Most of you regulars know I got a new system, no more 56k or 333mhz procesor for me.

A few simple questions.

1. Is there a way to see if anyone is trying to, or has beaton the security on my wireless network and is curently using it? (it is suposidly incripted)

2. Is there a way to test the security on my wireless network?

3. Is there any good, free, anti virus software avalable?

4. Is there any good, free, anti spyware software?

5. Are there any other good, free, tools that I should consider?

i will take 3 & 4 :toothless

3. Is there any good, free, anti virus software avalable?

4. Is there any good, free, anti spyware software?


3. http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1

4. http://www.superantispyware.com/

i dont know how to test the wireless network other than disabling your sign on or using another connection

oh and your wireless router probably has a firewall but at least make sure the one in XP is enabled, very important

oh and your wireless router probably has a firewall but at least make sure the one in XP is enabled, very importantForgive my stupidity Boss, but....uh......

How do I check to se if XP's firewall is enabled?:toothless

What brand is your wireless router?

Forgive my stupidity Boss, but....uh......

How do I check to se if XP's firewall is enabled?:toothless

Start > Control Panel > Security Center > Firewall

1. Is there a way to see if anyone is trying to, or has beaton the security on my wireless network and is curently using it? (it is suposidly incripted)

Your router has a log built into it where you can see the mac addresses of every computer using it. You can also set the router to only allow certain mac addresses (your computers) every computer has a unique one. You can find yours by opening DOS and typing ipconfig/all it's labeled physical address.


2. Is there a way to test the security on my wireless network?

Use a program called network mapper.
http://insecure.org/nmap/

What brand is your wireless router?
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Linksys-Wireless-Router-with-SpeedBooster-WRT54GS/sem/rpsm/oid/90854/catOid/-12980/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Start > Control Panel > Security Center > FirewallThanks

Your router has a log built into it where you can see the mac addresses of every computer using it. You can also set the router to only allow certain mac addresses (your computers) every computer has a unique one. You can find yours by opening DOS and typing ipconfig/all it's labeled physical address. Acording to the software that came with my router the only computer that is allowed to connect to the router is the one with my mac adress.

This is good yes?

You should also change the username and password that allows access to the router's settings. In the web address bar of internet explorer type 192.168.0.1. That will take you to the router's settings.


And yeah, if the software does that automatically you should be fine.

You should also change the username and password that allows access to the router's settings. In the web address bar of internet explorer type 192.168.0.1. That will take you to the router's settings. .Actualy that adress is close but not quite right.:toothless

Already reset the pasword and username.:thumbup




And yeah, if the software does that automatically you should be fine.Awsome :thumbup

Actualy that adress is close but not quite right.:toothless



Does yours use 192.168.0.0? I didn't think linksys had that as their default. Oh well, learn something every day.

Does yours use 192.168.0.0? I didn't think linksys had that as their default. Oh well, learn something every day.Still not quite rite :toothless

The zero you posted in the first one is no longer a zero, atleast on mine.

Still not quite rite :toothless

The zero you posted in the first one is no longer a zero, atleast on mine.

And that's default, or did you change it?

And that's default, or did you change it?Default.

Do I need to change it?

Default.

Do I need to change it?

Don't worry about it. The inside address range / address of your router means nothing. Just make sure you have a good password to access the admin console, security is enabled and you set the mac addresses that are allowed to connect.

Besides that use an account that is not an admin account to surf the web and make sure windows firewall is on.

Do that and you should be set.

Worry about the yams rather than hackers.

You can't have 192.168.0.0 :thumbup

Gack, look under the status or whatever menu for a button that says "DHCP Clients Table"... That will show you everything that router has assigned an address to.

The real secure way to set it up is to use the MAC address filtering, and enter only the ones you want to have access.

Usually they're 192.168.1.1, they won't be 192.168.100.1, because thats what motorola uses as the base address for the cable modem, and starts at 192.168.1.4* for its NAT addresses.

Microsoft.com/downloads, and get Windows Defender. By far the most l337 piece of antispyware software out.

I have a page in my router (Netgear) called "LAN IP". It is where you set the IP range for devices (192.168.1.2.3.4.5.6 blah blah blah). It allows you to set how many devices total can connect to the router. On that page it lists "DHCP client lease info" that lists the devices that are actually connected to the router. Mine only has one right now, cause I dont have my work laptop anymore :cry


I use "MAC address Filtering" only. I only had my PC and the MAC addy from my work laptop listed. They are the only ones that can connect to my network when I have the access point turned on. With that I dont use any encryption or security. If only those two devices can connect, then no one else can, right? So noone can hack it unless they get the MAC addresses from these devices and have the technology to spoof my MAC's. And they have to get close enough too.

I'm sure someone will tell me why thats bad.

I'm sure someone will tell me why thats bad.

Afraid so. Setting it up that way keeps the information you're sending back and forth visible to anyone sitting in front of your house with a laptop.

zone alarm softare firewall (http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=nav_za)

Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 - (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html)

adware se personal (http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php)

avg free virus scan (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free) Note- will not remove viruses but reports them to you so you can manually delete them. Very good scanner, updates Daily.

firefox browser (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/)

customize Firefox to your liking with extensions (https://addons.mozilla.org/)

I used adblock plus (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1865/) and mcafee site advisor (http://www.siteadvisor.com/download/ff.html)

http://www.ccleaner.com/


Manually update windows and make sure you got everything updated, not just the priority ones.



To protect your neighbors from using your internet turn on WEP, Just put in a random phrase and it will give you a key. When you first use that computer to get on the internet wirelessly you will need to put in the wep key. After you put it in once you dont need to put it in again for that computer unless you change your WEP keys.

So if a friend came over and wanted to use their laptop at your house you would just log into your router bring up the WEP keys and let them copy down one of the keys and put it in. You can change the keys later on when they leave if you dont want them getting into your internet with out you knowing.

Make sure you change your password on the router and you should be done and safe then.

With a router you might have to open ports when you use a p2p program or games. Pretty easy.

Let us know if you got any more questions.

zone alarm softare firewall (http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=nav_za) Fail.

Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 - (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html) Old, and gay.

adware se personal (http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php) Old, and gayer.

avg free virus scan (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free) Note- will not remove viruses but reports them to you so you can manually delete them. Very good scanner, updates Daily.

I've heard a lot of people like it, but I never have used it.

firefox browser (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/)
Definitely :thumbup

customize Firefox to your liking with extensions (https://addons.mozilla.org/)

I used adblock plus (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1865/) and mcafee site advisor (http://www.siteadvisor.com/download/ff.html) Firefox needs help in blocking ads? Damn :toothless

http://www.ccleaner.com/
Never used it, any good?


Manually update windows and make sure you got everything updated, not just the priority ones. Agree, or just turn automatic updating on. It automatically installs any security, or critical update.


:thumbup

FYI, run noscript on mozilla.

zone alarm softare firewall (http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=nav_za)

Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4 - (http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html)

adware se personal (http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php)

avg free virus scan (http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free) Note- will not remove viruses but reports them to you so you can manually delete them. Very good scanner, updates Daily.

firefox browser (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/)

customize Firefox to your liking with extensions (https://addons.mozilla.org/)

I used adblock plus (https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1865/) and mcafee site advisor (http://www.siteadvisor.com/download/ff.html)

http://www.ccleaner.com/


Manually update windows and make sure you got everything updated, not just the priority ones.



To protect your neighbors from using your internet turn on WEP, Just put in a random phrase and it will give you a key. When you first use that computer to get on the internet wirelessly you will need to put in the wep key. After you put it in once you dont need to put it in again for that computer unless you change your WEP keys.

So if a friend came over and wanted to use their laptop at your house you would just log into your router bring up the WEP keys and let them copy down one of the keys and put it in. You can change the keys later on when they leave if you dont want them getting into your internet with out you knowing.

Make sure you change your password on the router and you should be done and safe then.

With a router you might have to open ports when you use a p2p program or games. Pretty easy.

Let us know if you got any more questions.

:thumbup

actually zone alarm is pretty good. Show me something better that is free..

spybot is good and adware se personal is okay. I keep my computer pretty clean so I usually don't have any malware problems.

hijackthis is good if you got a virus or malware you cannot remove. Be careful with it though.

Just try out some scanners and see what you like the best. But make sure they are legit first.

Microsoft is starting to come out with some scanners.. take a look on their site and see if you find anything useful.

I use CCleaner after I installed/ uninstalled a whole bunch of programs. Seems to speed up the computer by removing all the left overs from programs.

Adblock plus extension for firefox I just downloaded for sh1ts and giggles.

For heaven's sakes Gack

unplug that pin-hole webcam in the wife's shower until you get all this security stuff up and running.

She's gonna kill you if the girls at work show her printed off pics !:toothless

Sixlitre

Afraid so. Setting it up that way keeps the information you're sending back and forth visible to anyone sitting in front of your house with a laptop.

So noone can hack it unless they get the MAC addresses from these devices and have the technology to spoof my MAC's. And they have to get close enough too.


The idea of someone out in front of my place packet sniffing is pretty funny. I'm not gonna say it couldnt happen. It is just unlikely. Even in this little po-dunk town we gots a few hot spots. If they wanna sniff around, those are the places to do it. Not riding around town lookin for open networks that they cant connect to anyway. You still gotta connect to the network to steal the info. Using MAC filtering makes that damn near impossible. For a really secure network using ALL of the security options in the router makes for the best bet. The MAC filtering aint that hard to do. Also Gack set the IP range to only the # of devices you have as well as the MAC filtering.

Besides like I said I only have the pc now and it's wired direct. They took my co. laptop when I went back out on injury comp. Bastards. My access point is disabled.

actually zone alarm is pretty good. Show me something better that is free..

spybot is good and adware se personal is okay. I keep my computer pretty clean so I usually don't have any malware problems.




ZA is... meh.

Something better? Windows Firewall and the firewall on your router. No need to run extra stuff that just adds load to your computer.

Spybot and Adaware are old. Windows Defender outshines them in every aspect, as well as having a company thats 2000000x larger backing it. Don't get me wrong, they definitely were worth a lot back a year ago, but they're just pointless now with Defender out.