Is my laptop secure?

I just got a laptop with built in wireless and have been having fun driving
around to coffee shops and what not seeing what signals I can pick up. I
notice "computer to computer" connections available although I have not
tried to connect to them. Am I right to assume that these connections are
also laptops or other wireless devices in the area? If that's true, could
someone connect to my laptop when my wireless card is enabled and if so is
there some security I should set up?

Nother question - should I use the Windows Zero Configuration Utility or the
Intel Proset/Wireless utility? I have been using the windows configuration
utility and it seems fine, but was wondering if the Intel Proset has better
features, etc? If not, should I disable the Intel Proset software so it
isn't taking up resources?

Good Karma to you!

Rick Rogan wrote:
> I just got a laptop with built in wireless and have been having fun driving
> around to coffee shops and what not seeing what signals I can pick up. I
> notice "computer to computer" connections available although I have not
> tried to connect to them. Am I right to assume that these connections are
> also laptops or other wireless devices in the area? If that's true, could
> someone connect to my laptop when my wireless card is enabled and if so is
> there some security I should set up?

Those are usually a user who has a wireless access point WAP or router
with WAP that have left their network open on purpose so that others
around them can use their setup to access the Internet wirelessly or
users that don't know how to secure the wireless part of their network
and it's wide open to be hacked.
>
> Nother question - should I use the Windows Zero Configuration Utility or the
> Intel Proset/Wireless utility? I have been using the windows configuration
> utility and it seems fine, but was wondering if the Intel Proset has better
> features, etc? If not, should I disable the Intel Proset software so it
> isn't taking up resources?

The only thing that can happen to you is if you join someone's wireless
network with the laptop and don't have the laptop protected with a FW
and/or the O/S secured from attack as someone can join the network too
and access your machine. The only other thing that could happen is
someone spoofing the wireless traffic between the WAP and your wireless
card, which enabling WEP or WPA helps that situation. However, you must
know the WEP or WAP the WAP or router with WAP is using and match it
with WEP or WPA key the card must use and match it.

I also like to use XP's wireless features instead of the 3rd party
utility as it made XP more stable. You can or cannot disable Wireless
Zero Configuration. I disabled WZC as it's for roaming for the most part
and I was not roaming looking for open wireless networks to connect too.

http://labmice.techtarget.com/articl...ychecklist.htm
http://netsecurity.about.com/cs/wire...aa112203_2.htm

Duane

On Sat, 4 Feb 2006 16:35:37 -0500, "Rick Rogan" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I just got a laptop with built in wireless and have been having fun driving
> around to coffee shops and what not seeing what signals I can pick up. I
> notice "computer to computer" connections available although I have not
> tried to connect to them. Am I right to assume that these connections are
> also laptops or other wireless devices in the area? If that's true, could
> someone connect to my laptop when my wireless card is enabled and if so is
> there some security I should set up?

Yes, they are WiFi clients offering connections in IBSS (Independent Basic
Service Set also knows as Peer-to-Peer or Ad-Hoc) mode, as opposed to the
Access Point (also known as Infrastructure ESS or Wireless Distribution
System) mode. There is a vulnerability if you accept such a connection
request and run Microsoft Client for Networks software and if you offer
shared documents with no password control. So maybe relax :-)

> Nother question - should I use the Windows Zero Configuration Utility or the
> Intel Proset/Wireless utility? I have been using the windows configuration
> utility and it seems fine, but was wondering if the Intel Proset has better
> features, etc? If not, should I disable the Intel Proset software so it
> isn't taking up resources?

Whichever is more convenient/more stable/has better features for your use.

Tony

Rick Rogan wrote:
> I just got a laptop with built in wireless and have been having fun driving
> around to coffee shops and what not seeing what signals I can pick up. I
> notice "computer to computer" connections available although I have not
> tried to connect to them. Am I right to assume that these connections are
> also laptops or other wireless devices in the area? If that's true, could
> someone connect to my laptop when my wireless card is enabled and if so is
> there some security I should set up?
>

When using public wi-fi make sure you have your Windows firewall enabled. Don't
use email software like Outlook or Outlook Express because it transmits your
password in plain text to anyone in the vicinity who might be sniffing the
traffic. (spying) For email use your providers webmail application and make sure
you sign in using a "secured" method. You often have to go out of your way to
sign in securely. Look for that option at the sign-in web page. But even after
you sign in securely the actual email messages are sent to your computer
un-secured so it is not private and there could be hackers lurking about.

> Nother question - should I use the Windows Zero Configuration Utility or the
> Intel Proset/Wireless utility? I have been using the windows configuration
> utility and it seems fine, but was wondering if the Intel Proset has better
> features, etc? If not, should I disable the Intel Proset software so it
> isn't taking up resources?
>
> Good Karma to you!

Rick Rogan wrote:
> I just got a laptop with built in wireless and have been having fun driving
> around to coffee shops and what not seeing what signals I can pick up. I
> notice "computer to computer" connections available although I have not
> tried to connect to them. Am I right to assume that these connections are
> also laptops or other wireless devices in the area? If that's true, could
> someone connect to my laptop when my wireless card is enabled and if so is
> there some security I should set up?

You should be using some sort of VPN service (or equivalent). Those
coffee-shop networks that some people set up are notoriously insecure.

See:

"http://www.jiwire.com/spotlock.htm" $60 per year.
"http://publicvpn.com/" $40 per year.
"http://www.iopus.com/iPig/download/" Free.