just how secure do I need to be

Hi,

Just a quick question:

How secure do I need to be? I live in suburbia, and maybe (just maybe) the
houses
on either side of me could be in range of my wireless network. There are no
houses
behind me and the house in front of me is almost assuredly out of range.

I really don't understand hacking and such. Does someone have to be in range
of my network to hack me?
Do people drive around with laptops looking for people like me?

I can understand in an urban area, apartments and such....

Thanks,
jojo

On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 18:07:43 GMT, "jojo" <cgv_2000*yourhat*@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Just a quick question:

Quick answer.

>How secure do I need to be?

Dept of Homeland Security will protect you.

>I live in suburbia, and maybe (just maybe) the houses
>on either side of me could be in range of my wireless network. There are no
>houses behind me and the house in front of me is almost assuredly out of range.

If there is any "real" danger, it's from kids and brats that wanna go
exploring on your computers, or borrow your internet connection. This
is where it's good to know your neighbors.

>I really don't understand hacking and such.

Think of it as a sport. There doesn't really need to be an objective.

>Does someone have to be in range
>of my network to hack me?

Yes. No radio signal, no access.

>Do people drive around with laptops looking for people like me?

Yes, but they don't do much with the information, especially if the
access point is secured.

>I can understand in an urban area, apartments and such....

Actually, it's more prevalent in the suburban areas because kids have
more time to attack your system. Much of the hacking relys on
capturing a substantial amount of encrypted traffic and extracting the
encryption key. Mobile users in urban areas don't normally have the
luxury of a fixed location in which they can erect large antennas and
spend days capturing and crunching data. Suburban kids do have that.

WEP 128 is usually sufficient to slow anyone down. WPA is much
better. Make it a habit of changing your access point password and
WEP/WPA keys at regular intervals.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 AE6KS 831-336-2558

jojo wrote:

> I really don't understand hacking and such. Does someone have to be in
> range of my network to hack me?

Yes and no!
There must be an radio signal to receive your WLAN. So the attacker has to
be in range.
But with a good antenna you can boost the signal and extend the range for
more then a mile.

> Do people drive around with laptops looking for people like me?

Yes, there are such people (like me... :-)).

Thomas

jojo, look at your computer WiFi security as you would look at your home
security, since they both contain valuable or personal items.

No encryption is like leaving your front door open. All passerby's may
peek in or walk in.

WEP is like locking your front door and leaving the key under the door
mat. This will keep honest people honest, but anyone who wants in will
trivially find the key and walk in.

WPA (with a long, high entropy passphrase)is like the door on a bank
vault. It will be far easier to break into your home and steal your
computer, than it will be to crack the encryption.



jojo wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Just a quick question:
>
> How secure do I need to be? I live in suburbia, and maybe (just maybe) the
> houses
> on either side of me could be in range of my wireless network. There are no
> houses
> behind me and the house in front of me is almost assuredly out of range.
>
> I really don't understand hacking and such. Does someone have to be in range
> of my network to hack me?
> Do people drive around with laptops looking for people like me?
>
> I can understand in an urban area, apartments and such....
>
> Thanks,
> jojo
>
>
>
>

Taking a moment's reflection, jojo mused:
|
| Do people drive around with laptops looking for people like me?

If you've heard terms like "war driving" and "war chalking" ... this is
what they are referring to. They are spin offs from the "phreaking" days of
"war dialing." ;-)

On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 18:07:43 GMT, "jojo" <cgv_2000*yourhat*@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Just a quick question:
>
>How secure do I need to be? I live in suburbia, and maybe (just maybe) the
>houses
>on either side of me could be in range of my wireless network. There are no
>houses
>behind me and the house in front of me is almost assuredly out of range.
>
<snip>

You sure? On a clear day up here in the mountains of Southern California, I can
pick up wifi signals from AP's over 3 miles away, and that's with just a little
buffalo omni directional antenna. No fancy yagi or parabolic hardware.

you sure that neighbor is out of range?

I honestly have the same question...

Just WHAT is on my computers that I would want to protect?

My personal financial data is kept on a single seperate computer not
even connected to the internet or other machines ... I guess someone
could Hack into my e-mail but honestly 90 percent of my e-mail is junk
anyhow...and the 10 percent that is of value would be of no use to
anyone else.. I mean who cares what the Grandchildren want for
Christmas ...

As you may have guessed I am a retired old fart who has no info on any
of my computers "that I feel" really needs to be hidden from
hackers... Hell if the little old (older then me anyway) lady next
door (200 foot away) wants to borrow my connection to surf the
net...more power to her...

Bob Griffiths



Tue, 09 Nov 2004 18:07:43 GMT, "jojo" <cgv_2000*yourhat*@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>Just a quick question:
>
>How secure do I need to be? I live in suburbia, and maybe (just maybe) the
>houses
>on either side of me could be in range of my wireless network. There are no
>houses
>behind me and the house in front of me is almost assuredly out of range.
>
>I really don't understand hacking and such. Does someone have to be in range
>of my network to hack me?
>Do people drive around with laptops looking for people like me?
>
>I can understand in an urban area, apartments and such....
>
>Thanks,
>jojo
>
>
>

Hell if the little old (older then me anyway) lady next
door (200 foot away) wants to borrow my connection to surf the
net...more power to her...

Maybe she can even give us some tips on working out the wireless network
bugs!
;-)
jojo

On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 08:46:52 -0500, Bob G.
<rg327_remove_@adelphia.net> wrote:

>I honestly have the same question...
>Just WHAT is on my computers that I would want to protect?

1. Enough information where one could perform an identity theft.
That means personal identification information, credit card numbers,
bank account numbers, SSI number, telco credit card numbers for long
distance, and the usual logins and passwords to online accounts.

2. Takeover of your machine and turning it into a "zombie" for use in
a DDoS (distributed denial of service) attack on other machines.

3. Setup as a open relay for sending or relaying spam.

4. Blackmail information.

5. If a modem is still attached, having it dial an expensive 900 area
code number setup for the purpose.

6. Anything that can be used to break into other computers or
networks.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 AE6KS 831-336-2558

Taking a moment's reflection, Jeff Liebermann mused:
|
| 1. Enough information where one could perform an identity theft.
| That means personal identification information, credit card numbers,
| bank account numbers, SSI number, telco credit card numbers for long
| distance, and the usual logins and passwords to online accounts.
|
| 2. Takeover of your machine and turning it into a "zombie" for use in
| a DDoS (distributed denial of service) attack on other machines.
|
| 3. Setup as a open relay for sending or relaying spam.
|
| 4. Blackmail information.
|
| 5. If a modem is still attached, having it dial an expensive 900 area
| code number setup for the purpose.
|
| 6. Anything that can be used to break into other computers or
| networks.

You forgot making your computer a storage house for porn or pirated
software.