Wireless broadband

[miffy63]

I've been told that wireless is very unsafe and that it's very easy for someone to access your computer.

Is this true and what can you do to prevent this?

When answering please bear in mind that I know very little about computers so nothing complicated please, I'm not known as fluffy for nothing!

[Ethel]

Yes, it is true, to a point! It would be incredibly easy for Joe Bloggs to hook up to your wireless connection and use it to get free internet access, but it is trickier to get access to your pc. But it can be done and you should be aware of that.

Your wifi can be made secure very easily by using a number of steps.
Take your time to read this article and get to grips with it:

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/support/wi reless_secure.htm

If you are stuck, we need to know:

OS - Windows XP, Vista or something else?

Router make and model.

[alfgbt]

Amazing how many out there are unsecure, the other day I set up a wifi connection for someone & within the vacinity there were 7 other broadcasts of which 4 were not secure. One even had been named with a house number & street name ?. Ok wireless may not be the most secure techno to date , but theres making it easy & theres making it easy.

[themalster]

Most wireless networks now are provided with a Passkey (a code) that only you will know

[miffy63]

Thank you Ethel, I will look at the article and if I need any more advice I'll get back to you.