Xav - it is "MAC" addresses I authorise in the control panel, not I.P. I got that wrong. I have tested it by removing my own laptop, it disconnects and won't connect again (with no trickery, just its automated search and locate function) - I allow the MAC address as it appears back in the "to authorise" box and I add it.

Its just if people with other MAC addresses down the road being able to access as well. :eek: Sometimes the wireless signal is being used so much my hardwired connection suffers. Might ask the housemate I suspect is hogging the bandwidth and not paying anything toward my

And for a change its not me.

Damn Sis to blame, she asked me to get 14 complete albums for her. I made sure she had paid for versions of each one of course. [cough] - damn cold still not shifted yet.

.....just tried to configure more security and it doesn't want to know, or stops everything from working

Will try and get an adsl/router soon... and then if it lets me....... I may be back for advice quite soon

As Adrian said, MAC addresses are unique. No two network cards on the planet have the same MAC address.

So no chance your neighbours down the road will be able to access your broadband router if their MAC address ain't on the list. So your router can act like the mean mofo doorman at hottest night club in town. "If your name ain't on the list, you ain't gettin' in"

Of course, you can "spoof" MAC addresses, but there's no way to know which MAC address to spoof as so no worry there

Just to get this a bit back on topic, Rob, I've used and like Linksys gear. Something like a WRT354G would do the job nicely.

edit: I'll come down and configure it for you too if you want

Rob for security, start at the "server" end (in your case the PC sharing the connection) and work backwards. You need to visit each PC in turn and configure the settings to match the first one.

And Xav, far from being annoyed at you for connecting to the network, I'm glad you did, at least I know how easy it is to get into my system

Oh and Misspiggy phoned earlier she and her mates have been harrassing Richard Hammond from top gear in Marlborough High Street the other two where there but she didn't want them

new adsl/router (netgear Dg834Gt) fitted and now working took all afternoon to get all three pcs working .......but the internet is noticeably faster now ...........

haven't even started sorting out the security yet, I need a clear head for that....that and some help

Easiest thing in the world - Are all accessing wirelessly or using network cables? Network cables will just work once you plug them in. for wireless its a case of logging into the router usin the 192.168 thingy, and authorising each machine wanting to access the connection by their MAC address. In theory (like me apparently) any machine with a different mac address that is trying to use your connection will be rejected unless you OK it personally.

Funnily enough though, the MAC address of that unwanted machine trying to get in is displayed when they're attempting to get in, so make a note of it and go knock on all the neighbours doors within 200 yards asking, "is this YOUR mac address!? :grumpy: "

Regarding security though, you can do some naughty things.

I found a neighbour's wireless router. He hadn't changed the SSID - it still said something like WRT54G which I know is a Linksys model. No encryption so I just tried to connect.

Upon successfully connecting, I determined what his IP's gateway was. With that, typed it in Firefox and was promptly greeted with a login screen. default username and password were entered which then led me straight into the configuration of his router

Thought of doing something like changing the admin username / password so the owner couldn't log in. Then changing all his IP addresses so he couldn't even browse the web anymore.

unnily enough though, the MAC address of that unwanted machine trying to get in is displayed when they're attempting to get in, so make a note of it and go knock on all the neighbours doors within 200 yards asking, "is this YOUR mac address!? :grumpy:"

Funnily enough, looked at the ADSL login properties and found his adsl dialup username which turned out to be the name of my neighbour at number 41 :rofl:

Of course, I didn't do such criminal things, but it does worry me how unaware some people are with respect to their wireless security :eek: :(

Easiest thing in the world - Are all accessing wirelessly or using network cables? Network cables will just work once you plug them in. for wireless its a case of logging into the router usin the 192.168 thingy' date=' and authorising each machine wanting to access the connection by their MAC address. In theory (like me apparently) any machine with a different mac address that is trying to use your connection will be rejected unless you OK it personally.

Funnily enough though, the MAC address of that unwanted machine trying to get in is displayed when they're attempting to get in, so make a note of it and go knock on all the neighbours doors within 200 yards asking, "is this YOUR mac address!? :grumpy: " [/quote']

Did find out one thing today mac address will stop people gaining access to your network ....but (I don't want to worry you) the information you transmit can be accessed as it is not encrypted in any way.

Left my pc on a cable connection and the other two on wireless .....but one didn't want to know (misspiggys) and had uninstall and reinstall all the drivers and everything AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHHH

IMO the best solution is

1. Use a router

2. Turn on Encryption (128bit min)

3. Change the router login password to something that isn't obvious

4. Use MAC addressing and add the MAC addresses of all permitted computers

The head office of a local well known political party over here is within 50 yards of my house. A while back their wireless network became available in my list. I knew it was them because their gateway name gave it away. Was tempted to have a nosey around their network but decided to avoid jail and highlight the issue to them. They were shocked.

Rob, was just looking at the manual of the router. Pages 5-10 and 5-11 will probably be of interest

Rob, was just looking at the manual of the router. Pages 5-10 and 5-11 will probably be of interest

I can probably sort out the security, it's just the whinging and whineing in my ear thats the problem (misspiggy while it's offline)

I can probably sort out the security, it's just the whinging and whineing in my ear thats the problem (misspiggy while it's offline)

Don't do it!!! The quiet is bliss.

Oh....and change the password to your pc as well so we can maintain the silence.

Don't do it!!! The quiet is bliss.

Oh....and change the password to your pc as well so we can maintain the silence.

She's on there now :eek: but off to school/college in a mo.....but thats not stopped her before though

She's on there now :eek: but off to school/college in a mo.....but thats not stopped her before though

Doh! :(

Doh! :(

not at college until 11:05!!!

what have we started :duck: :sofahide:

All these security issues am glad now i took the time to install Connection points throughout my home No wireless connection security issues for me

All these security issues am glad now i took the time to install Connection points throughout my home No wireless connection security issues for me

when my house was built computers hadn't been thought of, add in weyrock floors and joists that don't go the "right way" and you can see why I went wireless

You need to have a look at this:

PLC

So much easier to set-up and doesn't have the problem related to wireless networks.

You need to have a look at this:

PLC

So much easier to set-up and doesn't have the problem related to wireless networks.

Did look into them

It always worried me that the every third house along the street has the same supply and the meters are straight through connections, so in theory you could go three doors down and plug in the other box and be straight into your network.........We had baby alarms do the same thing and got called out for it (theres something wrong with our electrics the alarm goes and it s not our baby doing it)

Did look into them

It always worried me that the every third house along the street has the same supply and the meters are straight through connections' date=' so in theory you could go three doors down and plug in the other box and be straight into your network.........We had baby alarms do the same thing and got called out for it (theres something wrong with our electrics the alarm goes and it s not our baby doing it) [/quote']

Nope...works only within your power circuit....signals cannot as yet get through the power switch/transformer.

But the main breakers are a straight through connection and the mains cable common to other houses on the same phase won't go through a tranny, does it use the live for the signal or neutral/earth? If it was the latter two then It's going to be more secure and isolated to your home.