I've switched over to Sky Max Broadband (excellent so far !) and the wireless router is defaulted to WPA security. It also gives me the option of WEP with a bit of playing around.

Which is best? Any disadvantages with going for the most secure which I suppose is the obvious choice?

I was going to ask this, plus a couple more comments, on the 'best ISP provider' thread. What's happened to it? Am I going blind? I certify that a) I have looked at 4 pages of threads (twice). b) I have my glasses on, c) I've used the Search facility and d) not had any alcohol for at least 12 hours. Still can't find it. Has it been pulled?

Bolshi,

Is this the one you are looking for?

http://www.moneyam.com/TradersRoom/posts.php?tid=10146#lastread

Ian

Ian. No. That one was last updated July 2006!

Bolshi

The only downside of using WPA security is that you would not be able to use any older devices that only use WEP.

WEP security can be cracked fairly easily.

Bolshi,

This one?

http://www.moneyam.com/TradersRoom/posts.php?tid=1786#lastread

Bolshi re WEP/WPA, the answer is WPA as its secure, WEP is almost useless.

I know I'll encure the wrath of the people who really understand computers but, to me, the benefit of my WiFi is being able to rapidly check my e:mails and stock prices from my PDA which is still in the WEP era.

My home computer is connected, via a Devolo Home Plug link, to one of the ethernet sockets on the broadband router. It has WiFi, but there is no point in using it as it stays on my desk the whole time - so an ethernet link is viable.

But, for a quick scan of mails and prices the PDA is so much faster than waiting for Windows to boot up.

TP

TP, your right about the wifi advanatage (for you) the problem with WEP is that it does not really offer any protection, its not much better than no security. I would go for a newer PDA but also make sure that your router has WPA.

Sp,

"I would go for a newer PDA "

Yippeee. I love chums who say I NEED to go shopping!

I see a new thread coming on....

TP

TP

I should not let Spaceman's comments worry you too much. Although he is right about WEP being very insecure, if someone wants to crack it, they first have to be fairly close (a few hundred yards- which is further than your WiFi connection will normally work) and then they have to listen to a significant amount of traffic in order to determine your WEP key. With occasional email use on your PDA, your connection may not be worth the hackers trouble.

The risk is most definitely there, but don't get paranoid.

Optimist your right I agree with your statement.

I have become a bit paranoid recently about wifi (which I dont like much) due to the number of routers I can see from my house in Hasting, last time I counted it was 10.

I am not a big fan of homeplug (devolo etc) however recently I have been using the new 200MB version and in my view its brilliant!

Thanks for responses folks.

Ian. Yes! That's the one. Haha. I was looking for incorrect header. Ta v much. 5 on the way - should arrive on your C drive soon. :-)

Just to touch on the wireless security issues again.

While WEP is not secure from the properly equipped wireless hacker, I'd rather use it than nothing. Quite a bit of traffic has to be captured to crack the encryption key. What's more, someone has to target you and really want to read your traffic. They also have to be close to you.

Just as important is to shut down your router to allow access only by the MAC addresses of your own equipment. For example, using a Netgear router, if you

go to "Wireless Settings"

and select "Wireless Station Access List", click on the button "Setup Access List"

then check the box "Turn Access Control on"

Lower down that same page, the router will display the names and MAC addresses of all the wireless devices it can see. You just have to "Add" your devices to the "Trusted Wireless Stations" list and delete any you don't like.

Again, MAC addresses can be forged by interlopers, but the balance of probabilities of someone encountering your short-range wireless network and who has both the skills and motivation to bother are very low.

MM. I'm having problems getting to the Netgear wireless settings. I'm opening with 192.168.0.1 and it's asking for username and password. I've entered these as detailed in the manual but they are unrecognised. Anyway round the password problem?

Complete reset of the router probably Bolshi, but then you will need to do a completely new setup, and will lose all your old settings.

Bolshi

I guess it's too late now, but the Netgear and most other users allow you to save your setup to hard disk. If you have done this, all you need to do is reset the device and restore from backup.

Also, the deffault username for the Netgear router is "admin" - in lower case.

Opt,

"all you need to do is reset the device and restore from backup."

I wish I'd know that two weeks ago. I stupidly held a pin in the re-set button for more than the statutory five seconds and then had to re-configure. The problem with anything you only do every two or three years is remembering all the things you discovered by trial and error the last time and failed to make decent notes about.

Presumably once you have made contact with the 'factory defaulted' router there is a re-load icon you can click?

TP

TP

Yes there is. On the Netgear router it's under the Maintainence heading. The other useful one under that heading is 'Router Upgrade' for updateing to the latest firmware.

Thanks Opt,

I am paranoid when I go into those menus as I always worry about altering something incorrectly and letting it get saved - but maybe your suggestion of saving the setting is a protection at least.

TP

Bolshi

By default, they are 'admin' and 'sky' for username and password

Did you install the system or did Sky? If Sky, then they may have changed it.