Are there security risks associated with using a wireless network?

Question

I'm thinking about buying a wireless network for my house but some of my friends say it's easier for someone to hack into my pc? Is this true? Can someone explain to me.. Please!?

Answer 1

A wired connection requires a hacker to physically enter the network and connect to it. If you lock your doors and all connections are inside, this cannot happen.

A wireless connection reaches beyond the building limits so physical barriers are not suffiicent. Household wireless routers and access points offer some security capabilities which will help block hackers. Usually the cheaper home grade units do a medocre job and people buy them becuase of their low cost.

I suggest that you procure a better class one (don't buy from an electonics mass merchandiser who has untrained high school students acting like experts as they really are untrained). Plan to spend about $150 or more for a good unit.

The security should include WPA encryption and MAC address validation as a minimum. WEP security is less capable and I would prefer to see you use WPA and use a preshare key that is very complex (mix of letters, numbers, upper and lower case and at least 15 characters long); use a ssid that is in no way connected to your location (e.g. do not use Smith_residence or 1145_Maple or some dead giveaway either). At least once per month change the preshare key as well.

All of the above will strongly discourage hackers.

With this level of vigilance you should be in decent shape.

It will take 3 - 4 hours to set up with all the security in place. Some people feel that it is better to wire than to mess with wireless. The quesiton is how skillful are you with wire running and is your house easy to wire?

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

It's not easier to hack into your pc; in theory, it's easier to get hold of the info you're sending to and receiving from the internet by intercepting the communication between you and your router.

You can protect yourself by encrypting this stuff with wpa or wep. Your router setup will explain this.

In practice, it's unlikely that someone is driving around trying to get hold of your transmitted info. That usually happens to businesses, not people. You don't have much that's profitable.

Most commonly, if you don't secure your new network, someone in your neighborhood will leech onto your signal for free. Again, that doesn't usually affect your ability to use the internet, and is preventable.

And when you get ready to set up your wireless network, do a search on yahoo answers or google or just read your doc on how to set it up. There is already a ton of info out there.

Answer 4

The security risks are greater with a wireless network, but with the WPA, or even the WEP (wireless security) you are pretty safe. If you get a wireless router you can do a few things to make it even more secure if you are concerned - like MAC access, and not broadcasting your SSID. All in all I'd say that wireless networking is very secure if you set the proper configuration.

Answer 5

yes, there is a little more of a risk. But why would anyone hack you? I dont mean this bad, but are you anyone important or are you just some average joe on the street. People who can hack are too busy hacking important things than worrying about hacking some random computer on some random street. Also, if some hacker truly wanted to hack you for some strange reason, it wouldnt matter if you had a wireless network or not. He could still get in no matter what security things you had in place.
In otherwords, you are safe because no one really cares what you have on your computer.

Answer 6

well... there is the posibility of some hacking in BUT you can secure your network through different WEP strenghts.

WEP: is a security protocol for wireless networks. WEP aims to provide security by encrypting data over radio waves so that it is protected as it is transmitted from one end point to another. A shared key (similar to a password) is used to allow communication between the computers and the router. WEP offers a basic, but satisfactory level of security for wireless data transmission.

WPA: A security protocol for wireless networks that builds on the basic foundations of WEP. It secures wireless data transmission by using a key similar to WEP, but the added strength of WPA is that the key changes dynamically. The changing key makes it much more difficult for a hacker to learn the key and gain access to the network.

Answer 7

Here is definitely a case where I suggest you acquaint yourself with Linux. I do not recommend running it, but the documents for Linux and BSD Unix specific systems are so much clearer than the documents for Windows and Macintosh systems, that you will get a lot of useful facts.

A general document I just found for you is this one: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6595703.stm

There are many security risks associated with using wireless. Period.

Of course, because of the nature of Unix-derived systems, many of the tools which I, as a Linux user, need just to log on at my local library can be applied to the task of finding out what other people are doing on their computers. 2600, the hacker's magazine is another good place to be terrified.

Encryption of some kind is a very good idea, but there are always security issues involved in connectivity. Wifi is useful, but the cost goes way beyond the price of the router.

Answer 8

If you install an wireless network, be sure to secure it. Use a WEP encryption, this will keep out all but the most determined hackers. With out the WEP encryption I could sit in your neighbors house & see where you are on the net & what you are typing.

Answer 9

yeah someone can get into your wirless network if you dont have a passowrd