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Their gonna take away my access at work! What do I need for 802.11b?

CZroe

CZroe

Lifer
I've been accused of "hooking into it and blowing the circuit inside" of a monitor at work that I absolutely did not touch. My laptop's display crapped out & I had to ["hook into it" (with permission)] more than 2 months ago so it makes sense for them to accuse me now [when their monitor suddenly stopped working last weekend]. The laptop was sent into Compaq at the time [(which I told them)] so I know they are BS liars, but [they aparently don't believe me so] they are closing in on my other liberties (On weekends, I was allowed to use my personal laptop at a security post and connect online through the company network). Now they say I can't disconnect anything from the computer at the office, which includes the ethernet cable that I've been using since BEFORE they got that PC (*I* wired it through the cubicle wall and THEN they put a PC there to use it!)! So before they tell me I can't go online all together (Which it's already been said by more than a few [helpful] coworkers [who want me to watch out]) [So before they tell me I can no longer get online,] I need to get WiFi and go covert. No messy wires for them to [see/]complain about and it will be connected to some other unused ethernet cable somewhere else in the building. I have never used wireless, but what all will I need? A Wireless Access Point and a 802.11b PC Card... right? Is that everything? Of course, because it's not my network, I'll need to get a crash course on setting up WiFi encryption in the other forums here 🙂 [I only bring my lappy on the weekend midnight shift even though I'm allowed to bring it during the week. They've never had a problem with me doing it even though some emplyees have always seemed resentful that I was the only one that wasn't bored or tired. Now, I'm sure I'm feeling the brunt of that resentment 🙁]

[Alot of edits here... All in brackets...]
 
Can you just bring in a hub and say that the only things you are connecting/disconnect is YOUR hardware. This is assuming you can get permission to plug a hub in in the first place.

Otherwise, you need 1 access point and a wireless card which should be about $200-300 overall. AFAIK, the base station should come with all the neccesary software to set up a secure network.
 
If they're cracking down on him they'll never allow a hub. Almost sounds like it's time to get the old resume ready to go.

As for wireless, you need at least an "Access Point" connected to your LAN (connected to your LAN = they won't let you). An access point runs from $150 to $400+. The $150 kind will give you a decent signal through a few residential walls and maybe 150 feet. Then you need a PCMCIA card in your laptop, the cheapest of which is about $80.

I have a combination wired and wireless LAN at home. But I'm a very reasonable LAN administrator at home - whatever mooseAndSquirrel wants to do on his own home LAN is cool with him.

Oh - and a paranoid, anal company like this is surely running monitoring software that they'll pull out when they fire someone. They'll show how that someone spent 6 hours a day on sports and porn sites. So my advice is either find a nicer (or more naive) company, or better yet just work at work and play at home. Christmas time during a recession is a lousy time to be "restructured".
 
I agree with mooseandsquirrel, they are watching you closely now. I would cease and desist all activity for now. It sounds like they are looking for an excuse to axe you. Don't give it to them.
 
Well, first off, they are bot "closing in on your liberties," they are reducing your PRIVILAGES. Totally different ball game between a right/libertiy and a priviledge.

If you hang a hub or Wireless AP on that network, I can almost guarantee you're history. The Wireless unit would constitute a security risk (and depending on how up-to-date your IT/IS/Security folks are, maybe a MAJOR security risk).

IT'S NOT YOUR NETWORK!

Anything you change should be cleared with the folks that run the LAN, period. If they don't give you permission, don't do it.

Buy an account somewhere, maybe they'll still let you dial somewhere for access. If your machine is attached to their LAN, they probably won't...since they have no control over how well you institute anti-viral, anti-hacker procedures or how well you scan your mail.

Comply or you're gonna be looking for another job (from the sound of it)...in the current job market, people are pretty easily replaced.

Think about it.

FWIW, Happy Holidays

Scott
 
I have to agree with wveryone here about cooling it or get ready to walk out and find another job. The company I worked for last year did the same thing to the entire department using filtering software, sites like this I wasn't allowed to view, along with just about every harware / software site on the net for no good reason, so instead of walking I hacked thru the proxy and continued enjoying my unlimited internet access. Got a verbal warring for it after a month and my pride made me walk. Best job I ever had, to this day I wish I'd complied with their idiotic rules. So, if you aren't ready for a fight, one were they are totally in the right, I'd say give it up and comply with the new rules.
 
First of all, it's NOT a tech job! It's a security job. The most perfect job in the world for having free time. I sit all *NIGHT* and watch cameras while the office workers are gone home.
Second, it's my PC and there's no monitoring software there. As far as they know, the call-center is browsing.
Third, I *ONLY* use it to "PC Anywhere" into my home PC to get some personal stuff done while at work. This is common for ALL employees, and sets off no "red flags."
Fourth, I'm currently *allowed* by my boss (Not in IT either 😉) to do this. Always have been. They consider it nothing more distracting than bringing in a good book.
Fifth, I only need wireless to give them one less thing to complain about.
Sixth, it's not a secure network anyway. The employees routinely VPN their way in & no configureation is required to get online. All I do is plug in an RJ45 and I'm online.
Seventh, the phone line is on a *monitored* digital PBX system, so no dialing!
Eighth, it's not a "paranoid, anal company," because it doesn't involve the company, but rather the contracted security management.
Ninth, they ARE reducing my liberties. Other guards are allowed to bring in personal TVs & books and I can't bring in something MORE constructive?

If I simply pop in the wireless access point at the other end of the hall before the shift, and pack it up before the shift finishes, my boss will be glad there's no wires 🙂 The day shift will notice that I "stopped" connecting online before they told me to and will hopefully refrain from telling me so. It still pisses me off that they out-right refused to believe me when I PROOVED to them that I didn't touch their damn monitor!
 
dude, i can tell you right now you're gonna get the can if you mess with their network. the FACT is, it's their network, and if they find that you are on their network without permission to do so, then you're gone.

just think about it, if your boss is telling you that you can hook it up to their network, and the company that contracted your security firm finds out and questions your boss about it, guess who's gonna take the total fall for this.
 
Maybe where you are you can get a wireless ISP connection? I mean one that doesn't involve the company's network at all. Now that ricochet is out out business you may be SOL, but using your private gear to access your private connection seems like the only safe alternative. If you have a cell phone, it's possible to get a CDPD type of connection. It'll be relatively slow, but it shouldn't get you fired.

But, hey - do whatever you want.
 
Linux23: It's not *THEIR* network! The company is not out to get me, security's management is because they still believe I broke their monitor on one of security's PCs. I work for SECURITY. I'm on excellent terms with the company's network guy (Who wants me to get a job there, but I hate the place) and have always been allowed to use the network. I know wireless is a different story, but if no one *in security* knows and I set it up securely then everything is OK. What really pisses me is they left a note on the computer even after I explained that it wasn't me saying "If you aint authorized to to you this computer of any part of it... Someone has been hooking into it and blew the circuit inside" That warning is really all I'm trying to avoid. I know the monitor died on it's own (RIP 1994-2001) and the only reason to think that they are out to get me if they are STILL trying to pin this on me after I PROVED it to them. Wireless would eliminate one more controversy, as they would then have no idea I'm doing anything beyond using my personal property. Even if security found out, they don't know anything about wireless & network security to know I'm doing anything more than what I used to do, only without wires (At which point, they may go ahead and tell me what I am expecting them to tell me now, if I don't get wireless and hide it first).
 
I'm confused... you say if you connect wireless, no one will know, but if you unplug an Ethernet cable from a PC right there and use it instead, they will know? How is that? Who is going to see that you plugged a cable into your PC?
 
Well if it were my company and I found out that the security company I hired was using my network for whatever, I would not only fire the company but sue them for doing so. Man what a breach of security, that company must not be very smart by allowing you to do that. And it is your job to protect that company, not surf the net because you are bored. I can't believe that you consider this a right of yours!!!????
 
Security is SUPPOSED to have access! Why do you think they have COMPANY computers? They use them almost more than the company employees do! Badge access records (You can't get in without scanning your badge), patrol round records (monitors your progress through the facility), safety bulletins for the company employees as well as instructions for security from company management, etc etc etc. The messages from the company come in day and night. Also Mr. GrumpyMan, it's damn 12midnight to 6am in the morning. Regardless of it beeing the companies network, it is NOT wasting company resources when no one else is even there to use it! Like I said, the company does not mind, only security...

kranky: They WILL know because I'm NOT alone there. The wire goes right across the floor and anyone can see it. No one I know there can see a difference between a PC card & a peice of my laptop's hardware.
 
There is one solution to this problem nobody has mentioned...

Ask the Company IT guy to install the wireless access point for you. If they don't mind, then that's between you and them.
Best bet would be to leave it there all the time, that way you are NOT hooking or unhooking anything. If your on good terms with the IT staff then chances are they will help you configure it correctly, that way you won't be opening any security holes without them knowing.

Problem solved if you can get the IT staff to help you set it up.
 
<<Ask the Company IT guy to install the wireless access point for you. If they don't mind, then that's between you and them.
Best bet would be to leave it there all the time, that way you are NOT hooking or unhooking anything. If your on good terms with the IT staff then chances are they will help you configure it correctly, that way you won't be opening any security holes without them knowing.

Problem solved if you can get the IT staff to help you set it up. >>
 
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