Off Topic... Your Internet Connection.

3 messages in this thread | Started on 2005-10-19

Off Topic... Your Internet Connection.

From: Wilson Revelle (ph0t0bug@bellsouth.net) | Date: 2005-10-19 21:07:53 UTC-05:00

Hello Fellow Letterboxers... I have been in lurking mode for a little while
and was just sitting here looking at all the internet connections that I
could be making.... Then I though... well here is a subject that will help
all of my friends in the group.

While a lot of the other Boxers are net savvy and prob. want me to go back
to lurking I just wanted to remind everyone who has the wonderful Wireless
connections to their computers around their house to make sure they have
their WEP on to keep their little part of the networld secure.

I got on my laptop today and noticed in my wireless network connection that
there was a new network.... hmmm.... I wonder... I tried to connect...POP...

hey... I am connected to someone else's DSL connection!!! I can check my
e-mail... surf the net... see what is on the other guys computer... HEY!

That means they can see ME! Disconnect.... ok... find the signal
strength... ok... walk around the block...., 5 or 6 houses later... boom..

there is the house that has it! KNOCK KNOCK.... Hello, I know you don't
know me but your internet is showing.... (HIM: What?) ME: You are
broadcasting your network connection to the block and I just thought you
might want to know. HIM: What does that mean? ME: People can get into the
DSL connection that you pay $40 a month for and use it for free. HIM:

REALLY?! ME: Yep. HIM: How do I fix it! ME: Let me turn on your WEP for you.

After about a half an hour he was secure and once again I was the only
network that could be logged into with my laptop.

For more information on WEP and protecting yourself from drive-by linking or
"War Driving" call a computer tech that you trust or the following site has
really useful information on how you can turn on your WEP.

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1489
&page=9

Remember, right now there are NO laws on the books that will protect you
from someone logging on and using your network connection and if you want to
share that hard earned $40... Please send some to me (Smile :)

-Ph0t0bug

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Re: Off Topic... Your Internet Connection.

From: funhog1 (funhog@pacifier.com) | Date: 2005-10-20 03:32:46 UTC

I'm certainly no computer geek but to my knowledge, other folks are
not able to get into your computer via a wireless internet connection.
If you can get into their computer to computer network, that's another
story. However, these usually require a specific password to access.

Surfing the web on someone else's DSL may be sneaky but it doesn't
affect the speed of any computer on the network. I don't think that an
interloper can be detected either. If the unprotected network is a
dialup, however, service will be noticeably slowed.

Please set me straight if I'm out to lunch on this. My pokey 56K
wireless connection has been protected since day one but I wish my
neighbor had a wireless DSL network for me to use. I would gladly chip
in. Funhog

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Wilson Revelle"
wrote:
>
> Hello Fellow Letterboxers... I have been in lurking mode for a
little while
> and was just sitting here looking at all the internet connections that I
> could be making.... Then I though... well here is a subject that
will help
> all of my friends in the group.

RE: [LbNA] Re: Off Topic... Your Internet Connection.

From: Wilson Revelle (ph0t0bug@bellsouth.net) | Date: 2005-10-19 22:59:16 UTC-05:00

Where as most "War Drivers" do just check for connections and or surf the
internet for free there are programs out there that can identify your
computer on your Wireless Network. There are cracks and hacks out there that
will look for other network traffic on the Wireless network as well as
looking for passwords and keys. A touch of security will help you in a lot
of ways. While I am SURE that you yourself would never think of using an
internet access point for illegal activities there are those that would.
Providing access to the public through your connection could allow someone
to "hack" into a computer system that is trying to stay secure but the trace
back will go at least to your house and cause the headache of trying to
explain why you were tapping into the private files of a software company,
Gov. facility or bank. While I realize that these things do seem far
fetched and the possibility of someone doing this next to your home on your
connection is slim to none why even live with the possibility. Hey. we
thought that an attack on the U.S. was far fetched to.. But it happened.
Sure WEP is not the most secure method of locking down your internet
connection but I always suggest you consult a tech you trust and have them
look over what you have or research securing your Wireless Router on the
net. There is no totally secure network in the world and for now there
won't be for a long time but I like to think that something is better than
nothing.

-Ph0t0bug

_____

From: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of funhog1
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 10:33 PM
To: letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [LbNA] Re: Off Topic... Your Internet Connection.

I'm certainly no computer geek but to my knowledge, other folks are
not able to get into your computer via a wireless internet connection.
If you can get into their computer to computer network, that's another
story. However, these usually require a specific password to access.

Surfing the web on someone else's DSL may be sneaky but it doesn't
affect the speed of any computer on the network. I don't think that an
interloper can be detected either. If the unprotected network is a
dialup, however, service will be noticeably slowed.

Please set me straight if I'm out to lunch on this. My pokey 56K
wireless connection has been protected since day one but I wish my
neighbor had a wireless DSL network for me to use. I would gladly chip
in. Funhog

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "Wilson Revelle"
wrote:
>
> Hello Fellow Letterboxers... I have been in lurking mode for a
little while
> and was just sitting here looking at all the internet connections that I
> could be making.... Then I though... well here is a subject that
will help
> all of my friends in the group.

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