Wi-Fi??????

[/pine]

That is an interesting article, but I would be worried about creating a fire hazard. My router gets fairly warm in its supported configuration. I'm thinking there is a good reason why the power is not substantially higher

A very valid point...the tx power should be throttled to the min. necessary to reach the destination...

As pointed out by another poster the use of directional antennas is another alternative...directional antennas can be very effective...

some of the better home made antennas use old satellite dishes and USB wireless adapters

 

[MossRoad]

I read through the articles that MossRoad linked to and I certainly can't argue with what I read. So it clearly appears that we need to watch out for the internet police. I still think and believe that if a person doesn't want somebody accessing their wireless network then they need to secure it.
I walked past my neighbors yard this past spring and inhaled the aroma from his Lilac trees, I surely must be guilty of something for commiting such a heinous act.

I agree that everyone should lock down their wireless connections. Just common sense.

As for walking past your neighbor's house and smelling the lilacs, occasionally our neighbor's house smells like something a little more herbal, if you know what I mean. (they are not all that bright).

 

[Scooby074]

Caution, geek fight in progress!
Hey, at least you guys are interested in why stuff works!

Yay!! I love a good geek war. (former IT geek myself)

Theres a good discussion going on here.

Like i said, hardwire FTW. Homeowners SHOULD be aware of whats on their network. Which reminds me..... i have to fire up Ethereal one of these days and snoop around.

Sooooooo.......what cha guys think about Bittorrent (TBN REALLY needs a "stir the pot" emoticon

 

[/pine]

Sooooooo.......what cha guys think about Bittorrent

never used 'bittorent' or are you referring to torrent files in general?

I heard they convicted the crew that runs piratebay and possibly jailed them but the site is still up and running...I also heard that the site has been sold and the new owners are supposedly going to make it a legit operation...but I just took a peek and it looks like the same stuff is still available...

torents are a great way to share files without clogging bandwidth channels...I often download Linux distribution ISO files via torrents...

 

[/pine]

WPA encryption cracked in one minute
I just saw this

The second generation of Wi-Fi security systems has now been broken as badly as its notoriously insecure predecessor: Japanese researchers say they can crack WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access), the successor to the old-school WEP, inside of a minute's time spent eavesdropping on a wireless network.

Details on the mechanics of the attack are set to be announced next month at a computer conference, but it's tentatively described as taking to "a new level" the previous method by which WPA had been roughly compromised, adapting previously theoretical holes in the WPA system and turning them into practical attack techniques.

The previous method of attacking WPA devices took up to 15 minutes to be successful, and didn't always work. The new method is said to work on far more devices and, obviously, much more quickly. However, as with the old attack, the new one only works on WPA devices that use the TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) algorithm, which is a setting in your router and device setup.

WPA devices that use the newer AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) algorithm, plus devices that use WPA2 -- the third generation of wireless security standards -- are still safe for now.

However, this does mean that it won't be long before this attack technique trickles out into software that malicious hackers can use to invade WPA networks. With access to your wireless network, a hacker can potentially eavesdrop on any traffic sent, access shared folders on computers attached to the network, and of course send and receive data (like illegal file sharing or even child pornography) which could then be blamed on you.

To protect yourself, upgrade the security settings on your devices to WPA2 if they all support the standard. Alternately, you can upgrade any WPA device from TKIP security to AES. Check in your router administration console and on your computer for and where how to do this.

WPA encryption cracked in one minute : Christopher Null : Yahoo! Tech

 

[Scooby074]

never used 'bittorent' or are you referring to torrent files in general?

I heard they convicted the crew that runs piratebay and possibly jailed them but the site is still up and running...I also heard that the site has been sold and the new owners are supposedly going to make it a legit operation...but I just took a peek and it looks like the same stuff is still available...

torents are a great way to share files without clogging bandwidth channels...I often download Linux distribution ISO files via torrents...

TPB is a mess, the guys arent in jail but are facing some big fines and possible time IIRC. Sold to some investors who were talking about getting it legit (obviously nobody remembers what happened to napster when it tried to go legit). The sale is set to be completed at the end of the month. Im not sure where the deal is now. The more you look at it, it seems like a "pump and Dump" by the potential buyers.

Plus TPB's ISP was forced to take TPB down, but in typical TPB fashion they re-appeared on another ISP. Long live The Pirate Bay!!! Whether you agree with them or not, you Gotta give em credit for having some big brass ones.

Like slot of things, torrents have both good and evil (depending on your idea of evil) uses.

Im not trying to derail this thread, i just threw in the torrent disscussion as a joke Nothing like stirrin the pot...

 

[MikePA]

My son graduated with a degree in computer science from Univ of RI, sure wish I had him here this mornin, so he could explain what /Pine and jdbower were talkin about this mornin !

They are engaged in the geek version of the debate question, "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" and much like said debate, it reminds me of the line by Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5, "... full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing." Maybe not nothing, but very little.

WiFi security - With enough time and money any security can be broken, all you're trying to do is make it more difficult. Like the old joke, you don't have to run faster than a bear, you just have to run faster than the guy you're with. IOW, make things difficult enough so the hacker will move on to someone with even less security than you. This all assumes you are worthy of being a target in the first place, a big assumption.

WEP, WPA, ad nauseum - Any security is better than no security, if only for keeping your nosy neighbor's teenage kid off your network. How much security is the debate, always remembering the first point that any security can be broken. Also keep in mind, just like clothing, jewelry and yes, tractors, there are security snobs. "What!?!?! You're not running WPA2 with MAC authentication?!?!?!?! Well, I never....." as they walk away adjusting their belt AND suspenders. You might want to have devices on your wireless network that don't support some of the more secure options. (I don't believe the xBox does) Use what makes sense for you. If you live out in the boonies, with no nosy teenage kids, don't use any.

WiFi Poaching - Another 'angels on the head of a pin debate'. For me, it's much more of a moral issue than a legal one. It's not my router, it's not my ISP connection and I wasn't invited to use it. Simple decision for me.

MAC Addresses - Every piece of hardware that connects to a network has a unique one (except a Token Ring card we had at work many years ago. That was a fun problem to find and resolve!) that is burned into it. It cannot be changed, but it can be spoofed. Again, are you, or any of us, worthy of the time and effort necessary to hack into our WiFi network? Probably not.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Mornin Mike,
Thankyou !