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Thread: Hacking

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    Senior Member Minnie M's Avatar
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    Hacking

    Could someone please help ............

    If you have unsecured broadband/internet - can someone who uses your airtime/broadband hack into your computer and gather personal info ???

    (not sure if I have explained that properly as I am not that knowledgeable about the workings of computers etc)


    Thanks


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    Re: Hacking

    Quote Originally Posted by Minnie M View Post
    Could someone please help ............

    If you have unsecured broadband/internet - can someone who uses your airtime/broadband hack into your computer and gather personal info ???

    (not sure if I have explained that properly as I am not that knowledgeable about the workings of computers etc)

    Thanks
    Yes, but the chances of it happening are slim.

    In order to do it, the hacker would have to live withing two/ three houses distance and have very good knowledge of what they are doing.

    Much more likley is that someone could use your internet connection to access the web and do alot of heavy downloading, slowing down your connection and causing a big bill (depending on how you pay for your broadband and what monthly allowance you have)

    Best thing to do is to get it secured asap.

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    Re: Hacking

    Quote Originally Posted by Minnie M View Post
    Could someone please help ............

    If you have unsecured broadband/internet - can someone who uses your airtime/broadband hack into your computer and gather personal info ???

    (not sure if I have explained that properly as I am not that knowledgeable about the workings of computers etc)

    Thanks
    I have been working with computers for decades, but they keep changing the rules and inventing new stuff.

    We have relatives staying with us that needed access and have unsecured wireless access. Neither they orIknow how to secure it, and the instructions on how to do it do not come with the gear. I would be grateful for a link that explained how to.

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    Re: Hacking

    Quote Originally Posted by Minnie M View Post
    If you have unsecured broadband/internet - can someone who uses your airtime/broadband hack into your computer and gather personal info ???
    Wireless Warning For Broadband Internet Users

  5. #5
    Registered User Danny's Avatar
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    Re: Hacking

    You really should secure your Wireless, its pretty likely if you live next to other homes that someone is nicking your Wireless, god knows I've done it with 1000 people.

    Obviously there is the danger that anyone can be downloading movies which your ISP (Internet Service Provider) will notice and may send you a warning and may eventually put you on a blacklist. Worst case scenario, someone is downloading kiddie porn or something on your wireless and then you've definitely got a big problem.

    In terms of your identity, if your Wireless is unsecured, its a safe bet your Router control panel is too. In which case they may be able to see your email address as well as other info.
    More importantly they can edit the settings on your router and set up a password only they know so they can have your router to themselves until you restore 'factory settings' which is a hassle.

    My advice: Secure your Wireless and Router CP. (For Wireless Password, use WPA, not WEP)

    I hope the above made some sense...

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    Re: Hacking

    That article is mainly hysterical nonsense. Who are they to judge people on if they secure their wireless network with hysterical language. Its also not as big a deal as it once was - if you sign up with an ISP nowadays and get a free wireless router they are always secured as default.

    But, If you want to keep an unsecured network, that is up to you. People connecting and downloading illegal material is an issue with them, not you. And connecting to an available network is not a "hack" as the (poor) article suggests . Anyway, some think unsecured wireless connections are the way to go to make city wide wireless networking available to everyone. Sounds like a good idea to me.

    Quote Originally Posted by Minnie M View Post
    If you have unsecured broadband/internet - can someone who uses your airtime/broadband hack into your computer and gather personal info ???

    (not sure if I have explained that properly as I am not that knowledgeable about the workings of computers etc)
    Simply - yes they can. But, a simple firewall stops people hacking your computer. If they are on the internet at all, regardless of how they can connect, they can try to connect to your computer anyway. The thing about connecting to YOUR wireless connection means it is local and they will have a good idea exactly what your IP address is based on the IP address they were given by your DHCP server . It also means they know who you are of course - and who any personal info they obtain from your computer, docs and suchlike, relates to. If you have not changed the default pasword for your router, they can log onto it, see what IP address were given out from the routers admin pages and try and connect to those computers. Its elementary. Prevent it by setting a new admin password - something that still is a security weak spot with some ISPs provided equipment.

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    Senior Member Minnie M's Avatar
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    Re: Hacking

    Wow ! thank you sooooooooooo much, you guys are fantastic

    The question was from a friend who has a Desk Top upstairs but her BT connections downstairs and she was told if she has her wireless system secured she will have problems with the network.

    She lives in a small cul-de-sac quite a distance from the main road, with elderly neighbour, so she thought it would be OK not to secure her broadband.

    However, I think from your replies above, she should really think again


    --ooOoo--
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    Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982)

    Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
    That date is recognized as her official birthday.

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    Senior Member Minnie M's Avatar
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    Re: Hacking

    Quote Originally Posted by Dreadful Scathe View Post
    .....But, If you want to keep an unsecured network, that is up to you. People connecting and downloading illegal material is an issue with them, not you. And connecting to an available network is not a "hack" as the (poor) article suggests . Anyway, some think unsecured wireless connections are the way to go to make city wide wireless networking available to everyone. Sounds like a good idea to me.

    Simply - yes they can. But, a simple firewall stops people hacking your computer. If they are on the internet at all, regardless of how they can connect, they can try to connect to your computer anyway. The thing about connecting to YOUR wireless connection means it is local and they will have a good idea exactly what your IP address is based on the IP address they were given by your DHCP server . It also means they know who you are of course - and who any personal info they obtain from your computer, docs and suchlike, relates to. If you have not changed the default pasword for your router, they can log onto it, see what IP address were given out from the routers admin pages and try and connect to those computers. Its elementary. Prevent it by setting a new admin password - something that still is a security weak spot with some ISPs provided equipment.
    I am not technical in the slightest but I thought she was pannicking unescessarily (can't spell either), however I shall cut and paste your answers and email them to her, so she make her own mind up

    Thanks again to you all for your help and also to zimbabwean for his help on FB - I have certainly learnt lots


    --ooOoo--
    Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter
    Leroy (Satchel) Paige (1906-1982)

    Mickey Mouse's girlfriend, Minnie, made her film debut, along with Mickey, in "Steamboat Willie" on November 18, 1928.
    That date is recognized as her official birthday.

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    Re: Hacking

    Yada Yada ... doom, gloom, despond.

    There is a way that a user can get ito the router and set it up so that it will only communicate with particular identified computers.

    Does anybody know where I can find the instructions to do that?

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    Re: Hacking

    Quote Originally Posted by bigdjiver View Post
    Yada Yada ... doom, gloom, despond.

    There is a way that a user can get ito the router and set it up so that it will only communicate with particular identified computers.

    Does anybody know where I can find the instructions to do that?
    In theory you should be able to access your router's control panel (usually a web page) and restrict the router to only certain MAC addresses (which are specific to each device).
    For specific instructions, you need to refer to the manual or look on the support website for the manufacturer of your router.

  11. #11
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    Re: Hacking

    to what Gav said.

    I'd add that you may want to make sure before you try it that you have to hand a non-wireless way of connecting to your router (ie. a wire! - either USB or an ethernet cable).

    Otherwise, if you get the MAC address list wrong, you can lock yourself out and can't connect wirelessly to the router to fix it!

    My router will also show (in another screen) which MAC addresses are in use at the moment. Assuming you know which one is your computer, you can note these down and enter them into the restricted list.
    Love dance, will travel

  12. #12
    Papa Smurf
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    Re: Hacking

    Quote Originally Posted by bigdjiver View Post
    There is a way that a user can get ito the router and set it up so that it will only communicate with particular identified computers.
    No, there is not. You can, in most routers, set a list of accepted MAC addresses, but these are tied to particular network cards rather than computers - and are also easy to fake.

    Heres a little bit of background - bearing in mind the article talks about cracking WEP encryption which no one sensible uses anymore - all ISPs router defaults will now use WPA which is much harder to hack.

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