WEP and WPA

[Ocho]

I know tha WPA is better security wise, but I just can't seem to get this working, so I've resorted to WEP.

 

I've heard stuff that it can be easily hacked - is this right?

[Decky]

Depends who you live beside, the chances are a password should stop anyone getting on it. Unless you live beside a nerd who hacks.

[Dave]

All of them can be easily hacked. WEP easier than WPA. WPA easier than WPA2.

[Ocho]

All of them can be easily hacked. WEP easier than WPA. WPA easier than WPA2.

 

Do you have to know your stuff to hack or can the average Joe Bloggs do a net search and do it?

[Dave]

Bit of both AFAIK.

[SEMTEX]

You probably need to invest a small amount in order to hack wireless networks, but it would take little to no skill. Just patience and 50 quid.

 

Basically, if someone really wants to get past, they will.

[wacko]

You probably need to invest a small amount in order to hack wireless networks, but it would take little to no skill. Just patience and 50 quid.

 

Basically, if someone really wants to get past, they will.

 

That's about the size of it.  It's not as if anyone who walks past can hack in just like that, but anyone technically-able with the right hardware who sets their mind to it can do it. If you're already set up for hacking WEP, it's a matter of a few minutes. If you're not, it ain't that simple. When they say cracking WEP is trivial, they mean in comparison to

 

As always, the answer is defence in depth. After all, you're not so much interested in someone pinching your internet as messing around with your actual computer.

 

In addition to using WEP/WPA, you should set up a MAC address filter in your router. A MAC address is like an IP address unique to each network card in the world, so you enter in the MAC addresses of your own computers/phones/whatever and the router will refuse to talk to any other devices. Again, this isn't foolproof (if you have the right hardware, you can alter the MAC address), but it's another hurdle.

 

Finally, you should use a firewall on any computers you're using on the wireless network.

 

In my experience, however, it's not crap encryption like WEP that gets you screwed over, but really dumb stuff like not changing the default password on a router. It's much easier to work out which router you're using and Google for the default login/password than it is to crack WEP.

[Ocho]

You probably need to invest a small amount in order to hack wireless networks, but it would take little to no skill. Just patience and 50 quid.

 

Basically, if someone really wants to get past, they will.

 

That's about the size of it.  It's not as if anyone who walks past can hack in just like that, but anyone technically-able with the right hardware who sets their mind to it can do it. If you're already set up for hacking WEP, it's a matter of a few minutes. If you're not, it ain't that simple. When they say cracking WEP is trivial, they mean in comparison to

 

As always, the answer is defence in depth. After all, you're not so much interested in someone pinching your internet as messing around with your actual computer.

 

In addition to using WEP/WPA, you should set up a MAC address filter in your router. A MAC address is like an IP address unique to each network card in the world, so you enter in the MAC addresses of your own computers/phones/whatever and the router will refuse to talk to any other devices. Again, this isn't foolproof (if you have the right hardware, you can alter the MAC address), but it's another hurdle.

 

Finally, you should use a firewall on any computers you're using on the wireless network.

 

In my experience, however, it's not crap encryption like WEP that gets you screwed over, but really dumb stuff like not changing the default password on a router. It's much easier to work out which router you're using and Google for the default login/password than it is to crack WEP.

 

Cheers   Good advice there.

[wacko]

... they mean in comparison to

 

... hacking other stuff. I'm guessing I'd been drinking.

 

 

Cheers   Good advice there.

 

Pleasure.