Wireless Network Questions

[Below Zero]

OK, so I'm a computer JONG. Help me out here boys. Don't know where else to turn.

So I just got a laptop. I want to contect to a wirless network that the computer is is available. It says:

"This network is configured for open access. Information sent over this network may be visible to others. If you want to connect ot this network, click connect."

I do have firewall software, so am I safe from other viewing my hard drive and information? Just concerned about "may be visible to others" If it says "open access" does that mean it's free? I'm not breaking into someone elses' network am I?

[Snow Dog]

It means that anyone with a wireless adaptor can connect to your network (in range). Anyone who can connect can also monitor the traffic and see which porn sites you're visiting.

[Lurch]

OK, so I'm a computer JONG. Help me out here boys. Don't know where else to turn.

So I just got a laptop. I want to contect to a wirless network that the computer is is available. It says:

"This network is configured for open access. Information sent over this network may be visible to others. If you want to connect ot this network, click connect."

I do have firewall software, so am I safe from other viewing my hard drive and information? Just concerned about "may be visible to others" If it says "open access" does that mean it's free? I'm not breaking into someone elses' network am I?

Your neighbor is running a wireless network that they have not secured with a password. They may be doing it on purpose or they may just not know so you might be stealing their bandwidth you might not be. The firewall will keep people from hacking into your computer but everything you send across the network like e-mail and information sent to websites will be sent in clear text that anyone can read.

The best way to protect your self even if you are using an encrypted wireless network is to make sure the websites you are viewing/sending sensitive information to and from are encrypted with ssl. The level of encryption built into your web browser when it's using a secure web site is much better than anything else available.

[Mcwop]

Firewall may help you against someone getting directly into your computer, but an unsecured internet signal going to the wireless access point can be snagged. So someone could see what info is floating through the air.

Edit - Lurch beat me to the punch.

[chaka]

There was an interesting attempt at a court case recently, especially interesting to someone like myself who grabs free wifi broadband whenever possible while travelling for work or pleasure. Some dude was parked outside a guys house (on a public street) and had access via laptop to the guys wifi network (an unprotected network). The guy in the house called the cops, etc. the dude in the car claimed he was just surfing the web, checking e-mail. Long story short, the judge ruled that as long as the guy was not maliciously using the broadcasted network link or at least this behaviour could not be proven (i.e. as a child porn server, or attempting to lift private info from the guys network), then the open wifi link was analogous to collecting and drinking water from someone's hose that flowed into the public street, or listening to someone's stereo that could be heard from the street.

Good rule of thumb for all of you mags with a wifi network... follow three easy steps if you don't want people to use your network and to protect your data transfer:
1) don't broadcast your SSID (this is an easy configuration setup menu item on most products "disable SSID broadcast" or something similar"

2) enable "MAC lockdown" so the network will only accept associations from your computer's/devices MAC addresses. Every computer with a network connection has a unique MAC address (for every network conneciton, wired or wireless). Easy way on most models is to connect all you devices to the wifi network, go into the configuration screens, you will most likely see all of your device MAC addresses listed, add them to the MAC lockdown list. Much easier then typing in a bunch of confusing character strings.

3) Enable some form of encryption: WEP, WPA (preferred). This will involve setting some security keys on the client device and the wireless router once, then you are good to go.

All three sound like a pain in the ass? Do one or two, and you will go a lonnngggg way to mitigating potential issues.

[Below Zero]

OK, I am not going to bog down Tech Talk with computer questions especially since the season is upon us, but I do have one more.....

I connected to a wireless network. Connection worked just fine. Went to open up Internet Explorer and I got nothing. I have talked with HP concerning this and there solution did not work.

The computer is brand spankin new. So what am I missing here. I tried to figure out with the help menus and I'm clueless.

Help me out here fellas.

[Dirty Hoar]

OK, I am not going to bog down Tech Talk with computer questions especially since the season is upon us, but I do have one more.....

I connected to a wireless network. Connection worked just fine. Went to open up Internet Explorer and I got nothing. I have talked with HP concerning this and there solution did not work.

The computer is brand spankin new. So what am I missing here. I tried to figure out with the help menus and I'm clueless.

Help me out here fellas.

Is it your wireless network? There could be numerous reasons why you can't connect. Is there a computer on this network that can access the Internet? If so start by doing this. At the command prompt do a IPCONFIG ... ah fuckit... I'm going home. Reboot and pray

[Lurch]

OK, I am not going to bog down Tech Talk with computer questions especially since the season is upon us, but I do have one more.....

I connected to a wireless network. Connection worked just fine. Went to open up Internet Explorer and I got nothing. I have talked with HP concerning this and there solution did not work.

The computer is brand spankin new. So what am I missing here. I tried to figure out with the help menus and I'm clueless.

Help me out here fellas.

What have you done to make sure the wireless network is connected and working?

[powderhound]

try from command prompt:

ipconfig -release

then;

ipconfig -renew

also try pinging something:

ping google.com

If it's not your network they may have it set up with MAC authorization. In that case you may be able to connect, but won't be able to get out. I think that's how my linksys works anyway.

[Below Zero]

ARggghhhhh! This is bullshit! I am so pissed off right now!

Ok, well I got the computer to connect to the internet - problem solved!

Now, I go to shut down and leave work and the fucking thing won't shut down.

help

Edit: Ah nevermind guys. I've had it with this shit. I appreciate all the help. I fucking hate computers. I just removed my battery and rebooted. Didn't know what else to do. I see they have eliminated scandisk. I'm going home to drink some beer.