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Resolved Question

Shared wireless access?

Dec 25, 2011 4:08AM PST

A next-door neighbor received a laptop Christmas gift today, and our wireless connection is showing on his Network. If he can connect to our wireless, does that give him access to our computer files, etc?? Or does that simply allow him to connect to the Internet with a high-speed connection? How safe is MY computer if he is using my connection? Thanks and Merry Christmas, Bonbon

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Dec 25, 2011 4:16AM PST

Firesheep! EG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firesheep

If your neighbor has that or anything like what that can do, then your network is at risk, meaning your files as well.

Yes the neighbor has internet, but also yes, might also find access to your files.

Best to change the security on the wireless router to WPA2 with a strong SSID password that all your wireless devices must use to connect to the router.

Mark

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Answer
This is covered many times.
Dec 25, 2011 5:42AM PST

Using WPA2 AES is usually more than enough because for now they have to PAY to gain access. There is no reason to use more than a simple SSID or to hide that unless you enjoy dropped connections.
Bob

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Thanks ~
Dec 25, 2011 12:05PM PST

I was pretty sure it had been addressed, probably more than once, but I was trying to get dinner cooked and didn't have the luxury of scrolling through all the pages of posts on the various topics. I realize this was a lazy person's approach, but I didn't have a lot of time and promised my hubby that I would try to figure it out before things got out of hand! So, thanks for the reply. It's not like I feel anyone else's time is less valuable than mine, but I was hoping someone knew the answer and could help me out easily. Hope you had a nice day! By the way, this is all moot, because my neighbor has decided to return the laptop and get a good GPS. Go figure.