This evening I thought I'd run a site survey on my wireless laptop and found my network and also one called "TrevP". Now I dont know anyone within 4 houses of mine called Trev and this network has a signal strength rated at just 18%

However, there is no security on the network at all, and I easily managed to hop onto it and surf the web. Being the honest person I am I'm now back on my own netowrk again.

It got me thinking though so I checked my the logs on my router, seems a PC called "Smurf" has tried to use my router over the weekend but failed.

Just wondered if my security could be any better? Here is what I have set:

- MAC filtering enabled with my laptop MAC being the only one allowed.

- 64-bit WEP with 4 keys required for access

- IP filtering with my laptop's IP address being the only one allowed

Cant find any other options available on the 3Com router that could make it any more secure though.

MAC address will probably do most of the biz - the others are just added security. You could use 128-bit WEP...

Rob.

A guy at work has his set up so that it doesn't broadcast its identity. You have to have a security key to be able to locate the network. What happens if he ever loses it I hate to think...

MAC address will probably do most of the biz - the others are just added security. You could use 128-bit WEP...

Rob.

I agree

If you upgrade your router firmware you may get WMA2.....that will sort ya.

You can turn off the ESSID broadcast as well.

Problem with turning it off though is that a lot of wireless software doesnt like it and hops to the ones it can see.

I've turned mine back on for that reason alone, as I have about 5 profiles (for different locations etc) that I need to switch between. The one without ssid broadcast always needs to be manually selected :(

Problem with turning it off though is that a lot of wireless software doesnt like it and hops to the ones it can see.

I've turned mine back on for that reason alone' date=' as I have about 5 profiles (for different locations etc) that I need to switch between. The one without ssid broadcast always needs to be manually selected :([/quote']

Agreed...mine doesn't...hnece why it's on.

WMA2 apparently solves all the problems inherent to WEP and is thus very secure.

I have an ebook an wireless security if you want to download it ?

I have an ebook an wireless security if you want to download it ?

Yes please

OK I will leave this on my website for a few days http://www.iendicott.plus.com/ebook

Got it now

many thanks for that, should make interesting reading for setting mine up

:thumbup: