Paranoia, the destroyer

Inspiron 8200
Windows XP-SP1
ADSL via D-Link 614+ and Netgear M401
WEP'd

When I open the Local Area Connection utility, my WEP key is already
displayed (I don't have to type it in). I don't have another
available laptop to check but if the WEP key is automatically
displayed on my computer, will it also automatically display on the
computer of another person who is trying to "borrow" my signal?

TIA,

Jim

The WEP key is never transmitted. If a key has been configured on your
laptop, then the connection utility may or may not display it (mine won't, I
can only modify it), but the key is never visible in wifi trafic. However,
WEP is not very secure. Anyone with a freeware cracking tool can probably
figure out your key in a matter of hours if you use your net a lot. Not that
this is likely to happen ... but, if you can upgrade to WPA, you should
consider it. The fact that you're using two different vendors may make that
difficult.

"jimini" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> Inspiron 8200
> Windows XP-SP1
> ADSL via D-Link 614+ and Netgear M401
> WEP'd
>
> When I open the Local Area Connection utility, my WEP key is already
> displayed (I don't have to type it in). I don't have another
> available laptop to check but if the WEP key is automatically
> displayed on my computer, will it also automatically display on the
> computer of another person who is trying to "borrow" my signal?
>
> TIA,
>
> Jim