broadband signals

[twilightflye]

my neighbour says that he was able to get on line using my broadband wireless connection! how can I stop this happening again?
thanks

[WaldoMcFroog]

You need to encrypt your wireless router. This means putting in a password that you need to know before it will let anyone access the signal.

Without knowing what hardware you're using it's impossible to advise further, but you do need to do this - you may even be exposing your files to your neighbour. I had a neighbour with some very advanced tastes in pornography - I only know because he had an unprotected network.

[twilightflye]

hi Waldo, thanks for that one.
well I am using a D-link ADSL router DSL - G604T on my tower and a DWL-G122 USB adaptor on my lap top, Im not familiar with encryption so am not sure what to do, so any help would be very much appreciated,thanks in anticipation.

[kwicky]

Some internet providers provide very useful information about setting up a router:

http://uk-tiscali.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/uk_tisc ali.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php

[MatydaLover]

The only really safe ways ...

1. Stop using wireless.
2. Shoot your neighbour.
3. Move.

Everything else has loopholes.

[kwicky]

Do what my wife does. Forget wireless connection and just use an Ethernet cable. I cannot understand how anyone can have all their private information broadcast through the air for any Tom Dick or Harry to pick up.

[tompaine]

Hi twilightflye

Both your router and lan adapter have WPA support which will secure your network. You should set up a long password (12 characters) using letters and numbers. You may need to hunt around in the router config to enable WPA or refer to the install disk for docs/instructions on configuring your router.

Its just not true to say that using a wired router is any safer than using a wireless router. There are just different considerations. In all cases, make it difficult for intruders by protecting network access and access to sensitive files with good passwords.

[twilightflye]

thanks Tom for that one, I shall have a good search of the info.

[spanner7853]

I hope you charged your neighbour, Cheeky sod.

[twilightflye]

well I'm grateful that he told me because there are those that would have played on this for sure don't you agree? anyway this neighbour is a good friend whom I have know for a number of years and he lives next door to me.