New column: How to Secure Your Wireless Home Network with Windows

How to Secure Your Wireless Home Network with Windows XP

In this article, Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to secure a wireless
network using the latest wireless security standards
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ebruary10.mspx

You can discuss the article in this thread. Click Reply to post a question
or comment.

Chris Norred
Tech Editor
(This post provided as is and implies no warranties)

"Chris Norred [MSFT]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:0C54541E-3499-4FD2-B065-(E-Mail Removed)...
> How to Secure Your Wireless Home Network with Windows XP
>
> In this article, Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to secure a wireless
> network using the latest wireless security standards.
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ebruary10.mspx
>
> You can discuss the article in this thread. Click Reply to post a
> question.
> or comment.
>
> Chris Norred
> Tech Editor
> (This post provided as is and implies no warranties)

Thanks for the link. I also note Bowman reads this NG. Thats really a plus
in my books
Bill

Hi Bill,
Yes, I read this (and several other newsgroups) everything here.
Wireless Security (or the lack of it) is a huge issue. Not using
wireless security is like leaving your front door open and a checkbook
filled with blank unsigned checks on the coffee table. Using less than
the strongest security available is like leaving the front door open
and keeping the checkbook in a drawer that someone just needs to hunt
around for.

On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 13:44:13 -0500, "Bill" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>
>"Chris Norred [MSFT]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>message news:0C54541E-3499-4FD2-B065-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> How to Secure Your Wireless Home Network with Windows XP
>>
>> In this article, Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to secure a wireless
>> network using the latest wireless security standards.
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ebruary10.mspx
>>
>> You can discuss the article in this thread. Click Reply to post a
>> question.
>> or comment.
>>
>> Chris Norred
>> Tech Editor
>> (This post provided as is and implies no warranties)
>
>Thanks for the link. I also note Bowman reads this NG. Thats really a plus
>in my books
>Bill
>

--
Barb Bowman
Expert Zone Columnist
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
MS-MVP (Windows)

Barb,

I read your article and found it to be a very useful tool. I deal with
clients (and family) constantly who don't bother with "the hassle" of
securing their wireless networks. Even sitting in my home office, I can
pick up no less than four completely unsecured wireless networks. On all
but one of them, file and printer-sharing are enabled. The common attitude
I see is, "Well, if someone wants to use my internet for a while, what do I
care?" People just don't seem to get it.

So, of course, I forwarded the link for people to use as kind of a "second
opinion" if you will.

One thing you hit on, but that I would love to see addressed more in-depth,
is the "why?" of securing a wireless network - not just for the good of your
own system, but for the common good (ie, inhibiting malicious activities).
If you know of any good "horror stories"...well, not good for the victim,
but good as a lesson-learned...I think that would be a great article to pass
on.

Thanks for your efforts!
DJ

"Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Bill,
> Yes, I read this (and several other newsgroups) everything here.
> Wireless Security (or the lack of it) is a huge issue. Not using
> wireless security is like leaving your front door open and a checkbook
> filled with blank unsigned checks on the coffee table. Using less than
> the strongest security available is like leaving the front door open
> and keeping the checkbook in a drawer that someone just needs to hunt
> around for.

Barb,

Do you make house calls? :-)

In all the years I have learnt about the PC I must admit I had never learnt
about networking since I became a small business owner working at home. Its
just me and the one machine. I bought my daughter a laptop last Christmas
and now have a wireless network hooked up, and it was like starting all
over from DOS 3.1 LOL New terms etc etc..Thanks to this NG, and Carey
Holzmans(spell?) web site, and now your article I am slowly learning the ins
and outs. My daughter is happy as heck as she is diminishing some work in
college and can do her internet research and print without bugging me...

Thanks again for your work, its greatly appreciated
Bill


"Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Bill,
> Yes, I read this (and several other newsgroups) everything here.
> Wireless Security (or the lack of it) is a huge issue. Not using
> wireless security is like leaving your front door open and a checkbook
> filled with blank unsigned checks on the coffee table. Using less than
> the strongest security available is like leaving the front door open
> and keeping the checkbook in a drawer that someone just needs to hunt
> around for.
>
> On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 13:44:13 -0500, "Bill" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>"Chris Norred [MSFT]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>>message news:0C54541E-3499-4FD2-B065-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> How to Secure Your Wireless Home Network with Windows XP
>>>
>>> In this article, Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to secure a wireless
>>> network using the latest wireless security standards.
>>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ebruary10.mspx
>>>
>>> You can discuss the article in this thread. Click Reply to post a
>>> question.
>>> or comment.
>>>
>>> Chris Norred
>>> Tech Editor
>>> (This post provided as is and implies no warranties)
>>
>>Thanks for the link. I also note Bowman reads this NG. Thats really a
>>plus
>>in my books
>>Bill
>>
>
> --
> Barb Bowman
> Expert Zone Columnist
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
> MS-MVP (Windows)

I'm glad you've found the column useful. There are lots of horror
stories out there and if enough people want examples, I certainly can
provide them. Take a look at
http://www.theunionleader.com/articl...?article=50693

excerpt from this Manchester Union Leader story about a theft ring:
".Authorities said Hunter Moore of 92 Sixth Ave., Manchester, also
obtained some credit card information by driving around neighborhoods
and grabbing the account numbers from cyberspace with his wireless
laptop computer. ".

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 00:02:22 -0500, "DJ Borell"
<dborell(remove)@techmedix.com> wrote:

>Barb,
>
>I read your article and found it to be a very useful tool. I deal with
>clients (and family) constantly who don't bother with "the hassle" of
>securing their wireless networks. Even sitting in my home office, I can
>pick up no less than four completely unsecured wireless networks. On all
>but one of them, file and printer-sharing are enabled. The common attitude
>I see is, "Well, if someone wants to use my internet for a while, what do I
>care?" People just don't seem to get it.
>
>So, of course, I forwarded the link for people to use as kind of a "second
>opinion" if you will.
>
>One thing you hit on, but that I would love to see addressed more in-depth,
>is the "why?" of securing a wireless network - not just for the good of your
>own system, but for the common good (ie, inhibiting malicious activities).
>If you know of any good "horror stories"...well, not good for the victim,
>but good as a lesson-learned...I think that would be a great article to pass
>on.
>
>Thanks for your efforts!
>DJ
>
>"Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> Hi Bill,
>> Yes, I read this (and several other newsgroups) everything here.
>> Wireless Security (or the lack of it) is a huge issue. Not using
>> wireless security is like leaving your front door open and a checkbook
>> filled with blank unsigned checks on the coffee table. Using less than
>> the strongest security available is like leaving the front door open
>> and keeping the checkbook in a drawer that someone just needs to hunt
>> around for.
>

--
Barb Bowman
Expert Zone Columnist
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
MS-MVP (Windows)

Your experience is not uncommon. Some day, it will be a lot easier to
setup a network with strong security. This is going to take the
cooperation of a wide and diverse group of manufacturers who produce
everything from wireless routers to wireless DVD players and wireless
PDA's.

There are some great folks in this wireless community..

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 04:49:23 -0500, "Bill" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>Barb,
>
>Do you make house calls? :-)
>
>In all the years I have learnt about the PC I must admit I had never learnt
>about networking since I became a small business owner working at home. Its
>just me and the one machine. I bought my daughter a laptop last Christmas
>and now have a wireless network hooked up, and it was like starting all
>over from DOS 3.1 LOL New terms etc etc..Thanks to this NG, and Carey
>Holzmans(spell?) web site, and now your article I am slowly learning the ins
>and outs. My daughter is happy as heck as she is diminishing some work in
>college and can do her internet research and print without bugging me...
>
>Thanks again for your work, its greatly appreciated
>Bill
>
>
>"Barb Bowman [MVP-Windows]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:(E-Mail Removed).. .
>> Hi Bill,
>> Yes, I read this (and several other newsgroups) everything here.
>> Wireless Security (or the lack of it) is a huge issue. Not using
>> wireless security is like leaving your front door open and a checkbook
>> filled with blank unsigned checks on the coffee table. Using less than
>> the strongest security available is like leaving the front door open
>> and keeping the checkbook in a drawer that someone just needs to hunt
>> around for.
>>
>> On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 13:44:13 -0500, "Bill" <(E-Mail Removed)>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>"Chris Norred [MSFT]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>>>message news:0C54541E-3499-4FD2-B065-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>> How to Secure Your Wireless Home Network with Windows XP
>>>>
>>>> In this article, Columnist Barb Bowman explains how to secure a wireless
>>>> network using the latest wireless security standards.
>>>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ebruary10.mspx
>>>>
>>>> You can discuss the article in this thread. Click Reply to post a
>>>> question.
>>>> or comment.
>>>>
>>>> Chris Norred
>>>> Tech Editor
>>>> (This post provided as is and implies no warranties)
>>>
>>>Thanks for the link. I also note Bowman reads this NG. Thats really a
>>>plus
>>>in my books
>>>Bill
>>>
>>
>> --
>> Barb Bowman
>> Expert Zone Columnist
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> MS-MVP (Windows)
>

--
Barb Bowman
Expert Zone Columnist
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
MS-MVP (Windows)