Re: Freeloaders using my network?

"The Wheel Man" <trucker@trucker> wrote in message
news:cpudnZz2j-(E-Mail Removed)...
> In my home office, I've got a Linksys WRT545GS wireless router v. 1 with
> firmware 4.71.1 set to WPA AES security with a very strong and mighty long
> passphrase (I know, should use WPA2 but some of my wireless devices can't
> handle that). SSID is changed and not broadcasting, MAC filter enabled.
>
> Can I tell if an outsider it trying to, has tried to-- or is using my
> network and internet connection?
>

I don't know about the "tried to" part (you can check whatever logs the
Linsys maintains for clues, but I doubt the router would log failed
connection attempts - it *should* in my opinion, but...)

Home routers typically have a page in their management web pages that shows
the current dhcp assignments - that should show you who is connected or
recently connected (depending on whether or not the router cleans that table
properly)

HTH

"The Wheel Man" <trucker@trucker> wrote in message
news_-(E-Mail Removed)...
> "Kerry Liles" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:ga8k6h$51u$(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>> "The Wheel Man" <trucker@trucker> wrote in message
>> news:cpudnZz2j-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> In my home office, I've got a Linksys WRT545GS wireless router v. 1 with
>>> firmware 4.71.1 set to WPA AES security with a very strong and mighty
>>> long passphrase (I know, should use WPA2 but some of my wireless devices
>>> can't handle that). SSID is changed and not broadcasting, MAC filter
>>> enabled.
>>>
>>> Can I tell if an outsider it trying to, has tried to-- or is using my
>>> network and internet connection?
>>>
>>
>> I don't know about the "tried to" part (you can check whatever logs the
>> Linsys maintains for clues, but I doubt the router would log failed
>> connection attempts - it *should* in my opinion, but...)
>>
>> Home routers typically have a page in their management web pages that
>> shows the current dhcp assignments - that should show you who is
>> connected or recently connected (depending on whether or not the router
>> cleans that table properly)
>>
>> HTH
>>
>>
>
> Cool-- thanks.
>
You might want to take a look at the program WallWatcher located at:
http://www.wallwatcher.com/. It will read and keep track of the log your
router provides. It will provide archive copies of the log results that can
be searched by the program. Since the built in log can grow large enough to
start erasing itself having an archive of log can make looking for your kind
of problem much easier.

While the author's site lists the program as shareware, the current price is
$0.00 so it should be in anyone's budget range.

Here is a small excerpt from the web page showing some of it's abilities.

- provides filtering, immediate alerts, emailed alerts, historical analysis,
summaries, and charts.

- filters let you choose what data and time periods to log, display,
analyze, and chart.

- alerts offer real-time visual and audible signals of possible intrusion
attempts.

- historical analysis helps you find patterns of recent intrusion attempts.

- summaries condense log histories for easier review
user-selectable charts let you spot patterns of suspicious activities.