Ethernet or Wireless Broadband

[kwicky]

Which is the most secure and why?

[pagey]

ethernet is the most secure as you would need to cut the wire to tap in to it.

wireless can be perfectly secure - it just needs to be set up correctly

[Daave]

i have a friend who has a laptop with wifi and uses his next door neighbours internet connection, so im thinking its not that secure!!!

also, if you drive around with the laptop you can see who has wireless internet, and log onto about 50% of peoples internet connections by joining an unsecure network..

[kwicky]

I've also noticed this Daave. Even though these sites have added security, showing the local networks does not leave much to the imagination what neighbour is on broadband. I believe though you can hide your existence by making yourself invisible which they have both failed to do. They also say that professional hackers can easily break the codes if they wish.

[OBonio]

Wired ethernet is more secure. Even with WPA encryption on a wireless network, the packets are still exposed to anyone and everyone to collect and attempt to decrypt at a later date.

[fo3nix]

WEP can be broken very easily. WPA takes much longer, and can be considered secure.

[Ethel]

I have a wireless set up. Visitors who have brought their own laptops have not been able to connect to my signal.

They cannot even see the name of my network as I have the SSID disabled. They know there is a signal - but that is all.

I can connect to my neighbour's network as he has not bothered to secure it.

I have the MAC filters enabled, so only computers with the right MAC addresses can connect.

It doesn't take a lot to make a network secure.

[OBonio]

SSIDs can be sniffed out using Kismet or Ethereal. Not difficult at all.

The very fact your data is flying through public air space instantly makes it less secure than a wired solution. I've yet to be convinced otherwise yet, though WPA2 might be the solution.

[pagey]

Ive set MAC address in router for my laptop HARDWARE key. Can this be cracked using software to find out key and mirror it?

[fo3nix]

WPA2 is very strong.

if you're using really sensitive information, add another layer of encryption, like SSH, or with email use PGP.