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    How secure is booting with the wifi on?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by techNOguy, Dec 20, 2007.

  1. techNOguy

    techNOguy Notebook Consultant

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    How secure is it booting up with the wifi on? Should I boot up my laptop, enter the password to login to the OS (XP/Vista), wait for the firewall/av programs to load, and then turn on the wifi to connect to an encrypted wireless router? Or would it be okay in terms of security to simply leave the wifi on when I boot up and enter the password to login?
     
  2. Modly

    Modly Warranty Voider

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    You'll be fine. Entering your OS password is just so you can access your files.

    You probably won't even be connected to the router until it's almost fully booted anyways.
     
  3. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

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    It is perfectly safe and secure.
     
  4. techNOguy

    techNOguy Notebook Consultant

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    Alright, so it's me being paranoid then. It's just that normally when I login with the wifi on, I get connected to the wireless network first (at least the taskbar icon shows as connected) and my firewall/av programs load up afterwards (ie. the firewall/av icons show up after the wireless network icon). I didn't think that seemed as secure.
     
  5. adinu

    adinu I pwn teh n00bs.

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    Remember that the router has a built in hardware firewall that's infinitely better than the software one you're running. And yes, you're being way to paranoid for a few seconds of being online w.o and AV running (especially with a previously mentioned hardware firewall).
     
  6. techNOguy

    techNOguy Notebook Consultant

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    Did you watch Die Hard 4? :p jk

    Thanks all.
     
  7. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

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    Nice nice.

    @OP: Yes you are being paranoid.