time that could be spent on a company w/databases of people, private financial data, etc
 

TGS

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May 3, 2005
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Without going to much further, it would be easier to compromise a home pc and then go after other targets. All the while the home pc network will appear to be the originating point.

If you compromise a home router, you could turn off logging, and reset the stats on a home router/switch fairly easily. But like I've said elsewhere, I'm paranoid about wireless.
 

nweaver

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2001
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/shrug, I don't think that most people will bother with it. Why hack my WEP+Mac+Missing SSID (and yes, I know it's probably 10 minutes for anyone with knowledge, double that for most poeple who understand but don't have experience) but again, why? When there is the neighbor down the road broadcasting "Linksys" ssid with no encryption, and Corp_00 down the road that is using the same setup as me, but has a database of contact info I can sell for $$ to spammers.

EDIT:

I also feel that that is ONE STEP to securing yourself. You still should run S/W firewalls on your machines, A/V, use Strong password policies and the usual overall security stuff. The wireless security should be a small part of your overall security. If someone were to get into my wireless, they would probably still have a hell of a time getting stuff from my boxes (ok, maybe not that bad, I do have an XP machine ;) )
 

MadAd

Senior member
Oct 1, 2000
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So I guess theres no technical barriers to calling my wired workgroup the same as my wireless? just wanted to make sure id not missed anything obvious.

FTR I am running the wifi with a Mac filter + WPA AES, itll do untill something better comes along.

Thanks a lot everyone :)