[Cudaa]

I have a old linksys 802.11b wireless router, the only thing I changed from the default settings was to add a long password to it. A laptop doesn't seem to be able to even see my system unless I tell it the PW, is that true? I live out in the boonies anyway with just one neighbor and I am about 1200ft. from a major hwy. so I'm not really worried about it, just wondering how secure just a PW is really? I could add WEP but we all know it's not worth having and I don't know if WPA would be an option, it's been years since I set it up.

[lotuseclat79]

By changing the default admin password on your router, you have effectively removed one of the easiest vulnerabilities for a cracker to get into your system.

You should also run a port test against all of your ports and close down all unnecessary ports.

To test how secure your password is, you might just download an admin tool for checking password "worthiness" encrypt a small test file to test it and find out how long it takes to crack it. PGP uses a very good encryption and the longer you make your password the more likely it will not be of interest to a cracker on the Internet. Now if it is known by someone close to you that you keep some valuable information on your system - and that "someone close" wants to crack into your system then that would probably give them motivation to keep trying until it is cracked.

A rainbow table is used for very fast cracking of passwords by systems with very large amounts of space to contain the tables - so, the more interesting your computer is to those with the resources - it is not beyond reason that eventually your computer could be cracked. Instead of a password of 128 bits (16 bytes) use one of 256 bits (32 bytes) where a character 1 byte wide. The longer the password, the more exponential the time factor (log 2) it will take to crack the password.

-- Tom

[calvin-c]

Much depends on what you're trying to secure. Changing the admin password to your router will keep someone from changing your router's settings (unless they can crack the password) but won't keep them from connecting to your network. A good firewall on each PC can keep them out of your PC's, but it still won't keep them from using your Internet connection or from monitoring the wireless traffic (much of it in clear at this point) to/from them. (Note: as tom said, very little will keep a determined hacker out-my statement 'can keep them out' is like saying a locked door can keep intruders out of your house.)

To really keep people from connecting you should enable wireless security. Either WEP or WPA will keep most people out. Since it's an older router WPA might not be available on it but even though WEP has been cracked it's still better than nothing.