[Polly1016]

Hi Guys,

I just bought a laptop and installed a wireless router. I'm running Avast4 (free) and Zone Alarm (free) on the laptop. Is there something I should be doing or looking up in the settings to see if the wireless laptop is secure from anyone driving by (so to speak) and being able to pick up anything from this wireless router?

I'm a total newbie with this wireless stuff, so please go easy on me.

[AV1611]

I notice you didn't say you had an antispyware program. If you don't have one, I reccommend you use a combination of Ad-Aware + Spybot S&D (links in signature).

I would also reccommend disabling javascript in your browser except for specific sites that need it to function.

[Raised Grain]

Make sure your MAC filter is on, on your laptop.

[mrss]

Turn on the WPA encryption in the router. Pick a 12 digit password. Set your laptop card to WPA and the same password. Your router is now safe. You won't need MAC filtering . If they can crack WPA, they already had your MAC address.

[Polly1016]

AV, thanks for reminding me about that! I have all of it running on my desktop but forgot about a spyware program for my new laptop. I'll use Spybot.

Raised Grain, Mac Filter?? Where do I go to check that??
I had a little bit of difficulty installing the router and went through the same install screens a million times. My eyes were glazing over for awhile but I do remember selecting a security setting. The D-Link installer saved some info to my desktop and this is one of the things it says. Does this sound right?

"network security type: Most secure (WPA)"

Thanks!!

[jonmcc33]

I'll second the WPA but add that you'd be better off with WPA2 if your router (WAP) and wireless card support it. I also agree that MAC filtering is worthless. MAC addresses can be spoofed quite easily.

Not so sure about anti-spyware. Just use a browser other than Internet Explorer and you'll be good. I use only Firefox and even after months I installed Spybot out of curiosity and it found nothing. Just be careful what you install. On a Windows XP computer I would run your main account as a standard user and not administrator. That helps quite a bit. Just use the "Run as" option if you need to install anything.

[Polly1016]

Thanks everyone!

I'll follow your suggestions including the Firefox install. I have it on my other computer and love it.

I'll close this thread now. Thanks again!

[AV1611]

Originally Posted by jonmcc33

Not so sure about anti-spyware. Just use a browser other than Internet Explorer and you'll be good.

My friend used Firefox only for a year and he got so much spyware that the computer would hardly run. I discourage the use of Firefox. Opera is much lighter and safer.

There is a lot of misconception and myths surrounding the Firefox browser. You can see them exposed at http://firefoxmyths.com

[jonmcc33]

Originally Posted by AV1611

My friend used Firefox only for a year and he got so much spyware that the computer would hardly run. I discourage the use of Firefox. Opera is much lighter and safer.

There is a lot of misconception and myths surrounding the Firefox browser. You can see them exposed at http://firefoxmyths.com

Opera is nice, I agree. What discourages me from using it is the pain in the rear built-in crap for mIRC and torrents. The last time I tried Opera and use mIRC I had to somehow find the configuration to stop letting Opera handle the irc:// links and then when I clicked on an irc:// link it would open up a new mIRC window every time. I think that was back in version 8.X though.

Not sure that I'd blame your friend's spyware issue on Firefox. Most spyware installs with applications, toolbars and just foolish opening of files (keygens, etc). I have been using Firefox for years and never had an issue. Of course I also use the Adblock Plus extension which helps block a lot of crud.

BTW, that URL redirects to someone's home made Comcast provided website. Hardly a reliable source and most of the stuff in there is just laughable. Firefox is not a religion? How do you spell Firefox properly? Firefox has more stringent system requirements? I'd like to see anyone browse the web with a 486 now.

Good note about the extensions making Firefox unstable. It proves that Firefox out of the box is perfectly stable. Once you start adding too many extensions then I would question it. How is Opera with add-ons? Does it have any?

[Polly1016]

Hmmm... I've used Firefox on my computer for years and have never really had a problem. I guess it's one of those "to each his own" kind of things.

Anyway, thanks to all who offered advice and opinions. I appreciate it. I'm jumping over to a forum to beg for help installing my new (freebie ) printer that came with my new laptop. I'm getting just what I paid for with this thing.