Wireless network security (convincing the switch)

[btmdragon]

Need a little help.

2 questions

1. If I have a secured wireless network, can someone hack into a computer and steal information? (usernames, passwords, checking account information) The computer is firewalled thorough the windows security center.

2. If the above answer is no, which i believe it is, how do you convince your landlord that it is safe after there "expert relative" tells them to not let me put there computer on a wireless network because of someone stealing there personal information off there computer?

I ran my laptop on a wireless router for over a year unsecured and never had any problems that I know of. I just bought a better router so I wouldn't have to go down 2 flights of stairs to plug my router into the modem and now they don't want me to make there computer wireless.

Any help?
Thank you...

 

[JackMDS]

Wireless Security is just like Home Security, or Car Security.

No matter what you do, there is No 100% proof that it would not be comprise.

Yet, we leave in Homes and we Drive Cars.

Technology wise, a full Wireless Security in a Segregated Topology Configuration is as far as you can go with Entry Level Hardware/Software.

Wireless Security for Small Networks.

Network Segregation - Adding security to Wireless Network (or to any peer to peer Network).

In any case, there is an issue of ISP contract, and other legal matters. Taking into consideration the average price of humble DSL Service it starts to look more and more ?Ridiculous? the get engage in, Let Split an Internet Connection between Households.

:sun:

 

[nweaver]

If you wireless network is unsecured, I can do anything that I could do locally plugged into a hub. Secured/encrypted is another story.

 

[mjia]

I properly secured wireless network should be OK. There are so many unsecured wireless networks out there that there is little reason for a hacker to spend the time breaking into a secured one (unless they know of something specific in your network that is particularly enticing).

Some ISPs provide multiple IPs so you can add another level of segragation by splitting the network in two. I don't mean connecting the wireless router behind the wired router, but rather connect the modem to a switch/hub and then the two routers to that, like this:

Switch/Hub
|
|-Modem
|-Wired Router -> Existing wired network
|-Wireless Router -> New wireless network

In this configuration, the two routers will have different public IPs and are less related to one another.