[Number 18]

My wireless home network is unencrypted.

How safe is it as long no one is using it other than me?
And if a neighbor was using it, get he get any direct information or he has to be a professional and use special programs?

Does the access point save my activity? will reset help?

thanks

[lunarlander]

If someone latches onto your open network, they would be able to see your File and Printer Sharing. Then if you have no passwords on your file shares, they will be able to copy out all your shared files. They might even plant trojans into your file shares, waiting for you to click on them. Worms also make use of file sharing to spread. Trojan and worms belong to the realm of hacking, but hacking tools and tutorials are freely available on the internet, and one does not really need technical skills to follow a tutorial or use those tools.

The access point router may have logs. Mine does. So depending on what you want logged, you might see a history of ip addresses you accessed. The thing to do is to change the admin password for your router. Make it long and complex.

[decz]

OP, with an open wireless network a potentially malicious person could connect to your network and gather information about the devices on that network. When connected to your open network they could attempt to access your router and/or use a sniffer device for man-in-the-middle attacks possibly gathering traffic you think is secure (ex. https).

Long story short, make a unique SSID for your wireless and use WPA2/AES-PSK with a complex key. Paranoid mode: Enable MAC filtering and configure the router to not broadcast your SSID.

[Number 18]

I have an access point that doesn't give you the option to secure the network. But I do have a password for the admin.

But I meant will they be able to get information or they need a specific program for doing it? or will accessing my WAP will give them information other than just ip addresses?

[lunarlander]

They will need a 'specific' program. However, sniffer programs like what decz talked about are just regular network administration programs and are common networking tools. So many people have them.

[Number 18]

Oh thanks. But does he only get the information when he is on, if he's not he can't, right?

[lunarlander]

If he is not on your network, then he can't get any information. But since your network is wide open, anyone can join in. People are naturally curious, and an open network just acts like an invitation.

It is best to get another wireless router which supports WPA2.

[Number 18]

Thanks for the help