Apple computer users - please help?

Question

I just bought an Apple powerbook and I don't know how to correctly use the wireless internet. I am worried about other people using my network and getting into my computer.....how can I lock them out so they can't use my internet or network?

Answer 1

Carl, you have two separate things to do. Switch on the Firewall on your Mac and harden your Wireless LAN.

On 10.4.8...
Switching on the Firewall can be done via the 'Sharing' panel in System Prefs. When in the Sharing panel choose the Firewall tab. This gives you a list of the services you can allow access to when the firewall is on. Obviously the more you switch on the less secure your machine will be. When you have selected the ports you want open start the Firewall.

To lock out the Wireless Lan I would recommend that you set up WEP or WPA encryption. and change the key at least once a month. The information broadcast on your WLAN can be captured by a hacker and then various techniques can be used to find the 'key'. If the key is obvious it can be found in an hour or less. If it is a non dictionary word it will take longer. Changing your key on a regular basis will force a hacker to recapture and analysis the data again. With luck they will turn to another WLAN to hack.

You should also enable access control using the MAC address of the WLAN card. This will limit casual users from gaining access to your WLAN.

You don't say which Wireless Router or Access Point you are using. Most devices use a wizard to set-up the WLAN. If not look for the 'security settings' for WEP or WPA encryption and 'Access Control' for the mac address settings.

Answer 2

So, you are running Mac 10.4.8?

Go up to the top bar, and slide to the right to the wifi antenna logo.

A window will open. at the bottom of the menu it will say Creat Network, so click on that, and create a private network like "MyMacNet". Anything works, as long as it is a few words and some caps and/or numbers, punctuation, if you like.

Then, your network will only appear when other folks type into their OTHER network box the exact name of your network!

Fairly secure, no passwords needed...

If you desire more security, engage passwords and create one to use.

Those are the first two levels of security for wifi.

Then you can learn about other levels from any of the network wiki's.

Answer 3

If they can get into your network that doesn't necessarily mean they have access to your computer. There are several third party firewalls available for Mac but the fact of the matter is, there aren't that many people getting access to Macs, either due to lack of interest, or the robustness of Unix... I don't think anyone is sure which.

Here's how to set up the Firewall on Mac OSX 10.4, http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.4/en/mh1042.html

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/security/

Some of the third party firewalls are as effective, some are more effective but there really isn't one single third party Mac firewall I can reccomend. There are many excellent free ones for Windows but no free ones I know of for Mac. Though here is a free network monitoring utility, http://seiryu.home.comcast.net/henwen.html

Then of course, the most logical step is to lock down your wireless network with WPA encryption. For that you will have to see your router's manual.

Answer 4

possibly we over do it somewhat, yet Apple clientele experience like Apple products are extra advantageous and we choose for the international to be attentive to it! beneficial, computers are extra suitable for some human beings. yet maximum individuals do no longer additionally be attentive to related to the advantages of a Mac because of the fact they are confident that computers are "extra nicely matched" or "extra reasonably-priced." they are probable incorrect on the two counts. The Mac OS is plenty extra advantageous to Windoze. Leopard is plenty extra suitable than Vista it extremely is not even a truthful assessment.

Answer 5

You will have to open up the settings for the wireless modem and put a password on it. There will be an address to type into you browser address bar that looks something like 196.60.1.4 ....

Answer 6

Set up your connection with wireless encryption key (WEP) . Contact your ISP or router's manufacturer for assistance

Answer 7

go into your internet preferences and look for firewall and file sharing controls, you should be able to turn them on and off. If you cant find it in prefernces use help and search for file sharing.