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    Broadcasting SSID

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by titaniummd, Jun 16, 2005.

  1. titaniummd

    titaniummd Notebook Deity

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    Do you broadcast your SSID? I live in an area where everyone broadcasts their SSID. I would say 3/4 use encryption. What do you people do? If I broadcast my SSID what are the advantages and disadvantages. If someone surfs on my network, so what? What exactly happens? If I surf on someone else's network can the administrator figure out what is going on? There are just questions running in my head.

    I personally don't broadcast my SSID and I use WEP encryption. Do these measures actually protect us in any way? Are our 'airwaves secure'?

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    titaniummd, Jun 16, 2005
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  2. EricM

    EricM Notebook Guru

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    The obvious disadvantage is if they connect to your network, they are using up your bandwidth. But, from a security standpoint, they could intercept data, launch viruses, and if they are doing something illegal it will get tracked back to your ISP and then back to your netowrk.

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    EricM, Jun 17, 2005
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  3. RadcomTxx

    RadcomTxx Notebook Deity

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    there is also mac filtering, you can set the router to only accept certain computers based on its name and nic mac number.
     
    RadcomTxx, Jun 17, 2005
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  4. titaniummd

    titaniummd Notebook Deity

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    EricM

    Is there software that is mainstream that intercepts data on the airwaves? Is that a widespread problem

    RadcomTxx

    Thanks for the reminder. I forgot about the MAC address limitations.

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    Dr. Gregory House: Like I always say, there's no ?I? in team. There's a ?me? though, if you jumble it up.
     
    titaniummd, Jun 17, 2005
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  5. EricM

    EricM Notebook Guru

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    There is packet sniffing software out there, But I don't think this forum is the place for me to get into that. As an IT professional, I don't really want to give out alot of information on that :)[ :D]

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    EricM, Jun 20, 2005
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  6. titaniummd

    titaniummd Notebook Deity

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    Any way to protect ourselves from that Packet sniffing software (ie Starbucks, Airport)?

    _______________________
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    Dr. Gregory House: Like I always say, there's no ?I? in team. There's a ?me? though, if you jumble it up.
     
    titaniummd, Jun 21, 2005
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