network security help

Hi, so I use a wireless router in my family. It connects my computer, my dads, and my sister. Problem is my sister and dad have minimal knowledge about technology (not that I am all that much better). Anyways for wireless security I turned off SSID, ad enabled mac address filtering. Should this be good enough to secure the router?

Also my second issue is those two are not careful at all about what they download, and both of those have had histories of 100's of viruses. So my question is what can I do to make sure I dont get infected through their computers. I am running comodo v3, and avira. Will those do the job or is there a setting I will have to change? Thanks

 

I would add at least a wep encryption in addition to what you have done. You could turn back on the SSID, its only more of an annoyance for you and wont keep anyone who wants to see it from seeing it.

As for the users, possibly make them run as non administrator accounts and use firefox. im not sure about avira, i have never used it, but comodo is a damn good firewall.

 

Alright so comodo will protect me from attacks within the network? That is my big concern. And stupid question with wep they just put in a one time password correct?

 

You're better off with WPA than WEP. WEP can be breached in about 10 minutes since it only uses digits. WPA uses digits and letters.

And yup it's a onetime password

 

Yeah, use WPA if possible. If not, WEP will at least keep noobs away.

 

Ya I am too concerned since from in my house I picked up 7 other routers, 4 of which have absolutely no security. And as far as I know I am not famous, rich, or of any real importance. So I cant see people going through that much trouble just to get at little old me

 

The local HS kids use WEP as Target practice. They see how fast it takes them to break in. Even if your neighbors run no security your still a target. It does not take any more effort to setup WPA(2).

 

WEP sucks. Use WPA and change the keys often, say every month or so.

This will deter n00bs and perhaps some persistant people, but unless they REALLY REALLY REALLY want into your network and have a few days to spare hacking it, they will just move on to easier prey.

 

All good suggestions. In terms of having your wireless network broken into, the primary goal is to have just enough to avoid being the low fruit on the tree - just like with physical security such as a lock on the door, you want it to be just difficult enough that the kiddies practicing war-driving decide that one of your neighbors would be a better target than you (although it doesn't sound like you have to worry on that account). One measure you didn't mention was whether or not your router had MAC filtering enabled - again, this will not keep out the determined hacker, but it will be another impediment to the recreational and the bored.

In terms of anti-virus, make sure you've got strong A/V on your machine and, since your dad and your sister don't seem that enthusiastic about security, maybe you can "appoint" yourself system administrator and put yourself in charge of securing the entire network, including putting robust A/V on their systems.

 

Yeah. When it comes to antivirus, I use Avast. Their home version is free, is light on resources, its system requirements are low, has a network shield, and has stopped cold every single virus and trojan that has tried to install themselves on my computer.