Wifi Leeching

Wow, that is worrying.  I always password protect all my WiFi routers but it still amazes me how many open networks there are.  This example shows just how it can be abused.

Justin

Hmmm ... from what i understand you need access to the wireless router (to see the numbers printed on it) before you can connect to it.  Thus there is no problem unless a neighbour physically gets to see (or is given) the printed code.

As long as you have the basic WEP or the newer WPA access protocols enabled,  which i think they do by default these days, you should be ok.  So no need to panic and pay for experts to check your system.

Not at all.  If you open up your lap top and scan for wireless networks, you often see many labelled as "Unsecured wireless network".  You can hook up to these without a password...it's very easy.

Justin

Weve got the basic wireless router provided by Telefonica, but shall be installling our own Linksys again.  We not only had our network password protected but also by listing the mac addresses of all the computers/consoles that were allowed to access it.  So even if you had the password, if your computer's address wasn't on the permitted list you wouldn't be able to access the network.

It also has implications for those of us with holiday rentals. We provide wi-fi for our guests, but have no idea what they do with it!!

Mark

Mark some routers have a section where you can list words that will not allow you to go to