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[OM] Re: Wireless router (and PC security generally)

Subject: [OM] Re: Wireless router (and PC security generally)
From: "Allan Mee" <bigalsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 10 Dec 2006 03:26:34 +0000
So you are as directly linked to the router as possible when accessing it's 
setup - for things like alowing/disallowing MAC addresses etc.
If you use 'wireless' for the connection during setup/modifications to the 
setup, how does the router know that it's your machine and not some [spoofed 
even] mac address from somebody else (who may be across the street, sat in a 
car with a wireless laptop, or wherever)?
And I'd certainly NEVER set up a router from scratch using wireless - 
routers don't have proximity detectors.
The first thing I did when setting up my router was make the ethernet 
connection and disabled the wireless. Then I checked the connected MAC 
addresses (to ensure that only my machine was connected to the router) - 
then I checked that the h/w firewall was on. Then I connected the other PCs 
to my switch and allowed their MAC addresses (and told it to block all 
others) and then I finally set it up fully for Internet Access. All the PCs 
were also running software firewalls before I even started setting up the 
router.
Even now, when making changes to the setup - I only have my PC running and 
that is directly connected to the router and I check the MAC addresses to 
double-check before I make any changes.
I take my pc security seriously! I'm fully stealthed behind h/w and s/w 
firewalls and no wireless but still occasionally get my ports scanned (not 
that it will do whoever is trying to scan my ports any good). I religiously 
check for spyware and viruses (I run updates and full scans daily) - and I 
never let anyone else use my computer - and I do check my logs often, delete 
all cookies when done on the Internet, turn of my router when I'm not using 
it, use strong passwords and NTFS, etc. etc.
To the best of my knowledge I've only been possibly hacked once - a few 
years ago. I don't d/l pirate software from the net or visit software 
'crack' sites or porno sites or any other dodgy sites.
If I do d/l *ANY* files from the Net - no matter what format or source, they 
are automatically scanned for viruses and spyware. That includes anything 
that close friends and family send via IMs. I use 'web-based' mail accounts 
that automatically do virus checks etc. before I get to see the emails. I 
never d/l attachments. I don't do online banking. I don't open emails unless 
I know the source. I have a 'spam-mail' account which I give as my email 
address whenever I sign up to something - and that account gets more 90% of 
the spam I get leaving my other accounts virtually spam free. I don't use 
P2P software (at least not on my PC). I don't have file and printer sharing 
enabled on my PC.
I have specific accounts set aside for friends and family to email me. I use 
this account for, and only for, all my group mail - and filters are set to 
put mail not from listed groups (or certain members from said groups) into 
junk mail. Those are just some of the security measures I take. Your 
security is of course up to you. Just airing my opinions.
Allan


PS No trees were harmed in the sending of this message and a very large 
number of electrons were asked their permission to be terribly 
inconvenienced. (And threw a party for them afterwards for being really cool 
about it).

Disrupting the unnatural balance that you, as a conscious human being and a 
confused mass of energy, have created.
-Disturb the mind -





>From: "Tom Scales" <tom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Reply-To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
>To: <olympus@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: [OM] Re: Wireless router
>Date: Sat, 9 Dec 2006 21:33:46 -0500
>
>
>Uh, what 'security reasons' would require a PC connected via wire?
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Allan Mee" <bigalsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>To: <olympus@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2006 9:28 PM
>Subject: [OM] Re: Wireless router
>
>
> >
> > All you need for a wired conncetion is one ethernet cable going to
> > wherever
> > your router is. You should have at least one PC directly wired to the
> > router
> > (for security reasons).
> > I personally use an intelligent 16 port switch (which is more secure 
>than
> > a
> > mindless hub) to connect up to 15 pcs at once (if need be) and have
> > disabled
> > wireless - I have less faith in wireless security than I do in security 
>on
> > a
> > hard-wired LAN.
> > Allan
> >
> >
> >
> > PS No trees were harmed in the sending of this message and a very large
> > number of electrons were asked their permission to be terribly
> > inconvenienced. (And threw a party for them afterwards for being really
> > cool
> > about it).
> >
> > Disrupting the unnatural balance that you, as a conscious human being 
>and
> > a
> > confused mass of energy, have created.
> > -Disturb the mind -
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>From: Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxx>
> >>Reply-To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
> >>To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxx
> >>Subject: [OM] Re: Wireless router
> >>Date: Sat, 09 Dec 2006 17:45:56 -0800
> >>
> >>Phil wrote:
> >> > Joel
> >> > Only one mobile, but I want to be able to move my PC into another 
>room
> >> > without the wiring that goes with it.
> >> >
> >>My wireless router needs to be hard wired to a PC for
> >>set-up/configuration, but not for operation after that.
> >>
> >>I do the reverse of what you plan to do. The desktop is connected to so
> >>many things that moving it would be a major project. On the other hand,
> >>I have a second wire connected to the router so I can bring the notebook
> >>in and connect it directly when I want to move a lot of data between the
> >>boxes. The wired connection is way faster than wireless.
> >>
> >>Moose
> >>
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > No virus found in this incoming message.
> > Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.15.15/580 - Release Date: 
>12/8/2006
> > 12:53 PM
> >
> >
>
>
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>==============================================

_________________________________________________________________
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