Massive usage on xtra broadband

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juha

1317 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#52087 12-Nov-2006 13:30

Filterer: You missed one important step there, you are supposed to pull some kind of prank as well.
A classic one is to replace all the results from a google image search with something else.

Most people don't use google images very often but it normally gets used as some point, so they won't susspect its you :)

Yes... it was tempting

Juha

lduncan

189 posts

Master Geek

#52302 14-Nov-2006 16:52

Grant17:
robscovell:
2. The Linksys only supports WEP. How can I make this more secure?
3. Has this happened to anyone else?

In any case, the way I have solved this problem is by enabling MAC address filtering. Even though your router is old, it should support that option. I have yet to see one that doesn't.

The best idea is to disable all access from any MACs that aren't listed. Then make sure to enter the MACs from your own laptops or PCs with WiFi adapters. That way, only your PCs (or others you trust) will be able to use your bandwidth.

I wouldn't recomend that as the sole method of "protecting" your wireless network. Encryption should always be used if you don't want unauthorised access. (WEP doesn't count)

Apparently it is possible to sniff and then spoof the MAC address using some hacking tools and so in theory, the MAC address filtering could be defeated. However, this has not been a problem in our neighbourhood. Your experience may vary.

Not only is it possible, it's incredibly easy. Easier than breaking WEP encryption.

I'd recommend looking for firmware updates for the router which offer WPA. Occasionally there are hardware issues which prevent WPA being implemented on older routers.

What model Lynksys is it? WRT54 series by any chance?

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

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#52303 14-Nov-2006 17:01

lduncan: Not only is it possible, it's incredibly easy. Easier than breaking WEP encryption.
I'd recommend looking for firmware updates for the router which offer WPA. Occasionally there are hardware issues which prevent WPA being implemented on older routers.
What model Lynksys is it? WRT54 series by any chance?

Thanks for the warning!

Actually, it's a 3Com which is only about 6 months old so I would imagine it does support WPA. From what I heard, WPA does slow your network throughput down though doesn't it?

That is the other reason I don't want to implement security unless I have to.

lduncan

189 posts

Master Geek

#52304 14-Nov-2006 17:12

More advanced encryption method can reduce throughput, but that is more a reflection of the processing power on the router rather than an inherent feature of the encryption.

Anything which is only 6 months old should definately support WPA and WPA2.

If it's 802.11g then throughput shouldn't drop to a point where it reduces your internet connection speed.

If it's 802.11b then turning on enrcyption may shift the bottle neck from the dsl connection to the wifi connection (bad).

If you use your wifi connection for transfering files between computers in your home, they by turning on encryption you may see a drop in speed.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#52305 14-Nov-2006 17:17

lduncan: If you use your wifi connection for transfering files between computers in your home, they by turning on encryption you may see a drop in speed.

Yeah, sometimes we do that, so I wanted to avoid using encryption unless it proves to be necessary.

If someone does start leeching our bandwidth, we will fairly quickly realise it because our connection will be throttled back to 64kbps.

We have had a wireless router of one kind or another for almost 4 years and it hasn't happened yet, so I'm not too worried really. It would be a different story if we lived in an apartment building.

Thanks for your suggestions re WPA and WPA2.

robscovell

123 posts

Master Geek

#52586 16-Nov-2006 10:32

Update -- it was a metering issue. Xtra have taken out the mismetered 4GB from my monthly usage stats.

Och, well, it made me tighten up a few security issues, so there was an upside at least.

Rob

juha

1317 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#52589 16-Nov-2006 10:42

robscovell: Update -- it was a metering issue. Xtra have taken out the mismetered 4GB from my monthly usage stats.

4GB worth of wrongly metered data??? You sure?

Juha

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

robscovell

123 posts

Master Geek

#52592 16-Nov-2006 10:44

juha:
robscovell: Update -- it was a metering issue. Xtra have taken out the mismetered 4GB from my monthly usage stats.

4GB worth of wrongly metered data??? You sure?

Absolutely positive! They have apologised for it. If you log in to the usage meter, you will see that they are having problems with metering at the moment.

I'm as amazed as you are!

Rob

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