Do I really need to protect my wireless router?

Do I really need to enable some sort of protection on my wireless
router? Besides someone using my connection for free what are other
bad things could someone do?

Thanks,
Paul

P&L wrote:
> Do I really need to enable some sort of protection on my wireless
> router? Besides someone using my connection for free what are other
> bad things could someone do?

Monitor _AND_ read your traffic. Are you sure that _ALL_ your personal data is encrypted by your
browser and other software? Do you care if your identity is stolen?

I wouldn't consider anything less that my current setup of WPA-PSK TKIP encryption with a
28-character, non-dictionary, special-character-containing passphrase.

Larry

"P&L" <pldokken@gmail.com> hath wroth:

>Do I really need to enable some sort of protection on my wireless
>router?

Yes.

>Besides someone using my connection for free what are other
>bad things could someone do?

- Sniff your unencrypted traffic and extract logins, passwords, credit
card info, bank info, and incriminating email to your mistress.
- Dive into your LAN and attack your unprotected PC's directly.
- Install viruses, worms, spambots, junkware, trojans, etc on your
unprotected PC's.
- Trash or erase your hard disks.
- Turn your system into a porno or spam storage repository.
- Attack your employers LAN if you're using a VPN.
- Provide entertainment value for evil hackers like me.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

"P&L" <pldokken@gmail.com> writes:

> Do I really need to enable some sort of protection on my wireless
> router? Besides someone using my connection for free what are other
> bad things could someone do?

Use your internet connection and IP to send all the spam in the world.
Use your connection to, oh, hack military web sites and send men in
black to your door asking lots of questions. Serve up the illegal
type of porn that justifiably sends authorities knocking on the
subscriber who's using that IP address (ie. you) in a big hurry.
Reconfigure your router to put your home PC in the DMZ and vulnerable
to access and attack from the internet. Monitor all of your internet
traffic. Steal your identity.

But, nah, not much to worry about really. ;-0

--
Todd H.
http://www.toddh.net/

On Mon, 26 Mar 2007 07:48:37 -0700, P&L wrote:

> Do I really need to enable some sort of protection on my wireless router?
> Besides someone using my connection for free what are other bad things
> could someone do?

No and none. These other guys are full of it. BTW, what's your address?
;-P

On 26 Mar 2007 07:48:37 -0700, in alt.internet.wireless , "P&L"
<pldokken@gmail.com> wrote:

>Do I really need to enable some sort of protection on my wireless
>router?

Yes.

>Besides someone using my connection for free what are other
>bad things could someone do?

Browse all your files, download pix of your family to dubious
websites, read your personal mail, monitor your online credit card
transactions and bank account details, use your PC to store illegal or
stolen materials, and use your internet connection in the commission
of crimes.

Apart from that, you're safe....
--
Mark McIntyre