On Wed, 15 Apr 2009 21:17:47 -0700 (PDT),
"shareyourknowledge@hotmail.com" <shareyourknowledge@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> I found out my wife gave our tenant the wireless encrypted password
>and ssid so he can use his laptop via our wireless Linksys router. I
>was pissed, but it's already been done. What steps can i take, if any
>to prevent any hacking? I playing devil's advocate and assuming this
>may happen. He's a nice college kid, but you never know. Am i
>vulnerable only with my wireless laptop or is my hardwired pc
>vulnerable too? Would disabling ssid broadcast help?

Maker and model of the wireless router?

If he can get onto your wireless network, he can "see" your computers.
Whether he can get into your computers to do evil and nefarious things
(by accident, of course) really depends on how you have you computers
configured. The hardwired PC can be software firewalled fairly
easily. The laptop should have similar protection, especially if
you're using it at various hot spots, where the other patrons can do
as much damage as the nice college kid.

Some routers have provisions for a "guest" wireless connection, which
allows only access to the internet. They would never see your
computers on the network.

Incidentally, if the kid is clueful enough to ask for the WPA key, he
just might know something about computers. Asking him to help secure
your network is a bit dangerous, but if his intentions are honorable,
it won't hurt to ask (and then double check his advice).

Also, the main risk is not trashing your computers. It's his
monopolizing all your bandwidth doing filesharing and downloading.


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# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
# http://802.11junk.com jeffl@cruzio.com
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