Whats the worst that can happen?

staffkeeper · 01-04-2005

Hi all I`ve just discovered the joy of using my laptop with the aid of a wireless router with my main pc linked to it via cat5 cable and at the moment I am not using any encryption between my laptop and router.
What would happen if someone drove by my house with some of the tools mentioned on this forum?
Could they gain access to my main pc or laptop, or just tap into my internet connection?
Any help on the above would be appreciated.

RedSector · 01-04-2005

It depends on how secure your computers are. They could gain access to them. They also can see what your computers are doing in the internet. Like what sites you are going to, your passowords for your email, and credit card information. If it as at all remotely possible to us encryption, do it.

streaker69 · 01-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by staffkeeper

Hi all I`ve just discovered the joy of using my laptop with the aid of a wireless router with my main pc linked to it via cat5 cable and at the moment I am not using any encryption between my laptop and router.
What would happen if someone drove by my house with some of the tools mentioned on this forum?
Could they gain access to my main pc or laptop, or just tap into my internet connection?
Any help on the above would be appreciated.

The absolute worse that could happen? If a malicious low life intestinal parasite were to decide to hack into your unprotected system? They could potentially steal any information you have on our computer, which could include banking informatin, credit card information, email, personal files, anything that you store there. Anything transmitted between your AP and your wireless PC is also at risk, if you choose not to take the proper steps to secure your network.

Security is everyone's responsiblity. Read your owner's manuals on your equipment. Configure WPA/WEP, MAC Filter and if you don't have one, a hardware firewall between your internet connection and your PC's.

The data you save, may be your own.

staffkeeper · 01-04-2005

My pc`s are as secure as my router firewall and linux firewall permits is there any way of telling if my setup is under attack?

wrzwaldo · 01-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by staffkeeper

Hi all I`ve just discovered the joy of using my laptop with the aid of a wireless router with my main pc linked to it via cat5 cable and at the moment I am not using any encryption between my laptop and router.
What would happen if someone drove by my house with some of the tools mentioned on this forum?
Could they gain access to my main pc or laptop, or just tap into my internet connection?
Any help on the above would be appreciated.

And launch malicious code, send spam, surf illegal porn... All of which you could be held accountable for!

Dutch · 01-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by staffkeeper

Hi all I`ve just discovered the joy of using my laptop with the aid of a wireless router with my main pc linked to it via cat5 cable and at the moment I am not using any encryption between my laptop and router.
What would happen if someone drove by my house with some of the tools mentioned on this forum?
Could they gain access to my main pc or laptop, or just tap into my internet connection?
Any help on the above would be appreciated.

Yes, depending on your PC's setup, and definitely yes, if you don't use any of the securitymeasures on your wireless router (encryption, MAC filtering, IP adress allocation scope, etc,etc.)

Read Thorn's posting about securing your wireless network, located in the FAQ section, for more info.

Dutch

streaker69 · 01-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by staffkeeper

My pc`s are as secure as my router firewall and linux firewall permits is there any way of telling if my setup is under attack?

Oh goodie, your firewalls are protecting you from attacks from the internet, but if your AP is not secure, then you have a huge gaping hole in your perimeter. Many companies have gone out and purchased AP's off the shelf from your local Orifice Depot and installed them. Didn't take the time to read the documentation and basically installed a backdoor into their network.

staffkeeper · 01-04-2005

So i`m high risk using a wireless ap without using some form of encryption?

RedSector · 01-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by staffkeeper

My pc`s are as secure as my router firewall and linux firewall permits is there any way of telling if my setup is under attack?

Does your wireless router have an IDS per chance? If so you could check the logs. Though even if you're computers are secure the network traffic they generate may be captured by an attacker.

wrzwaldo · 01-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by staffkeeper

So i`m high risk using a wireless ap without using some form of encryption?

Depends... Minimun is someone using your bandwidth, worse case is someone setting you up for an ass-raping!

streaker69 · 01-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by staffkeeper

So i`m high risk using a wireless ap without using some form of encryption?

Yep. Read the posts here. Read your own documentation. Configure every security measure your AP has.

Dutch · 01-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by staffkeeper

So i`m high risk using a wireless ap without using some form of encryption?

This ain't Microsoft, so not going to say you are at high risk.. Don't believe in FUD'ding anybody..

BUT you are at a higher risk, than somebody who choose to secure their network with, among other means, encryption.

Security is a multilayered tactic.. Make enough layers that the potential perpetrators choose to attack an easier target...

Dutch

staffkeeper · 01-04-2005

So people using tools mentioned here can potentionally do anything to either of my pc`s with very little effort scary thought will read the manual and set up some form of encryption then thanks for the info.

Dutch · 01-04-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by staffkeeper

So people using tools mentioned here can potentionally do anything to either of my pc`s with very little effort scary thought will read the manual and set up some form of encryption then thanks for the info.

You're welcome.. And another item you gotta read up on, if you plan on sticking around these forums :

Punctuation, and proper usage of capital letters..

Dutch

beakmyn · 01-04-2005

There's a program called Iris that will allow a criminal (in this case) to capture all the data your going through your unsecured network and then reassemble that data back into webpages, IM chat sessions, etc. Think about it everything you do is being recorded and then played backed on the criminals computer.

A firewall only goes so far. If the criminal is already on the 'inside' of the firewall. I.E. your 192.168.x.x network then the firewall means nothing.

The criminal could also your connection for whatever he/she wanted. He could send spam mail, threatening email. He could even take over your computer and use it a relay point for attacks on other computers.

If the iris demo doesn't convince you then you deserve what might happen to you.

01-04-2005	#1 (permalink)
staffkeeper Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 46	Whats the worst that can happen? Hi all I`ve just discovered the joy of using my laptop with the aid of a wireless router with my main pc linked to it via cat5 cable and at the moment I am not using any encryption between my laptop and router. What would happen if someone drove by my house with some of the tools mentioned on this forum? Could they gain access to my main pc or laptop, or just tap into my internet connection? Any help on the above would be appreciated.

01-04-2005	#2 (permalink)
RedSector Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 673	It depends on how secure your computers are. They could gain access to them. They also can see what your computers are doing in the internet. Like what sites you are going to, your passowords for your email, and credit card information. If it as at all remotely possible to us encryption, do it. __________________ Get thine ass into the Church The Church of Wifi

01-04-2005	#15 (permalink)
beakmyn root\.workspace\.garbage. Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,796	There's a program called Iris that will allow a criminal (in this case) to capture all the data your going through your unsecured network and then reassemble that data back into webpages, IM chat sessions, etc. Think about it everything you do is being recorded and then played backed on the criminals computer. A firewall only goes so far. If the criminal is already on the 'inside' of the firewall. I.E. your 192.168.x.x network then the firewall means nothing. The criminal could also your connection for whatever he/she wanted. He could send spam mail, threatening email. He could even take over your computer and use it a relay point for attacks on other computers. If the iris demo doesn't convince you then you deserve what might happen to you. __________________ Daughter with arms inside shirt: "Daddy I'm not Armish" ┌──────────────────────────────┐ ╞ NS Icons Explained\|et hoc genus omne ╡ └──────────────────────────────┘

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01-04-2005	#4 (permalink)
staffkeeper Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 46	My pc`s are as secure as my router firewall and linux firewall permits is there any way of telling if my setup is under attack?

01-04-2005	#8 (permalink)
staffkeeper Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 46	So i`m high risk using a wireless ap without using some form of encryption?

01-04-2005	#13 (permalink)
staffkeeper Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 46	So people using tools mentioned here can potentionally do anything to either of my pc`s with very little effort scary thought will read the manual and set up some form of encryption then thanks for the info.