Wireless home internet - how to make it so neighbors don't use it?
 

I have a Linksys 2.4 GHZ wireless access point router - no home network, just installed a few yrs. back so I could use the laptop anywhere in the house.

Where on the ol' computer do I configure this so neighbors will stop piggybacking and using my Internet Provider to access their stuff?

Gotta be simple, but heck if I know how......

Depends on your router, and how many wireless devices you want to use. If it is just the one laptop, I'd use MAC address blocking and only allow the laptop. The MAC address is a hard-coded hardware address for your network card, and many access points can deny *all* wireless traffic except for that specific address.

Of course, you could have lots of fun with whoever is leeching off your connection - replacing images, redirecting all traffic, etc.

Edit - using a WEP key can keep many people out, but it is crackable with not a lot of effort. WPA may be better, but I think there are tools out to defeat that as well.

Mac address blocking and 128-bit WEP will solve 99.95% of the problem. A motivated neighbor could still slurp 30 minutes of traffic and break your WEP.

Here's what you do: buy a 2nd router off of ebay, spoof your neighbors IP's and stuff the pipe full of kiddie porn.

Do you still have the old installation disk? If so, reinstall the software. Basically start all over again but this time when it asks you which level of security you want, go to the maximum offered.

That's the only way to do it that I know of.

You can also hide the SSID. While it does not give you encryption, it does make it harder for your neighbor to find your AP.

Dave

I'm too tech stupid with this kind of stuff.
Guide me a bit more? ie 'Start, Programs,' etc

Craig, do you have the disk?

What's been said above.

Do you know how to log onto your router?

Mine I just punch the router's IP address into my web browser, and it comes up with a web page that allows you to configure all the settings.

I have all MAC addresses but my home and work laptops blocked, but no other security.

If you want to have some fun, you should also be able to look up a log of what IP addresses have been accessed through your router. Figure out which are your neighbor's and block them.

If your home is more than 150-200 feet from your nearest neignbor, that should be sufficient. In CA, when my neighbor was about 30 feet away, I used encryption and MAC id selection which worked.

Scott - I don't.

Start here?

My Network Places
Local Network
Linksys BEFW11S4 V.2

Asks for use name and password.
I don't recall ever giving it one....

This has gotta be my IP addy: http://xxx.xxx.x.x.xxx/

If this is the correct path, how to access this?

hate to tell you, but this change is dead simple on a Mac ;)

I leave my wireless network open though. When I moved in I had to wait a week for my DSL to be installed. I used my neighbor's network during that period. When I got mine up and running I left it open. I'm not running any servers on my wireless network and Macs are pretty secure. I think of it as a public service. I don't get charged by the bit, so what's the harm? If someone does something untoward, safe harbor should cover me.

Whereupon I get this:

401 Authorization Required
This server could not verify that you are authorized to access. Either you supplied the wrong credentials(e.g., bad password), or your browser doesn't understand how to supply the credentials required.

For your linksys, the URL for the admin i/f should be http://192.168.1.1/

IIRC, the user name is blank and the password is 'admin'

Damn. You guys are gooooood. Got this - next?
--------------------------------------------

Wireless: (MAC Address: 00-90-4B-E0-99-D2)
EnableDisable
SSID:
Allow "Broadcast" SSID to associate? YesNo
Channel: 1234567891011 (Domain: USA)
WEP: MandatoryDisable

WAN Connection Type:
(MAC Address: 00-06-25-9A-93-2B)
Obtain an IP automaticallyStatic IPPPPoERAS (for SingTel users)PPTP Select the Internet connection type you wish to use

Just dump the wireless or turn it off when you are not around

Next you need to get the MAC's of the devices that will be allowed onto your network:

WINDOWS NT / 2000 PROFESSIONAL or XP:

* Using your mouse, click on the Start Button.
* Click on Programs.
* Next, click on Accessories, and then Command Prompt.
* Once a small black window appears, type in ipconfig /all (with a space between the g and the /).
* Locate the number to the right of Physical Address. This is your MAC address.

or

* After clicking on the Start Button, click on Run.
* Type in the word command
* Click on OK.
* Once a small black window appears, type in winipcfg.
* Locate the number to the right of Physical Address. This is your MAC address.

WINDOWS 95/98/ME:

* After clicking on the Start Button, click on Run.
* In the white space of the window, type in the word winipcfg
* Click on "OK".
* Look under the info for the Ethernet adapter. (Your system may also have a modem.)
* The number next to "Adapter Address" is your MAC address.

Here are three things you should do to give yourself max protection possible.

1. Change your SSID and turn off SSID broadcasting from your router.
2. Lock down your MAC address.
3. Use WPA instead of WEP as WPA dynamically changes keys which prevents key recovery attacks that WEP lends itself to.

The SSID and MAC address configurations will be performed on your router. So you will need to log into your router. If you go to command prompt and type ipconfig /all you should see an IP address for your default gateway, which is your router. If you haven't changed the default settings the IP ddress will look something like 192.168.1.x. Open up a web browser and type httP://ipaddress and hit enter. You should see the login screen for your router. You need to login to the router. Leave the user name blank and enter admin in the password field and press enter. You will then be taken to the router confiuration screen where you can configure security options.

edit: oops widebody got here first. SmileWavy

Is there a way to find out if they are/or have been using your signal?

Oh and I just read that this particular router (even with the latest firmware) doesn't support WPA so WEP would be the next best thing.

Yes. Routers log the IP and MAC address of the system that tried to log into it as well as systems that are currently logged into it.

I must have f'd it up on the laptop - takes 13 characters to do a 128 bit encryption. Did it.

Can't get a damn thing on it now, no internet access even after restart.
----
Shows connected to Linksys and with WEP security - including the padlock security icon.

Heeeelp...

OK lets try to ping your router. go to a command prompt (start->run type cmd and press enter).

Type ping 192.168.1.1 and see if you get a reply.

On the desktop - success
Laptop: Destination host unreachable

Try renewing your IP address. Go to a command prompt and type ipconfig /release then when the cursor comes back type ipconfig /renew.

If it still won't connect you may want to step down the weps encryption to 64 bit instead of the 128 bit. We had this same problem here at work. Just a thought.

i have the same question, when i set up my lynksis wireless, I left it as an open unsecured connection. Can someone use the wireless to get into my other computers? how do i change it?

I go to Local Network, Linksys.
Leave top blank, Enter admin

Won't let me in now.

WTH??

From the laptop, goto Start -> Run. Type in "cmd" (not the quotes), a black box should appear. Type in ipconfig, report back with the I.P. number it gives. I bet it starts with 169.254.xxx.xxx.

Dave

Comes back with:

Media state.................Media Disconnected

Reboot!

Done. Reboot to both to home PC and laptop - same old situation.
----
I tried the Repair Wireless Network Connection on the laptop -
came up with:

Floowing action copuld not be completed:
Renewing your IP address

This is interesting!

and you guys scoff at Mac users...this is just one reason why we use what we use. Airport admin app is very well behaved...and easy to use.

Slodave -

Comes back with 169.254.25.92
and then a default mask numer

isn't 169.254.x.x a "garbage" ip? I'm no expert (solve everything by trial and error) but I think this is a "bad" ip that will be generated when life isn't good. I'm sure the experts will chime in though. I'm always in awe of those that actually know what they're talking about :P

"You might not be able to access the internet or some network resources.
This problem occurred because the network did not assign a network address to the computer"

Your laptop is not picking up an I.P. addy from the AP. The above number is the default # that microsoft OS issues if it cannot find a DHCP addy. If you feel up to it look at the bottom of the linksys AP. It should have an I.P. addy listed on it. Something to the effect of 192.168.1.25X, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.25X or 192.168.0.1. If it does have this number, you can try to give your laptop a static I.P. such as 192.168.X.100, this is done by going to Start -> Settings ->
Network Connections. Double click on the wireless icon, select Properties. A window should pop up allowing you to select various network settings. Look for Internet Protocol
(TCP/IP) select this and you should see a window that allows you to "Obtain an I.P. address automatically" or "Use the following address". Select the latter and enter the I.P. info I gave above. The important thing is to make sure you match the first three octets that the AP shows on the bottom of the device. Change the last octet to .100. Set the Netmask to "255.255.255.0". Then open a web browser and try to go to the AP address. Let us know what happens.
Dave

Craig did you make any other changes to the security settings like locking down the MAC addresses, changing anything about the SSID, anything besides configuring WEP?

Slo - What's an AP?

930 - Only other thing I did was come up with a 13 'digit' password for the laptop to access the now WEP secured signal from the Linksys router.

Guys, thanks a ton for the help, I gotta get the laptop working

Linksys 2.4 GHZ wireless access point router :)

Gotta have lunch, about to fall over...